Cleaning

• Talk to your staff about water-efficient cleaning methods.
• Define cleaning procedures clearly.
• Audit procedures regularly: Make sure they are in place and being followed.
• Install signs to remind staff of changes to cleaning procedures.
• Install signs to remind staff about being water efficient.

Improvements to your housekeeping practices can reduce the amount of pollutants in your wastewater as well as reduce energy costs associated with hot water.

• Inspect your site and equipment for any spills and leaks. These can increase your wash-down frequency.
• Use contamination control floor mats. They will reduce the volume of waste tracked through your business.
• Schedule product changes so you can process similar products at the same time. This can minimise the need to wash equipment between different products.
• Install baskets, silt traps or screens in drains. Make sure they are regularly emptied into waste bins.
• Install deflection panels or chutes to prevent product from falling off production equipment.
• Install drip trays or bunding where product may fall on the production floor and be washed into the wastewater stream.
• Calibrate filling equipment to prevent overfilling.

• Change to dry cleaning methods. Use brushes, vacuums, scrapers, squeegees, compressed air or other instruments instead of water.
• Develop dry cleaning procedures to contain and collect spill materials.
• Use scrapers or squeegees to remove food residue from equipment before starting wet cleaning procedures.
• Use dry absorbents to remove excess moisture and then sweep or vacuum these areas to avoid having to wash down the floor.

• Install trigger-operated spray nozzles on hoses and high-pressure equipment. This will prevent wastage by turning flow off automatically.
• Use trigger-operated, high-pressure, low-flow washers.
• Reduce flow to supply hoses and pressure washers by installing in-line flow restrictors.

• Use Clean In Place (CIP) systems 
• Check flow rates on all equipment.
• Adjust equipment to the manufacturer's recommendations.
• Use solenoid valves or timers to shut off water when processes are not in operation.
• Check the angle of stationary sprays and make sure they are aimed correctly.
• Review the dispersal of sprays and adjust them for maximum effect.
• Review your cleaning chemicals. Changing the type of chemical can alter your concentration requirements, and therefore the volume of water needed.
• Investigate recycling final rinse water for use in the next pre-rinse.
• Schedule product change-overs to reduce or eliminate CIP.

Automatic washers can be up to 95% more water-efficient than alternatives like pressure washing.

• Inspect automatic washers regularly. This will make sure they are operating as efficiently as possible.
• Discuss water efficiency with manufacturers or distributors. Make sure your equipment is up-to-date with advancements in water efficiency.
• Schedule washes only when machines are fully loaded.
• Re-use final rinse water for pre-rinse cycles in washers.