Following the hottest start to May on record for the UK and the driest March in England since 1961, Water Management Expert Mark Taylor, from Stoke-on-Trent-based business water retailer Water Plus, outlines the essential steps for businesses to take to keep water supplies flowing efficiently and cost effectively.
“Check on your site regularly to spot opportunities to reduce costs
Regular site checks and noting water meter readings during the year, if safe to, are important steps to do at least every month, if not weekly, as part of your usual business maintenance and facilities routines.
Tracking water use during the year can help budgeting and cost control, alongside spotting areas for efficiencies – and seeing water issues early, like leaks.
Providing meter reads to your water retailer can also reduce bills based on estimated use and can be done in seconds online – at times suiting you – if you’re with Water Plus, through its free MyAccount platform for customers.
It’s also important and worth having a water contingency plan for your location so you know where you’d get water supplies if these were to stop suddenly.
Monitor where water’s being used – to find more ways to save
It’s worth checking all water-using equipment is working effectively and are on the most water and energy efficient settings. This can deliver an efficiency gain, at no extra cost.
A recent site review also identified multiple areas where water use could be decreased in 2025 – which would reduce running costs by more than £13.6k, in estimated annual wholesaler water costs.
Running taps were shut off – and a number of leaks were located and fixed during the visit, in services provided through the Water Plus team – reducing use by 470 litres an hour. Sounds a small amount – though it can quickly add to running costs.
Explore and increase efficiencies in your operation
Small actions can really add up to bigger savings and efficiencies – and there’s a clear business case for this too.
A whopping 48 per cent water saving has already been seen at a site in Staffordshire, in 2025, on average daily water use – after small, low-cost water efficiency devices were installed, through services Water Plus can provide.
They’ve cut use by 7,480 litres per day, reducing wholesaler water costs at the site by more than £12,400 – for estimated water use across 12 months. That’d fill 29,920 cups of tea, holding 250ml each, a day!
With more efficiency devices now on taps at the site, it’s cutting the amount of hot water needed, which reduces energy use too.
Water reuse – from rainwater harvesting to using heated water multiple times at sites – can be another great way to reduce water consumption and cost.
While a bigger initial cost may be involved introducing these approaches and devices that change the way water’s used, the payback time can quickly give a return on investment through increased efficiencies and a reduction in other costs.
And with wholesaler price increases for water, seen in April 2025, there’s even more reasons to look at ways to reduce water use in your operation.
Engage employees to super-charge results
You have extra eyes and minds amongst your employees who can suggest ways water can be used more effectively at your site and operation – as well as spot any water issues that you need to address promptly. Let them know how they can report any issues that need attention and how they can share ideas to use water more efficiently and effectively.
As there are carbon emissions linked to all water used at businesses and public sector sites, increasing water-saving overall can help with sustainability and decarbonisation goals too and progress towards Net Zero.
And with wholesaler price increases for water, seen in April 2025, there’s even more reasons to look at ways to reduce water use in your operation.
So, don’t delay: See the ways to save, today – and protect your business.”
More information and tips can be found here.
