Sydney Water's "Make Every Drop Count" Wins Prestigious Award

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 26, 2006 (ENS) – The Sydney Water Corporation of Sydney, Australia has been awarded the 2006 Stockholm Industry Water Award for its Every Drop Counts Business Program. The program demonstrates how the utility is working in partnership with business, industry and government to help ensure the long-term sustainability of Sydney’s water supply.

The prestigious industry award will be presented by the Stockholm International Water Institute during the annual World Water Week in Stockholm, August 20-26.

"We are pleased to recognize the achievements of Sydney Water in engaging the broader business community in the critical issue of sustainable water use," said Bjorn Rosen, chair of the Stockholm Industry Water Award Committee.

"Water constraints are becoming more acute and widespread throughout the world," sais Rosen, "and Sydney Water and its business partners provide inspiration and practical guidance for all."

This is the first time this award has been won by an Australian organization. Sydney Water was selected for the award from among many applicants from around the world.

Sydney Water is the largest water utility in Australia, the driest inhabited continent in the world, and supplies drinking water, recycled water and wastewater services to to 4.2 million people in Sydney, Illawarra and the Blue Mountains.

Sydney Water Managing Director David Evans said, "This is recognition for the business and government customers who have participated in the program, our consultants and suppliers – without their commitment to this partnership the program’s results would not have been possible."

Sydney Water’s Project Officer Sarah Baulch with Every Drop Counts business partners from Investa on the rooftop of their building. Rainwater captured from the roof is being used for the irrigation of balcony and rooftop gardens, so drinking water need not be used for irrigation. (Photo courtesy Sydney Water)

Sydney's water supply comes primarily from the Warragamba River, a major tributary of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River, controlled by the Warragamba Dam about 65 kilometers (40 miles) west of Sydney.

Water saving programs such as Every Drop Counts are a key component of the New South Wales government’s 2006 Metropolitan Water Plan. As part of its operating license requirement, Sydney Water is required to reduce per capita consumption by 35 percent during the period from 1991 to 2011.

The Every Drop Counts Business Program addresses these challenges by promoting water management as a business issue rather than a technical issue. It begins by getting commitment from senior management, then implementing a process for ongoing diagnostic and improvement with the identification of specific opportunities for water conservation for each organization participating in the program.

"While the business and government sector uses around 30 percent of Sydney’s water, it is everyone’s responsibility to conserve water and this program is helping organizations large and small play their part," Evans said.

Lake Burragorang holds about 80 percent of Sydney's water supply behind the Warragamba Dam, the largest concrete dam in Australia. (Photo courtesy Recreational Flying)

The utility has gone beyond technical issues and provided an innovative financing mechanism to enable businesses to implement water conservation measures.

Evans said the program has produced hundreds of success stories from business, industry and government.

For example, he said, "Boral Quarries have reduced their water consumption by 84 percent since joining the program in October 2004, from 6.6 litres per tonne of production to 1.2 litres per tonne in December 2005."

"They achieved this through recycling, using bore water, educating employees about the importance of conservation and monitoring water usage," Evans said.

Other companies that have saved water by taking part in the Sydney Water program include Coca-Cola Amatil, Colonial First State Property, Visy Paper, Amcor Fibre Packaging, Lend Lease, Caltex, BlueScope Steel, along with universities, hospitals, councils and manufacturers.

The Stockholm Industry Water Award trophy. The Stockholm Industry Water Award was established in 2000 by the Stockholm Water Foundation in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. (Photo courtesy SIWI)

The Stockholm Industry Water Award is an honorary award that recognizes innovative corporate development of water and wastewater process technologies, contributions to environmental improvement through improved performance in production processes, new products and other contributions by businesses and industries that help improve the world water situation.

An award committee established by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences reviews the submissions and selects the winning company. The committee includes representatives of the Academy and of the Global Water Partnership, International Water Association, Stockholm Water Foundation, World Business Council for Sustainable Development and water scientists.

Previous recipients include Procter & Gamble; the Staple Fibre Division of Grasim Industries Ltd, India; ZENON Environmental Inc, Canada; Kaldnes Miljöteknologi AS, Norway; The General Motors de Mexico Ramos Arizpe Complex, Mexico; and Northumbrian Water Limited, United Kingdom.