Table Of Content&
Manager
Vf^ter Efficiency
&
in Schools, Colleges Athletic Facilities
A
bulletin produced by the
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
MA
100 First Avenue • Charlestown NavyYard • Boston^ 02129
UMASS/AMHERST * ^ -i
The MWRA's Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) Water ManagementT^fti^tfOrTv^jacvcroped to help
businesses, industries and institutions improve theirwater efficiency. Since its formation in 1989, the ICI program
MWRA
has helped various facilities in the service area reduce their water consumption, thereby reducing opera-
tional costs.
The ICI program has produced surveys and water efficiencyplans foralmost a dozen schools and athletic facilities,
including high schools, vocational-technical schools, colleges, universities and YMCAs. The facilities studied had
annua] water usage ranging from 2 million gallons to over 17 million gallons. Each facilitystudied had at least one
areawhere Water Efficiency Measures (WEMs) could be employed to achieve significantwater rcduaions.
WEMs
Listed below are somesuggestions and examples of that have proven successful or have potential applications
MWRA
in typical facilities studied throughout the service area. Water and sewer rates, as well as cost/savings
paybacks, are based on 1993 figures forall examples.
Important note: Beforeimplementingany water^ftciency measure besure tofollowallrulesandregulations
regardingpublichealthandsafety requirementsandtheMassachusettsPlumbing Code.
SANITARY
• Install water saving aerators orspringloaded valves on all faucets.
• Install watersavingshowerheads.
• Retrofit flushomcter toiletsand urinals with low consumption valve replacement kits.
• Replace existing higherconsumption toilets and urinalswith Massachusetts Plumbing Code conforming
UltraLowFlush (ULF) toilets and urinals which use 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) and 1.0 gpfrespectively.
• Ifonly replacinga limited numberoftoilets, replace heavily used fixtures located in high trafficareas
first.
CaseStudyExample #1
. 'X^. ^ . . .v.,: :
A Somervilleathleticfacilityhas24showers, 17ofwhichhavebeenfittedwith low-flowshowerheads. By
convertingtheremaining7sh—owerheads to2.5gallonsperminute(gpm), approximately276,000gallonsofhot
watercan besavedannually acombinedwaterandenergysavingsof$66Speryear. Withan investmentof
;,
$185formaterialandlabor thepaybackforthis measureoccursinfourmonths. • . .-kv .. . , _^
A majorBostonareauniversitycansavean estimated695,000gallonsofwaterannuallyby retrofittingthe
flushometertoiletsin onedormitory. Thecostto install theconservation kitsisapproximately$1,920anddie
savingassociatedwith this measureis over$4,900. Paybackisrealizedin underfivemonths.
CAFETERIA & FOOD SERVICE
• Install spray rinscrs for pot washing and reduce flow ofspray rinscrs for prcwash.
• Operate dishwashers withfiiUlozds only, and shut offwhen not in use.
• Control flowofwaterto garbage disposer or consider eliminating the use ofthe disposer altogether.
• Investigate reusing rinsewater from dishwasher for garbage disposer or for prewash cycle.
CaseStudyExample #^ ; .;s- ^ ^ - - .
A regioTulvocationalschoolnorth ofBoston has4largepotsinks in thekitchen thatserves themaincafeteriaand
theculinaryartsclasses. Theprimaryuseofthesinksisforwashing vegetables. With theinstallationofhosesuHth
spray nozzles, wateruse can be optimizedandreducedfrom5gpm to2.5gpm. Annualsavingsfirrthismeasureis
estimatedat$80. Theinstallation costisapproximately$60whichyieldsapayback ofninemonths.
CLASSROOMS & LABS
• Ensure that all washing equipment have aerated spray nozzles equipped with shut offvalves.
• Eliminate once through water cooling oflab equipment such as autoclaves and lasers by incorporating into
a recirculating chilled cooling loop.
• Retrofit Bradley (circular) sinks with water saving spray heads orsectional spray heads.
CaseStudy Example #4
Another watersavingopportunityfor the vocationalschoolinvolvesretrofittingthe 11 Bradleysinksin theshop ?
areas. Byinstallingsectionalsprayheads (whichlimitthedistribution ofwaterto onlythesectionfsjbeingused)
waterconsumption can be reducedby 1.5gpm, oranestimated200,000gallonsannually. Totalsavingsart
approximately$1,160peryearandtheimplementationcostisestimatedat$2,500. Paybackoccursinturnyears
andtwo months: '' '
' • ' . ".
POOLS
Lower pool water level to reduce amount ofwatersplashed out.
Evaluate filter backflush schedule, reduce backflushing to minimum necessarywithout compromising
public health and safety.
Install insulated pool cover and lower pool temperature, ifappropriate, to reduce heating costs and
evaporation. - •
CaseStudyExample #5 •
AgreaterBostonathleticJacilityhasaswimmingpoolthatis normallykeptat84'F. Bylotveringthe temperature
to 80'F(thetemperature recommendedby theAmerican SocietyofHeatingRefrigeration andAir Conditioning
;
Engineers [ASHRAE]), evaporation andheatlosscan be minimizedresultingin a combinedwaterandheating
savingsof$2,350annually. Since thereis no implementation cost,paybackisimmediate.
LANDSCAPING & EXTERIOR
—
• Install automatic irrigation systems water onlyduring early morning or evening to reduce evaporation.
• Water onlywhen necessary. Install tensiometers to sense soil moisture contenL
• Remove thatch and aerate turfto encourage movement ofwater to roots.
• When making alterations in landscaping reduce lawn area and opt for less water intensive plants.
CaseStudyExample #6
. -x..:, ,, ,
A suburbanuniversitycansavean estimated5% oftheirwaterusedfirirrigation with theinstallationofa
tensiometerorwaterlimitingsuntch thatshuts thesystem off"when there issufficientwater. Thecosttoinstall r
theswitch isestimatedat$60andtheannualsavingsisapproximately$80 resultingin apaybackofniru months.
HEATING & COOUNG
• Minimize thewater used in cooling equipment, such as compressors, in accordancewith manufacturer's
recommendations. Utilizeswitches and timers to match cooling water to duty cycle ofequipment.
• Ensure return ofsteam condensate to boiler for reuse.
• Avoid excessive cooling tower blowdown, by minimizing consumption with automatic controls and
conduaivity meters.
• Make-up waterand blowdown should be submetered and recorded regularly to address anyanomalous
usage patterns that could indicate leaks or problems in system.
• Retrofitonce-through water-cooled refrigeration and air conditioning units and incorporate into
recirculating cooling loop wherever possible.
• Replace water-cooled equipment with air-cooled units where possible and economically feasible.
CaseStudyExample #7
-
^. , . .
AnotherBostonarea universityhas thepotentialto recyclecoolingwater viaa closedloop heatexchangesystem.
Theclosedloopsystem wouldreplace the useofonce throughcoolingwaterfirtheportablelab equipment, thus
savingover5milliongallonsofwaterperyear. Theprojectcostisestimatedat$80,000andtheannualsavingsis
approximately$23,000includingincreasedenergycosts. ;Thepaybackforthismeasureisrealizedin underthree
anda halfyears(note: ifthecoolingloadis increasedbyaddingadditionalequipmentpaybackwouldoccursooner).
BUILDING MAINTENANCE
• Read watermeters
Read yourmeter daily ifyour facility uses more than 7.5 million gallons ofwaterperyearand
weeklyifyour usage is more than 1 million gallons annually. Plot and analyzethe datato determine
patterns in yourwaterusage, any inconsistencies may be due to leaks or non-funaioning equipment.
Refer to the "Improving WaterEfficiency" guide available from the MWTIAto help trackwater used at
your facility.
• Locate and repairleaks —
Oneleakingfaucetcan wasteup U) 1000gallons ofwaterperweek that'sover$300peryear.
• Checksteam traps and solenoidvalves
Checkall valves and switches on all water using equipment periodically, replace or repairas
necessary.
• Maintain insulation on hotwater pipes.
• Anywater using equipment or fixtures thatwearout should be replaced withwatersaving models orair-
cooled unitswhere possible.
GENERAL
• Initiateemployee awareness program
Get input and ideas from staff, students and faculty. Encourage water conservation at home as well.
• Encouragewaterconservation
Increase public awareness with bathroom mirrorstickers and brochures with watersaving ideas
(available from the MWRA).
• Develop awater management plan
Outline a plan at your facility, use the "ImprovingWater Efficiency" guideand accompanying
"water tracker" from the MWRA's ICI Program to help.
• Know yourwater and water related costs
• Set goals and offer incentives forsucccssfiil ideas
• Delegate responsibility for aaions
• Chart progress and post results. . _
For more information:
MWRAs
Call the ICI program at (6l7)-242-7110
Or write to;
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
100 First Avenue
Charlestown NavyYard
MA
Boston, 02129
9/2794
