6 Ways To Reduce Water Usage In The Workplace

Reducing water usage in the workplace does not only help protect the environment and ensure there’s clean water for future generations, but also allows businesses to reduce operational costs. In this article, we’ll list 6 ways that you can control water usage at the office.

1. Increase your employee's awareness on reducing water usage

Introducing water-saving policies, schemes, and procedures at staff meetings is one of the easiest methods to remind your employees to use water efficiently. Invite them to come up with their own ideas on how to save water at work, or give them specific targets to work towards.

If guests and clients frequently visit the business, signs and posters can be put up in high-traffic and shared spaces such as the toilet and kitchen areas. This will encourage visitors to conserve water and prevent water wastage. Here are a few examples of the signs often seen in public places:

2. Check the kitchen and breakout area

According to Water Save Organisation, leaking taps can waste approximately 5,500 litres of water per year – which is enough to fill a paddling pool each week for an entire summer. Weekly or monthly speedy check-ups will be sufficient to prevent spending a fortune on dripping water.

Instead of running the water to wash up plates and mugs separately, use the dishwasher when it is full. If possible, consider investing in a water-efficient dishwasher – it may be costly upfront, but it will pay off in the long run.

Install water-efficient taps with a flow restrictor or an aerator to limit water usage. With the help of this device, water is bulked up by the combination aerator and flow regulator, allowing for thorough cleaning while reducing the flow needed to reach the same washing capacity. It’s extremely easy to use with no plumbing needed – just simply screw it to the existing thread.

3. Inspect the toilets and showers

Older toilets can use up to 13 litres per flush. If the cisterns have been installed for a long time, maybe it’s time to change them into a water-conserving device using a ‘Hippo’ or ‘Save-a-Flush’ bag. This will reduce around 1 to 3 litres per flush by cutting down the amount of water flushed away. Converting old cisterns to dual flush is also worth considering to reduce water usage.

Even if your office uses the latest button-operated dual flush, water leaks can still occur due to worn valves or washers, costing you more than 250 litres per hour. If there’s a trickle of water running down the back of the pan, it’s an indicator to check for toilet leakages. You can consider installing a combination of efficient showerhead and shower timer to keep water usage under control.

4. Harvest rainwater to save your water bill

Harvesting rainwater is an efficient way to save water not only for domestic purposes, but also for businesses. According to the Environment Agency, you do not need an abstraction licence to use water that only consists of harvested rainwater. However, the water abstraction licence will be required if you combine harvested rainwater with ground or surface water, which you then abstract or transfer. Therefore, you should consult relevant authorities first to comply with any hosepipe regulations.

There are many rainwater harvest systems available in the market. It’s important to plan carefully before choosing the system types and the tank sizes. It is also critical to think of whether above the ground or underground tank should be used. With a few modifications, your business can install a rainwater collection and storage facility for tree watering and cleaning.

5. Look for warning signs of leakages

One of the most noticeable signs is water leaking or dripping from the overflow systems. This can cause ponds of water, and damp patches inside or outside the building. A few tips to fix a leaking overflow pipe is to check if the float valve is obstructed. If it is, adjust the position of the float so it’s not set too high to turn the water off. If the float valve is punctured, replace it with a new one. Replacing the washer in the float valve is also a method.

If your water bill or meter reading is unusually higher than normal, it can also be an indicator of water wastage.

6. Consider co-working space and shared office to be free from water bill

If water bill greatly contributes to your operational costs, consider working in a co-working space or shared office. Most co-working spaces would cover the expenses of water usage, along with electricity and heating. If you are thinking about a co-working, shared office space to trim down costs, downsize or relocate to an area where water costs are lower, let us help your business today! Located strategically in Uckfield with direct access to A22, Cube Co-Working offers an affordable, flexible and friendly workspace which frees your business from worrying about the aforementioned fees. Give us a call on 0800 027 2668 to find out more about our latest promotion.

Hope these tips offer a good start for your business to control water consumption in the workplace.

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6 Ways To Reduce Water Usage In The Workplace