Water saving programs and funding for businesses

If you live in Waterloo Region and are familiar with the water capacity constraint, you may wonder if conservation can help. Reducing water use is always important because it helps manage and protect the supply we have, especially during warm, dry weather. The community has done a great job to conserve over the years, and we will keep this up with your help. Learn more about conservation below and find more information on the constraint by visiting the FAQs in the water capacity information hub.

understanding your consumption with a water use review
finding potential water leaks so they can be repaired
recommending upgrades and/or servicing of inefficient water-using fixtures, equipment and processes
funding a portion of the cost when you invest in water-saving projects
providing resources to encourage water-saving behaviours from employees

Funding and programs to reduce water use

Water balance audits or consulting

Fifty per cent cost-share funding is available 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.

Installing sub-meters to track water loss

Any property using water for different purposes can benefit from installing sub-meters. In multi-unit buildings, sub-metering divides water costs fairly between each tenant. High water users would then be billed for what they actually use. Shut off technology is also available to prevent damage in case of plumbing failure.

Collecting water use data from sub-meters can help your business:

Find and fix costly water leaks
Find and target water wasting areas/processes
Design a plan using real data that saves water and money

Water-saving projects

We provide funding based on how much water your project(s) saved and project costs.

Apply for funding

Examples of how our programs are helping local businesses

Local businesses implemented the following projects with help from WET program funding. Timing for payback was reached with a combination of water savings incentives and program funding.

Water sub-metering projects

Installing sub-meters

Property management company, Waterloo Living Inc. completed a sub-metering project in three of their student residence buildings. Sub-meters were installed in 111 units (accommodating 555 students). They saved 8,773 cubic metres of water and $40,700 in water costs in the first year (2019 rates). The project paid for itself in two years.

Upgrading water purification system and installing sub-meters

Veterinary pharmaceuticals manufacturer, Bimeda MTC, made upgrades to their water purification system. They also installed flow loggers to track water and wastewater use at their facility. They saved 965 cubic metres of water and $62,395 in the first year (2023 rates). The project will pay for for itself in 93 years.

Auditing water use and detecting leaks

The City of Kitchener installed 32 water flow monitors at city facilities. This helps to detect leaks and provide automatic alerts. They also audited eight splash pads and installed water efficiency upgrades. WET program funding paid for 50 per cent of the project cost.

Water-saving projects

Changing plumbing to reuse process water

Carlsberg Canada (then Waterloo Brewing) made a plumbing change to use process water from the bottle washing system. They reuse this water to cool down hot boiler blowdown water using a tank and pump. They saved 950 cubic metres of water and $150,000 in water costs in the first year (2018 rates). The project paid for itself in three months.

Installing a reverse osmosis water recovery system

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC) designed and installed a Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water Recovery System. The RO System recovers 50 per cent of the company's rejected concentrate water. They saved 36,000 cubic metres of water and $76,680 in water costs in the first year (2009 rates). The project paid for itself in one year.

Installing a water recovery system and repairing leaks

Valet Car Wash in Kitchener installed a water recovery system and repaired leaks. The changes reduced the average water use per vehicle by almost 50 per cent, from 253 litres to 129 litres. They saved 8,096 cubic metres of water and $30,000 in water costs in the first year (2016 rates). The project paid for itself in two years.

Building a stormwater pond

Chicopee Tube Park constructed a stormwater pond. The pond captures rainwater for snow making instead of paying for municipal water. They saved 14,197 cubic metres of water and $55,000 in the first year (2014 rates) and reduced their water bill by 56 per cent. The project paid for itself in five years.

Installing a stormwater collection system

At City of Waterloo RIM Park, installed a stormwater collection system under a playing field. A sump directs the captured water to an irrigation system for watering fields. Excess water goes to a stormwater pond. They saved 3,905 cubic metres of water and $11,000 in the first year. The project paid for itself in five years.

Auditing water use and upgrading fixtures

Waterloo Region Health Network @ Queen's Blvd (then St. Mary's General Hospital) completed a full utility audit. This led to replacing over 500 fixtures, including toilets, urinals and tap aerators. They saved 18,229 cubic metres of water and $104,817 in the first year (2018 rates). The project paid for itself in five years.

Auditing water and energy use and upgrading fixtures

Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) audited energy and water use for all its properties. WLU then replaced all water fixtures in 22 buildings with water-efficient models. They saved 21,572 cubic metres of water and $85,861 in the first year. The project will pay for itself in 16 years.

Upgrading a cooling tower

The City of Kitchener upgraded City Hall's cooling tower to a model that conserves more water. They saved 2,811 cubic metres of water and $14,505 in the first year (2018 rates). The project will pay for itself in 25 years.

Water Smart Business Certification

Businesses and employees who participate in the Water Smart Business certification will better understand their water use, our sources of water and our role in protecting and conserving our water supply. The program is also intended to provide businesses with:

Actionable plans to reduce water use and reduce costs
Free training for employees
Free fixture replacement (where applicable)
Recognition from the Region of Waterloo
Support to reach your organization's sustainability goals
Free signage, stickers and other resources for your staff and customers

Businesses can achieve certification by completing at least five activities from the lists below. One activity from each category is required.

Complete at least five activities to be certified a Water Smart Business for three years.
Complete 10 or more activities to be certified a Water Smart Business for five years.

Water efficiency

Book a historical water use review
Request a water bill analysis
Have a water balance audit at your facility
Achieve proven water savings
Install water-efficient fixtures (taps, toilets, showerheads, etc)
Verify that your irrigation systems operate according to the Water Conservation By-Law
Install water efficiency signage
Harvest rainwater with a barrel, cistern or rain garden

Water protection

Install salt signage at your facility
Display "Area Closed" sign to areas that are closed in the winter
Display health and safety materials
Complete a property review worksheet or have a property salt management plan
Install free Report All Spills poster
Have a spill response kit on hand near chemicals

Water education

Subscribe to our newsletter
Offer employee education and awareness training
Host a Region of Waterloo-led presentation
Install "Only flush the three Ps signage" in washrooms

Inquire about becoming Water Smart Certified

Water Smart Certified restaurants

Beertown (Cambridge)
Borealis Grille & Bar
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
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)

Water Smart 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 (A Septodont Company)
Onyx Energy (Kitchener)
Piller's Fine Foods (Waterloo)
Plasti-Fab Ltd
WRHN @ Queen’s Blvd. (formerly St. Mary's General Hospital)
Starlight Investments
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Company (Cambridge)
Valet Car Wash
Victoria Park Community Homes (Hamilton)
Carlsberg Canada (formerly Waterloo Brewing)
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB)
Water Control Management
Waterloo Living Inc.
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

Past award recipients