 Join up to reduce water
February 10th 2006
Are you paying more in water and effluent charges than you need to? Reducing your water use and the amount of effluent you generate is one of the easiest ways to cut costs and increase profits. That’s why Envirowise is encouraging companies across the UK to join the big splash. The big splash is a nationwide challenge which aims to help reduce water usage across industry and make participating businesses a healthy profit.
Whether a small office or a large industrial plant, businesses across all sectors can make savings through water minimisation. Companies may be surprised to learn that they could reduce their water bill by 30% without significant capital outlay.
To help businesses realise these savings, Envirowise launched the big splash initiative in July 2004. Since then over 330 organisations have signed up to the campaign and almost £4 million of savings have been identified. In July 2005, Environment Minister Elliot Morley recognised 12 companies for their commitment to reducing water use. The businesses, which took part in the first year of the big splash challenge, had all made significant cost savings by implementing simple water management measures with support from Envirowise.
Elliot Morley said: “These companies are leading the way in sustainable business practice by demonstrating that using water resources more efficiently can directly benefit the bottom line - whatever size of the business.
This is an important message as water is a scarce resource in much of England and Wales. Following a successful first year, I encourage more businesses to take up the big splash challenge.”
The following companies were recognised at the event:
- Arenson Group Ltd - office furniture manufacturer based in Dunstable, Bedfordshire
- Artetch Circuits - PCB manufacturer in West Sussex
- BT Group - provider of telecommunications services based nationwide
- Genzyme Ltd - pharmaceuticals company based in Suffolk
- Headland Foods - frozen ready meal manufacturer in Flint, North Wales
- Indesit Company - domestic appliance manufacturers (Stoke-on-Trent factory)
- Marstair Ltd - air conditioning, heating and ventilating equipment manufacturer in Yorkshire
- SCA Packaging - manufacturer of corrugated fibreboard packaging based in Edinburgh
- SPS Technologies Ltd - aerospace fastener manufacturer in Leicester
- Stead McAlpin - specialist textile printer based in Carlisle
- Treves UK - manufacturer of automotive trim components based near Harrogate
- The Co-operative Group - the UK’s largest consumer co-operative based in Manchester.
Envirowise has a wealth of information that can help businesses to review and reduce their water consumption.
Based on the information businesses provided when they registered, Envirowise was able to tailor the support provided to each business to help them make water savings. This support included industry specific guidance and publications; invitations to free regional workshops; help with implementation of water saving projects; confidential on-site water reviews; on-line support; a monitoring tool to track and report water savings.
The big splash will take place again this year.
To find out more, call Envirowise on 0800 585794 or click on www.envirowise.gov.uk/bigsplash More articles from Water Technology List: | 
