3.2
Toilets
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WaterSense at Work: Best Management Practices for Commercial and Institutional Facilities
2-9
Overview
Identifying and repairing leaks and other water use anomalies within a facility’s water
distribution system or from particular processes or equipment can keep a facility
from wasting significant quantities of water. As described in Table 2-2, water leaks
can add up over time.
12,13
Table 2-2. Potential Losses FromWater Leaks
An aggressive leak detection and repair program can help facility managers better
understand building water use and save money by avoiding water waste.
Best Practices
Reading meters, installing failure abatement technologies, and conducting visual
and auditory inspections are important best practices to detect leaks. To reduce un-
necessary water loss, all detected leaks should be repaired quickly.
2.3
Leak Detection and Repair
Malfunction
Leaking Flow
Rate (gallons
per minute)
Water Loss
Estimated Cost
of Water Loss
Leaking Toilet
0.5
gpm
21,600
gallons
per month
$2,100 per year
Drip Irrigation
Malfunction
1.0
gpm
43,200
gallons
per month
$4,300 per year
UnattendedWater
Hose at Night
10.0
gpm
5,400
gallons
per day
$16,000 per year
Broken Distribution
Line for:
One Day
One Week
One Month
15.0
gpm
15.0
gpm
15.0
gpm
21,600
gallons
151,200
gallons
648,000
gallons
Up to $64,000
per year
Tempering Water Line
on a Steam Sterilizer
Stuck in the On Position
2.0
gpm
86,400
gallons
per month
$8,600 per year
Stuck Float Valve in a
Cooling Tower
5.0
gpm
216,000
gallons
per month
$21,000 per year
12
City of Poway, California. How to Detect a Water Leak.
13
Estimated cost of water loss based on an average rate of $8.25 per 1,000 gallons for water and wastewater determined from data in: American Water
Works Association (Raftelis Financial Consulting). 2010.
Water and Wastewater Rate Survey
.
