October 2012
A-5
A.2 Federal Agency Implements Water Management Strategy
••
Closely monitoring cooling towers to ensure that cycles of concentration are
maximized.
••
Collecting and reusing air handler condensate as cooling tower make-up water.
••
Eliminating any remaining instances of single-pass cooling, replacing equipment
such as water-cooled ice machines and liquid-ring vacuum pumps.
••
Controlling the use of tempering water to cool steam sterilizer discharge water,
only allowing the tempering water to flow when the equipment is in use.
EPA also established annual water reduction targets for each facility. As the targets
are monitored and the facilities are reassessed, targets are updated and new projects
are identified so EPA can continue making progress towards Agencywide goals.
Savings Summary
EPA’s facility-specific approach to water efficiency has resulted in significant savings when
tallied up among all of the Agency’s laboratories. As of the end of 2010, EPA has reduced
its water use intensity by 18.7 percent from the required 2007 baseline. This amounts
to approximately 23.4 million gallons in total water savings and water and sewer cost
savings of more than $200,000. See Figure A-2 for an illustration of EPA’s water savings in
recent years.
Figure A-2. Water Use Intensity of All EPA Laboratories (gallons per gross square foot),
2007
through 2010
Acknowledgements
EPA’s WaterSense program acknowledges the following individuals for providing
information for this case study:
••
Dexter Johnson, Water Management Coordinator, EPA
••
Bucky Green, Chief, Sustainable Facilities Practices Branch, EPA
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2019 2020
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
Water Intensity (gallons per gross square foot)
EPA’s Actual Gallons per Gross Square Foot Executive Order 13514 Target
