Miya Water

What is it? An ambitious new company which turned water efficiency into an international cause in 2008. Set up by the Arison Group, the company established a global network of technologies and professionals in a few short months to tackle one of the greatest threats to water sustainability: the wastage of water through leakage.

Who is responsible? The company has been built up by the indomitably energetic Booky Oren, formerly the Chairman of Mekorot, Israel's national water company.

Why is it shortlisted?

• Miya has created an international network of water loss expertise, with subsidiaries in Canada, South Africa, Switzerland, Romania, Croatia and Israel, and has raised awareness of unaccounted-for water worldwide.

• Politicians often prefer to support visible new production facilities while neglecting the continuing inefficiencies in their distribution networks. The arrival of a major international business focusing on the issue is a major step towards urban water sustainability.

• Miya deserves all our support in changing attitudes towards the forgotten solution to water scarcity.