Saving Water Makes Good Business Sense

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.