Facilities for Water Conservation
All types of organizations are increasingly aware of the need to use water more efficiently to reduce their risk to water shortages and increasing costs. There is a strong business case to be made for water efficiency. Planning is the foundation of effective water management. Facility leaders and their teams should consider forming water management teams to review water use and develop implementation plans in the context of achieving the established water management goals. This review allows the organization to evaluate progress, set new goals, and continually improve.
Metering & Leak Management
Meanwhile, implementing metering allows a facility to monitor water use and quickly find and fix leaks or other unnecessary water use. It also has the added benefit of enabling the facility management department to identify cost-effective water use reduction opportunities and track project savings.
Lastly, leaks are water wasted with no intended use or purpose; once identified, leaks should be the first area to target from a water management perspective. With a few simple steps, a facility can establish a comprehensive leak detection and repair program, which can save water, money, time, and expenses that would otherwise be associated with unmanaged leaks.
Cost & Sustainability Impact
Reducing water use lowers the costs associated with operating and maintaining equipment, as well as the energy needed to heat, treat, store, and deliver water. Over the past decade or so, the costs of water and wastewater services have risen at a rate well above the consumer price index.
Facility managers can expect these and other utility costs to continue to increase in order to offset the costs of replacing aging water supply systems. Carrying out and communicating water efficiency efforts can position facility managers as leaders in their organizations—and the wider community—who are helping to improve sustainability.