Water efficiency in large buildings plays a significant role in defining a building's "Green" credentials and offers the opportunity to harness the best available technology today. Smart technologies and strategies are instrumental in reducing water consumption in large buildings, resulting in substantial cost savings within the operational budget.

During construction of a build, certain water saving techniques can be implemented, as outlined here, but the pivotal factors influencing the budgeted water expenses are as follows:

1. Reducing Indoor Potable Water Usage: Employing measures to curtail the use of potable water indoors.
2. Decreasing Overall Non-Potable Water Consumption: Strategies aimed at reducing the consumption of non-potable water sources.

Several fundamental water efficiency measures are employed to diminish overall water consumption:

• Installation of Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures: By replacing fixtures with those that use just 1.3 gallons per flush as opposed to 7 gallons per flush, one can achieve water expense savings exceeding 80%.
• Recycling and Reusing Greywater: Reusing gently used water from sinks that hasn't come into contact with toilet water, primarily for outdoor irrigation.
• Pressure-Reducing Valves: These valves ensure consistent water pressure at fixtures throughout the entire building, from top to bottom.
• Rainwater Harvesting: This involves collecting rainfall runoff from rooftops, directing it through gutters and downspouts into storage vessels such as rain barrels or large cisterns. This harvested rainwater can then be used for outdoor irrigation or indoor non-potable purposes.

While implementing water-saving technologies can lead to water conservation and reduced operating expenses, it's crucial to acknowledge that leaks in large buildings can sometimes remain concealed and go unnoticed for extended periods, spanning weeks, months, or even years. What you can't see, you can't manage, and concealed leaks can result in significant consequences. They can trigger a substantial increase in the monthly water bill and culminate in costly repairs to structural damage.

Monitoring a large building's water usage is paramount. Whether it's a concealed pipe break within a wall, an undetected leaking toilet, or an unseen malfunction in the drip irrigation system, these issues not only lead to water wastage but also unforeseen financial implications, impacting the company's operational budget.

However, with the latest cutting-edge technology available today, hidden leaks and malfunctions in a large building's water usage can be automatically monitored in real-time. This includes daily alert monitoring and escalation procedures, along with assistance in pinpointing the exact location of leaks.

Being mindful of water efficiency in managing large buildings and harnessing smart technologies that reduce water usage is not only financially prudent but also essential for safeguarding and conserving Earth's finite, life-sustaining resource for the benefit of future generations.

For more information on what we mean by "Water Efficiency" you can check out our other blog post here.