All year-round water-saving tips are being highlighted for schools to consider during breaks between terms, when pupils are not at sites, to help reduce utility costs and environmental impacts.
From adding tap aerators, to quick, regular water checks at buildings – it all adds up to reducing water waste and reducing the chance of supply interruptions from leaks on pipes at schools.
Summertime is a great time for some maintenance checks, when less people are on site – though knowing what’s used through the year is important too.
The Water Experts at Water Plus, the UK’s largest water retailer and a multi-award winner for its work with customers around their water use are the official water partner for the Public Sector Sustainability Association and have shared the below water facts, to help make the water we all use go further in the UK.
Track what water’s used: Just looking at water use closer, during a year, pays
A school spotted an unexpected increase in water use of 71 cubic metres of water – that’s 71,000 litres of water – when no-one was on-site, after tracking their use during the year.
The school Bursar said there were no visible signs of a large water leak at the school and requested the assistance of Water Plus’s Advanced Services team.
The Advanced Services team, which provide a range of Value Added Services, arranged a visit and pin-pointed the issue on a pipe underground in February this year – and the school has taken action to stop the leak, preventing any further water waste.
Scott MacIndeor, Head of Advanced Services at water retailer Water Plus, said: “The water-saving figure illustrates how regular water checks at school – and sites generally – is worth the time, along with checking water meter readings regularly – ideally every month, or more often during term time, throughout a year, if the meter is safe to access.
“Small steps can really add up to great results for schools and lower utility bill costs, even saving energy when less hot water is used through more water efficiency. Schools will be in a much better place with the start of a new school term from carrying out some small water checks, while pupils are not on-site.
“There are carbon emissions linked to water a site receives and the water that’s taken away and treated, so increasing water efficiency is well worth it – and helps reduce impacts we can all have on the environment.”
Engage extra eyes: Pupil awareness on making water used go further, helps
A school in Staffordshire has been highlighting water-saving tips to children, including turning off the tap while brushing teeth at home, as part of its action to increase awareness around how we all interact with and use water.
Water-saving Challenges for pupils have also been shared, by Water Plus, with a range of schools in England and Scotland, to help schools, along with engaging children more with water and the environment.
Water Plus is part of a Careers Hub in Staffordshire and has been highlighting water-saving information at Careers Days and visits by pupils to its main office in Staffordshire.
Tap into opportunities: Schools are saving by fitting water efficiency devices
From a school in Cumbria introducing a 227-litre water butt for watering in its grounds and involving pupils with this, to other schools fitting tap aerators to reduce water use, including hot water, helping lower energy and running costs, there are a number of low-cost steps that add up to big savings.
Scott MacIndeor, from Water Plus, said: “There are a variety of solutions out there around how water is used – and it’s important to understand what would work best for your school site when it comes to water efficiency measures – and seek experts for projects and installing kit. It’s also vital to make sure any changes around how water is used complies with the relevant laws and byelaws in place, like the Water Fittings Regulations, Water Industry Act and others.
“We manage the water and wastewater services for many public sector organisations, including some of the largest and most diverse in the UK – such as councils, schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and the emergency services – so we understand their different needs and drivers and we’ve helped organisations make significant savings across their portfolio, reducing water use and contributing to their sustainability aims and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
School tips to be wiser with water throughout the year
- A leaky loo can waste up to 400 litres of water a day – that’s equal to 5 full bath-tubs.
- Turn taps off after use to cut water waste – as a running tap uses around 6 litres of water a minute. That’s equal to more than 18 cans of fizzy drink.
- Some water leaks are not easy to spot and can be underground: Tracking your water use through checking the water meter weekly will help point to any potential leaks on-site.
- Ask school staff to report leaks so a repair can be arranged promptly and to identify processes and areas that could be wasting water. Taking action to complete repairs of leaks quickly will help to prevent water bill costs increasing further from water loss.
See more water tips and sustainability steps schools are taking to help the environment and boost awareness about water efficiency on the PSSA website here.
Water Plus won a Global Gold for Water Management in the Green World Awards 2023 and a UK Customer Satisfaction Award 2023, following four Green Apple Environment Awards, in November 2022, and two National Sustainability Awards, in October 2022.
If you suspect you have a leak on your underground supply pipe, you can contact our Advanced Services team at: advancedservices@water-plus.co.uk . They can provide a quote for leak identification and repairs.