The Environment Agency has declared that half of England is in drought*. With water resources under increasing pressure and restrictions affecting parts of the country, now is a good time for businesses to take a closer look at how water is being used across their sites. Identifying hidden leaks and improving efficiency can help reduce costs, cut unnecessary waste and strengthen resilience during periods of dry weather.
With droughts and hosepipe bans dominating the headlines, it’s a great time for businesses to understand their water use and look out for anywhere water could be disappearing unnoticed through leaks or inefficient equipment.
Identify hidden water waste
For many businesses, there’s a huge opportunity to reduce water use and costs by identifying water that’s being wasted without anyone realising. A dripping tap, leaking toilet or underground pipe leak can waste thousands of litres of water each year and add unnecessary costs to your bills.
During periods of drought, when water resources are under increased pressure, checking for hidden leaks and improving efficiency can make an immediate difference. Simple actions such as monitoring meter readings, reviewing unusual consumption patterns and maintaining water-using equipment can help businesses take greater control of their water use while protecting the environment.
How to spot hidden leaks before they become a bigger problem
Not all leaks are obvious. While a burst pipe is hard to miss, many leaks go unnoticed for weeks or even months, quietly driving up water consumption and costs while contributing to the millions of litres of water wasted across the UK each day.**
There are simple ways to identify a potential issue:
- Regularly check your water meter and compare readings when your premises are closed or periods when water use should be minimal.
- Monitor your water use for unexpected spikes in consumption.
- Analyse any changes to water bills.
- Look for damp patches or unusually lush areas or landscaping.
- Check any equipment which is always running.
By carrying out regular checks and acting on unusual water use patterns, businesses can identify problems early, avoid unnecessary costs and help conserve water when supplies are under pressure.
Track, manage and reduce your water use
As droughts and dry weather continue to put pressure on our water resources, taking a proactive approach to managing water use can help businesses reduce waste, control costs and strengthen resilience.
We're here to help you identify hidden leaks, understand your consumption and find opportunities to improve efficiency.
Our My Business Stream platform gives you greater visibility and control over your water use, helping you stay on top of consumption and spot unusual patterns sooner
If you’d like a deeper understanding of where savings and efficiencies could be unlocked, our Sustainability Services team can help. Visit the Sustainability Services page on our website to find out more about auditing your water use and strengthening your resilience.