Reduce Costs Maximise Your Profits

Good housekeeping is often all that is required to achieve substantial savings – you do not need to spend a great deal of time or money. The more water you use, the greater the potential for savings.

The following article will help you work out an action plan, checking where you are using your water, and then giving you ideas to help you make real savings.

ACTION PLAN

The first steps are to determine the amount of water used and waste water produced by your business in the last 12 months and how much this cost. Check your invoice from Scottish Water. It is important to know how much water you use, so you can maximise your savings by taking the most appropriate action

METER IT

If you have a water meter, check your meter readings and make sure they agree with the bill – do not pay for someone else's mistake. Regular monthly meter readings will show a pattern of usage. Plotting the readings on a graph will give a visual impression of trends.

Scottish Water can assess whether your meter is the appropriate size for your business's current water usage and needs. If this assessment shows that you could downsize the size of the meter, your business could qualify for a reduction in the fixed element of the meter charges. To enquire about water metering, call the Scottish Water Business Customer Helpline: 0845 6028855.

If you do not have a water meter, Scottish Water can help you assess whether installing a meter would be a viable option to reduce your business's water and waste water charges.

WASTE WATER

You should also establish the amount of waste water discharged by your business in the same period. This figure is usually estimated on your water bill, although if you have a water meter fitted then this will provide an exact charge on your bill relating to the volume of water your business uses.

You can check this data is accurate by comparing the consumption and discharge volumes. Remember, the volume of discharge may not exactly mirror the consumption volume as it is necessary to take account of the volume of water used in business process or production, or from additional rainfall or contaminant. Certain types of business may receive a non- return to sewer allowance on their waste water charge. Again, Scottish Water can provide assistance in determining the right non-return to sewer allowance.

CONDUCT WATER WALK ROUNDS

See where, how and when water is being used by your business.

METER IT TO CHECK IT

Leaks in visible pipes are obvious, but leaks in hidden sections ( including sections underground ) can go undetected for years. Monitoring your water meter by noting meter readings regularly, will help show up leaks. These will be detected as sudden jumps in consumption assuming no great changes in demand have been instigated.

Do you use water when the business is closed ? Again this emphasises how important a water meter is – if you think that you don't, check your meter to make sure.

If you have processes that use large amounts of water, consider installing sub meters – they will help you target reductions for particular processes.

FOCUS ON THE MAJOR WATER USERS FIRST

Estimate the amount of water used in different activities to identify where you need to focus on. If your total estimates of water consumption are much less than your overall total consumption as indicated by your bills, you may have missed a major water use.

FOLLOWING THE WATER SAVING HIERARCHY TO HELP YOU SAVE MONEY

Having determined the main uses of water focus your attention on these. Identify the most appropriate ways of minimising water consumption in each area/activity of your business. In order of priority:

 Stop leaks and spills ( and ensure that your pipes are well insulated to protect against frost damage). Dripping taps and leaking pipes can cost a lot of money.

 Eliminate unnecessary water use. Is the process or activity really necessary? Does it make most sense to use water, or is there a more cost effective alternative?

 Reduce water use. Could water be used more efficiently? Is there an alternative process or activity that would be better?

 Re-use water. Could the water be recycled for use elsewhere? ( e.g. flushing toilets).

CONTACTS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON SAVING ENERGY

Scottish Water

Scottish Water is the sole provider of water and waste water services to household and business customers in Scotland. If you don't have a water meter, Scottish Water will install one free of charge. If you have a meter already, Scottish Water will check it to ensure that it is the right size for your business.

Business Customer Helpline : 0845 602855

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.scottishwater.co.uk

Envirowise

Envirowise can advise you on how to cut your water bill as part of its free waste audit.

Envirowise Hotline: 0800 585794

Website: www.envirowise.gov.uk/towaternet.

Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECAs)

ECAs arenow available to enable businesses to claim 100% first year capital allowances in investment on water efficiency technology and products.

Website: www.eca-water.gov.uk

Scottish Energy Efficiency Office – ( SEEO )

The Scottish Executive's Energy Efficiency Office ( SEEO) is the main provider to Scotland's business and public sectors of energy efficiency & environmental advice. This service is free, confidential and includes:

 Energy and Environmental Helpline offering instant technical assistance on 0800 585794

 Loan Action Scotland ( LAS) Interest free loans of between £ 5,000 and £ 50,000 for smaller companies ( up to 250 employees) to invest in energy saving equipment. More details at – www.energy.efficiency.org.uk or from the LAS Hotline on 0800 0929002

 A regional network of representatives who will visit your business to advise of the range of services on offer and help with the application process:

Aberdeen/ North East 01224 213005

Ayr 01292 280109

Edinburgh 0131 468 8668

Glasgow 0141 552 0799

Inverness 01463 703505

Orkney 01856 870534

 Energy and waste/water minimisation site audits (normally only available to businesses with energy bills in excess of £ 10k per annum).
For more information phone SEEO direct on 0141 242 5835 or check the website at www.energy-efficiency.org