Water conservation has become a requirement for many facilities nationally and an important issue to be addressed as government level. The need to conserve water is now a worldwide endeavor requiring urgent attention. This is driven by: the availability of water, current sewer capacity and rising costs and/or budget cuts. To achieve optimal water efficiency, the implementation of appropriate fixtures and products is desirable.
Another issue with water in general is not only the availability but its effects on health. Readily available water in homes and places of habitation improves sanitation, improved sanitation leads to better health and outcomes. Financial benefits are also a by-product of readily available water as for many communities, the time which is spent obtaining water from significant distances, can contribute to a better quality of life for a family or community.
There are many product categories which help and improve water efficiency:
Most water saving toilets and urinals are still flushed with potable water and it is estimated that up to 20% of the available drinking water in the world is flushed down the drain, wastefully. In addition, leakage of water delivery lines may add an additional 8% to the above figure.
Toilets come in a variety of models, flushing types and applications. In most of the Western World urinals use from 13 litres down to 3 litres of water per flush. Then there are water saving toilets such as waterless toilets which work for on a mulching system, incineration system or simply a collection system. These are mostly installed in outlying areas of camps or parks. Non water using toilets are often a first step for remote areas or countries where water infrastructure is not readily available.
The same applies for flushed urinals. They come in a variety of models, flushing types and applications. Urinals have been installed for approximately 90 years, using mostly 11 litres per flush. In new installations today, most urinals use less than 3 litres , with some working at 1 litre or 0.5 litres per flush. The next generation are Waterless No-Flush™ urinals that offer zero water consumption and have been in existence for approximately 25 years.
A Waterless urinal saves on average 75708 to 170343 litres of water per annum!. Twenty-two Waterless urinals can save up to 3785411 litres of water per year!
It is estimated that there are approximately eight to nine million flushed urinals installed in the US alone, with approximately 100 million people using these fixtures on a daily basis. Assuming an average 7 litre flush, the potable water use of urinals alone in this country is approximately 605,665,885,440 litres per year! And for water saving toilets it could be at least twice that.
605,665,885,440 litres of water is equivalent to the water usage of 490,000 homes or 1.9 million people per year. This vast amount of outflow to the sewer and septic systems can be eliminated in addition to the use of chemicals to treat this effluent amount.
On a local level, this could mean that in a typical office building restroom with three urinals and 120 men would amount to a yearly water use of 899414 litres of potable water flushed down the toilet (pardon the pun). This figure is based on three uses per person per day and only for 220 working days.
For large facilities such as convention centers or hotels, there are ‘water brooms’. These can take the place of using a hose, even with a nozzle, for cleaning efficiently large surfaces. They have a wide front which provide better coverage, have high tech spray nozzles and save about 60% of the water normally used with a regular hose.
For restaurants , a lot of water is wasted cleaning dishes. Pre-rinse spray washers/nozzles can be employed here to reduce water use by as much as 40%.
By using easy to install water saving toilets, zero flush urinals or water brooms, you too can help to save valuable water and costs for a facility.
