How can facilities managers (FMs) help organizations meet their sustainability goals while reducing costs? One important way is to implement a water management strategy that centers on optimizing water usage. This is especially important for facilities with multiple buildings, such as colleges and universities, hospitals and other healthcare facilities, corporate campuses with technology offices and manufacturing plants, government and military complexes, industrial and commercial complexes, research and innovation parks, and entertainment and sports complexes.

Here are 4 practical ways to create a water management program for your multi-building campus:

1. Implement Water-Efficient Fixtures

Are your restrooms using a lot of water? Consider replacing old and inefficient urinals and toilets with new ones that use less water. Old toilets can have flush volumes as high as 3 to 7 gallons per flush (gpf) while the federal standard is 1.6 gpf.

FMs can save even more by using WaterSense-labeled flushing urinals using a maximum of 0.5 gpf and WaterSense flushometer-valve toilets using a maximum of 1.28 gpf.

An additional way to save water is installing dual-flush toilets giving users the option for a full flush for solid waste and a reduced flush for liquid waste.

The U.S. General Services Administration estimates that for typical toilets reduced flushes range from 0.8 to 1.1 gallons of water per flush versus full flushes that range from 1.3 to 1.6 gallons per flush.

Faucets are another fixture that can be water wasters. Old faucets can be leaky and should be replaced. Many would think to replace old faucets using touchless faucets with automatic sensors; however, the U.S. Department of Energy says that studies show that touchless faucets can be triggered when not needed and operate at maximum flow. As a result, the department does not consider these to be “conservation devices.” Keep this in mind as you consider what types of faucets you should install in your bathrooms.

Learn more by reading “Back to Basics: 6 Tips to Fight Water Waste in Your Office Building” on Facilities Management Advisor.

2. Dealing with Leaks

Do you have dripping or constantly flowing water in your facility? Or perhaps you have a persistent wet area?

Solve this problem by listening for constantly running equipment, flowing water, and feedback from staff, customers, and visitors.

Be sure to check toilets, sinks, showers (especially for college dormitories), and outdoor irrigation systems.

Repair these leaks by doing the following:

• Toilets: Replace the rubber flapper or the entire toilet, if necessary.
• Sinks: Check faucet washers and gaskets for wear and replace them.
• Showerheads: Ensure there is a tight connection using pipe tape and a wrench.

For less obvious issues, consider checking your water meter before and after a 2-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter reads the same, you might have a leak.

To prevent these problems from happening, be sure to regularly inspect and maintain your plumbing infrastructure and identify deterioration.

3. Maintaining Your System Technologically

How can FMs detect issues before they become problems? They can use technology that will provide immediate alerts.

Consider installing sensors that can detect water leaks and alert facilities management teams immediately.

For small to medium-sized systems, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends using:

• Noise loggers: Uses sound waves to locate leaks in distribution systems with small leaks producing a higher-frequency sound and large leaks having a lower-frequency sound. It includes a listening head and digital recorder in a single sensor.
• Listening sticks: Handheld devices that allow manual checking for leaks along exposed pipes or contact points like hydrants, valves, and meters. Digital models have frequency filters and are easier to operate. It is most cost-effective to use for smaller systems.
• Hand-held thermal imaging: Uses thermal imaging cameras to detect water leaks in or around walls and structures. Leaks will usually be warmer than its surroundings during the winter and colder than the surroundings during the summer.

For large systems with main lines in a distribution system that supplies water throughout a large campus consider using:

• In-pipe sensors: This is usually a one-time service that a vendor provides. It runs a device with acoustic, pressure, or electromagnetic sensors through pipes to detect leaks. It can be tethered or free-floating in watered lines or uses robotic crawlers in de-watered lines.
• Fiber optics: These can be placed inside or on the outside of prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) lines. It can detect breaks in reinforcing steel pipes within the pipe’s structure. They are designed to detect wear on pipes.
• Satellite:  These carry radar sensors that can scan areas up to 1,000 square miles to search for specific treated drinking water signatures. It can detect small water leaks up to 12 feet below the surface of the ground. This technology is more helpful when there is a complete pipe map available.
• Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): It sends electromagnetic waves into the ground and waves are reflected off objects. The device creates a picture of subsurface objects using returned waves. Some GPRs can create 3D models of underground objects.
• Drone-Operated Thermal Imaging: This detects leaks in long transmission mains underneath roads and fields by looking at soil temperature differences.

4. Water Recycling

Consider reusing water, when possible. Keep in mind that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has strict guidelines on this.

FMs should consider capturing, treating, and utilizing water in another application, which is called onsite alternative water sources.

Sources of water that can be recycled include:

• Rainwater/stormwater: water that runs off streets, lawns, and other sites. To learn about standards associated with stormwater, check out “How Facilities Can Meet Drinking Water and Stormwater Standards,” on Facilities Management Advisor.
• Foundation drain water: water collected and removed from around a building’s foundation to prevent flooding.
• Treated gray water:  wastewater from using restroom sinks, washing dishes, laundering clothes, or bathing (applicable for college dormitories).
• Condensate from air conditioning equipment: caused when the cold refrigerant coils absorb heat from the warm air, causing water droplets to form.
• Filter and membrane (e.g. reverse osmosis system): chemicals removed from water to make it drinkable
• Cooling equipment blowdown: the discharged portion of circulating water from a cooling tower

Potential uses of this water include:

• Irrigation: helpful for facilities with large green areas
• Cooling tower make-up water: water that replaces water lost from a cooling tower through evaporation
• Toilet and urinal flushing: extremely helpful for facilities that have multiple multi-user restrooms which normally are moderately or heavily used
• Make-up water for decorative ponds, fountains, and waterfalls: can help prevent algae and bacteria buildup and can attract fish and other aquatic creatures.
• Processes or other uses not requiring potable water: this could include dust suppression, fire suppression systems, and certain cleaning surfaces.
• Fume hood scrubbers: removes harmful substances from the air released from fume hoods and are used in laboratories, manufacturing facilities, and industrial applications.

Conclusion

There are many ways that multi-building campuses can manage their water waste, from installing water-efficient fixtures, detecting leaks, ensuring proper system maintenance, and water recycling. Facilities managers should work with their organizations to determine which part(s) to start working on today.

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