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How last year’s water data can improve your 2026 budget
When you begin planning your 2026 budget, water is often seen as a stable and predictable cost because it rarely changes dramatically from month to month. And as a result of this mindset, a lot of businesses simply roll last year’s figures forward and focus their attention elsewhere. However, this approach can mask inefficiencies, billing issues and missed opportunities to reduce your overheads.
Taking a proper look back at a full year of water data allows you to move away from assumptions and base your budget on how your business actually uses water. It also gives you the insight needed to decide whether your current arrangement still works for you, or whether it might be time to switch business water suppliers.
Start by reviewing a full year of water usage
The most effective way to understand your water costs is to review at least 12 months of usage data, which is, of course, great to do at the start of the new year. This includes your water bills, meter readings or consumption reports provided by your current supplier. Looking at a full year gives you a realistic view of how water use changes throughout different seasons and operating periods.
This kind of review will often bring to light things that aren’t immediately obvious when bills are viewed in isolation. You may notice higher usage during busy periods, unexpected consumption during quieter months or inconsistencies caused by estimated readings. Taking half an hour to sit and look for these once a year will help you understand whether your current costs actually reflect your business activity.
Use your data to build a more accurate 2026 budget
Once you understand how your business uses water, you can create a budget that reflects reality rather than guesswork. Instead of applying a blanket increase to last year’s costs, your data allows you to forecast based on actual consumption and planned changes to your operations.
If your business is expecting growth, reduced opening hours or changes in equipment, your historical data gives you a solid starting point. This results in a budget that is more accurate, easier to manage and less likely to be impacted by unexpected bills during the year.
Identify charges that may be inflating your costs
It’s important to review your bills at least once a year because they might contain charges that shouldn’t be there anymore. This can include things like estimated meter readings instead of actual numbers, incorrect charges for drainage that don’t apply to your property, or wrong meter sizes.
If you check last year’s bills now, you can catch these issues early and avoid them from impacting your costs in 2026. Plus, having this information handy will help you ask questions with your supplier or fix problems before they turn into ongoing expenses.
Use your data to compare business water suppliers properly
If you’re considering a change, your usage data becomes even more valuable. Accurate data allows water suppliers to provide tailored quotes that reflect how your business actually uses water, rather than relying on broad estimates.
This makes it much easier to compare options fairly and understand where savings can be made. Having clear, reliable data also reduces the risk of switching to a supplier that looks cheaper initially but isn’t well-suited to your usage profile.
Reviewing your water data puts you in control of your 2026 planning. It gives you clarity over your costs, confidence in your budget and the information needed to make informed decisions about your supplier.
If your review shows that your current supplier is no longer offering the best value or service, this is the ideal time to switch business water suppliers. With accurate usage data available, the process is straightforward and can lead to clearer billing, better support and more competitive pricing for the year ahead.
If you’d like help reviewing your data or comparing suppliers, our team at The Business Water Shop can guide you through every step and help you secure a deal that better suits your business – just get in touch!
