MBB LIFE+ Investing in Water project - case study APS Bank

Investing in Water logo
Type of organisation or company
Country
Malta
Language for original content
Key Area
Project elaborated in partnership
Yes
Business Support
Scope
Submitted by
Malta Business Bureau
Start/End date
to
Ongoing
No
Type of funding
Gabriel Cassar
Description

This case study is a part of the MBB LIFE+ Investing in Water project.

APS Bank is committed to sustainable development. While developing its recent head office, the APS Bank decided to invest in a holistic on-site water conservation programme. The aim of the programme was to put the bank’s sustainability policy into practice, reduce operational costs and help conserve scarce national resources.

The importance of water savings has been communicated to bank’s employees, leading to a more conscious water consumption. The bank has also focused its efforts on rainwater harvesting and installing water efficient sanitary fittings. Rainwater is collected from the head office’s roof and stored in 2nd class water reservoirs. Reject water from domestic reverse osmosis units is also diverted to the 2nd class water reservoir.

The 2nd class water is then used for flushing toilets, irrigation, fire fighting drills and washing floors. In addition, restrooms at the APS head office have been fitted with sensor controlled water dispensers on both wash-hand basin faucets as well as toilet flushings. These units ensure that only as much water as is needed is dispensed.

Main activity field
Main results

After the changes, about 14% of the APS Bank's water demand is satisfied by reverse-osmosis reject and 36% of the water demand is provided through rainwater harvesting. The sanitary fittings ensure that the bank’s per capita consumption is favourably low when compared to other similar enterprises in Malta.

The end result is less water used, and a significantly reduced utilities bill. “We have adopted, tried and tested technology to tackle the issue of water conservation. This policy has already proved to be a success – the results speak for themselves. Such investment cost is justifiable, commissioning is easy and the payback period is very reasonable. This is a case of complex problems being solved through simple solutions” says Victor Buhagiar, Manager Administration, APS Bank Ltd.