Delivering carbon and cost savings for the public sector, in Water Plus and Dukefield partnership for water services

Universities, academies and other public sector sites are gaining cost and carbon savings in partnerships and projects underway in 2026.

Large universities, schools and colleges have joined Water Plus in the last year through the University of Essex Utility Supply and Energy Management Solutions framework and the Surrey County Council Water Supply and Services framework. Managed by Dukefield Energy, these frameworks total £440 million.

And projects to boost efficiencies, reduce operational risks and accelerate decarbonisation are underway.

This approach has seen public sector organisations renew their partnerships with Water Plus, in the last year. Others have chosen to move back to Water Plus – including one of the UK’s biggest universities – to take-up the enhanced customer offer and explore opportunities with the experienced team.

One project with Water Plus involves installing 55 data loggers in 2026 for a multi-site organisation, alongside another proactive water efficiency programme reviewing use across student accommodation. Another hospital trust and two universities are also adding data loggers to monitor water use more closely and identify opportunities.

Data loggers (also known as AMR) can be added to water meters, under services Water Plus can provide. The technology feeds detailed consumption information on water use each day, into an online analysis portal. The portal also issues alerts on increased water use above an agreed level, with data logger installation projects also helping portfolio management.

The Water Plus team is also reviewing site infrastructure and building resilience, finding opportunities to reduce risks on supply.

Water is in Scope 3 carbon emissions. Reducing water waste and improving water efficiency directly supports decarbonisation targets and progress towards Net Zero in the public sector.

Water‑related insights and action updates have also been shared through a public sector webinar with Dukefield Energy, and more recently in one with the Public Sector Sustainability Association.

The Water Plus team shared their knowledge and experience to help more of the public sector find smarter ways to save water and cut running costs.

Tony McHardy, Corporate Managing Director at Water Plus, whose team work across the public sector, said: “Building on the productive partnerships we’ve had in the public sector, more sites are getting to open up greater opportunities for efficiencies thanks to collaborative customer services.

“It’s great to be supporting even more sites – through the frameworks managed by Dukefield Energy – to help meet the cost and carbon challenges around climate change and find opportunities to drive down our customers’ water bills, particularly where there are wholesaler price increases, that have hit public sector budgets.

“We’re partnering-up to drive more positive change and efficiency results that are cutting costs and carbon emissions.”

Matt Mooney, Head of Energy at Dukefield Energy, said: “Water Plus has been a valued partner for several years and has consistently provided high-quality support and solutions to customers. We recognise their strong understanding of the water supply industry and their ability to support operational, regulatory, and service delivery requirements, so we were pleased to appoint Water Plus on both the frameworks we contract manage.

“Our aim is to connect public sector organisations with reliable suppliers who can deliver practical and sustainable solutions. Water Plus brings deep sector knowledge and a proven track record in supporting essential services across the UK.

“Their market position and experience place them well to support customers in the public sector with solutions that help maintain resilient, efficient, and sustainable water services.”

In other activity to drive down carbon emissions in the UK, Water Plus has gained a Net Zero standard, confirming its reduction pathway not only meets, but beats the science-based target trajectory for 1.5C that many aspire to.

It’s the first water retailer to have a Net Zero target aligned to science-based targets, as it leads the sector on large-scale water savings at sites and helping multi-sites, including customers in the public sector, make more progress on their sustainability goals.

Water Plus, which won a UK Customer Satisfaction Award in 2025, from best practice leaders the Institute of Customer Service and is a finalist for two UK Customer Satisfaction Award in 2026.

It’s also driving increases in water efficiencies, across public sector portfolios:

• More than 3,200 customers, including schools, academies, sixth form colleges, GP practices and council sites are using less water after Water Plus engaged them as part of a large-scale water efficiency programme.*

• Other savings identified for public sector sites, by the Water Plus team, includes a £68,000 estimated saving on wholesaler charges across 12 months,with an estimated reduction of 24 tonnes of CO2e,across 12 months, after a review of 30 sites in England and Scotland.

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Find out more about increasing efficiencies through water management, in the public sector on information shared by Water Plus on the Public Sector Sustainability Association website.

Additional information:

* Sites engaged with had water audits and water-savings delivered between July 2024 and March 2025.

Net Zero and carbon data: Net Zero target includes a revised baseline year of 24/25, after completing an assessment of carbon emissions for Scope 1 and 2 emissions and elements of Scope 3 with Carbon Footprint, in 2025.

A Supply Chain Review, for Water Plus, was also completed by September 2025, to gather the additional carbon emissions data needed to set a science-based aligned reduction strategy and target. The Carbon Footprint Net Zero Standard means Water Plus also has a robust framework for its carbon reductions, which is aligned to international best practice and standards, including science-based targets.