Replace inefficient toilets with WaterSense-labeled models.

• Replacing an older toilet that uses 3.5 gallons (13.2 liters) per flush (gpf) with a high-efficiency toilet that uses 1.28 gpf (4.85 liters) will save about 2.22 gpf (8.4 Lpf). The EPA WaterSense® program labels efficient toilets that use a maximum 1.28 gpf; some WaterSense-labeled toilets flush at 1.0 gallon and less.
• If the toilet is flushed an average of six times each day it will save about 13 gallons per day or 4,745 gallons per year.  Some older toilets use as much as 7 gallons per flush.

Check toilets to verify they are working properly.

• Make sure the water level is not too high, the fill valve is working properly, and the flapper is not leaking. A running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water per day.

When it’s time to replace the clothes washer, choose a high-efficiency washer with a low water factor.

• The smaller the water factor the more efficient the clothes washer.
• ENERGY STAR® models currently have a maximum of 6.0, although many well-performing machines are available with lower water factors. Look for the lowest water factor available to achieve the highest water savings. See ENERGY STAR Certified Residential Clothes Washers here.

When doing laundry, always wash full loads.

• Conventional washers built before 2011 typically use about 40 gallons per load; resource-efficient washers may use as little as 15 gallons per load.
• Adjust the water level in the washer to the amount needed for the load. Some of the new efficient washers will do this automatically.

Install efficient faucets and/or faucet aerators.

• The U.S. EPA’s WaterSense® program labels efficient faucets and aerators that use a maximum of 1.5 gallons per minute.
• Look for the WaterSense label when selecting new faucets or aerators.

Find and fix any leaky faucets.

• A faucet leaking 60 drops per minute will waste about 200 gallons (750 liters) per month. That is equal to 2,400 gallons (9.0 cubic meters) per year.

Turn off the faucet.

• When lathering hands, shaving, or brushing teeth.

Replace showerheads that have a flow rate greater than 2.5 gallons per minute–the current National Energy Policy Act standard.

• If the showerhead is not labeled, the flow rate can be checked by catching the water in a 1-gallon bucket. If it takes less than 24 seconds to fill up, the showerhead flow rate is more than 2.5 gallons per minute. The EPA WaterSense program labels efficient showerheads that use a maximum 2.0 gallons per minute.

Take shorter showers.

• Reducing a 10-minute shower to 5 minutes saves 12.5 gallons of water if the showerhead has a flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute–even more if the showerhead has a higher flow rate.

Install a thermostatic shut-off valve, either integrated into a showerhead, or as an add-on positioned between the showerhead and shower arm.

• The valve automatically reduces the showerhead’s flow to a trickle once water temperature reaches approximately 95° F (35° C), reducing water waste during the users warmup routine (known as ‘behavioral waste’).
• If installing a valve isn’t an option, and it takes a long time for the hot water to reach the shower, use it as an opportunity to collect water for other uses, e.g. watering houseplants.

Install an efficient dishwasher.

• Technological advances in dishwashers make it possible to use less water to achieve the same goal. A new dishwasher that uses less water per cycle will reduce household water use.
  • Dishwashers use less water than handwashing, particularly if you limit pre-rinsing.
• For examples of dishwasher models and their water use: See ENERGY STAR® Certified Residential Dishwasher List.

Only wash full loads of dishes in the dishwasher.

If washing dishes by hand, fill the sink with water rather than continually running the tap.

Avoid using running water to thaw frozen foods.

• Instead, defrost in the refrigerator overnight.

Composting food waste saves water.

• It reduces the water needed to run a garbage disposal.

Check water bills for any instances of high water use–this may be an indication of a leak.

• Leaking faucets, leaking toilets, and leaking pipes all have something in common, they waste a lot of water! Your water bill will often show abnormal water consumption if there is a leak. Many water utilities have information on how to read your water bill online.

Landscape with water-wise landscaping principles.

• Use native plants or other plants that require little water to thrive in your region.
• Plant turf grass only in areas where people will use it actively for recreation.
• Organize your landscape into hydrozones. Hydrozones are areas of landscape with plants and vegetation that have similar water requirements. This prevents over-watering some plants and under-watering others.
• Keep soil healthy and add mulch to prevent water loss through evaporation.
• If watering with a hose, make sure it has a shut-off nozzle.
• Water in the morning to prevent water loss due to evaporation. Avoid watering when it is windy.
• Use a rain barrel to collect water for use in the landscape.
• Add a graywater system to collect water from your washing machine or shower and bath, and use it in the landscape.

If a sprinkler system is used, make sure it is properly set-up and maintained.

• Irrigate hydrozones based upon the plants’ water needs.
• Install a weather-based SMART irrigation controller. It is essential that SMART controllers are properly programmed and maintained.
• Install and maintain a rain sensor, either wireless or wired, on the irrigation controller if it does not have one built-in.
• Regularly inspect the sprinkler heads to make sure they are not damaged or malfunctioning.
• Adjust sprinklers so they are not spraying water on paved surfaces such as the sidewalk or driveway.

Sweep outdoor surfaces with a broom instead of using a hose.

Wash vehicles at a carwash that recycles its water.

• If washing at home, make sure the hose has a shut-off nozzle.

Pool owners, use a cover to reduce water loss through evaporation.

• A pool cover also saves energy and reduces the need for chemicals.

Conduct a facility audit to quantify water use.

• Understanding water use will indentify savings opportunities, allow appropriate savings targets to be established, and serve as a benchmark from which water savings can be tracked.
• This should be the first step in a water efficiency program. It may be cost-beneficial to hire a professional with expertise in commercial and industrial water use efficiency to carry out an on-site survey.

Compare water use to industry benchmarks if available.

• Water use benchmarks provide an estimation of the average water use for specific industrial sectors and can be used as a tool to evaluate current consumption patterns among peers.

Learn from water saving success stories of industry peers.

• Case studies from industry peers will provide insight into what works, what doesn’t, and what efficiency solutions are most cost-effective. These details can often be found in sustainability reports or annual reports.

Investigate the feasibility of the following general options in your operations.

• Reduce the flow of water.
• Modify the equipment or installing water saving devices.
• Replace existing equipment with more water efficient equipment.
• Implementing water treatment, recycling, and reuse practices.
• Change to a waterless process.

Educate employees about the importance of using less water.

• Creating a workplace culture that focuses and takes pride in efficiency can be a very beneficial component of a water conservation plan. Increased awareness will ensure more staff members are monitoring water use.
• Things that can be done include:
  • Give recognition to those who initiate water-efficiency procedures and processes.
  • Make resource conservation part of performance reviews, especially for line manager.

Use non-potable water for industrial process use.

• Potable water is often not required for many industrial uses and can be substituted with non-potable or reused water. Sources include but are not limited to air conditioner condensate, cooling tower blow down, and rainwater.

Improve cooling tower efficiency.

• Cooling towers often represent the largest percentage of water consumption in industrial operations. Some ways to improve the efficiency of cooling towers and reduce water use include:
  • Eliminate once-through cooling.
  • Install a conductivity controller on each cooling tower.
  • Equip cooling towers with overflow alarms.
  • Use high-efficiency drift eliminators.
  • Install submeters to monitor make-up and bleed on each cooling tower.
  • Properly train and educate cooling tower operators.

Replace water-cooled equipment with air-cooled equipment when feasible.

• Water use is often a hidden component of cooling industrial and commercial equipment.  Often this very same equipment is available, but with technology that uses air for cooling. The pros and cons of each should be determined before switching from water to air, considering energy efficiency and equipment performance.
• Equipment that falls into this category include:
  • Air compressors
  • Vacuum pumps
  • Ice machines
  • Refrigeration condensers
  • Hydraulic equipment
  • X-ray processing equipment

Retrofit steam sterilizers.

• Steam sterilizers are utilized by hospitals, research institutions, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Steps can be taken to reduce the water used by these devices:
  • Jacket and chamber condensate cooling modification
  • Ejector water modification

Make sure all hoses are equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle.

• Hoses that don’t have an automatic shut-off nozzle and are left running can waste 8-12 gallons per minute.

Dry sweep or use a water broom where permitted, instead of using a hose to clean floors, sidewalks, or other hard surfaces.

• Water brooms should be used only when traditional brooms are not able to clean the surface in a satisfactory manner. Additionally, water brooms are superior to hose and spray nozzles in both water efficiency and cleaning effectiveness.

Install water efficient fixtures in restrooms and showering areas.

• Commercial and industrial facilities often have domestic water uses such as toilet flushing, sinks for hand washing, and showering facilities. These represent great opportunities for water savings.
• Fixtures that can be retrofitted or replaced include:
  • Toilets with high-efficiency models
  • Urinals with high-efficiency models
  • Faucet and aerators in sinks with high-efficiency models
  • Showerheads with high-efficiency models

Utilize efficient technology in kitchen areas.

• Kitchen facilities are a likely candidate for reducing water use in any facility. The following are items and practices that can be implemented:
  • Rinse dishes with an efficient pre-rinse spray valve.
  • Use a dishwasher that meeting ENERGY STAR® standards.
  • Install in-line flow restrictors for dipper wells. Also implement new water-efficient dipper well technology.
  • Replace boiler-based food steamers with boilerless technology steamers.
  • Use strainers to reduce water required to operate garbage disposal.

Manage on-site laundry facilities efficiently.

• Many industrial and commercial facilities consume a considerable amount of water for laundering.
  • For residential-style washing machines, select a low water factor. As of January 2011, top and front loading ENERGY STAR® clothes washers must have a water factor of 6.0 or less. The federal standard is 9.5.
  • Set multi-load machines to run efficiently with separate settings for each cycle.
  • Assess the feasibility of installing a tunnel washer if large volumes of laundry are being processed.
  • Evaluate costs and benefits for using laundry systems that recycle water or use ozone technology.