Free advice to help businesses save water and money
06 December 2011
Thames Water is partnering with resource efficiency specialists WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) to offer business customers free advice, guidance and training to help save water. The ‘Rippleffect’ support package will provide practical advice for businesses to help them:
- Understand how much water they use;
- Identify simple ways to save water and money ; and
- Measure their water and cost savings
The Rippleffect is free and includes five online training modules, which are supported by a freephone advice line, web conferences, webcasts, case studies, guides and online tools.
David Grantham, Thames Water’s water efficiency manager, says:
“We want to help businesses find ways to save water, to help ensure there is more water in the supply network for other people, and more in the environment for wildlife.
“Our London and the Thames Valley region is classed as ‘seriously water stressed’. Fifteen of the past 19 months have been below average for rainfall, which is creating a cumulative problem. That’s why right now we’re so keen to urge homes and businesses to use this precious resource wisely.
"By reducing water consumption, businesses can also reduce their carbon footprint."
Carl Nichols, head of business and markets at WRAP, says that implementing water efficiency measures can result in significant savings for businesses.
“For example, fitting valves to printing machines reduced water consumption from 600m3 to 35m3 per week in one case, and establishing levels of water required for different weights of textiles and only using water when necessary cut consumption by a third, saving £2000 per week,” he explains.
“Trigger guns and timers on hose pipes, and recovering cooling water from machines have in some cases led to savings worth 10 times the cost of implementation. Offices have also benefitted significantly from water reduction steps taken in kitchens and washroom facilities.”
Mr Nichols also points out that water and carbon footprints are linked.
“By reducing water consumption, you can reduce your carbon emissions; for every cubic metre of water saved, you will reduce your carbon footprint by around one kilogramme.”
Companies can find out more and register for the support package by visiting: www.thameswater.co.uk/rippleffect.
