Introduction

A UK university is committed to sustainability and resource management across its campuses. One of its main campuses, along with other university locations, had been facing an ongoing issue of water wastage. Demeter has been supporting the university's water efficiency efforts, helping monitor and manage water consumption.

The Problem

At one campus, water usage data indicated a constant flow of 81 cubic metres per month (approximately 81,000 litres), which represented about 13% of the total water usage at the site. This constant flow was caused by leaking taps, cisterns and showers that were left unattended.

Demeter's monitoring system identified this excessive water usage, allowing the university's operations team to take action. Instead of just addressing the problem directly, the university used this data as the foundation for launching an innovative water wastage reporting campaign.

The Solution

The campaign encouraged students and staff to report any leaks or issues with taps, cisterns or showers in exchange for a free coffee. This creative solution resulted in over 60 leaks being reported across campus in a short period.

Thanks to the campaign's success, the constant flow issue at the campus was entirely stopped, reducing water wastage to zero.

Outcome

By stopping the constant flow of 81,000 litres of water per month, the university saved £162 in water costs every month.

The success of this campaign serves as an excellent example for other university sites to adopt similar water-saving initiatives, highlighting the power of student involvement and creative solutions to manage resources more efficiently.

The Impact

This case highlights the power of data-driven decision-making, made possible by Demeter's monitoring system. The detailed data collected and analysed allowed the university to identify inefficiencies, launch a targeted campaign and make informed decisions that had a direct and significant impact on reducing water waste.

It serves as a great example of how monitoring systems like ours can empower institutions to make proactive, resource-efficient choices that promote sustainability across their campuses.