Water
Water conservation is an essential part of living in the desert. Water is a precious resource, one that has to be managed today to ensure there is plenty available for future generations.
For businesses, sound resource management just makes good business sense, particularly for businesses with water intensive production processes. Water conservation is about mitigating business risk. Every business uses water in different ways. Finding out how much and where your business uses water can provide ideas on where to start.
- Beginner
Just Getting Started - Intermediate
Going a Little Deeper - Advanced
Transforming Your Organization
- Fix leaks!
- Monitor your water bills
- Encourage staff to use efficient rinsing techniques
- Install an instant water heater so you don’t have to let the water run
- Detect and fix any leaks from pipes, fixtures, appliances and equipment
- Install appropriate low‐flow devices, shut‐off valves, faucet aerators and other water‐efficient equipment. Look for the WaterSense label
- Provide refrigerated drinking water
- Scrape dishes rather than rinsing them before washing
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean floors, sidewalks and other hard surfaces
- Make sure all hoses are equipped with automatic shut-off nozzles
- Run only full loads in the clothes washers and dishwashers
- Water landscapes early in the morning or in the evening
- Use mulch in landscapes to keep moisture in the soil
- Clean windows only when needed
- Thaw food in the refrigerator or microwave instead of using running water
- Wash vehicles only when needed
- Discard clean water into plants instead of the drain
- Contact your water provider to see if water conservation rebates are available
- Conduct a water audit and identify water management goals
- Perform irrigation system evaluations periodically
- Adjust sprinklers to ensure there is no overspray into non-landscaped areas
- Make sure cooling towers are properly maintained and retrofitted if necessary
- Install high efficiency ENERGY STAR® appliances including clothes washers and dishwashers
- Shut off water to unused areas of your facility to eliminate waste from leaks or unmonitored use
- Install water efficiency devices
- Install WaterSense-labeled fixtures including toilets, urinals, faucets, pre-rinse spray valves, showerheads and smart irrigation controllers
- Replace turf areas with (xeriscape) low- water-use plants
- Install a passive rainwater harvesting system
- Shut off water to unused areas to eliminate waste from leaks or unmonitored use
- Create a 5-year or 10-year sustainability vision, goals and targets of success
- Set and implement goals to reduce waste, emissions, water and resource use
- Use reclaimed water for landscape irrigation if available
- Engage employees to incorporate water conservation in their homes and communities
- Use sustainable products and services
- Measure and report your progress, share your efforts with others
