Our water use
In 2009/10 we used an estimated 1,778,249m3 of water (2008/09: 1,796,241m3) which is around 49m3 per employee. This figure is based on a mixture of actual and estimated readings.
We use water in a variety of applications, such as:
- at our managed stations, including use by third parties who provide facilities for passengers
- to fill water tanks on trains and to wash trains
- to apply herbicides, and wash leaves off the railway line
- for cleaning, toilet, and canteen facilities.
Improving our measurement and monitoring
To better understand our water usage, we are reviewing options for metering supply points to monitor how much water is used, for what purpose and by whom. Through this review, we aim to use less mains or potable water, and develop the business case for investment in grey water collection and recycling.
Reusing water from railway tunnels
We have set ourselves a target of reusing 85 per cent of the water we remove from two key railway tunnels, the Severn and the Mersey, by March 2014. These are the two biggest tunnels on our network, where we are required to extract water for safety purposes. Currently only 17.3 per cent of the water we recover is reused by third parties so for 2010/11 we will review the feasibility of our target and continue to seek ways to encourage the reuse of water that we remove from these tunnels.
Water efficiency at our National Centre
Our aim with water is to be as efficient as possible, which also means choosing the right quality of water for each purpose. At our new National Centre in Milton Keynes we will use harvested rainwater to flush toilets rather than water from the mains.
The building, due to open in 2012, will have sustainability at its heart. The National Centre has been designed to use a third less water than a standard building of this type.