Why Water Stewardship is Important in the Year of Groundwater

February 23, 2022

Water is a critical resource, which needs careful management to achieve the right balance between the needs of the environment, people, and businesses. Envireau Water’s annual Borehole Users Conference has always focused on the practical actions required to protect and manage water resources and in November last year, sustainability and water stewardship were two key topics within our theme ‘Drilling Boreholes is a Risky Business’.


So, what does it mean to be a good ‘water steward’? Water stewardship is more than just complying with local regulatory requirements and protecting your water supply. It requires a much wider understanding of the impacts of your water use, at both a site and catchment scale, and working collaboratively not only with regulators but with all stakeholders to address shared water challenges. This all starts by adopting the mindset that your water supply is just one small part of a much larger cycle.

Why is it important?

As a group of water resources hydrogeologists and hydrologists, we are seeing the demands and pressure on water resources increase, and the challenges surrounding water abstraction becoming more complex. This is all happening within the backdrop of a changing and more unpredictable climate.


Water stewardship provides a framework for businesses to develop collaborative, rather than adversarial, approaches to water resources management. It enables businesses to mitigate their operational water risks and develop opportunities, whilst at the same time delivering wider social, economic, and environmental benefits.


Adopting a water stewardship standard provides a benchmark for businesses to demonstrate they are actively working to sustainably manage their water supplies and tackle water related challenges at a catchment scale. This offers significant reputational rewards.

What we are doing

We have followed the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard System Training, at the Specialist Level, and we are actively assisting our clients to achieve and maintain AWS certification.


The AWS Standard is one of the leading international standards for sustainable and responsible water use. Our support covers all five elements of the standard, to enable our clients to understand, commit and plan, implement, evaluate, and communicate water stewardship actions.


Phil Ham, our Managing Director, says:

‘As a team that delivers practical solutions to support the natural water system that our clients rely on, we are a driving force to guide businesses along the right path, ensuring correct management and regulation of vital water resources. We recognise the role that stewardship can deliver, through encouraging the development of collective responses to complex water resources challenges.’ 


Could we support you?

Water stewardship does not need to be complicated but it does require a thorough understanding of the way in which water is managed at both a site and catchment scale. If you are interested in the benefits that certification could bring to your business, or you have started on your water stewardship journey already and require support, then get in touch with Phil Ham at PhilHam@envireauwater.co.uk to discuss how we can assist you.


About Envireau Water

At Envireau Water, we are a team of expert water scientists and engineers, who provide guidance on the management and regulation of natural water systems across the UK. By working collaboratively with our clients and the regulators, we deliver robust sustainable solutions that meet the requirements of all stakeholders. With an incredibly loyal client base and our ability to work seamlessly throughout the four nations of the UK, many of our clients know us individually and trust us to find resolutions to their water problems for years to come.


Connect with us on LinkedIn to hear the latest industry developments and updates regarding our team.


Envireau Water is an RSK Group Company.

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