Business water saving tips

By reducing your water use, not only are you demonstrating leadership and saving water, but it also helps reduce energy and maintenance cost.

There are many ways businesses can conserve water. Each business is different, and you know your business best. Here are some tools and resources to consider implementing to help reduce non-essential water use, without compromising safety or quality.

How to get started

Monitor water usage

  • Regularly track your water consumption by analyzing water bills over the past two years or more. Note annual consumption and costs. 
    • Look for trends or patterns, including seasonal variations, to identify areas for improvement. 
  • Identify essential and less essential water uses and areas of your business where water consumption is highest. 

  • WaterSense at Work

    Best practices to help commercial and institutional facility owners and managers understand and better manage their water use

  • Water Audit Guidance for Commercial Buildings

    A guide for conducting a water audit produced by the Institute for Market Transformation and the Natural Resources Defense Council

Develop a plan to be prepared for drought or a water shortage

  • If water restrictions were necessary due to an infrastructure failure or severe drought, consider how you might reduce water consumption by 10 per cent or more, if required.
  • Review your outdoor water use and familiarize yourself with The City’s Outdoor Water Restrictions and stay informed of drought conditions at calgary.ca/drought.

Set achievable targets

  • Establish a baseline for water use and set achievable targets for water savings.
  • Appoint a water champion to check meters and monitor water use.

How businesses can reduce water use

Click through the tabs below for ways to reduce your water use based on your business type. 

All businesses

Indoors

  • Adjust and lower building temperatures. 
    • Review and adjust water-based temperature control systems to ensure optimal indoor temperatures. CSA's acceptable range is 23-26 oC
  • Fix leaking taps in kitchens, laundry rooms and washrooms, etc.
  • Consider installing water-efficient fixtures and equipment.
    • Making small investments today, such as retrofitting existing equipment can result in savings when it comes to your yearly operating expenses.
    • Consult with suppliers for easy-to-install kits and alternatives.
    • Look for WaterSense labelled toilets, faucets and showerheads when upgrading fixtures.
  • Identify areas/processes for increased water efficiency for daily operations.
  • Work with staff to identify ways to minimize water use and loss throughout their work duties. 
    • For example: Review cleaning practices to reduce or eliminate water use. Wipe instead of wash and sweep instead of spray.

Outdoors

  • Understand your outdoor water use. Irrigation meters provide insight into usage, while monitoring provides insight into appropriate conservation actions.
  • If you water an outdoor landscape, ensure maintenance and repairs are up to date. To learn more, visit The City's guide on efficent irrigation.
  • Irrigating earlier in the season, (e.g. late April, May or early June), when water tends to be more available in our rivers can help replenish soil moisture deeper in the ground for plants to use later in the summer. It also helps offset peak water demand periods later in the summer.
  • Avoid planting grass or trees in July and August when survival is often poor, evaporation is high and irrigation needs increase significantly.
  • Collect rainwater and greywater for property landscaping and potted plants.

When to water

  • Plan outdoor water use in the early morning or evenings (ideally from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m.) when temperatures are cooler and evaporation is minimized.
  • Schedule the timing of outdoor water use to reduce losses and potentially save on your water bill.

Business types

Animal care

This includes vet clinics and groomers

  • Ensure all wash basins, hoses, taps and nozzles are in good working order and not leaking.
  • Repair equipment in need of maintenance.
  • Install low-flow nozzles and fixtures.
  • Install recirculating systems for water or a double-tank hydrobath that recycles water.
  • Clean premises with non-water methods (e.g. use brooms, especially in non-grooming areas).

Beverage manufacturing

Including breweries, distilleries, bottling companies

  • Reuse rinse/flush water within the production line instead of discharging it.
  • Plan production runs to minimize water-intensive activities.
  • Put posters inside washrooms advising visitors on how to conserve water.

Condos, apartment buildings

  • Collect rainwater to use for communal property landscaping and plants.
  • Fix leaking taps and toilets in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms etc.

Food manufacturing

This also includes bakeries, commercial food makers and animal processing

  • Recirculate cooling water.
  • Ensure maintenance is complete on refrigeration condensers/units.
  • Minimize water use that is not on the factory floor.

Grocery stores

  • Recirculate cooling water.
  • Monitor water use in garden centres/plants areas:
    • Repair leaking hoses.
    • Prevent watering on floors and shelving.
  • Ensure maintenance is complete on refrigeration condensers/units.
  • Cleaning tips (except when required by Health & Safety Regulations):
    • Use brooms and brushes over water cleaning methods.
    • Cut down use of floor cleaning machines – spot wash when necessary in non-food prep areas.

Hotels, motels, Airbnbs and short-term rental units

  • Put posters and cards inside guest rooms and elevators to advise guests how they can reduce their water use during their stay.
  • Reduce bedsheet and towel changes for guest stays. Offer incentives for customers to reuse towels and sheets (e.g. meal vouchers, discounts, etc.).
  • Run only full loads of laundry.
  • Collect rainwater and greywater for property landscaping and potted plants.
  • Ensure maintenance is complete on refrigerators, freezers and other equipment.
  • Ensure dishwashers are performing efficiently without leaks or water loss.
  • Train staff to minimize water loss during food prep and cleaning.

Large retail

This includes shopping malls, office buildings, museums and sporting facilities
 
  • Cut down use of floor cleaning machines – spot wash when necessary, in non-food prep areas.
  • Make onsite visits to tenants to check for water leaks and repairs. Provide water education information to tenants and encourage them to make smart decisions about water.
  • Reuse cooling water for other purposes.

Manufacturing

This includes chemical, computer, electrical, energy, furniture, machinery, metals processing, plastic, printing, textiles and wood products

  • Complete maintenance and repair of equipment.
  • Reuse cooling water for other purposes.
  • Reuse rinse/flush water within the production line instead of discharging it.
  • Examine where less water can be used without compromising quality/safety.

Non-hospital care

This includes childcare, medical clinics, personal care, pharmacies, hair/nail salons/spas

  • Use only necessary towels and linens to reduce required laundry.
  • Only run full loads of laundry and dishes.

Recreation facilities, pools and fitness centres

  • Put posters inside recreation facilities and pools advising visitors on how to conserve water.

Restaurants, bars, casinos

  • Ensure maintenance is complete on refrigerators, freezers and other equipment.
  • Ensure dishwashers are performing efficiently without leaks or water loss.
  • Train staff to minimize water loss during food prep and cleaning.
  • Collect rainwater and greywater for property landscaping and potted plants.

Schools & Post-Secondary Institutions

  • Cleaning tips (except when required by Health & Safety Regulations):
    • Use brooms and brushes over water cleaning methods.
    • Cut down use of floor cleaning machines – spot wash when necessary.
  • Collect rainwater and greywater for property landscaping and potted plants.
  • Repair equipment in need of maintenance:
    • Fix leaking taps and toilets.
    • Address leaks from appliances like refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers.
  • Train staff to minimize water loss during classroom activities (water tables, etc.), food prep and cleaning.

Small retail

This includes strip malls and small offices

  • Use non-water cleaning methods if possible.
  • Check for leaks in hoses and equipment.
  • Collect rainwater and greywater for property landscaping and potted plants.

Benefits of conserving water

  • Cost savings

    Reducing water usage impacts your bottom line by lowering your water bills.

  • Protects the environment

    By reducing water use you’re helping conserve a vital resource.

  • Avoid costly repairs

    Regular maintenance and efficient water use helps to prevent damage to plumbing systems and infrastructure and can help avoid expensive repairs.

  • Positive reputation

    Businesses that conserve water demonstrate environmental responsibility.

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