Water

Parties Involved

Water Metering

Water metering includes the main utility meter and any sub-metering. The meters measure the amount of water passing through them. Some meters will incorporate monitoring to record half-hourly water consumption which may be communicated to the building’s metering system or Building Management System. Sub-metering is particularly beneficial if there are large water consuming areas in the building (e.g. cooling towers, shower blocks, canteens) or equipment present (e.g. swimming pool).

Information & Actions

Water Metering

What are they?
Water metering includes the main utility meter and any sub-metering. The meters measure the amount of water passing through them. Some meters will incorporate monitoring to record half-hourly water consumption which may be communicated to the building’s metering system or Building Management System. Sub-metering is particularly beneficial if there are large water consuming areas in the building (e.g. cooling towers, shower blocks, canteens) or equipment present (e.g. swimming pool).

Advantages / Disadvantages
Essentially all buildings in mainland Australia have mains water meters, although most are only read monthly. Water sub-metering will provide greater transparency for the management of water use, and are particularly useful for the detection of leaks (typically caused by valves passing water through to the sewer, rather than by purst pipes).

Water efficiency
Sub metering is essential if an tenant wants to plan effectively to reduce their water usage and monitor the success of their activities.

Running costs
Maintenance costs of any sub-metering will be minimal. However, there will be a cost associated with monitoring the meter readings which might be part of the building management team or outsourced to a third party organisation.

Retrofit / improvement opportunities
Metering is easy to retrofit and low cost to install.

Applicable buildings
Sub-metering can be installed in any building, bit should be focussed on identifying major energy uses such as cooling towers, amenities and food preparation areas.

Floor plate implications
None.

Occupant comfort
No issues.

Maintenance implications
The water utility company will carry out all necessary maintenance on the main water meter. Periodic checking and servicing of any sub-metering will need to be undertaken by the owner who typically installs it.

Identification
The main utility meter is typically located in a plant room in the basement or on the ground floor on the incoming water main. Sub-metering will be located on the water supply pipework to the area or equipment served.

What to ask for

How many water sub-meters are in place and what areas or equipment do they serve?
How is water consumption charged back to the tenants?
Who takes responsibility for monitoring and is there an associated cost?

More information
References required

Efficient Fittings

Water efficient fittings include: Dual-flush toilets, Spray, push or sensor activated taps, Low-flow showers, and presence detection sensors on urinals or waterless urinals. Most modern and recently refurbished buildings will include at least some of these fittings.

Information & Actions

Efficient Fittings

What are they?
Water efficient fittings include:

Dual-flush toilets (minimum efficiency 6/4l, better is 4.5/3l).
Spray, push or sensor activated taps.
Low-flow showers.
Presence detection sensors on urinals or waterless urinals.

Most modern and recently refurbished buildings will include at least some of these fittings.

Advantages / Disadvantages
Significant water savings can be achieved. Only marginally more expensive to install compared to standard fittings and the value of water saved can often pay back the installation cost within 2 years. Low-flow showers are not as effective as standard showers when the water pressure is low. Low flow taps should not be used in applications where the primary application is vessel filling (e.g. cleaner’s cupboards and baths)

Water efficiency
Efficient fittings can significantly reduce water consumption in a building.

Running costs
Water efficient fittings reduce water supply and waste water bills, which will offset any additional maintenance costs associated with presence detection sensors (if present).

Retrofit / improvement opportunities
Water efficient fittings are easy to retrofit. They are a low cost measure to install and the value of water saved can often pay back the installation cost within 2-5 years.

Applicable buildings
All building types.

Floor plate implications
None.

Occupant comfort
Low-flow showers might be an issue for users when there is a low water pressure.

Maintenance implications
Presence detection sensors will require maintenance to ensure that they are kept in full working order. Waterless urinals require changes to cleaning procedures.

Identification
Dual-flush toilets will have two push buttons. Sensor operated taps and urinals will have the sensor in a prominent location. Spray taps, push taps and low-flow showers can be identified upon operation. Waterless utrnals have no flush water.

Questions to ask

What water efficient sanitary fittings are present in the building?

More information
References to be provided

Waterless Urinals

Waterless urinals do not use water to maintain cleanliness and freshness. There are various types of urinal that work in different ways.

Information & Actions

Waterless Urinals

What are they?
Waterless urinals do not use water to maintain cleanliness and freshness. There are various types of urinal that work in different ways.

Advantages / Disadvantages
Significant water savings can be achieved. Special cleaning processes are required for effective and odour-free operation.

Water efficiency
There can be a significant reduction in water consumption if all urinals in a building are waterless.

Running costs
Waterless urinals reduce water supply and waste water bills which will offset any additional maintenance costs.

Retrofit / improvement opportunities
Waterless urinals are straightforward to retrofit.

Applicable buildings
All building types.

Floor plate implications
None.

Occupant comfort
None, provided correct cleaning procedures are followed

Maintenance implications
Specific cleaning procedures are required. Use of normal urinal cleaning procedures on waterless urinals is a common cause of problems in operation.

Identification
Typically depicted with a marketing sticker on the urinal given the innovative nature of these fittings. Fittings also have a a larger than usual drain hole and of course have no flush water connection.

Questions to ask
Are waterless urinals fitted in the building?

More information
References required

Rainwater Harvesting

The capture of rainwater on-site and storing it for the use of flushing toilets, cooling tower make-up, and irrigation of external planting and green roofs/walls. Rainwater is typically captured from the roof, filtered and stored in a tank at ground or basement level, or buried underground. The water is not of a potable standard and therefore is not used to serve sinks. Rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling systems can be combined to reduce even further the amount of potable water consumed for flushing and irrigation.

Information & Actions

Rainwater Harvesting

What is it? The capture of rainwater on-site and storing it for the use of flushing toilets, cooling tower make-up, and irrigation of external planting and green roofs/walls. Rainwater is typically captured from the roof, filtered and stored in a tank at ground or basement level, or buried underground. The water is not of a potable standard and therefore is not used to serve sinks. Rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling systems can be combined to reduce even further the amount of potable water consumed for flushing and irrigation. Advantages / disadvantages Reduces the amount of potable water used. This also reduces CO2 emissions as treating water to potable standard and pumping it are highly energy intensive. Strong sustainability message. Effectiveness depends on the available roof area for rainwater capture and the storage tank size. Most effective when used to supply systems with continuous demand (i.e. toilet flushing and cooling towers) rather than seasonal demand (irrigation). Water efficiency The volume of water saved depends on the size of the roof available for collection, the ability to store it hygienically until it is needed and connection to consistent and high demand for non-potable water. Running costs Rainwater harvesting reduces water supply and waste water bills which will offset additional maintenance costs providing water collection and flushing / irrigation demand is high. Systems will often incur small pumping costs. Retrofit / improvement opportunities Rainwater harvesting is difficult to retrofit unless installed during a major refurbishment. The additional pipework from roof collection points to a central water store and space required to accommodate the storage tank are key considerations for retrofitting rainwater harvesting. Applicable buildings Most effective in low rise building with a large roof space to floor area ratio. Floor plate implications None. Occupant comfort Occupant perceptions can be negative if discoloured water is provided to toilet pans. Maintenance implications Periodic cleaning and replacement of water filters is required. Identification A large tank is situated at ground or basement level . Questions to ask

Is there a rainwater harvesting system in place?

More information References required

Grey Water Recycling

Grey water recycling typically involves the capture of water previously used in bathroom sinks and showers and storing it for flushing toilets, cooling tower ,make-up and irrigation of external planting and green roofs / walls. Grey water is filtered and stored in a tank at ground or basement level, or buried underground. The water is not of a potable standard and therefore is not used to serve sinks. Grey water recycling and rainwater harvesting systems can be combined to reduce even further the amount of potable water consumed for flushing and irrigation.

Information & Actions

Grey Water Recycling

What are they?
Grey water recycling typically involves the capture of water previously used in bathroom sinks and showers and storing it for flushing toilets, cooling tower ,make-up and irrigation of external planting and green roofs / walls. Grey water is filtered and stored in a tank at ground or basement level, or buried underground. The water is not of a potable standard and therefore is not used to serve sinks. Grey water recycling and rainwater harvesting systems can be combined to reduce even further the amount of potable water consumed for flushing and irrigation.

Advantages / Disadvantages
Reduces the amount of potable water used. This also reduces CO2emisions as treating water to potable standard and pumping it are energy intensive. Strong sustainability message. Only effective if installed in a building where large quantities of grey water are produced and where there is a significant flushing / irrigation demand. Grey water treatment is a specialist field that requires careful management and maintenance.

Water efficiency
The volume of water saved depends on the number of appliances water is being collected from, the ability to store it hygienically until it is needed and a high demand for non-potable water.

Running costs
Grey water recycling reduces water supply and waste water bills which will offset any additional maintenance costs providing water collection and flushing / irrigation demand is high.

Retrofit / improvement opportunities
Retrofit is expensive and disruptive because a dual run of pipe-work is required to collect the grey water from sinks and showers throughout the building. A large tank and filtering equipment also needs to be accommodated.

Applicable buildings
Not typically suited for commercial buildings because the amount of available grey water produced is low. Well suited to gymnasiums (shower water) especially if the water can be exported to other users,

Floor plate implications
None.

Occupant comfort
None generally.

Maintenance implications
Periodic cleaning and replacement of water filters is required. These are more onerous when compared to a rainwater harvesting system.

Identification
A large tank is situated at ground or basement level and a grey water treatment unit.

Questions to ask

Is there a grey water harvesting system in place?

Transactional Agents Toolkit

Parties Involved

Water Metering

Information & Actions

Water Metering

Efficient Fittings

Information & Actions

Efficient Fittings

Waterless Urinals

Information & Actions

Waterless Urinals

Rainwater Harvesting

Information & Actions

Rainwater Harvesting

Grey Water Recycling

Information & Actions

Grey Water Recycling

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