10 Ways Businesses Can Conserve Water

Many apocalyptic predictions say an oil shortage may do us all in, but a worldwide shortage of water---especially clean water-is not only more alarming, but more likely to be on the horizon. Here are some ways to conserve this resource:

• Practice company-wide water conservation by installing low-flow toilets, motion sensor faucets, and low-flow dishwashers; fix leaking faucets and irrigation systems, and install greywater systems. Water bills will go down and your bottom line will improve.
• Use best management practices when handling, storing and disposing of any hazardous materials, chemicals or cleaners. Never dump anything down 
• storm drains.
• Locate where your floor drains empty, and if they do not flow to a tight tank or municipal sewer, never dump hazardous materials into them.
• Do not dispose of any hazardous materials such as cleaners, paints, or oil to a septic system. Septic systems drain to the soil without treatment.
• Study where rain runs off from your roof and parking lot to learn where you could install a rain garden, gravel wetland, filtration swale or other method of storm water treatment on site.
• Convert some of your paved areas to pervious pavement, grass or tree islands, or brick pavers.
• Use slow release nitrogen fertilizer and organic pesticides on your landscaped areas and control overwatering by installing a drip irrigation system on a timer.
• Never apply fertilizers or pesticides before a big rainstorm.
• In the winter, use sand more than salt and regularly sweep and vacuum surfaces.

Source: Piscataqua Regions Estuaries Partnership, www.prep.unh.edu.