Press Releases 2007 Print

31 December 2007: Make a Waterwise New Year's Resolution
This New Year Waterwise is asking everyone to make one small change to their behaviour to save water, save energy, save the planet and save money. In the past two years, the UK has seen the worst floods and droughts for a century. With droughts in 2006 and extensive flooding in 2007, both which led to water shortages, who knows what 2008 will have in store?
19 November 2007: Think before you flush on World Toilet Day
As part of World Toilet Day today, Waterwise urges everyone to think before they flush, to use cistern displacement devices in their toilets to save water with every flush or consider upgrading their toilets to new water efficient models. Waterwise welcomes the WaterAid campaign to raise awareness of the 2.6 billion people – 40% of the world's population – who do not have somewhere safe, private or hygienic to go to the toilet.
22 October 2007: New water restrictions brought up to date
Waterwise welcomes the government’s new water restrictions announced today. The current restrictions, based on legislation written in 1945 do not reflect the society we live in today. The new legislation cover bans on non-essential water use such as washing caravans, using pressure washers and topping up swimming pools and hot tubs.
1 October 2007: Marque the New Year with Waterwise
1 October is New Year’s Day, at least for the hydrological cycle, when the rainy season begins and the groundwater is recharged. The last two years have seen the wettest and driest weather for a century. This shows that now more than ever, the need for better management of water. Waterwise will be reopening entries for the second round of the Waterwise Marque for the second year. The Marque will help consumers make more water efficient choices.
14 September 2007: We welcome the Commission’s Blueprint for a Green Economy
Today, Waterwise welcomed the Quality of Life Policy Commission’s Blueprint for a Green Economy.
6 September 2007: Top Environmental Experts and Consumer Brands Join Forces to launch Initiative
'Future Friendly’ launch report confirms environmental issues are galvanising a new breed of ‘citizen’ and welcomes a reward scheme for local heroes.
16 August 2007: Government plans to increase water metering are a good start
Waterwise today welcomed the government’s plans to increase water metering in water-stressed areas, and urged them to build on this by extending full metering across the country.
24 July 2007: We welcome the government's plans for new eco-homes
Waterwise today praised the government’s plans to make new homes more water efficient. Much more can be done with new homes to ensure a sustainable water supply for the future. Wasting less water is vital to help us adapt to climate change, and essential as we build more and more new homes for people to live in.
12 July 2007: Are we getting a St. Swithin's day climate?
Traditionally the 15th July, St. Swithin's Day, is a day on which people watch the weather. Since Elizabethan times, tradition has said that whatever the weather is like on St. Swithin's Day, it will continue so for the next forty days. In the past this has seemed ridiculous, however this year it doesn’t seem so far fetched. April was one of the driest on record and June one of the wettest. It seems that climate change is already giving us a St Swithin’s Climate.
06 July 2007: Water efficiency can help save us from floods as well as droughts
Despite the summer rain, water efficiency champion Waterwise is still calling for everyone to save water and waste less. In fact, saving water can help save us from extreme flooding.
23 May 2007: Buy a water butt this weekend – the best long term investment for your garden ever!
With all the rain we’ve had in the last month, now is the time to buy a water butt. Used correctly and with waterwise gardening, a water butt will provide all the water you need to keep your garden alive throughout the long hot summer months. To help you Waterwise has produced a handy water butts guide available on our website – www.waterwise.org.uk

15 May 2007: Prizes galore in water efficiency campaign
Visitors to B&Q stores have the chance to find out how to avoid wasting water in and around the home. A free lifestyle magazine containing tips and advice will be available in selected stores from May 19 for a fortnight.
23 April 2007: Beat the shower timer and save money
Waterwise has teamed up with Water Group Promotions to giveaway free ‘Ripple Products’ shower timers during Earthweek. The offer is available to the first 5000 people to log on to the Waterwise website (www.waterwise.org.uk) on Monday 23 April.
03 March 2007: Waterwise welcomes new water efficiency labelling scheme
Waterwise welcomes the new water efficiency labelling scheme launched today by the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA). The voluntary scheme is available to all manufacturers and importers selling water efficient WCs, flushing cisterns, taps and combination tap assemblies, shower controls and baths in the UK.
26 March 2007: Waterwise the fish washes and dries his socks underwater
Today, Waterwise has launched a fun video called ‘Waterwise the Fish’. The video is the first in a series of short videos jointly funded by Waterwise and the Greater London Authority to promote the efficient use of water.

20 March 2007: Experts meet at Oxford University to discuss water efficiency
The UK drought may be over for now, but the long term outlook is for more droughts and floods warns Waterwise.
16 March 2007: Do your bit for World Water Day
In celebration of World Water Day, next Thursday 22 March, Waterwise is asking everyone to make one small behavioural change every day next week to save water. This year’s UN World Water Day is ‘Coping with water scarcity’. There must be a collective effort by industry, consumers, regulators and others to save water.
21 February 2007: Waterwise and B&Q in new drive for water efficiency in Scotland
Waterwise and B&Q have teamed up to launch a new water efficiency campaign. As part of this, B&Q has launched a range of water efficient products, bringing them to the UK mass market for the first time. Water efficiency is easy to achieve and this campaign is aiming to help consumers understand how they can contribute and make a difference.
2 February 2007: Average Brit Downs 3600 pints a Week
A Waterwise report reveals that the average Brit consumes 3600 pints a week1. Of water, that is! To produce one pint of beer it takes about 170 litres of water. And to produce one 150 gram burger it takes a staggering 2400 litres.

23 January 2007: Water action plan for Scotland
Today, the Saving Water in Scotland network (SWS) met at the Royal Society of Edinburgh to prepare an action plan to safeguard Scotland’s water supply from future droughts in the face of climate change. The event was chaired by Maureen Macmillan MSP, Convener, Scottish Parliament Environment and Rural Development Committee built on the conclusions drawn from the previous SWS meeting – ‘action on water efficiency needs to be taken now to prevent stresses on Scotland’s water supply similar to those experienced in the South-East of England.’

 
19 January 2007: Waterwise welcomes the National Audit Office’s report-Meeting the Demand for Water
Waterwise today welcomed the National Audit Office’s (NAO) report ‘Meeting the demand for Water’.

18 January 2007: Lifting hosepipe bans, Waterwise urges consumers to continue to be water efficient
Despite four water companies lifting the hosepipe ban this week, Waterwise urges consumers to keep up the good work and continue to practice water efficiency. Water efficient behaviour now will prevent the need for further hosepipe bans this summer.
1 January 2007: Waterwise New Years' Resolutions
UK water resources are currently being influenced by the changes in climate. We are experiencing decreased water quality and quantity, particularly in areas already prone to drought. At the same time, an increase in precipitation intensity is leading to widespread flood damage.