Water Procurement & Management for UK Businesses
Since 2017, UK businesses have been able to switch water retailer — yet most never have. SBS helps you take control of your water costs, reduce consumption, and connect every litre saved to your carbon reduction plan.
Most businesses are overpaying for water and have no idea
The business water market in England opened to full competition in 2017, giving every non-household customer the right to switch water retailer and negotiate on price, service, and contract terms. Yet the majority of UK businesses have never reviewed their water account.
Beyond procurement, water efficiency directly reduces operational costs, cuts the carbon footprint associated with water treatment and heating, and demonstrates measurable environmental progress to clients, commissioners, and lenders.
See how water links to your Net-Zero Program →Switch retailer and reduce your bills
Whole-of-market water retailer comparison, with expert guidance from someone who has worked inside these organisations.
Reduce consumption and waste
Efficiency audits, leak detection, and smart metering identify where water is being wasted and quantify the savings available.
Connect water data to your carbon footprint
Water consumption generates carbon emissions through treatment and distribution. Every litre saved feeds into your annual carbon report.
Proactive management, not reactive billing
Smart metering and monitoring means you spot problems early, before a leak or billing error becomes a major cost.
We know the water industry from the inside
Most water advisors are brokers working at arm's length from the market. Our founder spent over 10 years working directly within wholesale and water retail companies, understanding how the market operates, where the margins sit, and where businesses are routinely left on poor-value contracts.
That inside knowledge means we can identify opportunities others miss, challenge billing errors with confidence, and negotiate on your behalf with a credibility that comes from having been on the other side of the table.
We are not a broker passing your details to the highest bidder. We are a sustainability consultancy that understands water deeply and connects every saving to your broader net-zero goals.
Wholesale & retail experience
10+ years working inside water wholesale and retail organisations — not as an intermediary, but as part of the industry itself.
Market structure knowledge
We understand how water retail pricing works, where billing errors occur, and how to audit your account effectively.
Connected to your net-zero strategy
Water savings are captured in your carbon footprint alongside energy, waste, and supply chain data — giving you a complete picture.
Part of your Sustainability Team
Water sits alongside energy, procurement, and carbon reporting as part of the SBS Net-Zero Program — one team, one plan.
Water services for UK businesses
From procurement to proactive management, every service connects back to your cost and sustainability goals.
Water Procurement & Retailer Switching
Whole-of-market water retailer comparison for businesses in England. Most have never reviewed their water account — we find out whether you're on the best available contract.
- Full market tender and comparison
- Billing audit and error identification
- Contract negotiation and switching support
- Ongoing account management
- Available to all non-household customers in England
Water Efficiency Audits
A thorough review of your water use across your premises, identifying waste, inefficiency, and opportunities for immediate and long-term savings.
- Site water use survey
- Consumption benchmarking by sector
- Prioritised savings recommendations
- Cost and carbon saving projections
- Aligned to water efficiency best practice
Leak Detection
Undetected leaks can significantly inflate water bills and go unnoticed for months. Our leak detection service identifies hidden losses before they become costly.
- Half-hourly consumption analysis
- Site leak investigation and survey
- Night-line flow assessment
- Remediation guidance
- Post-repair monitoring to confirm savings
Smart Metering & Monitoring
Real-time water monitoring gives you full visibility over your consumption, with automated alerts that flag unusual usage before it escalates.
- AMR and smart meter installation
- Live consumption dashboards
- Automated leak and anomaly alerts
- Consumption reporting by time and location
- Data feeds into your carbon footprint
Wastewater Management
Wastewater charges can represent a significant proportion of your total water bill. We review your trade effluent consents, discharge volumes, and billing to ensure you're not overpaying.
- Trade effluent consent review
- Wastewater billing audit
- Discharge reduction planning
- Consent renegotiation support
- Compliance with discharge regulations
Water & Carbon Reduction Strategy
A connected approach that links your water consumption data directly to your carbon reduction plan, ensuring water savings are captured and reported alongside energy and waste.
- Water carbon baseline calculation
- Consumption reduction targets
- Linked to SBS Net-Zero Program
- Annual water and carbon progress reporting
- Supports PPN 006 and sustainability reporting
Water savings feed directly into your carbon plan
Water is rarely the first thing businesses think of when tackling carbon. But treating, heating, and distributing water is energy-intensive. Every litre you save has a carbon value — and we measure it.
Water Carbon Baseline
We calculate the carbon footprint of your water consumption using recognised emission factors, adding accuracy to your annual report.
Carbon Reduction Plan
Water efficiency improvements are documented in your Carbon Reduction Plan, supporting PPN 006 compliance and tender submissions.
Annual Reporting
Water data sits alongside energy in your annual carbon footprint report, giving a complete and credible picture of your environmental performance.
Proactive Risk Management
Water scarcity is an increasing business risk. Demonstrating active water management strengthens your sustainability credentials with stakeholders.
Could your water audit be funded?
Funding for water efficiency support is available through certain local authority and business support programmes, and eligibility varies by area and programme cycle.
SBS has experience delivering funded sustainability programmes across the North East and Yorkshire. We can check whether any current funding applies to your business and handle the process end to end if it does.
Speak to us to find out what is currently available in your area before programmes close.
What a water efficiency audit covers
Consumption review
A full analysis of your water use by meter, area, and activity type.
Leak and waste identification
Pinpointing where water is being lost, wasted, or billed incorrectly.
Savings and carbon projections
Quantified cost and carbon savings for each recommended action.
Prioritised action plan
A clear roadmap of improvements ranked by impact, cost, and ease of implementation.
From first call to measurable savings
A straightforward process built around your time as a business owner.
Free water review
A 30-minute call to understand your current water set-up, bills, and priorities. We identify your biggest opportunities immediately.
Audit & options
We review your bills, meters, and consumption data, then present a clear set of options with projected savings for each.
Implementation
We manage retailer switching, audit delivery, and any installation work, keeping the process simple and low burden on your team.
Measure & report
Water savings are tracked and fed into your carbon footprint and sustainability reporting alongside energy and other initiatives.
Find out what your business is paying for water — and what it should be.
Book a free 30-minute water review. No obligation, no jargon. Just a clear picture of what is possible, from a team that knows the water industry from the inside.
