Water Conservation in Healthcare Facilities
Hospitals and other healthcare facilities rely on water for critical hygiene protocols, heating and cooling, laundry systems, medical equipment, and more. And the cost of water is only rising. In the past decade, water and wastewater costs have increased at a much higher rate than the regular consumer price index. Now, with increasing concerns about inflation, reducing costs is more urgent than ever.
Healthcare facilities need sound water conservation strategies to reduce consumption without negatively affecting essential procedures and patient safety. What can healthcare facility managers do to manage water more efficiently?
Identify how your facility uses water
First, it’s essential to know precisely where and how your facility is using — and wasting — water. A full system review, including leak detection and efficiency audits, will help you identify opportunities to conserve water and save money.
Why is it important to identify water waste? Studies estimate that by 2030, the world will only have 60% of the water it needs. Since hospitals are responsible for approximately 7% of all water used in U.S. commercial and institutional facilities, healthcare facilities can have a massive impact on water conservation efforts.
To help facilities identify conservation opportunities, the EPA published an estimate breaking down the end uses of water in hospitals:
Kitchen/dishwashing: 7%.
Landscaping: 7%.
Cooling and heating: 20%.
Domestic/restroom: 35%.
Medical equipment: 15%.
Laundry: 9%.
Other: 7%.
Studies show facility managers can decrease total operating costs by around 11% — and water use by 15% — with the implementation of efficient water management practices. Additionally, local utilities often offer rebates for facilities engaged in water conservation initiatives.
The key to evaluating how your facility uses water is leveraging technology that can deliver accurate, real-time water system data.
Set goals for reducing consumption
Once you have a clear idea of how your facility uses water, it’s time to get down to business. Set short- and long-term goals for your facility to begin reducing water waste and consumption.
Develop a systemwide conservation plan, and communicate it clearly to all stakeholders.
When your facility begins to implement reduction practices, consider these areas facility managers typically target for water efficiency:
Explore using reclaimed water and rainwater for landscaping and irrigation.
Upgrade your stormwater management infrastructure.
Develop regular maintenance plans for pipes and boiler systems.
Upgrade or retrofit the equipment that uses the most water, including that used for dishwashing, sterilization, and laundry.
Educate staff and patients about water conscious behaviors to reduce consumption.
Regularly track and report the effects of your water management strategies, and assess them against your goals. Eventually, water conservation will become part of your facility’s culture.
Incorporate smart solutions
The key to smart water management is, of course, smart technology. Instead of monitoring water consumption manually, integrated sensor technology provides real-time data for insight into your facility’s entire water system. By leveraging the best water management technology, managers can cut costs while simultaneously reducing consumption and improving water quality.
The right technology solution will help you:
Mitigate frontline risk.
Maximize costs savings and energy efficiency.
Receive and act on real-time water data.
Extend equipment longevity.
Reduce dangerous exposure to waterborne bacteria.
Prevent unpredictable expenses through proactive alerts.
Innovative water management technology connects your whole facility and does the tracking for you. You can see where water waste is happening, jump on leaks before they cause damage or serious loss, and control your whole system from a centralized dashboard. This saves facility managers time, stress, and money.
Smart water management for healthcare facilities
Healthcare facilities have a huge role to play in reducing water consumption, and conservation isn’t only good for the global water supply, it’s also good for your bottom line. By reducing water use and building efficiency into your water management system, facilities can save money and reduce risk.
Aquanomix’s state-of-the-art smart water management system, including the Symphony™ Software Suite, tracks water systems and delivers insights in a simple, streamlined dashboard. You don’t have to worry about what’s happening in your facility’s water system — you already know.
Track, measure, and reduce your water consumption simply and effectively with smart water management technology. Learn more at aquanomix.com.