WashBox makes a water-saving mark

Water mark for commercial industry

Commercial products and services can now gain Australia-wide recognition for their water saving attributes through Australia’s water saving scheme, Smart Approved WaterMark, which has broadened its parameters to assess commercially oriented claims.

“Smart WaterMark was originally set up to acknowledge products and services around the home and garden which contribute to water savings, with our expert panel approving more than 230 to use the distinctive label. Due to enquiries from commercial products and services, our steering committee agreed to extend our mark to cover them,” says CEO of the Smart WaterMark, Julian Gray.

One of the first commercial products to gain Smart WaterMark approval is the WashBox.

The WashBox is produced by Sydney-based company GeoSentinel and is being used on construction and industry sites where wet trades need to clean up.

“A WashBox at a location can save up to 3000 L of water a week, as tools are washed and the wastes are extracted from the water and not flushed into sewers or discharged elsewhere,” said Director of GeoSentinel Andrew Crimston.

Trades such as painters or plasterers can clean their tools and brushes in the box, which has several environmental benefits including: reducing fresh water used by up to 90%; eliminating stormwater, sewer and ground water pollution; reducing trade waste to landfill; and resulting in 100% recycling of liquid waste.

Gray said the Smart WaterMark’s Independent Expert Panel which assesses applications had little trouble awarding the mark to WashBox.

“It is a great example of a product making a big difference and saving water through smart technology. The water savings are considerable, not to mention the environmental benefits,” said Gray.

“We are expecting that other water-saving products and services on the commercial front will recognise that Smart Approved WaterMark can assist them in getting their message across - independent validation of water saving claims is significant in the minds of potential users or customers,” added Gray.

www.smartwatermark.org