Water production, consumption drop13 per cent

Water production and consumption has dropped by 13 per cent over a six-year span, the National Office of Statistics said on the occasion of World Day for Water yesterday.

The NSO said data made available by the Water Services Corporation for 2000-2006 indicated that water consumption patterns were in tandem with production levels. Water production and consumption last year dropped by about five million cubic metres over the year 2000.

Last year, the manufacturing sector consumed about 1.05 million cubic metres of water, the bulk of which (61 per cent) went into the production of food and beverages and the manufacture of transport equipment (11 per cent).

Apart from the manufacturing sector, the hotels and restaurants sector was the heftiest water consumer, with 35 per cent of consumption among the non-manufacturing NACE - the statistical classification in the European Community for economic activities - sectors.