Save water on sites
5 July 2023
The more frequent hot and dry weather conditions have made people realise the importance of water, which is all too often taken for granted.
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has now offered its top tips for saving water on work sites, after the Meteorological Office reported the hottest June on record, with the heat forecast to carry on into July.
And hosepipe bans have been in force in some parts of the country since April because of water shortages.
The Green Construction Board, which focuses on Net Zero and sustainability for the CLC, has prepared advice that can be adopted by firms of all sizes to cut their water use, with input from experts across the sector.
Suggestions include appointing site water champions and raising awareness through a dedicated toolbox talk, as well as monitoring, measuring and reporting water usage. The guidance also shows how, by reducing water usage, sites can save on costs.
David Pinder, Chair of the Green Construction Board, said: “The UK has less available water per person than many other European countries meaning it is increasingly scarce for sites. We have a moral responsibility to save water, and doing so also makes financial sense for firms.”
The suggestions are aligned with the UK Government's Plan for Water, which was published in April. This is intended to ensure that people, businesses and nature have a sustainable supply of the water that they use, improving resilience and managing water demand.
A copy of the Water Saving Tips and Toolbox Talk can be found on the CLC website.
● In a speech given at the World Water Tech Innovation Summit last year, Sir James Bevan, former Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, described water as the new gold. Drinkable fresh water makes up only 2.5 per cent of all the water on Earth and only 1 per cent of that is accessible. As our population grows we will experience more and more water stress; indeed, US Vice President Kamala Harris has warned that wars in future will be fought over water, not oil.
Explore the Site-Eco area of the blog for news of sustainable products and developments relevant to the world of hire.
