

Landscape water use can also be reduced 10 to 20 percent by having an irrigation water audit. Planting native and drought-tolerant plant species minimizes the need for supplemental irrigation. Use Water-Smart Landscaping and Irrigation This cut water use 80 percent, saving the laboratory 24.8 million gallons of water and $235,000 annually.ĥ.

The ratio of evaporation to blowdown is called the cycle of concentration. Cooling tower operations can be optimized by carefully controlling the ratio of water discharged (blowdown) to water evaporated. Optimize Cooling TowersĬooling towers provide air conditioning for laboratories and are large consumers of water. This also assures the equipment is run correctly and maintained properly to help prevent water waste from leaks or malfunctioning mechanical equipment.Ī cooling tower at EPA’s Environmental Science Center in Fort Meade, Maryland 2. Metering and measuring facility water use help to analyze saving opportunities. Control Reverse Osmosis System Operation.Reduce Steam Sterilizer Tempering Water Use.Use Water-Smart Landscaping and Irrigation.Top 10 Water Management Techniquesįollowing are the top 10 water best management practices that EPA has implemented to reduce water use at facilities throughout the Agency. Learn more about EPA’s water management plans. EPA currently has 27 signed water management plans that outline the best management practice for 30 different facilities. Water management plans help individual facilities set long- and short-term water conservation goals.

Through a combination of strategic planning, project execution and conservation efforts, EPA has been able to reduce water intensity over the past several years.
