If you're running a business in 2025, you know that disruption is a serious issue. From extreme weather events and supply chain challenges to geopolitical tensions and energy price volatility, businesses face an increasingly complex risk environment. More than ever, companies across all sectors must prioritise robust contingency planning to protect their operations, financial stability, and reputation.
What is Business Continuity Management?
Business Continuity Management (BCM) is a complete framework that helps organisations prepare for, respond to, and recover from disruptions. It covers everything from identifying potential risks and their impact, to ensuring critical operations can continue during a crisis. Furthermore, it is about building organisational resilience using Systems that can adapt quickly to challenges, maintain essential services, and protect both operations and reputation. For water-dependent industries, this is particularly crucial, as even a brief interruption in water services can have significant downstream effects on production, quality, and customer satisfaction.
This heightened focus on business continuity management is now firmly embedded in corporate strategy. The internationally recognised ISO 22301 'Business Continuity Management' standard continues to provide a framework for organisations to maintain critical operations during unexpected events, adapt to changing circumstances, and emerge stronger from disruptions.
The Importance of a Business Continuity Plan in the Water Industry
During times of disruption, no resource is more vital than water. As such, water treatment systems should always be included in any form of serious business continuity planning. It is worth considering in an emergency or disruption, how long would your customers be willing to wait? The answer is usually measured in hours, not days. This is why implementing a robust Business Continuity Plan is crucial, as it ensures you can maintain resilient service through disrupted periods and within acceptable timeframes. Today's marketplace is fiercely competitive, and reliability can be a clear differentiator. This level of service security can set your business apart.
To this end, it is only through the implementation of a Business Continuity Plan that you can ensure you are able to provide a resilient service offering through disrupted periods, and within an acceptable time frame. In a competitive marketplace, offering this security can be a big differentiator, especially in light of recent events.
How to Make a Business Continuity Plan
There are several ways to make a start when it comes to creating a Business Continuity Management Plan. Here at Veolia, we would always recommend following a structure and seeking the assistance of an informed team within your business, which covers multiple different departments and areas.
Assemble Your Team
• Include representatives from different departments
• Ensure both operational and strategic perspectives are represented
• Assign clear roles and responsibilities
Identify Potential Risks
• Map out scenarios that could impact your operations
• Assess the likelihood of each risk
• Evaluate potential impact on your business
Develop Response Strategies
• Create specific action plans for each major risk
• Define trigger points for implementing each plan
• Establish clear communication channels
Test and Refine
• Run regular simulations of different scenarios
• Document lessons learned from each test
• Update plans based on findings
Secure Mobile Water Services
• Partner with emergency water treatment providers
• Establish response time agreements
• Create clear activation protocols
While external consultants can add value to this process, the most practical approach is often to partner directly with emergency service providers. At Veolia, our Mobile Water Services team specialises in rapid response solutions that keep your operations running when water treatment challenges arise.
Protect your Water Supply with Mobile Water Services
When your water treatment system needs to go offline, whether planned or unplanned, mobile water services keep your operations running. These portable treatment units deploy directly to your site, maintaining water quality and flow exactly when you need it.
Veolia Water Technologies offers three distinct mobile water service options to match your specific needs:
Emergency Response
Available 24/7/365, our emergency units deploy within hours of your call. Whether you're facing plant failures, sudden raw water changes, or compliance issues, we guarantee a solution on-site within 24 hours.
Planned Maintenance Support
For scheduled downtime, upgrades, or commissioning projects, our planned service ensures seamless water treatment continuity. This comprehensive package includes maintenance, technical support, and all necessary consumables - letting you focus on your facility changes while we handle water treatment.
Multi-Year Solutions
Some operations need longer-term support. Our multi-year rental options provide complete water treatment solutions for up to seven years, including technicians, logistics, chemicals, and maintenance, all with predictable monthly costs.
Environmental Commitment
Every mobile solution we deploy adheres to strict environmental standards. We maintain full compliance with discharge regulations, implement sustainable water management practices, and provide detailed documentation for regulatory purposes.
From rapid emergency response to long-term facility support, our mobile water services combine advanced technology with expert operation. This ensures your business maintains both production targets and environmental responsibilities, regardless of the challenges facing your permanent water treatment systems.
Want to learn more? Speak to one of our team now
