Water tips for the home also apply at work, says Environment Lethbridge Executive Director Kathleen Sheppard. “Try identifying three or four shared priorities for your workplace and have everyone commit to them.”
According to the City of Lethbridge, leading by example is key. “It doesn’t matter whether you are a small startup or a huge organization. Showing commitment to water conservation can encourage employees to follow suit. Consider undergoing a water conservation audit to capture current usage. Use the results to identify easy conservation options. Do another audit six months later to gauge the success of your efforts.”
Company bathrooms provide a lot of conservation opportunities. Water-saving technologies, including sensor-based faucets and low-flow toilets, are a great way to reduce water usage. Be sure to also monitor for leaking faucets and toilets.
Use visual reminders to educate your teams about water conservation. Consider signage to help get the message across. Stickers in bathrooms or kitchens to turn off the tap can help conserve water.
Provide training opportunities for team members. Arm your team with the knowledge they need to create an office ‘green team.’ They can be great allies to track water usage at your workplace and suggest improvements.
“Who doesn’t love a fun workplace challenge? Create fun, team-building competitions related to water conservation. Which team can reduce its water usage the most within a certain time frame? Who can develop the best water reduction initiative for the office? Be sure to celebrate successes. Company-branded reusable water bottles are a great prize for the winning team,” says the City.
Look for opportunities to take water education outside the office. Organize a river valley cleanup, tour a local water facility or schedule a workshop with local experts.
Water coolers aren’t only a good place to catch up on bingeworthy Netflix shows, they’re also a great way to prevent excessive running of the tap. Companies can install water dispensers capable of filling large containers or jugs.
Manage outdoor water usage. Like at home, there are several ways a workplace can reduce the amount of water it uses outside. Replace lawns with ornamental grass or other options requiring less water. Ensure your sprinklers are watering lawns and gardens, not pavement. Collect rainwater to reuse for all outdoor watering needs.