Summary
As a water service provider, Yorkshire Water is committed to the
conservation of water. Over the past twelve months the Company has
aided and initiated many projects and campaigns in a bid to qualify
this commitment, improving customer awareness and attaining a
reduction in leakage for the eighth consecutive year.
Case Study
Yorkshire Water’s vision is ‘to be known as the best
water company in the UK’. As part of this, the Company
recognises its statutory duty to promote the conservation of water
to its customers as well as the moral obligation to take all steps
to provide a water efficient service. The communication of the
Company's commitment to water conservation is seen as a key way to
alter peoples’ perception of water, its availability, and how
we use it.
Household Initiatives
In February 2003, we again incorporated basic water audit advice
into our Customer Guide. This guide is sent to all 1.7 million
households with their water services charges. Customers are made
aware of the availability of water saving cistern devices and water
audit packs. These packs are distributed to customers through the
customer call centre, direct mailshot and at events throughout the
region.
Water efficiency advice for the home and garden is also included on
the Yorkshire Water website and it is the Company’s intention
to add a link to the website so that customers may obtain cistern
devices over the internet. Following on from previous years, we
have continued the well received discounted garden products leaflet
to encourage water efficiency in the garden. This was sent to all
1.45 million unmeasured customers. In addition, in 2003 the company
sponsored North Yorkshire Council’s Water Butt Promotion.
Non-household Initiatives
Water conservation is promoted to our business customers through
the Business Advisers, Account Managers, and the Water Business
Unit Service Centre staff. By the end of March 2003, a total of
4252 visits to business customers took place, during which water
conservation information and self-audit packs were provided, and
there were 9 audits at institutional customers’ premises.
We have continued to support development of the Water in the School
website. This is designed to help teachers and students understand,
monitor and reduce water consumption in their schools. The Company
has also actively targeted a younger audience through visits to our
Education Centres, and talks in local schools. During 2002/03 5941
children visited the three Education Centres. These centres have
been recently refurbished in order to keep the message and look up
to date and also to tie them in with the information and style of
our education packs, which include water conservation projects and
posters tying into Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum.
The Company’s annual frost campaign aims to address loss of
water through bursts resulting from frost. A direct mailshot was
sent to all schools and the top 4,800 businesses over a two week
period before the Christmas holidays.
Other Initiatives
Our “Speakers' Panel” talks to customer groups
continue to be popular, and we have spoken to 4953 domestic and
commercial customers in 125 talks this year.
The “Community Ambassador” service; these are
employees from all areas of the business, who give time to their
local communities and act as a focal point for customers.
Ambassadors have been briefed as to the availability of Water
Conservation packs for their community.
The Company has continued sponsorship of the Red Cross Open
Gardens scheme. Water conservation packs are freely available at
each opening, and promoted on each of the 140,000 free garden
opening guides.
At the Great Yorkshire Show this summer, Yorkshire Water
sponsored the construction of a water efficient garden with the
BBC. This brought the message to promote water efficiency to a new
audience through substantial TV and radio coverage.
For more information please visit the Water Efficiency Sections of
the Yorkshire Water Website:
