Non-revenue water can lead to huge losses. This is the water produced, lost on the way, and doesn’t reach the final consumer. This means that lost water is paid for. As a business, water leaks can cost you a lot of money. That’s why you need a water audit in your company. Among other things, an audit will identify areas you are losing water. It will help you evaluate the performance and prices of different business water suppliers. Here are key steps for reducing water loss in your water distribution system.
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Water Action
Design a practical water action plan for your company. Use the action plan to implement or institute changes that will help you save water. Getting proactive on water, taking appropriate action, and making progress will help your company move in the right direction. Here are 3 steps to follow:
Visibility
Visibility will help you understand your business’s water usage. Carry out a visibility study. Understand how much water you are using. Determine where you are using more water. Establish when you are using water the most. Record this data.
Efficiency
The next step involves taking action. This is where you should solve problems. Try to achieve efficiency. This step involves saving costs. Try setting targets. How do you plan to achieve your results? Do you have a plan to hit them?
Resilience
Come up with your business’s unique management strategy.
Finding Plumbing Leaks
Detecting leaks in your water system will make your home or business water efficient. Here are top tips and tricks for identifying water leaks:
Monitor Water Bills
Start by monitoring your bills. Check the bills from previous months. Compare it with your current bill. If there is any difference(increase), then there is a leakage somewhere. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, your household should use at most 12,00 gallons of water per month. The only exception is during the summer when the temperatures are high and you need to water your plants frequently.
Remember, small leaks can waste hundreds to thousands of gallons of water per month. Check the faucet. Ensure that the sinks are properly installed.
Monitor Water Meter
You should also take a proactive role when it comes to monitoring your water meter. Start by turning off all water faucets. Ensure that all appliances aren’t running. Observe the water meter. Does it move? If it does, then there must be a leakage.
Greener Grass Patches
Observe your lawn. If some parts appear greener than others, then there is leakage around that area. Puddles can indicate profuse leakage. Call a plumber to fix the issue to avoid more water loss or wastage.
Investigate Appliances
If a water test shows that there is a leak, consider checking the kitchen cabinet, laundry area, bathroom sinks, etc. Establish if these areas are dry. Check to see if there are puddles around the tubs, toilets, and showers. Also, consider checking the spaces beneath your water heater and cloth washer. Don’t forget about the dishwasher.
If there are any puddles around these appliances, consider turning off the water supply. Call a professional plumber as soon as possible. Waiting for too long will waste water and cause issues like mold.
Toilet Dry Test
Are there any puddles around your appliances? The presence of puddles should not be taken lightly. Thus, consider checking the toilets. Establish whether they require any repair. Pay close attention to interior leaking. Check your toilet’s flapper. With time, the flapper can become very brittle, permitting water to trickle into the toilet’s bowl. Use a few drops of colored water and drop them into the tank. If there is leakage, the bowl will display color.
If you notice any color in the bowl, consider calling a professional plumber for a quick and effective repair. Also, you can replace the flapper with a new one.
Leaking Clues
Some leaks are hard to notice. For instance, water trickling down slowly around the surfaces of your pipe fitting can be hard to notice. Noticing these issues can be difficult. Plus, if not addressed quickly, these leaks can lead to more damage.
Even if your water meter rules out any leakage, you should keep a keen eye on the fittings. Leaks can happen in the future. Thus, pay attention to:
Wall discoloration—Wall discoloration is an indication that water is leaking from walls. If the walls soak from behind, they will show stains. Also, monitor the ceiling. If there are stains on your ceiling, then there is a leakage somewhere. In most cases, the stains will be brown or yellow.
Bubbling paint—Bubbling paint means that your wallboard is wet. It shows that the paint is not properly adhering to the wall. It means that the adhering is not tight. In some cases, the wallboard may budge. Budging indicates that the water damage is severe. In this case, you should replace the wallboard as soon as possible.
A dripping sound—Most leaks are silent. However, certain leaks will produce a dripping sound. You will hear the sound of water traveling through the wall. Identify the leak location. Call a plumber to fix this issue before it escalated to more problems.
A smell—If the walls are smelling, investigate. A musty smell from the wall may indicate water leakage. With time, the leak will create a perfect environment for mold. Check for black spots on the walls. Check for molds, especially on the inner part of the wall. A musty smell is a red flag. It indicates that you leak.
Key Takeaway
Water leaks can waste a lot of water. Wasting water will increase your utility bills. That’s why you should address leaks. There are several areas you should inspect to see if there are leaks. Common ones include the water system, toilet, faucets, etc. Thus, don’t ignore water leaks. Address them quickly and effectively.
The Bottom-Line
Don’t let water loss increase your business’s utility bills. Remember, the higher the utility bills, the lower the revenues. Huge overhead costs can cripple your company, making it unsustainable. To curb huge utility bills, address the issue of water leaks. Beat water leaks in your distribution system with the above tips and tricks.
