ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Water policy reforms How educational institutions can play their part by Caroline Gray-Mason, Director of Water Services at Cenergist
T
he UK Government, alongside the Environment Agency and Ofwat, recently announced an ambitious programme of reform for water companies, with the goal of building back greener from the pandemic. Having reviewed the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), the reforms set out the actions that water companies need to undertake to improve the environment.
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However, it is unrealistic to assume that a single authority can deal with the threats of water scarcity. Rather, everyone must play their part. Educational institutions have a wider part to play, and it is important for them to understand why change is necessary. The Need for Change According to guidance outlined by the UK Government, if not taken seriously, water stress can lead to
water scarcity, and could displace an estimated 700 million people by 2030. According to a study conducted by the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), students living on campus use up to 180 litres of water a day, 30 litres more than the wider industry estimate. It is clear that the burden of reform should be a responsibility that is also undertaken by university campuses and wider educational institutions. Furthermore, long term consequences can also
