Introduction
Water is easy to take for granted.
We turn on a tap, flush a toilet or use a washroom without giving much thought to where that water has come from, how much energy has been used to treat and deliver it, or what it costs a business every time it goes down the drain.
But water is becoming an increasingly important issue for businesses across the UK. Hotter summers, changing weather patterns and periods of drought are putting greater pressure on our water resources. And this isn’t a problem that is going away.
For office buildings, effective water management is no longer simply about reducing utility bills. It is about protecting a valuable resource, reducing carbon emissions and demonstrating that businesses are prepared to take responsibility for their environmental impact.
The hidden cost of water in an office building
An office may not appear to be a particularly high water-use environment compared with a factory, hotel or leisure facility. But multiply everyday water use by hundreds or even thousands of employees, visitors and working days, and the numbers quickly add up.
Think about everything that happens in an office washroom:
Individually, these may seem like small issues. Collectively, they can represent a significant amount of wasted water and wasted money.
Water waste is money going straight down the drain
Every litre of water an office uses comes with a cost. Businesses pay for the water they consume, but they can also be paying for the energy required to heat, treat and pump that water around a building. And once water has been used, there are further costs associated with taking it away and treating the wastewater.
That means unnecessary water use can have a much bigger financial impact than the water bill alone suggests.
The good news is that reducing water consumption doesn’t necessarily require major building works. Simple changes to washroom controls and water management can help businesses make significant improvements while maintaining a good experience for employees and visitors.
The corporate world needs to lead the way
Businesses have an important role to play in tackling water scarcity. Corporate offices are places where relatively simple changes can influence water consumption every single day. They are also highly visible environments where businesses can demonstrate that sustainability isn’t just something written in a report, it is something being put into practice. Taking control of water use can help businesses:
Reduce operating costs – Use only the water that is actually needed and avoid paying for unnecessary consumption.
Protect our water resources – Reducing demand helps conserve an increasingly valuable natural resource.
Reduce carbon emissions – Using less water can reduce the energy associated with treating, heating and transporting it.
Improve sustainability credentials – Practical water-saving measures can support wider environmental and ESG objectives.
Demonstrate corporate responsibility – Employees, customers and visitors increasingly expect businesses to take sustainability seriously.
Don’t assume your office is already water efficient
One of the biggest challenges with water waste is that it isn’t always obvious. A washroom can look perfectly normal while quietly wasting hundreds or thousands of litres of water. A urinal may be flushing too frequently. A tap may be delivering far more water than necessary. A toilet may be using more water than it needs to. A small leak may go unnoticed for months. And because water waste often happens behind the scenes, businesses may not realise there is a problem until they look at their water consumption in detail.
That’s where a water survey can make a difference.
Find out where your office is wasting water
At Cistermiser, we believe the first step towards better water management is understanding where water is being used – and where it could be wasted. Our water surveys can help identify opportunities to improve water efficiency across your washroom facilities.
We can look at your existing systems and identify practical ways to reduce unnecessary water consumption, helping you save water and reduce costs without compromising hygiene, performance or the user experience.
You may be surprised by how much water your building could save.
Is your office doing enough to manage its water?
With hotter summers, increasing pressure on our water resources and businesses facing growing expectations around sustainability, there has never been a better time to take action.
Don’t wait for water waste to become a bigger problem. Find out exactly where your office could be wasting water and what you can do about it.
Book your FREE water survey with Cistermiser today.
We’ll help you understand where water is being wasted, where improvements can be made and how the right water-saving solutions could help your business Save Water, Save Money, Save Carbon.
Contact Cistermiser today and take the first step towards a more water-efficient workplace.
