Business Programs and Funding

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The Water Efficient Technology (W.E.T.) program provides commercial, industrial and institutional-sector companies with resources and funding to reduce water use.

Do you have questions about the WET Program? Get in touch with us at watercycle@regionofwaterloo.ca

Funding and programs to reduce water use

Book a free water-use review
Request a free water-use review. Our staff will conduct an on-site review of your water uses and help you create a plan that identifies actions to reduce water costs. The review also provides you with the opportunity to learn about the program, discuss your water requirements and learn about available funding.
Free upgrade to water efficient fixtures
Replace your inefficient showerheads and aerators with new water-efficient fixtures provided by the Region of Waterloo for no charge. Restaurants and food processors can also receive upgrades for pre-rinse spray valves.
Track water loss with sub-metering program

The sub-metering program let's you collect data on your water use that can help:

  • Find and fix costly water leaks
  • Identify and target water wasting areas
  • Design a plan using real data that saves water and money
Apply for funding for water-saving projects

Find out if your business qualifies for funding for your water saving projects:

  • 50% cost-share funding for facility water balance audits or consulting fees for water process analysis or water sub-metering installations in manufacturing plants, apartment buildings, condominiums, commercial strip malls and other commercial businesses up to a maximum of $10,000
  • Water reduction incentive funding is based on measured water savings and project's capital costs

How our funding is helping businesses

The Region of Waterloo funding and programs are helping businesses reduce water use and save money.

Examples include fixing leaks, encouraging water saving behaviours from employee, and upgrading and servicing inefficient equipment such as toilets, spray valves, faucets, water softeners, water-cooled compressors and washing systems. Restaurants can also save by upgrading and servicing ice machines, steamers, wok tables, dishwashers and hot water systems.

Case studies of how the Region of Waterloo is helping businesses save on water costs.

Sub-metering
Learn how sub-metering has helped businesses identify and target water loss.
Brewing - water reuse

Waterloo Brewing (then Brick Brewing Co.) made a plumbing change to use process water from the bottle washing system to cool down hot boiler blowdown water using a tank and pump.

Read more about water savings at Brick Brewing Co.
Automotive - water recovery system

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) designed and installed a Reverse Osmosis (RO) Recovery System. The RO System recovers 50 per cent of the company's rejected concentrate water.

Read more about water savings at TMMC.
Commercial - cooling tower replacement

The Marsland Centre replaced their water-intensive cooling towers with air-cooled liquid chillers and installed a closed-loop boiling system. Extensive bathroom improvements, featuring water efficient fixtures including faucets and toilets were also completed to take advantage of the latest water-saving technologies.

Read more about water savings at the Marsland Centre.
Recreational facility - stormwater collection

At City of Waterloo RIM Park, a stormwater collection system was installed to water the playing fields. A sump directs the captured water to the irrigation system with excess water going to a stormwater pond.

Read more about water savings at RIM Park.
Boiler manufacturer - sub-metering and fixture replacement

Babcock & Wilcox used sub-metering to understand its water use. The data showed the majority of water usage came from washrooms due to the large number of employees. A total of 40 flush-valve toilets will be replaced.

Read more about water savings at Babcock & Wilcox.
Car wash - water reuse

Suds Express installed a water recycling system to treat and reuse wash water. This system reduces the amount of new water required.

Read more about water savings at Suds Express. 
Flooring manufacturing - water reuse

Kraus Flooring installed a pump and tank system to reclaim water from the vacuum pump equipment used to dry carpets. The water is filtered and pumped back through the system. New, more efficient water softeners were also installed.

Read more about water savings at Kraus Flooring.
Recreational facility - stormwater collection

Chicopee Tube Park constructed a stormwater pond to replace the potable water for snow-making.

Read more about water savings at Chicopee Tube Park.
Property management - fixture replacement

Capreit switched out all toilets, tap aerators and showerheads.

Read more about water savings at Capreit.
Car wash - water recovery and recycling

Valet Car Wash Kitchener location installed a water recovery system and repaired leaks and equipment issues.

Read more about water savings at Valet Car Wash.
Educational institution - fixture replacement

Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) audited the energy and water use for all its properties. WLU then replaced all water fixtures in 22 buildings with water efficient models.

Read more about water savings at WLU.
Municipal government - cooling system, rainwater harvesting, fixture replacement

The City of Kitchener completed the following water saving projects:

  • Upgrading City Hall's cooling tower
  • Optimizing a rainwater harvesting system at the Operations Centre
  • Auditing eight splash pads and installing water efficiency upgrades
  • Installing 32 water flow monitors at city facilities to detect leaks

Read more about water savings at the City of Kitchener.
Hospital - fixture replacement

St. Mary's General Hospital completed a full utility audit, including a water use review. The findings led to the replacement of over 500 fixtures.

Read more about water savings at St. Mary's General Hospital.

Sub-metering - student residence

Waterloo Living Inc. completed a sub-metering project in three of their student residence buildings. The project saw 111 units across three properties installed with sub-meters, reducing water consumption by an average of 20%.

Read more about water savings at Waterloo Living Inc.

Water Efficient Certification program

The Water Efficient Certification program recognizes businesses that take steps to reduce water use.

Restaurants

How to qualify

Collect five or more points by completing any of the following activities:

  • A water balance audit (3 points)
  • A free water-use review by Region staff (1 point)
  • Billing analysis (1 point)
  • Achieve proven water savings (3 points)
  • Employee education and awareness training (2 points)
  • Register as a BlueW.org water bottle refill location (1 point)
Examples of what your restaurant can do to certify 
  • Complete energy and water audits
  • Replace or install water efficient fixtures
  • Install hands-free faucets
  • Schedule plumbing maintenance to fix leaks
  • Replace water-cooled refrigerators with air-cooled models
  • Service or plan to replace water softening systems
  • Install sub-metering to separate restaurant from parent business, for example, a hotel
  • Maintain outdoor irrigation systems, including pop-up sprinklers
Water Efficient Certified restaurants
  • Beertown (Cambridge)
  • Borealis Grille & Bar
  • Boston Pizza (Alpine Centre, Kitchener)
  • Boston Pizza (King St. N., Waterloo)
  • Boston Pizza (Erb St., Waterloo)
  • Charcoal Steakhouse
  • Chicopee Tube Park
  • Chill Bar & Grill
  • East Side Mario’s (King St. Waterloo)
  • Edelweiss Tavern
  • Fionn MacCool's (King St. E., Kitchener)
  • Golf’s Steak House & Seafood
  • Kings Buffet (Kitchener)
  • Kypreos Restaurant
  • Marble Slab Creamery (Fischer-Hallman Dr., Kitchener)
  • Nith River Chop House
  • Proof Kitchen and Lounge
  • Subway (Highland Rd., Kitchener)
  • Subway (Jamieson Pkwy., Cambridge)
  • Subway (Baden, Wilmot Township)
  • Swiss Chalet (Fairway Rd., Kitchener)
  • The Keg (Cambridge)
  • Tim Horton’s (Holiday Inn Dr. Cambridge)
  • Tim Horton's (University Ave., Waterloo)

Other businesses

How to qualify
Contact the Region of Waterloo for information on becoming a Water Efficient Certified business.
Water Efficient Certified businesses
  • Axis Meter Solutions
  • Cambridge Non-Profit Housing
  • CCC Sulphur Products (Sulco)
  • Centurion Property Associates Inc. (Toronto)
  • Chicopee Tube Park
  • City of Cambridge
  • City of Kitchener
  • City of Waterloo
  • Clean Cut Energy (Multi-residential properties in Waterloo Region)
  • Enviro-Stewards Inc.
  • Frito Lay - Pepsico Canada
  • Grand River Foods (Cambridge)
  • Grand River/Freeport Hospitals
  • Gerdau Steel
  • Killam Apartment REIT
  • Kuntz Electroplating
  • Lee Management Solutions Inc.
  • Medi-Terra Properties (River Park Village, Cambridge)
  • Novocol Pharma
  • Onyx Energy (Kitchener)
  • Piller's Fine Foods (Waterloo)
  • Plasti-Fab Ltd
  • St. Mary's General Hospital
  • Starlight Investments
  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing Company (Cambridge)  
  • Valet Car Wash
  • Victoria Park Community Homes (Hamilton)
  • Waterloo Brewing
  • Wilfrid Laurier University
  • Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB)
  • Water Control Management
  • Waterloo Living Inc.
  • Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB)
  • WSCC #473

Water Efficiency Excellence Award

Each year the Region of Waterloo recognizes businesses that complete exemplary water projects. Congratulations to past recipients of the Water Efficiency Excellence Award.

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