Water Efficiency In The Water Efficiency In The HomeHome

Judy Adler, P.E.Judy Adler, P.E.

Pollution Prevention Assistance DivisionPollution Prevention Assistance Division

Typical Single Family Home Water Use Typical Single Family Home Water Use Without ConservationWithout Conservation

Total = 72.5 gallons per capita per day

Typical Single Family Home Water Use Typical Single Family Home Water Use With ConservationWith Conservation

Total = 49.6 gallons per capita per day

What factors affect What factors affect water usage in the home?water usage in the home?

Plumbing FixturesPlumbing Fixtures Household incomeHousehold income Cost of water & wastewater serviceCost of water & wastewater service Occupancy ratesOccupancy rates Age and Lifestyle of residentsAge and Lifestyle of residents ClimateClimate Local Landscape Local Landscape Water HabitsWater Habits Awareness of the need to conserve waterAwareness of the need to conserve water

Energy Policy Act 1992Energy Policy Act 1992

Effective January 1, 1994Effective January 1, 1994 Water efficiency plumbing standardsWater efficiency plumbing standards

ToiletsToilets 1.6 gpf1.6 gpf

UrinalsUrinals 1.0 gpf1.0 gpf

ShowerheadsShowerheads 2.5 gpm @ 80 psi2.5 gpm @ 80 psi

FaucetsFaucets 2.5 gpm @ 80 psi2.5 gpm @ 80 psi

81 MGD water savings in ACF by 201081 MGD water savings in ACF by 2010

Economic analysis for my best Economic analysis for my best friend’s toiletfriend’s toilet

Existing toilet = 5 gpfExisting toilet = 5 gpf Average 10 flushes per dayAverage 10 flushes per day New toilet = 1.6 gpf (about $200 including New toilet = 1.6 gpf (about $200 including

installation)installation) Water savings = 12,410 gal/yr = 16.6 ccfWater savings = 12,410 gal/yr = 16.6 ccf Cost savings @ $5/ccf = $83/yearCost savings @ $5/ccf = $83/year

Payback =2.4 yearsPayback =2.4 years

Economic analysis for my toiletEconomic analysis for my toilet

Existing toilet = 3.5 gpfExisting toilet = 3.5 gpf Average 10 flushes per dayAverage 10 flushes per day New toilet = 1.6 gpf (about $200 including New toilet = 1.6 gpf (about $200 including

installation)installation) Water savings = 6,935 gal/yr = 9.3 ccfWater savings = 6,935 gal/yr = 9.3 ccf Cost savings @ $5/ccf = $47/yearCost savings @ $5/ccf = $47/year

Payback =4.3 yearsPayback =4.3 years

More toilet talk………………..More toilet talk………………..

An average of 20% of toilets leakAn average of 20% of toilets leak

Toilet retrofitsToilet retrofits displacement devices (saves 0.8 gpf)displacement devices (saves 0.8 gpf) early closing flappers (saves up to 50% early closing flappers (saves up to 50%

per flush)per flush) Toilet dams (saves 0.5 gpf)Toilet dams (saves 0.5 gpf) Valve retrofit kits for flushometers (1.0 gpf)Valve retrofit kits for flushometers (1.0 gpf)

More toilet talk………………..More toilet talk………………..Consumer Reports Consumer Reports High Rated Toilets - October 2002High Rated Toilets - October 2002 BriggsBriggs VacuityVacuity 4200 vacuum-assisted 4200 vacuum-assisted

toilet - $220toilet - $220 Gerber Gerber Ultra FlushUltra Flush pressure-assisted toilet pressure-assisted toilet

- $280- $280 TotoToto CarlyleCarlyle gravity toilet - $460 gravity toilet - $460 KohlerKohler WellworthWellworth gravity toilet - $150 gravity toilet - $150 American StandardAmerican Standard CadetCadet gravity toilet - gravity toilet -

$170$170

UrinalsUrinals

New 1.0 gpf Urinals (compared to 1.5 to 5.0 gpf)New 1.0 gpf Urinals (compared to 1.5 to 5.0 gpf) Waterless urinalsWaterless urinals Flush-valve replacement kit (saves 1.0 gpf)Flush-valve replacement kit (saves 1.0 gpf)

New 2.2/2.5 gpm showerheads save 35-50% of New 2.2/2.5 gpm showerheads save 35-50% of water use compared to older fixtureswater use compared to older fixtures

Inexpensive (payback typically < 1.0 year)Inexpensive (payback typically < 1.0 year)

ShowerheadsShowerheads

If 2.5 gpm just isn’t If 2.5 gpm just isn’t enough………enough………

FaucetsFaucets

Low-flow aeratorsLow-flow aerators Metered valvesMetered valves Sensor-activated faucetsSensor-activated faucets Leak repairLeak repair Point-of-use hot water demand unitsPoint-of-use hot water demand units

New dishwashers use about 7.0 gallons of water New dishwashers use about 7.0 gallons of water per loadper load

Older dishwashers use up to 14 gallons per loadOlder dishwashers use up to 14 gallons per load

Consumer ReportsConsumer Reports - August 2002 - August 2002

High rated and moderately priced dishwashersHigh rated and moderately priced dishwashers KenmoreKenmore (Sears) 1563(2) and 1552(2) (Sears) 1563(2) and 1552(2)

$350-$450 $350-$450 GEGE Triton XL GSD6600G $499 Triton XL GSD6600G $499

DishwashersDishwashers

Clothes WashersClothes Washers

High efficiency clothes High efficiency clothes washers use about 27 washers use about 27 gallons of water per load vs. gallons of water per load vs. 56 gallons per load for 56 gallons per load for standard top loadersstandard top loaders

High efficiency clothes High efficiency clothes washers use 40 – 70 % less washers use 40 – 70 % less energyenergy

Consumer Reports – July 2002 Consumer Reports – July 2002 Highest ranking – Kenmore Elite 4292 $1,450Highest ranking – Kenmore Elite 4292 $1,450High ranking and lower price – Kenmore 4204, High ranking and lower price – Kenmore 4204,

Frigidaire Gallery, and GE Profile $750Frigidaire Gallery, and GE Profile $750

Behavioral Indoor MeasuresBehavioral Indoor Measures

Take a quick shower (save 20 gallons)Take a quick shower (save 20 gallons) Collect water from faucet while you wait Collect water from faucet while you wait

for hot water and use it to water plantsfor hot water and use it to water plants Compost food scraps instead of using Compost food scraps instead of using

garbage disposalgarbage disposal

Behavioral Indoor MeasuresBehavioral Indoor Measures

Don’t pre-rinse dishes except in cases of Don’t pre-rinse dishes except in cases of sticky foodsticky food

Only run dishwasher and washing Only run dishwasher and washing machine with full loadsmachine with full loads

Use short cycles on dishwasher and Use short cycles on dishwasher and washing machinewashing machine

If it’s If it’s yellowyellow, let it mellow….., let it mellow…..

Indoor conservation incentivesIndoor conservation incentives

Rebates for toilets, showerheads, washing Rebates for toilets, showerheads, washing machinesmachines

Free water conservation kitsFree water conservation kits Free audits and/or installation of low-flow Free audits and/or installation of low-flow

devicesdevices Retrofit on resale ordinancesRetrofit on resale ordinances Education Education!Education Education!

Success StorySuccess StorySanta Monica, CaliforniaSanta Monica, California

Retrofit Upon Resale Ordinance requires Retrofit Upon Resale Ordinance requires installation of water-saving plumbing devices installation of water-saving plumbing devices whenever any residential or commercial property whenever any residential or commercial property is sold or transferredis sold or transferred

$75 rebate for 1.6 gpf toilets $75 rebate for 1.6 gpf toilets Water use surveys provide free indoor kitsWater use surveys provide free indoor kits Cost of program = $5.4 millionCost of program = $5.4 million Cost savings of $9.5 million from avoided Cost savings of $9.5 million from avoided

purchases of imported water and avoided purchases of imported water and avoided wastewater treatment plant capacitywastewater treatment plant capacity

Success StorySuccess StoryMassachusetts Water Massachusetts Water

Resources Authority (MWRA)Resources Authority (MWRA)

Operation WatersenseOperation Watersense Direct installation of water-saving devicesDirect installation of water-saving devices 58% participation rate58% participation rate Installed low-flow fixtures in 348,871 householdsInstalled low-flow fixtures in 348,871 households MWRA’s water conservation program saved MWRA’s water conservation program saved

$1.4 – 1.9 million* in deferred water supply and $1.4 – 1.9 million* in deferred water supply and treatment plant capacitytreatment plant capacity

*Includes savings from other conservation programs including leak detection and repair, *Includes savings from other conservation programs including leak detection and repair, education, improved metering, and rate structureseducation, improved metering, and rate structures

Indoor Conservation ChallengesIndoor Conservation Challenges

Low and declining water ratesLow and declining water rates Previous experience with poor productsPrevious experience with poor products Consumer apathy & ignoranceConsumer apathy & ignorance Rumors Rumors