BLOG: Water efficiency is an opportunity, not an obstacle - Scottish Water Chair Deirdre Michie

“The choices we make today will shape the future for generations. In the water sector, taking action is not only the right thing to do — it is the smart thing to do.”

Deirdre Michie
Chair, Scottish Water

Deirdre Michie, Chair of Scottish Water, says COP30 — the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference — has shown that water efficiency is an opportunity, not an obstacle.

At this year’s COP30 in Brazi,l the focus has been on turning promises into action — with water at the heart of the conversation. One of the key themes is Cities, Infrastructure and Water, recognising that how we manage this essential resource underpins everything from climate resilience to economic growth.

Discussions have explored building water-smart infrastructure, strengthening community resilience, and integrating water into national climate plans. As the summit has unfolded, water has been more explicitly elevated in the negotiations — not just as a side issue, but as a connector between mitigation, adaptation and resilience. COP30 has offered a global platform to show that investing in water efficiency and resilience isn’t just an environmental priority — it’s a cornerstone of sustainable economies.

Water is life. At Scottish Water, we see water efficiency not as a regulatory burden, but as an opportunity to drive positive outcomes for our planet and business. Improved water management lowers costs, delivers long-term savings, and opens new markets and technologies.

While achieving net zero can seem costly, taking steps toward water efficiency and carbon reduction unlocks innovation, operational resilience, and financial benefit. Every litre saved reduces energy use, emissions, and strengthens bottom lines — good for the planet and good for business.

The water sector also has a vital role in leading by example. From reducing leaks to using advanced monitoring and data analysis, we can show how sustainability measures benefit both the environment and businesses. Reflecting the themes highlighted at COP30, practical water-smart solutions—like strong and reliable water, sanitation, and hygiene systems, as well as ways to handle floods and droughts—have been recognised as essential for our future. Water efficiency projects also help communities become more resilient, ensuring that future generations inherit safe, healthy, and thriving ecosystems.

Scotland’s geography, natural assets, and engineering expertise allow us to pilot innovative solutions — from nature-based interventions to smart digital systems that predict and prevent issues. Initiatives such as renewable-powered treatment works, catchment management partnerships, and community-based programmes demonstrate how innovation safeguards water, reduces emissions, and builds resilience to climate risks.

Collaboration is critical. Governments, businesses, and communities must align around a shared vision: climate action is an investment in a sustainable future. Environmental responsibility and commercial success are deeply interconnected.

Building on COP30, the world’s water leaders will gather in Glasgow next autumn for the International Water Association World Water Congress & Exhibition. It will be an extraordinary moment to showcase Scotland’s innovation, research, and infrastructure, reinforcing our position as a nation that values, protects, and invests in water as the lifeblood of a sustainable future. It will also highlight how a publicly owned, independently regulated, commercially run organisation — Scottish Water — delivers [good] results with [sustainable] investment.

At Scottish Water, our focus is clear: we will continue to innovate, invest, and collaborate to drive meaningful change. The choices we make today will shape the future for generations. In the water sector, taking action is not only the right thing to do — it is the smart thing to do. By embracing water efficiency as an opportunity, we can create lasting benefits for both business and the planet, showing that sustainability and prosperity can go hand in hand.