Behavioural change in business water use: why tech alone isn’t enough
31st October 2025
If we take a step back, most of us would probably concede that in the western world we tend to overconsume, whether it’s food, drink, energy or water. As our standards of living have risen, so too has our propensity to squander valuable resource. Luxury and wastefulness make the perfect bedfellows.
Water usage and wastage is perhaps an obvious but often overlooked example of how businesses are allowing an important resource to be overused and undervalued.
And there is a considerable expense to this, not just in terms of the water we allow to drain and leak away, but also in the energy wasted in getting it to you in the first place and the costs associated with that in our water bills. In short, water waste costs businesses unnecessary expense.
Behavioural change is an essential step in working to combat this problem. Watching what we use, measuring it and finding ways to reduce usage can ultimately save money, lower emissions associated with water treatment and combat water scarcity.
But it’s not that simple, is it? There are time constraints to this, the effort required to alter behaviours and reinforce new practices, and the investment in technology and equipment to start managing our precious water resources more efficiently.
The psychology behind organisational water use (and waste)
From the dripping tap in the kitchen to the leaking lavatory cistern in the office basement, from the cleaning hoses at the wrong pressure to the pumps at the suboptimal speed, there are so many potential sources for leaks within organisations of all sizes and sectors.
In psychological terms, it’s just not a priority to be checking these things all the time. The head chef has too many plates spinning to know whether the dishwashers are using too much water; the production line manager has orders to fill and goods to get out of the door without worrying about how many excess litres of water the manufacturing process is taking; and the farmer has too much to do with limited daylight to check on the watertight connection from his hosepipe.
It’s only when you can quantify that water waste in financial terms that employees within a business might sit up and take note.
Fortunately, there are tools and technologies now available that can help to monitor and manage water consumption without interfering with day-to-day business. Smart meters and live digital monitoring systems are becoming a key feature in the fight against water waste.
That in isolation can have a really positive impact and gives you a platform from which to build a shift in thinking and a water saving culture within your business.
How internal education, culture and leadership influence savings
Creating a water-efficient business starts from within. When leadership actively promotes water conservation and integrates it into company values, employees are more likely to follow suit.
Regular internal education helps teams understand the real impact of water use and the role they play in reducing waste. This could be as simple as an awareness campaign delivered through posters on the noticeboard or even hands-on training.
A culture that celebrates sustainability encourages staff to take ownership of everyday actions, like reporting leaks, reusing water where possible, or improving process efficiency. When these efforts are championed from the top down, businesses can achieve lasting behavioural change and unlock significant water and cost savings over time.
As well as providing the appropriate technology and equipment, and advice on better water management, look for water suppliers who are prepared to incentivise evidence based water resource improvements with lower rates. That way, everyone is doing their bit, and we might apply a few of these tips when we all get back home!
Looking to implement behavioural change within your business and take water consumption in hand? At Everflow we’re not only confident that we’re the best choice for organisations performing a business water price comparison, we’re also on hand to provide valuable advice and guidance on improving resource management.
Contact Everflow today!
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