Government Business

Water is becoming an increasingly expensive resource. With new spending plans drawn up by water companies proposing in some cases an increase on bills of 26 per cent over the rate of inflation between 2009 and 2015,  organisations in many sectors need to consider reducing their water consumption to help them future proof against the operational and bottom line effect of rising costs.
    
Water is a resource of considerable value, particularly due to its increased scarcity in recent years. In this country, drought has long been associated with summer months, and it is only now that the longevity of the issue is starting to be fully recognised.

Stretched supplies
Identified as one of the ‘Top Five Risks’ to mankind this century, alongside soaring food prices and dwindling energy reserves, water supplies are already being stretched with businesses in England and Wales using 9.8 billion cubic metres every year - enough to fill over 2.6 million Olympic-sized swimming pools. While the cost of water to a large industrial plant for example is particularly evident, other organisations, regardless of size or sector, can make a real difference by addressing water use.
    
For example, businesses that adopt a systematic approach to water reduction typically achieve a 20-50 per cent decrease in the amount of water used. This can translate into significant monetary savings – not only on water supply costs but also on wastewater disposal charges.

Be aware
Knowledge is the key to effective water management. Many organisations are unaware of exactly how much water they are using. Without knowing how much is being used it is difficult to identify potential savings. As a basic first step, organisations should consider the following:

• Where does the organisation use water?
• How much water are we using?
• Are we using too much?
• Have we tried saving water?
• Could we take further action?    
  

A water balance is then highly recommended to reveal precisely how, where and why water is being used across the company’s operation. The balance should include a review of patterns of water use, as well as wastewater discharges and routes to sewer. Important points to address include excessive, unnecessary, unknown, and unauthorised usage, where clean or unauthorised water discharges directly to the sewer. It is also worth considering whether savings can be made on sewerage charges.  

Water minimisation team
Once a water balance has been established and water use in each area is understood, water saving opportunities and projected cost-savings can be identified. Assembling a water minimisation team is recommended to ensure principles are embedded both within the organisation’s policy and at a day-to-day level.
    
Setting a budget is also important. While many effective measures are no or low-cost, there may also be opportunities to make a significant difference by investing in new technology. And while investing in new devices is a short-term cost to an organisation, it is just that – an investment. Over a longer period, payback can be considerable through reduced water use.

Water efficient devices
For those who choose to make the transition to water efficient devices, the Water Technology List (WTL) includes items such as low-flush toilets and retrofit flushing devices as well as a range of other water technologies. Products included on this list are covered by the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme which enables businesses to claim 100 per cent first year capital allowances on investments made.
    
A key area for a large number of organisations is washrooms. It is estimated that the implementation of a range of low-cost measures just in this area can minimise water use by as much as 40 per cent. A tap dripping two drops a second across a year, for example, could waste nearly 10,000 litres of water.
    
A large percentage of ‘domestic’ water use in office-based organisations is due to toilet flushing. By simply fitting a displacement device or going further to invest in some of the low-flush technology available, organisations can make a good start in reducing their overall environmental impact. For example, an office of 100 staff using traditional 9-litre cistern toilets could save £500 per year by fitting a cistern volume adjuster such as a hippo bag. Alternatively, a litre bottle of water can act as a displacement device in many older cisterns, at no capital cost.
    
Urinals operating without flush controls can account for up to half of a company’s domestic water use. But by fitting Passive Infrared Sensors (PIR) at a cost of around £350, a company with 100 male employees could save £3,800 each year in water and sewerage costs – a payback period of just five weeks.
    
To help companies take steps to realise potential savings such as these, Envirowise has published free factsheets providing straightforward, practical advice on minimising water use. The factsheets are available to download from the website (www.envirowise.gov.uk/managementleaflets) and are a useful reference tool for any organisation.
    
With the UK facing the prospect of tighter restrictions regarding water use, water conservation is now paramount. The fact that organisations can improve their bottom line while boosting their environmental credentials only strengthens this argument.
    
For organisations interested in finding out more, practical advice and guidance is available free through Envirowise.

For more information
Visit www.envirowise.gov.uk/water for more information.