3,600+ businesses, schools, care homes and sport clubs see water-savings and cost reductions – as Water Plus engages sites, in large-scale project.
Running costs have been cut through water-savings, giving a boost to budgets at businesses, schools and care homes, in a large-scale, sector-leading approach to drop more than a million litres of water use a week, through efficiencies – equal to 9 million cups of tea.
The Challenge
The core challenge was the widespread, unrecognised water waste and associated high operating costs across thousands of diverse businesses, schools, and care homes. Many of these organisations, although keen to engage with water-saving, needed help to achieve, locate and deliver improvements at their sites.
Optimising water use, by reducing unnecessary use and any leaks or drips, unlocks significant financial gains for the sites, with tap efficiencies helping reduce energy use, as less hot water is used.
This resulted in millions of litres of water being wasted weekly and budgets being stretched unnecessarily.
The Solution
Water Plus, in collaboration with United Utilities, implemented a sector-leading, large-scale water efficiency programme. This comprehensive solution involved:
Targeted engagement
Using insight and data, Water Plus identified and contacted sites in the education and healthcare sectors, along with various businesses across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire, and Merseyside, to raise awareness and encourage participation.
Free water audits
Each participating site received a free water audit to assess existing water flow rates from taps and showers and to locate leaks.
A manufacturer had a 84 litres of water estimated saving - after a visit in the project in February 2025 and another business had a 370 litres estimated water saving in a March 2025 visit.
Leak detection and repair
Across 36 sites, there were 250 leaks located and stopped, with leaks on taps accounting for 10,696 litres, in estimated water loss a day. The total number of leaks across the 36 sites account for 12,670 litres, in estimated water loss a day.
Funding and collaboration
The initiative was funded by United Utilities, demonstrating a strong partnership between the business water retailer (Water Plus) and the regional wholesaler (United Utilities) to drive widespread efficiency.
Installation of water-saving kits
Across 12 of the sites involved, including pubs, schools and a football club, water saving devices installed were expected to deliver 8,096 litres, in estimated water use saved a day, from installing flush saving technology and urinal controllers.
Across 7 of the 12 sites, 65 leaks were found, including on taps at four sites. The tap leaks at four of the sites were estimated to be losing 366 litres a day, visits to the sites found.
Academies and Sixth Form Colleges are also benefitting from the water-savings.
Expert delivery
Water Plus's experienced team designed the communications and engagement approach, drawing on their experience with customers.
Sites owned by national restaurant and takeaway chains, two national supermarket chains and two national pub chains are saving water, including a pub with 536 litres of water estimated saving, a day. A foodservice business that supplies school and healthcare kitchens, has also had a water audit in the project.
The Results
The project yielded significant and widespread benefits:
