Water is Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 6, in the newly launched SDGs. Thanks to the UK’s unique geography and the incredible hard work of folks in the UK water industry, water scarcity experienced in some parts of the world is the least of our worries in the UK.
Though we need not worry about access to clean drinking water in the UK, we must however pause now and again to reflect on the incredible amount of work and effort that goes into ensuring that when we turn on the tap in our kitchen, pure clean water comes gushing out. When we go to out bathroom to brush out teeth, we don’t even need to think about whether there is water or not.
The folks at McGinley Support Services, water industry recruitment specialists have compiled excellent facts and information about the UK water industry, which they have kindly shared with Hope Spring Water We think some of you may find the infographic, facts and information about the UK water industry interesting.
State of the UK Water Industry
Source of this infographic and other information in this blog post is http://www.mcginley.co.uk
A breakdown of how we use water at home
As a developed nation with one of the most advanced water distribution networks in the world, the consumption of water in Britain is simply astounding. For example, each person can use as much as 150 litres each and every day. This includes:
• Showers
• Dishwashers
• Washing machines
• Drinking water
• Other uses
Drinking water takes up just four per cent of the average person’s total usage, with toilet flushing, personal washing and clothes washing the three largest consumable factors.
Local authorities suggest that we should drink around two litres of water every day. As there are currently 60 million adults living in the UK, it means that the nation’s water supply has provided at least 1.2 billion litres of water so people can receive their daily quota.
Drinking tap water is far more beneficial for the environment than drinking bottled water. By doing so it helps to reduce the amount of plastic bottles heading to landfill – which currently stands at 38 million bottles every day.
Facts and info about the UK water industry
• The UK’s water supply is managed by 27 different companies across England and Wales.
• The water sector has grown by 5.2 per cent from July 2014 to July 2015.
• Water companies across the UK collect, treat and pump more than 18 billion litres of water each and every day.
• Each domestic water supply should provide enough pressure to fill a 4.5 litre container in just 30 seconds.
• As of 2014, there are 3,947 service reservoirs and 316,000km of water mains, all of which are operated in a hygienic manner to ensure water quality remains at a consistent level.
• Water companies in England carried out 3,853,350 tests in 2014 on the quality of water. Of these, just 0.04 per cent failed to meet the standards.
The water industry workforce
The geographical spread of the water supply, sewerage, waste and remediation activities workforce as of March 2015 is as follows (with the change in regional water industry workforce from March 2014 – March 2014 indicated in brackets):
• North East: 8,000 (+14.3%)
• North West: 24,000 (+9.1%)
• Yorkshire and the Humber: 16,000 (No change)
• East Midlands: 18,000 (+5.9%)
• West Midlands: 18,000 (+5.9%)
• East of England: 17,000 (-5.6%)
• London: 17,000 (-15.0%)
• South East: 28,000 (+3.7%)
• South West: 16,000 (-5.9%)
• Wales: 12,000 (No change)
• Scotland: 17,000 (+6.3%)
Now that you have all the information about the water industry in the UK. Don’t make the job of the nice people who ensure we have clean drinking water difficult by wasting water. Always use water sensibly.