Businesses across the South West have reason to celebrate after Source for Business helped them to save a staggering £1 million off their water and sewerage bills last year.

Over the last 12 months, Source for Business - the new business support service from South West Water - has provided hundreds of businesses across the region with practical support and advice on water efficiency, resulting in thousands of pounds of savings off their water and sewerage bills, alongside reductions of up to 15% in water consumption.

With services ranging from free water efficiency audits to identifying and preventing leaks, monitoring usage and advising on waste management, the team at Source for Business is keen to continue the substantial savings already secured for the region's businesses.

Head of business development at Source for Business, David Roberts, explains: "Source for Business is here to help the region's businesses save water and save money. Our team is committed to delivering savings for our customers, helping to identify initiatives that will reduce water consumption, improve water efficiency and above all generate savings.

"We are delighted to have helped business customers to achieve £1m worth of savings in the last financial year.

"It's a tremendous achievement and clearly demonstrates how making small changes to water efficiency across a business can really save money on the bottom line."

Since April 2011 more than 500 businesses across Cornwall, Devon and parts of Dorset and Somerset, including hotels, holiday parks, schools and restaurants have taken advantage of the water efficiency audits provided by Source for Business.

A comprehensive audit, carried out by qualified water efficiency auditors, can offer valuable insight into much more than just usage and leakage management. The aim of the audit is to identify opportunities for businesses to use water wisely and ultimately reduce costs. Typically taking around 2 hours, an audit can reveal thousands of pounds worth of savings - an opportunity not to be overlooked by any business.

Among those businesses already benefiting from significant savings and reduced water consumption, include Babcock International Group, Cornwall Council, Holiday Inn Plymouth Ilfracombe-based John Fowler Holidays, Milk Link Diary, Lloyds TSB and The University of Exeter.

Top 10 tips for reducing water usage in your business:

Appoint a member of staff to monitor water usage and identify water-saving measures i.e. through regular site checks and Business Accounts Online
Check your meter reading regularly, install a data logger to monitor flow and identify leaks
Develop a water management plan for your site
Educate employees about implementing water saving measures
Ensure new equipment is water and energy efficient - it will pay off in the long term
Fit water-efficient devices i.e. push-taps, low-flush toilets, flow regulators or restricters. The payback can be as little as five weeks
Fix dripping taps and leaks as quickly as possible
Install a hippo or save-a-flush device in toilets to reduce water use
Invest in alternative water sources i.e. rainwater harvesting
Review your plans to reduce water use at least once a year

To book a free consultation or to find out more about water efficiency advice visit www.sourceforbusiness.co.uk or call 0800 23 00 756.

Published: 16 May 2012