Water saving tips

Here you will find handy tips to help you save water in common areas of your business.

Kitchen

Inefficient water use in commercial kitchens usually results from poor equipment design or staff behavioral patterns. The major water using fixtures are dishwashers and ice machines. Food preparation and cleaning make up the balance of water used.

Water saving tips:

Scrape, rather than rinse, dishes and utensils before loading into water efficient dishwasher and wash full loads only.
Install spray nozzles for pot washing and reduce the flow of spray rinsers for prewash.
Adjust ice machines to produce only the required amount of ice.
Do not use running water to thaw foods; defrost frozen goods in a refrigerator.
Put a plug in the sink to wash fruits and vegetables, don't leave the tap running.

	Refer to the commercial kitchen information sheet

Cleaning

Water use for general cleaning can account for between 10 – 50% of all water used depending on the industry. Although water saving devices may be fitted, the best form of water use management is through education on water efficient cleaning practices.

Water saving tips:

Use a broom instead of a hose. Brooms, squeegees and wet/dry vacuum cleaners are a good alternative to clean surfaces before washing with water.
Ensure hoses are fitted with high pressure, low-volume nozzles with shutoff valves.
Where possible mop floors rather than hosing or washing.
Sweep or use garden blowers on paved areas rather than washing, unless required for health reasons.

	Refer to the cleaning practices information sheet

Amenities

The amount of water used by showers and taps can be reduced easily and relatively cheaply, giving a high payback to your business. Simply changing to a water efficient showerhead can save between 20 and 30 litres of water per person per day.

If your toilet still uses more than 9 litres per flush, maybe it’s time to upgrade. A single flush toilet can use up to 12 litres of water per flush. A 4 star Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) rated water efficient dual flush toilet uses less than 4 litres per flush on average. Changing your toilet can save water an money, especially in high traffic areas.

	Refer to the bathroom and toilet information sheet

	Refer to the waterless urinals information sheet

	Refer to the flow regulating devices information sheet

	Toilets to go program - upgrade your toilets for up to 30%* less than the regular supply and installation price

Cooling Tower

Cooling towers are big water users in most large cooling systems, and can use from 20 to 50% of a facility’s total water use.

A cooling tower consumes water through evaporation, bleed off, drift and the make up water. A cooling tower that is operating effectively will limit the amount of water lost through these means.

	Refer to the cooling tower information sheet

Irrigation

Irrigation can often account for 10 to 20% of a sites total water use. Consider using an alternative source to scheme water to irrigation such as installing a bore, rainwater or using recycled water.

Water saving tips:

Choose waterwise plants that are perfectly adapted for our climate.
Use soil improvement and apply waterwise mulch to reduce evaporation.
Choose a lawn that requires low water use and is heat and drought tolerant including Couch, Buffalo, Zoysia, Saltene or Kikuyu.
Know your rostered watering day/s and stick to the rules.

	For more detailed tips visit being waterwise in your garden

	Find out your watering days

Water recycling

Replacing high quality drinking water with fit for purpose recycled water, where appropriate, is a great way your business can reduce scheme water use and potentially save money.

Business and industry can play a leading role in helping us to achieve our goal to increase water recycling to 30 per cent by 2030 and reduce drinking water consumption within the Integrated Water Supply Scheme (IWSS), by replacing drinking water with fit for purpose recycled water.

For more information please contact our the water recycling team on (08) 9420 3842 or email water.recycling@watercorporation.com.au