Green Plumbing: Water Conservation Technology

As Americans focus on water conservation as a means of both cutting their bills and caring for the environment, they’re asking plumbers how their homes and businesses can be more efficient.

Some solutions are simple, like installing EPA WaterSense-labeled fixtures. Others, like installing systems designed to harvest and use rainwater or minimize hot water loss with alternate piping or heating, involve a longer learning curve.  Here’s a look at some of the most promising water conservation technologies:

Rain harvesting systems
Landscape irrigation accounts for nearly one-third of U.S. residential water use, according to EPA estimates—more than 7 billion gallons per day.  The idea behind rain harvesting systems is simple: by directing water from rooftops or parking areas to storage tanks, the water can then be used for irrigation or other outdoor tasks like washing the car. The systems usually have a small filter and sometimes a small pump; the tanks vary in their obtrusiveness, but some are small enough to fit beneath a backyard deck. The costs can run from a few hundred dollars to thousands, depending on the system’s size, the level of filtration, and the inclusion of pumps.

“Consumers get two cost savings with these systems,” says Al Goodman, past president of the Water Environment Federation and a principal at engineering firm CDM. “They don’t have to buy the water from the city, and then they don’t have to pay for the water to go to the sewer.”

Graywater systems
Graywater systems work similarly, but instead of using rainwater, they recycle household water that was first used for washing dishes or clothes. In a graywater system, pipe-runs connected to appliances like dishwashers and washing machines lead to storage tanks and then can be filtered and used for irrigation. Graywater systems aren’t yet legal everywhere, so check local codes before suggesting this option.

The impact on water savings can be significant. Goodman designed an industrial system for a Frito Lay manufacturing plant that recycles graywater—in that case, water used for washing potatoes is re-used to wash equipment. He estimates it saves about a million gallons a day. People who use the systems in their homes won’t save millions but Goodman says the impact is still significant. “People are doing this because it’s a good thing to do for the environment, but there are also some great economic advantages.”

Alternative plumbing systems
Manifold and recirculating-loop plumbing can yield considerable water and energy savings over conventional trunk-and-branch plumbing.

“They’re so much more efficient,” says Jimmy Schuelke, co-owner of Schuelke Plumbing in Los Angeles. He says customers have started asking for these systems, and that installation is simple. “They look a lot more complicated than they are.”

Tankless water heaters
These units heat water using a heating element that produces 2-5 gallons of hot water per minute. They conserve water by eliminating the need to store hot water in a conventional water heater tank.

There are gas and electric tankless heaters. The gas models generally produce better flow rates, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.  

Conservation-friendly appliances
Fixtures like low-flush toilets and low-flow shower heads are an easy way to help customers conserve water, and an effective one. Use the EPA’s EnergyStar and WaterSense labels as a guide to selecting the right models.

As your customers ask for help in conserving water, you can point them to a variety of strategies that are both earth- and pocketbook-friendly.