Defence partners scoop water "Oscar" for sparkling performance

Aquatrine Supplier Association won the Utility Week Achievement Awards 2010 by smashing its target for reducing water consumption over a decade ahead of schedule.

The partnership between Defence Estates, Veolia Water Nevis, Kelda Water Services Defence and C2C Services Ltd delivers water and wastewater services for most Ministry of Defence (MOD) sites across England, Scotland and Wales.

It met the Government target to cut water consumption by 25 per cent by the year 2020 in 2009. By applying the latest techniques and technologies in leakage detection and repair across the Defence estate, the team delivered savings equivalent to 10 Olympic-sized swimming pools every day.

Upon hearing the news, David Olney, Deputy Chief Executive of Defence Estates said:

"Our success at the Utility Week awards recognises the excellence of the working relationship between all Aquatrine parties. It demonstrates the commitment of both MOD and its service providers to meeting the Government's environmental targets.

"Defence Estates' priority is to support our Armed Forces and their families. The Aquatrine partnership helps us to provide water services needed across the military estate, whilst helping to safeguard our environment and provide value for money.

"I commend all the Aquatrine staff for their ongoing effort to ensure the continuing success of this project, and I am extremely proud that their efforts have been highlighted at these industry-leading awards."

The partnership's success was achieved whilst ensuring the minimum of disruption to site operations and security of water supply to defence customers.

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. Defence Estates (DE) is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is responsible for managing and maintaining land and properties to meet the current and future needs of the MOD and personnel at home and abroad, and to support current operations.

2. Its work includes providing, supporting and improving: operational units; single living and service family accommodation; training areas and historic military sites. Defence Estates actively manages these to ensure the needs of Defence are met, value for money is achieved, our heritage is protected and to achieve our environmental goals.

3. The Aquatrine Supplier Association is a partnership between DE, Kelda Water Services Defence, Veolia Water Nevis and C2C, a company owned by Severn Trent and Costain. Together, these companies provide water and wastewater services across the MOD estate.

4. The Aquatrine service providers have met the 2020 Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) target of reducing water consumption by 25 per cent, which was set by the Government for the MOD in 2004/05.

5. An Olympic-sized swimming pool holds 2.5 megalitres of water. One megalitre is the equivalent of 1,000,000 litres.