Revealed: Businesses in drought-hit England use billions of litres of public water daily

New data from Mosl, the organisation that operates England’s business water market, shows that businesses across England use 2.6 billion litres a day from the public water supply, which includes potable and non-potable water provided by water companies. This accounts for about 30% of total public supply use, with two-thirds of business consumption occurring in water-stressed areas.

The figures come as millions of households face restrictions and the country grapples with widespread drought conditions. The analysis highlights a stark disparity: while domestic users are subject to hosepipe bans and other mandatory cuts, many companies are not required to report their usage, let alone reduce it.

The Guardian's exclusive report, based on Mosl data, reveals that less than 1% of businesses in England use more water than the daily needs of 10 million people. The findings raise questions about the fairness and effectiveness of current drought management measures, which place the burden of conservation almost entirely on households while leaving large commercial consumers largely unmonitored.

Why This Matters

Households already facing hosepipe bans are bearing the brunt of drought restrictions while commercial users remain largely unregulated.
Two-thirds of business water consumption occurs in water-stressed areas, exacerbating local shortages.
The lack of mandatory reporting for most businesses means the true scale of commercial water use may be underestimated, complicating long-term water security planning.

Background

England is experiencing severe drought conditions, with three-quarters of the country affected. Water companies have imposed hosepipe bans on millions of households to conserve supplies. The public water supply serves both domestic and commercial customers, and the business water market was opened to competition in 2017, with Mosl acting as the market operator. Historically, drought restrictions have focused on domestic users, while business usage—accounting for a significant share of demand—has faced less scrutiny.

Key Perspectives

Households and consumer groups: They argue that the current approach is unfair, forcing families to cut back while large commercial users face no equivalent obligations. They call for mandatory reporting and proportional restrictions on businesses. Businesses and trade associations: Some industries, such as hospitality, food processing, and manufacturing, rely heavily on water for operations. They may argue that blanket restrictions could harm economic activity and that many have already invested in efficiency measures. Water regulators and Mosl: They face the challenge of balancing conservation with economic needs. The data from Mosl reveals the scale of business use, but regulatory tools to enforce cuts on commercial consumers remain limited.

What to Watch

Whether the UK government or water regulators introduce mandatory water reporting requirements for all businesses.
Upcoming decisions on extending hosepipe bans or introducing commercial use restrictions as the drought continues.
Potential backlash from households and consumer groups if business water use remains unchecked while domestic bans persist.

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