Water Management

HOW COULD YOUR BUSINESS FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY?

Internet Retailing recently reported that Zalando has launched a new fashion experience store that will allow customers to browse clothes based on the values they care about.

The retailer is focusing on providing garments that are more sustainable. This means customers can actively seek out clothing that is made using less water, that is made from reusing materials, or where worker wellbeing is a key focus for the manufacturer.

There are also categories including animal welfare, reducing emissions and extending the life of fashion items. As Fashion United reported last year, the global fashion industry produces nearly 20 per cent of all global wastewater and, according to a report published in 2017, consumed some 79 billion cubic metres of water. These figures can be so huge it’s hard to quantify them, so the news provider noted that it takes an average of 5,000 gallons of water to produce one pair of jeans and one

T-shirt. To put that in context, the average person uses 30,000 gallons of water when they have a bath. Many who champion sustainable values highlight the need for more of us to purchase pre-loved clothing and shoes, which is another area that Zalando is expanding into, Internet Retailing noted. From April, seven new markets have been able to trade in and buy pre-owned fashion. These are Italy,

Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark,

Ireland, Finland and Sweden. It seems that focusing on more sustainable fashion could be having a positive effect on the retailer’s bottom line too, with the company reporting an increase in its gross merchandise volume (GMV) in the first quarter of this year. David Schneider, co-CEO at Zalando, commented: “We aim for 25 per cent of our GMV to come from more sustainable products by 2023. During the coronavirus crisis, customers told us that shopping sustainably became more important to them than ever before.”

However, the firm’s research also found that many customers struggle to translate their sustainable values into tangible action when it comes to clothes shopping, which is something that Zalando hopes to address through its new offerings.

If your business is in the early stages of its sustainability journey, there are some simple changes you

A growing number of businesses are waking up to the need to take action in relation to the climate crisis and are looking for ways to make their current operations more sustainable and environmentally friendly. If this is an area that you are exploring at the moment, you might want to look at other businesses to see what steps they’re taking, as this could help you identify the changes you could make at your organisation.

can make that could help. Arranging a water audit survey to find out where you could save water is a good place to start, as well as investigating the different options for your water supply.

Making sure that you purchase electricity from a supplier that uses renewable sources is another easy way to make a difference, as well as finding ways to reduce your energy usage such as by encouraging everyone to switch their computers off at the end of the working day rather than leaving them on stand-by, and to turn out all the lights. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk

H2O BUILDING SERVICES IS ONE OF THE UK’S LEADING PROVIDERS OF COMMERCIAL WATER MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES1 .

With unparalleled expertise in carrying out water audits, we specialise in saving businesses money on their water bills, by reducing water use, rectifying errors in billing, and resolving onsite issues which cause waste.

THE WATER AUDIT EXPERTS

With more than 30 years’ experience in water supply and water engineering, our highly qualified team of professional consultants provides a complete end-to-end service. From checking the accuracy of your water bills to repairing leaks, monitoring water use to installing equipment to improve water efficiency, we are your one-stop shop for all your water supply needs.

H2O HISTORY

H2O Building Services was founded in 1997 by water industry consultant Graham Mann. Applying his experience in water supply auditing and reporting, Graham set up H2O with one key goal – to help businesses cut costs from their water bills.

With inside knowledge of the water supply industry and a wealth of expertise auditing water use at the biggest, most complex industrial sites, Graham has the skills and knowledge to provide businesses of all shapes and sizes with clear, actionable intelligence on their water use – the first step to improving efficiency and reducing costs.

Over the past 20 years, Graham has developed H2O into the UK’s leading

water audit specialist. He has himself built a reputation as a go-to figure for advice and insight into all aspects of water supply, earning media recognition for his expertise, including an appearance on the BBC showcasing his skills as a ‘water leak detective’.

But H2O is much more than a oneman band. Graham has assembled around him a team of highly qualified, highly experienced water consultancy specialists who share his passion for water efficiency and passing the cost savings onto the customer.

H2O Building Services is based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, but provides water consultancy and management services throughout the UK.

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OUR MISSION

Water is our passion, and our mission is to pass that on to help clients save money.

Water supply is complex, especially in large-scale industrial and commercial operations covering many different sites. The mechanics of supply are complex, billing is complex, regulation is complex. With so many other things to

think about when running a business, few people have the time or inclination to dig into that and really understand how their

water supply works. Or, more importantly, how they are being charged, and what for. Our aim is to remove all of that complexity. With our unique approach to water cost savings, we start on the basis that knowledge is power. Through in-depth auditing2 of billing and water use, we can show clients exactly what they are being charged for, where they can make savings, and even whether they are owed a refund for past mistakes.

With our ongoing water bill validation3 and Automatic Meter Reading (AMR)4 services, we can guarantee that you always have a complete picture of water use, that you are never overcharged, and that problems like water leaks are spotted straight away. And as a fully managed service, we take care of every aspect for you. OUR PROMISE

We pride ourselves on the quality of our customer service – just take a look at our client testimonials5 to see for yourself. Our team of highly experienced and qualified professionals is always focused on the needs of the customer, we are flexible in our approach and will do whatever it takes to save you money.

We promise to always maximise savings in any way we can. We aim to achieve cost reductions of around 20 to 30% for our clients, which can amount to sums running into hundreds of thousands of pounds. Read our case studies6 to see some real life examples. For our leak detection7, repair8 and installation services, we guarantee first class workmanship which will last.

We know that shoddy patch-ups will only end up costing clients more money down the line, which is why we employ the very best engineers to get the job right first time.

WITH H2O BUILDING SERVICES YOU GET:

• Unique, innovative service unparalleled in the UK • A proven track record in saving businesses considerable sums of money • Decades of experience in water supply consultancy and management • First class, flexible service • Guaranteed quality of work on all repairs and installations.

Watch the Video here!

1. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/ 2. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/water-audits/ 3. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/bill-validation/ 4. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/amr/ 5. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/client-references/ 6. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/case-studies/ 7. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/water-leak-detection/ 8. www.h2obuildingservices.co.uk/our-services/water-leak-repairs/ Call

0845 658 0948

and let us start saving you money today.

WATER MANAGEMENT TOOLS TO IMPROVE WATER HYGIENE IN YOUR HOSPITAL

Estates and Facilities teams continue to strive for compliant water systems. Whilst the relatively simplistic tasks we have undertaken for many years, broadly temperature monitoring and condition inspection, remain vital to our knowledge of water safety risks, this approach cannot alone be fully effective and must also be complemented with more holistic and dynamic measures. HTM04-01 Parts A – C demands that we more closely understand not only the changing conditions within our water systems but also address potential failings of existing complementary control measures from a management perspective. As such, some of the ‘tools’ currently used to minimise risks – whether physical, management or other operational tools can be reviewed further…

BUILDING MANAGEMENT

SYSTEMS: - PUT TO BEST USE.

HTM04:01 Part A - Paragraph 11.1 states:- “The continued safe operation of domestic hot and cold water systems requires a number of routine checks to be made by physical means using separate thermometric equipment. A number of the control parameters can, however, be continuously monitored by building management systems (BMS) even though routine checks will still be required for calibration purposes.”

BMS systems are clearly not a recent development, but often their potential is not fully realised. The dynamic nature of what are often large, complex and aging water systems within hospital environments, means we should perhaps consider additional factors e.g. are the BMS sensors fitted in the areas where they are most required? Additional BMS sensors may be useful with the temperature monitoring requirements highlighted in HTM04-01 [Part B Chapter 7, table 1]. Some thoughts to take away - is BMS information acted upon routinely and effectively? Do BMS sensors need calibrating? Have the critical alarm setting been reviewed recently, who receives these alarms? LITTLE USED OUTLETS: - A SIMPLE WORKABLE STRATEGY.

HTM04-01 Part B Chapter 7 table 2 states: - “Consideration should be given to removing infrequently used showers, taps and any associated equipment that uses water… Infrequently used equipment within a water system (i.e. not used for a period equal to or greater than seven days) should be included on the flushing regime. Regularly use the outlets to minimise the risk from microbial growth in the peripheral parts of the water system, sustain and log this procedure once started” The flushing frequency now recommended is “Weekly, or as indicated by the risk assessment”

Little used outlets are, both straightforward and fiendishly difficult to manage effectively, and this is particularly true on large sites, where differing dept.’s run outlets depending on the circumstances, at differing frequencies, where records management is often inconsistent and there is a sometimes a reluctance to remove outlets based on uncertain future use.

A clear and simplistic strategy of control, understood by all, is the only method of ensuring this vital risk minimisation measure remains effective. Issues to consider may include site wide, specific departmental and cleaning / staff training and / or broader awareness via intranet systems. Training does not need to be lengthy to be effective; however it does need to be reiterated. Both paper and / or electronic monitoring systems may be used, but both remain dependent upon ownership, at a flushing and more strategic level. Flushing record audits must also be built into strategies, as the nature of flushing inevitably means its completion may become inconsistent. A formal risk assessment with regard to frequency should also be undertaken and an approved flushing form must be consistently used. Above all there must be good communication at all levels of management. TRAINING: - A CLEAR STRATEGY.

HTM04-01 Part A Paragraphs 6.29 and 6.30 state: - “Individuals to whom tasks have been allocated (supervisors and managers as well as operatives) need to have received adequate training in respect of water hygiene and microbiological control appropriate to the task they are responsible for conducting…”

“It is important that any person working on water distribution systems or cleaning water outlets should have completed a water hygiene awareness training course so that they can gain an understanding of the need for good hygiene when working with water distribution systems and water outlets, and of how they can prevent contamination of the water supply and/or outlets.”

A robust and comprehensive training matrix in conjunction with competence assessments is also an essential part of any Water Safety Plan [WSP], which should be monitored by the Water Safety Group [WSG].

HTM0-4-01 helpfully recommends a basic agenda in 15 points [not exhaustive] for water hygiene training sessions for those who are involved in the delivery of ensuring safe wholesome water to all outlets and preventing contamination. Much of this agenda can be adopted for the majority of differing roles within your hospital, though tailored training for RP’s, AP’s, CP’s, Infection Control teams, facilities / domestic teams and other staff remains imperative. At operational maintenance level, whilst staff Awareness and Competent Person’s training will highlight broadly current water safety issues, the often neglected task specific PPM training for individuals, must also be undertaken. Contractors too must be incorporated in training plans, to ensure they routinely undertake appropriate training. APPROPRIATE ‘TOOLS’ FOR THE JOB

HTM04-01 Parts B & C details to all members of the Water Safety Group the importance of using tools which are appropriate for the task in hand. In particular, to ensure we do not contaminate water systems through poor practices by Competent Persons, Cleaners and Healthcare workers.

The training matrix should ensure these groups of individuals have been identified and include appropriate training schedules, i.e. • Competent Person and contractors – clean tools and components. • Cleaners – running outlets and correct use of cleaning cloths. • Healthcare workers – routine use of outlets and inappropriate disposal of fluids / bodily fluids in to an outlet. CONCLUSION

There are clearly many facets that can make water safety management within a healthcare environment operationally difficult, time consuming and often expensive process. As technology improves and once novel systems become more commonly used, the processes we develop to minimise risks from waterborne pathogens become ever more wide ranging. Nevertheless, many of these systems remain only complementary measures and will not replace straightforward and pragmatic approaches to management, undertaken by trained individuals, where on-going review is routine and where water safety is given due consideration from the outlet to the boardroom. https://resources.waterhygienecentre. com/blog

WATER MANAGEMENT HOW TO/TOP TIPS TO SAVE RUNNING COSTS AND REACH GREEN GOALS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND BEYOND

With a new utilities framework for Public Sector organisations now live and with Covid-19 restrictions starting to ease and more movement in and out of buildings, a greater focus on reaching sustainability goals is becoming more possible. Hot water can cost between 2 to 4 times as much as cold water, once energy costs are taken into account, so even small steps to increase water efficiency and cut waste helps lower water and energy costs for organisations – whether that’s council offices, emergency service sites or other Public Sector facilities.

If you manage utilities or facilities in the public sector and want to reduce reliance on mains water, supplied through wholesalers’ networks, as well as look for efficiencies and where risks are on your infrastructure, then there’s a few things to keep in mind. Plus, there are essential steps to take if you’re looking to procure water too.

GET TO KNOW WHERE SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES COULD BE

Water efficiency activities and devices can help the public sector to meet their environmental targets to reduce carbon emissions and save money.

These include low-cost urinal controllers, sensor-controlled taps, water efficient showerheads and the savings from these – and larger measures – add up towards your organisation’s green goals and targets. HERE’S SOME EXAMPLES OF WAYS TO SAVE:

• Sensors on urinals can reduce the number of flushes, so they aren’t doing this when no-one is at your site. You could even go for waterless urinals as a single urinal system can be as large as 9 litres, flushing at least 4 times per hour. That’s over 800 litres per day. • There can be substantial savings, for example, a London-based university identified £50,000 of savings after taking steps to monitor its water use and reduce leaks.

WATCH FOR WATER WASTE – AS SMALL DRIPS CAN ADD BIGGER EXTRA COSTS

water efficiency devices you have – is also important - so you know they’re working properly and no water’s being wasted.

Carrying out site checks regularly is also worth the time. For example, a High School had a leak in a plant room at their site – losing an estimated 12,000 litres (12 cubic metres) an hour, at an estimated cost of £850 a day – caused by a copper pipe that had corroded. The leak, in the last eight months, was causing some flooding in the plant room so needed quick action. Water retailer Water Plus provided a quote for its repair experts to attend and complete work on-site and the leak was fixed the following day. DELVING INTO WATER DATA HELPS/DELIVERS RESULTS

More public sector sites – and organisations in the private sector – are exploring how to get more data on their water use.

Monitoring devices, such as data loggers that can feed information into a smart portal to help track use and spot unusual increases, to regularly checking your water meter readings, ideally each month, are effective methods of tracking everyday usage which can help those managing utilities see where savings can be made, particularly across large or multiple sites.

It also means any unexpected surges in consumption, which can indicate a pipe leak, can be spotted and, if necessary, a repair organised promptly.

UNDERSTAND YOUR PORTFOLIO OF BUILDINGS

It’s important to know which buildings your organisation owns, or is responsible for, the addresses of these, how much water they use over the course of a year and whether there are devices measuring water use such as Automatic Meter Reader data loggers (AMR).

It’s worth remembering, savings from introducing water-saving devices can potentially be much more than on a new retail contract for water and wastewater on its own.

Gathering Supply point Ids (SPIDs) numbers and locating where the water meters are, if you’re able to, will also put you in a better place to see what water you use and when along with where any issues may be, to protect your organisation from disruption and limit increases in future costs from leaks.

FOLLOW THE RULES AND REQUIREMENTS TO BE COMPLIANT

Where a public sector organisation has to advertise their water procurement - and if your spend is over £25,000 then they will need to – then they can manage the tender process meeting the compliance requirements themselves, under the Public Contract Regulations 2015, or it’s much easier and less time-consuming to use a framework.

One of the newest for the Public Sector, is Pagabo’s national utilities, water and wastewater framework, which also covers Ancillary Services such as water efficiency, leak detection and repair as well as smart metering - installing Automatic Meter Reader (AMR) data loggers, with data accessible to customers through an AMR online smart portal. The framework, along with further information, can be found at: https://www.pagabo.co.uk/ frameworks/utilities-supply-framework .

By using an established Public Contract Regulations compliant framework you know the legal requirements will be met for your procurement needs. And frameworks have delivered significant savings for the public sector too.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Water Plus is the largest water retailer in the UK and manages the water and wastewater services for many public sector organisations, including some of the largest and most diverse in England and Scotland – from councils, schools, colleges and universities, to UK Governmentowned sites, prisons, hospitals and the emergency services. More details on the services can be found at: www.waterplus.co.uk/watermanagement

You can contact the Public Sector team at Water Plus direct at: bids@water-plus.co.uk , if you have any questions or need help with procurement and tenders.

WATER MANAGEMENT

WHY WATER SAVING SHOULD BE MORE OF A CONSIDERATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN COMMERCIAL BUILD

As we move closer to the government’s 2025 and 2050 net zero future plans, we can’t help but notice the distinct lack of water saving measures. In fact, run through the Government’s white paper – powering our net zero future – and there’s only 10 mentions of water within the entire document.

Strange when water saving measures can be one of the easiest and cheapest ways to save water but also, associated energy costs. In domestic settings, hose pipe bans are a regular thing, we’re told to be mindful of our water usage and we’re given meters to measure our water usage so we can be charged accordingly. If you’re on a low income or have a family, you have access to lower water rates, although these tariffs aren’t generally published. You also have access to a water saving specialist who will come to your home, provide you with water saving devices and handy tips and tricks to save water.

However, in the commercial and social sectors, it’s not widely talked about or even considered. There’s no requirement for all social housing to be built with water saving in mind, for these water saving devices to be ready fitted for when the tenants move in which will save them money, power and energy right from day dot. There’s no simple water butt in the garden ready for the tenants to water their garden with or advice to inform their water supplier of their financial situation to ensure the best rates. These are actionable, easily remedied fixes which benefit the tenant and help to reduce emissions.

By simply installing aerators on taps tenants can expect water and energy savings of up to 60% in a year. In fact, if the flow rate is reduced from 10 litres per minute to 4 litres, for example, then they could save 60% immediately. That’s a huge amount and a benefit to not only water saving but also energy costs as the energy used to heat the water reduces thanks to the reduced amount of water you need to heat.

And this doesn’t just apply to a new build. Adding an aerator to an older tap can also reduce water usage from 15 litres of water per minute to as little at 6 litres of water per minute. Add onto that the

Derek Aaronson CEO of Hart Home Group, the umbrella company for three retail websites; NotJustTaps, Lime Kitchen and Bathroom and Hart Plumbing Spares.

energy savings and it can be possible to see a significant reduction in both bills, meaning the tenant is not only reducing costs but also helping to save the planet.

A saving of over 60% across an entire building in a year can make a significant impact on rate reduction. If supported by eco-friendly heating alternatives for water heating like heat pumps or solar, energy and water rates can become almost non-existent. Luckily, an aerator can also be installed on even older style taps in just a few minutes meaning an entire building with multiple facilities could start benefitting from savings in under a day.

Apply this to the commercial build sector for the domestic market looking to build a new block of flats and the savings soon add up. Combine the simple water saving devices with solar thermal heat pumps or other renewable energy sources and the future looks bright.

It’s not just the commercial build for the domestic market which benefits. Commercial retail, factories and even supermarkets and shopping centres can all benefit from water saving. If the simple act of installing aerators on taps is the only thing they do, that 60% reduction in costs can easily be passed onto the owners meaning rates can be reduced making the space more affordable and ultimately, more attractive.

Water saving doesn’t just stop at aerators, timed flow taps for example also ensure water isn’t wasted, great for school settings or large retail environments. Combine these with aerators and your rates will reduce further.

There’s also an education role to be played here. Teaching plumbing and heating students the benefits of water saving right from college means it isn’t something they fall on by mistake or is led by the customer or even legislation. By working with the education sector to ensure the next generation of plumbing and heating engineers benefit from sound energy and water saving advice means that they’ll be fully equipped to make the right decisions to meet the governments targets.

But it isn’t just the new generation where education plays a part, traditional plumbing and heating engineers also need to be reminded and educated on the new technologies and advances in fittings and fixings which allow for water saving to happen. With heating engineers, this can easily be built into their gas safe reviews and continued training, for the plumbing sector, which has less re-education built in, it’s reliant on their own inquisitiveness but also that of suppliers and trade retailers to offer alternative measures when installers are placing orders.

The simple measure of advising a procurement agent for a large new project that they could be saving money by switching to this type or tap, using this type of fitting or valve will ensure that the widest audience is reached.

It’s worth noting that a lot of larger companies will have water saving policies in place and will be installing toilets which reuse the water, ensuring taps are turned off and water coolers are replaced with filtered water taps. However, this is presumed, and not insisted upon as with the New Homes Policy and carbon reducing targets.

If water were made more of a priority, we believe the savings for both the environment and the end user would be hugely beneficial and would also help to reach the government’s carbon reducing targets, quicker.

It’s a multi-faceted approach that’s need here, and one we wholly support. www.harthomeinteriors.co.uk