Waterwise
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| Waterwise | |
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| Type | Not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation |
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| Founded | September 2005 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Focus | Sustainable water consumption and water efficiency |
| Method | Campaigning, influencing policy, research, consultancy |
| Revenue | £300,000 (excluding projects, consultancy, and sponsorship) |
| Website | www.waterwise.org.uk |
Waterwise is a not-for-profit, non-governmental, independent organisation based in London, UK. The organisation’s official name is The Waterwise Project.
Waterwise’s vision is for a world in which every drop of water is treated with care, and water conservation is normal practice. Presently the organisation is focused on decreasing water consumption in the UK by 2010, and on building a robust evidence base for large scale water efficiency projects. They are the leading authority on water efficiency in the UK.
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[edit] Context
The UK has less water available per person then most other European nations.[1] The South East of England has less water available per person then the Sudan or Syria, and London is drier than Jerusalem.[2] Edinburgh receives about as much rainfall as Istanbul.[3] Over the past decade, the UK has witnessed major droughts in the South East of England and even in Dundee, Scotland.[4] Many parts of the UK are under serious water scarcity stress.[5]
Each person in the UK uses about 150 litres of tap water every day, and this figure has been rising by 1 percent every year since 1930.[6] The UK’s water consumption level is not sustainable.[7] If action is not taken now to encourage the wise use of water, climate change, population shifts, and water intensive behaviours will result in an even more water stressed nation.[8]
[edit] Founding and Aims
In 2006 all the UK water companies decided to establish an independent organisation which would promote water efficiency.[9] In September 2006 The Waterwise Project was launched. In England, the organisation sits on the Environment Minister’s Water Saving Group, alongside the water industry and regulators.
Waterwise has an independent Board drawn from government, regulators, academia, business, other organisations, and from the water industry. The board meets four times a year and is responsible for overseeing Waterwise’s activities and its strategic direction.
Waterwise's present remit runs until September 2010. Its aim is to have decreased per capita consumption in the UK by that time, and to have built a strong social, political, and economic case for water efficiency.
[edit] Objectives
Waterwise has the following seven UK-focused objectives (in no particular order):
- To champion water efficiency within the water industry
- To shape a positive regulatory framework for water efficiency
- To build an evidence base for water efficiency through large scale pilot schemes and other research
- To ensure water efficiency in the built environment sector
- To influence government policies on water efficiency
- To understand and change consumer perceptions of water efficiency and encourage the wise use of water
- To promote the social benefits of and address the barriers to water efficiency
[edit] Audience and Partners
| “ | Waterwise is effectively a facilitator: its job is to enable, to promote dialogue, to establish a common evidence base and to develop partnerships and share ideas. Waterwise is keen to work with anyone who shares their aim and would welcome everyone’s help. | ” |
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—Maria Adebowale, Board Chair of Waterwise, Founder Director of Capacity Global |
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Waterwise works with all sectors of society to promote water efficiency and the wise use of water. To achieve their aims they work with key partners in water companies, governments (local, regional, and national), manufacturers and retailers, regulators, farmers and businesses, civil society organisations, press and media, communities, and individual consumers.
[edit] Activities and Events
Waterwise participates in and leads various projects and events in order to complete their objectives:
- Waterwise hosts the only annual Water Efficiency Conference in the UK on World Water Day, March 21-22. The conference brings together policymakers, doers, and thinkers to learns about and further discuss issues related to water efficiency.
- Waterwise also runs the Waterwise Marque, founded in October 2006 and first awarded in 2007. The Marque is awarded annually to water using products which promote water efficiency or reduce water wastage. It is the first award scheme of its kind in the UK, and aims to empower consumers to make water wise buys.
- Waterwise works closely with Government departements and regulators in developing policy to further water efficiency.
- Waterwise teams with UK water companies, universities, local governments, and builders to conduct large-scale water efficiency projects. These projects range from water audits to domestic retrofit schemes.
- Waterwise convenes The Saving Water in Scotland network which brings together key figures in Scotland to discuss and advance water efficiency.
- Waterwise also provides households, businesses, media, and the government with information on water in the UK and with assistance on water saving.
- Waterwise has ranked all current UK models of dishwashers and washing machines according to water efficiency. They are working on rankings for showers, toilets, and taps.
- Waterwise also conducts research related to international water ecolabels, embedded water, water and climate change, and other research stream.
- Waterwise is part of the Blueprint for Water coalition which has laid out a ten step plan for sustainable water. The coalition is composed of Waterwise, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-UK), Salmon and Trout Association, The Wildlife Trusts, The National Trust, Association of Rivers Trust, Anglers’ Conservation Association, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, and The Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust.
[edit] References
- ^ Freshwater Resources 2005, tables from WRI and FAO
- ^ UK Environment Agency; see also citation 1
- ^ Global rainfall stats
- ^ Drought in South East England; OPSI regarding Dundee
- ^ EA
- ^ Blueprint for Water
- ^ See citation 6.
- ^ The Independent 2006
- ^ Water UK
[edit] External Links
- Waterwise Provides information on water in the UK, water efficiency, and water saving tips for households and business.
- The Blueprint for Water 10 steps for sustainable water in England by 2015.
- Water Saving Group UK Government led high level group promoting collaborative work on water efficiency.
- Water UK The industry association that represents all UK water and wastewater service suppliers at the UK and European levels.
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