One huge thing that a small business needs to do is focus on sustainability. In fact, you’re basically risking your business if you don’t do something like this. Now, that’s already a given; that’s an expectation. In fact, more countries are expecting this, and they’re expecting businesses of all scales and industries to be 100% transparent about their sustainability. Besides, customers only want to support businesses that are fully dedicated to their sustainability and those that are actively trying to change the world for the better. But there’s something to keep in mind: there’s a difference between selling sustainability and enacting sustainability. 

For example, if you’re a retailer and you sell sustainable items, that doesn't inherently make your business sustainable, especially if, behind the scenes, you’re being wasteful, such as not recycling, using too much power, using single-use plastics (even during lunch breaks), and so on. So, it’s incredible to live and function by this. 

But with that said, both individuals and businesses seem to still forget about water. You can waste water; it’s probably one of the biggest wastes that happens daily. Water is the biggest asset to life, and it’s most likely the biggest one for your business. Every business needs high-quality water, such as what American Water provides. Plus, you need to keep in mind the use of water,  both for personal use within your business and, of course, probably professional use, too. 

You, your team, and your business absolutely need to fight back against the waste of water. But where can you even start? Well, here’s what you need to know.

What you’re really going to want to do is to just go ahead and start by assessing your business's water usage and identifying areas where water is being wasted. You’re going to want to try to track water consumption, detect leaks, and pinpoint inefficiencies in your plumbing fixtures, appliances, and irrigation systems. 

Water meters, flow sensors, and data logging devices are usually helpful since they can monitor water usage in real-time and identify opportunities for improvement. Sometimes, the water company you’re using can even help you without, as many of them will offer an audit for a small fee (sometimes even for free). Contact American Water today to see how they can help you with your water usage audit.

Even if you don’t use water in your operations, you’ll still have to look into this. Leaky faucets, toilets, pipes, and even irrigation systems can waste thousands of gallons of water each year if left unrepaired. Even if your business has a kitchen and that faucet just keeps dripping, you’re wasting water and money. 

So be sure to inspect plumbing fixtures regularly and repair or replace them to prevent leaks. It might even help to go the extra mile and invest in leak detection technology. But overall, just take this seriously because while that little drip might not seem like such a big deal, it is a big deal.

Even though water might seem infinite, it’s honestly not. The number one way to cut back on wasting water is to incorporate it into the company culture so as not to waste it. So you’ll have to implement some water-saving practices. Ideally, it’s best to just go ahead and establish guidelines for reducing water usage in daily activities such as handwashing, dishwashing, and cleaning. 

Of course, you'll need to train staff, too, but try to go even further, such as encouraging workers to report leaks, drips, or water waste. It’s about pushing the idea that wasting water isn’t normal.