Policy

River photo by Ian Sane waterwise water efficiency water conservation save water policy uk

All of Waterwise’s objectives have a key policy angle. Waterwise works closely with government, regulators, policy-makers and NGOs across the United Kingdom to make sure government policy and the regulatory framework drive - and mainstream - water efficiency. For example, rules governing the building of homes and business premises, regulatory approaches to how water companies can spend their money, and policies on increasing metering in the UK can all make it easier for us to waste less water.

In England, Waterwise sat on the Water Minister’s Water Saving Group alongside the water industry and its regulators. As part of this work, we developed an Evidence Base for Large-Scale Water Efficiency in homes, for use in the 2009 Price Review, and in Water Resource Management Plans. Phase II of the Evidence Base examined Water Efficiency Retrofitting in Schools. We are currently scoping out Phase III. 

Waterwise set up and run the Saving Water in Scotland network which includes members of Scottish Water, the Parliament, the Executive, regulators, business, consumer representatives and NGOs. And we sit on the Greater London Authority’s London Water Resources Working Group.

On 30 April 2009 we called on the political parties to deliver a climate-resilient economy through water efficiency. In our UK Manifesto Waterwise calls on the next UK government to deliver homes and buildings which waste less water, make wasting less water pay, and develop the green new deal. In our EU Manifesto we are calling on MEPS to ensure that European funding policies and investments are targeted at developing water-related green jobs and to launch a debate on incentives to foster water efficiency.

In June 2010 we published our Waterwise White Paper. Targeted at the new UK Government and Parliament, the White Paper has mainstreaming water efficiency at its core. In it, Waterwise sets out strategic proposals for climate change adaptation and mitigation, resource efficiency, the low carbon and green economy and the big society, over the five years from 2010 to 2015.