Drought or no drought?   Drought or no drought?   

Rusty Harris-BishopRusty Harris-Bishop

Environmental Engineer Environmental Engineer NC Div. Pollution Prevention and Environmental AssistanceNC Div. Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance

How is Your Long-term How is Your Long-term Financially Feasible Water Financially Feasible Water Efficiency Plan Coming Efficiency Plan Coming Along? Along? 

OR

HUH?HUH?

WHAT?WHAT?

A PLAN?A PLAN?

WHY?WHY?

NC Drought Status

NC Water Use NC Water Use RestrictionsRestrictions

Emergency RestrictionsEmergency Restrictions– 7 Water Systems7 Water Systems

Voluntary RestrictionsVoluntary Restrictions– 146 Water Systems146 Water Systems

September 26, 2002

Mandatory RestrictionsMandatory Restrictions

– 77 Water Systems77 Water Systems

Executive Order #26Executive Order #26 Water System ProtectionWater System Protection

All state government agencies discontinue “non-essential” water use until further notice

All such agencies immediately develop and begin implementing long term, financially feasible conservation measures

Signed August 15, 2002Signed August 15, 2002

Benefits of Water Benefits of Water Efficiency ProgramsEfficiency Programs

Reduces Water DemandReduces Water Demand– Generally faster, cheaper & easier Generally faster, cheaper & easier

Waste and Wastewater Treatment SavingsWaste and Wastewater Treatment Savings– Reduce and defers costs & pretreatment req.Reduce and defers costs & pretreatment req.

Less Environmental ImpactLess Environmental Impact– Due to less surface and subsurface withdrawalsDue to less surface and subsurface withdrawals

Sustained Water QualitySustained Water Quality– New supplies can be of lesser qualityNew supplies can be of lesser quality

Planning forPlanning forWater EfficiencyWater Efficiency Information CollectionInformation Collection Top management supportTop management support Determine internal baselines and/or external Determine internal baselines and/or external

benchmarksbenchmarks Determine target areasDetermine target areas Determine best available techniques and Determine best available techniques and

technologies -advantages & disadvantages technologies -advantages & disadvantages projectsprojects

Develop Action plan with timelines & Develop Action plan with timelines & responsibilitiesresponsibilities

Track & Communicate ResultsTrack & Communicate Results

Things to AskThings to AskYourselfYourself Do we have continuing senior Do we have continuing senior

management commitment?management commitment? Do we have the information we need?Do we have the information we need? Have we established a team?Have we established a team? Do we have an Action Plan & schedule?Do we have an Action Plan & schedule? How are we promoting awareness?How are we promoting awareness? How are we encouraging How are we encouraging

employee/student participation?employee/student participation? Are contingency plans in the works?Are contingency plans in the works?

Establishing a BaselineEstablishing a Baseline

Record incoming water and production information.

Identify all points and amounts of water use (intermittent and continuous).

Determine water quality requirements for each area of water use.

Develop a chart of the various operations and the estimated daily water use.

Water Balance – Water Balance – TypicalTypical

School and Universities

Domestic48%Landscaping

30%

Unaccounted for4%

Cooling & Heating

5%

Once through Cooling

5%

Kitchen4%

Laundry3%

Leaks1%

Low & No-Cost Low & No-Cost MeasuresMeasures Install aerators on all Install aerators on all

faucets faucets Put water-filled plastic Put water-filled plastic

bottles (milk jugs) or bottles (milk jugs) or dams in toilet tanksdams in toilet tanks

Install low flow Install low flow showerheads and other showerheads and other plumbing equipment plumbing equipment

Reduce water pressure Reduce water pressure Reduce water flow rates Reduce water flow rates

at lavatory faucets and at lavatory faucets and at tank-less toilet at tank-less toilet valves  valves 

Turn off water-using Turn off water-using equipment when not in equipment when not in useuse

Reduce or eliminate Reduce or eliminate once-through cooling once-through cooling water water

Turn off air handling and Turn off air handling and cooling towers at nights cooling towers at nights and on weekendsand on weekends

Attach shut-off nozzles Attach shut-off nozzles to all hand held hosesto all hand held hoses

Sweep instead of using Sweep instead of using a hose to clean and a hose to clean and implement other dry implement other dry cleanup techniques cleanup techniques

Minimize garbage Minimize garbage disposal use disposal use

Long Term Long Term Conservation/Efficiency Conservation/Efficiency Programs:Programs:

Delegation of authority Delegation of authority Inventory water uses Inventory water uses Identification and tracking of daily water use Identification and tracking of daily water use

– Establishment of a Baseline – Establishment of a Baseline Detection & repair of leaks Detection & repair of leaks Installation of water conservation Installation of water conservation

devices/equipment/fixtures as feasible devices/equipment/fixtures as feasible Employee education and awareness program Employee education and awareness program Form a rapid response system for fixing leaks Form a rapid response system for fixing leaks

and replacing malfunction equipment and replacing malfunction equipment

Water Management Water Management OptionsOptions

Sanitary/DomesticSanitary/Domestic

Cooling & HeatingCooling & Heating

Kitchen/Food Preparation Kitchen/Food Preparation

Cleaning & Rinsing Cleaning & Rinsing

ReuseReuse

LandscapingLandscaping

Sanitary/Domestic Sanitary/Domestic EfficiencyEfficiency

Driving Factor - 1992 Energy Policy ActDriving Factor - 1992 Energy Policy Act Toilet RetrofitsToilet Retrofits

– displacement devices, flapper valve, displacement devices, flapper valve, inserts... inserts...

1.6 gpf Toilets 1.6 gpf Toilets – gravity, flushvalve, pressurized flush gravity, flushvalve, pressurized flush

unitsunits 1.0 gpf Urinals1.0 gpf Urinals Maintenance ChecklistsMaintenance Checklists

Payback for Toilet Payback for Toilet ReplacementsReplacements

Payback for 1.6 gpf Toilet Replacements(for 1980 to mid 1990 3.5 gpf tank units)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

95 105 115 125 135 145 155 165 175 185 195 205 215 225 235 245 255 265 275 285 295 305 315

Installed Cost ($//toilet)

Payb

ack

(yea

rs)

Users/toilet 5

Users/toilet 8

Users/toilet 11

Users/toilet 14

Ensuring a Successful Toilet Ensuring a Successful Toilet Replacement ProjectReplacement Project

Replace highest Replace highest use toilets firstuse toilets first

Select type Select type carefullycarefully

Know Know sewer/sanitary sewer/sanitary infrastructureinfrastructure

Base decisions on Base decisions on current modelscurrent models

Educate Educate employees toilet employees toilet trash can trash can

Check referencesCheck references Consider noise Consider noise

levelslevels Plan for legal Plan for legal

disposal/disposal/recycling optionsrecycling options

Domestic/Sanitary Domestic/Sanitary ContinuedContinued

FaucetsFaucets– aerators, flow restrictor, aerators, flow restrictor,

automatic & metered shut-offsautomatic & metered shut-offs– Payback .05-.7 yrsPayback .05-.7 yrs

ShowerheadsShowerheads– behavior, leaks, replacementsbehavior, leaks, replacements– Payback .25-2.5 yrsPayback .25-2.5 yrs

Infrared/Ultrasonic SensorsInfrared/Ultrasonic Sensors Waterless UrinalsWaterless Urinals

Cooling & HeatingCooling & Heating

Cooling tower schematic

Boiler Water Boiler Water ManagementManagement

Chemical metering systemsChemical metering systems Biocide selectionBiocide selection Improved blowdown techniques Improved blowdown techniques

(total dissolved solids >= (total dissolved solids >= 2000 ppm)2000 ppm)

Optimizing temperature Optimizing temperature requirementsrequirements

Kitchen & Food PrepKitchen & Food Prep & Dishwashers & Dishwashers

BehavioralBehavioral– educate staffeducate staff– report leaksreport leaks– run racks only when fullrun racks only when full

MechanicalMechanical– recycle final rinse waterrecycle final rinse water– use “electric eye” sensors on conveyor use “electric eye” sensors on conveyor

systemssystems– use properly sized dishwashersuse properly sized dishwashers

Dishwasher Water UseDishwasher Water Use

Typical Water Use of Commercial Dishwashers

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3

ucounter

singledoor

clineconv

flightconv

Typ

e

gals/rack

max.

min.

Kitchen & Food PrepKitchen & Food PrepOther Water Use OptionOther Water Use Option

Kitchen FaucetsKitchen Faucets– leaks, aerators, pedal operated controllersleaks, aerators, pedal operated controllers

Pre-rinse SprayersPre-rinse Sprayers– 1.6 to 2.65 gpm models available1.6 to 2.65 gpm models available

Ice-making MachinesIce-making Machines– Air Cooled (<50 gal/100 lbs. ice) Air Cooled (<50 gal/100 lbs. ice)

vs. Water Cooled (120-300 gal/100 vs. Water Cooled (120-300 gal/100 lbs. ice)lbs. ice)

Garbage Disposal UseGarbage Disposal Use

Cleaning and RinsingCleaning and RinsingEfficient Washing/Sanitation Efficient Washing/Sanitation TechniquesTechniques

Conduct “Dry Cleanup” First Conduct “Dry Cleanup” First – Use Use squeegeessqueegees, brooms, shovels, vacuums; , brooms, shovels, vacuums;

collect residuals for reuse/recycle collect residuals for reuse/recycle Low Volume - High Pressure NozzlesLow Volume - High Pressure Nozzles Air-Assisted NozzlesAir-Assisted Nozzles Flow RestrictorsFlow Restrictors Automatic Shut-offs, TimersAutomatic Shut-offs, Timers Proper Equipment, Technique, & TrainingProper Equipment, Technique, & Training

– (e.g. do not use a hose as a broom)(e.g. do not use a hose as a broom)

Other Process Other Process Water Reuse MeasuresWater Reuse Measures

Reuse of once through, non-contact Reuse of once through, non-contact cooling water for next process bath or for cooling water for next process bath or for pre-heatpre-heat

Reuse of oil/water separator filtrate for Reuse of oil/water separator filtrate for mop water or paint booth water curtainsmop water or paint booth water curtains

Use of reverse osmosis reject water for Use of reverse osmosis reject water for cooling tower make-upcooling tower make-up

Condensate recovery & reuseCondensate recovery & reuse Other ideas?Other ideas?

LandscapingLandscaping Water Efficiency Water Efficiency

NaturescapingNaturescaping– Planning & DesignPlanning & Design– Soil Analysis & Soil Analysis &

ImprovementImprovement– Proper Plant Proper Plant

SelectionSelection– Practical Turf AreasPractical Turf Areas– Efficient IrrigationEfficient Irrigation– Use MulchesUse Mulches– Proper MaintenanceProper Maintenance– Watering GuidanceWatering Guidance

Remember the Typical Remember the Typical Institutional Water Institutional Water BalanceBalance

School and Universities

Domestic48%Landscaping

30%

Unaccounted for4%

Cooling & Heating

5%

Once through Cooling

5%

Kitchen4%

Laundry3%

Leaks1%

The Cost of WaterThe Cost of Water

Units of water X $/unit (water) Units of water X $/unit (sewerage charge )

= Your water bill

Top Water Efficiency MeasuresTop Water Efficiency Measures

Recycle waterRecycle water Improve maintenance Improve maintenance

to replace partsto replace parts Use domestic water Use domestic water

efficiency measuresefficiency measures Change operational Change operational

practicespractices Adjust cooling tower Adjust cooling tower

blowdownblowdown Repair leaksRepair leaks

Reduce irrigation Reduce irrigation schedulesschedules

Adjust equipmentAdjust equipment Install spray nozzlesInstall spray nozzles Install/replace Install/replace

automatic shut-offsautomatic shut-offs Reduce dishwasher Reduce dishwasher

loadsloads Turn off equipment Turn off equipment

when not in usewhen not in use

State Agencies ActionsState Agencies Actions

Exec Order 26 Water System Exec Order 26 Water System Protection ParticipationProtection Participation

Voluntary Compliance with Local Voluntary Compliance with Local Government RestrictionsGovernment Restrictions

Establish Baseline Water UseEstablish Baseline Water Use

Prepare for USI participationPrepare for USI participation

ResourcesResources

Technical Assistance & On-site AssessmentsTechnical Assistance & On-site Assessments -NCDPPEA – Rusty Harris-Bishop, (919) 733--NCDPPEA – Rusty Harris-Bishop, (919) 733-

4398, 4398, rusty.harris-bishop@ncmail.netrusty.harris-bishop@ncmail.net-Terry Albrecht (828) 251-6622, -Terry Albrecht (828) 251-6622,

terry.albrecht@ncmail.netterry.albrecht@ncmail.net Fact Sheets, Checklists, Manuals, PostersFact Sheets, Checklists, Manuals, Posters

www.SustainableNC.org/water.htmwww.SustainableNC.org/water.htm Water Efficiency Manual Water Efficiency Manual

http://www.p2pays.org/ref/01/00692.http://www.p2pays.org/ref/01/00692.pdfpdf NC Drought Information:NC Drought Information: www.ncwater.orgwww.ncwater.org State Agency Mandates:State Agency Mandates: www.SustainableNC.orgwww.SustainableNC.org

Checklists • Office Buildings • Dormitory/Group Living Operations • Food Service Operations • Hospitals/Medical Facilities • Industrial Laundering Operations • Landscaping/Irrigation • Schools • & bunch of Factsheets

Posters • Water Conservation Poster• Water Conservation Workplace Tips• Poster Water Conservation Message• Drip Reporting

Checklists and Posters

www.SustainableNC.org/water.htm

"When the well is dry,

we know the worth of water."--Benjamin Franklin