WATER-SAVING TIPS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Smart business owners and facility managers know that conserving water can both save them money and be good for the environment. Reducing water use at your business typically extends to savings in wastewater and electricity charges as well.

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Conservation Programs for Commercial Properties

Many Bay Area water utilities offer a variety of services aimed at helping your business save water. Use this site to learn more about water conservation tips and programs/rebates provided by your local water utility. You may be eligible for program incentives and rebates. Not all programs are available in all areas.

Click here to contact your local water agency and learn more about program eligibility.

Water Use Surveys

Many Bay Area commercial water customers are eligible for FREE water use surveys. This is a free service to provide customers with a comprehensive review of their business’ water usage. Technicians will tailor each survey to your specific business operations and property to see how you use water and identify areas where water conservation improvements can be effectively implemented.

Depending on the water utility, your water use survey may:

• Review consumption history of each water account. 
• Check toilets for leaks and determine flush volume. 
• Calculate a cost/benefit analysis for water conserving technology.
• Recommend rebate incentives for plumbing upgrades. 
• Determine flow rates of plumbing fixtures. 
• Provide free conservation fixtures, as needed. 
• Inspect landscape irrigation scheduling for conservation improvements and maintenance of equipment.
• Teach customers to read their meters. 
• Provide a report of all findings and installations done.

Together, these water conservation recommendations will help your business address water usage inefficiencies and undiscovered leaks – a benefit for both the environment and your water and wastewater bills.

High-Efficiency Toilet Programs

Toilets are one of the best options for property owners looking for immediate water savings, especially if replacing older, high water-use models. Many Bay Area water utilities offer rebates of up to $300 to commercial customers who purchase qualifying high-efficiency toilets. Other utilities may offer a FREE turn-key direct installation program for high-efficiency toilets.

What is a high efficiency toilet?

Depending on when a toilet was manufactured, it can have a flush volume from 1.6 up to 7 gallons. The “new” technology in toilets is the high-efficiency toilet, which flushes at least 20% below the standard 1.6 gallons per flush model.

Contact your local water utility for toilet program rules and a list of qualifying models.

Clothes Washer Rebate Program

High-efficiency clothes washing machines are readily available in retail outlets and are one of the most effective ways to conserve water and save money on utility costs. Many Bay Area water agencies offer rebates of up to $400 to commercial customers who purchase qualifying high-efficiency clothes washer models.

Running a conventional washing machine can use more than 50 gallons of water per cycle. Today, new technology is emerging to replace water guzzling clothes washing machines with high-efficiency models that utilize approximately 40% less water and energy.

Contact your local water utility for clothes washer rebate program rules and a list of qualifying models.

Other Commercial Water Use Appliances

Note: Rebates for commercial water use appliances are offered by select Bay Area water utilities. Rebate availability and amounts will vary depending on your service area.

High-Efficiency Urinal
Up to $300 Rebate

High-efficiency urinals are defined as fixtures that function at 0.5 gallons per flush or less. Based on data from studies of actual usage, these urinals save 20,000 gallons of water per year with an estimated 20-year life.

Pressurized Waterbroom
Up to $50 Rebate

When you use a hose and nozzle to clean sidewalks, you are using anywhere from 8 to 18 gallons of water per minute. With a pressurized Waterbroom, you will clean more efficiently and use as little as 2.8 gallons of water per minute.

Note: The use of pressurized waterbrooms or any method of hosing down hardscape may not be permissible in your service area. Please contact your water utility to determine program eligibility.

X-Ray Film Processor Re-Circulation System
Up to $2,000 Rebate

The amount of water required to operate a non-digital x-ray film processor can be reduced by 98%! In one year, a typical film processing system needlessly sends hundreds of thousands of gallons of water down the drain.

Cooling Tower Conductivity Controller
Up to $1,200 Rebate

If your conductivity controller is more than 5 years old, it may be loosing efficiency. Annual water savings with a new Cooling Tower Conductivity Controller can be as much as 800,000 gallons.

Contact your local water utility to determine availability of commercial rebates for water appliances.

Free Water Fixtures

The efficiency of water fixtures and appliances in your business has the greatest impact on reducing water use. Many Bay Area water utilities provide a number of conservation plumbing fixtures for FREE.

Contact your local water utility for program eligibility. Here’s a sample of free devices that could be available to you:

Low-flow showerheads

Reduce water flow to 2.5 gallons per minute or less and save thousand of gallons per year.

Kitchen and bathroom faucet aerators

Reduce water flow to 2 gallons per minute or less. Installing aerators on kitchen and bathroom faucets can reduce water usage in the home by about 4%.

Toilet dye tabs

Conducting a dye-test in toilet tanks can identify costly silent leaks.

Garden spray nozzles

Reduce water waste in the yard. Make sure your garden hose has an automatic shut-off nozzle.

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