Every Drop Counts Business Program

The Every Drop Counts (EDC) Business Program has been running since 2001 and targets high water users in the manufacturing, commercial, hospitality, education and government sectors.

Through this program, individual organisations are assisted and encouraged to manage their water as part of normal operational activities. The program helps businesses to get the most out of the water they buy and achieve demand reductions that can be sustained over the long term.

The aim is to integrate water management with existing operational and environmental management systems. By January 2008, over 380 organisations operating at around 2000 sites, were EDC partners. Water savings attributable to the program are estimated to be over 36 billion litres a year.

The program is also rolling out many innovative projects, and is beginning to work with small to medium water users.

The process involves customers initially signing a Memorandum of Understanding and completing a management diagnostic. This reviews the governance and procedures surrounding the management of water in business, and is sector specific. The result is a star rating, from one to five stars, signifying the level of management attained. Ultimately this leads to a better understanding of water management as well as a saving of water and money. Further opportunities arising from technical efficiency and reuse and recycling of water are identified, assessed and implemented.

Businesses are also able to incorporate work they have done in this program into their Water Savings Action Plans and they may also be eligible for financial support through the Climate Change Fund.

To find out more visit the EDC Business Program website or contact the EDC Business Team today by phone: 1800 661 161; by email: EDCBusiness@sydneywater.com.au; or by fax: 02 8849 5942.

To highlight examples of the water saving initiatives in the commercial and industrial sectors, the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) have released thrity four case studies. You can download the WSAA report: Occasional Paper No. 23 Meeting Australia's water challenges: Case studies in commercial and industrial water savings.