News
Are Universal Water Meters About To Become A Reality?
Here at business water solutions company H2O Building Services, we know the benefits of making use of automated meter readings (AMR) to help companies reduce their water usage across their sites, a move that allows them to save water (and the planet), while also saving themselves lots of money into the bargain.
AMR is a technique that continuously monitors water usage in a property (also known as data logging), so that issues can be spotted quickly and water-saving solutions can be adjusted over time as your requirements change.
A smart meter is used so we can identify how much water is being used on site at hourly intervals, simply by measuring the flow of water. If a sudden spike is seen, we can then check to see if there’s a problem, like a water leak… allowing us to act fast before serious water damage can take place, something that could cost you a very pretty penny indeed.
Take a look at our case studies page and you’ll soon see how much in savings we could achieve for your company through various techniques, including AMR. We’ve worked with some high-profile brands, such as Pizza Hut, which we succeeded in saving £250,000 by providing it with a nationwide water cost reduction service.
While businesses are now able to make use of AMR to help them save both water and money, it seems that consumers may well be able to say the same in the near future.
According to the Daily Mail, environment secretary Michael Gove has plans in place – sent out in letter form to officials earlier this month – to cut the average amount of water used by each person from 141 litres a day to just 118 litres… and every house in the country could be fitted with a water meter in order to help achieve this.
Mr Gove blamed both population increases and climate change for a rise in pressure on both ground and surface water supplies, as well as the chances of more severe droughts in the future. His suggestions for reducing water use include installation of features such as dual flush toilets and low-flow taps, as well as expanding the use of water meters.
Customers with meters apparently use 33 litres less water each day than people paying a fixed amount based on the rateable value of their property. Currently, water suppliers are only permitted to install meters in residential areas already experiencing water stress or scarcity.
“One option could be to give water companies outside of areas of serious water stress or scarcity the option to implement universal metering… evidence suggests that by allowing this, personal water use could drop to 118 litres per person per day,” Mr Gove was quoted by the news source as saying.