S&N hails water conservation scheme

Scottish & Newcastle Retail, which runs 1,400 pubs, is claiming industry leadership by introducing a water conservation project that is saving 200 million gallons of water annually. Its conservation scheme, which is being rolled out to 463 sites nationwide, has saved "millions of gallons of water" and cut down on long-term costs. The scheme was begun in response to the 1999 Water Regulations Act, with the conservation work being carried out on a site-by-site basis. S&N Retail, which earlier this year won the National Green Apple award for its environmental practice, worked with C&G Management and the water authorities to proactively comply with the regulations. At the moment, a total of 360 S&N sites are involved in the scheme and are saving more than 75 million gallons of water each year. On completion in 2004, the company predicts the water bill savings will be worth £500,000 a year. Said Angus Peters, chairman of the S&N Retail Environment Group: "Reducing energy costs and unnecessary wastage of all kinds of materials is a core priority of the company.