Water Efficiency & Management in Schools, Colleges & Athletic Facilities

The MWRA's (Massachusetts Water Resources Authority) Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) Water Management program was developed to help businesses, industries and institutions improve their water efficiency. Since its formation in 1989, the ICI program has helped various facilities in the MWRA service area reduce their water consumption, thereby reducing operational costs.

The ICI program has produced surveys and water efficiency plans for almost a dozen schools and athletic facilities, including high schools, vocational-technical schools, colleges, universities and YMCAs. The facilities studied had annual water usage ranging from 2 million gallons to over 17 million gallons. Each facility studied had at least one area where Water Efficiency Measures (WEMs) could be employed to achieve significant water reductions.

Listed below are some suggestions and examples of WEMs that have proven successful or have potential applications in typical facilities studied throughout the MWRA service area. Water and sewer rates, as well as cost/savings paybacks, are based on 1993 figures for all examples.

Important note: Before implementing any water efficiency measure be sure to follow all rules and regulations regarding public health and safety requirements and the Massachusetts Plumbing Code.

SANITARY

	Install water saving aerators or spring loaded valves on all faucets.
	Install water saving shower heads.
	Retrofit flushometer toilets and urinals with low consumption valve replacement kits.
	Replace existing higher consumption toilets and urinals with Massachusetts Plumbing Code conforming Ultra Low Flush (ULF) toilets and urinals which use 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) and 1.0 gpf respectively.
	If only replacing a limited number of toilets, replace heavily used fixtures located in high traffic areas first.

Case Study Example #1
A Somerville athletic facility has 24 showers, 17 of which have been fitted with low-flow showerheads. By converting the remaining 7 showerheads to 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm), approximately 276,000 gallons of hot water can be saved annually -- a combined water and energy savings of $665 per year. With an investment of $185 for material and labor the payback for this measure occurs in four months.

Case Study Example #2
A major Boston area university can save an estimated 695,000 gallons of water annually by retrofitting the flushometer toilets in one dormitory. The cost to install the conservation kits is approximately $1,920 and the savings associated with this measure is over $4,900. Payback is realized in under five months.

CAFETERIA & FOOD SERVICE

	Install spray rinsers for pot washing and reduce flow of spray rinsers for prewash.
	Operate dishwashers with full loads only, and shut off when not in use.
	Control flow of water to garbage disposer or consider eliminating the use of the disposer altogether.
	Investigate reusing rinsewater from dishwasher for garbage disposer or for prewash cycle.

Case Study Example #3
A regional vocational school north of Boston has 4 large pot sinks in the kitchen that serves the main cafeteria and the culinary arts classes. The primary use of the sinks is for washing vegetables. With the installation of hoses with spray nozzles, water use can be optimized and reduced from 5 gpm to 2.5 gpm. Annual savings for this measure is estimated at $80. The installation cost is approximately $60 which yields a payback of nine months.

CLASSROOMS & LABS

	Ensure that all washing equipment have aerated spray nozzles equipped with shut off valves.
	Eliminate once through water cooling of lab equipment such as autoclaves and lasers by incorporating into a recirculating chilled cooling loop.
	Retrofit Bradley (circular) sinks with water saving spray heads or sectional spray heads.

Case Study Example #4
Another water saving opportunity for the vocational school involves retrofitting the 11 Bradley sinks in the shop areas. By installing sectional spray heads (which limit the distribution of water to only the section[s] being used) water consumption can be reduced by 1.5 gpm, or an estimated 200,000 gallons annually. Total savings are approximately $1,160 per year and the implementation cost is estimated at $2,500. Payback occurs in two years and two months.

POOLS

	Lower pool water level to reduce amount of water splashed out.
	Evaluate filter backflush schedule, reduce backflushing to minimum necessary without compromising public health and safety.
	Install insulated pool cover and lower pool temperature, if appropriate, to reduce heating costs and evaporation.

Case Study Example #5
A greater Boston athletic facility has a swimming pool that is normally kept at 84 degrees Fahrenheit (the temperature recommended by the American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers [ASHRAE]), evaporation and heat loss can be minimized resulting in a combined water and heating savings of $2,350 annually. Since there is no implementation cost, payback is immediate.

LANDSCAPING & EXTERIOR

	Install automatic irrigation systems -- water only during early morning or evening to reduce evaporation.
	Water only when necessary. Install tensiometers to sense soil moisture content.
	Remove thatch and aerate turf to encourage movement of water to roots.
	When making alterations in landscaping reduce lawn area and opt for less water intensive plants.

Case Study Example #6
A suburban university can save an estimated 5% of their water used for irrigation with the installation of a tensiometer or water limiting switch that shuts the system off when there is sufficient water. The cost to install the switch is estimated at $60 and the annual savings is approximately $80 resulting in a payback of nine months.

HEATING & COOLING

	Minimize the water used in cooling equipment, such as compressors, in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations. Utilize switches and timers to match cooling water to duty cycle of equipment.
	Ensure return of steam condensate to boiler for reuse.
	Avoid excessive cooling tower blowdown, by minimizing consumption with automatic controls and conductivity meters.
	Make-up water and blowdown should be submetered and recorded regularly to address any anomalous usage patterns that could indicate leaks or problems in system.
	Retrofit once-through water-cooled refrigeration and air conditioning units and incorporate into recirculating cooling loop wherever posssible.
	Replace water-cooled equipment with air-cooled units where possible and economically feasible.

Case Study Example #7
Another Boston area university has the potential to recycle cooling water via a closed loop heat exchange system. The closed loop system would replace the use of once through cooling water for the portable lab equipment, thus saving over 5 million gallons of water per year. The project cost is estimated at $80,000 and the annual savings is approximately $23,000 including increased energy costs. The payback for this measure is realized in under three and a half years (note: if the cooling load is increased by adding additional equipment, payback would ocur sooner).

BUILDING MAINTENANCE

	Read water meters. Read your meter daily if your facility uses more than 7.5 million gallons of water per year and weekly if your usage is more than 1 million gallons annually. Plot and analyze the data to determine patterns in your water usage, any inconsistencies may be due to leaks or non-functioning equipment. Refer to the "Improving Water Efficiency" guide available from the MWRA to help track water used at your facility.
	Locate and repair leaks. One leaking faucet can waste up to 1000 gallons of water per week -- that's over $300 per year.
	Check steam traps and solenoid valves. Check all valves and switches on all water using equipment periodically, replace or repair as necessary.
	Maintain insulation on hot water pipes.
	Any water using equipment or fixtures that wear out should be replaced with water saving models or air-cooled units where possible.

GENERAL

	Initiate employee awareness program. Get input and ideas from staff, students and faculty. Encourage water conservation at home as well.
	Encourage water conservation. Increase public awareness with bathroom mirror stickers and brochures with water saving ideas (available from the MWRA).
	Develop a water management plan. Outline a plan at your facility, use the "Improving Water Efficiency" guide and accompanying "water tracker" from the MWRA's ICI Program to help.

1. Know your water and water related costs
2. Set goals and offer incentives for successful ideas
3. Delegate responsibility for actions
4. Chart progress and post results