Water waste

UK businesses are missing out on combined savings of up to £10m a day by failing to incorporate water efficiency into their practices, according to a survey by Envirowise.

The survey of 420 businesses revealed that around two-thirds of respondents did not monitor their water usage and around 85 per cent said they did not have any water-reduction targets in place.

However, according to Envirowise, businesses could cut their water bills by as much as one-third by implementing measures to better manage their water usage.

Only two per cent of the respondents guessed correctly that their bills could be reduced by one-third and more than half felt that there was no cost-saving potential in taking action on water efficiency.

Claire Sweeney, Envirowise water specialist, said: ‘With more than 9.8 billion cubic metres being used nationally each year, there is significant potential for businesses to save money and reduce their environmental impact by taking action on water efficiency.

‘That is why we are encouraging companies to join Rippleffect, a national initiative offering online advice and support to cut water waste and costs.’

Rippleffect is a programme that offers free support and advice on cutting costs through reducing water consumption.

It is available in three online modules over a six-month period to help businesses monitor their water use.