Data loggers have highlighted more than £1.5 million of potential additional water costs for organisations this year, after highlighting issues including leaks at sites, new figures show.*
This included:
- One of the largest universities in the UK had leaks on two sites – which were losing an estimated 100 cubic metres (100,000 litres) of water a day. It was able to spot these after installing 29 Automatic Meter Reader (AMR) data loggers through work with water retailer Water Plus.
- Another large university has been supported this year with their maintenance programme after 17 data loggers were installed, making more data on water consumption available to them to help identify any weak points on their sites’ pipework.
A London-based university was also able to see a water loss that needed attention, after more than 30 AMR data loggers were attached to water meters, so they could get more information see where any water issues or savings opportunities were. Data monitoring from the loggers made it possible to identify and fix a 1,750 litre per hour leak in the last year.
More than 720 data loggers have been installed during 2019, through work by Water Plus to help organisations to track levels of water consumption.
An online AMR portal helps energy and utility managers stay a step ahead to keep control on water costs when working remotely
Scott MacIndeor, Head of Advanced Services at Water Plus, said: “Data loggers and online portals help to get organisations with multiple water meters much closer to their water use and helps to highlight where issues or opportunities for efficiencies are when it comes to water consumption across sites.
Photo by Samuel Sianipar on Unsplash
“We know organisations in the public sector – and elsewhere – are keen to help protect their operation and prevent extra spending in the future, particularly now, and data loggers with online portals provide an easy to use platform to spot when action is needed to avoid increased costs. It helps to keep energy and utility managers a step ahead – and in more control – when they’re working remotely across multiple sites.
“As we know data is an important tool for the Public Sector and businesses – and as part of enhancements to our online customer portals – we’ve recently updated how information on water use is displayed on the AMR portal, giving greater detail and data analysis – making it even easier to use and saving time for organisations.”
Water Plus has also recently secured a place on the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework which will allow it to be a water, wastewater and ancillary services supplier to public sector organisations across the UK. It’s the second time the retailer has won a supplier place on the CCS framework, which runs for four years from 1 December this year (2020) and is expected to save the public sector approximately £20 million.
Scott MacIndeor, Head of Advanced Services at Water Plus
Scott said: “We manage the water and wastewater services for many public sector organisations, including some of the largest and most diverse in the UK – such as councils, schools, colleges, universities, UK Government-owned sites, prisons, hospitals and the emergency services – so we understand their different needs and drivers and we’ve helped organisations make significant savings across their portfolio, reducing water use and contributing to their sustainability aims and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
The CCS supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2019/20, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits worth over £1bn – supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers.
Water Plus won a number of substantial Public Sector contracts while on the previous framework, which they secured a place on in March 2017. These included Greater Manchester Police and Bury Council.
As part of wider work to help raise awareness around leaks and water efficiency, an interactive water leak checklist for site managers and caretakers has been provided this year by Water Plus for use on smart phones, tablets and laptops (and to print out, if needed). And the retailer also commissioned research last year to help public sector utility and facility managers on water attitudes of public sector employees.
As part of highlighting water efficiency and its benefits across England and Scotland, it regularly joins industry events and meetings including the Greater London Authority’s Water Advisory Group, chaired by the Deputy Mayor.
Find out more about lowering your costs in the future and how to help meet your organisation’s sustainability goals.
If you’re interested in Automatic Meter Reader (AMR) data loggers, that show water use through an AMR online portal, as well as getting closer control over water costs – or exploring how water efficiency can benefit your organisation – please email our experts at: advancedservices@water-plus.co.uk or go to www.water-plus.co.uk/watermanagement.
- Water Plus is the UK’s largest business water retailer that provides customer service, meter reading and billing for water and wastewater services, along with advice on water efficiency, to public sector organisations and businesses of all sizes, across England and Scotland. It works with and supports universities that are amongst the top rankings in the People and Planet University League (2019) and the Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings (2019) for their contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Further detail on the main cost statistic
*The “more than £1.5 million” additional cost for businesses and public sector organisations is based on the volume of water lost if the leaks had run for 12 months without a repair. The leaks would have seen 650,000 cubic metres of water lost along with increases in bills and potential structural damage. Having the data available allowed for the leaks to be identified early, reducing risks to businesses and other sites continuing to operate and costs. The cost of £1.6 million is estimated, based on average wholesaler water and wastewater charges per cubic metre of water. 1 cubic metre of water is equivalent of 1,000 litres of water.
Research Water Plus commissioned and published about water attitudes in the Public Sector at work can be found here – admin.water-plus.co.uk/wpstrategic/media/PDFs/water-use-in-the-public-sector.pdf
And further details on the research can be found here – www.water-plus.co.uk/fresh-thinking-hub/your-employees-want-you-to-save-water
Recent Comments