Upstream Thinking wins Living Wetlands Award

South West Water's innovative Upstream Thinking project to restore wetlands and control future treatment costs has won another prestigious national award.

The prestigious Living Wetlands Award from The Chartered Institution of Water and Environment Management (CIWEM) recognises multi-functional projects that demonstrate the sustainable use of wetland habitats.

The award continues a winning streak for the pioneering project which last year won the Environment Award at the Utility Industry Achievement Awards, Partnership Achievement of the Year at the Water Industry Achievement Awards and the large business award at the Finance for the Future Awards.

Upstream Thinking is a five-year £9 million approach to managing water resources from the very beginning. It has helped to restore thousands of acres of wetlands in the south west as well as bringing a host of other benefits.

Award judge and CIWEM Director of Policy, Justin Taberham, says: "The Upstream Thinking programme is an excellent example of a whole systems approach that improves water quality and then reduces water treatment costs, while delivering many other benefits. The Living Wetlands Award judging panel is delighted to give the award to this project."

Upstream Thinking is delivered by South West Water in partnership with a range of organisations, including the Westcountry Rivers Trust, Exmoor National Park Authority, Devon Wildlife Trust, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency, the University of Exeter, Natural England and English Heritage.

Martin Ross, FCIWEM, until recently South West Water's Environmental Manager, received the award at CIWEM's Annual Dinner at Draper's Hall in London on 29 May 2013.

More information about Upstream Thinking can be found at www.upstreamthinking.org