UK: September 20, 2007


LONDON - British businesses are pouring profits down the drain by wasting water, according to the government's business environmental advisory agency Envirowise.


A relatively modest water saving investment of just 25,000 pounds can yield actual savings of around 90,000 pounds a year, it calculates.

In total it estimates that British businesses are wasting 1.3 billion cubic metres of water every year -- a total the country can ill afford given that some areas are already relatively short of water.

Turning off taps and reducing toilet flushes in offices are among some of the measures that can be taken with little cost but in total could save over 500 million pounds a year.

Envirowise is taking its "Big Splash" campaign around the country this week to promote Water at Work Week and persuade companies to sign up.


REUTERS NEWS SERVICE