Water sector awakes to energy test

The water industry is a major consumer of energy - and its energy use is increasing because of the need to comply with more stringent water quality standards. But the industry complains that it is excluded from the Government's main policies to reduce industrial energy use and that it is suffering under the climate change levy. Water companies are paying increasing attention to energy consumption and renewable power generation, but face a significant challenge if they are to offset their soaring energy use.