Winning water schemes scoop awards: Waterwise organisations and individuals in the US have been rewarded for their efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle the wet stuff

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) handed out accolades to the winners of its national 2007 Water Efficiency Leader awards.

Four of the six winners were from states in the south of the country, which has been hit by severe drought this year - a problem highlighted by forest fires that ravaged California in October.

Winners included Arizona-based computer technology firm Intel Corporation, which recycles 75% of the water used in its manufacturing processes, and the Santa Clara Valley Water District, a Californian water management agency which helped its local community reduce water demand by 12%.

Lackland Air Force Base, in Texas, scooped the Military Award for schemes including purchasing recycled wastewater to irrigate their parade ground and golf course.

The Individual Award was handed to Allan Dietemann, a water expert at Seattle Public Utilities, who has worked to promote water conservation to governments, businesses and homeowners for more than 20 years.

The other winners were snack manufacturer Frito-Lay, which makes Doritos, and the Kentucky Pollution Prevention Centre.

The winners were picked by a panel of national water experts, who were looking for entries that displayed the best leadership, innovation and water savings.

EPA launched the awards last year to encourage wider adoption of water efficiency measures in the US.