The water industry is energy intensive and consumes about 3% of total energy used in the UK. Most of this is used to pump water and wastewater and to run treatment plants that ensure  water meets strict environmental and health quality standards. The industry is responsible for approximately four million tonnes of greenhouse gas emission (CO2 equivalent) every year.

 At Southern our energy use produced 217000 tonnes of carbon dioxide last year. Southern Water plans to reduce its carbon footprint by 10% by 2020. Currently we generate nearly 10%of our energy requirements by recycling at wastewater treatment sites and plan to increase this to 20% by 2020.

The company has already adopted a number of energy efficient practices to optimise its working practices.

These include:

Aeration – The treatment of wastewater requires air to be bubbled through it and this process is very energy intensive. During the last couple of years Southern Water has refurbished its equipment to improve the air distribution and therefore require less air and less energy.

Pumping – Pumps are a vital part of everyday operations moving both drinking water and wastewater. The company has tested its pumps, removed and refurbished underperforming ones and re-tested them to ensure they work at their most efficient.

The Future – Southern Water has signed a three-year contract with consultants Atkins to optimise the efficiency of the company’s thousands of water and wastewater treatment works and pumping stations.

Employees – The company promotes the Carbon Trust’s ‘Carbon Off’ policy to switch off lights and electrical equipment when not in use and also actively encourages car sharing.

The Industry - Southern Water has taken part in the Carbon Trust Water Consortium Carbon Management Project to identify opportunities to cut carbon emissions in the UK water industry and the best way to develop them.

Southern Water has been recognised by the Carbon Trust’s Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme.