By reducing wastewater generated, businesses can reduce treatment costs and improve their bottom line.
Wastewater from an industrial business can comprise two separate elements, wastewater (sewage) and trade effluent. Wastewater is the water collected from any of your drains, including rainwater, that are connected to the mains public wastewater network. Trade effluent is any liquid waste produced as part of any trade or industry that is discharged from your premises to the public wastewater network and requires written consent from your wastewater service provider (See discharging trade effluent section here).
The costs incurred by companies for having their wastewater treated can be significantly greater than the cost of the incoming water. A company can reduce its wastewater costs in a number of ways. These are:
- Reduce the amount of wastewater generated overall.
- Reduce the strength of the trade effluent.
- Re-use wastewater wherever possible.
These costs are likely to increase in the future with the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, as well as pressures on spare treatment capacity. Therefore, it is important to consider implementing initiatives now.
For information about how water companies calculate the cost of trade effluent visit www.envirowise.gov.uk/mogden** or download the guide GG152R Tracking Water Use to Cut Costs and see page 57.
Top tips for reducing your wastewater.
**The Mogden formula only applies to trade effluent consents and not commercial wastewater charges.