This week 12–18 June 2010 is Water Saving Week supported by Defra and Sustainable Business, which seeks to raise awareness of the benefits of water saving in the home, within business and schools.
The objective of Water Saving Week is to remind water users about the importance of being water wise and ultimately saving money and resources. In the context of business users, this can achieve both financial savings and environmental benefit in the following ways:
- Using less water can reduce your costs in both purchasing the water, which costs around £1/m3, but also in reducing disposal and treatment costs which can be £2 to £3/m3 – a double win;
- Also, water use is very often linked to energy costs in that energy is required to heat water and to treat it, so lower water usage can mean savings in your energy bills – a triple win;
- Using less water also has a direct impact on your carbon emissions, and reduces your carbon footprint;
- Managing water use supports the corporate policy within the company for improved environmental performance and demonstrates to customers and stakeholders that you are acting as a responsible business.
ADAS is currently working with food and drink businesses to identify water saving opportunities within their manufacturing processes. Typical savings on both water and effluent costs of close to 20% are being achieved by recommending improved maintenance to avoid dripping taps and leaks, increased staff awareness and sub metering of water and installation of equipment such as Cleaning in Place (CIP) to automate washing.
Many of these recommendations need minimal or no capital outlay to implement.
ADAS is also looking at the opportunities for the reuse of water within manufacturing processes, using simple treatment and filters to clean the used water.
ADAS is also working with businesses looking at the opportunities around Rain Water Harvesting where water can be used in low grade applications such as vehicle wash down, toilet flushing and floor washing. Payback on the investment can often be within 2-3 years.
An increasing number of our ADAS food and drink clients are starting to look at water use within their supply chains, both in the UK and overseas. This involves investigating risk strategies for water availability within supply production areas and the longer term sustainability of that supply given climate change predictions and water becoming less available. This enables food businesses to start to look at local mitigation strategies and also at the need for longer term restructuring of the supply base, in order to de-risk these supply chains.
Free Water Efficiency Reviews
Within the East of England, ADAS and Renewables East have partnered to provide Water Efficiency Reviews for businesses. This is free of charge.
This bespoke business support package provides a site audit of water use within your business and tailored recommendations for water saving opportunities with associated financial savings that can be made. In addition, the project provides continued support by telephone to help to implement the recommendations.
For further details please contact Tom Brassington, ADAS Senior Consultant on 01234 826343 or e-mail tom.brassington@adas.co.uk
Case Study: Water Saving using Rain Water Harvesting
Fresca Group Ltd. Oak House, Holbeach Bank, Spalding, Lincolnshire
A progressive food business developed from a farm diversification and recently acquired by a major food manufacturing company Fresca Group, Jack Buck Growers specialises in the growing, packing and distribution of chicory, supplying the major retailers.
The site uses water for air humidification in the root cold stores and for the hydroponic watering system in the chicory growing rooms.
The project completed an appraisal of:
• Harvesting water from the cold store roof;
• Supplementing mains water supply used for store humidification;
• Investigating rainwater for use in the hydroponics system.
The technical feasibility and investment appraisal identified the benefits as:
• Financial savings on purchased water of close to £500 per year;
• Pay back on the investment within 12 months;
• Compliance with customer protocols for improved water efficiency.