Is There a Water Crisis Coming to Your Facility?

Water is abundant in much of the U.S., but it's not an endless resource. In fact, at least 40 states are anticipating water shortages by 2024, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Many of the shortages will result because of the effects of climate change, population shifts and an aging water and wastewater infrastructure.

Water shortages combined with increases in demand could lead to an increase in the costs of water and wastewater services. By implementing water-efficiency measures within your facility, you'll reduce operating costs for water, as well as the energy used to heat that water.

So, water conservation is not only good for the planet, it makes economic sense as well. By taking steps to better manage your water use, you'll be in the forefront of an important environmental issue. In addition to lower operating costs, your organization will benefit from the reduced risk of potential future scarcities or cost increases of this critical resource.

Diving In: Start With a Plan

Successful water management requires planning. To achieve your water-saving goals, appoint an interdepartmental water management team. The team will take the lead in evaluating facility water use, implementing water-saving measures, tracking progress and identifying new savings opportunities.
Water management planning typically focuses on water usage in four areas:

1.    Reducing water losses, such as leaks
2.    Increasing the water efficiency of equipment and processes
3.    Encouraging water-saving behavior among employees and building occupants
4.    Finding ways to recover and reuse water onsite

Start with a facility water assessment. It will help you understand how much water your facility uses and what equipment and processes consume the most water. An assessment can also help you identify potential water-saving strategies and calculate their cost and payback to help you prioritize opportunities.

Below the Surface: Water Management Practices

Although facilities vary in the ways they use water, the following best practices can form the basis of an effective water management program.

Leaks. Check for and repair all leaks in all water-using equipment, fixtures and pipes. Leaks can account for more than 6% of a facility's total water usage, according to the EPA. Make leak detection a part of your regular preventive maintenance practices and encourage staff, tenants and other building occupants to report leaks.

Restrooms. A significant amount of water is used — and wasted — in commercial building restrooms. Installing low-flow toilets and waterless urinals can help minimize consumption. Water-efficient faucets, especially those with motion sensors, can significantly reduce waste. Find our rebates on high-efficiency toilets and low-water-use urinals at ladwp.com/cwr.

Outdoors. Common sources of water waste from landscape irrigation include evaporation, wind and runoff. Water-efficient irrigation practices — such as native landscaping, seasonal scheduling and weather-based irrigation controls — can reduce outdoor water waste by as much as 50%, according to the EPA. Learn more about our rebates to help make your landscaping and irrigation more efficient at ladwp.com/cwr.

Recovery. Capturing water discharge from one application and using it for another can significantly reduce your overall water usage and costs. Potential sources include stormwater runoff, treated gray water and condensate from air conditioning equipment. Common uses for recovered water include irrigation, toilet flushing and processes not requiring potable water.

For more information about how to better manage your water consumption, please visit our Savings Tips page at ladwp.com.