Vital funding given to public body through water saving project
A LOCAL Council has been awarded a beneficial donation from one of the UK’s largest water retailers to help fund a water efficiency project across the Highland region.
The Highland Council has received £10,000 to invest in a public convenience water efficiency project and is just one of 14 public sector organisations set to benefit Business Stream’s Water Efficiency Fund – which is donating a total of £100,000 to likeminded ventures across Scotland, double of the £50,000 donated last year.
Business Stream, headquartered in Edinburgh, established its Public Sector Scotland (PSS) Water Efficiency Fund in 2020 as an annual initiative to assist organisations, such as local councils, schools, and universities, to deliver environmental efficiencies and financial savings through water efficiency projects.
This year, the Fund allocation process has been overseen by a judging panel of representatives from Business Stream, with adjudication from Scottish Procurement. The panel awarded funding to 13 public sector organisations spanning 16 water efficiency projects.
Ronnie Macdonald, Energy Manager at Highland Council said: “We are delighted to receive this additional financial support from Business Stream to assist us on improving the water efficiency of our estate. It is hoped that these funded works will act as a catalyst demonstrator project which could lead to further efficiency improvements on many more sites”.
Chief Executive of Business Stream, Jo Dow said: “We’re delighted to have invested an additional £50,000 into our annual Water Efficiency Fund. By funding water efficiency projects, we can help public sector bodies in Scotland to save money and water, while also reducing their environmental impact”.
This year’s beneficiaries include Renfrewshire Council who are using the money to provide Raeburn Additional Support Needs School with pool covers, the University of Aberdeen who will use the fund to conduct water efficiency audits and NHS Forth Valley who plan to install energy efficient urinals and taps at seven locations with the donation.
Alongside providing the funding, Business Stream will also support the delivery of each project.
