Installing low flow fixtures and aerators saves money and water. Aerators for faucets and showers require an initial capital investment, but they can often pay back the investment in under a year, especially in situations where they are in heavy use.
For detailed information on water use efficiency, see New Mexico’s Water Conservation Guide for Commercial, Institutional and Industrial Users.
Also consider replacing old washing machines with water-efficient washing machines for team laundry. Consult Energy Star’s Commercial Clothes Washers for product listings.
EPA Plumbing and Water Conservation Contract LanguageWhole Building Design Guide Sample Contract Language
For a database of environmentally intelligent products that can help reduce water use, visit the following databases:
Oikos Green Product Database
California Urban Water Conservation Council’s Product Listings
EPA’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Database
EPA – Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines: Suppliers Database
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey at La Guardia Airport is upgrading its restroom facilities to increase the efficiency of toilets, faucets, and showers. It installed a leak detection system, ultra –low flow toilets, high efficiency aerators for faucets, and flow restrictors on showerheads. These improvements have yielded annual water savings of almost $160,000, compared with an initial capital cost of only $90,000. Case Study
The Veterans Affairs Hospital in Portland, Oregon performed a water audit and implemented a variety of water savings measures, including low-flow toilets, faucets, and showers. Savings from these low-flow fixtures amounted to over $50,000 per year. Case Study
- Toilets: 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF) or less
- Faucets: 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM) or less
- Showers: 2.5 GPM or less
Every year, almost half the world’s population lives without a steady supply of clean drinking water. In the United States, many sources of freshwater are being depleted faster than they can be recharged by natural processes. Water conservation is especially important in light of the looming pressures of global warming, which threaten to significantly increase evaporation as well as instances of severe drought. Water conservation measures can help to ensure that future generations have access to the water they need.
EPA – Using Water Efficiently: Tips for businesses
EPA – Water Efficiency Programs by State