Helping Your Business Save Water — and Money
Rising water costs and ageing municipal infrastructure present challenges for businesses. Water efficiency upgrades can help your organization reduce its process and wastewater footprint to maximize environmental benefits and minimize costs incurred.
Find the Water Efficiency Programs Available in Your Municipality
Currently, PPG is supporting local municipalities in promoting water efficiency programs for businesses. These programs are offered to businesses by the municipalities, with incentives available to help lower the capital costs required to implement water efficient upgrades.
The Region of Peel offers an Industrial Indoor Water Assessments Program which includes a free on-site water audit for eligible businesses. Commercial and institutional businesses may benefit by replacing their inefficient equipment with water efficient units. Get More Information
York Region provides programs such as the Water
Efficiency Equipment Replacement program and free consultations for
high-water-use industrial, commercial, and institutional businesses. These
initiatives help identify water-saving strategies that can lead to significant
cost savings for your business. Discover more about York Region’s business incentive programs.
The City of Toronto offers a free water audit in their Capacity Buyback program. Eligible businesses and institutions can apply for a one-time cash rebate. A discounted water rate for industrial businesses is offered to help support economic growth and encourage water conservation. Additionally, a Sewer Surcharge Rebate Program is offered to commercial and industrial businesses. Get More Information
How do Water Audits Work?
Water efficiency programs typically begin with a Free Water Audit to assess current water uses and to identify opportunities for meaningful water and cost savings.
1. Businesses are required to submit an application to identify eligibility in the program.
2. If eligible, a regional representative will conduct a free facility water audit to determine current water usage and recommend retrofits to reduce your water bill.
3. Some regions, such as York and Toronto, offer incentives to support the cost of upgrades.
Contact the Region of Peel, York Region, or City of Toronto to inquire about a free water audit!
What Are The Benefits For My Organization?
- Support in connecting you with experts and technology providers who can help you solve your organization’s process water and wastewater challenges and realize efficiencies.
- Learn from other organizations in our network that have improved their processes by installing industry best practices and innovative water efficient technologies.
- Utilize existing municipal programs, supportive incentives, and potentially reduce process water and wastewater footprints and enhance utility savings.
- Reduce your process and wastewater footprint to maximize environmental benefits and minimize costs incurred, while helping preserve our freshwater reserves. Improve Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) performance of businesses.
- Support the water and wastewater infrastructure management goals of the Greater Toronto Area municipalities.
- Receive recognition within the Greater Toronto Area sustainability community through creative project case studies, industry speaking engagements, and features in trade publications.
From February 2017 to December 2018, Partners in Project Green established a Municipal Eco-Cluster working group focused on water efficiency, funded by Independent Electricity System Operator’s (IESO) Education and Capacity Building Program V4.0 funding mandate. Below is a Summary Report on this program.
Webinars
Slow the Flow and Speed Up Savings (Part 2)
This event featured an overview of the Region of Peel’s water efficiency programs, including their free industrial water audit program. This was followed by case studies presented by Enviro-Stewards Inc. and Super-Pufft Snacks Corp. on their experiences with water audits and the savings to businesses.
Slow the Flow and Speed Up Savings (Part 1)
This event featured a review of case studies presented by Longo’s and Arla Foods, who have implemented water efficiency upgrades and process changes to their facilities.
Water Efficiency in Ontario: Best Practices to Lower Your Operational and Capital Costs
On February 25, 2021, PPG hosted Indra Maharjan (Director of Innovation, Technology and Alternate Delivery at Ontario Clean Water Agency) and Chris Le Conte (President of SMART Watering Systems Inc. CIC, CLIA, WSIP) for Water Efficiency in Ontario: Best Practices to Lower Your Operational and Capital Costs. The webinar explored municipal water efficiency programs that help Ontario businesses lower their capital and operational costs.
Case Studies
Enviro-Stewards
PPG member Enviro-Stewards conducted a water audit and identified several water-saving initiatives that would save the facility 39,000 m3 of water per year.
Longo’s
After implementing solutions recommended by the municipal water audit, this four-store pilot resulted in 9,027m3 of water saved annually. This equates to a 33% average reduction in water usage across the four stores.
Arla Foods
Arla Foods received an incentive of $19,487 from York Region’s Capacity Buyback Incentive Program in 2017. The total water savings from the measures implemented was 122,395 m2/year, leading to a GHG savings of 212 tonnes of C02e/year. Learn how they did it!
Maple Lodge Farms & Enviro-Stewards
Maple Lodge Farms teamed up with Enviro-Stewards to save over $240,000/year through water efficiency solutions.
Questions?
Contact Chaya Chengappa at chaya.chengappa@trca.ca