The Waterwise Project

The Waterwise Project, generally known as Waterwise, is an independent not-for-profit, non-governmental organization based in London that promotes more efficient and sustainable use of water in the United Kingdom. It was established in September 2006 after the UK’s water companies identified a need for an independent body capable of building the evidence base, public understanding, and economic case for large-scale water-efficiency work. Its formation reflected concern about rising household consumption, drought conditions, low river flows, falling groundwater levels, demographic change, and the effects that climate change could have on water availability and competition among households, agriculture, ecosystems, and industry. Waterwise’s original remit focused on reducing UK water consumption by 2010 while developing practical evidence for water-efficiency programmes. The organization’s work subsequently continued beyond that initial period, with a broader objective of reducing per-capita consumption and strengthening the social, political, and economic case for water efficiency. Its approach emphasizes reducing waste and improving the efficiency of products, buildings, systems, and everyday behavior rather than simply presenting conservation as a restriction on use. The organization operates primarily as a facilitator, convener, research contributor, and advocate. It brings together water companies, government departments, regulators, local authorities, universities, farmers, manufacturers, retailers, builders, businesses, civil-society groups, media organizations, and individual consumers. Through these relationships it supports dialogue, shares evidence, develops partnerships, and encourages practical action. In England, Waterwise has participated in the government-led Water Saving Group alongside representatives of the water industry and regulators. Its activities have included water audits, domestic retrofit schemes, workshops, educational programmes, university engagement, consumer information, policy development, and research into issues such as water and climate change, embedded water, and international water ecolabelling. Waterwise has also ranked UK dishwashers and washing machines according to water efficiency and has worked toward extending comparable information to showers, toilets, and taps. Its annual Water Efficiency Conference provides a forum for policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and other participants to discuss the development and implementation of water-efficiency measures. Waterwise administers the Waterwise Recommended Checkmark, an at-a-glance indicator intended to help consumers identify products with water-saving potential. The Checkmark replaced the earlier Waterwise Marque, which was introduced in 2006 and first awarded in 2007. The organization also convenes the Saving Water in Scotland network and has participated in the Blueprint for Water coalition, a broad environmental partnership advocating sustainable water management. In 2017, Waterwise launched the Water Efficiency Strategy for the UK. The strategy set out recommendations and actions intended to provide a framework for more ambitious and coordinated work by Waterwise and the wider water industry. Overall, Waterwise occupies an intermediary position between public policy, water utilities, research, business, and consumer behavior, seeking to make water efficiency a practical and compelling part of UK water-resource management.

Waterwise was created in September 2006 against a backdrop of concern about the sustainability of UK water use. Although the United Kingdom is often associated with a wet climate, the organization’s founding rationale highlighted regional and seasonal pressures, particularly in southern England. Parts of southern England had experienced unusually dry winter and spring conditions, while low river flows and declining groundwater levels created environmental risks. Chalk aquifers, which are important sources of water in southern England, were identified as especially significant. At the same time, household consumption was rising because of modern lifestyles and demographic changes, including an increase in smaller households that tend to use more water per person. The founding discussion also considered longer-term climate and supply risks. Climate projections indicated potential reductions in soil moisture and greater competition for water between agriculture and the public water supply. These pressures led all 26 UK water companies to support the creation of an independent organization dedicated to water efficiency. Waterwise’s initial remit was to help reduce consumption by 2010 and to build robust evidence for large-scale programmes. Its mandate was later extended beyond the original period, with an emphasis on lowering per-capita consumption and making a strong social, political, and economic case for efficiency. Rather than acting as a conventional utility or regulator, Waterwise developed as a facilitator and convenor. Its role has been to establish a common evidence base, encourage dialogue, form partnerships, and help organizations translate water-efficiency principles into practical projects. Its network has included national, regional, and local government; regulators; water companies; universities; farmers; builders; manufacturers; retailers; businesses; civil-society groups; journalists; and consumers. An independent board drawn from government, regulation, academia, business, other organizations, and the water industry provides oversight and strategic direction, with the board described as meeting four times a year. Waterwise has supported a wide range of applied work. Projects have included water audits, domestic retrofit programmes, workshops, university lectures, and collaborative initiatives with utilities, local authorities, universities, and construction organizations. It has provided information and advice to households, businesses, government, and the media, and has researched water efficiency in relation to climate change, embedded water, and international ecolabelling. It has also evaluated the water efficiency of UK models of dishwashers and washing machines, with work described as extending to showers, toilets, and taps. Public engagement has been an important part of the organization’s activities. Waterwise hosts the UK’s annual Water Efficiency Conference, bringing together policymakers, practitioners, and researchers. It also developed a product-recognition scheme: the Waterwise Marque was founded in October 2006 and first awarded in 2007, and was later replaced by the Waterwise Recommended Checkmark. The Checkmark was intended to give consumers a simple signal when selecting products with water-saving potential. The organization has also worked through sectoral and environmental coalitions. It convenes the Saving Water in Scotland network and has participated in the Blueprint for Water coalition, which brings together conservation, rivers, wetlands, fisheries, and environmental organizations around sustainable water-management objectives. In England, Waterwise has contributed to the government’s Water Saving Group, working alongside water companies and regulators. A major later development was the launch of the Water Efficiency Strategy for the UK in 2017. The strategy provided recommendations and a coordinated framework for Waterwise and the wider water industry, seeking to focus future activity on priority areas and encourage more ambitious action. Across its history, Waterwise has therefore combined advocacy, research, convening, consumer information, policy engagement, and practical demonstration projects. Its central proposition has remained that reducing waste and improving efficiency can help address water scarcity while supporting households, businesses, ecosystems, and the long-term resilience of the UK water system.

• 2017

  Water Efficiency Strategy for the UK launches

  [1]The Waterwise Projecten.wikipedia.org

  Waterwise publishes a strategy intended to coordinate and accelerate water-efficiency action across the UK water industry.

• 2010

  Initial consumption-reduction remit reaches its target period

  [1]The Waterwise Projecten.wikipedia.org

  Waterwise’s initial remit, focused on reducing UK water consumption by 2010 and developing supporting evidence, reaches its stated target period and is subsequently extended.

• 2007

  First Waterwise Marque awards

  [1]The Waterwise Projecten.wikipedia.org

  The organization first awards its water-efficiency product mark.

• 2006

  Waterwise is established

  [1]The Waterwise Projecten.wikipedia.org

  The UK’s 26 water companies establish an independent organization to promote water efficiency and build the evidence and economic case for large-scale action.

• 2006

  Waterwise Marque is founded

  [1]The Waterwise Projecten.wikipedia.org

  Waterwise creates the Marque, a product-recognition initiative intended to identify water-efficient products for consumers.

An independent UK water-efficiency champion and not-for-profit intermediary connecting policy, research, utilities, business, and consumers to reduce water waste and promote sustainable water use.

• Consumer product-recognition scheme

  Waterwise Recommended Checkmark

  The Waterwise Recommended Checkmark is a consumer-facing indicator designed to identify products with water-saving potential. It replaced the earlier Waterwise Marque and was intended to make water-efficiency information easier to interpret at the point of purchase. The scheme forms part of Waterwise’s broader effort to connect consumer behavior with product design, retail information, and resource conservation.

• Strategy and policy framework · 2017

  Water Efficiency Strategy for the UK

  Launched in 2017, this strategy sets out recommendations and actions for Waterwise and the wider water industry. It is intended to provide a shared framework for focusing water-efficiency work, supporting more ambitious programmes, and aligning policy, utility activity, research, and public engagement.

• Professional conference

  Water Efficiency Conference

  Waterwise’s annual UK conference brings together policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and other stakeholders to exchange evidence and discuss the implementation of water-efficiency measures. The event reflects the organization’s role as a national convener and forum-builder rather than as a conventional product supplier.

• Stakeholder network

  Saving Water in Scotland network

  This network convened by Waterwise brings together stakeholders in Scotland to discuss, coordinate, and advance water-efficiency activity. It extends the organization’s partnership model beyond individual projects and supports dialogue among public, industry, and other interested participants.

• 2017Water Efficiency Strategy for the UK

  United Kingdom

  Waterwise launched a strategy that organized recommendations and actions for stronger water-efficiency performance across the UK water industry and related stakeholders.

  Outcome. The strategy provided a framework for focusing future activity and encouraging more ambitious water-efficiency action.

  Source
• 2006Waterwise establishment and national water-efficiency evidence programme

  United Kingdom

  Waterwise was created to make water efficiency a more evidence-led and coordinated national priority, with an initial focus on reducing consumption and demonstrating the case for large-scale programmes.

  Outcome. The organization continued beyond its initial 2010 remit and developed a broader role in policy, partnerships, research, and consumer engagement.

  Source

• 2017

  Publish a UK water-efficiency strategyStrategy

  Background

  Water-efficiency activity required clearer priorities and greater coordination across the water sector.

  Action taken

  Waterwise launched the Water Efficiency Strategy for the UK, setting out recommendations and actions.

  Aftermath

  The strategy established a framework for more focused and ambitious future activity by Waterwise and the wider industry.

  Source

• 2006

  Adopt an independent facilitator modelStrategy

  Background

  Waterwise was created to coordinate a fragmented water-efficiency agenda involving utilities, government, regulators, researchers, businesses, and consumers.

  Action taken

  The organization positioned itself as an independent not-for-profit facilitator, convenor, and evidence-builder rather than as a regulator or water supplier.

  Aftermath

  This model underpinned its subsequent conferences, networks, research, partnerships, and policy work.

  Source

• 2006

  Create a water-efficiency product markProduct launch

  Background

  Consumers needed a simple way to recognize products that could reduce water use.

  Action taken

  Waterwise founded the Waterwise Marque, later replaced by the Recommended Checkmark.

  Aftermath

  The initiative became part of Waterwise’s consumer-information and market-engagement work.

  Source

• 2017

  Water Efficiency Strategy for the UK launched[1]The Waterwise Projecten.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Waterwise launched a national strategy setting out recommendations and actions for more focused and ambitious water-efficiency work across the UK water sector.

• 2006

  The Waterwise Project is established[1]The Waterwise Projecten.wikipedia.org

  Other

  UK water companies established Waterwise as an independent organization to promote water efficiency, build an evidence base, and develop the economic and policy case for large-scale efficiency measures.

• Waterwise Recommended Checkmark replaces the earlier Marque[1]The Waterwise Projecten.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Waterwise developed the Recommended Checkmark as a consumer-facing indicator of a product’s water-saving potential, replacing the earlier Waterwise Marque launched in 2006 and first awarded in 2007.

1. 1The Waterwise Projecten.wikipedia.org
2. 2Waterwise official websitewaterwise.org.uk