Don't let your profits leak away

Leaks are a major problem for homes and businesses, and for water companies. Water wholesalers are responsible for the hundreds of thousands of miles of pipes that take water to the boundary of your property.

They're under huge pressure to ensure they're doing all they can to find and fix leaks on those pipes, spending millions every year to repair leaks and replace old infrastructure.

As a business, it's your responsibility to find and arrange leak fixes within the boundary of your site.

Leaks can occur for many reasons, such as extreme weather conditions causing pipes to expand and contract, ageing pipes and infrastructure, differences in water pressure, damage to pipes, and soil conditions causing corrosion.

To stop your business pouring money down the drain in the form of leaks, it's important that you know how to recognise if you have a leak on your property and what to do to get it fixed as soon as possible.

Have I got a leak?

One of the most common ways you may spot you have a leak is if you receive an unexpected high bill. The increase could be due to a leak but there are other potential reasons to consider first.

Increase in usage - has the nature of your business changed or the number of people using the water increased?

Type of meter reading - while we aim to take actual meter readings wherever possible, occasionally we may have to use an estimated read. If your last read was estimated, it may be worth providing an actual read.

Bill period - does your most recent bill cover a longer period than your previous bill?

Appliances/fittings - appliances like new dishwashers and power showers may use more water. Dripping taps and faulty toilet cisterns may also cause high water usage, even if they have since been fixed.

If none of these apply to you, your next step is to check for leaks. We've got lots of guidance on how to check for leaks here.

So, I've got a leak, but where is it?

Internal leaks are relatively easy to spot but external leaks are mostly hidden underground and may go unnoticed for some time. The signs of an underground leak include pooling water, damp patches of ground and lush areas of vegetation in dry spells.

If you have trouble finding your leak, we can help you detect and repair leaks through our leak detection and repair service.

Once you know where your leak is, make sure you get it repaired as soon as possible, either using our leak detection and repair service, or use an approved plumber.

What else can I do?

You may be eligible to claim a leak allowance. As your retailer, your wholesaler charges water2business for all the water recorded by your meter. They set specific criteria for reducing bills where water has been leaked or wasted and calculate any allowance due. We, in turn, pass on 100% of the allowance they calculate to you.

Your wholesaler will request proof that you have regularly monitored your water usage in order to consider a potential leak allowance. Each wholesaler has a different policy on leakage allowance eligibility. 

Prevention is better than cure

Of course, there are ways you can reduce your chances of having a leak before that high bill even hits the mailbox.

Read and log your own meter readings once a week to spot fluctuations in use or, if you use a lot of water, invest in automated meter reading technology which records usage as often as every 15 minutes.

Maintaining your site is also important, check your premises for signs of damp, internally as well as externally. Check taps and toilets regularly and repair or replace any that are dripping or leaking. We can also provide a water efficiency audit which not only helps you reduce your water consumption but looks to identify leaks and areas of wastage.