SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/86038
or recreation facility uses is likely for grass and vegetation, the rest is often used in restrooms, showers, etc. Facility managers and owners operating on a budget, but still looking for a good return on their investment, can initially install ultra-low flow aerators in all faucets and showerheads. Some older aerators reduce the flow to approxi- mately 2.5 gallons per minute. Newer systems, taking this a giant step further, reduce water use to just 0.5 gallons per minute while still meeting acceptable performance standards.** While a more costly retrofit, toilets are another big water user. But before installing new toilets, test the current equipment to de- termine flow rate, referred to as gallons per flush (GPF). If 2 GPF or higher, consider replacing the toilets. If 1.6 GPF, which is the flow rate now required by law in the US, it might be best to wait awhile. Although advanced systems such as dual-flush toilets that use approximately 1.28 GPF are available, water-saving toilet tech- nology changes rapidly. For instance, air-compressed toilets, also known as "vacuum as- ing information can be helpful. Once areas are located where water consumption can be reduced, facility managers and owners are sometimes undecided whether to replace or retrofit all water-using fixtures or take smaller, more marginal, and less expensive steps. Ei- ther direction is fine as long as ideas are carried out. Over time, the costs involved will likely be offset by savings, helping to reduce fu- ture operating costs. Sustainable-minded facility owners and managers, regardless of the building type, must continually monitor water usage and leaks. In addition to helping earn LEED certification, reducing water con- sumption is like putting money in the bank and not down the drain. ■ Klaus Reichardt is founder and CEO of Waterless Co. Inc, Vista, CA. He may be reached at Klaus@waterless.com sist" toilets, similar to those installed on airplanes, are now finding their way into commercial facilities. Some of these systems perform satisfactorily, using just 0.8 gallons per flush, half of what is legally required. Unlike water-reducing toilets that are still evolving, the GPF of urinals has been reduced significantly, even to zero, due to currently available technologies. Some older urinals installed before 1992 may use 2, 3, or more GPF; newer systems, however, use about one GPF or less. This amount can still be significant, espe- cially in sports facilities and what are termed "high density" facilities used by many people. That is why some facilities, even high-end hotels in drier areas of the U.S., are taking this a step further by in- stalling no-water urinal systems. With a no-water urinal, urine drains into a cylinder (or trap) at the urinal's base, eventually flow- ing into the drain pipe below similar to a conventional urinal. The cylinder/trap prevents sewer gasses from entering the restroom. FIRST COMES THE AUDIT While there are numerous ways sports turf facilities can mini- mize water consumption, both inside and outside the facility, the first step before implementing any water-reducing strategies is con- ducting a water audit. This audit can actually be a relatively simple procedure and is often best performed in-house by staff and build- ing engineers. These employees likely know the facility better than anyone and, even more important, the process helps get everyone thinking about water conservation and steps to use water more effi- ciently and responsibly. One required step when the audit begins is to collect water bills * It is estimated that water use for restrooms in commercial of- fice buildings as well as many other types of facilities accounts for roughly half of the total amount of water used in the entire prop- erty. ** Faucets installed before 1992 used as much as 5 gallons of water per minute. Not only was this a huge amount, but it also had a very significant impact on hot water demand and related costs. from typically the past several months, even years. The goal here is to look for trends. Has water use increased over the years? If so, try to find out why. Are there water spikes, where suddenly more water is being used for several months? Again, find out why. Water spikes, especially in a facility that has large amounts of vegetation such as a sports turf location, can be the result of burst pipes or significant leakages. From here, the key audit steps are to locate where water is used, how much water is being used, and where it can be reduced or used more efficiently. Often, an architectural map that provides plumb- www.stma.org SportsTurf 31