Not sure which district is your water provider?
There are many opportunities for businesses to reduce their water use and lower utility costs. Here are a few no-and low-cost ways to get you started:
Evaluate how your business uses water and work with employees to develop more efficient methods and procedures.
Get in the habit of comparing your water use from month to month and year to year. It will help you spot leaks when they occur and track your water efficiency efforts.
A leaking toilet can waste more than 50 gallons of water each day. A dripping faucet or showerhead can waste up to 1,000 gallons per week.
Low-flow faucet aerators are an inexpensive way to reduce water use by as much as 50 percent. You’ll also reduce your energy bill by heating less water.
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean entrances, sidewalks, parking lots and loading docks.
Wash your vehicle fleet only when needed, and consider taking vehicles to a commercial car wash that recycles water.
Detect and repair all leaks in your irrigation system water during the coolest time of the day. Install moisture sensors and other SMART technology to cut down on unnecessary watering. Adjust sprinkler run times each season.
Here are some suggestions for specific industries:
Restaurants can use less water and energy with a new high-velocity, high-performance pre-rinse nozzle installed free of charge. The nozzles reduce the amount of hot water used to pre-rinse dishes for the dishwasher. Restaurants that have made the switch in Sacramento, El Dorado and Placer counties have saved an average of $900 per year in water and energy costs.
Restaurants can also reduce use by replacing older toilets and urinals with high efficient toilet models, and by keeping an eye out for leaks.
Many facilities operate laundries to clean linens, uniforms and other washable items. Options for using less water in laundry operations range from modifying existing equipment to investing in new machines and reuse systems that make every drop count.
From the radiology lab to the cafeteria, there are scores of ways hospitals and other health care facilities can reduce water use. Installing low-flow fixtures, recycling water where possible and reprogramming washing machines to be more water efficient are among the steps many facilities have taken to save water and energy costs.
Food and beverage processing industries use water for everything from transporting and cleaning products to meeting sanitary standards. Many facilities have succeeded in reducing overall water use by implementing a variety of measures that increase efficiency while maintaining productivity.
Hotels can realize significant reductions in water use by installing water-efficient faucets and showerheads, replacing older toilets and urinals with low-flush models and keeping an eye out for leaks. Automating cooling towers, adjusting boilers and replacing water-cooled ice machines with air-cooled units can also make a difference.
Landscaping is another area of potential savings. Switching to California-friendly plants and using SMART irrigation technology can translate into major water and energy savings.
