The water industry and the decarbonisation of cities: A comprehensive review in the context of Cop26

Abstract

The urban water industry is a very energy intensive industry. Higher water quality standards are driving a level of energy growth that is threatening to move it to the top rank. Climate change is further exacerbating this situation: Growing aridity is variously imposing an enhanced carbon burden through water recycling, trans-regional pipelines and desalination plants. Natural disasters too can often affect water quality, requiring energy hungry mitigations. There’s clear evidence that a failure to appropriately weight energy considerations in water infrastructure is commonplace and that this is an unsustainable position for the industry and is prejudicial to working towards zero carbon cities targeting net zero by 2030. Real time tracking of CO2e emissions is an important starting point in raising operator consciousness and introducing rivalry between utilities in attaining abatement. So too is reaching out to the resource and manufacturing sectors to form strategic alliances, as well as seeking to enter into closer relationships with the energy sector.