Council one of the first local authorities to be recognised as a Water Literate Organisation
Nottinghamshire County Council has become one of the first local authorities to be recognised as a Water Literate Organisation (WLO) – highlighting its commitment to fostering a culture of sustainability.
It has received the accreditation as part of the wider Water Literacy Programme pilot for demonstrating commitment to excellence in water efficiency.
The Water Literacy Programme is a learning experience that will inspire, motivate and educate professionals and stakeholders, to play their part in addressing the environmental impact of water scarcity in the UK.
A pilot of the Water Literacy Programme which has just ended was funded by Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Challenge, led by Northumbrian Water, Groundwork East, and Waterwise with support from wider project partners.
More than 1,880 individuals have now been accredited as water literate through the programme so far.
As well as individuals having the opportunity to be trained and apply to become accredited as Water Literate, a Water Literate Organisation (WLO) accreditation route was also piloted as part of this work.
The WLO accreditation is aimed at encouraging organisations to commit to water conservation through their operations and activities, which in this case has led to the council being awarded a Waterwise Checkmark for one of its buildings, to develop a three-year water-saving action plan and an employee training programme.
More than 20 officers have so far been trained and accredited as part of the council’s drive to train 150 staff members in water efficiency over the next three years.
The water-saving plan and training programme, which has been implemented to drive a culture change, will strengthen the organisation’s progress towards protecting the environment and delivering efficiencies outlined in the Council Plan.
The employee training programme will equip officers with an understanding of how their roles support the organisation in achieving its water-saving goals and wider sustainability aims.
Councillor Bert Bingham, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, said: “We are delighted to have become one of the first local authorities in the country to become accredited as a Water Literate Organisation and it’s fantastic that this has been recognised by Waterwise.
“By taking part in this pilot programme, we are strengthening our role in driving water savings across our activities and operations.
“We also intend to bring our key partners along with us on this journey through training and delivery, utilising our sphere of influence to deliver wide-scale benefits for Nottinghamshire, impacting residents, businesses, and communities.”
Councillor James Walker-Gurley, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management, said: “Building on the foundations of the Water Literacy course created by Waterwise and partners, we have tailored our programme to raise awareness of Nottinghamshire County Council policies, strategies and frameworks that underpin officer responsibilities, leading to actions that will lead the organisation to successes in achieving its water-saving measures.”
Laura Berks, Projects and Training Manager at Waterwise, said: “The impact potential of Nottinghamshire County Council engaging with the Water Literacy Programme and being one of the first local authorities to become a Water Literate Organisation is wide-reaching, and lines up perfectly with our vision for the programme – to raise awareness of the value of water, and empower individuals to take action where they can in their homes, within communities, and collectively within their organisations.
“The level of ambition in the council’s three-year water-saving action plan is inspiring.
“We’re excited to continue to work with Nottinghamshire County Council on the programme to drive water efficiency in Nottinghamshire, as well as see the council’s own water-saving plans come to life over the next few years.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured, from left, are James Silveston, Property Safety and Facilities Management; Laura Berks, Projects and Training Manager at Waterwise; Cllr Bert Bingham, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment; Chennour Wright, Project Manager Growth, Infrastructure and Development, and Sam Williams, Team Leader, Site Services.
