Drought or no drought? Drought or no drought? Rusty Harris-Bishop Environmental Engineer NC Div. Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance How is Your Long-term Financially Feasible Water Efficiency Plan Coming Along? How is Your Long-term Financially Feasible Water Efficiency Plan Coming Along? OR
HUH? WHAT? A PLAN? WHY?
NC Drought Status
NC Water Use Restrictions Emergency Restrictions Emergency Restrictions –7 Water Systems Voluntary Restrictions Voluntary Restrictions –146 Water Systems September 26, 2002 Mandatory Restrictions Mandatory Restrictions – 77 Water Systems
Executive Order #26 Water 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, 2002
Benefits of Water Efficiency Programs Reduces Water Demand Reduces Water Demand –Generally faster, cheaper & easier Waste and Wastewater Treatment Savings Waste and Wastewater Treatment Savings –Reduce and defers costs & pretreatment req. Less Environmental Impact Less Environmental Impact –Due to less surface and subsurface withdrawals Sustained Water Quality Sustained Water Quality –New supplies can be of lesser quality
Planning for Water Efficiency Information Collection Information Collection Top management support Top management support Determine internal baselines and/or external benchmarks Determine internal baselines and/or external benchmarks Determine target areas Determine target areas Determine best available techniques and technologies -advantages & disadvantages projects Determine best available techniques and technologies -advantages & disadvantages projects Develop Action plan with timelines & responsibilities Develop Action plan with timelines & responsibilities Track & Communicate Results Track & Communicate Results
Things to Ask Yourself Do we have continuing senior management commitment? Do we have continuing senior 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 employee/student participation? How are we encouraging employee/student participation? Are contingency plans in the works? Are contingency plans in the works?
Establishing 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 – Typical
Low & No-Cost Measures Install aerators on all faucets Install aerators on all faucets Put water-filled plastic bottles (milk jugs) or dams in toilet tanks Put water-filled plastic bottles (milk jugs) or dams in toilet tanks Install low flow showerheads and other plumbing equipment Install low flow showerheads and other plumbing equipment Reduce water pressure Reduce water pressure Reduce water flow rates at lavatory faucets and at tank-less toilet valves Reduce water flow rates at lavatory faucets and at tank-less toilet valves Turn off water-using equipment when not in use Turn off water-using equipment when not in use Reduce or eliminate once- through cooling water Reduce or eliminate once- through cooling water Turn off air handling and cooling towers at nights and on weekends Turn off air handling and cooling towers at nights and on weekends Attach shut-off nozzles to all hand held hoses Attach shut-off nozzles to all hand held hoses Sweep instead of using a hose to clean and implement other dry cleanup techniques Sweep instead of using a hose to clean and implement other dry cleanup techniques Minimize garbage disposal use Minimize garbage disposal use
Long Term Conservation/Efficiency Programs: Delegation of authority Delegation of authority Inventory water uses Inventory water uses Identification and tracking of daily water use – Establishment of a Baseline Identification and tracking of daily water use – Establishment of a Baseline Detection & repair of leaks Detection & repair of leaks Installation of water conservation devices/equipment/fixtures as feasible Installation of water conservation devices/equipment/fixtures as feasible Employee education and awareness program Employee education and awareness program Form a rapid response system for fixing leaks and replacing malfunction equipment Form a rapid response system for fixing leaks and replacing malfunction equipment
Water Management Options Sanitary/Domestic Sanitary/Domestic Cooling & Heating Cooling & Heating Kitchen/Food Preparation Kitchen/Food Preparation Cleaning & Rinsing Cleaning & Rinsing Reuse Reuse Landscaping Landscaping
Sanitary/Domestic Efficiency Sanitary/Domestic Efficiency Driving Factor Energy Policy Act Toilet Retrofits Toilet Retrofits –displacement devices, flapper valve, inserts gpf Toilets 1.6 gpf Toilets –gravity, flushvalve, pressurized flush units 1.0 gpf Urinals 1.0 gpf Urinals Maintenance Checklists Maintenance Checklists
Payback for Toilet Replacements
Ensuring a Successful Toilet Replacement Project Replace highest use toilets first Replace highest use toilets first Select type carefully Select type carefully Know sewer/sanitary infrastructure Know sewer/sanitary infrastructure Base decisions on current models Base decisions on current models Educate employees toilet trash can Educate employees toilet trash can Check references Check references Consider noise levels Consider noise levels Plan for legal disposal/recycling options Plan for legal disposal/recycling options
Domestic/Sanitary Continued Faucets Faucets –aerators, flow restrictor, automatic & metered shut-offs –Payback yrs Showerheads Showerheads –behavior, leaks, replacements –Payback yrs Infrared/Ultrasonic Sensors Infrared/Ultrasonic Sensors Waterless Urinals Waterless Urinals
Cooling & Heating Cooling & Heating Cooling tower schematic
Boiler Water Management Chemical metering systems Chemical metering systems Biocide selection Biocide selection Improved blowdown techniques (total dissolved solids >= 2000 ppm) Improved blowdown techniques (total dissolved solids >= 2000 ppm) Optimizing temperature requirements Optimizing temperature requirements
Kitchen & Food Prep & Dishwashers Kitchen & Food Prep & Dishwashers Behavioral Behavioral –educate staff –report leaks –run racks only when full Mechanical Mechanical –recycle final rinse water –use “electric eye” sensors on conveyor systems –use properly sized dishwashers
Dishwasher Water Use
Kitchen & Food Prep Other Water Use Option Kitchen Faucets Kitchen Faucets –leaks, aerators, pedal operated controllers Pre-rinse Sprayers Pre-rinse Sprayers –1.6 to 2.65 gpm models available Ice-making Machines Ice-making Machines –Air Cooled (<50 gal/100 lbs. ice) vs. Water Cooled ( gal/100 lbs. ice) Garbage Disposal Use Garbage Disposal Use
Cleaning and Rinsing Efficient Washing/Sanitation Techniques Cleaning and Rinsing Efficient Washing/Sanitation Techniques Conduct “Dry Cleanup” First Conduct “Dry Cleanup” First –Use squeegees, brooms, shovels, vacuums; collect residuals for reuse/recycle Low Volume - High Pressure Nozzles Low Volume - High Pressure Nozzles Air-Assisted Nozzles Air-Assisted Nozzles Flow Restrictors Flow Restrictors Automatic Shut-offs, Timers Automatic Shut-offs, Timers Proper Equipment, Technique, & Training Proper Equipment, Technique, & Training –(e.g. do not use a hose as a broom)
Other Process Water Reuse Measures Other Process Water Reuse Measures Reuse of once through, non-contact cooling water for next process bath or for pre-heat Reuse of once through, non-contact cooling water for next process bath or for pre-heat Reuse of oil/water separator filtrate for mop water or paint booth water curtains Reuse of oil/water separator filtrate for mop water or paint booth water curtains Use of reverse osmosis reject water for cooling tower make-up Use of reverse osmosis reject water for cooling tower make-up Condensate recovery & reuse Condensate recovery & reuse Other ideas? Other ideas?
Landscaping Water Efficiency Landscaping Water Efficiency Naturescaping Naturescaping –Planning & Design –Soil Analysis & Improvement –Proper Plant Selection –Practical Turf Areas –Efficient Irrigation –Use Mulches –Proper Maintenance –Watering Guidance
Remember the Typical Institutional Water Balance
The Cost of Water Units of water X $/unit (water) Units of water X $/unit (sewerage charge ) = Your water bill
Top Water Efficiency Measures Recycle water Recycle water Improve maintenance to replace parts Improve maintenance to replace parts Use domestic water efficiency measures Use domestic water efficiency measures Change operational practices Change operational practices Adjust cooling tower blowdown Adjust cooling tower blowdown Repair leaks Repair leaks Reduce irrigation schedules Reduce irrigation schedules Adjust equipment Adjust equipment Install spray nozzles Install spray nozzles Install/replace automatic shut-offs Install/replace automatic shut-offs Reduce dishwasher loads Reduce dishwasher loads Turn off equipment when not in use Turn off equipment when not in use
State Agencies Actions Exec Order 26 Water System Protection Participation Exec Order 26 Water System Protection Participation Voluntary Compliance with Local Government Restrictions Voluntary Compliance with Local Government Restrictions Establish Baseline Water Use Establish Baseline Water Use Prepare for USI participation Prepare for USI participation
Resources Technical Assistance & On-site Assessments Technical Assistance & On-site Assessments -NCDPPEA – Rusty Harris-Bishop, (919) , -NCDPPEA – Rusty Harris-Bishop, (919) , -Terry Albrecht (828) , Fact Sheets, Checklists, Manuals, Posters Fact Sheets, Checklists, Manuals, Posters Water Efficiency Manual Water Efficiency Manual NC Drought Information: NC Drought Information: State Agency Mandates: State Agency Mandates:
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
"When the well is dry, we know the worth of water." --Benjamin Franklin