Top Water Saving tips from Queensland businesses
Use these tips to make your workplace more water efficient:
- Tell staff how much water your workplace uses
- Sign up to the ecoBiz program
- Measure and track changes in your water use
- Contact your local council or distributor-retailer
- Look at ways your business can resuse water
- Encourage staff to report leaks
- Get the right advice
- Get management on side
- Monitor your water bills
- Look for ways to save energy as well as water
Tell staff how much water your workplace uses
This costs nothing and its impact may surprise you. It sends a message to staff that water efficiency is important and gets them thinking and talking about water use. Read more about how to get staff involved.
Sign up to the ecoBiz program
ecoBiz is a simple, free and well-known platform that can support your business to become more sustainable. The program uses an easy six-step methodology for identifying and measuring water, energy and material resource savings to cut costs and increase profits through eco-efficiency.
Measure and track changes in your water use
Knowing how much water your business uses is the first step to improving water efficiency. Use the Six Steps to Workplace Water Efficiency to audit your workplace and find out where and how much water you use.
Complete the Meter Reading Template to track your water use.
If you are a high water user consider developing a water efficiency management plan (WEMP).
Contact your local council or distributor-retailer
Your local council or distributor-retailer may be able to support your business to become more water efficient. Contact them to find out what advice and support they can offer.
Look at ways your business can resuse water
Particularly if your business is a high water user there may be opportunities to reuse water within the business. This may reduce the costs of water supply and the disposal of wastewater.
Encourage staff to report leaks
Even one slow leaking tap can waste more than 9000 litres per year. Imagine what more substantial leaks could waste and the cost to your business. Encourage staff and contractors to report leaks, for example cleaning staff are often the first to become aware of a leak or a dripping tap but often don’t know how or who to report this to.
Get the right advice
If you are planning to embark on water efficiency initiatives that require new technology or infrastructure, make sure you get professional advice. Engage contractors such as engineers and trades people who understand what you are trying to achieve.
Associations such as Engineers Australia can help you access quality advice from a suitably qualified professional.
Get management on side
Having senior managers on side is vital to ensure the business is able to investigate, propose and implement water efficiency measures. If possible ask a senior manager to sponsor the project and encourage staff involvement. Read about how to develop a water saving culture (PDF)*.
Monitor your water bills
Water bills provide valuable information about your water use and help you track and compare any variations. Sudden increases in use should be investigated as they may help you identify leaks or water meter faults.
Look for ways to save energy as well as water
Water and energy efficiency go hand in hand. Simple steps such as turning off lights and appliances when they are not being used can make a real difference to your bottom line.
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Last updated 25 July 2011