WATERwise

The emphasis here is very much on 'water-related' expenditure. Cutting consumption is only part of the equation and in many cases may not even be a viable proposition. Tomlinson acknowledges that industries' needs vary considerably, with many being intensive users and consumers of water (steel and power generation, for example), some needing unhindered access to clean water (food and drink producers), and others producing large volumes of wastewater (pulp and paper).

'Determining how much water a business requires, how much is actually being used and establishing the appropriate quality are the first steps in reducing consumption and expenditure,' he says. 'And determining the minimum quality standards for effluent is the first step towards ensuring compliance with environmental standards.'

Capital Control's business development manager Alex Lloyd says the group can help industry by identifying problems, suggesting ways to source water to the required quantity and quality. Although part of Severn Trent, Capital's expertise extends far beyond the boundaries of the water industry. Through the various component elements of the group, Capital says it can address key areas such as supply and metering, distribution, treatment and delivery for use, effluent collection, disposal and treatment.

'We have conceptual strengths,' says Lloyd, 'that can help blue chip companies concerned with future sourcing of water.' A recent survey Capital carried out for a 'major international manufacturer', for example, identified notable savings in both costs and resources. The scheme it put forward incorporated an advanced effluent treatment plant which could separate out solids, allowing contaminated water to be recycled to the manufacturing process after appropriate chemical dosing. The payback period for this approach was as little as a year, when the savings on fresh water usage are considered.

Unfortunately, too few companies know just what those savings could be. 'Very often,' says Lloyd, 'you find that the perception about water and potential savings is that the effort simply will not produce a worthwhile return.'

Capital Controls' answer is to persuade the user to consider the entire cost of water usage in and around the plant. This consideration should include peripheral items such as the cost of chemical additives, or the power requirements of the pumps used to pass water around the plant and process, not forgetting the entire maintenance costs of water systems.

Raising awareness of all these issues is Capital's goal, making its customers realise just what water is really costing them. And that, says Lloyd, could be as much as two to three times the cost of the supplied water alone.