Environmental Awareness Index

We want everyone in England and Wales to enjoy reliable water and sewerage services, while also playing an active role in protecting the environment. That’s why a major part of our work is helping people make the connection between the water they use and the impact on the wider environment.

To gauge the success of our efforts and those of the wider sector, we launched an Environmental Awareness Index in February 2022, designed to track changes in public awareness and behaviour over time. The initial study set a baseline score of 55 out of 100 for public awareness and actions relating to the water environment.

This research allows us a third opportunity to measure whether awareness has progressed since that point.

What our latest index shows

• There has been a general decline across metrics, causing a significant decrease in the baseline awareness measure, now sitting at 51 out of 100 (vs. 55 in November 2022).
• 90% of respondents recognised that their water usage impacts the environment, a notable increase from 86% in the previous report.
• Most people (92%) expressed deep concern for the environment. This was significantly higher in Wales (97%) compared to London (81%).
• Fewer people reported knowing how to reduce their daily water use by 5 litres (61%, down from 69% in November 2022), and awareness of the need to conserve water due to climate change also decreased (73% vs. 83%).
• 34% of respondents indicated they would only reduce their water usage if it saved them money, up from 32% in November 2022.

Our Environmental Awareness Index serves as a crucial reminder of the need to continue to educate people about the environmental impact of their water use. The sector must rise to this challenge, as communities play a crucial role in safeguarding these vital services and the environment.