As Britain sees the end of one of the wettest summers on record, Envirowise is urging businesses to consider rainwater harvesting as an effective way to cut back on mains water usage and reduce costs.
Businesses in England and Wales currently use enough water to fill over 2.6million Olympic-sized swimming pools every year1, with experts predicting that the fuel crisis could pale in comparison to the impact that limited water supplies and resulting price hikes could have if businesses continue current consumption levels.
According to sustainable business experts Envirowise, rainwater harvesting systems, which enable the collection, storage and conveyance of rain as a water source, could help UK businesses reduce dependency on mains water and future-proof operations against potential shortages and water price rises.
Rainwater can be utilised in many ways from toilet flushing through to cooling water in manufacturing processes, particularly as the ‘soft’ nature of the water means there is reduced limescale deposits. The benefits of using rainwater have caught on in many sectors, from the hotel and leisure industry, through to nurseries, gardens and sports grounds, who are using collected rainwater to help meet water needs and reduce mains water consumption.
Claire Sweeney, water specialist at Envirowise, a government-funded programme that offers practical environmental advice for businesses, says: "By utilising the rainwater that falls on the roofs of your site, you can reduce demand for mains water and assist local drainage by limiting the volume of rainwater reaching the ground."
Envirowise has recently published a water fact sheet that helps businesses discover if rainwater harvesting is suitable for their property. The fact sheet takes businesses through simple steps to help quantify the amount of water currently used, the maximum water that may be harvested in a year and the associated cost benefits.
To help businesses, Defra and HM Revenue & Customs, in partnership with Envirowise, run the Water Technology List (WTL) as part of the Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme. This enables businesses to claim 100% first year capital allowances on investments made in designated water efficient WTL products and technologies including rainwater harvesting equipment.
The Reducing Mains Water Use through Rainwater Harvesting fact sheet is available for download from the Envirowise website at http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/publications
- Review of Water Use in Industry and Commerce July 2008: Envirowise N.B. statistics referenced exclude utilities, agriculture, fish farming, Mfr of coke & petroleum products
Media Enquiries:
Please contact: Caroline Charles or Matt Pynn at Bray Leino PR
Telephone: 0117 973 1173
Email: ccharles@brayleino.co.uk or mpynn@brayleino.co.uk
Notes to Editors
About Envirowise
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 £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) of valuable and relevant information
- Over 200 events each year, from Product Design Workshops to major exhibitions