Water
What is water conservation and why is it important?
Although most of the earth is covered in water, only 3% of this is freshwater and only 1% is fit for human consumption. As the world's population increases and more countries become industrialised, we continue to consume drinking water faster than the natural water cycle takes to refill our lakes, rivers and reservoirs.
The increasing effect climate change is already making treated freshwater a scarce resource in some parts of the world. It also impacts on water reserves in the UK.
Continued access to supplies that are fit for human consumption requires investment in water-saving measures and efficient resource management.
There is also a large carbon footprint associated with the supply of water and treatment of wastewater.
How we manage our water usage
- All supplies of mains drinking water to our buildings are metered and monitored
- We use low flush toilets and water efficient taps
- We have installed hot water dispenser taps in new refurbishments and at student social zones across the campus
- Our Byrom Street campus incorporates a rainwater harvesting system which provides grey water to assist with WC flushing
Cold water dispensers
We install free-to-use chilled and ambient water dispensers. Choosing to re-fill drinking water bottles from these helps to:
- reduce the amount of single use plastic water bottles
- reduce our scope 3 carbon emissions
- save people money
- improve water sanitation around the world, since donations made by our chilled/ambient water dispensing partner supports communities with access to sustainable safe water solutions and improved sanitation
Would you like to help shape our water saving initiatives or do you have any suggestions or comments? Please get in touch with us.