5 ways to reduce your business’s water footprint
Do you know what your company’s water footprint is? Most companies don’t.
The growing scarcity of water has become a global phenomenon and has received its much-needed recognition across all business industries. Water is a key component in the daily running of any business operations – whether you sell food or provide a service.
Industrial and manufacturing companies are known to utilise more water in their daily operations as they are large scale facilities. It is paramount that these industries have a wastewater management system to ensure that they reduce their water footprint. This; in turn, will have a positive impact on the environment and increase the company’s bottom line. Not only will your company save water, but you will be playing a role in saving the planet.
The earth’s surface is covered by 71 percent of water and makes up about 96.5 percent of the total water on earth. Now, with the water crisis looming, one might pose the question: why not reuse seawater to alleviate our water problems? Well, the answer is that the process of desalination of seawater requires specific infrastructure, power and resource to succeed.
Salt evaporates into the water and forms a very strong chemical bond. There is plenty of water desalination companies, but the use of these technical methods can be quite costly. This is why we all need to use this scarce resource wisely. If you would like to learn more about the strategies you can use to reduce your water footprint, follow our easy steps below:
Conduct A Water Audit
If you want to understand the water consumption of your company, conduct a water audit. A water audit will give you an outline of the water that is being used through all the entry points of your building. For example, kitchen taps, toilet and water discharged through the sewers.
Wastewater is also recorded, for example, water that gets wasted through any leaks. Once the water audit has been completed, it will reveal exactly how much wastewater flows through your pipes. The results that are recorded will help you to examine your consumption and take the next step of setting up an effective wastewater management system.
Get Your Employees Involved
Any company which is trying to move in the right direction and implement certain changes will have to actively involve their employees. Take the time to inform your employees about the importance of improving the company’s water footprint and the various ways to do so.
As a business owner, you should try and lead by example, meaning that you should effectively implement the changes yourself to influence the rest of your team. A good idea is having water-saving signs and posters around your facility as a way to remind everyone.
Improve Current Water Consumption
With all of the information gathered from the water audit, your next step is to improve on your current water consumption. If you do not know how to go about improving your consumption, you should seek help from a professional to implement an effective water-saving plan.
You might not have the capacity to make drastic changes immediately; therefore, you could start with small manageable goals. For example, the fixing of all the detected pipe leakages and water-consuming appliances. Consider replacing old toilets with new and advanced models. Old toilets generally use much more water, and replacing them with advanced ones will save you many litres. Also, switch to water-efficient taps as this will reduce the outflow of water from your taps, hence reducing litres of wasted water per day.
Consider Installing A Private Water Meter
If your business is located in a big industrial business park, you should consider installing a private water meter. This will measure water consumption that is used directly from your facility. It will provide you with feedback on your water consumption, and it will allow you to monitor your own water-saving efforts.
Consider Water Treatments
Water treatments and the purification of your wastewater can have a significant impact on your water-saving efforts and is the perfect way to recycle used water. In the process of water purification, any diseases and bacteria are removed, allowing it to be reused again without it being harmful to consume. It’s vital to note that there are different types of water purification methods, so do your research and find a suitable one for your needs.
Final Words
Water is a scarce resource, so play your part in preserving the little we have. When reducing your water footprint, first define your issues and have an action plan in place to achieve your desired outcomes. The depletion of water has been continuous for many years, and that is why your business should strive to implement effective water-saving mechanisms to address this issue. Set wastewater targets that will help you in lessening your water footprint.
The content in this article was provided by Rogerwilco – a South African marketing agency based in Cape Town.