As experts gather in Stockholm for World Water Week, UK businesses are being urged to think about water as a valuable commodity that is potentially being poured down the drain. Envirowise will be offering UK companies advice on the benefits of conducting a full review of their water use during next months’ Water at Work Week, but says that there are simple steps that everyone can take now.
“Reducing your water consumption is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to achieve cost savings and just taking simple measures can cut figures by up to 50%,” states Envirowise Programme Director, Dr Martin Gibson.
He says there are lessons to be learnt from last month’s flooding in the UK, which clearly demonstrated that water has a price tag, whether from damage caused by flooding or increased prices due to the shortage of drinking water. Meanwhile in drought-stricken Europe, water has become such a valuable commodity that the EU Environment Commissioner has proposed a new pricing scheme to incentivise consumers and business alike to economise on their use of water.
“Droughts and flooding might seem to be opposite ends of the spectrum, but both could be side effects of climate change, and both highlight the importance and value of water,” comments Dr Gibson. “Every drop of water has a price and Envirowise can help businesses realise how something as simple as fixing a dripping tap can have a positive impact on their profits.”
Envirowise will be offering companies free, practical advice on everything to do with measuring and implementing water saving and profit boosting actions during Water at Work Week from 17-21 September.
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Steps to minimise water use
- Turn taps off fully and replace leaking hoses and worn tap washers for a quick and cheap way of saving water. In staff washrooms, push-button taps can use up to half the water used through conventional taps.
- Reduce the amount of clean water used in every toilet flush by fitting a water displacement device into cisterns
- You should be able to reduce your water bill by 20 - 30% by monitoring water use, finding and repairing leaks, using sprays or jets for washing, fitting triggers on hoses, considering cleaning-in-place and/or recycling of water.
- Reduce your need for mains supply water by looking at ways you could recycle ‘grey water’ for cleaning equipment, vehicles or outside areas.
Issued on behalf of Envirowise by The Mistral Group
For more information contact, Alison Hill or Lucinda Roberts on 01869 352 722 / alison.hill@mistral-pr.co.uk or 01869 352 729 / lucinda.roberts@mistral-pr.co.uk
Notes to Editors
World Water Week runs from 12-18 August. See www.worldwaterweek.org
The Envirowise Water at Work Week will be held 17-21 September. For more information visit www.envirowise.gov.uk
Envirowise is a Government-funded programme dedicated to putting the sustainable use of resources at the heart of UK business practice.
Since 1994 Envirowise has helped UK businesses save over £1 billion by enabling them to significantly reduce their environmental impact.
Envirowise offers businesses of all sizes and sectors a wide range of free, independent and practical advice designed to genuinely improve their processes, profitability and competitiveness. Services include:
- Advice Line on 0800 585794
- An encyclopaedic website of valuable and relevant information www.envirowise.gov.uk
- Over 200 events each year, from Product Design Workshops to major exhibitions
- A nationwide network of Resource Efficiency Clubs offering peer-to-peer support