The water footprint is quickly moving up the environmental agenda as businesses are urged to note the true cost of water alongside looking to improve their resource efficiency.
Sustainability expert Envirowise is urging Scottish businesses to get the most out of their water supplier. Many companies are unaware that they now have the option of selecting from a certified list, allowing them to evaluate the services available to them, in order to save costs and maintain a competitive advantage.
Companies across Scotland are consuming an average of 524 million litres of fresh tap water every day1 – enough to fill almost 210 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Water remains a costly resource with Scottish businesses collectively paying out more than £363 million every year2.
Robbie Weir, programme manager for Scotland, explains:
"Many Scottish businesses remain unaware of just how financially draining a company's water usage can be. It's important to recognise that water falling from the sky is not the water that comes out of our taps. Water requires purification, pumping, waste-water treatment and infrastructure maintenance, which costs almost £2 per cubic metre3.
"We can help individual companies reduce their water consumption by around 30%, by measuring water usage and identifying opportunities for improvement that can result in financial savings."
Macsween, the Edinburgh-based Haggis specialists first sought advice from Envirowise in 2006 and has reduced water usage by 30% and waste to landfill by over 88%.
Company director, James Macsween commented:
"Macsween is committed to ensuring that we operate in an environmentally sound manner. We have a system in place to collect the water used to desalinate the natural haggis casings and this is used to wash down the grease traps, removing the need to use fresh water.
"By pre-treating the effluent, Macsween meets regulations for levels and concentrations of dirty water and our use of water has been reduced by 0.3 litres per 1lb of haggis."
Envirowise water initiative, The Big Splash, gives free advice to businesses seeking water and resource efficiency support. A free training event, The true cost of water: practical techniques will be held on 9 June 2009 at the Radisson SAS in Glasgow , Visit www.envirowise.gov.uk/scotlandevents
for more information or call free 0800 585794.
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Issued on behalf of Envirowise by Trimedia
For more information contact, Laura McKenzie on 0131 226 2363 or email laura.mckenzie@trimediauk.com
Notes to editors:
- Key Scottish Environment Statistics 2008: Scottish Government (ref. Scottish Water)
- Based on average delivery and sewage collection costs: OFWAT Water Costs Report 06-07
- Scottish Water
About Envirowise
Envirowise is a Scottish Government-funded programme dedicated to putting the sustainable use of resources at the heart of Scottish business practice.
Since 1994 Envirowise has helped UK businesses save over £1Bn by enabling them to significantly reduce their environmental footprints.
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:
- The Envirowise Advice Line on 0800 585794
- An encyclopaedic website (www.envirowise.gov.uk/scotland) of valuable and relevant information
- On-site visits conducted by a nationwide team of expert advisors
- Events throughout Scotland, from Product Design Workshops to major exhibitions
About water suppliers in Scotland
On 1st April 2008, Scottish businesses were given the opportunity to choose their water and wastewater supplier after The Water Services (Scotland) Act 2005 came into force. It is hoped that by opening up the industry to competition this will lead to innovation, choice and ultimately reduced prices.
So far, The Water Industry Commission for Scotland has issued four companies with licences to supply water and wastewater services to businesses in Scotland. These are as follows:
- Business Stream
- Satec
- Ondeo Industrial Solutions
- Osprey Water
Prior to this privatisation, Scottish Water was the sole retailer of services to both domestic and non-domestic premises. It still remains as a publicly owned provider of water and wastewater infrastructure services for Scotland, and the retailer of these services for domestic premises only.