Business Stream’s Water Efficiency Fund has awarded £100,000 to public-sector projects across Scotland, supporting measures designed to reduce unnecessary water consumption and deliver longer-term financial savings.
The Edinburgh-based water retailer established the annual fund in 2020 to help public bodies including councils, colleges and universities invest in water-efficiency projects.
Applications for the latest round totalled more than £300,000, with projects selected following assessment by senior Business Stream representatives and adjudication from Scottish Procurement.
Water Efficiency Fund supports practical projects
Projects receiving funding this year include an £8,500 award for South Lanarkshire College, which plans to install waterless urinals across its buildings.
Jane Prentice, Head of Business Innovation and Development at South Lanarkshire College, said: “Installing waterless urinals will help us reduce unnecessary water consumption across our buildings while also delivering ongoing cost savings.
“The funding means we can put a practical water efficiency measure in place that will make a lasting difference, supporting our wider efforts to operate more sustainably and use resources responsibly.”
Dundee City Council has also secured support for water audits, while the University of the West of Scotland plans to introduce controls designed to reduce unnecessary water use through its water flushing regime.
£100,000 available for public-sector water efficiency
Business Stream doubled its annual Water Efficiency Fund from £50,000 to £100,000 in 2024 in response to demand from public-sector organisations.
The company says the latest awards bring the cumulative amount distributed through the fund since its launch in 2020 to £250,000.
Business Stream’s previous projects have included water-saving taps, waterless urinals, conservation audits, water recirculation systems and other measures intended to reduce consumption across public buildings.
Official information and resources relating to the fund are available through Business Stream’s Public Sector Scotland resources.
Projects selected for potential long-term savings
Business Stream says projects were assessed on their potential to deliver lasting water savings as well as the strength of their delivery plans.
The retailer will also oversee project delivery in addition to providing funding.
Jo Dow, Chief Executive of Business Stream, said: “The standard of applications this year made the judging particularly difficult, which is a strong reflection of the work public sector organisations are doing to improve water efficiency.
“At a time when organisations are under pressure to manage both costs and environmental impact, the fund is designed to help turn good ideas into projects that can deliver measurable, long-term benefits.”
Water-saving measures build on previous projects
Previous recipients of the Water Efficiency Fund have reported reductions in consumption and operating costs following the introduction of measures such as low-flow taps, waterless urinals and water-recirculation equipment.
For example, Business Stream previously reported that Dundee and Angus College reduced water consumption by approximately 8,100m³ per year after installing 75 waterless urinals at two campuses through an earlier round of the fund.
More coverage of water conservation, efficiency and demand management is available in H2O Global News’ Water Management section.
Source: Business Stream
