When you run a business, the expenses can pile up. Small business owners know the financial toll of something going wrong in the store, requiring hundreds or thousands of dollars for repairs you can’t afford.
One way to be proactive is to conduct a water audit for your business. A water audit provides numerous benefits and saves precious time and money. These five reasons show why you should consider a water audit for your small business.
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Become More Environmentally Conscious
Unfortunately, Americans waste a lot of water. The average family will unknowingly waste over 180 gallons of water per week and 9,400 gallons of water annually from leaks. This amount of water can wash 300 loads of laundry. If this water comes from one household, imagine how much water your business uses weekly.
A water audit will find ways you can cut down on water usage. When you save water, you use less water from the country’s rivers, estuaries, and bays. When people use less water, there is a lower demand for energy needed to extract the water. Using less energy means less pollution in the air and water.
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Find the Source of the Problem
When an inspector does a water audit, they’ll thoroughly investigate the water system in your building. For example, they’ll check flow rates and see if your water is recycled. A water audit will tell you how much water you’re using from the water meter the utility company gave you.
Specialized equipment, such as refrigerators, cooling towers, irrigation systems, and more, can have their own meters because of how integral they are and how much water they use by themselves.
A significant benefit of a water audit is finding the source of any problems. Like many situations, detecting the problem earlier gives you a head start on fixing it. Fixing a problem while everything is operating as it should be will cost significantly less than waiting until it breaks. You know when people say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? That doesn’t necessarily apply here. If you can be proactive and make a system work better, it’ll help in the long run.
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Increase Your System’s Efficiency
One of the primary benefits of a water audit is that it will locate any inefficiencies in your water system. An inspector will look at everything from the toilets to the sinks to see what water processes can improve. They could be working too slowly, or they may be using more water than is needed.
Increasing efficiency could also help you comply with state and federal regulations. For example, states like California impose mandatory restrictions on water because of droughts. Climate change and densely populated areas have made water distribution difficult in cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and more.
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Improve the Customer Experience
If you run a business with daily customer patronage, you know how essential it is to ensure the consumer has the best experience possible while at your store. When customers walk into the building, the first impression they get is paramount in telling them how their shopping experience will unfold.
Water audits indirectly affect the customer experience, but it does have an impact. When you conduct a water audit, you’ll have full knowledge of your water systems and how they’re functioning. You’ll have fewer maintenance issues, meaning your store can stay up and running without closing for needed repairs.
You want your customers to be able to walk in and trust that all the systems are working efficiently. They want you to take care of them with all the water sources, from the water fountains to the bathroom sinks.
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Saving Money
Running a business has many expenses, and the water bill can take a financial toll depending on the type of facility you run. Your business may use water for manufacturing, cooking, or sanitation purposes. Regardless, your shop can use a water audit because it will help you save money.
As mentioned above, waste is one of the most significant issues regarding water systems. Even one leaky faucet with 10 drops in 30 seconds can waste over 500 gallons of water annually. A water audit will identify areas where your water systems can improve to prevent such waste.
For your business, you can prevent waste and save money by implementing water conservation techniques and swapping out current appliances for newer, more efficient ones. For example, a water audit can find all possible leaks in your systems. Leaks spilling water can add up in a hurry. Also, you could swap out current bathroom fixtures like urinals, toilets, and sinks with more efficient ones that use less water.
Saving Money and the Environment
If you’re a business owner, your daily priority list may include many tasks before you think about the water systems. However, a water audit is worth thinking about because of the benefits you’ll reap from it.
You’ll save your hard-earned money by making more efficient water processes in the building. You can detect problems before they get more serious, saving you money again. And you’ll be doing the environment a huge favor by doing your part to conserve water.
Has your company conducted a water audit?
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