Revealed: how companies ‘secretly’ use billions of litres of public water in drought-hit England
An investigation reveals that major industrial companies in England, including oil refineries, consume billions of liters of public water without strict reporting requirements. This occurs despite widespread drought conditions and household water restrictions.
Why it matters
The report exposes a significant regulatory gap in environmental management, highlighting the conflict between industrial water usage and public resource conservation.
Fawley oil refinery, in Southampton, was shown to be the largest industrial user of the public water supply on a map by England’s business water market operator. Photograph: Crispin Keith Fawley oil refinery, in Southampton, was shown to be the largest industrial user of the public water supply on a map by England’s business water market operator. Photograph: Crispin Keith Water Revealed: how companies ‘secretly’ use billions of litres of public water in drought-hit England Exclusive: As millions of people face hosepipe bans, many companies are not required to report, let alone cut, use of public supply
Prefer the Guardian on Google Less than 1% of businesses in England use more water than the daily needs of 10 million people, as millions of households face hosepipe bans and three-quarters of the country is in drought.
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