Scottish Water has published its annual Net Zero update highlighting the water company’s progress towards net zero water and waste water services by 2040.

Image: Sensors at a waste water treatment site near Glasgow

Scottish Water started recording greenhouse gas reductions associated with its activities in 2006/07 when 462,000 tonnes of carbon were emitted every year - the company has since reduced that by almost a quarter of a million tonnes of carbon annually.

Published in Scotland’s Climate Week, this latest report outlines the process of Scottish Water’s transformation programme which harnesses technology and innovation.

Delivering more than 1.5 billion litres of water every day and removing more than 1 billion litres of waste water resulted in 217,000 tonnes of carbon emitted during 2022/23. During the past 12 months, there was an in-year reduction of 14,000 tonnes.

In the past 3 years since the organisation published a routemap to achieve net zero status by 2040 there was a 37,000 tonne reduction.

Transformation projects across both water and waste water assets and infrastructure have driven the reductions – at the same time as enhancing customer experience and service.

Professor Simon Parsons, Director of Strategic Customer and Service Planning, said:

“It is vital we do all we can to protect the environment and deliver services which exceed our customers’ expectations, now and in the future. It is not either/or - we must transform how we operate and at the same time deliver performance to maintain public trust and confidence.

“Transformation projects are key to unlocking the full potential of ways in which we can reduce emissions, provide value for customers, and protect services for the future in a climate change world.

“We have cut emissions associated with producing the daily water and waste water needs of Scotland by almost a quarter of a million tonnes of carbon since we started reporting and are demonstrating leadership in this area. There is much more to be done.”

The annual update highlights:

• A reduction of 14,000 tonnes of operational carbon during 2022/23 – 6% annual year on year reduction
• A total emissions output of 217,000 tonnes of operational carbon – compared to 462,000 in 2006/07
• Saved 6.8 GWh of electricity in water and waste water services through energy efficiency
• Installation of the company’s biggest solar energy resource at Scotland’s largest water processing site
• Piloted low carbon materials in construction and pioneered with supply chain partners on low emission construction site set up
• Expanded the number of electric vehicles in its fleet and installed 171 charging points across the company’s assets to enable their use
• A growing pipeline of projects in Scottish Water Horizons to support the growing hydrogen economy.

Transformation projects designed to enhance operational process are also delivering net zero gains, including a scheme rolled out at one of Scotland’s biggest waste water treatment sites which has been expanded to 16 other major locations with further carbon savings forecast. The Exemplar Waste Water Treatment Works project gives operatives real-time management of sites, providing new dynamic insights into how they are working using smart sensors. This allows for adjustments to be made which make them more effective, including in how they consume energy and reducing journeys to site. Other projects include:

• The introduction of new sensors at a waste water treatment site near Glasgow in a UK technology first has allowed even greater insight into process emissions which enables staff to adjust site operations to reduce harmful process emissions
• Optimised operations at central Scotland’s largest water distribution network using Aquadvance technology to run service reservoirs and reduce energy use by 10%
• A new field deployment system is also helping reduce avoidable journeys at the same time as offering customers a more effective way of getting their repairs assessed and completed. Around 1700 fewer journeys were required in this work.

Gordon Reid, Scottish Water’s Net Zero General Manager, said the new update pointed to real progress with more to be achieved to reach net zero, commenting:

“It is pleasing that during Scotland’s Climate Week we can demonstrate real progress towards a Net Zero service. The key to success is understanding what works and scaling that up at speed. There will be challenges ahead but by being bold and innovative we can remain on track to deliver for our customers and for the environment.”

Click here to read the update in full.