UM launches the pilot ‘Be WaterWise’: working together to use water more wisely
Take shorter showers. Don’t leave the tap running unnecessarily. Use the small flush button where possible. These are small choices, but together they can make a big difference. That is why Maastricht University, in collaboration with Watermaatschappij Limburg (WML), has launched the Be WaterWise pilot scheme.
Over the next three months, we will be trialling the campaign at the University Library in the city centre and at UMSport. At these locations, students and staff will be made aware of their water consumption in various ways. These include posters, stickers on coffee machines and in toilets, hourglasses in the showers and a small exhibition about water.
Does raising awareness work?
No taps will be modified or installations converted for this pilot. It’s all about behaviour. Previous pilots with Be WaterWise have shown that this can have an impact: on average, drinking water consumption fell by 12.4%. We are also measuring water consumption on the UM campus before and after the campaign. This will allow us to see what the approach actually achieves.
Every drop counts
Tap water seems like something we take for granted, but a great deal goes into ensuring a reliable supply of drinking water every day. With this pilot, FS aims to show that sustainability doesn’t always start with major measures. Sometimes it begins with a small change in behaviour.
So: if you see a reminder during your working day – for example, at UMSport – do take a moment to think about it. Every drop counts. If the results are positive, we’ll work with WML to explore ways of applying this approach at other locations within the university.
Read WML’s news item here (in Dutch) about the collaboration on this pilot project.
