Water management is a tricky process for facility managers. The larger the building, the more complex water management can be, especially for someone who is not trained in plumbing or industrial cooling systems. Because of this, you’ll likely need professional help to identify opportunities for savings and to streamline your water usage.
First, it’s important for you as the facility manager to understand your sources. Water management is most critical during natural disasters or unexpected shutdowns when water supplies are often disrupted. By understanding how your water system operates from the ground up, you can better make action plans in an emergency. As the facility manager, you should know the source, use, and importance of every water supply in your facility, from landscape irrigation to critical sanitary and cooling water systems.
Next, you should schedule a consultation to identify inefficiencies. Even the newest, most energy-efficient commercial buildings have some sort of waste, and it is often in the water management system where this waste accumulates. In hospitals, for example, 35% of water waste comes from restroom use. Without water-efficient faucets and toilets, your facility could be wasting thousands of dollars of water resources. However, it’s important not to guess or assume the best ways in which your facility can reduce water waste — contact your MaintenX team instead for a proper inspection.
The goal of the consultation is to establish your water balance. Water balance is the comparison of your baseline water supply (or intended water usage goal) with equipment and appliance usage throughout the facility. If you’re looking to reduce your water usage by a certain percentage or dollar amount, you need to look at what operational practices or equipment are contributing to the excess. This is
Some ways in which your facility may need to improve its water balance include:
- Installing water-efficient irrigation and landscaping
- Installing low flow or water-efficient toilets, urinals, faucets, and other bathroom fixtures
- Upgrading cooling systems to energy-efficient equipment
- Upgrading to energy-efficient commercial kitchen equipment
- Implementing water recycling programs for wastewater
- Improving water treatment for the implementation of water recycling
- Recovering rainwater for industrial cooling and other water uses
You must then establish clear objectives and priorities. Depending on the current state of your facility, you may have many different improvements to make to ensure maximum water efficiency. However, taking on all of these facility improvements at once will leave you with very little ancillary funds for your regular and reactive maintenance costs. Talk with your MaintenX team to create a plan that restores optimal water balance and fits within your current year’s budget.
Building a better water management plan is possible this year with the help of your MaintenX technicians. We help you create a better water management plan and will help reduce water waste through preventative care services. Contact our offices today to learn more!
