5 Reasons for Smart Water Management
There’s no disputing the fact that water is essential to our lives. So, it stands to reason that water management is essential to our facilities as well. Is it time to prioritize smart water management in your facility? To answer that question, consider the following five arguments for taking a closer look at your water management practices and giving your facility’s water infrastructure the attention it deserves.
Thinking strategically about water management
Facility managers have seemingly endless responsibilities. They must find ways to save money, improve productivity, and protect the bottom line. Although water management can be a driver for cost savings and environmental sustainability, it can easily get lost in the mix of day-to-day responsibilities.
Here’s how Chris Hodges, a Certified Facility Manager and Fellow of the International Facility Management Association, put it:
“For some time now, we have been asked to reduce consumption of energy and water, reduce consumables and waste, and make our buildings healthier and more comfortable. The primary driver of these initiatives to improve performance has been economic — improvement is often beneficial to the bottom line. Because of the emphasis on economic improvement, a number of conservation issues have been lagging. Water often falls into that category.”
Water is an essential resource, yet it tends to be undervalued in an economic sense. With headlines about the climate crisis and water scarcity flooding the news, now is the time for facility managers to start thinking about water more strategically.
5 reasons to prioritize smart water management
Understanding the value of water management starts with taking a global view of the water crisis. Facility managers should consider the following five reasons to prioritize smart water management.
Clean, accessible drinking water is limited. Globally, only 3% of the world’s water is fresh and drinkable. Of that, less than 1% is accessible — meaning it’s not frozen in glaciers or too remote to use. Water is a limited resource. Proper water management can help this critical resource go further and serve us better.
Water management addresses serious global challenges. Water scarcity affects more than 40% of the world’s population. According to a report released by UNICEF, “1.42 billion people — including 450 million children — live in areas of high or extremely high water vulnerability.” Additionally, approximately 1.2 billion people live in severely water-constrained areas. Responsible water management can turn the tide on water scarcity.
Poorly managed water can be fatal. Water management is critical for life safety in our facilities. People must be able to trust that the water they’re using is free from bacteria, disease, or other chemical toxins. For example, in just the past year, nearly 30 outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease led to 15 deaths. These outbreaks are preventable with proper water management.
Proper water management saves money. With the right water management approach, facility managers can reduce operational costs, decrease capital expenditures, and improve their bottom line.
Properly managed water systems benefit everyone. Water conservation not only helps reduce costs, it ensures water is clean and safe for everyone.
How can you improve water management? Better technology.
Technology has not only boosted our ability to manage water, but it’s also made water management easier. With smart sensors, cloud-based data, and AI-driven analytics, facility managers can supercharge their water management plan. Connected technologies can track leaks, equipment risks, water quality and more — and deliver all that data in a simplified, mobile dashboard.
By increasing awareness of water infrastructure-related risks, facility managers can prevent damage or loss. Predictive analytics also can help reduce equipment malfunctions and downtime.
If you’re ready to boost your water management strategy, it’s time to look for a system that can give you comprehensive and transparent insights in your building’s water system, 24/7. Learn more and supercharge your water management today at aquanomix.com.