Plumbing and Gas Solutions
How rising water prices will impact your business
Every year, all of the UK’s water companies and the regulating body Ofwat (the Water Services Regulation Authority) come together and propose price changes for the coming year. T ese changes then take eff ect from the new fi scal year, on April 1. T is year will see the largest price increase since the privatisation of the sector, at an average of 26%. T e objective of this price increase is to facilitate essential works
on the water and sewage infrastructure. Ofwat have approved over £100bn of investment for this ‘ambitious programme’ that will benefi t both consumers and the environment. To achieve this, though, domestic and commercial properties will see substantial price increases. Increasing water prices will impact every business in the
country, and the size of this impact will scale based on water usage. T is means that large commercial sites will feel it the most. Every business, however, will need to consider how they can potentially reduce their water consumption to off set this rise. 26% is the national average, however, the exact change will vary
from provider to provider. Anglian Water is projected to increase prices by 19%, whereas T ames Water will increase by 31%. Reported increases of approximately £10 a month are based on domestic customers. Businesses will likely see a signifi cantly larger increase. T e direct impact of these changes will be to squeeze profi tability
by increasing overheads. It is possible, however, to take proactive steps to ensure that a business isn’t wasting water – and therefore, money.
Reduce the impact As bills increase, the objective is simple. Businesses must fi nd ways to reduce water usage and therefore cut down overall costs. T is can take many forms, from minor behavioural changes all the way to a full review of a site’s water usage and multiple upgrades to the site’s plumbing systems. T e fi rst port of call should be to prevent water waste where
possible; fixing leaks right away, proper maintenance and monitoring of the plumbing system; and behavioural changes like the way the team wash dishes. There are also more tangible changes that can be made,
upgrading to waterless urinals, for instance. T is is a very eff ective way to cut down your water usage and the savings can be huge, especially on high traffi c sites. Saving hundreds of pounds per urinal per year is a surefi re way to reduce costs – and, the more bathrooms there are, the more eff ective this upgrade will be. Smaller changes or additions, like installing aerators in taps will
also contribute. Every little helps. Another notable water saver is the switch to a push tap, which will limit the amount of water wasted. Ultimately, the most important step is a commitment to cutting
down water usage. Once the whole team are actively working towards this goal, the business will start saving. Plumbing & Gas Solutions are currently off ering free water
reduction surveys for any commercial sites in Milton Keynes or the surrounding areas, to support businesses as they take this fi rst step. T is will involve a comprehensive inspection of the plumbing
systems on site. After the survey, Plumbing & Gas Solutions will provide a report containing recommendations for how the business can most eff ectively reduce water usage.
Scan the QR code to take advantage of this off er or call 01908 569031. Find out more at
www.pgsolutions.co.uk
ALL THINGS BUSINESS | 20
FINANCE
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
