:: The Waterwise Project is an independent not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation promoting water efficiency and conservation based in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, UK. 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. Waterwise is the UK’s water "efficiency champion" – "reaching the parts others cannot reach, and transform ngthe concept of water resource efficiency into something compelling for consumers and business users."

Founding and aims

Waterwise was established due to concerns of waters shortage and the upward trend in how much water is consumed in the UK. Factors that were taken into account were: current drought situation, geographical and climatological circumstances, consumer tendencies, available resources, and future prospects of supply. The following examples, situations, and comparisons were contemplated: *England has less rainfall than some North African countries. *Southern England has experienced one of the driest winters and spring periods since 1904 *Low river flows and groundwater levels across Southern England have resulted in environmental problems *Groundwater levels are falling and this is particularly so in the chalk aquifers which are very important to Southern England. *There have been demographic and social changes: modern lifestyles result in a greater demand for water. There has also been an increase in smaller size households that use proportionally more water. *Climate and global warming, as predicted by the UKCIP, is forecast to result in a deficit in soil moisture. This means that agriculture will compete with the

water industry The water industry provides drinking water and wastewater services (including sewage treatment) to residential, commercial, and industrial sectors of the economy. Typically public utilities operate water supply networks. The water industry doe ...

for increasingly scarce resources. In 2006, all 26 UK water companies decided to establish an independent organisation which would promote water efficiency. In September 2006, The Waterwise Project was launched to build an evidence base and economic case for water efficiency in the UK. In England, the organisation sits on the Environment Minister’s Water Saving Group, alongside the

and regulators. It was established with the stance that the key to water efficiency is reducing waste, not restricting use. Waterwise has an independent Board, which is drawn from the government, regulators, academia, business, other organisations, and from the

. The board meets four times a year and is responsible for overseeing Waterwise’s activities and its strategic direction. Waterwise's initial remit ran until September 2010. It has been renewed for an additional five years. Its aim is to decrease per capita consumption in the UK, and to build a strong social, political, and economic case for water efficiency.

Audience and partners

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), regulators, farmers, communities, businesses, civil society organisations, manufacturers, retailers, press and media, and individual consumers.

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. The conference brings together policymakers, doers, and thinkers to learns about and further discuss issues related to water efficiency. *Waterwise runs the Waterwise Recommended Checkmark. The Checkmark replaces the Marque, which was founded in October 2006 and first awarded in 2007. The Waterwise Recommended Checkmark provides consumers with an ‘at-a-glance’ indicator of a product’s water saving potential. It aims to empower consumers to make water wise purchases. *Waterwise works closely with Government departments 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, workshops, and programmes. These projects range from water audits to domestic retrofit schemes to university lectures. *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

dishwasher A dishwasher is a machine that is used to clean dishware, cookware, and cutlery automatically. Unlike manual dishwashing, which relies heavily on physical scrubbing to remove soiling, the mechanical dishwasher cleans by spraying hot water, ...

s and

washing machine A washing machine (laundry machine, clothes washer, washer, or simply wash) is a home appliance used to wash laundry. The term is mostly applied to machines that use water as opposed to dry cleaning (which uses alternative cleaning fluids and ...

s according to water efficiency. They are working on rankings for

shower A shower is a place in which a person bathes under a spray of typically warm or hot water. Indoors, there is a drain in the floor. Most showers have temperature, spray pressure and adjustable showerhead nozzle. The simplest showers have a ...

toilet A toilet is a piece of sanitary hardware that collects human urine and feces, and sometimes toilet paper, usually for disposal. Flush toilets use water, while dry or non-flush toilets do not. They can be designed for a sitting position popu ...

s, and taps. *Waterwise also conducts research related to international water ecolabels, embedded water, water and

climate change In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to E ...

, and other various other research projects. *Waterwise is part of the Blueprint for Water coalition which has laid out a ten step plan for

sustainable Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and have varied in the literature and over time. The concept of sustainability can be used to guide decisions at the global, national, and individual levels (e.g. sustainable livin ...

water.The Blueprint for Water
/ref> The coalition is composed of Waterwise, The

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a charitable organisation registered in England and Wales and in Scotland. It was founded in 1889. It works to promote conservation and protection of birds and the wider environment throug ...

(RSPB),

World Wide Fund for Nature The World Wide Fund for Nature Inc. (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1961 that works in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment. It was formerly named the Wor ...

(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 *In 2017 Waterwise launched the Water Efficiency Strategy for the UK. Through setting out focused recommendations and actions, this strategy is providing a framework via which Waterwise and the wide Water Industry can drive even more ambitious water efficiency action and ensure future work is focused on key areas. *Every year Waterwise runs Water Saving Week. In 2019 this will be held between 29 April - 3 May

References

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.

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. {{DEFAULTSORT:Waterwise Project Water conservation Water organizations Environmental organisations based in London Water in England Water in the United Kingdom Environmental organizations established in 2005 2005 establishments in England

Founding and aims

Audience and partners

Activities and events

See also

References

External links