Water – whether it's used for industrial processes, restrooms, or cleaning and landscaping – is a large part of any business’s operating costs. But with a little work, there are many ways to reduce your water use while meeting all of your business needs.

• Put up signs encouraging water conservation in employee kitchens and locker rooms and in employee and customer restrooms.
• Assign an employee to determine and monitor the quantity and purpose of water use and to identify water waste.
• Set attainable goals for water use reductions. Read water meters weekly to monitor success of your water conservation efforts and let employees know how they're doing.
• Offer incentives to employees whose suggestions to save water also save money.
• When cleaning with water, use budgeted amounts.

Adopt water-saving maintenance procedures

• Sweep materials from floors instead of washing down whenever possible.
• Check your water supply system for leaks.
• Repair dripping faucets and toilets that run continuously or leak.
• Install water-saving devices to decrease consumption, such as toilet dams, flappers, flow reduction valves, faucet aerators, and cooling system devices.  

The following list details common fixtures and appliances that, if replaced, would result in significant water savings for most businesses:

• Urinals: Replace with 0.5 gallons per minute flush valve kits or waterless urinals
• Ice-makers: Install an air-cooled ice maker
• Pre-rinse spray nozzles: In kitchens, install 1.6gpm Pre-Rinse Spray Nozzles
• Dishwashers: Install efficient dishwashers
• Cooling towers: Explore water re-circulation and other technologies
• Washing floors: Sweep or use a waterbroom
• Food steamers: Replace with connectionless food steamers

• Hire a landscape manager or service experienced in water-wise landscaping concepts.
• Limit or exclude areas that require a large amount of water, such as picnic areas, playgrounds and sports fields. Use native or regionally adapted plants when possible.
• Use and regularly manage centralized automatic irrigation systems.
• Operate sprinkler systems before sunrise and after sunset, and avoid irrigating during windy or rainy weather.