Water is an essential resource even for businesses. Water is necessary for everyday activity, from drinking to ensuring a neat and clean working environment. However, water can be expensive, and a US study suggests that approximately 1 trillion gallons of water are lost to waste annually. This may be because most business strategies focus more on energy conservation than water efficiency. Here are four reasons your small business should prioritize water efficiency.
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Increase your business resilience
Every business depends on water to operate and ensure employee health and safety. You can imagine how business can be disrupted when there is no water supply at the workplace. According to a study, the supply chain disruption to business in 2021 costs businesses up to $4 trillion in revenue. Meanwhile, research has shown that 50% of the US freshwater basin may not meet monthly demand by 2071 if practical steps are not taken to conserve water. Another study shows that each building uses an average of 55.6 gallons per thousand square feet of water, 22,000 gallons per day, and 50 gallons per worker,
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Environmental protection
The water you use in your workplace comes from local rivers and underground aquifers. And as the pandemic has demonstrated in the last few months, these local areas are critical to your wellbeing. Yet, over 40% of businesses that consume a lot of water are located in river catchments with limited supplies. This means that the more water you conserve, the more water is available for other parties in the community. Water efficiency could mean less water diversion from bays, rivers, and estuaries, keeping a healthy environment. It can also reduce water treatment costs and energy used in the process.
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Save costs
You can save your business money through conservation. There are several ways you can do this. For instance, many businesses and organizations save costs by repairing leaks and installing tanks to catch and store water in unused property areas. Installing water-efficient fixtures and equipment can reduce your overhead costs and turn into noticeable savings. It can be useful to consider options like Slimline Tanks for your water conservation due to their high storage capacity and anti-rust properties to help your business’s water efficiency efforts.
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Influence future decision-making
Your business can translate its water efficiency into future financial gains by including it in its key practices. Likewise, small businesses are better equipped to make informed water usage and disposal decisions when they include it in their daily activities. Prioritizing water efficiency could mean becoming more resourceful on water sourcing and conservation to manage risks and build resilience against shortages. At this point, it can be useful for businesses to not just plan about cutting costs but translate them into sustainable investments.
While water is becoming a scarce commodity, it is not all doom and gloom as there are some water efficiency measures your small business can adopt to save money and the planet. This article highlights some convincing reasons to prioritize your water efficiency today.