Hundreds of schools save water and reduce costs in large-scale engagement by Water Plus

More than 300 schools are seeing significant water-savings, lowering running costs and giving a boost to budgets, as a large-scale approach expands its positive impacts.

The 170.32m3 (170,320 litres) estimated daily water saving across the schools would be enough to fill 680,000 cups of tea each day.

And the amount of water saved is equal to 60.1kg CO2e a day fewer carbon emissions, showing how increasing water efficiencies can support public sector decarbonisation goals.*

The 309 primary and secondary schools are amongst 4,100 visits already completed in a fresh collaborative approach – with sites engaged through business water retailer Water Plus and water-saving activities funded by United Utilities. Care homes and leisure centres were also amongst sites involved.

Savings from the 4,100 visits would cut more than £21,700 a week off water bill costs** and the water volume saved would keep a small UK town supplied, keeping water flowing for more than 7,500 people a day. ***

Scott MacIndeor, who leads the technical water efficiencies team at Water Plus, said: “It’s been brilliant to increase positive results and benefits for these schools and other sites, drawing on our experience in this area and driving further progress on saving water and reducing running costs for customers. We’re building momentum, helping more customers to see where water saving opportunities can be that can also lead to reduced energy costs and cutting carbon emissions as less water is needed.”

And uptake of water saving opportunities continue to accelerate, increasing over the last 12 months and helping build long-term actions to reduce and tackle water scarcity risks in the UK.

The latest progress builds on a proactive awareness and engagement approach by Water Plus that saw thousands of locations, including schools and other public sector sites, reducing water use and saving money, with 3,600 visits from July 2024 to March 2025.

It means, so far, 7,769 visits have been completed since July 2024, with funding from United Utilities in a joint approach to reduce water use and cut operating costs for healthcare, education settings and small businesses. 4,160 visits were carried out from April 2025 to February 2026.

Emma McCabe, who leads the Water efficiency teams at United Utilities, said: “It shows the value of close work and collaboration, alongside customer-focused communication to engage, raise awareness and, ultimately, further increase water efficiency and stop unnecessary water loss across a wide range of locations.”

Luke Brewer-Nevitt, Water efficiency Delivery Manager at United Utilities, added: “This was an ambitious programme and it is fantastic to see the further substantial and significant uptake and positive results.

“Finding more ways to save water not only lowers running costs it also reduces pressure on supplies and the environment, helping keeping water flowing for everyone.”

Insight and data were used to identify sites that could see the biggest benefits, including the education and healthcare sectors, with Water Plus contacting them, in the engagement and awareness raising approach to increase water-saving – and reduce impacts on the environment.

Each site taking part received a free water audit and water-saving kit installed on taps, with any smaller leaks identified in the checks at the buildings being isolated or repaired. Audits to identify areas for savings, installing water-saving kit and leak repairs were funded by the regional wholesaler United Utilities.

Sites were engaged by Water Plus under its Be Wise On Water awareness and engagement approach.

Further information:

*Carbon reduction in kg CO2e based on published conversion factors for 2025 for water and wastewater and assumes 95% Return to Sewer.

**4,160 visits completed April 2025 to February 2026, saving 1,031,081 litres of water a day (1,031 cubic metres of water a day). It would cut more than £4,340 a day – £21,700 in a 5-day week – off water bill costs. Based on wholesaler water cost per cubic metre of water. Cumulative saving.

£21,754 saving in 5 days based on wholesaler water and wastewater charge of £4.22 per 1,000 litres of water from 25/26 FY wholesaler charges (measured as 1 cubic metre of water/1m3). Cost for sites using under 50 Megalitres.

309 primary and secondary schools are saving water after visits from April 2025 to February 2026.

4.1 million cuppas a day and 680,000 cups of tea a day based on each holding 250ml of water.

Sites are in Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Lancashire and Merseyside.

***7,553 people would be supplied with 136.5 litres of water a day from the water saved. 136.5 litres of water is the average daily amount used per person in 24/25 financial year. The town of Keswick, in Cumbria, has a population of approximately 4,800 according to the Town Council’s website and the town of Wivenhoe in Essex has a population of approximately 7,500 according to the Town Council’s website.

3,609 visits to sites between July 2024 and 2025: A saving of more than 2.4 million litres of water a week – equal to 9.6 million cups of tea, holding 250ml each – is estimated, from water audits that took flow rates at each site on taps and showers and located leaks, that have now been stopped. Sites making savings were in one region.