Easy

Scrape, Don’t Rinse

• Before loading dishes into the dishwasher, scrape off leftover food instead of rinsing under running water.

• This cuts down unnecessary rinsing, keeps the dishwasher running efficiently and can save several litres of water per load.

• It also prevents drains from being clogged with food waste.

Fill Sinks to Wash Large Items

• When washing large items or doing prep work, fill a sink or basin with water instead of letting taps run continuously.

• You still get the job done but with far less water waste.

• This can help to reduce tap water use by up to 60% during preparation and clean-down.

Only Run Full Loads

• Make sure dishwashing trays and glass washers are fully loaded before placing them through the dishwashing conveyor line.

• Partial loads waste both water and energy and by maximising each cycle, you could reduce water use by hundreds of litres per week.

• If dishes are always needed urgently, it is recommended to address stock levels or routines, rather than letting resource waste become a regular practice.

Medium

Menu Adjustments
You can cut kitchen water use dramatically by featuring dishes that rely on dry-heat methods (roasting, grilling, sous-vide) or cold preparations (salads, crudites, chilled soups) instead of long boils.  Offer share-style cured or fermented small plates, and by concentrating flavors into reductions rather than stock-heavy sauces.

Food production for hotel buffets and restaurants consumes vast amounts of water, for example, producing just one kilogram of cheese requires roughly 3,100 litres. By adapting purchasing habits, reducing overproduction and preventing food waste, you can significantly shrink your operation’s overall water footprint.

You can find out more about the water footprint of food and drinks in the embodied water section by clicking here. 

Use Thawing Trays

• Instead of thawing frozen food under running water, switch to thawing trays or move items to the fridge ahead of time.

• Prevents litres of water from going straight down the drain.

• Improves food safety by keeping products at a safe temperature.

Long Term

Install Pre-Rinse Spray Valves

• Replace old kitchen spray hoses with high-efficiency pre-rinse spray valves that are designed to use less water at higher pressure, making rinsing faster and more efficient.

• Can potentially cut rinse water use by up to 50%.

Monitor and Adjust Flow Rates

• Work with maintenance teams to check taps, sprayers, and dishwashers for excessive flow rates and adjust or fit aerators where possible.

• This requires a bit more planning but ensures long-term water savings across the operation.

• Flow adjustments can reduce tap water use by 30% or more.