Businesses are being urged to be 'water wise' during the sustained spell of hot, dry weather and cut consumption as well as costs.

So far Severn Trent Water which supplies most of the county has said it will not be necessary to follow other parts of the country and impose a hose pipe ban.

But SES Business Water says small changes to save water in the workplace can make a big difference to keeping demand down, from offices filled with employees to small businesses with a handful of staff.

There is the added benefit that taking action to reduce water usage can also translate to lower bills. There are three simple steps any small business can take to cut consumption and costs: encourage efficiency, limit leaks, and switch to save.

Spotting water saving opportunities can be simple: a running tap uses six litres of water a minute and using the half flush on the toilet saves 30 litres per person, per day - encouraging staff to adopt water saving behaviour by placing posters and reminders next to sinks and in bathrooms can make a big difference.

Small leaks can add up to a lot of waste: for example, a tap dripping at one drop per second wastes 4,750 litres a year. Something as simple as repairing a tap washer can save £18 a year which can add up for businesses with multiple sinks or premises.

Leaks aren't always easy to spot: if a business' consumption has increased and there's no obvious reason for the rise (such as an office expansion or an increase in staff numbers) then further investigation is wise to avoid paying for hidden leaks on premises or hidden underground.

Small businesses can also shop around to save costs: since April 2017, the non-domestic water market in England has been open to competition, meaning businesses don't have to stick with their regional supplier.

Switching can unlock better rates, allow businesses with multiple sites to consolidate their supplies into one simplified bill, and access better service. The UK water regulator Ofwat estimates that those businesses who have switched have collectively saved around £8 million on their bills by taking advantage of the open market and saved up to 540 million litres of water through water efficiency measures instigated by switching accounts.

However, small businesses are least likely to have switched: just six per cent of small businesses in England switched water supplier in the first year of the non-domestic water market being open for competition, compared to 39 per cent switching providers of other services such as energy, stationery, IT and pensions.

Some 59 per cent admitted they weren't aware that they were able to switch suppliers.

Max Langford, commercial director of SES Business Water, said: "Water efficiency should be front of mind during the heatwave to help prevent problems meeting demand, and simple steps can add up to make a big difference.

"Businesses have an opportunity to get water wise and take steps to cut cost and consumption throughout the year, so our advice is to take the plunge into water efficiency today."