Water
Water Saving Tips
It makes good business sense to only use the water you need. Here are 3 good reasons:
- you may reduce the size of your water bills
- water is a precious resource that we can so easily take for granted
- conserving water is one way of demonstrating the importance your organisation places on caring for the environment
Water audit
Thames Water has a range of schemes to help businesses receive direct benefits from using water wisely. Thames Water will also carry out water audits for businesses. More information is available on the waterwise website.
Dripping taps
Did you know that a dripping tap can waste up to 140 litres of water per week?
Learn how to change a washer. More information is available on a diy website.
Save-a-flush
Fitting a save-a-flush in your cistern can save 1 litre per flush – this can save your business 1,898 litres per year! Thames Water will supply up to 100 free of charge to businesses. Order your free save-a-flush from the waterwise website.
Waternet Tool
The Waternet Tool from Envirowise helps you to find publications for best practice in water minimisation. You can either search for material specific to your business sector or by water issue.
- More information is available on the Envirowise website.
Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme for Water Technologies
The Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme enables businesses to claim 100% first year capital allowances on investments in technologies and products that encourage sustainable water use. Businesses are now able to write off the whole cost of their investment against their taxable profits of the period during which they make the investment
- More information is available on the ECA scheme website.
Coping with water scarcity
UK businesses involved in the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP) have already reduced their annual use of drinking-quality or potable water by over 2.1 million tonnes, equivalent to 950 Olympic-sized swimming pools or 9.2 million household baths.
NISP, a free business opportunity programme, helps companies create sustainable business opportunities through the commercial trading and effective management of resources, including water, energy and materials, as well as sharing logistics, expertise and assets.
More and more businesses are starting to see the benefits of water re-use on site, including two NISP members, John Pointons and Son Ltd and BAA Stansted Airport, who are already seeing additional business benefits from more efficient use of water.
John Pointons and Son Ltd, one of the country's largest animal rendering facilities requires a large amount of water to process food by-products. The company installed a treatment facility that allows over 60 per cent of their daily usage to be recycled, saving on new water usage and costs.It has reduced its use of potable water by 143,000 tonnes.
BAA Stansted Airport saved considerable amounts of water through the installation of waterless urinals.
An Aquabio system for wastewater treatment and recovery has been installed at Geest Foods, allowing it to re-use 70 per cent of its treated wastewater to the factory for non-potable applications such as boiler feed, saving £125,000 a year. In addition the re-used water can be blended with the town's water supply for higher value applications.'
The initiative will not only save 12,000 tonnes of clean water each year, it will also generate major cost savings of over £10,000 per year. Peter Laybourn, Director of NISP said: 'In some way or form every company uses water and more efficient use will contribute positively to the issue of water scarcity. 'There is much potential to be gained by businesses who manage their water efficiently, particularly through water re-usage.
NISP can help companies look at the potential for water re-use within their business and how they can turn this to economic advantage and make a positive contribution to the environment.'
If you would like to discuss water savings opportunities please contact James Woodcock at james.woodcock@nisp.org.uk.
