Eco Valley

The Isle of Wight is already leading the way when it comes to reducing water use. Since our metering programme on the Island in 1989, water use on the Island has reduced considerably, with the average person using122 litres per day, more than 30 litres per day less than the national average and already below the Government’s target of 130 litres per day by 2030.

We have now started replacing old water meters with new “intelligent” meters that will remove the need for estimated billing and provide customers with more information about how they are using water in the home, helping them to become more in touch with their water use and drive demand down even further.

The island is supplied by treated water from mainland, providing typically 30% of its overall demand. Our current water resource management plan still relies on this import from the mainland, but we will continue to look at ways in which the Island could become self-sufficient in the long-term. To support this we will continue to promote water efficiency to our customers through an integrated campaign that uses advertising, film, online presence, face to face engagement and work in schools to educate the next generation of water users and the potential for additional resources to be developed on the Island.

Southern Water is a major energy user in the South East and is focused on reducing its reliance on fossil fuel derived energy and its impact on the environment. To date Southern Water generates in excess of 10% of its electricity needs from renewable sources, through the operation of 13 biogas fuelled Combined Heat & Power (CHP) plants. Other renewable initiatives currently under review include solar, wind and hydro power. Initiatives to reduce overall energy consumption are also being explored including water and wastewater treatment process optimisation, asset efficiency improvements and better consumption information via smart metering. Providing other renewable forms of energy such as the injection of bio-methane into the gas grid for use by others and for fuelling vehicles is also being considered.

Many of these initiatives are being considered for both Island and main land sites, smart metering for example has already been rolled out across all operational sites on the Island. Southern Water and Ecoisland share a common desire to reduce their impact on the environment and we believe that working together in partnership will help deliver this for the Island and for Southern Water as a whole. Our long-term strategic aim is to be a self-sufficient energy user, generating as much energy from renewable sources as we use.

www.southernwater.co.uk