Restaurants and hospitality are usually considered a very high usage industry when it comes to water usage.
When it comes to water usage, restaurant owners cannot escape from large monthly bills. It is used for cooking, cleaning, flushing, and washing. There is not a single day that goes by without using gallons of water.
In the fast-paced restaurant industry, owners and managers do not have time to research energy-saving advice. It is very difficult to keep restaurant utility costs under control, and on top of rising energy prices; it can get quite expensive.
Our experts have created this guide to help you take control of restaurant utilities and bring down the average cost of your water bill.
Here are our top tips for saving on your water bill.
Why Improve Restaurant Water Efficiency?
According to the UN, water consumption has increased by 1% per year in recent years. Hospitality, agriculture, and commercial industries are the driving force behind the increase. It is a common misconception that water consumption does not impact climate change.
Business water consumption adds to growing CO2 emissions. In the UK, our collective domestic water consumption accounts for 6% of all CO2 emissions. By reducing the water consumption in your restaurant, you can be part of the movement towards a more eco-friendly future.
5 Top Tips for Restaurant Water Efficiency
Lots of people attempt to improve their restaurant water efficiency to save money. The more efficient your water practices, the less you will pay per month. You can make water savings in the most unlikely ways. Our experts have uncovered the best-kept secrets that will help to reduce your restaurant water bills.
1. Repair Sinks, Faucets, and Toilets
Small leaks can lead to big problems. If you notice a leak, you need to act fast. Leaky toilets, faucets, and sinks can add a substantial amount to your monthly business water bill. We recommend checking your faucets and taps twice a month to ensure that leaks do not go unnoticed. A running toilet can really bump up the average cost of your water bill.
It is easy to put leaky faucets on the bottom of your to-do list. The actual water waste numbers will shock you. If a faucet in your restaurant leaks one drop of water every second, it will leak 31,536,000 drops of water in a single year. The cost of fixing the problem is far cheaper than letting it escalate. If leaky faucets are left unchecked, you could be faced with a large one-off bill in the future.
2. Reevaluate Your Food Preparation Measures
Restaurant water efficiency practices do not need to break the bank. Some of the most cost-efficient changes just require forethought. Instead of using water to thaw out frozen food, create a schedule and stick to it. If you put frozen food in your fridge or cooler at the correct time it can be ready in time for service.
This method is not just good for business water consumption. Some regulatory bodies warn against using water to thaw food. It is thought that this method can compromise the quality of meat. Making sure all your restaurant equipment is fully operational can also mean saving gallons of water per year without realising it.
This simple change only requires a pen and a piece of paper. Incorporate time to create a thawing plan into your usual weekly schedule. It will become part of the rota in no time.
3. Upgrade to a Low-Flow Spray Nozzle
This is one of the best solutions to the business water problem that we have come across. Restaurant owners all over the UK fit their sinks with high-flow, intense spray nozzles. These nozzles use a massive amount of water over a short period of time.
Most people use them to pre-rinse plates and utensils before they go into the dishwasher. Modern nozzles are often extendable. Kitchen teams use them to clean entire surfaces and sinks. You could be using your sink nozzle far more than you think.
By switching to a low-flow nozzle, you can greatly reduce the amount of water you use throughout the day. Low-flow nozzles are available from any home hardware store. Restaurant owners can even buy them online at a small price. Although this business water saving tip requires you to purchase something, you will soon recuperate the cost of the item. You could even consider installing automatic faucets in toilets and hand washing areas to reduce the amount of water being used.
4. Eliminate Pre-packaged Water
The simplest fixes are often the most cost-effective. Lots of restaurants offer their guests pre-packaged water. In most cases, diners will not notice the difference between tap and pre-packaged water. We recommend investing in a water filtration system and cancelling your order of bottled water.
This restaurant water efficiency tip saves money and the environment. Most plastic containers end up in the sea and negatively impact natural environments. The more humans impact sea life, the further the food chain degrades. In turn, climate change worsens.
5. Fill Your Dishwasher to the Brim
Some people do not realise how much water they waste by using a dishwasher for half loads. It can be tempting to set the machine running when it is only at half-capacity, but the reality is that you will wastewater in the long run.
This is one of the easiest fixes to implement in your business water reduction plan. Simply tell your team that only full racks are allowed. Before you know it, you will have a more efficient cleaning system and more money in your bank account.
Switch Water Suppliers
Even if you implement a wide range of water efficiency measures, you could still be left overpaying on your water bills. Some businesses are still unaware that they can switch water providers to find a cheaper deal and consolidate their bills.
At Business Energy, we know how difficult it is for restaurant owners to find time to research water prices. That’s why our expert team will take care of your switch on your behalf. We’ll provide you with the latest water prices and help you switch to a contract that meet the needs of your business.
To find out how much you could save, compare our latest water prices today.