How Should Businesses Respond To The UK’s Water Shortages?

The UK’s record dry spell this summer has demonstrated just how quickly water can become a critical business concern. A BBC report from Devon highlights the scale of the challenge facing farmers and growers. 

Guy Singh-Watson, founder of Riverford Organic Farmers, warned that the business could soon be forced to decide which crops to irrigate and which to lose as its available water supplies run down. 

Three of the company’s four on-farm reservoirs had already run dry, while securing the permissions needed for additional water storage has proved costly and time-consuming.

For a business growing water-intensive crops, the consequences are immediate. Without sufficient irrigation, plants can fail, production can fall and the wider supply chain can be affected.

But there is a lesson here for businesses far beyond agriculture. Water availability should not be taken for granted.

Whether your organisation needs water for production, cleaning, heating, hospitality, sanitation or everyday operations, periods of drought demonstrate why water resilience and efficient management deserve a place in business planning.

Water risk isn’t just an agricultural problem

Farmers are particularly exposed because their operations depend directly on rainfall, irrigation and access to reliable water supplies. However, almost every commercial organisation has some level of dependency on water.

Offices, schools, healthcare facilities and leisure businesses all depend on reliable supplies every day. The difference is that water shortages can be easy to overlook until they begin affecting operations.

The current situation in Devon and Cornwall provides a useful warning: water availability can become a business continuity issue surprisingly quickly.

Climate conditions are changing the calculation

The Riverford example also illustrates how businesses are having to adapt to changing environmental conditions. According to the BBC report, the company has traditionally relied on on-farm reservoirs, but three of its four have now run dry. 

Staff are already monitoring soil moisture and growing conditions to make irrigation decisions more precisely, with trials showing that this approach can reduce water consumption.

That combination of monitoring, storage and efficiency is increasingly relevant beyond farming. Businesses cannot control the weather, but they can improve their understanding of how much water they need and where opportunities exist to reduce unnecessary demand.

Knowing your baseline matters

One of the most useful actions any business can take is to establish a clear picture of its normal water consumption. Without a baseline, it is difficult to identify whether changes in usage are significant.

A business should ideally know:

• How much water it uses during a typical month
• Which areas or processes consume the most
• How usage changes seasonally
• Whether overnight or out-of-hours consumption occurs
• Which sites have the highest demand
• Whether consumption has changed following operational changes

This information provides a starting point for identifying potential waste and planning for periods of increased demand. 

Technology can take the guesswork out of water management

Riverford’s monitoring trial is a good example of how better information can lead to more efficient water use. The same principle applies in commercial premises.

Smart metering and water monitoring technology can provide more detailed information than traditional periodic meter readings. Businesses can use this information to identify unusual consumption patterns and investigate problems much earlier.

If consumption falls following an efficiency project, reliable data can demonstrate whether the investment has actually delivered the expected result.

Water storage isn’t the only answer

The discussion around Riverford naturally focuses on water storage because reservoirs can provide a buffer between periods of rainfall and periods of high demand.

Most businesses won’t need an on-site reservoir, of course. But the underlying principle is important: resilience comes from planning ahead rather than relying entirely on conditions remaining favourable.

For a commercial organisation, resilience might mean having contingency arrangements in place, understanding critical water requirements, identifying opportunities to reduce demand or using rainwater harvesting and water recycling where appropriate.

Water efficiency can reduce pressure on your business and the environment

Using less water has two benefits. First, it can reduce the cost of purchasing water and, where applicable, associated wastewater charges

Second, it reduces demand on local water resources at a time when supplies are under increasing pressure. This makes water efficiency an unusual business improvement: it can support both financial and environmental objectives.

Simple measures can include:

• Installing efficient taps and shower controls
• Reducing unnecessary flushing
• Repairing leaks promptly
• Optimising cleaning processes
• Reviewing water-intensive equipment
• Capturing and reusing suitable water
• Training staff to avoid unnecessary consumption

For some organisations, larger investments may be justified. For others, relatively inexpensive changes can make a substantial difference.

Your water supplier can be part of the solution

Managing consumption is only one side of commercial water management. Businesses should also consider whether their water retailer is providing the level of support they need.

Eligible businesses in England can choose their retail water supplier. The retailer manages the commercial relationship, while the physical water infrastructure remains with the regional wholesaler.

This means switching business water supplier does not involve changing the pipes supplying your premises. Instead, businesses can compare providers based on factors such as pricing, billing, customer service, account management and water efficiency support.

What should you expect from a commercial water retailer?

The right supplier should make it easier to understand and manage your water use rather than simply sending an invoice.

Depending on the provider, useful services can include:

• Consumption monitoring: Helping you understand how much water you’re using and identify unusual patterns.
• Water audits: Reviewing your premises and processes to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements.
• Leak support: Helping identify potential sources of unexplained consumption.
• Clear billing: Making charges easier to understand and reconcile.

These services can become particularly valuable during periods of water stress.

Building a more water-resilient business

The situation facing farmers in Devon demonstrates what happens when reliable water supplies can no longer be assumed. Climate change, population growth and periods of drought mean businesses across the UK need to think more carefully about water.

Start by understanding consumption. Investigate waste, monitor usage more closely, look at efficiency improvements, and review whether your commercial water supplier is providing the right combination of value and support.