News

A water audit results in 3 year refund.

Author: Graham Mann, Water Audit Expert.

A water audit was completed across all properties within Vue Cinema Group as part of the on-going water bill validation service provided by H²O Building Services. The meter readings over the last 3 years for a site in Preston were audited and it transpired although the water consumption and costs were well within budget over the years no actual water meter readings had been taken, this type of scenario places the site into query. The water company were requested to visit site to take a meter reading, at first it looked like they were going to change the meter as it was in a place that the water company stated flooded often but when they actually attended site the meter was fine and in working order and a refund of overcharges was claimed, the water company confirmed the overcharge and a refund of £ 9,852 was secured.

Graham Mann Senior Consultant at H²O said “These types of overcharges can often be over looked as if the readings albeit estimates fall into budget, they are not often historically audited by clients. I have seen other situations over the years of clients sites being estimated for years building up substantial overcharges, then the water company will change the meter and actual reads are taken which are far in excess of previous bills and the client will often think there is a leak and the site investigated accordingly. No leak is found and no further action is taken and the client will often assume a spike in water consumption, only experience will shed light on the true nature of the apparent increase, this was a very interesting case as other historical errors have been identified resulting in refunds and savings of £ 40,000 which were not identified by our competitors prior to H²O being awarded the project  – Expert due diligence pays!”