Question:- Do you feel you are a responsible user or a conspicuous consumer?

Question:- Do you feel you could do more to reduce your organisation's water consumption?

If you answered 'Yes' to the second question, why haven't you done something about it?

The simple answer, quite often, is that water slips under our radar, we don't look at it in the same way as, say, oil, gas or electricity. After all, water is water...it comes out of the sky by the bucket-load and we simply open the tap and there it is!

A few facts...

Only 1% of the Earth's water is usable and more than 1 billion people lack access to reliable, safe drinking water.

Experts predict that by 2015 two-thirds of the world's population will live in water-stressed countries.

During the course of the 20th century world water consumption increased seven fold - And in the first quarter of this century it is expected to rise by more than a third again!

In 2009, the 6th World Water Forum was attended by more than 400 government ministers and policy makers as well as some 30,000 delegates. This tells us how seriously the water issue is now being seen around the world.

Since privatisation in the UK, water charges have increased 42% above inflation and UK water bills could soar by a further 27% over the next few years according to Severn Trent Water. Ofwat has permitted South West Water, Anglian & Northumbrian to increase charges by 29%, 13% & 12% respectively; Thames Water has requested an increase of 13% above inflation over the next 5 years.

6.3% of the UK's total CO2 emissions are related to water use. The near-universal metering of households could reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to between 27% and 40% of the total UK Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) target!

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In England, some 25 million people (48%) live in areas where there is less water available per person than Spain or Morocco.

By 2020, demand for water is expected to rise by 5% or 800 million litres a day - enough to fill every bath in Wales, the West Midlands and the North East of England!

UK Water Availability per Person per Year: 1962: 2,758m3; 2008: 2,393m3 (-13.2%); 2062: 1,844m3 (-23%) (estimated)

It is estimated that the UK's available water per capita will reduce by a third over a 100-year period!

UK Water Consumption per Person per Day

Average daily water consumption per person for washing and drinking is 150 litres, however, we use 30x this figure when we take into account 'virtual water' for manufacturing, agriculture, travel & transport, imports etc.

Each person in the UK soaks up 4,645 litres of water every day when we take 'virtual water' into account. People in poorer countries typically subsist on 1,000 litres of 'virtual water' every day. Or, put it another way, less than 22% of our daily consumption!

Assuming consumption remains at its current rate (which we know it won't), it is estimated that we will reach the critical tipping-point where demand equals availability by the mid-2080s!

So what can we do?

Firstly, it is essential we know how much water we are using.

Secondly, we need to know if this can be reduced and how we go about reducing it.

So how, exactly, do we do that?

Within the UK, there are many daily functions where we are using three times more water than we need to in order to complete a function perfectly successfully! It is not unreasonable to expect a reduction in water consumption in many commercial environments of between 25% and 50% once a Water Audit has been completed and the findings implemented.

Question:- Do you now feel you are a responsible user or a conspicuous consumer?

Remember, don't assume...

You need to know how much water you are really using and how to reduce it.

Riva Global can help you address not only water issues but energy issues as well; our unique Auditing Program will highlight areas of wastage and identify products or systems that can dramatically cut unnecessary consumption. It doesn't matter whether you are a global trader, a retail, manufacturing or distribution organisation, or a public body, Riva will almost certainly benefit you. Our consultative expertise, allied to many unique solutions will ensure you achieve your goal of not only creating a more eco-friendly environment, but a more profitable organisation too. With our help you will be able to prevent unnecessary wastage of valuable resources, save energy and save money. Whether your interest lies in benefiting your own organisation directly, or in helping your clients and customers, we are sure you will find our information and advice useful. Contact us today and find out how you can really change things.

For further information email: [email protected]