6 March 2007
Top honours awarded to best water savers
The Malvern Hotel and The Blues Grill in Kent was today presented with the top award in the 2007
Environment Agency Water Efficiency Awards for its efforts in saving water and raising awareness to
customers and other hotel owners.
Environment Minister Ian Pearson awarded the family-run hotel and restaurant business the Outstanding
Contribution to Water Conservation and winner of the Leisure and Tourism category for their "Every Drop
Counts" project. The business has seen a 46% drop in water use and annual savings of more than £840 since
July 2005.
Other winners announced today included the Broadland Agricultural Water Abstractors Group in East Anglia
for training members in water efficiency and saving 190,000 cubic metres of abstracted water a year, and hand
car wash Pitstop in Swansea for installing a water recycling system that has cut water use by 60%.
Chief Executive of the Environment Agency Barbara Young said the winners and commended projects had
impressed the judges in their commitment to making significant water savings and reducing business costs.
"It was difficult deciding on the winners, as there was such quality and diversity in the entries. But those
businesses who have gone that extra mile got the attention of our judges," Barbara Young said.
"These businesses have shown that by investing time and effort in being water efficient, there are huge
savings to be made financially, as well as being a benefit to the environment. With water use in the home and
workplace set to continue to rise in the future because of population growth and development, the winners of
our 2007 Water Efficiency Awards are leading the way in targeting water saving efforts and making better use
of the water we have now.
"Through their enthusiasm and commitment, the Malvern Hotel and The Blues Grill managed to reduce water
use by 46% or 320 cubic metres per year. This family-run hotel shows how small companies can make big
savings that are truly worthwhile."
Ian Pearson said: "The appreciation of water as a precious resource which we need to use wisely is a
relatively new concept and is still a challenging idea for many. But as we face the inevitable changes brought
by climate, population growth, and consumer habits it is one we are increasingly unable to ignore.
"Practical examples of the environmental benefits and the cost savings that come with using water more wisely
is one of the most effective ways of getting that message across. The projects featured in this year's Water
Efficiency Awards demonstrate not only what can be achieved, but remind us that this is an issue on which
every one of us has a responsibility to act."
Several commendations were awarded in the Agriculture and Horticulture category and Construction and
Renovation category, as the competition was too close to call. Essex & Suffolk Water was also awarded the
Judges' Award for being a consistent participant and presenting high quality water efficiency entries over the
past four years.
The awards were presented today at the Energy Clinic in London by Environment Minister Ian Pearson and
Environment Agency Director of Water Management David King. The Water Efficiency Awards are supported
by Defra, DfES, Envirowise, the NFU, RTPI, Ofwat, sustain magazine and the Welsh Assembly Government
(WAG). The entries will be featured in a special Water Efficiency Awards publication. For more information on
the awards and previous winners see the website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/savewater
Winners and commendations of the 2007 Environment Agency Water Efficiency Awards:
Outstanding Contribution to Water Conservation- The Malvern Hotel and The Blues Grill (Margate,
Kent) - Every Drop Counts.
DfES Inspiring Change
Winner: Broadland Agricultural Water Abstractors Group (Norfolk Broads, East Anglia) - BAWAG water
efficiency initiative.
Project involves 170 members, mainly working in agriculture and horticulture
The group’s Water Audit is now an industry standard for the Assured Produce scheme
130 people have received training about water efficiency
The scheme is saving 190,000 cubic metres of abstracted water a year.
Commendation: Kent Water Demand Management Group - Kent Water Demand Management Programme.
Commendation: Three Valleys Water - Do you know your H2O?
Envirowise Industry and Business
Winner: Pitstop (Swansea) - Closed loop reed bed recycling.
A small business committed to water efficiency
Reed-bed water recycling system has reduced water use by 60%
An investment that will repay itself in less than four years.
Commendation: Marshalls plc (Ramsbottom site in Lancashire) - Water and materials recycling system.
Leisure and Tourism
Winner: The Malvern Hotel and The Blues Grill (Margate, Kent)- Every Drop Counts.
Raising water efficiency awareness to guests and local hotel owners and guesthouse owners
Water use reduced by 46%
Annual savings of £840.
Commendation: High Post Golf Club Ltd (near Salisbury in Wiltshire) - Sustainable Golf Course
Management.
NFU Agriculture and Horticulture
Commendation: L F Papworth Ltd (Felmingham, Norfolk)- Improving on Farm Irrigation Efficiency
Commendation: Natures Way Foods Ltd (Selsey, West Sussex) - Rain Cloud
Commendation: Place UK (Tunstead near Norwich) - Soft Fruit Scheduling
Commendation: Tamar Nurseries Ltd (Wisbech, Cambs)- Water Recycling
Ofwat Economic Research and Innovation
Winner: Essex & Suffolk Water - Thurrock Home Survey.
More than 8700 participating households
Each home saved an estimated 15.11 litres of water a day
Survey encourages better water efficiency while results collected will help future demand planning in the
Thames Gateway.
Commendation: Essex & Suffolk Water - Domestic Audits - which approach?
sustain magazine Construction and Renovation
Commendation: Arup - The Hub (East London)
Commendation: Low Carbon Network - Earthship Brighton
RTPI Public Sector
Winner: Nottingham City Council - Nottingham Water Conservation Action Plan.
Overall water consumption reduced by 25% between 2004 and 2006
Financial savings of £290,000
Payback of investment in under two years.
Commendation: Durham City Council - Water Reduction Programme 2005-06
Ends
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Case studies are available for all winners and commendation awards.