New data report by Smartvatten shows over 50% of residential buildings experience water leakage monthly
The Annual Water Report, based on global water data combined with Smartvatten’s database of 20,000 properties and 200,000 apartments in 36 countries, shows consistent water leakages in both residential and commercial buildings. This potentially causes hundreds of thousands of extra costs for property owners annually. The rise in water prices, extreme weather conditions, and new EU regulations have made understanding water in 2024 more important than ever.
Helsinki, Finland (July 16th, 2024) Smartvatten, the leading water data provider, has published its third Annual Water Report, which analyses water usage and conditions in residential and commercial buildings. The data is based on Smartvatten’s own database, comprising 20,000 properties and 200,000 apartments in 36 countries. Additionally, the report utilizes global water price and resource data.
The data shows that almost 52% of Smartvatten’s customers with residential buildings experienced one leak per month in 2023. For commercial buildings, one-third faced a monthly leak, but the leak size in commercial buildings was 3.4 times larger than that in residential buildings.
The report also shows how water prices have risen between three and eight percent and, in some areas in Europe, by over 20 percent. The upward trajectory in prices can be directly attributed to factors such as water scarcity and aging infrastructure, which present significant challenges for both households and utilities alike. Although most European countries have been water-sufficient, estimates show that the deterioration of water resources is happening also in Europe.
“The foundation of effective water management is a consistent and reliable database. Unfortunately, many building operators struggle with low data quality and different metering systems, which limits insights into water consumption. Most water meters are read manually or semi-automatically, often monthly, quarterly or annually, leading to low data validity. Therefore, intelligent, remotely readable, and water meter-independent consumption monitoring is crucial,” says Karl Jepsson, Chief product & development officer from Smartvatten.
According to the European Commission, buildings are responsible for about 40 percent of energy consumption in the EU. Providing water for daily use – from cleaning to heating to waste treatment – is energy intensive and consumes twelve percent of the total electricity generation.
Addressing the use of water in the real estate sector is also vital for combating water scarcity, as water plays an essential role in construction, renovation, and real estate management – not to mention the amount of water consumed in households daily. Based on Smartvatten’s analysis, up to a 30% decrease in water usage could be achieved in households if water consumption was monitored.
With consumers already struggling with rising living costs and inflation, detecting and preventing leaks would be an easy way to cut costs. With residential leaks, up to 1.7 liters of water are wasted per minute. For example, one small leak in a residential apartment that lasts for twelve days can cause an increase in monthly costs of more than 15 percent.
Although leaks happen less frequently in commercial properties than in residential houses, commercial properties experienced a notably higher loss, averaging a 48% higher water loss per leak compared to the overall average of all different properties’ water loss.
Real estate owners and investors should be aware that detecting leakages early can prevent damage to already-aged infrastructure and property, potentially saving them hundreds of thousands of euros in restoration costs.
Several factors contribute to the occurrence of leaks. Aging infrastructure, corrosion, faulty installation, and environmental factors such as temperature fluctuations and soil movement can weaken pipes and plumbing fixtures over time, leading to leaks. Additionally, high water pressure can put excessive stress on pipes, increasing the likelihood of leaks. With extreme weather conditions causing sometimes drought and sometimes flooding, old infrastructure is put under pressure it won’t likely withstand.
New EU regulations force property owners to think about water management
Another factor that increases the meaning of understanding water is new legislation. During 2024, two new regulatory frameworks will step into play for the European real estate market: the EU Taxonomy and the CSRD. Because of them, real estate and water utility sectors are now forced to act on their water consumption.
The European Union Taxonomy Regulation was created to promote sustainable economic activities by providing a standardized framework for classifying sustainability in the real estate market. Real estate owners, particularly those with larger portfolios, stand to benefit significantly from the EU Taxonomy, as they are able to make wiser decisions based on accurate information on, amongst other things, water usage.
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) forces SMEs and bigger companies to report on their sustainability. Among the various facets of sustainability, water management is one of the key areas for avoiding unnecessary CO2 emissions. Both of these regulatory frameworks have a wide array of metrics throughout buildings, several of which relate to water.
Read the whole Annual Water Report here
###
For additional information:
Media kit with pictures
Ville Backman, CMO
Smartvatten
ville.backman@smartvatten.com
About Smartvatten
Founded in 2013, Smartvatten has grown from a small company providing energy certificates to the leading supplier of water efficiency technology and expertise in Northern Europe. We now have more than 130 employees in 8 countries and offices in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany, and provide our comprehensive water efficiency services and expertise worldwide.
Eager to learn more about our company's roots? Read more here: https://smartvatten.com.
Tags:
