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Water Conservation Systems

What It Is

Water is the “invisible utility”, whose usage patterns are too often overlooked by companies as a cost of doing business.  Water bills can account for as much as 20% of a buildings’ utility cost and upwards in process applications. Compared to other countries, Canadian water prices are well below average. The cost of water is likely to rise as watersheds are depleted, water conservation and efficiency standards are legislated, and municipal governments increase rates to fund repairs to aging infrastructure.

To reduce water utility bills, building owners must find ways to limit their consumption without sacrificing occupancy comfort.  There are 3 ways to mitigate water utility spending; by reducing use, reusing, and by collecting.

How It Works

• Low Flow & Waterless Fixtures - plumbing fixtures (kitchen and bathroom taps, toilets, urinals, and water fountains) account for a large portion of a buildings water use.  We can reduce their water use by replacing existing toilets with specially designed ‘low-flow’ fixtures (such as dual flush toilets) that will use 50% less water.  Traditional urinal systems have timed cycles that will constantly flush even when they are not used, by integrating water less or motion controlled units we can eliminate this waste. Sinks can be fitted with tap sets that have electronic sensors which control water flow to timed or motion activated bursts. Shower heads can be replaced with higher efficiency heads that save water while maintaining high pressure.
  
• Grey-water recycling – is the process of reusing water from sinks, baths, showers, dish-washing, laundromats, carwashes etc. is a practice that is becoming more popular as water utility prices increase. Here grey water is collected, filtered and stored for use as a supply for toilets and landscape irrigation. Black-water (from toilets) is the only waste water flushed down the drain. There is huge potential for water savings with these systems, and in larger buildings, they are more cost effective if the system is incorporated in new construction.
  
• Hydronic Cooling Water Reductions - Larger system components that use water should also be considered for replacement. Older Hydronic Cooling towers, can account for a large portion of a buildings water utility use. Towers serving old, inefficient A/C systems can easily use twice the water that a new chiller would need. Also some older buildings still operate a ‘once-through’ cooling system, which simply flushes water over a cooling coil and drains the water down the drain. This system costs ten times as much to operate as a modern air-cooled system.
  
• Rain water collection - has been done throughout history. Minimal filtering is required before storage and reuse if the collected rainwater is used for toilets, landscape irrigation and in some cases process use. More advanced filtration such as ultraviolet water purifiers may be required depending on length of time stored and desired water usage. Rain water collection is usually quite effective, because most large commercial/industrial buildings have large, flat roofs that provide lots of space for collection.   Imagine collecting rainwater to water your companies rooftop garden.

Benefits

• Water utility cost reductions from 50% to 90%
• Limit the impact of budgeting uncertainties associated with large yearly water utility rate increases
• Reduces load on municipal water and sewage treatment facilities