UK firms are being urged to cut down on the amount of water they waste, as experts warn it risks turning the country into a ‘desert state’.
The warning comes from Envirowise, a government-funded programme which advises companies on improving their resource efficiency.
UK industry uses 1,300 cubic metres of water every year, equal to 900,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. But this is three times more water than is necessary, according to Envirowise.
The waste is contributing to the current water shortage problem with figures now showing there is less water per head in the South East of England than in countries such as Syria and Sudan.
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Martin Gibson, programme director at Envirowise said: “Commercial and industrial usage accounts for nearly a third of all water used in the UK, significantly contributing to this current water shortage.
Envirowise said a business that implements a simple and effective water conservation technique can cut its annual water consumption by up to 30% and enjoy substantial cost savings.
