Ecoprod: Can you tell us about Southern Water’s focus on helping businesses reduce water consumption?

Kimberley Turnbull: Certainly. Our water efficiency team is dedicated to helping businesses in our area to reduce their water use, which also cuts down their bills. This is important because, due to climate change and population growth, it is estimated we will need an extra 1.1 billion litres of water per day by 2040 just to keep up with demand. We have therefore been tasked with achieving a 9% reduction in business water consumption by 2037. Around 18 months ago, we started exploring how we could meet that target, even though we don’t have to officially report progress until the next regulatory period begins in April.

We’ve been using this time to pilot different approaches across various industries, as each business uses water differently. Whether it’s a farm, a school, or a company that washes vehicle fleets, they all have unique water needs. So, our focus has been on learning and adapting solutions that can help us make informed decisions when the regulations kick in.

Ecoprod: What kind of projects are you focusing on?

Kimberley Turnbull: We’ve initiated a few key programs. One is the non-household audit program, where we visit schools and businesses to assess and fix simple leaks in taps, toilets, showers, and urinals. We also install water-efficient devices, like tap aerators, all at no cost to the business. This has been a great solution for places like schools, where the bulk of water use is in domestic settings.

However, for more water-intensive businesses, like those that wash vehicles, fixing taps alone won’t have the impact that we need. That’s where our Business Partnership Fund comes in, which provides grants for more complex and industry-specific water-saving solutions. To date, we’ve funded 14 projects, and the third round of the fund just opened.

Ecoprod: Can you tell us how the Business Partnership Fund works?

Kimberley Turnbull: The fund is designed to foster partnerships between Southern Water, businesses that want to reduce water use, Water Retailers and water conservation service providers like Ecoprod. Businesses often don’t see water saving as a priority, or they want to do things but might not have the funds to do them. That’s where we step in. We provide the funding, and companies like Ecoprod deliver the solutions.

The business applies to the fund with a proposal for something they’d like to do in order to reduce their water use, and we evaluate the application using a robust scoring system to ensure fairness. It’s a great way for us to learn about the best water-saving practices in different industries.

Ecoprod: Can you give us an example of a project funded through this scheme?

Kimberley Turnbull: One great example is a leisure centre that wanted to recycle water from their swimming pool splashback. They’d been wanting to do this for years, but the return on investment was about 15 years, which made it difficult to justify. We funded the project, and if it’s successful, we could roll it out to other leisure centres in the region. It’s a fantastic pilot with a lot of potential for wider impact.

Another good example is the washroom refurbishment undertaken at the Theatre Royal in Winchester which we worked on in conjunction with Ecoprod. Refurbishing the facilities included adapting what was already there to have lower flow rates on wash basin taps and showers, and having new toilets with lower flush volumes and waterless urinals. The calculations about how much water each piece of equipment uses, showed that a total of over a thousand litres of water a year will be saved compared to the existing facilities. It’s not only water – and the energy to heat it – that is being saved. In fact, all the products used in the refurb come with a high standard of environmental credentials, covering their manufacture, waste and carbon intensity.      

Ecoprod: How do businesses find out about the fund?

Kimberley Turnbull: Businesses can apply directly. Sometimes, water conservation providers like Ecoprod work with businesses to develop a project and then guide them through the application process. Other times, businesses already know what they want to do and apply independently. Water retailers can also play a big part in this scheme and can apply directly on behalf of their business customers.

It’s important to note that we don’t go out and earmark specific companies for funding. We rely on businesses coming to us, but this may change as we learn more. In the future, we might target specific industries, like farms or leisure centres, to address water use in a more focused way.

Ecoprod: What else are you doing to raise awareness among businesses that might not know they need to reduce their water consumption?

Kimberley Turnbull: We know that many businesses aren’t aware of their water consumption and how they might be able to reduce it, so we conduct water audits and proactively reach out. We have our “Make One Change” campaign on TV and radio, which encourages people to take small steps to reduce water use.

For schools, we have a program called “New Wave,” where we visit schools to give assemblies on water scarcity and involve students in the water-saving process. These efforts help us raise awareness and engage with a wider audience beyond the businesses that already know they need to make a change.

Ecoprod: What are some of the key learnings from the projects you’ve funded so far?

Kimberley Turnbull: One of the main things we’ve learned is that these projects take a lot longer than anticipated. We thought we could complete projects more quickly, but each one is a long-term commitment—typically about a year.

Another learning point is that we need to work more closely with businesses to help them promote the success of these projects. When we help a business save water and reduce costs, we want them to shout about it, which helps reinforce the message to other businesses that water conservation is important.

We’re learning a lot from these pilots, and as we move forward, we hope to continue building strong partnerships to make a significant impact on water conservation in our region.

Click here to find out more about the Business Development Fund