Businesses and institutions can reduce their water use and lower their utility costs by replacing inefficient equipment and changing operations. Saving water is good for your bottom line and for the environment.

• Get Cash Incentives to Cut Water Use



• Other Water-Saving Steps



• Resources

The Water Smart Technology Program (WSTP) provides financial incentives and technical assistance to help commercial, industrial, and institutional customers upgrade operations and equipment-such as toilets, single-pass cooling systems, laundry systems, medical equipment, industrial processes and many other systems.

See available rebates for customers of water providers in the Saving Water Partnership.

The WSTP will pay up to 50% of the project cost for any cost-effective upgrade to water-efficient technology and equipment. Most completed projects have financial paybacks of two years or less and often produce companion energy savings.

In addition to equipment upgrades, these steps can help reduce water use with little or no up-front costs and minimal impacts on performance and customer satisfaction.

• Check for leaks and emphasize leak reporting and repair.
• Consider alternatives to discretionary uses of water that are not related to health and safety. For example, use a broom instead of a hose to routinely clean sidewalks and driveways.
• Turn off water-using equipment when not in use, including dishwashers, garbage disposals, and food troughs.
• Work with all employees to develop methods and procedures that will reduce water use. Evaluate how employees are using water and determine, with their help, more efficient alternatives.
• Incorporate efficient use of water in kitchens for food preparation, food thawing and clean-up procedures.
• Eliminate daytime landscape watering. Water at night and consider weather-based or moisture-sensing controls. (See our Irrigation System Recommendations for more ideas.)
• Reduce fleet washing as much as possible, or use water reclaim systems. Eliminate car lot washing and hosing.
• Empower your customers to participate in water-saving practices. Let restaurant customers request drinking water and allow hotel customers to request clean towels and linens.

Visit the Resource Venture or call (206) 343-8505 for tested business solutions to conserve water. The Resource Venture is a service sponsored by Seattle Public Utilities and the Saving Water Partnership. All commercial, industrial and institutional customers of water providers in the Saving Water Partnership are eligible for assistance and rebates.

Read about the Water Smart Technology Program, which offers cash incentives for replacing water-wasting equipment or technologies with efficient ones.

Download the Water Cost Calculator (xls) to estimate how much money you can save on utility bills by switching to more efficient equipment, technology and procedures.

Read case studies of how property owners saved by retrofitting their fixtures with new efficient ones.