How to reduce your business water bill?

Checking for water leaks can save your business money if you are able to identify them early.

As easy as this sounds, you should encourage employees to keep an eye out of potential drips, leaks, and any other type of water wastage. Water leaks are a frequent problem which can be costly eventually. CCWater reported that 3.1bn litres of water were wasted in England and Wales every day in 2016/17.

It is important that you make your employees aware of where your main water supply is just in case it ever needs to be turned off immediately.

We recommend that you also get your water pipes insulated as this will reduce the risk of burst pipes or leaks. This will also reduce the chances of your water freezing.

As a business owner, you should also have your water pipes and boiler serviced regularly by a professional. This will ensure your equipment and pipes are safe and will reduce the risk of water leaks.

Research shows that the average UK business is using more than 30% of the water they need but it is important to remember that even the smallest changes can make a significant difference to your utility bills.

Monitoring your water bills will give you a clever idea of your average water consumption and will help you spot any abnormalities.

Once you know your average water consumption, here are some actions you can take to reduce your water usage as well as water costs.

• Avoid half loads in dishwashers and washing machines
• If you do not have a dishwasher, wait until you have enough pots to fill a washing-up bowl, rather than doing little bits at a time.
• Scrape plates and dishes clean instead of rinsing them.
• Replace single-flush toilets with dual-flush toilets and regularly check and fix leaks
• Hot water can cost up to four times as much as cold – only use hot water where it is completely essential.
• Only fill the kettle with the amount of water that is needed – saving water and energy which is essential due to the current instability of the energy market.
• Do not wait for the tap to run cold – this can waste more than ten litres of tap water a day. Instead, fill your bottle up and pop it in the fridge to chill.

Reducing your water usage is not only going get businesses to save water it will also lower the amount you pay. It will also have a positive effect on the environment, improve your carbon footprint and reduce carbon emissions which is becoming an increasingly worrying problem.

Water-saving technology equipment is a great investment to support reducing water wastage. This equipment may be expensive by it will result in significant savings overall.

If you install a water meter or smart meter, you will be able to keep track of your usage and costs. This allows you to monitor your usage and spot any abnormalities. By installing a water meter, you will only be paying for the water you use. You should also contact your local water company and send frequent meter readings to ensure your bills are completely accurate.

Another way to reduce your business costs is to install water-efficient taps which will help you make a water savings. Water efficient taps minimise the usage of heated water which also supports reducing your energy consumption.

Another type of water efficiency equipment is automatic and sensory taps as they ensure taps are not left on when not being used.

If possible, take some time to look at your business cooling system and find out if there are other water sources your business could be using. For example, you may be able to utilize rainwater by installing a rainwater harvesting system for your cooling and landscaping needs.

Reducing your water supply can be a group effort so get your employees involved. Make this a fun challenge to encourage involvement to bring down your water bill.

All employees use the water within the business so it would only be right for them to help reduce usage. Provide your employees with water-saving tips and remind them to be conscious of the water they use.

UK businesses can also put-up signs to remind employees to promote a water-efficient culture.

Here are our top tips:

• Remind your employees to turn off the water while lathering up hand wash, and to turn it back on to rinse.
• Put signs in all bathroom facilities and kitchens, reminding staff not to leave the water running any longer than necessary, and to ensure there are no dripping taps.
• Put signs on the dishwasher to encourage employees to only switch it on when it is completely full.

All businesses are responsible for being conscientious of their business water usage and reducing costs. We hope these top tips help you reduce your water bills. Contact our experts today to compare commercial water rates and reduce your water bills.