The recent water main break at UCLA in Los Angeles this July, resulting in the loss of more than 20 million gallons of badly needed water, stresses the importance of water conservation efforts, not only for residents but business as well.
During California’s worst-ever water crisis, it may seem like businesses aren’t doing their part to conserve or that only residents are facing the brunt. However, businesses across Los Angeles are not only conserving water are also leading in the efforts, especially when it comes to helping other businesses. Many businesses are looking to save water any way they can, even in the bathroom.
Every year, one high-efficiency or waterless urinal by Sloan Valve Company, featuring technology from L.A.-based Falcon Waterfree Technologies, can save up to an average of 40,000 gallons of water — enough to fill six tanker trucks — while using zero operational energy.
Installing water-efficient fixtures or water-free urinals makes sense from an environmental standpoint, but is also a low-hanging fruit from a business perspective, as companies can save money in addition to water.
For instance, by upgrading to water-free urinals alone, the Staples Center is saving approximately $2,350 per month in water bills and just over 7 million gallons of water each year, which is enough to fill 350 swimming pools. In the past 15 years, businesses across Los Angeles have installed water-free urinals resulting in more than 20 billion gallons of water savings, an amount equivalent to the lifetime water supply for about 800,000 people.
In order to help businesses to continue to do their part, Falcon and Sloane are teaming up to champion a minimal-to-no-cost program for renovating commercial bathrooms to be either water-free or water-efficient. We are working hand-in-hand with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on a rebate program for businesses across the city that want to make their bathrooms, one of the biggest water-wasters, into a water saver.
As part of the rebate program, local businesses and schools that install water-free or high-efficiency fixtures can receive up to $500 for purchasing and installation, with no limit on the amount installed.
We hope more businesses will take this small but impactful step in making their bathrooms more water-efficient.
Simon Davis is president and CEO of Falcon Waterfree Technologies, based in Grosse Point, Mich.
Water-Free Makes Economic, Environmental Sense
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By Simon Davis