News
Ongoing water bill validation identifies high cost water leaks.
By: Graham Mann
Without professional on going water bill validation to pro-actively drive down water consumption and water costs and maintain water savings going forwards business water costs can slowly over time spiral out of control future water and waste water bill values easily become the norm for any business.
A carefully chosen water expert back by many years of experience will bring substantial value to any business that has large water bills.
Many businesses have sites from Scotland down through England and Wales and it is for this reason compilation of a water database is key to forming an accurate picture of water billing on a site by site basis. Water companies charge for services in different ways so it is important to ensure the database separates out each element of a charge that makes up the total bill which often comprises of a standing charge for water and waste water dependant on the size of the water meter, the readings of each meter consumption and values.
Once the database has been complied careful examination of each sites water consumption can be carried out taking into consideration staff levels and water usage requirements both in domestic requirements and production if this is relevant, league tables are produced and the highest water consumption and cost sites are targeted for actual site surveys to be completed.
H²O Building Services actual case study – Client: Nationwide car dealership.
The water bill validation team flagged up a site with a 15m3 per day overspend, the water usage was over bench mark and for 1 year the consumption was 5,475m3 at a cost of £ 15,000 per year. Remote readings were taken to confirm billing details and a water loss survey was undertaken, the water leakage engineers used acoustic water leak detection kit which was placed on an outside water supply which was used for vehicle washing, water leakage noise was heard on the pipe work and the leak traced to a location under block paving.
The area was excavated and revealed the reason for the increased water consumption which was a broken plastic elbow joint.
A new elbow joint was fitted and the excavation was then back filled and the block paving reinstated.
It is incredible to think that such a seemingly small water leak can create such a large water bill.