Defining sustainability

Wessex Water aims to be a genuinely sustainable company.

But what do ‘sustainability’ and ‘sustainable development’ mean?

The basic meaning – the ability to continue – seems simple. But it is a hugely significant idea – true sustainability needs economic progress, environmental protection and the well being of people to be successfully balanced. This is not something society has yet achieved.

Sustainable development is about activities that help society move towards sustainability.

Forum for the Future describes it as: "A dynamic process which enables all people to realise their potential and improve their quality of life in ways which simultaneously protect and enhance the Earth's life support systems". 

For Wessex Water to be sustainable, our work must be compatible with the things that keep us going as a company and are central to people’s quality of life.

For example: 

• protecting the environment, eg, in how we take water and discharge cleansed effluent
• the service we provide customers
• our relationships with other outside interests
• the knowledge, welfare and motivation of our staff
• the condition of our infrastructure
• our finances.  

Over time, business success depends on how we use and invest in these environmental, social and manufactured resources.