Sponsored Editorial

With protecting and enhancing our environment high on the agenda, South East Water who supply drinking water to large parts of Kent, has launched an innovative plan to help our environment flourish for the next 25 years.

It is set to become the first UK water company to publish a 25 year environment plan designed to create and maintain a resilient environment.

Here in the Garden of England, winter rainfall is crucial with much of the water from October to March filtering into underground aquifers.

These aquifers store water in the rock before it makes its way to become an important start for many of our rivers and streams to flow.

These wet and rainy months provide most of the water that South East Water collects, ready to distribute to its 2.2 million customers during the summer months.

Throughout the year, the company pumps on average 520 million litres every day to homes and businesses across the region. On hot days this can quickly rise by an extra 100 million litres - the equivalent of 1.25 million toilet flushes.

WHERE DOES WATER COME FROM?

Worldwide, 97% can be found in oceans, two per cent is frozen leaving just 1% found in rivers, lakes and underground aquifers which can be sustainability converted into safe drinking water.

Everyone knows water is essential for life. Not only human life but also for animals, insects or to keep vegetation thriving in towns, cities and the countryside.

Trees, for example, drink up to 100 litres of rain water a day – using almost as much as the average person in Kent who uses around 150 litres of water a day for everything from the morning shower to brushing teeth before going to bed.

Getting this water to the tap is a huge responsibility which uses technology and innovation through a massive network of pipes, pumps and valves to keep the water flowing while also protecting the environment from where the water comes from.

Emma Goddard, Head of Environment at South East Water, said: “People have such busy lives they often don’t think about drinking water. They turn the tap on and it’s there.

“But water and the environment are intrinsically linked and we recognise an important part of this is making sure we consider the environmental impact of our operations.

“For us, it's about more than just continuing to supply water – we care deeply about the environment and want to protect and enhance it for future generations.

“We know making lasting change to the environment takes time and no single organisation can do this alone. That’s why we’re the first UK water company to create a 25 Year Plan to protect and enhance this important and essential asset and we have been working with others to co-create this plan from the start.”

A BIG THANK YOU

Thank you to the thousands of people who are already doing their bit to save water and in turn help the local environment. The company has given out hundreds of thousands of free water savings devices and this is already making a big difference.

But there is still much more that can be done.

With autumn just around the corner a great way to save water is by getting a water butt for the garden.

Lots of rain runs off rooftops each year that could be put to good use around the garden. With a water butt, this water can be stored and used when the weather is drier.

It is also the perfect time to start getting the home winter ready by checking for dripping taps and making sure all pipes, cisterns and tanks are lagged to avoid freezing and bursting. Checking where the internal stop tap is and making sure it can be turned off in an emergency is another job to be done now.

For more water saving tips along with water efficiency freebies go to www.southeastwater.co.uk/savewater

Find out more about the 25 year environment plan go to corporate.southeastwater.co.uk/25YP