Water saving at work

Report dripping taps
Report any leaks or suspected leaks
Make sure taps, hoses or cooling systems are turned off after use
Don't use more water than you need
If the water is too hot, report it
Always use re-circulating cooling systems in laboratories
Avoid using water vacuum pumps unnecessarily – they use large quantities of water
Do not use distilled or de-ionised water when it is not required - it is expensive to produce
Reduce the water supply to water-cooled equipment to the minimum required to achieve adequate cooling (fit in-line flow restrictors)
Avoid using hoses for floor washing unless absolutely necessary – a hose discharges a large volume of water
Do not wash utensils or vegetables under running taps – leave utensils to soak, and minimise water use for vegetable washing
Ensure all showers have timer controls so they cannot be left running

The Environment Agency offers water saving advice for businesses.

Low cost water saving devices are available to cut water consumption in wash rooms.

Battery operated automatic urinal flush controls cost about £200 and the payback is about 9 months
Devices to reduce the flush volume from WC cisterns are available in the form of dams (payback 8 months) or water displacement devices ('Hippos' or 'Hogs' free from Thames Water 0845 9200 800
Push taps with a timed on period to regulate flow. (Payback 1 year)
In-line restrictors to reduce the maximum water flow, suitable for taps and process cooling systems. (Payback 8 months)