Water Conservation Begins at the Source

By Jeff Baldwin

T&S Brass

In recent years, conservation of natural resources has become an important topic at virtually all levels of society. Water is a primary natural resource. Agencies such as the World Heath Organization indicate that at current consumption levels Americans will confront severe shortages of potable water by 2025. Causes of this crisis are numerous, including urbanization and population growth, increasing food production, changing consumption patterns and climate change.

As the population grows exponentially, so does the demand for water. In response to domestic demands on this natural resource, the U.S. Congress has passed specific federal guidelines and increased regulations on water flow devices. To further the goals of protecting our nation's water supply, EPA is sponsoring the WaterSense program, a voluntary plan that promotes the market for water-efficient products and services. The most distressed states and municipalities are also promoting best practices in water conservation by adopting specific programs.

With all the regulations and programs, one thing is certain: New supplies of water will be needed to serve the increasing demand - and water conservation is the cheapest new source of water. According to data from the EPA's WaterSense program, conservation accounts for 7% of the region's water supplies. Some specific urban water management plans project that conserved water will account for 12% of future water portfolios and will be an important component of local resource development.

Federal Guidelines & Plumbing Improvements

In 1992, Congress issued the initial guidelines for flow control in various plumbing products. EPAct 1992 regulated the volume of water that could flow through residential, commercial and industrial plumbing equipment. Manufacturers of these various plumbing products worked to comply with the specific standards.

For instance, in an effort to comply with the specified 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) maximum, toilet manufacturers introduced low-flow toilets. As with many startup compliance efforts, there were some obstacles to overcome. In this case, the low-flow toilets did nothing for efficiency, requiring multiple flushes where one used to be sufficient. Since then, improvements to the flow control in these fixtures have increased efficiency and maintained the necessary water conservation.

Plumbing manufacturers continued to respond to the market, and more recent models have improved designs and performance efficiency. The response of manufacturers not only to comply with federal guidelines, but also to exceed them has affected almost every residential, commercial and industrial plumbing product -- most specifically toilets, urinals, faucets, showerheads and pre-rinse spray valves.

EPAct 1992 limits faucets to a maximum of 2.2 gallons per minute (gpm); however, in many public facilities, the aerator has been removed -- completely defeating the water conservation measure. Showerheads are limited to 2.5 gpm, but low-flow can quickly lead to customer dissatisfaction or an outright inability to perform appropriately. In some states, consumers are installing multiple showerheads in order to gain a "shower experience," but in so doing they are sabotaging water conservation efforts.

Low-flow pre-rinse spray valves are the most cost-efficient energy saving devices available in the commercial foodservice market. Much like manufacturers responded to the 1.6 gpf regulations on toilets, they have responded to current regulations for pre-rinse sprayers to maintain water conservation. Replacing old spray valves with a low-flow unit can achieve significant water savings; however, the majority of pre-existing spray valves are not compliant, and industry experts estimate it will take up to 5 years to replace noncompliant sprayers.

Water Conservation & LEED

To further the conservation effort, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) initiative. LEED is a national standard intended to benchmark the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. It provides a framework for assessing building performance and covers all aspects of building design, including water savings.

One focus of the USGBC has been reducing the use of potable water in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. There is still some confusion in the industry over what can be LEED certified and what cannot. Plumbing products cannot be certified by LEED or bear the LEED logo. Only <I>buildings<I> are certified by the USGBC. In order to gain that certification, everyone involved with the design and construction of the building must ensure the project meets certain performance benchmarks.

Manufacturers & Water Conservation

Plumbing products can help contribute to two of the five categories of performance - Water Efficiency and Materials and Resources. For a long time, manufacturers have paid attention to the relationship between the environment and the engineering and designing of plumbing products. For instance, the improved technology that goes into certain faucets and pre-rinse spray valves can help a building earn points for LEED "Water Use Reduction" credits.

LEED has become the primary example of a national building program developed to promote environmental health. There are other regional and statewide programs that have been developed to save water. Water authorities and other agencies continue to promote the installation of water-saving devices in new construction and replacement of old plumbing products with low-flow devices. Manufacturers have also taken proactive measures to support water conservation.

Faucets, showers, urinals and toilets have been the primary focus of EPAct and water conservation efforts in various states. Although it may seem difficult to build water-conserving technologies into these fixtures, building designers can significantly reduce water use by implementing the more recent improvements to these fixtures and fittings. Where pre-existing buildings are concerned, it is also advisable to consider plumbing retrofits to promote water conservation. Studies show significant return on investment from implementing water saving devices in both cases.

During the last 10 years, several significant technologies have been developed to promote water conservation. Many advanced technologies are available and in use today in homes and industrial facilities as well as in commercial buildings. Use of these newer water-conserving technologies is gaining acceptance as more users discover the cost and efficiency benefits of reduced water consumption.

Specific Product Improvements

There are several specific products developed during the most recent decades to support the conservation of water and the energy required to deliver and heat the water supply.

Aerators. To maintain steady water pressure, manufacturers added aerators to shower heads and faucets. As the single-most effective water conservation product in use today, aerators can reduce both water consumption and the cost of heating by as much as 50%. It is easy to tell if the faucets in a public washroom  are missing the aerators because the water spray is very erratic, and the facility is using more water than is absolutely necessary.

Toilets and urinals. The initial EPAct 1992 limited toilets to 1.6 gpf and urinals to 1.0 gpf. Manufacturers immediately developed low-flow toilets to meet or exceed the requirement. More recently, dual-flush toilets have been promoted as more practical water-saving devices. The dual-flush function provides two separate flush valves: a very low-flow flush for liquid waste and a standard flush for solid waste. The standard flush still meets the EPAct requirements. Manufacturers have also developed waterless urinals, which use a cartridge to filter the urine and completely eliminates water flushes.

Flow control disc. The purpose of a flow control disc is to maintain desired sprinkler or spray head output despite changes in supply line pressure. The flow control device consists of a flexible disc which acts as an orifice through which water is emitted. If the operating pressure is below the pressure rating of the device, the disc will remain flat and the flow rate will not be regulated. When the operating pressure is above the pressure rating of the device, the disc flexes outward, reducing the size of the opening and lowering the flow rate.

Sensor faucets. The installation of sensor faucets in public washrooms has been growing steadily for several years. Now, manufacturers are making the convenience available for the home bathroom, adding even more cost-effectiveness to home design and construction. These faucets use proximity sensors to detect motion using beams of infrared light. A disruption to the beam's path activates the water flow. Not only do sensor faucets increase water conservation, but they also improve sanitation. Studies indicate that sensor faucets save as much as 70% in water use and heating costs.

Foot pedal valves. Foot pedals provide hands-free faucet control, allowing the consumer to turn the water on even when hands are full or messy. It also prevents water from running continuously in the kitchen or the bathroom. Although the product has many commercial applications, a number of restaurants, hospitals and hotels across the country now use it. Studies show that use of foot pedals in the kitchen alone can save up to 7,500 gallons of water annually, as well as conserve the energy needed to heat those gallons.

Ceramic cartridges. Because a dripping tap can waste a lot of water every year, it is important to eliminate the constant drip. A dripping tap that wastes just two gallons of water per day is the equivalent of wasting 730 gallons per year. A ceramic cartridge not only eliminates the leaky faucet, it also filters the water. The ceramic cartridge is often overlooked as part of the water conservation effort, but according to EPA, it can save as much as 1,300 gallons of water each year.

Metering cartridges. A metering cartridge allows water to flow when the cartridge is activated, and the flow shuts off automatically at a predetermined rate or after a set time (typically 10 to 15 seconds). Current government regulations allow a maximum of only 0.25 gallons per activation, significantly limiting the volume of wasted water. Many public facilities have installed metering cartridges to reduce over-use and virtually eliminate the possibility of leaving the metered faucet running and flooding the washroom.

Spray valves. Pre-rinse spray valves are typically used in foodservice establishments to pre-clean dishes before they enter the wash cycle. The time it takes to successfully pre-rinse dishes is a function of how well the spray valve works -- better sprayers clean dishes in less time, using less water and energy. A low-flow pre-rinse spray valve is one of the easiest and most efficient energy-saving devices available to the foodservice operator. Much like manufacturers responded to the 1.6 gpf regulations on toilets, it has also responded to current regulations for pre-rinse sprayers to maintain efficiency. Newer spray valves now provide both water savings and performance efficiency.

Conclusion

Water conservation and efficiency have provided unique challenges during the last decade. Manufacturers continue to participate in the efforts of conserving our most precious natural resource by helping to move the technology forward. Only through a combination of improved technology and behavior changes will we be able to achieve water conservation objectives.

Jeff Baldwin is design engineering manager for T&S Brass. Baldwin earned a BSME from Clemson University in 1996, and was in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1991 to 1995. In addition to his current duties as design engineering manager at T&S Brass, Baldwin serves as the company's Conservation Subject Matter Expert and is invited to comment and advise on various topics related to the conservation movement, including but not limited to T&S Brass conservation products and federal compliance issues. Baldwin may be reached at jbaldwin@tsbrass.com.