Joint Defra and DTI initiative Envirowise is targeting food and drink companies with its latest advice on saving waters.

The organisation, which delivers free environmental advice and consultation to businesses, says the sector should be targeting toilets and taps. Individual workers could be using as much as 35 litres of water daily in washrooms and kitchens - 86 per cent of this is a direct result of flushing toilets.

As part of Envirowise’s Water at Work programme, the agency suggests putting a 1l bottle of water in each toilet cistern to reduce flush-water by 20 per cent; installing push-spray taps to reduce water used in hand washing by 70 per cent; checking and monitoring systems and water meters for evidence of leaks and using the Envirowise water account tool on the website www.envirowise.gov.uk/wateraccount.

“As national debate continues over a long-term response to UK drought, businesses could be taking quick action right now to protect themselves against future shortages,” said Dr Martin Gibson, Envirowise programme director. “We realise this may appear to be a drop in the ocean for many food and drink firms, who can significantly reduce water use elsewhere in their operations too, but this is an excellent first step and the cost saving potential of these quick wins is too good to ignore.”

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