This Water Saving Week (4-8 May), CIOB head of sustainability Amanda Williams looks at how construction companies can benefit financially and reputationally by doing their bit to use less water.
Water resources in the UK are under increasing pressure from climate change and increased demand from a growing population, as well as the urgent need to protect the environment.
The Environment Agency estimates that by 2050, there will be a shortfall of nearly five billion litres of water per day in England unless urgent action to reduce consumption is taken.
Alongside this, the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management estimates water scarcity could cost the UK economy £25bn over the next five years due to stalled housing developments, as there might not be enough water to supply new homes in water-scarce areas.
The problem is real and one I see as a significant risk to the construction sector, which is why CIOB has, in recent years, done more to raise awareness of water scarcity and offer more support to our members to help them understand the challenge and address it. One example is the introduction of a Built Environment Strategies for a Water-Scarce World CPD. We have also been working with the charity Waterwise, which champions water efficiency and supports households and businesses to reduce how much water they use.
Encouragingly, awareness of the need to reduce water use during the construction process and on site is growing, and the government is reviewing water efficiency standards for new buildings.
However, less attention is often paid to water use in construction firms’ own facilities, such as offices and warehouses, which is why this Water Saving Week, I’m challenging construction companies both large and small to consider the Waterwise Checkmark to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable water use and lead by example.
Water efficiency improvement
The Waterwise Checkmark is an award for organisations that deliver continued improvement in water efficiency within their buildings via measures to encourage water-efficient behaviours and reduce water waste. This could be through internal awareness campaigns or the use of water-efficient devices and fittings, for example.
The Checkmark enables businesses to showcase how, by using water wisely, they are reducing their environmental impact and aligning with wider sustainability goals. In England, there is a national target for businesses to reduce water use by 9% by 2038, so the Checkmark assessment process can help construction companies better understand their water use and reduce it. This can not only save money on water bills and even energy bills, but also support CSR reporting.
Growing awareness
When I spoke to Laura Berks, projects and training manager at Waterwise, she explained that a growing number of organisations have been awarded the Checkmark for their buildings – including government buildings, corporate offices, schools, and public houses – demonstrating its value across various sectors.
Laura highlighted that while uptake within construction is still developing, this presents a real opportunity for early adopters in the industry to lead the way. By committing to the Checkmark, construction companies can not only improve their own operations, but also set a visible standard for sustainable water use across the built environment.
Water is a precious resource that is often seen as the poor relation to energy. But by ignoring the problem, or leaving it to others to solve, we’re sleepwalking into a crisis, the impact of which will be felt across the construction sector and all our lives.
Small changes can make a big difference when it comes to saving water, so please take a look at the Waterwise website for their top tips, information about the Checkmark and some upcoming events, and see how you can do your bit.
Amanda Williams is head of environmental sustainability at CIOB.
