University of Sheffield project funds fresh water well in India
Life Water, sold in all Commercial Services and UNICUS retail outlets across the University campus and residences, is a life-changing charity, providing clean drinking water to communities that desperately need it. For every bottle of water sold, funds are raised towards the construction of new freshwater wells in India.
Commercial Services at the University have worked with Life Water to sell their bottled water for 6 years which has led to the University being assigned its very own Life Water drop4drop clean drinking water project.
The construction of a new well in the M.Kothapalle community in Andhra Pradesh India will be completed in September 2016 and will provide 1070 people with a safe, sustainable and long-lasting source of clean drinking water. The well will feature a plaque with the details ‘donated by Sheffield University through purchases of Life Water’ to explain who funded the well and how it arrived in the community.
More than 1 billion people around the world are unable to access safe, clean drinking water, and over 2.5 billion do not have adequate sanitation.
Gavin Brown, Head of Commercial Services for Accommodation and Commercial Services (ACS) and UNICUS, sought to bring a more socially responsible solution to the University and investigated sourcing of bottled water. He explains, “At the University there is a steady demand for bottled water, and we wanted to provide a solution that delivers a wider social benefit. Life Water enables us to make a responsible and positive contribution in an area where water is not easily accessed. So, when a University customer purchases one of these drinks, they will be helping someone less fortunate to have access to fresh water as well.”
The initiative is one of many environmental activities at ACS undertake, including the responsible recycling of plastic drinks bottles, where Staff and Students are actively encouraged to recycle, with all cafés and student accommodation having well-labelled recycling bins for plastic and tins as well as caddies for food waste recycling. The PET plastic drinks bottles are then processed by a company in Lincolnshire, so they can be recycled and made back into bottles for future use.
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For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact: Nichola Rumboll, Ruby Slippers, on 07855 745521 or email nichola@rubyslippers.co.uk
Editors Notes:
IMAGES – The agricultural tap currently being relied upon for water in the M.Kothapalle community
Additional information
Life Water – http://www.life-water.co.uk/
The initiative is one of many environmental activities at The University including, including recycling as much litter as possible, in particular plastic drinks bottles. Students are actively encouraged to recycle, with all cafés and student accommodation having well-labelled recycling bins for plastic and tins as well as caddies for food waste recycling. The PET plastic drinks bottles collected are processed by a company in Lincolnshire, so they can be recycled and made back into bottles for future use.
About UNICUS
UNICUS is a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Sheffield. UNICUS was established in 2012 to operate a range of new commercial services alongside the University’s existing portfolio of commercial operations. Branded withUS www.withus.com UNICUS offers meeting and event spaces for conferences, business meetings or private dining occasions. All are catered for by an experienced team of chefs serving award winning food and drink.
Also part of the withUS brand is momentoUS, weddings and occasions. With locations in both the city centre and South West Sheffield, its prestigious venues include, Inox Dine, Halifax Hall, The Edge and Firth Court. A dedicated team of experienced wedding coordinators are on hand to create the perfect occasion. Also part of the withUS brand is gUSto, providing delivered hospitality, and hustle and bUStle, cafés bars and retail.