As the saying goes,
everything is bigger in Texas. This also applies to its statewide water shortage
crisis, which recently made national news when the West Texas town of Barnhart
ran out of water due to fracking. Even more frightening was the prediction that
30 more Texas cities could be without water by the end of the year for the same
reason, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. What?!
However, the problem is not
isolated to West Texas and a result of the oil and gas industry. The bigger issue
is due to the historic drought that has plagued the state since 2010 and a
rapidly growing population. If the state's water resources are not managed,
experts predict faucets everywhere could run dry by 2060.
Fortunately, state leaders sat
up and took notice during the 53rd legislative session with the passing of
House Bill 4, which authorizes $2 billion to be transferred from the state's
Rainy Day Fund (how ironic!) and used to create the State Water Implementation
Fund for Texas. If approved by voters in the November 5 election, the fund will
provide low-interest loans for local and regional water projects such as
reservoirs and pipelines.
Although the biggest consumption
of the state's water resources are agriculture irrigation and municipality
purposes, commercial and industrial facilities are another significant user. Thanks
to the Property
Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Act, which was signed into law by Governor
Perry June 14, commercial and industrial owners can now access tax exempt, low
interest financing for water conservation and energy-efficiency improvements.
As long as the savings generated every year cover the financing payment, these
projects become neutral cash flow propositions.
Conserving water can help increase
profits, reduce costs, improve efficiency, and garner tax benefits. Below are
tips that every business can implement now to save water:
Water
Saving Checklist for Businesses:
Maintenance
- Sweep instead of using a hose
- Use a high-pressure nozzle when a hose is necessary
- Clean windows only when needed
Building Operations
- Check for and repair leaks
- Meter all major uses separately
- Read water meters regularly to track potential leaks
- Shut off water to unused areas
- Use automatic shut-off valves for equipment that is not in operation
- Install self-closing, air-cooled water fountains
- Use gray water for irrigating landscape
Restrooms
- Check for and repair leaks
- Install low-flow showerheads and faucets
- Install metered or sensor faucets
- Install high-efficiency toilets and waterless urinals
- Consider foam flush or waterless toilets
Cooling Systems and Towers
- Install a recirculating system
- Reuse blowdown for irrigation
- Reuse treated water for makeup water
- Use air cooling where possible
- Consider evaporative cooling
- Consider hybrid cooling towers
- Consider side-stream filtration or pulse power treatment
Boilers and Heaters
- Check and replace steam traps regularly
- Reuse condensate and blowdown
Landscape
- Check for and repair irrigation system leaks
- Use drought-tolerant native plants and turf
- Adjust sprinklers to irrigate landscape only
- Water deeply but infrequently
- Water during early morning or evening hours
- Install timers and moisture sensors
- Use drip irrigation
- Use fertilizer sparingly
- Install shut-off nozzles on hoses
Source:
Texas Water Development Board
For more information about
ways to save water and energy, or PACE financing for
commercial and industrial users, contact us at 972-325-1919.
