Sofia Lambert has been with GEI Consultants for over three years, where she focuses on ecotoxicity and environmental health. She holds two undergraduate degrees from Florida Gulf Coast University and is pursuing her M.S. at the University of Colorado-Denver where her research focuses on wildfires, water quality, and ecosystem resilience. She also serves as the Membership Management board member for RMWQAA.

As water professionals, many of us are very aware of Colorado’s ongoing drought. While our laboratories play vital roles in protecting both our natural resources and public health, they can also be a significant source of water consumption. From sample analyses and QC checks to glassware washing, water usage is a part of nearly all our operations. Thankfully, there are many small ways in which water laboratories can reduce water consumption without affecting compliance requirements or the quality of our tests. Below are a few small but simple practices that can be integrated into daily lab operations to conserve water:

1)    Keep water bath lids on when not actively in use. This helps reduce the amount of evaporation, lowering the amount of water added to the water bath to keep it at the appropriate level.

2)    When possible, use tap water instead of deionized or ultra-pure deionized water. Water waste depends on your specific system, but one gallon of ultra-pure deionized water can take 3-6 gallons of excess “wasted” water to make. Review your organization’s protocols for what exactly this may entail.

3)    Optimize glassware washing when possible. Only run autoclaves and glassware washers when they are full and try to optimize space when filling both up. When possible, pre-soak heavily soiled glassware instead of continuously rinsing under running water.

4)    Minimize running water by turning off faucets between rinsing steps whenever allowed or install low-flow faucet aerators in areas where high flow faucets are not necessary.

5)    Check for and fix leaky faucets, DI systems, plumbing connections, etc. Even tiny leaks can waste thousands of gallons over the course of a year.

6)    Review SOPs to ensure efficiency.

7)    If you are purchasing new equipment, aim for water-efficient options.

These small improvements in efficiency can have a large impact over time without compromising data quality and regulatory compliance. Water conservation is most effective when everyone participates. Training laboratory staff on how to conserve water in the lab and sharing ideas for continuous improvement are important parts of this effort. Discuss whatever small changes make the most sense for your lab and keep the conversation going!