How Linton Village College cut water costs by 80%

Like many small village schools, Linton Village College, part of the Anglian Learning Trust, is at the heart of its community, providing not just education, but sports and leisure amenities too. Recognising its responsibility to conserve resources, the school invited us to explore opportunities to reduce utility consumption and cut costs.

What you need to know

Despite its modest size, the school’s water usage far exceeded benchmarks for secondary schools. Armed with our expertise and a determination to get to the root of the issue, we began our investigation. What we discovered was shocking; a massive, hidden leak silently draining the school of its resources and budget.

Why it matters

We carried out a water benchmarking analysis, comparing the annual m³ of water for each pupil to standard benchmark figures. We discovered that Linton Village College’s water consumption was well above the benchmark figure for a secondary school.

Our analysis of the meter readings found that the school was consuming 1,000 litres of water every hour throughout the night when the school was closed. Throughout the 24 hours of the survey, 28,800 litres of water was used, 55% of which was consumed when pupils weren’t on site. The culprit? A massive, hidden leak.

This wasn’t just an environmental problem – it was a financial one, costing the school thousands every year. We calculated that around 6,200m³ of water was leaking from this site annually, equating to 78% of the site’s total annual consumption.

What difference it made

Our investigation pinpointed the leaks to the toilets and urinals. We recommended repairs costing less than £2,000 which would pay for themselves in under two months.

Our low-cost measures will lead to:

• annual cost savings of approximately £16,176.
• an 80% reduction in the current financial cost of water for Linton Village College.

Schools play a vital role in showing their communities what sustainability looks like in practice. By addressing hidden leaks and improving efficiency, schools can by example in safeguarding scarce resources. Let us help you uncover hidden inefficiencies and reduce costs with tailored water surveys and actionable recommendations.