UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) has published an updated version of its Carbon Accounting Workbook (CAW), a long-established tool used by water companies to estimate and report greenhouse gas emissions.
The CAW is designed to support consistent emissions reporting across the water sector in England and Wales, including regulatory submissions and climate-related disclosures required under frameworks such as Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR).
The latest release includes an updated version of the CAW tool, alongside revised datasets and supporting documentation. UKWIR said the update incorporates the most recent UK Government greenhouse gas conversion factors, as well as emissions data for chemicals commonly used within water and wastewater operations.
The workbook also includes UK water industry–specific emissions factors for water treatment, wastewater treatment and sludge management, drawing on UKWIR research. A user guide and methodology report have been published alongside the tool to support consistent application and interpretation.
According to UKWIR, the CAW is intended to provide a shared methodological foundation for emissions accounting across the sector, helping companies align reporting approaches with evolving scientific understanding and regulatory expectations.
Mike Rose, Chief Executive of UKWIR, said the organisation continues to maintain and update the tool to support climate-related decision-making within the industry.
First introduced in 2007, the Carbon Accounting Workbook has been widely used by UK water companies to estimate and report greenhouse gas emissions. UKWIR said the use of a single, sector-wide tool helps ensure comparability and transparency across company disclosures.
