The ‘Love Water’ campaign, a long-term campaign launched on 31st July 2019, aims to raise awareness of the importance of water and the role everyone plays in protecting it.
More than 40 environmental groups, charities, water companies and regulators – including the Environment Agency, Water UK, Ofwat, NFU and Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) – have come together to launch the campaign, which will work with businesses and the public to tackle issues including water pollution and reducing water use and wastage by raising awareness of the issues, holding events such as river and beach cleans, and encouraging businesses to include relevant action as part of their operational and corporate responsibility targets.
Figures to illustrate the need for the campaign, and to demonstrate that small changes individuals make could make a big difference include:
- The UK water industry spends £100 million each year on clearing blockages caused by the wrong things going down sinks and loos. In February, United Utilities spent 8 weeks clearing a 90 tonne fat berg beneath the streets of Liverpool – more than 84 metres long.
- Research by Keep Britain Tidy shows that 1 in 4 people admit to littering. Last year, a spring beach clean organised by Surfers Against Sewage removed almost 66 tonnes of litter from beaches across the country.
- 72% of people surveyed said they used wet wipes, although most brands are not flushable and can cause blockages and pollution when they get into sewers.
- One litre of oil poured down the sink can pollute one million litres of water.
- If everyone in the UK turned off the tap when brushing their teeth we would save 1,584,000,000 litres (1584 megalitres) a day
The Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, Sir James Bevan, said: “Most people agree that water is a precious resource but too often we take it for granted and don’t see how our actions have a direct effect on the local rivers, lakes and beaches we all care about. Our campaign intends to change that by urging people to use water wisely and to think before pouring cooking oil down the drain or flushing a wet wipe away. We know that everyone has a duty to preserve and protect water and the campaign will also work with industry, water companies and other regulators in the longer-term to cut down on wastage.”
For more information follow this link.
