WATER CONSERVATION
 |
|
||||||||||
| Overview: | Water conservation activities are
a key aspect of sustainable development because they help to protect water as a natural
resource, minimize the use of chemicals needed to treat water and wastewater, and reduce
energy use and related pollution associated with pumping and transporting water. Water
conservation can be accomplished through design and planning changes, and changes in
maintenance and infrastructure activities. According to the Department of Energy, estimates indicate that Federal-sector expenditures for water and sewer run between $0.5 billion and $1 billion annually, and that the Federal Government could save as much as $240 million per year by implementing water conservation measures. Expenditures and potential savings will increase as the cost of water continues to rise; rates have already increased 100% to 400% in major cities during the past 10 years, and this trend is expected to continue. Building design and planning may incorporate both indoor and outdoor water conservation strategies. Inside, the installation of water-efficient plumbing fixtures, such as ultra low-flow toilets and urinals, waterless urinals, low-flow and sensored sinks, low-flow showerheads, and water-efficient dishwashers and washing machines, will reduce overall water use. Outdoors, designers can plan landscaping features, vegetation, and irrigation to reduce the need for water. Consider water-efficient irrigation systems, irrigation control systems, low-flow sprinkler heads, and xeriscaping, which involves planting native vegetation that needs little or no additional water. Daily maintenance and facility operations offer several additional opportunities to conserve water. First, a water audit can help to identify leaks and wasteful practices. Develop a regular schedule for checking for and repairing leaks. Separating and reusing graywater generated by indoor activities such as laundries, showers, and sinks, and capturing rainwater to use in irrigation and other on-site uses also can help conserve water. Checking and repairing heating, cooling, and ventilation equipment to ensure that water is being used efficiently will also lead to effective water conservation. Replacing outdated equipment that uses excessive quantities of water with more efficient systems also can help conserve. Military Handbook 1165 (MIL-HDBK-1165) is a resource for water conservation actions. It can be downloaded from: www.afcesa.af.mil/Directorate/CES/civil/water/water.htm.
|
| Compliance Benefit: |
Water conservation activities will help facilities meet the requirements under 1) the Energy
Policy Act of 1992, which requires Federal Agencies to implement all cost-effective
life-cycle water conservation measures with payback periods of less than ten years; and 2)
Executive Order 12902, "Energy and Water Efficiency in Federal Facilities,"
which was issued in 1994 as a follow-up to the Energy Policy Act. EO 12902 states that all
Federal Agencies are to take specific actions to conserve energy and water at their
facilities. This activity also helps facilities to comply with the Department of Navy’s Naval Facilities Engineering Command Planning And Design Policy Statement - 98-01: Design of Sustainable Facilities and Infrastructure, June 18, 1998, which requires all facilities and infrastructure-related design and construction to incorporate sustainable design principles. This provision includes domestic construction for the Navy, Air Force, and Marines, as well as about half of domestic Army construction and about half of all offshore military construction. Air Force Instruction (AFI) 32-7080, "Compliance Assurance and Pollution Prevention," requires Air Force installations to consider water conservation efforts and implement wastewater recycling programs where appropriate and as dictated by AFI 32-1067 and AFI 32-7041. The compliance benefits listed here are only meant to be used as a general guideline and are not meant to be strictly interpreted. Actual compliance benefits will vary depending on the factors involved, e.g. the amount of workload involved.
|
| Materials Compatibility: | No materials compatibility issues were identified.
|
| Safety and Health: |
No major safety or health issues associated with installing and maintaining water
conserving technologies were identified. Consult your local industrial health specialist,
your local health and safety personnel, and the appropriate MSDS prior to implement these
technologies.
|
| Benefits: |
|
| Disadvantages: |
|
| Economic Analysis: |
Naval Post Graduate School has installed numerous initiatives, including replacing 95
percent of its toilets, urinals, and showerheads with low-flow versions. The facility also
uses non-potable water for irrigation on the main campus and golf course. Engineers at the
facility estimate that the efforts are not cost effective but are necessary to conserve
water in the Monterey Peninsula Water Conservation District. Factors to consider when
developing a cost/benefit analysis include:
|
| Approving Authority: |
Approval is controlled locally and should be implemented only after engineering approval
has been granted. Major claimant approval is not required.
|
| NSN/MSDS: |
|
| Points of Contact: |
Air Force: Mr. Clifford Richardson Energy Engineer 377 CES/CECE 2050 Wyoming Blvd. SE Kirtland Air Force Base, NM 87117-5663 Phone: (505) 846-4633 DSN: 246-4633 FAX: (505) 846-7931 Navy: Mr. Bill Baier Environmental Protection Specialists Naval Post Graduate School 511 Gardeners Road Code 2314 Monterey, CA 93943-5035 Phone: (831) 656-2841 DSN: 878-2841 FAX: (831) 656-3656 Email: wbaier@nps.navy.mil Mr. Frank Vogl Environmental Engineer Naval Post Graduate School 511 Gardeners Road Code 2314 Monterey, CA 93943-5035 Phone: (831) 656-2841 DSN: 878-2841 FAX: (831) 656-3656 Email: fvogl@nps.navy.mil
|
| Vendors: | McMaster-Carr P.O. Box 54960 Los Angeles, CA 90054-0960 Phone: (562) 692-5911 FAX: 562-695-2323 or P.O. Box 440 New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0440 Phone: (732) 329-3200 FAX: (732) 329-3772 Service: Low-flow showerheads URL: www.mcmaster.com Energy Technology Laboratories 2351 Tenaya Drive Modesto, CA 95354 Phone: (209) 529-3546 or (800) 344-3242 FAX: (209) 529-3554 URL: www.savewater.com Service: Low-flow showerheads, aerators Speakman Company P.O. Box 191 Wilmington, DE 19899 Phone: (800) 537-2107 FAX: (800) 977-2747 URL: www.speakmancompany.com Service: Showerheads, aerated faucets, sensors, flow control Niagara Conservation 45 Horsehill Road Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927 Phone: (800) 831-8383 URL: www.niagaraconservation.com Service: Showerheads, low-flow toilets, sink faucet aerators ASKO USA P.O. box 851805 Richardson, TX 75085-1805 Phone: (800) 898-1879 or (972) 238-0794 URL: www.askousa.com Service: Dishwashers, washing machines Water Rite Products, Inc. 4807 Rio Linda Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95838 Phone: (800) 871-3747 or (916) 925-3629 FAX: (916) 925-4035 Email: info@waterrite.com URL: www.waterrite.com Service: Sprinkler systems, irrigation Falcon Waterfree Technologies LLC 10900 Wilshire Boulevard 15th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90024 Phone: (310) 209-7250 FAX: (310) 209-7260 Email: info@falconwaterfree.com URL: www.americanwaterless.com Service: Waterless urinals This is not meant to be a complete list, as there are other manufacturers of this type of equipment.
|
| Sources: | Environmental Building
News- Building Green Inc., 122 Birge Street Suite 30, Brattleboro, VT 05301. Federal Energy Management Program, U.S. Department of Energy,www.eren.doe.gov/femp. Military Handbook 1165, Water Conservation, MIL-HDBK-1165, April 7, 1997, www.afcesa.af.mil/Directorate/CES/Civil/Water/Water.htm.
|
[Back]