Awareness to Action: Investing in sustainable water infrastructure for a sustainable facility.

Water, a precious resource we often take for granted, its scarcity is causing a significant challenge in various sectors. Essential for life, yet 1.1 billion people worldwide lack clean water, and 2.6 billion live without basic sanitation (Source, World Water Council), thus dramatically impacting health, education, and economic development.

Today, as the world observes World Water Day, this year, the theme "accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis" highlights the essential role of water in our lives and the need to protect and manage this precious resource, especially in the face of erratic monsoons, climate change, and the increasing demand for water resources.

The world's population and water demand are growing, making it crucial for facilities to take action to conserve water and reduce its environmental impact. As a facility workforce, we are pivotal in ensuring this natural resource's optimal use while minimizing waste. Facility management plays a critical role, and facility managers must take steps toward implementing sustainable water management practices in their facilities.?This article discusses strategies we can adopt as a facility workforce to conserve water in the facilities and campuses to promote sustainable water management practices.

Understanding the water consumption and spotting the unusual usage pattern.?

Water conservation has become increasingly crucial in facility management due to concerns over water scarcity and the impact of excessive water usage on the environment. Extensive facilities have a high demand for water due to increasing amenities. Identify the areas or equipment that consume the most water. For instance, restrooms are the primary source of water consumption in commercial buildings, followed by kitchens and cooling towers. Maintaining green spaces often involves watering plants and lawns, which can consume significant water.?

Mobilizing Communities for Change: Creating an Effective Plan for Water Conservation.

Investigate all aspects of building operations that involve water and identify potential water sources. Developing a water conservation plan is crucial for implementing effective facility water conservation strategies. The plan should include a baseline assessment of water usage, identification of water-saving opportunities, and implementation of water-saving measures. The program should have a monitoring and reporting mechanism to track progress and identify areas for improvement.?

Conserve, Reuse, and Reduce: Measure and track water consumption.?

The world is becoming increasingly conscious of finite resources, and measuring water usage and tracking progress cannot be overstated. Proactive steps to measure water usage and track progress identify excess consumption or wastage areas to redirect the source to implement water-saving strategies.?

In conclusion

We must adopt and practice reducing water usage and conserving our natural resources while lowering operating costs. Effective water conservation in facility management requires a collaborative effort involving all stakeholders, including building occupants, maintenance staff, and external contractors. Awareness, accountability, traceability, and education encourage adopting water-saving habits, such as turning off faucets when not in use and reporting leaks. With the growing concern over water scarcity and climate change, adopting sustainable technologies for water is essential. Fortunately, with the rapid technological advancements, various technologies, from intelligent irrigation systems to greywater recycling, are available.

To learn more about Denali Assets, Sustainability, Integrated Facility Management, and Consulting Solutions, please write to us at [email protected] or visit us at www.denaliassets.co.in?