Water Saving Tips

Water-Saving Tips for Commercial Buildings

The following tips are suggestions from the Maryland Department of the Environment and the EPA.

Building Maintenance:

• Check water supply system for leaks.
• Turn off unnecessary flows.
• Repair dripping faucets, showers, and continuously running or leaking toilets.
• Install faucet aerators where possible.
• Reduce the load on air conditioning units by shutting off air-conditioning when and where it is not needed.
• Reduce toilet water used by adjusting flush valves or installing dams and flapper mechanisms.
• Replace worn out appliances and fixtures with water-saving models.
• Shut off the water supply to equipment rooms that are not in use.
• Minimize the water used in cooling equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions. Shut off cooling units when not needed.
• Eliminate “once through” cooling of equipment with municipal water by recycling water flow to cooling tower or replacing with air-cooled equipment.
• For swimming pools: consider installing a water-saving pool filter, use pool filter backwash for landscape irrigation, and use a pool cover to reduce evaporation.

Cafeteria Area:

• Turn off the continuous flow used to clean the drain trays.
• Turn dishwasher off when not in use. Wash full loads only.
• Use water from steam tables to wash down cooking area.
• Do not use running water to melt ice or frozen foods.
• Use water-conserving ice makers.

Water-Saving Tips for Industrial

• Install high-pressure, low-volume nozzles on spray washers.
• Install in-line strainers on all spray headers; inspect nozzles regularly for clogging.
• Replace high-volume hoses with high-pressure, low-volume cleaning systems.
• As equipment wears out, replace with water-saving models.
• Equip hoses with spring-loaded shutoff nozzles.
• Install ultra-low-flow toilets, or adjust flush valves or install dams on existing toilets.
• Use fogging nozzles to cool products.
• Handle waste materials in a dry mode where possible.
• Adjust overflows from recirculation systems by controlling the rate at which make-up water is added: install a float-controlled valve on the make-up line, close filling line during operation, provide surge tanks for each system to avoid overflow.
• Turn off all flows during shutdowns. Use solenoid valves to stop the flow of water when production stops.
• Adjust flow in sprays and other lines to meet minimum requirements.
• Wash vehicles less often, or use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
• Discontinue using water to clean sidewalks, driveways, loading docks, and parking lots.

Water-Saving Tips for Multifamily Housing

All the tips for commercial buildings and industry apply to multifamily housing. In 2002, the National Research Center in Boulder, Colorado, conducted a study of water and energy consumption in multifamily housing. The study found that residents with in-apartment laundry machines used more water, and consequently more energy, than those who used common area laundry facilities. Water usage was 3.3 times higher among residents who had in-apartment laundry machines and energy usage was approximately 5 times higher.

Apartment residents with in-unit washing machines do 5.22 loads of laundry per week, while residents using a common area laundry room do 2.16 loads of laundry per unit per week.

The study also found that most apartments with in-unit washing machines have an electric water heater while most common area facilities have gas water heaters. Residents with in-unit machines that used electric water heaters to heat water used 580.71 kWh per unit per year compared to 117.71 kWh per unit per year for those residents who used common area facilities. For machines that used gas water heaters, residents with in-unit washing machines used 28.91 therms per unit per year while common area laundry facilities used 5.54 therms per unit per year.

In May 2000, the Department of Energy reached an agreement with appliance manufacturers and environmental and energy conservation organizations to phase in water and energy standards for clothes washers beginning in 2004.
Information about retrofitting apartment buildings can be found at http://www.laundrywise.com.

Water-Saving Tips for Landscaping

• Water landscapes only when needed. Two-to-three times a week is usually sufficient.
• Use time controllers on sprinkler systems.
• Detect and repair all leaks in irrigation systems.
• Use properly treated wastewater for irrigation where available.
• Water lawns and gardens during the coolest part of the day (early morning   is best.
• Do not water on windy days.
• Carefully set sprinklers to water the lawn and garden only—not the street    or sidewalk.
• Make sure that water does not run into the streets and alleys.
• Don’t hose down sidewalks, driveways and parking lots.  Sweep instead. 
• Use soaker hoses and trickle irrigation systems.
• Install moisture sensors on sprinkler systems.
• Use mulch around shrubs and garden plants to reduce evaporation.
• Raise the lawn mower height as longer grass blades help shade each other, cut down on evaporation and inhibit weed growth.
• Minimize fertilizing that requires additional watering.
• Only use water ornamental features that operate on recycled water.

Many, if not all, states have water conservation boards.  The Albuquerque, NM Water Conservation Office is offering rebates to residents and businesses that use water conservation measures.  Perhaps there is a similar program in your area.

The American Water Works Association has a great web site with a drip calculator to calculate water wasted from dripping or leaking faucets, connections and fixtures. http://www.subwaterco.com/wwdripcalc.htm