Notts County FC

Notts County Football Club contacted Quensus after their water supplier flagged unusually high consumption during a routine revenue meter reading. Early indications suggested there could be a significant leak somewhere within the stadium grounds, but the facilities team had no clear visibility on where the issue was occurring or how to isolate it.

With a large and complex site including multiple stands, plant areas, tanks and washroom facilities, identifying leaks using traditional investigation methods alone would have been time consuming, disruptive and uncertain.

The club therefore engaged Quensus to gain accurate, data driven insight into their water usage.

‍

Investigation

Quensus installed the LeakNet smart monitoring solution across compartmentalised areas of the stadium. This enabled water consumption to be tracked separately across key infrastructure zones including the incoming mains, water tanks, washroom facilities and operational areas.

‍

As illustrated above, abnormal baseline flow was visible outside operational hours. Continuous usage overnight confirmed background leakage rather than normal stadium activity.

Within the first 24 hours, monitoring had already identified several issues:

• Faulty urinals causing continuous low level leakage
• Approximately 21,000 litres per day being lost from water tanks located in the stadium loft space
• A discrepancy between the external revenue meter readings and internal consumption data

‍

Further investigation using LeakNet data ultimately led to the identification of a leaking supply pipe serving part of the stadium infrastructure.

Additional monitoring also revealed usage spikes across specific stadium stands, including the Main Stand and Family Stand. Sub metering allowed the club to distinguish between essential operational demand and hidden wastage.

‍

Solution

Based on the data gathered, Quensus supported a targeted remediation strategy focused on both immediate leak resolution and ongoing efficiency improvements.

This included:

• Maintenance and adjustment of faulty water tank ballcocks
• Replacement of the leaking supply pipe
• Continued sub metering to maintain visibility across different stadium zones
• Operational adjustments such as shutting off water during out-of-hours periods where appropriate

This combined technical and operational approach ensured both structural issues and behavioural wastage were addressed.

‍

Outcomes

The financial and operational benefits were substantial.

• Approximately £12,000 annual savings following maintenance to the water tanks
• Around £82,000 annual savings after replacement of the leaking supply pipe
• Immediate savings of roughly £400 per month through improved operational control
• Over £9,000 additional annual potential savings identified across stadium stands
• A negotiated 12-month rebate of £57,000 from the water supplier, supported by LeakNet data

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

The graph above shows the immediate reduction in water consumption once the external leak was resolved, demonstrating the direct financial impact of the intervention.

‍

‍

‍

‍

Longer term monitoring confirmed a sustained reduction in baseline consumption following remediation, validating both the repairs undertaken and the ongoing value of continuous monitoring.

‍

Key Takeaway

Water leaks across large estates can range from minor fixture faults to major infrastructure failures. Without granular monitoring, these issues often remain hidden while costs escalate.

Smart water monitoring provides rapid visibility, targeted intervention and measurable financial return, helping organisations reduce operational risk, control costs and improve sustainability performance.

Get a free instant quote for your property here.

‍