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What can we learn from other sectors?
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What else should we be doing on water management to be a sustainability leader?
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What does best practice in water management look like for the sector?
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How can we engage customers on water management?
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What more can the construction sector be doing to use water wisely?
Glenn Miles Collective responsibility in action
Collective responsibility in your own words
We recycle, repair, reuse and reduce at every possible turn and continuously re-think all that we do
President, Balfour Beatty Communities, US
What else should we be doing on water management to be a sustainability leader?
607 views3 Comments 29 July 2011Add a comment
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Who's behind this question?
Jonathan Garrett
Login to post your viewWe are about to start developing the 2015 milestones of our sustainability roadmap. As a global infrastructure company, what else should we be doing to in water management to be a true leader in sustainability?
Visit the water management page of the site for more on our approach, targets and progress.
Well, the steps taken by the British government for water preservation is really remarkable but I think some more dedicated steps are needed for this purpose. Rain water harvesting, dealing with flood and drought conditions are some areas where there is a big need of effective water management. Hope to see some more in this area.
Graham MannAt present, water consumption and discharge costs are relatively similar for the most of the UK. Little consideration is often made about water tables, rainfall, water stress and physical water scarcity. From a cost benefit analysis investing in water saving measures in a drought stricken area has the same return on investment as investing in an area where water tables are high (such as in the North East). Clearly from an environmental perspective, investing in water stressed areas will provide maximum benefit. Where water investment proposals are being developed for clients with multi-site operations, prioritising those sites within water stressed areas for water saving measures will lead to greater environmental benefits. GIS software can provide powerful information on where such investments should be made. However, it is also important to bear in mind that m3 saved/£ invested will diminish with the level of investment. Modelling can be used to determine where water savings in a given portfolio of sites should be made. For existing properties, Investment Grade Audits are an accurate means of determining the level of savings.
Bekir AndrewsThe fast increasing cost of energy has been a major headline over the past couple of years – as a result, people are taking actions to reduce their usage through implementing simple things like loft insulation to more complex schemes like the feed in tariff.
Water is the next big thing, across the UK and globally (although few people know it yet because it is so cheap…).
As an industry we need a better understanding of the water we use and how this can be reduced. We need to raise the profile of the importance of water with industry and the government and to work to identify ways in which we can be less reliant.
Just think, if industry becomes subject to water restrictions in dry periods in the future (particularly as climate change takes affect), it could be a show stopper for many of our projects!
Anonymous