Trailblazing approach saves water and cuts energy and carbon, at range of public sector sites including schools and a council
Schools, a parish council’s site and a village hall have all seen water-savings as part of a pioneering large-scale project that saw water saving visits delivered and water efficiency kit installed. It follows a large-scale project, also delivered by Water Plus, involving 200 sites, including schools and council sites, in 2023.
More than 40 water-saving devices were fitted across two schools, with results being seen including:
- A 40% water-saving for one primary school on its average daily water use, while another school saw a 37% water-saving on its average daily water use.
Across four schools, visits found 1.5 million litres of water could be saved over a year, from small low-cost water-saving devices – equal to 19,837 bath tubs, each filled with 80 litres of water, or 6.3 million cuppas, holding 250ml each – and cut more than £4,000 off water costs, helping school budgets and freeing more money up for pupils.
More than 20 tap aerators were installed at two of the schools, which reduces the amount of hot water needed, which would reduce energy use – along with more than 20 flush-savers, that save around a litre of water every toilet flush and a flush saver for a urinal cistern, which also means less water needs to be used.
One of the schools saw the flow rate for taps, which had efficiency fittings added, reduce to an average of 3.8 litres per minute, compared to an average 6.7 litres per minute, which is a 43% water-saving.
Where less hot water is used at a site, less energy needs to be used, with the tap efficiency fittings helping to do just that.
Water is in Scope 3, for carbon emissions, so increasing water efficiency also helps with decarbonisation targets and progress towards Net Zero in the public sector.
The four schools saw an average 38% water-saving – and, overall in the project, a 37% average water-saving has been delivered across a range of sites, with water-saving kit installed since 29th January 2024.* The water audits and water-saving kit were installed through Water Plus, for free, in the project which was funded through the Green Recovery programme by Severn Trent and aimed to help communities and reduce impacts on the environment.
Scott MacIndeor, Head of Advanced Services at business water retailer Water Plus, which also works with public sector sites in England and Scotland, said: “It’s been great continuing to work with a wide range of sites, including in the public sector. Significant water savings – and reduction in overall running costs at sites – have been delivered through some small measures that are making a substantial difference to schools and at other locations.
“Looking closer at your water use at your site and your consumption data is worth the time to help lower the amount you’re spending on water, cut energy use and help reduce impacts on the environment. So, it’s important for all public sector sites and organisations – large and small – to regularly check their water use – at least once a month, if their water meter is safe to access to see where opportunities may be and reduce risks from issues on site pipes.
“Small, low-cost things like tap aerators can cut hot water and cold water use. If less water needs heating, then less energy needs to be used – so there are less carbon emissions, unless your power is from 100% certified renewable energy already.”
The project this year – and in 2023 – has been delivered by the Advanced Services Team at Water Plus, who provide Value Added Services (VAS), including leak detection and repair, water audits along with water efficiency advice and projects. Sites that could benefit from water-saving steps were identified by the Water Plus team, who also searched for the best water-efficient devices that would have the maximum impact.
A parish council site in Leicestershire also saw a 14% water-saving on its average daily water use and a village hall in Staffordshire saw a 49% water-saving on its average daily water use.
Kelsey Martin, Non-household Water Efficiency Manager at Severn Trent, said: “We’ve worked again with Water Plus who delivered an exceptional approach to water-saving, on a large scale in 2023, helping customers and communities, along with the environment. The 2023 work with Water Plus, which has been built on for 2024, is acting as a blueprint in the sector on how engagement with businesses around their water can deliver big results – on lower running costs and for water-saving.
“The Green Recovery programme seeks out ambitious and innovative projects on water efficiency – and the approach by Water Plus delivering results in 2024 – involved both of these elements, helping communities become more sustainable, save water and reduce bills.”
A 34.6% average water-saving was delivered across 42 sites – and a 32% average water-saving delivered across 60 sites, based on water meter data – in the 2023 work. Where less hot water is used there is a reduction in energy needed for sites and reducing water use also reduces carbon emissions linked to providing the water to a building. The work also saw 200 water audits completed at sites including food and drink businesses, sports clubs, hotels, care homes and schools.
More information about the small water-saving steps that can deliver for the public sector can be found on the Public Sector Sustainability Association website – and also on the Water Plus website www.water-plus.co.uk/better-ways-with-water/ .
If your site, or organisation, wants to explore the benefits and savings available to reduce running costs, email hello@water-plus.co.uk and include the subject heading “Be Water Wise”.
Additional information:
There are carbon emissions linked to all water used at sites. In the 200 site work, water-saving kit was installed over 10 months.
*37% average water-saving is across 59 sites, including four schools, a parish council site and a village hall, where water efficiency kit was installed in 2024. Saving based on reduction in average daily use of water, per site.
