Client Name
Industry
Government
Location
Southern Vancouver Island
Client Size
Large
Website
Services Offered
- Water Assessments
Challenge
Synergy Enterprises and the Capital Regional District (CRD), located on the traditional, unceded territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples of the Songhees Nation, Xʷsepsəm Nation, and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, have partnered since 2017 to deliver water assessments for major local water users across the region, including schools, hotels, and retail facilities.
In 2026, the CRD wanted to focus on businesses still operating once-through cooling (OTC) equipment connected to the Greater Victoria Water Supply. OTC systems, commonly found in walk-in coolers, freezers, ice machines, and similar refrigeration equipment, draw municipal drinking water to absorb heat before sending it to the sewer, with no recapture or reuse. A single average cooler can consume roughly 1.6 million litres of water a year, about half an Olympic-sized pool, and larger installations use considerably more.
Under the region’s Water Conservation Bylaw, OTC systems connected to the Regional Water Supply System will be prohibited after July 1, 2028. To help businesses get ahead of the deadline, the CRD introduced a rebate for equipment replacement, but first needed to locate the systems still in use and help businesses make a case for upgrading before the deadline.
Project Objectives
- Engage with and identify businesses across the CRD region with suspected OTC equipment still connected to the municipal water supply.
- Confirm equipment type and condition through on-site assessments and evaluate the cost of replacement with air-cooled alternatives.
- Provide each business with a clear, individualized business case, including projected savings and payback period, to support their rebate application.
Synergy’s Solution
Rather than a full-building water assessment, this project focused on one equipment category. Starting with a list of businesses with OTC equipment, Synergy conducted direct outreach to confirm whether the equipment was still in place and if the companies were interested in joining this free program to assist with rebates.
For each of the seven businesses identified, Synergy conducted a site visit to confirm the equipment on hand, understand water use through meter readings, and evaluate the argument for equipment upgrades. Where a business had already sought out replacement quotes, Synergy incorporated that information into the cost analysis.
Each business received an individual summary report they could use to complete their CRD rebate application, including their OTC’s estimated annual water use, utility cost, and potential savings from switching to an air-cooled system. In one case, a business’s equipment was so specialized that replacement wasn’t practical, and rather than pushing for a swap, Synergy helped build the case for a bylaw exemption and suggested exploring rainwater capture alternatives to save water.
This targeted, equipment-specific approach is a perfect example of the flexibility of Synergy’s water assessments. The same process of reviewing meters, walking through a site, and modelling savings has also supported full-building assessments for schools, hotels, and multi-year water-stewardship programs for communities like Tofino.
Implementation and Results
Across the seven sites assessed, Synergy identified a combined potential of 22,306 m³ in annual water savings and $122,852 in annual cost savings, just from replacing OTC equipment with air-cooled alternatives. These savings don’t include the CRD’s equipment replacement rebate, which makes a strong case for businesses to replace this equipment even without the upcoming regulations change.
Payback periods across the sites ranged from as little as 0.7 years to 3.45 years, with five-year returns on investment as high as 582%.
| Business Type | OTC Equipment | Annual Water Use from OTC (m3) | Annual Savings Potential | Payback Period (Years) | ROI (5 Yrs) |
| Brewery | Single-Stage Heat Exchanger | 312 | $1,752 | 3.45 | 45% |
| Restaurant/Pub | 2 Walk-In Coolers / 1 Ice Machine | 4,703 | $28,129 | 0.7 | 582% |
| Bar/Lounge | Walk-In Cooler Condenser | 1,033 | $5,428 | 0.82 | 509% |
| Hotel | Ice Machine / Beer Cooler / Water-Cooled Pump | 10,269 | $53,978 | 1.62 | 208% |
| Specialty Retailer | Ice Maker / Walk-In Cooler / Walk-In Freezer | 2,219 | $12,836 | 1.71 | 192% |
| Restaurant/Pub | Beer Cooler | 2,470 | $12,982 | 0.7 | 579% |
| Specialty Food Producer | Rainwater Capture System | 1,300 | $7,747 | 1.5 | — |
| Total | 22,306 | $122,852 |
Key Takeaways
A Small Number of Equipment, Significant Savings
The savings from replacing a handful of pieces of equipment were substantial. This is a prime example of how equipment efficiency can significantly reduce consumption without changing behaviors, with a payback period short enough to make the upfront capital cost an easy decision in most cases.
Water Assessments Can Be as Broad or as Targeted as Needed
Water assessment can be as flexible as needed, from focusing on a single piece of equipment to covering entire campuses. No matter the scope, the goal is to understand where water is used and find the most cost-effective ways to reduce it. However, the larger the assessment, the more savings you can find.
Measurement Comes First
Synergy always recommends measurement first because it provides real data that helps guide decisions. The total cost savings from utility bills alone were surprising and couldn’t have been estimated without an assessment. Once-through cooling equipment is often out of sight, tucked into back rooms and mechanical closets, so identifying it and quantifying its cost was the first and most important step toward getting these businesses to act before the 2028 deadline arrives.
This project shows how assessments can uncover real cost and utility savings
If your organization wants to understand where water or cost savings are hiding in your operations, contact us to get started.
