Businesses are often confused by their rising water bills, as without an obvious change in their usage, they don’t know how to explain the additional costs. Water leaks from your system can go unnoticed for months until the water bill comes through and you realize that thousands of pounds have gone down the drain. As government policy is reflected in Building Regulations and sustainability standards such as BREAM calling for the reduction of primary water consumption, it is essential that all commercial and public companies are aware of their responsibilities towards the environment as well as of your results. Considering that a small 3mm hole can result in the loss of thousands of liters of water in 24 hours, think about how much you will lose in a month or a year, then think about the costs incurred.
In addition to the economic and environmental losses incurred, leaks can also be a public health concern, as contamination can enter the water supply through holes in leaking pipes. A danger to any business enterprise; however, if this were to occur in a hospital, school, or hotel where large numbers of people use large amounts of water 24/7, it would pose a serious health risk. Leak detection services are essential to identify, locate and repair system failure.
The savings that can be achieved on an ongoing and annual basis are substantial, but the opportunity for companies to continue to benefit depends on adding this process to their company’s annual maintenance strategy. By monitoring your system at regular intervals, you can ensure early detection of leaks keeps water losses to a minimum and savings to a maximum. Businesses will not only avoid additional water charges, but also reduce the potential for lost profits due to the disruption caused and reduce potential water damage to their facility.
Qualified specialist engineers use the latest leak detection technology including CCTV, thermal imaging and digital correlation to locate leaks. If the leaks are underground, these systems can reduce soil disturbance by pinpointing and facilitating an excavation point. For leaks in large supply networks, a step test can be performed to isolate the leak area. This eliminates the need to inspect the entire system, greatly reducing time and cost. Continuous monitoring of all water systems, large or small, is something to consider as it allows immediate response to leaks as they occur.