As millions of people in England face hosepipe bans amid a severe drought, a new report reveals that many companies are not required to report their water usage from public supplies. Businesses across England consume 2.6 billion litres of water daily from public sources, accounting for about 30% of total public supply use, with two-thirds of this consumption occurring in water-stressed areas.
Water Usage by Businesses
According to Mosl, the organization managing England’s business water market, less than 1% of businesses use more water than the daily needs of 10 million people. The largest users of public water include oil refineries, chemical plants, and paper mills, many of which face no requirements to reduce their consumption.
Mosl's data indicates that the ExxonMobil Esso refinery at Fawley, Southampton, is the largest user of public water supply. However, the site also includes other operators, such as waste, gas, chemicals, and energy companies. Mosl highlighted the refinery's water use in evidence submitted to a House of Lords committee, citing it as an example of significant water wastage in industry that is not discouraged by current regulations.
“"The high volume of water wastage in industry is not disincentivized by government or the regulatory framework," Mosl stated.
Data Challenges and Regulatory Issues
Tracking industrial water use poses challenges, as regulators express frustration over a lack of data and commercial secrecy. Sarah McMath, Mosl's chief executive, noted that when government departments request data, Mosl must negotiate specific agreements to share it. This lack of transparency is impacting national water planning, with local authority growth plans often based on assumptions rather than concrete data.
