How to save water in the workplace

With sensible usage, companies can cut down the utilities bill and contribute to the wider agenda of universal access to water

In the Middle East, the consumption of water per person is quite high compared to the global average despite being one of the most water scarce regions in the world. There is no doubt that this level of usage is unsustainable. Individuals, companies and institutions must play their role in reducing water consumption and wastage.

Here is a plan for firms to conserve water and to start 2019 on a positive note.

Be aware: To reduce water consumption in the workplace, you first need to know where you’re starting from. Invest in water meters and track how much water is being used over a period of a month or two. If you have capacity for slightly more spending, a water audit can hold huge value.

Analysis and planning: Use the information you collected about water usage to put together an attainable plan. Identify areas where water is being used inefficiently, set an achievable target for reducing consumption and formulate a realistic plan for how this can be achieved. Start with short term goals and work your way up.

Education: Engage with your employees and launch your scheme with a workshop or a seminar where you explain why it is important to save water and outline your goals and your plan. Your people must be on board and ready to affect change for change to be successful and a proper understanding of the initiative will help water conservation become part of workplace culture.

Washroom fittings: Retrofit options are a great way to improve the efficiency of older models of toilets. Displacement products and early-closing toilet flappers both reduce the amount of water used with each flush.

Kitchen habits: From washing up in a bowl of soapy water rather than under a tap, to scraping dishes rather than rinsing them — the kitchen is where little changes mean the most. Encourage staff to get into good habits using short reminders or through creative challenges.

Cooling and cleaning in the office: In the Middle East, air conditioning, heating and ventilation have a huge market demand. AC units/chillers can be fed using treated wastewater instead of fresh water from network. Moreover, on hot, humid days, large, commercial AC units can generate up to 1,900 litres of water in condensation! This usually wasted water can instead be collected and channelled into uses that don’t require perfectly fresh water such as irrigation or outdoor cleaning.

Keep introducing new ideas and celebrate when you achieve targets — saving water is a win win for everyone; your company, yourself, your surrounding and the environment we share on this planet!