The City of Albuquerque has in place a comprehensive water conservation program with the goal of
reducing per capita daily consumption 40 percent by 2014. Since 1994, Albuquerque has reduced its per
capita water use by over 26 percent. One of the programs offered to water customers is public education
in the form of free audits. Both Residential and Industrial/Commercial/Institutional (ICI) audits are
provided. The purpose of this paper is to present a summary of the ICI audit program and to report
findings on potential savings in six groups of ICI facilities.
The ICI facility is visited by an auditor to assess water use patterns and to inventory water-using fixtures and
equipment. The audit includes a comprehensive evaluation of indoor water use and outdoor water use.
Water use data from the facility visit is then compiled and used to develop a water balance. The water
balance is a comparison of a water use estimate from the field visit to metered water use. In addition, as
part of the water balance, water use is broken down by category (e.g. restroom use, kitchen use,
irrigation). The water balance is the basis for establishing potential water conservation goals at the
facility. Following the water balance, water conservation measures are identified and potential water
savings are calculated.
In the five years of the ICI audit program, 165 ICI audits have been completed. Data from 72 ICI
facilities in Albuquerque, NM, were compiled and trends in water conservation opportunities were
identified. Most of the potential water savings can be found by replacing toilets and urinals and by
reducing the amount of water applied to the landscape. Facilities with high water use toilets can typically
save 30 percent or more. Even facilities that were built after 1992 can save 20 percent by reducing
wasteful irrigation.
We have found that most ICI facilities are interested in saving water and helping the City of Albuquerque
meet its conservation goals. However, often times it is difficult for them to find the financial resources to
implement water conservation measures. The information given in the audit report helps facility
managers justify and budget for changes and upgrades. The payback of the water conservation
improvements ranges from less than a year to around 10 years. As part of the audit, a comprehensive
report is given to the facility with charts and graphs that detail water use by category, potential for
reduction by altering or changing fixtures or practices, and estimated payback periods for each of the
recommended measures based on water and sewer commodity costs. Includes 4 references, table, figures, appendix.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 290 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 7 |
| Published : | 01/11/2004 |
