Proceedings

This paper explores industrial water costs across the UK and Europe, and the key drivers leading to
reduced water consumption such as legislation and climate change. As operators of water and
wastewater facilities for many industrial customers across Europe, Ondeo Industrial Solutions
examine the raw water costs and the viability of reuse and recycle schemes.
Europe has complex methods of charging for its water which varying between countries and within
each country itself. These charges are determined by the water supplier, the local competition to
supply water, alternative sources, location and water availability, the volume of water consumed, and
the ability of the industrialist to negotiate a special price.
The water costs and charging mechanism are a major factor in the economics of reuse water projects,
and typically the larger users gets the best price. We examine by comparison what is happening
across Europe and how this might affect industries competitive position in the current economic
downturn and beyond.

KEY WORDS: Industrial Water Cycle; Water Reuse; Water Legislative and incentives; Reducing Water
Costs; Sustainability; Water Applications; Water Audits: Water costs