As the UK’s largest pub company, Stonegate Group operates over 4,500 pubs bars and venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
Managing water across such a vast and varied estate is no small feat. With limited visibility into water usage, unidentified leaks, and inefficiencies driving up costs, Stonegate needed a smarter, more proactive approach.
That is where Waterscan came in. The two companies partnered over seven years ago to take control of water consumption across 1,200 sites. The impact was immediate.
“We previously had very little visibility into our water usage. Unlike electricity and gas, where we could track data, water was a blind spot. We relied on retailers to tell us what was happening rather than having real insights ourselves. Waterscan changed that.”
Ella King, Head of Services and Non-Consumables Purchasing at Stonegate Group.
Since the partnership began, Stonegate and Waterscan have conducted over 1,000 water audits to identify leakage and inefficient use of water. This rigorous and systematic approach has driven significant savings. Over the three year period from 2022 to 2024, Stonegate saved over 330,000 cubic metres of water, which is the equivalent of more than 580 million pints.
Financially, the benefits have been substantial. Through fixing leaks and implementing other water efficiency measures, Stonegate has saved more than £1.2 million since 2019. In addition, Waterscan has secured refunds worth approximately £30,000 per annum for the last six years by identifying and resolving issues such as incorrect billing.
By implementing real time monitoring and reporting, Stonegate gained a clear and detailed picture of their water use. This visibility has allowed the organisation to detect leaks early, cut unnecessary consumption, and drive meaningful cost savings. The financial benefits have been twofold: reducing direct costs and eliminating wasteful excess use.
But it was never just about the numbers. With greater visibility, Stonegate has been able to strengthen its sustainability strategy. The ability to target specific sites and influence behavioural change at the operational level has meant that smarter water management practices are now embedded throughout the business, not just driven from the top.
“Waterscan is not just a supplier; they are an extension of our team. With so many areas to cover, from chemicals to waste to sports and entertainment services, I need partners I can rely on as experts in their field. Waterscan is delivering the insight and strategic support we need to make a real difference.”
Ella King, Stonegate Group.
Stonegate’s work with Waterscan highlights that smart water management is not only about reducing bills. It is about sustainability, operational efficiency, and taking control of a vital resource. As Stonegate continues to refine its strategy, this partnership will remain central to future savings, resilience, and environmental progress.
Stonegate Group – www.stonegategroup.co.uk
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