Internationally Recognised Certified Programme for Water Stewardship, devised and developed in Ireland
Irish Water (Uisce Éireann) have partnered with the Sustainable Enterprise Skillnet and 20FIFTY Partners to develop and deliver an innovative water stewardship and conservation training programme to support Irish businesses as they seek to improve their water stewardship practices and impacts.
The Certified Water Steward programme is the first of its kind globally. The framework focuses on awareness building, strategy development, practical skills and training, reporting and peer-to-peer collaboration across industry and relevant stakeholders to deliver tangible, verifiable impacts on a national level. A landmark offering, it is endorsed by the European Water Stewardship (EWS) standard, draws on the experiences of Water Stewardship Ireland and is fully supported by national stakeholders, building on the strategic input and funding support from Irish Water and Skillnet Ireland.
Welcoming the initiative, Ken Stockil, Director of Programme Delivery said, “This innovative programme has been made possible thanks to the funding from Irish Water, Skillnet Ireland, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and is a clear demonstration of Ireland’s growing reputation and leadership actions on water stewardship and climate action.”
Since the programme’s launch in 2019, over 320 of Ireland’s leading industrial and service sites have graduated. Participating companies include Microsoft, Aramark, Intel, Dublin Airport, Boston Scientific, ABP Food Group, Regeneron, GE, Dalata Hotel Group, Dawn Meats, Diageo, Analog Devices, Stryker, Mondelez, Johnson & Johnson, Nestle and many others across both public and private sectors.
70% of the businesses who have taken part are now introducing Annual Water Stewardship Targets on foot of the programme, resulting in over 825 new water conservation projects. Three graduating sites have certified to International Water Stewardship Standards – most recently, Nestle Wyeth in Limerick, who became only one of five independently AWS certified platinum level water stewardship plants in the world on foot of its participation in the programme.