Every year, all of the UK’s water companies and the regulating body Ofwat (the Water Services Regulation Authority) come together and propose price changes for the coming year. These changes then take effect from the new fiscal year, on April 1. This year will see the largest price increase since the privatisation of the sector, at an average of 26%.
The objective of this price increase is to facilitate essential works on the water and sewage infrastructure. Ofwat have approved over £100bn of investment for this ‘ambitious programme’ that will benefit both consumers and the environment. To achieve this, though, domestic and commercial properties will see substantial price increases.
Increasing water prices will impact every business in the country, and the size of this impact will scale based on water usage. This means that large commercial sites will feel it the most. Every business, however, will need to consider how they can potentially reduce their water consumption to offset this rise.
26% is the national average, however, the exact change will vary from provider to provider. Anglian Water is projected to increase prices by 19%, whereas Thames Water will increase by 31%. Reported increases of approximately £10 a month are based on domestic customers. Businesses will likely see a significantly larger increase.
The direct impact of these changes will be to squeeze profitability by increasing overheads. It is possible, however, to take proactive steps to ensure that a business isn’t wasting water – and therefore, money.
Reduce the impact
As bills increase, the objective is simple. Businesses must find ways to reduce water usage and therefore cut down overall costs. This can take many forms, from minor behavioural changes all the way to a full review of a site’s water usage and multiple upgrades to the site’s plumbing systems.
The first port of call should be to prevent water waste where possible; fixing leaks right away, proper maintenance and monitoring of the plumbing system; and behavioural changes like the way the team wash dishes.
There are also more tangible changes that can be made, upgrading to waterless urinals, for instance. This is a very effective way to cut down your water usage and the savings can be huge, especially on high traffic sites. Saving hundreds of pounds per urinal per year is a surefire way to reduce costs – and, the more bathrooms there are, the more effective this upgrade will be.
Smaller changes or additions, like installing aerators in taps will also contribute. Every little helps. Another notable water saver is the switch to a push tap, which will limit the amount of water wasted.
Ultimately, the most important step is a commitment to cutting down water usage. Once the whole team are actively working towards this goal, the business will start saving.
Plumbing & Gas Solutions are currently offering free water reduction surveys for any commercial sites in Milton Keynes or the surrounding areas, to support businesses as they take this first step.
This will involve a comprehensive inspection of the plumbing systems on site. After the survey, Plumbing & Gas Solutions will provide a report containing recommendations for how the business can most effectively reduce water usage.
Call 01908 569031 to find out more or visit the website here.
