Waterwise White Paper

water droplet image waterwise

Water used wisely, every day, everywhere

In June 2010 we published our Waterwise White Paper. Targeted at the new UK Government and Parliament, the White Paper had mainstreaming water efficiency at its core. In it, Waterwise set 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.

Many of the proposals set out in the Waterwise White Paper are now government commitments, or underway. These include addressing the bias to capital expenditure in the water industry, including water efficiency in the Green Deal, and investigating the potential contribution of water efficiency to the green economy.

Our White Paper recommends:

  • a more efficient, sustainable and flexible regulatory framework for waterlinks between the regulatory frameworks for water, energy and housing
  • using water efficiency to develop the low carbon economy
  • a set of incentives to encourage people and businesses to waste less water across the UK economy and improve the affordability of water
  • the delivery of water efficiency through local partnerships as part of the big society

Waterwise is already developing the Evidence Base for the cost-effectiveness of water efficiency, and best practice guidance on implementation. Waterwise has also shown in practice the benefits of the partnership approach. Water efficiency has no downside, and is an economic, social and environmental opportunity. Its potential stretches well beyond issues of scarcity. Delivering this full potential will require new ways of working across the public and private sectors.

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