Tackling water waste in the workplace
February 15th 2007

Dr Stuart Ballinger, Programme Delivery Leader at Envirowise, puts forward the business case for addressing workplace water wastage, explaining that it is not only industrial plants that can achieve real savings through water efficient measures

Environmental issues were pushed very much to the fore in 2006. The Stern Review on the economics of climate change, in particular, is likely to have a profound effect on the way businesses prioritise resource efficiency during 2007. Increasingly, businesses across the UK are waking up to the true cost of waste and recognising the merit in making efficiencies.

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.

The rate of water use by businesses in the UK currently stands at 1.3 billion cubic metres each year – the equivalent of around 1400 Olympic swimming pools every day. While the cost of water to a large industrial plant for example is particularly evident, all businesses, regardless of size or sector, can make a real difference by addressing water use.

Businesses that adopt a systematic approach to water reduction typically achieve a 20-50% 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.

Knowledge is the key to effective water management. Many companies 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,businesses should consider the following:

• where does the business use water?

• How much water are we using?

• Are we using too much?

• Are we paying too much in wastewater charges?

• Have we tried saving water?

• Could we take further action?

• Have our competitors implemented water-saving measures?

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.

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 company policy and at a day-to-day level.

Setting a budget is 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 a company, it is just that – an investment. Over a longer period, payback can be considerable through reduced water use.

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% first year capital allowances on investments made.

A key area for the vast number of businesses is washrooms. It is estimated that the implementation of a range of low-cost measures in just this area can minimise water use by as much as 40%. Just one dripping tap for example, could cost a company in excess of £750 per year. (1)

A large percentage of ‘domestic’ water use in officebased businesses is due to toilet flushing. By simply fitting a displacement device or going further to invest in some of the low-flush technology available, companies 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 £3800 each year in water and sewerage costs – a payback period of just five weeks.(2)

To help companies take steps to realise potential savings such as these, Envirowise has published new, free factsheets, providing straightforward, practical advice on minimising water use in washrooms. The factsheets are available to download from the website (www.envirowise.gov.uk/water) and are a useful reference tool for any business.

Baring Asset Management, a global investment company employing 460 people in central London worked with Envirowise to evaluate potential areas for water minimisation within the office environment. The company had historically taken care to implement good water and waste management practices, however Envirowise helped identify a number of additional initiatives to further optimise water usage.

After establishing the office water usage benchmark, a number of measures were put into place. By installing volume adjusters in the company’s 58 toilets for example,water use through flushing has been reduced by 260m3 / £350 per year. An estimated 1200m3 / £1600 per year was also saved by installing PIR sensors on urinals – avoiding unnecessary flushing during the night and at weekends.(3)

With the UK facing the prospect of tighter restrictions regarding water use, water conservation is now paramount. The fact that all businesses can improve their bottom line while boosting their environmental credentials only strengthens this argument.

For businesses interested in finding out more, practical advice and guidance is available free through Envirowise. The website (www.envirowise.gov.uk/water) boasts a range of tools to help businesses measure current water consumption – and benchmark it against that of other companies.There is also a range of sectorspecific guidance on water management available to download.

Footnotes:

1. www.envirowise.gov.uk/page.aspx?o=198679

2. www.envirowise.gov.uk/page.aspx?o=211823

3. www.envirowise.gov.uk/CS595

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