Environmental organisations Waterwise and Groundwork, alongside Northumbrian Water, have launched a new training programme which will accredit participants as ‘water literate’.
The Water Literacy programme, which is supported by the Ofwat Innovation Fund, launched on 4th February, and focuses on the value of water. The programme has been designed to build knowledge that empowers individuals to play their part in addressing the environmental impact of water scarcity in the UK.
Offered free of charge to the first 2,000 learners, the training has been developed initially as a work-place course aimed at professional development.
Tim Wagstaff, Lead Water Efficiency Manager at Northumbrian Water NWL, said:
“Water is an overlooked resource, and we don’t typically connect our use, to the environment it comes from, and the processes required to get it from source to tap. Driven by current science and research, the course explores links between water and climate change as well as water supply and treatment processes and crucially, equips learners with the knowledge and tools to instil meaningful changes in their own lives.”
The Water Literacy programme aims to build a community of changemakers, that will turn a drop of knowledge into a wave of change as learners become equipped with innovative tools, strategies, and the knowhow to become accredited as water literate.
Jo Osborn, Deputy Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Waterwise said:
“The Water Literacy programme has the potential to be much more than a course. You won’t just leave with a wealth of knowledge, being accredited as water literate empowers you to lead colleagues, support communities, and influence your industry to consciously adopt a sustainable water-use approach. Our collective actions create ripples, turning into waves of change, reshaping practices, policies, and perceptions of water where we live and work.”
Jane Herbert, Water Literacy programme manager at Groundwork said:
“At Groundwork we have been training people to become carbon literate for a few years and it was evident water was the missing link. Climate change and water scarcity are intrinsically linked, yet we found low awareness in many sectors about the value of water and how, as individuals and communities we can take meaningful action to address the issue”
Jeannette Henderson, Principal, Ofwat Innovation Fund said:
“Two-thirds of water company areas are water-stressed. With 1.5 million new homes pledged by the government before 2029 and the UK’s population expected to grow by 5 million in the next decade, demand on the water network will only increase. The water sector will be increasing supplies, including building new reservoirs. But we also need to use the water resources we have more efficiently– and that can only be achieved through greater water literacy.
“Just as growing awareness and knowledge of our individual carbon footprints is encouraging people to make more sustainable choices, so too can greater knowledge of our water system and how we use it. Investment expenditure in the water sector is set to quadruple over the next five years as part of a wider £104 billion plan to benefit customers, the environment and to support economic growth. Those benefits will only be felt if we all use the water we have in a smarter way. And that means equipping people with the skills through programmes like this to drive change and empower customers and communities to be more water efficient.”
The Water Literacy programme equates to a day’s worth of learning which can be delivered to small groups online or in-person. To find out more, visit: https://waterliteracy.uk/
