Water efficiency - Money down the drain

Local businesses are collectively missing out on combined cost savings of as much as £1.5 million per day by ignoring the potential of water efficiency, say sustainable business experts Envirowise.

In a recent survey 63% of North West businesses said they are not currently measuring or monitoring their water use at all, and a huge 80% do not have any water reduction targets in place.

However, these businesses could reduce their water bills by as much as a third if they were to take steps to manage their water use more effectively, says Nick Ward, Envirowise Regional Manager for the North West.

He added:“With more than 1.4 billion cubic metres of water being used across the region every 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 local organisations to join Rippleffect, a national initiative offering online advice and support to cut water waste and costs.”

“We were surprised to see that 70% of the businesses surveyed in the region did not believe it was possible to reduce their water bill at all by improving water efficiency. This is clearly a missed opportunity and one that offers valuable cost saving potential, as well as reputational benefits for companies taking action and demonstrating a commitment to the environment too.”