Looking closer at water use at a site during the year can have a range of benefits for organisations – large and small.
Research shows nearly half of public sector employees cut their water use at home because they are concerned about their impact on the environment and a quarter believe their employers could do more to encourage a reduction in water use at work*. It shows there is a willingness amongst employees to help reduce water loss – and help the environment.
Being more aware of water that’s used, helps organisations reduce water waste and risks to supply interruptions on site water pipes too.
Tracking water use throughout a year can also provide more benefits – with more than 45 sites, alerted to water issues spotted by data loggers on water meters in just one day after a rise in temperatures following colder weather in December 2022.
The Water Plus Advanced Services team was closely monitoring the data feeds to alert organisations too and issues included a burst pipe leaking on a roof of a building at a university – which was isolated on the day it was flagged.
Another site saw its water use increase from 200 litres an hour – to 2,000 litres an hour, tracked by a data logger through the Water Plus online smart portal. They acted immediately when the Advanced Services team made contact and isolated the issue on a site pipe.
Cutting out any water waste also helps reduce impacts on the environment – along with reducing the carbon emissions linked to water, which is under Scope 3. If less water needs to be moved around by pumps at a site, or if less is used overall, for example, across a hospital or council owned buildings, then there’s an energy saving there too.
Water Plus, the largest water retailer in the UK and a winner of two National Sustainability Awards, is highlighting water efficiency and water pipe messages, to help organisations of all sizes – under their #BeWiseOnWater awareness campaign, including on its online Help area here – and on its social media channels.
Here are some tips, to Be Wiser on Water – for sustainability teams – and public sector employees:
Pipes can feel the cold – just like you
Cold weather and changing temperatures can make a burst pipe more likely as these can cause ground movements that can affect underground pipes at sites. Plus, even a small trickle or drips on a tap can cause a pipe to freeze.
You’re responsible for the pipework within the property boundary, from the point of the water meter, or from the point of an external stop tap if you don’t have a water meter. So, it’s a good idea to take steps to reduce risks to your organisation – and know how to manage any problems.
Use a lot of water or have more than one meter? Data loggers that can be placed on water meters and feed information on water use into an online portal help you spot saving opportunities too – and highlight additional areas needing attention. This data can also be used to see what seasonal trends there may be for your site – whether the weather is hot – or during the colder months when pipes and the ground can be affected by changes in temperatures.
Noting down meter readings regularly, if the meter is safe to access, and providing these online, is also worth doing to track use and spot any unexpected changes.
So, whether it’s for Estates Returns information for councils, hospitals and PCTs, or to help track reductions in water use in general, there are a few straightforward steps to keep in mind.
Have a plan in place
Having a water action plan, so you and staff on-site know what to do in a water emergency, is essential to save time and money if the worst should happen.
Do you have clear channels staff can report water issues quickly and easily – to prevent any issues affecting a building, or its water supplies?
Take time to:
- Understand your water system and monitor use throughout a year. A survey found 92% of people, from public sector and private sector organisations, said they wouldn’t know if there was an underground leak at their organisation.**
- Know where the stop taps are, and make sure staff and facility managers can find them – and turn them off, when needed. It’s worth checking during a year – as part of maintenance routines – that stops taps are in working order and haven’t seized up.
- Check what your insurance covers – know who has financial responsibility.
- Know who to call in the event of an emergency – have numbers ready, so you can respond to leaks or water emergencies quickly and effectively.
- Consider a plan for emergency water delivery to your site, in case of a supply interruption.
- Insulate exposed pipework, tanks and cisterns – plus, it’s worth checking your site, if it’s left empty at times – and keeping an eye on the weather for additional surface water or icy conditions.
To request data loggers, or additional water efficiency services, contact the Water Plus team at: hello@water-plus.co.uk .
Additional note:
* The survey found 62% of people working in the public sector in England and Scotland – and 68% in the private sector – have cut their domestic water use in the 12 months running up to being questioned. 47% of public sector workers said they’d cut water use at home to reduce their environmental impact. It also found one in four (25%) public sector workers say they are encouraged to reduce how much water they use at work. 500 people working in the public sector (250 from Scotland and 250 from England) and 500 people working in businesses (250 from Scotland and 250 from England) were surveyed. The research was conducted by independent survey consultant Censuswide, in May 2019 and the survey was commissioned by Water Plus.
** Online survey during presentation, in January 2022. 26 responses on survey question.
*** Some specific public sector organisations, such as hospitals, are likely to be classed as “Category 1 sensitive sites” by the wholesaler for the area the site is located. This means that they will be given priority for alternative emergency supplies – though having plans on emergency water are very important, particularly for the public sector.