Successful water efficiency programs for non-residential

water customers

Successful water efficiency programs for non-residential

water customers

Judy Adler, P.E.Pollution Prevention

Assistance Division (P2AD)

Judy Adler, P.E.Pollution Prevention

Assistance Division (P2AD)

Today’s DiscussionGeorgia Water Supply Issues

Who is P2AD?

Water Efficiency Benefits

Ways to Encourage Water Efficiency

Steps to Develop a Successful Water Efficiency Program

Water Efficiency Success Stories

Dry2k: The drought in Georgia

Georgia is facing its fourth consecutive year of droughtGeorgia’s population has grown to over eight millionPredicted growth of 1.3 million people every decadeChattahoochee/Lake Lanier will not supply growth after 2030 without reduced demand or additional water supplies

ICI DefinitionsIndustrial

manufacturers or processors of materials e.g. textile, pulp and paper, metal finishing

Commercialprovide or distribute a product or servicee.g. hotels, restaurants, office buildings

Institutionsdedication to public service (regardless of public/private ownership)e.g. schools, churches, hospitals, government facilities (including water and wastewater utilities)

What is P2AD ?

A non-regulatory division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources

P2AD provides confidential, free assistance to clients who want to reduce resource usage, waste, and emissions.

These services are available to all Georgia manufacturers, commercial businesses, institutions, and farmers

P2AD Water/Wastewater Services

Water audits On-site wastewater pollution prevention

and water efficiency assessments Facilitation of water efficiency/waste

reduction teams Information center Workshops and onsite training Recognition programs

Georgia Environmental Partnership

Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD)

Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAE), University of Georgia

Economic Development Institute (EDI), Georgia Tech

Don’t Don’t put all put all your your efforts efforts on the on the backendbackend!!

Water Management Hierarchy

Water Management Hierarchy

Water Conservation/ Water Pollution

Prevention

Water Reuse

Wastewater Treatment/Water Supply and Treatment

Incr

easi

ng C

ost

Benefits of Water Efficiency Programs to Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional

Facilities

Water and sewer cost savingsWastewater treatment savingsEnergy cost savingsImproved product competitivenessEasement of regulatory burdensReduced environmental impactEnhanced company image

$

Benefits of Water Efficiency Programs to Water and Wastewater Utilities

Increase the life of existing raw water suppliesMinimize the impact of droughtPostpone water and sewer infrastructure developmentWater and wastewater treatment operations savings

energy savingschemical savingssludge handling savings

$

How can water & wastewater utilities encourage their non-residential customers to

conserve water?Educate ICI customers about economic and environmental benefits of conservation

one-on-one conversationsbrochures, bill stuffers, fact sheets

Encourage conservation through pretreatment programsMass-based vs. concentration-based effluent limitsRefer ICI customers to P2AD for free, confidential assistancePractice what you preach!

Steps for a Successful Water Efficiency Program

Step 1 – Establish commitment and goalsStep 2 – Line up support and resourcesStep 3 – Conduct water auditStep 4 – Identify and prioritize water management optionsStep 5 – Prepare a plan and implementation scheduleStep 6 – Track results and publicize successStep 7 – Periodically review and revise program

Assistance ResourcesP2AD & Georgia Environmental Partnership

Water and Wastewater Utilities

communicate water conservation efforts

consider water conservation effects on wastewater pollutant concentrations

Internet

Waterwiser www.waterwiser.org

Water Efficiency Manual wrrc.p2pays.org/industry/water.htm

P2AD www.p2ad.org

Concentration vs. Mass Based Limits

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

June August October March May

mg/

l

Flow Limit

BOD Limit

1000

gal

s/d

ay Actual Flow

Actual BOD

Water AuditCollect background information Walk-through surveyWater balanceDetermine true cost of water

water and sewer billsenergy for heating water and pumpingwastewater treatment costswater treatment costs

Washing/ Sanitation

42%

Once-through Cooling

14%

Misc.1%

Process Uses 13%

Leaks2%

Unknown6%

Domestic3%

Cooling/ Heating

19%

Energy Policy Act

Effective January 1, 1994Water efficiency plumbing standards

5% water savings nationwide by 20108% water savings nationwide by 2020

Toilets 1.6 gpf

Urinals 1.0 gpf

Showerheads 2.5 gpm @ 80 psi

Faucets 2.5 gpm @ 80 psi

Brainstorm and Prioritize Water Efficiency Measures

Common Efficiency MeasuresRecycle process waterUse domestic water efficiency techniquesChange operation practicesAdjust cooling tower blowdownRepair leaksInstall high pressure, low flow/automatic shut-off spray nozzlesTurn off equipment when not in useWater efficient landscaping/irrigation

Track Results and Publicize SuccessInternal

use bulletin boards , e-mails, and newsletters to post progress reportsreward employees

External – apply for P2AD’s recognition programs:

Pollution Prevention Partners

Annual Governor’s Award

Periodically Review Program and Revise Plan & Goals

Water Efficiency Success Stories

Hyatt RegencyAtlanta, GA• low-flow showerheads• faucet aerators• infrared sensors on faucets• gray water (laundry) filtration and

reuse for landscaping• 13,663,000 gallons per year

reduction• $50,416 annual savings

Water Efficiency Success Stories

Clayton County Water AuthorityJonesboro, GA• Water audit at three water reclamation

facilities• Saved 180,000 gallons/month at Shoal Creek

WRF by converting chlorinator and washdown water to reclaimed water instead of potable water

• Saved 650,000 gallons/month at Northeast WRF by using reclaimed water for polymer mix and sludge press belt wash

• Saved 1,300,000 gallons/month at W.B. Casey WRF by converting chlorinators to reuse water and changing water seal pumps to mechanical seals

• Reclaimed water for irrigation

Water Efficiency Success Stories

Southwire CompanyCarrollton, GA• Management commitment: “I want every

Southwire facility to develop and implement a long-term action plan for water management with annual targets for improvement” – Roy Richards, CEO

• Seven-step water efficiency program• Reduced filter backwash, cooling

blowdown• Water usage reduction of 40,000,000

gallons in 2000 compared to 1999• P3 Partner, 1998 Governor’s Award

Water Efficiency Success Stories

Unilever Home & Personal Care Cartersville, GA

water conservation task forcereuse non-contact cooling water and collected rainwater in manufacturing processes77% reduction in effluent volume$20,000/year in potable water savings$85,000/year in savings for testing, maintenance, and labor feesP3 Partner, 2000 P2AD Governor’s Award Winner, and 2000 & 2001 GW&PCA Award Winner

Water Efficiency Success Stories

SI Corporation-Chickamauga, GA• SIERRA Team• Closed loop recovery/reuse of cooling

water• RO filtration and reuse of wastewater from

loom washing• $1,456,920 in water and sewer savings• Capital cost avoidance for expansion of

City of Chickamauga water treatment plant expansion

• P3 Partner, 2000 P2AD Governor’s Award Winner, 1998 & 1999 GW&PCA Award Winner

Water Efficiency Success Stories

Golden State FoodsConyers, GA• Set up waste reduction/water conservation

team• Employee participation by connecting water

conservation to individual employee evaluation process

• Reduced flow to wastewater pretreatment plant by 2.7 million gallons in 1998

• Saved $19,000/year in purchased water costs• Saved $25,000/year in wastewater

pretreatment costs• P3 Partner and 1999 Governor’s Award Winner

The EndThe End