Water

It makes good environmental and economic sense to conserve as much water as possible. Some simple measures can help to reduce your water consumption by up to 50%.

Water management plans can help to reduce water use. This is necessary as currently water bills cost around 1% of a businesses annual turnover.

Envirowise provides a number of services to help you reduce your water use and stop your profits from going down the drain.

Water Management Plan

This is a way to implement water efficiency in your business. A successful plan will involve staff, making them aware of the methods you will use.

1. Support
2. Costs
3. Survey
4. Action

Step 1 - Support

Obtain management and staff support. This is key, everyone must work together in order to reduce water use throughout the business. To make the most of any savings, time and financial commitment is also a necessity. Possible repairs for example, will need to be found and then fixed in order to avoid unnecessary water waste.

Write a water management policy and incorporate it into an environmental policy.

Step 2 - Costs

Consider the true cost of water.

Check the water bills over the past few years and make a note of the annual consumption and charges. Look for patterns and any unexplained excess - these could be explained by leaks. Read you meter on a regular basis. Where the costs come from:

1. Standing charges - the larger the meter the larger the standing charge for both water used and disposal (sewage treatment).
2. The amount of water used - this is counted for both the amount of water supplied, and then how much water is treated (usually in m3).

Do not forget to consider the energy costs of heating or pumping the water and maintenance costs of the whole system.

Step 3 - Survey

Carry out a water survey and assess the flows in each area of the building. Look at how and why the water is being used.

Step 4 - Action

Take action - There are many simple, no cost or low-cost solutions to water efficiency.

More information about this topic can be found in the Environment Agency's Waterwise publication which provides businesses and other organisations with a simple, systematic approach to developing and implementing water management plan.

Legislation