Everyone’s aware of how precious our water resources are, particularly in this time of drought.
So when the Queensland Government brought in additional water restrictions, the Corporate Express site at Richlands sprang into immediate action...even though they weren’t required to comply with the new rules.
“Much of Queensland is experiencing drought conditions, and in many areas Level 5 water restrictions have just been introduced. We wanted to do our bit to protect the environment, even though the new rules don’t apply to us.
“So we invited the landlord in to assess the Richlands property,” says Facilities Manager, Kylie Simmons.
“He arranged for a plumber to inspect our taps and shower heads, and analyse our water usage. The plumber then fitted the sinks in our kitchens and toilets with lo-flow taps, changed the toilets to half-flush, and installed lo-flow shower heads in the showers.
“And to ensure that we use as little water as possible, the cleaners have been asked to run the dishwashers only when they’re full, and wash by hand if they’re not,” adds Kylie.
“To make the best of any rain we do get, we’re about to install a rainwater tank,“ says Operations Manager, Adrian Killorn. “The tank will hold 150,000 litres of water, which will ease pressure on the mains supply.
“Everyone at Richlands has lent their support to this initiative. Even when we were allowed to use hoses, the gardener was watering with buckets, and replacing any plants that died off with more drought-resistant species,” he says.
“The Government is targeting bigger-end water users in southeast Queensland, but even though we don’t fall into this category, we saw it as an opportunity to do our bit,” adds Kylie.
“Employees here are already conscious of using water sparingly, and it's been brought up in many of our focus groups, and promoted through the Queensland newsletter.
“We like to think we’re setting the standards for environmental responsibility within Corporate Express – so far, we've reduced water consumption by nine per cent, and there’s more to come!” she says.
What can you do?
• Report all leaks and dripping taps: A slowly leaking tap can waste 20,000L a year. Fix it now!
• Turn all taps off fully and replace washers as soon as they begin to leak
• AAA-rated low flow taps or flow controlled aerators are inexpensive and can reduce water flow by 50%. They’re more efficient than ordinary taps and reduce splashing
• Install a water-efficient dishwasher and ensure that you use it appropriately. Look for dishwashers with a National Water Conservation (WELS) label. The best water rating dishwashers currently on the market are 4 star
• Only run the dishwasher when you have a full load
• Use the rinse-hold setting on the dishwasher, if it has one, rather than rinsing dishes under the tap
• Use the minimum amount of dishwashing detergent (when washing dishes by hand) as this will reduce the amount of rinsing required
• If you have an old shower head in your office shower, consider changing to a more modern, three star showerhead. They use no more than 9 litres of water per minute, while old style showerheads use 15 – 20 litres per minute. If you shower for six minutes, a water efficient showerhead can save up to 50 litres of water for each shower, or up to 20,000 litres of water per person per year
• Shorter showers save energy AND water
