Water Conservation for Business

Only 2.5% of the world's water is freshwater, and only 1% of that freshwater is available for human consumption! Most of us are pretty complacent with water because we see it as such a readily available resource - spin a tap and out it pours. 

But each of us uses about 150L of water every day, way more than previous generations, and a poor habit given the threat of climate change to our water supply. In fact, the UN’s Convention to Combat Desertification found that the frequency and extremity of global drought has increased by nearly a third in the last 20 years alone! The need to rethink how we interact with water is now urgent.   

Why SMEs Should Conserve Water   

There’s a wide range of reasons that any business should be on top of their water consumption. It might be one of the cheaper resources used in your business, but you can make significant cost savings through water management plans - Glasgow City Council saved £54,000 by better water management in just 2 schools!   

It can also play a critical role in a carbon management plan, and water conservation provides some quick wins in the hidden emissions from treatment and pumping of water, and even more so by reducing the amount of hot water used on site.   

SME’s make up 99% of British businesses, and as such can make an enormous contribution to protecting water supplies, whilst also seeing significant benefits to their operations: 

• Cost savings! Saving water saves money, but the real cost benefits of a water management plan come from
• Improved operational efficiency - Avoiding damage & repair costs   
• Lower emissions as part of a net zero strategy - water has a carbon footprint from treating on the way in & out, pumping, and above all heating the water    
• Protect your local environment - most providers use local water sources. Conserving water ensures the wildlife & residents who rely on them for life & leisure can thrive     
• Drive behaviour change - water conservation is a great way to get employees and customers forming new habits
• Meet your sustainability goals - most businesses now have sustainability targets. Whether yours are based on CSR, ESG or something else, water - as one of the UN’s key Sustainable Development Goals has a key role to play
• Resilience - as drought risk increases, we all have a responsibility to conserve water to ensure high quality and adequate supplies during times of water stress   

Join us in January as we discuss how your business can save money and water, and explore local case studies to demonstrate exactly how you can take money-saving steps, including the University of Surrey’s water conservation team, who will share the lessons learned from their water management audit.