Yorkshire Water has been praised as being “at the forefront” of responding to climate change following the publication of the utility’s climate change strategy.

The strategy, which describes the climate challenges facing the region’s water and waste water services from increasingly drier summers, more extreme storms and rising sea levels,  is among the most comprehensive and practical produced by any organisation in the UK.

Critically, the strategy lays out the company’s plans to respond to the changing climate to ensure the security of the essential water and waste water services it provides to five million customers. It also describes how the company will continue tackling the carbon emissions from  its water and waste water services.

Yorkshire Water has spent years proving its commitment to tackling climate change and its impacts. The company holds the prestigious Carbon Trust Standard - an independently audited accreditation which verifies continual improvement in reducing carbon. Last year it continued its trend for cutting carbon emissions, saving 8,700 tonnes on the previous year.

Gordon Rogers, Yorkshire Water’s climate change strategy manager, said:

“People can continue to debate the reasons behind it, but the evidence shows that our climate is changing and as a business we have a responsibility to respond to that.”

“We can’t shy away from the challenges of today’s extreme weather and future climate change, so we’ve set out a detailed plan to safeguard Yorkshire’s water for future generations. The great news is that doing the right thing can go hand in hand with keeping water bills as low as possible for the long-term. For example, we are generating green and low-cost energy from sewage waste.”

“Our strategy recognises that everyone has a role to play in ensuring the long term sustainability of essential water supplies. Yorkshire Water recognises its leading role and is striving to save water, protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions.

The strategy covers the risks and responses to critical climate change issues, including:

• Managing land to secure the quality of raw water,
• Using water in the most efficient way,
• Maintaining the sewer network to avoid sewer flooding and pollution, considering new techniques like Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS),
• Reducing carbon and the company’s huge energy bill by being energy efficient and investing in renewables, and
• Protecting and enhancing the natural environment to ensure wildlife is best placed to thrive in the changing climate.

Jon Clubb of the Climate Change Partnershipfor Yorkshire & Humber described the water company as among those at the forefront of responding to the serious challenges from extreme weather and the changing climate.

The strategy is available online at www.yorkshirewater.com/climatechange.