Turning Commitment into Action with the Waterwise Checkmark
Nicci Russell
Offices and buildings across the UK are proving that water efficiency is achievable, measurable and meaningful. The Waterwise Checkmark Award recognises buildings that are taking real, practical steps to reduce water waste while building a lasting culture of efficiency.
The Checkmark Award is assessed across three core areas – monitoring and maintenance; devices, fittings and technology; and engagement and culture – with organisations demonstrating progress in ways that suit their buildings, resources and people.
Environmental regulator Natural Resources Wales (NRW) earned the Checkmark across six sites. Key measures include aerated push-button taps, dual-flush toilets, sensor or waterless urinals at some sites, and rainwater harvesting at Maes Newydd, alongside monthly meter reviews to track consumption. As NRW Chief Executive Ceri Davies says, the award “reflects NRW’s commitment to reducing its water footprint and leading by example in sustainable resource management”.
In the business water retail sector, Business Stream has held the Checkmark since 2019. Chief Executive, Jo Dow, explains: “As a water retailer, it’s really important to us that we practice what we preach, so it’s fantastic to have our efforts verified through the Checkmark.” Continued improvements at its head office show how water efficiency can be embedded as an ongoing process, not a one-off project.
For MOSL, water efficiency supports a wider focus on responsible business. Reflecting on achieving the Checkmark at its Southampton office the ‘White Building’ (pictured), Lyvia Nabarro, Head of Market Engagement and Communications, says: “I feel incredibly proud to work for a company that is focused on doing the right thing. The Waterwise Checkmark demonstrates our commitment to driving water efficiency both in the office and our homes.” MOSL is a tenant not the building owner – Checkmarks are appropriate for all sorts of businesses!
The Checkmark also celebrates community action. The White Swan Gressenhall, a community-owned pub in Norfolk, is a great recent example of this becoming the first pub in the UK to receive the award after installing dual-flush toilets, smart metering and water butts, backed by a clear plan for continued water saving measures.
Reflecting on the wider impact of the scheme, Nicci Russell, CEO of Waterwise, says: “The Waterwise Checkmark shines a light on organisations that are making a real impact through practical action. Alongside this, campaigns such as our #LeakyLooChallenge, sponsored by Fluidmaster, helps turn awareness into action. We know that leaking toilets can waste between 200 and 400 litres of water every day, and the plumbing sector is central to addressing this challenge. The choices made at installation – the systems selected, how they’re configured and maintained – can lock in water use patterns for decades. Water efficiency relies on two factors working together: the products installed and the way people use them.”
Learn more at waterwise.org.uk/checkmark/
Join the #LeakyLooChallenge waterwise.org.uk/campaign/join-the-leakyloochallenge/