Mar 23 2007
The UK drought may be over for now, but the long term outlook is for more droughts and floods warns Waterwise.
This Thursday, on UN World Water Day, Waterwise is holding the 2nd
Annual Water Efficiency Conference. The conference is looking at solutions to offset future droughts and will identify an action plan to ensure our water supply is protected for future generations.
The Conference brings together the leading policy makers, doers and thinkers on water efficiency, both as speakers and participants to discuss the economics of water efficiency in the natural and built environment. High level speakers include key regulators, practitioners from water companies and other industries, government and NGOs.
‘It is essential that the UK water industry works more closely with government and regulators to build on the existing pilots and programmes to develop coherent, comprehensive proposals for widescale water efficiency measures for the next review of water company prices and investment.’ Says Jonathan Porritt, Co-Founder and Programme Director of Forum for the Future. ‘We are at the beginning of a new era for public water supplies in which water efficiency must play a much larger part in the supply-demand balance.’
‘Despite the recent rainfall it is still imperative that we continue to use water wisely. The UK’s fresh water supplies are not limitless. Climate change, along with population growth and shift mean that we can’t simply continue to use a third more than many of our European neighbours. The most effective long term way to stop future water shortages is for all of us to make small behavioural changes and to choose water efficient products.’
If we do not take action now, climate change, population shifts mean each person in the UK will face increased water stress in the future. There must be a collective effort by industry, consumers, Government, regulators, and others to save water and ensure a sustainable water supply for the future.
The winners of the Waterwise Marque – the first scheme in the UK to highlight water efficient products – will be formally awarded by Joanna Yarrow, Director, Beyond Green at an awards ceremony at the Waterwise Conference. The Marque is awarded annually to products which reduce water wastage or raise the awareness of water efficiency. 15 Marques have been awarded across the broad spectrum of products including dishwashers, an aerated showerhead, water storing gels for the garden, a waterless urinal, a new dual flush toilet, drought resistant turf, a device to recycle your bathwater, a garden drip irrigation system, a waterless carwash, tap flow restrictors and devices to reduce the amount of water used when flushing your toilet.