Envirowise issues final call for water saving initiative

Businesses are today being urged to sign up to a free programme run by government-backed advisory body Envirowise designed to help them conserve water and cut bills.

The Rippleffect initiative was launched earlier this year and firms now have until 10 September to sign up to the six-month programme.

Firms joining the initiative will receive free advice on how to analyse their water use and how best to cut consumption through a range of no and low cost measures, as well as more costly water saving technologies, such as grey or rain water systems.

Participants can expect to receive guidance on how to collect water data, develop and implement a water conservation action plan, and track water and costs savings. They also get access to dedicated online tools, are able to attend a number of workshops offering best practice support, and can contact a free Envirowise advice line.

According to Envirowise, firms can typically save up to 30 per cent on water and effluent bills through simple measures such as fixing dripping taps, and these savings can reach 50 per cent through the installation of more advanced water efficiency systems.

With water companies recently setting out plans for post-2010 price hikes of up to 22 per cent, Envirowise director Mary Leonard insisted it was a good time for firms to address their water use. "Water is still considered by many as a cheap and limitless resource [but] the reality is that costs are rising and we are using far too much of it putting pressure on supplies," she said.