In August 2026, our Tŷ Dŵr office in Cowbridge was awarded the Waterwise Checkmark, in recognition of the practical measures we have taken to improve water efficiency across the workplace.
We work with water companies, businesses and customers across the UK to reduce water demand, identify leakage and deliver practical water efficiency interventions. As a business focused on helping others use water more efficiently, we wanted our own workplace to show the same principles in practice.
Why we went for the Checkmark
Water efficiency is central to our day-to-day work. Our services range from water efficiency audits, behavioural engagement and plumbing interventions through to leakage investigation and network operations. We wanted our office to reflect the approach we promote to our customers and clients.
The Waterwise Checkmark gave us an independent framework to assess Tŷ Dŵr, recognise existing good practice and find opportunities to improve. It also brought our existing activity together and challenged our current arrangements.
What we already had in place
We looked at both the water-using fittings and appliances in the office and how water efficiency is managed more widely. Existing measures included:
- aerated taps to reduce flow while keeping them easy to use
- dual-flush toilets to cut unnecessary flushing volumes
- the eco setting on the office dishwasher
- controlled urinal flushing
- water efficiency briefing material for employees
- posters and internal communications promoting practical water-saving behaviours
- an investigation of the office water meter, looking at how to improve the quality of consumption data and leak monitoring
What Waterwise recognised
Waterwise particularly recognised the range of water-saving devices in the office, our action to improve metering and consumption monitoring, the detailed water efficiency information we give employees, and our engaging internal awareness materials. They also recognised our plans to keep improving how we understand and manage consumption.
Going further
We treated the assessment as a starting point, not the finish line. Since then, we have replaced the controlled urinal flushing at Tŷ Dŵr with waterless urinals, so those units no longer need drinking water for flushing at all.
We are now considering enhanced leak monitoring, better consumption data, push taps and, where appropriate, alternative water sources such as rainwater harvesting.
What we learned
Workplace water efficiency does not depend on a single intervention. Reducing demand effectively takes the right fixtures, good-quality consumption data, proactive maintenance and engagement with the people using the building.
The process also showed the value of continuing to challenge existing equipment. A fitting may already be more efficient than a conventional one, but that does not mean it can’t be improved. Our move from controlled flushing to waterless urinals is a good example.
Better consumption data was another clear lesson. Understanding how, when and where water is used makes it easier to set a baseline, spot unusual consumption and show the impact of future interventions. The same thinking applies to business water use more widely.
For us, the process has been as much about setting up a cycle of continual improvement as achieving the Checkmark itself.
What happens next
Our next step is to improve the quality of our consumption data and use it to measure the impact of individual interventions and find further ways to reduce demand. The Checkmark is valid for three years, and we intend to keep improving water efficiency at Tŷ Dŵr throughout that time.
“As a business that spends every day helping our clients and their customers use water more efficiently, it is important that we apply the same principles to ourselves. The Waterwise Checkmark gave us an opportunity to recognise what we were already doing well, but more importantly challenge ourselves on what we could do next. Since the assessment we have already gone a step further by installing waterless urinals at Tŷ Dŵr, and we’ll continue looking for practical ways to reduce our own water demand.”
James Lees, Client Services Contracts Director, Aqualogic
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