30 November 2012: The European Commission (EC) has recognized six public and private sector organizations for applying innovative water management solutions towards safeguarding the environment as winners of the 2012 Eco-management and Audit Scheme (EWAS) Awards.

The EWAS Awards recognize outstanding achievements in one particular environmental management aspect each year. The theme of the 2012 Awards was: Water Management for Water use Efficiency and Water Quality.

The following four organizations from the private sector were selected in the categories micro, small, medium and large organizations: Abwasserverband Anzbach Laabental (Austria), for its innovative sewage system and eco-friendly waste disposal; the camp-site Riechey Freizeitanlagen GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), for its integrated water cycle system and biological treatment plant; the Brewery Neumarkter Lammsbräu Gebr. Ehrensberger e.K. (Germany), for its approach to saving and recycling water; and Lafarge Cement (UK), for increases in water efficiency through independent whole life-cycle water footprint analysis.

Comune di Tavernelle Val di Pesa (Italy) was awarded the prize for small public sector organizations for its plan to install water saving technologies in new buildings and its agricultural improvement plan. Bristol City Council won the award for large public sector organizations for its water efficiency scheme including rainwater harvesting, sustainable urban drainage and other measures.

EWAS aims to support organizations in improving their environmental and financial performance and environmental communication. The EWAS Award was introduced by the EC to recognize outstanding performance in a particular area of environmental management each year. [EC Press Release] [EWAS Website]