Get Switch Fit

Step 1

Make sure you understand your current water usage and spend

This should be your first step – and can be done by looking over your bills. Ideally, the data you gather should cover a full year and up to three years if possible. If you operate multiple sites, you should try to audit each individual site as well as your sum business total.

Try to answer the following questions:

• How much water do you use/ how much waste do you produce?
• How much are you spending on water and waste?
• How much trade effluent do you produce and what does it cost you?

Step 2

Think Ahead

How you use water now might not be how you use water in the future. When thinking about who the right supplier is for you and your business it’s best to understand if a supplier can help now as well as in the months and years to come. Things to consider are:

• Are you going to change production volumes and therefore water use on any of your sites?
• Are you planning on expanding, opening or closing sites?
• Are you going to upgrade equipment that uses water – will this mean you use more or less?
• Do you have any production challenges such as peaks or troughs of activity – which impact how much water you need?
• Do you need to maintain production quality and do you need support doing this?
• Do you have Trade Effluent and do you need support complying with the regulations?

Step 3

Get to grips with your trade effluent agreements

It’s important to know if you have a trade effluent consent in place and if not, whether you need one. If the answer to either of those questions is yes, there are two key issues to consider:

• Know your consent level – this defines how much and what concentration of trade effluent you can release into the public sewer.
• Learn about what you’re producing – knowing the volume and concentration of trade effluent that you produce will not only mean you are more likely to avoid a fine but that you can also look at how to manage your output more efficiently

If you have the slightest doubt about your Trade Effluent you should speak to someone as getting it wrong could result in large fines for not complying with regulations – as always, we’re happy to help. When considering who the right supplier is for you make sure you look at their Trade Effluent knowledge and experience as it’s a pretty specialised area.

Step 4

Consider what you want from a supplier

Ensuring you choose a supplier that you can build a good relationship with is key to the success of your water and waste management.  What are you looking for?