Call for Water-Wise Business to Shout About Success

The Environment Agency is calling on innovative businesses and other organisations to lead by example and demonstrate their outstanding contribution to water conservation by entering the Water Efficiency Awards 2009.

The prestigious awards, which were launched on 7th May at the Think08 Sustainability for the Built Environment Conference in London, have been recognising and rewarding the efforts of water-saving companies and organisations across public, private and voluntary sectors for more than a decade.

Environment Agency Director of Water Management David King said the awards, held every two years, aimed to increase awareness about water efficiency and offered a platform to share good practice and demonstrate that water-saving measures could be cost effective.

'Water is one of our most valuable yet vulnerable resources and being water-wise is essential for the environment. But it also makes good business sense - watching a dripping tap is like watching money slip through your fingers,' David King said.

'Our water resources are already under pressure from increasing demand, an expanding population and housing growth. Unavoidable impacts of climate change – such as more frequent drought and floods – also pose a threat to our supplies in the future. There’s never been a more appropriate time for organisations to showcase the excellent work they are doing to save water.'

The overall winner of the Water Efficiency Awards 2007 – The Malvern Hotel and The Blues Grill, in Kent – managed to reduce their water use by an impressive 46%, around 320 cubic metres per year, by raising awareness of the need to save water with guests. In the process, this family-run hotel made annual savings of £840.

'It just goes to show how small companies can make big savings that are truly worthwhile,' David King added.

For 2009, the Water Efficiency Awards will have three new-look categories open to all businesses and organisations, including those in the leisure and tourism and retail sectors. The categories, which will consider projects that are or were operational between April 2006 and May 2008, are:

Water Shout Award - celebrating great campaigns that change the way people use water

Judges will be looking for a well planned and structured campaign, together with evidence of how much attitudes or behaviours of the target audience have changed as a result of the project

Water Save Award - recognising practical measures that save water and money
Judges will be looking for evidence – such as meter readings - of the amount of water used both before and after the implementation of the project, together with clear information on the process used and how the project was communicated and delivered within the organisation

Water Solve Award - acknowledging smart solutions for sustainable water use
Judges will be looking for evidence of how the project or research was conceived and implemented and not necessarily the amount of water saved.

The closing date for entries is 31st October 2008 and the winners will be announced at Think09 in London in May 2009.

To read more about the Water Efficiency Awards 2009 and ways to save water visit http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/savewater To register your interest in entering email savewater@environment-agency.gov.uk or call 01903 832 073 for an entry form.