Why the Crisis of Life on Earth Starts With How We Waste Water in Buildings : UN Biodiversity COP17

 The Biodiversity Crisis Is Closer to Our Buildings Than We Think

A wetland dries up. A river loses its flow. Birds and aquatic species begin disappearing from places where they once thrived. These changes may seem far removed from a corporate office, shopping mall, hospital or commercial complex. But the connection is closer than most building owners realise. Every day, commercial buildings use water for washrooms, cleaning, kitchens, cooling systems and landscaping. Some of this consumption is necessary. Some of it can be reduced through better design and smarter technology. When water is extracted faster than nature can replenish it, the consequences extend beyond the building boundary. Groundwater levels can fall, wetlands can lose their natural water supply, and the habitats that depend on healthy rivers and aquifers can come under pressure. This is why water conservation deserves a place in the biodiversity conversation. As the world turns its attention to the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, COP17, it is an opportunity for businesses to look beyond traditional environmental commitments and examine how everyday building operations affect the natural world.

What Is UN Biodiversity COP17, and Why Does It Matter?

The United Nations Biodiversity Conference COP17 is a global meeting focused on advancing efforts to protect biodiversity and implement the international framework for nature conservation. The global biodiversity agenda is guided by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets targets for halting and reversing biodiversity loss, restoring ecosystems and using natural resources sustainably. Biodiversity is not limited to forests, endangered animals or protected wildlife areas. It includes the diversity of life across terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems, along with the ecological processes that sustain them. Water is central to these systems. Rivers support aquatic species. Wetlands provide habitats for birds, fish and countless other organisms. Groundwater sustains springs, streams and ecosystems during dry periods. When these water systems are depleted or polluted, the impact can spread through entire ecological networks. The Convention on Biological Diversity provides a useful starting point for understanding why protecting ecosystems requires action across governments, industries and communities. For businesses, the message is protecting biodiversity cannot be limited to activities outside the workplace. The way buildings consume resources also matters.

How Building-Level Water Waste Can Affect Biodiversity

A single commercial building may not appear to have a significant impact on a river or wetland. However, thousands of buildings drawing water from the same stressed basin can collectively add pressure to local water resources. Three connections deserve particular attention.

1. Excessive Groundwater Extraction Can Put Ecosystems Under Pressure

Groundwater supports drinking water supplies, agriculture and many natural ecosystems. In some locations, it also maintains the flow of springs, streams and wetlands. When groundwater is withdrawn faster than it is replenished, water tables decline. Depending on local geology and hydrology, this can reduce water availability for both people and ecosystems. Commercial buildings that rely heavily on borewells or groundwater-intensive supply systems should therefore consider not just how much water they consume, but where that water comes from and whether the source is under stress. The UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme offers research and reporting on global water resources, water stress and sustainable water management. For facility managers, a practical first step is to conduct a water audit, identify high-consumption areas and evaluate opportunities to reduce unnecessary demand.

2. Wastewater Can Affect Rivers, Lakes and Wetlands

Water conservation and wastewater management are closely connected. When buildings discharge inadequately treated wastewater, pollutants and excess nutrients can enter natural water bodies. Depending on the type and concentration of contaminants, this can degrade water quality, disrupt aquatic ecosystems and contribute to problems such as eutrophication. Commercial buildings need to look beyond freshwater consumption and assess what happens after water leaves the premises. Effective sewage treatment, regular system monitoring and appropriate reuse can reduce freshwater demand while helping prevent untreated or poorly treated wastewater from reaching the environment. Solutions such as decentralised wastewater treatment systems can also help buildings treat wastewater closer to where it is generated. Where suitable, treated water can be reused for flushing, gardening, cooling and other non-potable applications. The goal is to make every litre work more efficiently while ensuring that wastewater is responsibly managed.

3. Everyday Water Consumption Adds Up Across Cities

Washrooms are one of the most consistent sources of water demand in commercial buildings. Traditional flushing urinals use freshwater every time they are flushed. Across offices, airports, educational institutions, hospitals and shopping centres, this recurring demand can add up significantly. Reducing this consumption does not require asking every building occupant to change their behaviour. Often, the more effective approach is to improve the systems they use every day. That is where water-efficient fixtures and waterless sanitation technologies can make a practical difference.

Where Waterless Urinals Fit Into the Biodiversity Conversation

One of the simplest places to begin reducing freshwater demand is the washroom. Ekam Eco Solutions developed Zerodor, a waterless urinal system, to help commercial buildings reduce the water traditionally used for urinal flushing. Its mechanical valve allows urine to pass into the drainage system while closing to help prevent sewer gases from returning to the washroom. The result is a system designed to operate without flush water, electricity, sensors or oil sealants. For buildings with suitable installations, Zerodor can help reduce routine freshwater consumption without requiring occupants to change their daily habits. This matters because sustainability solutions work best when they become part of the infrastructure rather than another task people must remember to perform. Ekam reports that its 85,000+ Zerodor installations have contributed to more than 3.5 billion litres of water saved. This represents a building-level water conservation effort at scale, although the actual biodiversity benefit depends on the water source, local conditions and how much reduced demand translates into less pressure on natural water systems. Learn more about Zerodor waterless urinals and explore how water-saving sanitation can fit into your building's facilities strategy.

Five Practical Steps Commercial Buildings Can Take

Protecting biodiversity may seem like a large, distant goal, but facility teams can begin with measurable operational changes.

1. Audit water consumption. Measure water use across washrooms, kitchens, cooling systems and landscaping. Establish a baseline before setting reduction targets.

2. Reduce unnecessary flushing. Assess whether waterless urinals or other efficient fixtures are suitable for the building. Consider expected savings, installation requirements, hygiene protocols and maintenance.

3. Treat and reuse wastewater. Where technically and legally appropriate, reuse treated wastewater for flushing, gardening and cooling instead of relying entirely on freshwater.

4. Investigate the water source. Understand whether the building depends on municipal supply, groundwater or tankers. If groundwater is used, assess local water stress and opportunities to reduce extraction.

5. Track outcomes, not just commitments. Monitor litres consumed, water reused, leakage, treatment performance and year-on-year changes. These indicators help sustainability teams turn broad environmental intentions into operational evidence.

For organisations reporting under ESG frameworks, this information can also strengthen their understanding of water-related risks and resource efficiency.The UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 provides a broader framework for improving water efficiency, water quality and sustainable water management.

From Water Conservation to Nature-Positive Business

COP17 is taking place in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 October 2026. It marks the first global review of collective progress under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The conference provides an important opportunity to examine whether commitments to protect nature are translating into measurable action. (Official COP17 information). For businesses, that conversation should extend to how buildings are designed, operated and maintained. A water-efficient washroom will not solve the biodiversity crisis on its own. Neither will a single water audit or wastewater treatment system. But together, better fixtures, efficient operations, responsible wastewater management and informed sourcing decisions can reduce the pressure commercial buildings place on water resources. The larger lesson is that nature conservation is not separate from business operations. It is connected to the resources businesses consume every day. Every litre of freshwater saved is a step towards more responsible resource use. Where those savings reduce pressure on stressed water sources, they can also contribute to protecting the ecosystems and species that depend on them.

Make Your Building Part of the Solution

At Ekam Eco Solutions, we believe that practical sustainability begins with systems that make responsible resource use easier. Whether you manage an office, hospital, educational institution, shopping mall or commercial complex, understanding your water consumption is a valuable first step. Contact Ekam Eco Solutions for a water conservation assessment and explore opportunities to reduce washroom water use, improve wastewater management and make your building operations more resource-efficient. Protecting life on Earth is not only about what we preserve in forests and wetlands. It is also about the choices we make in the buildings where we live, work and gather. Better water management today can help protect the natural systems we depend on tomorrow.