5 ways to reduce water costs for SMEs for the new financial year
20th March 2026
The UK tax year ends on 5 April, which means there’s still some time to reduce water costs for SMEs with our easy tips.
A new UK tax year began on 6th April – a time when organisations up and down the country dive into their accounts, reflect on the previous year’s financial progress and plan for the next 12 months. If your business is looking to address profitability by analysing opportunities to improve utility management, let us identify a few practical steps to bring your water consumption under control.
Water is often overlooked in the process of financial planning but, in reality, it is a key area that many companies can look to tighten up without disrupting day-to-day operations. With almost half of UK businesses yet to compare water deals, this means that there are thousands of organisations that are potentially leaving savings on the table.
If you’re aiming to reduce water costs for the new tax year, here are a few small changes that might make all the difference.
1. Start with the basics and cut out the waste
Because every drop saved, means savings on your water bill.
Simple habits may seem futile in isolation but they really do make a difference. Taps left running, inefficient washing practices (e.g. handwashing over using a dishwasher) can significantly reduce consumption. It’s worth noting that modern machines are now designed to use far less water per cycle than through filling a sink or bowl for dishes and clothes.
In addition to that, being more mindful with water will help too, so don’t forget to turn taps off when not in use and consider adding a water cooler to the office. This will prevent water waste and can lead to surprisingly noticeable savings before the financial year ends.
2. Educate and engage staff
Bringing staff into the conversation can have a surprisingly strong impact. Clear signage in kitchens and washrooms, along with simple reminders, helps keep water use front of mind. It’s also worth encouraging employees to flag anything unusual, such as leaks or sudden changes in usage.
Some organisations go a step further by introducing small incentives or recognition for teams that contribute to reducing consumption. It doesn’t need to be complicated or overly controlling, of course. Instead, focusing on raising awareness and encouraging consistency can be enough to drive best practice.
3. Install water saving devices
Devices such as low-flow taps, aerators, and dual-flush toilets are fairly easy to install and provide a quick way to save costs in the year ahead. In some instances, these technologies can cut usage by as much as 50% without hampering performance.
Older toilets can often use up to 13 litres of water per flush but installing a dual-flush allows for a full flush of around 6 litres, and half flush of around 3 litres.
4. Monitor usage
One of the best ways to keep on top of your water consumption is to make monitoring it a habit. Make sure to check water meters regularly to spot spikes and investigate to know what’s causing them. An easy way to do this is to give this responsibility to a member of staff, who will then report on the usage patterns. Don’t forget to celebrate small wins and remind everyone within the team on the importance of saving water and its benefits for the environment.
5. Review your business water prices
As mentioned earlier, almost half of businesses in the UK are not aware that they can switch water suppliers and doing so could save you thousands of pounds in annual savings. As the new financial year begins, use this as an opportunity to review your existing water contracts and compare business water suppliers.
At Everflow, we have helped many thousands of SMEs save money and reduce consumption. So, don’t wait until the next financial year – get in touch with us today so we can help you lower costs and improve your environmental responsibility.
Contact Everflow today!
At Everflow, our goal is to make your utilities simpler – we ensure you get great-value contracts that are tailored to your needs and easy to manage. Get a bespoke quote using the link below.
