Call for best practice water savings

Call for best practice water savings

Press Release

The Environment Agency is calling on water saving businesses and organisations to lead by example and show their customers how environmentally aware they are by entering the Water Efficiency Awards.

Businesses use 8000 litres of water a day and most hotels can save up to 60% on their water bills through simple measures such as low flow shower heads or urinal controls.

Now in their fifth year, the awards are open to those organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors that have made the most outstanding contribution to saving water and money.

Environment Agency Director of Water Management, Dr David King, said the awards aimed to increase awareness about saving water, share good practice and demonstrate water efficiency initiatives as cost effective.

"As the south east of England faces possibly the worst drought in the last 100 years, we all have part to play in saving water - including businesses. Now's the time for businesses to show customers how aware of the environment they are and save money at the same time," David King said.

"Water efficient features in buildings such as dual flush toilets, smart technology in manufacturing and staff training in water efficiency can improve water management and reduce costs. Our Water Efficiency Awards provide organisations with the opportunity to showcase the excellent work that is being done across the country in saving our water resources."

The Environment Agency Water Efficiency Awards run every two years and nominations are now open for the 2007 final. There are seven categories and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London. Support for the Awards has already been confirmed from Defra, Envirowise, The Countryside Agency working towards Natural England, Ofwat and the National Farmers' Union.

Entries are invited for the Natural England Leisure and Tourism category from all parts of the leisure and tourism industry promoting innovative approaches to water conservation.

Last year's Leisure and Tourism category winners were Mandix, the Cardiff based management consultancy. Working on behalf of the BOC Foundation, Corus Group plc, Environment Agency Wales and Wales Tourist Board, Mandix carried out a water efficiency and benchmarking project which identified potential water savings in the hotel industry.

"Our use of water in all aspects of our lives has a direct impact on the rivers and wetlands of England and Wales. We all need to do our bit to make the water we use go further for the long-term protection of the environment and our water supplies. We cannot expect our environment to provide a constantly increasing supply of water.

"Businesses taking part in these awards can show customers how seriously they take the environment, by making responsible choices about one of our most precious natural resources," David King said.

For more information, visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk/savewater or telephone 01903 832 073 for an entry form.


What the judges are looking for:

• New and creative approaches to reducing water use or increasing water efficiency - technological, managerial or educational.
• Measurable savings, both water and financial (no minimum amount).
• Wider environmental impacts, such as reduced waste and energy use.
• Continuing commitment to water efficiency.
• Practical and transferable measures that can be adopted elsewhere.

Rules of entry

• Projects must have been completed or been operational between September 2004 and March 2006.
• Entrants must use an official Awards entry form.
• The closing date for entries is 31 August 2006.
• The judges reserve the right not to accept an entry if the rules have not been complied with.
• The judges reserve the right to move an entry from one category to another if they feel it is appropriate.
• The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• The Awards will be presented as a ceremony in London in March 2007.
• By making an entry, the entrant gives the Environment Agency the right to publish details of their project. We may publish full details, or an edited version, without seeking further permission, and may assign publication rights to a third party (while honouring confidentiality of specific information).