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Water Efficiency in the Workplace: Our Tips
August 9th, 2024
Last updated: December 10th, 2024
Water efficiency is becoming increasingly important for businesses in the UK, not just for reducing operational costs but also for meeting sustainability goals. As environmental concerns continue to grow, and with the pressure on resources rising, businesses are recognising the need to manage water use more effectively.
For commercial properties, adopting water-saving strategies can lead to significant financial and environmental benefits, but it will only work if you put the effort in and ensure the whole team contributes to the water-saving schemes. Here are some practical tips to improve water efficiency in commercial properties.
Install Water-Saving Fixtures and Appliances
Upgrading to water-efficient fixtures and appliances is one of the most effective ways to reduce water consumption in commercial properties. Washrooms can be a way for a lot of water to get wasted in a business. Low-flow taps, dual-flush toilets, and water-efficient urinals can significantly reduce the amount of water used in bathrooms. For kitchens, installing water-saving dishwashers and taps with aerators can help cut down on water use.
In industrial settings, consider upgrading to more efficient machinery and cooling systems. Many modern systems are designed to use less water without compromising on performance, leading to substantial long-term savings.
Fix Leaks and Maintain Plumbing
Water waste in the UK is in the trillions of litres every single year. Those are figures that it is hard to get your head around.
Leaking taps, toilets, and pipes can lead to significant water wastage if not addressed promptly. In commercial properties, where plumbing systems are often extensive and complex, even minor leaks can result in substantial water loss over time.
Regular maintenance and prompt repairs are crucial to ensuring the plumbing system operates efficiently. Implementing a proactive maintenance schedule, where fixtures and pipes are routinely checked for leaks, can prevent small issues from escalating into costly repairs and water waste. A commercial plumber should be contacted as soon as there is a sign of a leak.
Recycle and Reuse Water (When Safe)
Recycling and reusing water is another effective way to improve water efficiency in commercial properties. Installing a greywater recycling system allows water from sinks, showers, and other non-potable sources to be reused for purposes such as flushing toilets, cooling systems, or irrigation. Of course, you can only use reused water in certain situations, and you need to ensure that you take a safety-first approach to all commercial water needs.
Rainwater harvesting systems can also be installed to collect rainwater for use in landscaping, grounds maintenance and cleaning, or even in some industrial processes. These systems reduce the reliance on mains water, leading to significant savings and reducing the environmental impact of the property.
Educate the Workplace
A key aspect of improving water efficiency in commercial properties is ensuring that everyone in the building is on board. Educating employees and other occupants about the importance of water conservation and how they can contribute is essential.
In certain cases, employees need to be trained about things relating to water anyway. For instance, legionella training is used to boost awareness of legionella and reduce the risk of an outbreak.
If everybody works together then simple actions, such as turning off taps properly, reporting leaks, and using water-efficient practices in kitchens and bathrooms, can collectively lead to significant savings. Providing training sessions, putting up informative posters, and including water-saving tips in company newsletters are effective ways to raise awareness and encourage responsible water use.
Conclusion
Water efficiency is something that businesses should be considering. Everybody needs to do their bit when it comes to reducing the water that gets wasted, and workplaces can be a key place to implement changes.
Plumbing emergencies such as blockages, leaks or even potential floods can cause huge disruptions to commercial premises and can impact your water efficiency.
Our Yorkshire-based plumbers provide a 24/7/365 emergency callout service for businesses across the whole region.
If you have a commercial plumbing emergency or you just want to explore the ways that a commercial plumber can modernise your workplace, get in touch, and our team will be with you as soon as possible to carry out repairs and get your business up and running again.
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