Make a difference this World Water Day

21st March 2018

South West Water is donating £2 to WaterAid for every customer that responds to a public consultation on its business proposals for 2020-2025.

This coincides with World Water Day on Thursday 22 March, which aims to raise awareness of the one in nine people across the globe with no access to clean water.

Customers have until 30 April to have their say on South West Water’s £1bn proposed investment programme for 2020-25 at www.southwestwater.co.uk/waterfuture

For every customer that responds the company will donate £2 to WaterAid, an international not-for-profit organisation, which works in 34 countries to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone.

For terms and conditions go to www.southwestwater.co.uk/waterfuture

South West Water has been supporting WaterAid since it was founded in 1982 and in that time staff and customers have raised more than £7 million for the charity.

Last year, staff raised £3,000 on World Water Day and will be looking to match or increase that this year by making a donation to wear blue to work, bidding in a silent auction and in the case of one brave employee, Kasia Lis, shaving her hair in return for donations to the charity.

These are just some of many activities happening across the world on 22 March to focus attention on the urgent need to address the global water crisis. Just £24 can provide one person with clean water for life. This simple change can transform whole communities, impacting on people’s health, education, and livelihoods.

South West Water’s Operations Director, Bob Taylor, said: “It’s shocking that today, like every other day, around 800 children will die from diarrhoeal diseases caused by dirty water and poor sanitation. This World Water Day, South West Water hopes to spread the message that we all have a part to play in helping to end the global water and sanitation crisis, while also supporting WaterAid’s vital work in some of the world’s poorest communities.”

Tim Wainwright, WaterAid’s Chief Executive, said: “We are so grateful that South West Water is supporting WaterAid this World Water Day, and helping us shine a light on the urgent need to address the water crisis, which affects 844 million people globally. Clean water should not be a privilege; it is a basic human right. Together with good sanitation and hygiene, it underpins all areas of development, helping keep children healthy and in school, and enabling entire communities to unlock their potential and break free from poverty.

“WaterAid believes in a world where everyone everywhere has access to clean water, decent toilets and improved hygiene. By working with our partners, we can make a far bigger impact, reaching even more people, and transforming lives for good.”

Notes to editors 

• We will donate £2 to WaterAid for every South West Water customer* who provides feedback on our Proposals & Choices via our on-line survey, email or letter. (One £2 donation per household)
• Customers must supply their postcode within their feedback
• The consultation period and entry to the survey is from 5 March to 30 April      2018
• There will be a maximum company donation of £10,000

*To complete the survey you must live in a property that receives water and / or wastewater services from South West Water but you do not have to be the bill payer. Every person aged over 16 living in a property can complete the survey individually, but each individual can only complete it once.  The donation of £2 will be per household regardless of the number of surveys submitted.