Water Utilities

Maximize services offered by public water utilities
By Cathy Salustri Water utilities companies used to limit their services to providing clean drinking water, but today the scope of the water utilities department has grown to include wastewater treatment, reclaimed water delivery and even trash collection and recycling. You probably don't have a choice as to which water utility your business uses but you can maximize the benefits your business gets from any public utilities.
 

To get the most from your water utilities department, there are three things you need to do or decide upon.

1. Use programs offered by your water utilities department to help your business.

2. Pay attention to your water quality.

3. Look to your water utilities association to offer water-conserving devices.

Use conservation programs your water utility may offer

Many public water utilities offer conservation-minded incentives that give your business money back or shave money off your bill every month. In California, water utilities offer rebates if customers buy ultra-low flow toilets. Thames water utilities gives its customers access to water usage calculators and surveys so they can see how much water they use and determine the best way to conserve water.
Try: For basic water conservation tips that will save your business money, check out the city of Dallas' water utilities water conservation tips as well as those suggested by Palm Beach water utilities and the city of Arlington water utilities. Look at your local water utilities website to see if they have a rebate program like the one El Paso Water Utilities offers on washing machines for its commercial business customers, or the shallow well rebate Pinellas County Utilities offers its customers.

Monitor the quality of water your water utilities department delivers

Public water utilities are federally required not only to provide you safe drinking water, they must let you know what things they test for and how they treat your drinking water as well. Every year public water utilities release that information in the form of a consumer confidence report, or CCR. A CCR lists all the contaminants the water utility tests for and what they found.
Try: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists water quality for every United States water utility. The EPA makes these statistics available to anyone on the Where You Live section of its website. NSF International has an online guide to understanding a consumer confidence report.

Take advantage of water-conserving devices from your water utilities department

When you talk to your water utilities, equipment to help you conserve water may also be an option. Ask them about water conservation devices like low-flow faucets or automatic shutoff devices for hoses.
Try: Check out the California water utilities WaterSavingHero.com for ideas as to what types of water conservation devices your water utilities department may offer your business for free. Park&Co has an interactive guide to finding water conservation programs in your state, and it only lists water utilities departments that have active conservation programs and may offer your business water-saving devices.

• Sometimes it's the little things, like leaks, that can sink your water utility bill. Make sure someone in your company stays on top of maintenance and always call your water utility if you suspect a larger problem.