As of April 2025, business water rates in the UK have increased by an average of 21%. For many organisations, this represents a substantial jump in operational costs—particularly for sites with high water usage or inefficient infrastructure. In this context, even minor water wastage can quickly add up to thousands of pounds a year in unnecessary charges.

Whether it’s a leaking cistern, inefficient flushing system, or taps left running, the true cost of inaction is no longer just environmental—it’s financial. This makes preventative maintenance not just a best practice, but a business-critical strategy for reducing waste, protecting budgets, and maintaining compliance.

Preventative maintenance isn’t just about avoiding costly breakdowns. When it comes to water, it’s a proactive approach that helps facilities teams uncover inefficiencies early, optimise system performance, and ensure long-term sustainability.

The true cost of inaction

Many organisations still operate reactively—addressing leaks, burst pipes or failing components only after they cause a disruption. But what often gets missed is the cumulative cost of these failures. A dripping tap may seem minor, but left unchecked, it can waste up to 5,500 litres of water per year. A leaking toilet cistern can waste more than 300 litres a day—enough to fill a bathtub. When you scale that across multiple facilities or properties, the numbers become staggering.

The environmental impact is equally concerning. Uncontrolled water loss contributes to higher carbon footprints through unnecessary treatment, pumping and heating of water that ultimately goes unused. In an era where every litre counts, ignoring these inefficiencies simply isn’t viable.

Preventative maintenance in practice

Preventative maintenance involves scheduled inspections, cleaning, testing and servicing of water infrastructure. This proactive approach ensures systems perform at optimal efficiency and reduces the risk of unexpected breakdowns.

Key components of a preventative maintenance programme for water systems include:

• Regular inspection of pipework and fixtures to detect early signs of corrosion, leaks or pressure issues.
• Valve and pump maintenance to prevent malfunctions that could lead to overuse or system failures.
• Scheduled flushing routines for rarely used outlets to prevent stagnation and Legionella growth.
• Proper urinal and toilet maintenance to prevent blockages and water waste.
• Water meter checks to identify abnormal usage patterns that may signal hidden leaks.
• Tailored cleaning protocols, especially for waterless urinals or sensor-operated fixtures, which can be damaged by inappropriate products or methods.
• Use of advanced leak detection systems, such as Aguardio leak sensors, which offer a discreet and continuous way to monitor for persistent, slow, or hidden leaks—particularly in areas like WC cisterns or concealed pipework. These smart sensors help facilities teams detect anomalies in real-time and flag unusual usage, enabling faster response and reducing water waste before it adds up.

When combined, these efforts help maintain water system integrity, reduce utility bills, and support long-term sustainability efforts.

Smart water management: Automation for efficiency and compliance

The evolution of smart building technology has added a powerful new layer to preventative maintenance. Intelligent water management systems like CONTI+ CNX make monitoring and managing water use more effective, responsive, and data-driven.

The CONTI+ CNX system enables centralised control of connected water outlets—such as taps, showers and urinals—via a digital interface. This not only streamlines everyday water management but also ensures compliance and safety tasks are completed reliably and on schedule.

Here’s how it enhances preventative maintenance:

• Automatic flushing: The CNX system can be programmed to perform regular automatic flushing of outlets that aren’t frequently used. This is crucial for preventing water stagnation and bacterial growth, especially in buildings with variable occupancy patterns.
• Real-time system monitoring: Facilities teams receive alerts about unusual behaviour—such as prolonged water flow, missed flush cycles, or temperature anomalies—that might indicate a fault, leak, or potential health risk.
• Data logging for compliance: CNX records all usage and flushing events, providing a digital audit trail that simplifies record-keeping for Legionella compliance and health & safety checks.
• Remote access and control: Maintenance teams can monitor and adjust settings from a central dashboard, reducing the need for manual checks and site visits—saving both time and labour costs.

By integrating smart technology into your preventative maintenance strategy, you create a water system that’s not only efficient but also intelligent—responding dynamically to usage patterns, health risks, and maintenance needs.

A cultural shift toward proactive management

Building a preventative maintenance culture takes planning and consistency. It requires collaboration between facilities teams, cleaning staff, procurement, and even senior leadership to ensure maintenance is prioritised and properly resourced.

Start by:

• Conducting a comprehensive water audit to identify current usage patterns, inefficiencies, and risk areas.
• Establishing maintenance schedules aligned with manufacturer recommendations and legal compliance needs.
• Investing in training so teams understand the correct maintenance methods for different fixtures and technologies.
• Embracing smart monitoring tools to automate tasks and deliver actionable insights.

Organisations that take this proactive approach are better positioned to control costs, remain compliant, and demonstrate environmental leadership.

The bottom line

Water is a precious and increasingly scarce resource. Facilities managers have a crucial role to play in protecting it—not just by installing efficient technologies, but by ensuring they are maintained properly over time. Preventative maintenance helps prevent waste, extends asset lifespan, and safeguards the health of building users.

With the added capabilities of smart systems like CONTI+ CNX and leak detection tools like Aguardio sensors, it’s easier than ever to automate, monitor and optimise your water infrastructure. It’s time to move from reactive fixes to proactive prevention—for the benefit of your budget, your compliance obligations, and the planet.

Next steps

Speak to us today about how we can help you prevent water loss before it occurs and cut the time, effort and cost associated with maintenance.