The following no-cost or low-cost alternatives will help save water and money.
- Inspect all fixtures in building - Replace toilet mechanisms when they are old or prone to sticking.
- Tenant education - Distribute brochures for tenants on how to use water wisely.
- Leaks - There are several methods to finding leaks, such as dye tablets in your toilet tank. If you find leaks, repair them as soon as possible.
- Check the meter - Is water use in the building slow or steady? Check the building water meter at off hours as the first step for leak detection.
- Sub-metering - Sub-metering is the most important water efficiency step for commercial/industrial customers. Sub-metering helps you know where water-use occurs and helps the employees monitor their discretionary use. Sub-metering also helps determine when new water efficient equipment is justified and quickly locates leaks so they can be repaired.
- Know the expected water use rates - You should know the water use rates per tenant, per hotel room, average restaurant use, etc. Knowing these rates will help you understand your usage patterns and alert you to any variances.
- Water-use audits - In order to understand your commercial facility's water usage pattern, conduct a water use audit.