Water Efficiency in Business and Commercial Properties

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Water Efficiency in Business and Commercial
Properties
Alan Turner alan.turner_at_kent.gov.uk
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The Context
England Wales 1334 (m3/h/yr) Thames region
266 Southern region 921 Source Water
resources for the Future, EA
EA estimate for Kent 300 to 450
(m3/cap/yr)
Source EEA Report No 9/2005, Sustainable Use and
Management of Natural Resource, EEA 2005.
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Water use

• Non-household accounts for about 25 of total
  water demand
• Of this, 40 is used by business services
• 86 of office water use is for flushing toilets

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Peak water demands
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Why water savings?

• Water bills are a relatively low cost for many
  businesses, but are easily reduced.
• Envirowise estimate that 20 - 50 can be saved
  with no-cost or low-cost measures.
• So pay-back periods can be short.

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• Planning

http//www.kent.gov.uk/publications/council-and-de
mocracy/water-efficient-homes.htm
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• Planning - SPD

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Towards water savings..
For businesses we cant be prescriptive. Need a
process approach - 1. Communicate 2. Measure 3. An
alyse 4. Plan 5. Implement 6. Evaluate
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Towards water savings..

• 1. COMMUNICATE
• Water use is also about behaviour
• Larger businesses - Water Policy Statement?

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Towards water savings..
2. MEASURE Check bills (incl wastewater)

• Focus on volumetric charge
• Identify trends and changes
• Read water meters regularly (including before and
  after shutdown period)

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Towards water savings..
3. ANALYSE

• m3 / staff member / year
• m3 / tonne
• Potable versus non-potable use?
• Benchmark eg. Average office 4m3 / fte / yr
• Use Envirowise tools
• http//www.envirowise.gov.uk/page.aspx?owatertoo
  ls

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Towards water savings..

• 4. PLAN
• Every business is different so you may need
  advice at this point
• But some examples ...

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Towards water savings..
4. PLAN For simple office situation -

• Repair leaks
• Behaviour change
• Male urinal controls (timers / sensors)
• Cistern displacement devices
• Flow restriction valves
• Refurbish with low water use fittings

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Towards water savings..
4. PLAN

• Non-potable demand?
• Rainwater harvesting often better for process
  water (eg. washing)
• Depends on roof space and demand
• Can give good payback in some circumstances

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Towards water savings..
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Towards water savings..
4. PLAN

• Capital investments?
• Consult the Water Technology List
  (http//www.eca-water.gov.uk)
• Qualify for ECA?
• Target savings - (m3 and )
• Costs?

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Towards water savings..
5. IMPLEMENT

• Consult water company for contractor
• 6. EVALUATE
• check actual savings
• Benefit / cost? Payback period?
• Benchmark and comparators

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Towards water savings..

• Sources of information
• http//www.envirowise.gov.uk/page.aspx?owater
• http//www.eca-water.gov.uk
• http//www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/a
  crobat/waterwise_2006_1407627.pdf
• http//www.kent.gov.uk/publications/council-and-de
  mocracy/water-efficient-homes.htm
• http//www.waterwise.org.uk/
• Your water company

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• END