Schools save water, cutting costs and carbon emissions, in smart approaches with Water Plus

Smart approaches with water have cut running costs and increased efficiencies at a range of schools who have teamed-up with business water retailer Water Plus.

From recycling rainwater, to introducing small, low-cost efficiency devices and spotting areas where water can be saved, schools are seeing benefits from taking steps.

And in wider actions Water Plus, the UK’s largest business water retailer’s partner, online sustainability tool Zellar, is also helping more schools and councils in 2025 to track and reduce carbon emissions.

All education settings in England, including schools, need to have a Climate Action Plan in place by September 2025 – and the Zellar sustainability platform can help with that. Plus, customers with Water Plus can also get a discount for the Zellar platform and its host of resources and tools.

As there are carbon emissions linked to all water used at schools, other public sector buildings including hospitals and universities and at businesses too, lower water use also reduces carbon footprints.

And using less hot water can save energy and cut running costs further too.

Tracking water use during the year is helping schools to find ways to save water.

And with wholesaler price increases for water, that landed in April 2025, there’s even more reason to look at ways to save water and reduce utility costs.

Costs can quickly stack up from increases in water use, with one school seeing 8.5 litres a minute additional water use in 2025. That’s equal to 34 cups of tea (or coffee) every minute, with each holding 250ml.

And it would have cost more than £14,500 in extra wholesaler water charges for the school, for the estimated additional water use in a year, if it hadn’t been spotted and the quick reaction.

A piece of pipe with a split on, that was causing 5 litres of water lost a minute, was replaced in May 2025 through the leak find and fix services that Water Plus can provide.

A broken and leaking stop tap on a water pipe supplying a music building at the school was found and replaced with a new stop tap. And another section with a broken stop tap on, causing water loss, was also repaired.

An additional stop tap was also installed outside a building for nursery children as the internal stop tap was difficult to access, so water can be isolated easily whenever needed – strengthening the school network.

Carl Low, an Account Manager with 2025 UK Customer Satisfaction Award winner Water Plus that works with academy trusts, schools and other public sector organisations, said: “From our Advanced Services team that can provide water audits and leak detection and repair services, to others in our team, we’re highlighting the opportunities out there for schools and academies to save water, reduce utility costs and drive forward decarbonisation.

“Small and smart actions with water really can add up to big savings and help deliver against climate action and carbon reduction plans and targets.”

Water Plus also teamed-up with Zellar to help schools save water, in the last year too, providing water butts and water saving advice and information in the Zellar Green Schools competition. It saw a school in Suffolk introducing two 227-litre water butts for watering its grounds and involving pupils with this.

And the team-up has also seen a webinar for schools on sustainability and water-saving, which can be accessed for free here.

Adam Wright, Zellar Chief Operating Officer, said: “It’s been great joining forces with Water Plus to make schools super sustainable – and schools on Zellar have already seen an average of £4,900 saved in the first year, showing how small actions add up to great results.

“Zellar’s digital sustainability coaching platform empowers organisations to measure, track, and reduce their carbon emissions, enabling them to develop tailored decarbonisation plans and achieve significant cost savings.”

More ways to save water, energy and cut carbon emissions are available on the Water Plus website at: www.water-plus.co.uk/better-ways-with-water .

To request water-saving services, including water audits to find water efficiency opportunities, leak repair and detection services and additional water tracking technology, contact: advancedservices@water-plus.co.uk .

Partner with Water Plus for water retail services: hello@water-plus.co.uk.

More on the latest water saving tips for schools are on this article, on the Public Sector Sustainability Association website.