Planning and Execution
Water conservation is an evolving, emerging interest in the realm of preservation tactics. Climate change is beginning to affect the water table and many bodies of freshwater – droughts are a persistent problem in parts of the world, and wells are needing to be dug further down than anticipated. From a conservationist standpoint, stewardship of our most valuable resource – water – is a natural place to have the most impact.
Scale Doesn’t Matter
Whether you’re a small business owner or a large medical research facility, your ability to analyze, identify, and amend water waste scenarios is important. It takes all of us working together to find solutions to large problems; if you re-plumb your public restroom to be more efficient, it’s progress that counts.
Begin to think about the units and objects in your facility that use water. Make a list of all these machines and estimate which ones are 1) the largest consumers of water, and 2) likely the easiest to tackle. Our suggestions won’t nearly cover every situation you run into, but they can certainly help you start brainstorming. Once you have a list, start reaching out to manufacturers and considering modifications or replacements to your current equipment.
Cooling Systems
Air conditioning units and cooling towers use a tremendous amount of water – most of them are only performing a single pass, too. To make cooling towers more effective, try adjusting the number of cycles the unit performs before expelling wastewater.
Treat Your Own Water
Though this might be an expensive endeavor to embark upon, treating some of your own gray water is an amazing way to reduce your metered water usage. If you’re pumping water out of a cistern or lake, it’s always best to return it to where it came from; use it, treat it, return it. Follow safety and treatment guidelines to ensure the ecosystem’s stability.
Public Restrooms
Public-driven water usage is one of the easiest ways to jump into water conservation. Consider switching out toilets with low-volume flush models and make the switch to aerating timer-controlled faucets.
Irrigation
One of the infrastructures with the highest water consumption in this country is irrigation. Whether you’re irrigating a landscape, a garden, or a thousand-acre farm, you are responsible for the water you use. When in doubt, hire a professional to take a look at your irrigation system; what changes could you make to conserve water and use it only when necessary? Take a look at drought-resistant plants that require less rain and water than their predecessors.
Rainwater – It’s Free
If you have the capability to collect, treat, and store rainwater for your business, you have the potential to save hundreds of gallons of pumped, treated water. Social stigmas around rainwater collection are dissipating with the increased urgency surrounding water conservation efforts.
Know Your Usage
Above all, know how much water your business consumes on a daily basis; simply getting a tangible sense of what your water footprint is can change your outlook on water conservation. After all, you can’t solve a problem you don’t know is there. Analyze your usage, break it down by machine or utility, organize and prioritize tasks, make a plan, and execute your water management project. If you have any questions along the way, we’re here to help.