Cost-Effective Water Conservation

Through attention to waste, the Eastman Kodak Color Print and Processing Laboratory in Palo Alto, California, has waged a successful campaign to reduce water consumption since 1968. In the period from 1968 through 1976, water usage was reduced by 70% and over a quarter of a million dollars was saved in water costs. The key elements of the campaign were simple: identify waste, use existing technology, and economically justify the solution. When northern California's drought extended into its second year in 1977, the laboratory's efforts were stepped up to satisfy a mandatory 28% rationing plan. Part of this step-up was an educational/motivational plan for employees, designed to show them where the water comes from, where it is used, how important it is, and what the company is doing about the shortage. Again the stress was on waste, existing technology, and economic solutions, and again the campaign worked; water usage in 1977 was cut by almost 50% compared with 1976, and cost cuts were commensurate. These reductions were effected without resorting to “big technology.”

Print ISSN

0036-1682

Published

1979-09

Content type

Information

DOI

10.5594/J16642