HOUSEHOLD WATER CONSERVATION

Low-Yielding Wells

Well yield

• Maximum rate (GPM) that a well can be pumped without lowering the water level in the borehole below the pump intake

Peak Demand

• Refers to the peak usage times of water (usually in the morning or evening) • Ideally this will be determined before a well is drilled •Wells are considered low-yielding when they can not meet the “peak demand” for the home or farm.

What can be done if an existing well is not meeting peak water demand?

1. Increasing water storage 1. Added water storage can be achieved in a pressure tank, a large storage tank, or in the drilled borehole.

2. Reduce peak water use • Alter the timing of water-using activities • Reduce the amount of water used (conservation) Consult the publication entitled “Using Low-Yielding Wells” in the well construction section of your book.

Water Use Terminology

“Consumptive” “Non-Consumptive”

2000

WHERE IS WATER USED IN PA?

1500 1000 Consumptive Non-Consumptive Thermoelectric (not shown) = 5,930 500 0 Commercial Domestic Industrial Mining Livestock Irrigation

SHIFTING POPULATION CHANGES LOCAL WATER USE

Wells Drilled 1960-1994 ~20,000 new wells each year

Household Water Use in PA

• 1900 – 5 million residents – 5 gallons per person per day • 1995 – 12 million residents – 62 gallons per person per day

WHERE IS WATER USED IN THE HOME

(69.3 GALLONS PER PERSON PER DAY) Faucet 16% Leaks 14% Dishwasher 2% Toilet 27% Washer 22% Shower/Bath 19%

Why Conserve Water?

• Save money !!

– Energy savings (from heating water) – Water savings (for those that pay for water) • Conserve your supply for later use • Rebates- some utilities offer incentives for conservation • Reduce the load to your septic or sewer system • State Water Plan – Critical Water Planning Areas

Water Resources Planning Act

(Passed December 2002) • Objectives – Estimate how much water we have – Determine how much we use – Estimate how much we will need • Creates a State Water Plan • Registration of all large water users – Those using >10,000 gallons per day • Water conservation education and assistance • Identification of critical water resources planning areas • Precursor to water resources based planning?

Achieving Water Conservation

• Changes in habits – Little or no cost – Quick effect – Usually temporary • Water-saving appliances, fixtures – Can be expensive but return savings – Most are easily installed – Very effective – Permanent

Changes in Habits

•Often touted during droughts •Examples •Shorter showers •Wait for full laundry loads •Less frequent toilet flushing •Reduce outdoor watering •No car washing

TOILETS

•Largest user of water in most homes •Average use = 5.1 flushes per person per day •Conventional = 4 to 5 gallons per flush (gpf) •New toilets = 1.6 gpf •1.6 gpf toilets have been required since 1994

Dual flush

Other Water-Saving Toilets

Composting toilet and composter •Mostly commercial or recreational uses •Dual flush – new or retrofit kit •Air-assisted •Utilizes air compressor •About 0.5 gallons per flush •Noisy •Composting •No water use •Requires careful maintenance •Best for low-use situations Air-assisted

Clothes Washers

•Average use = 2.6 loads per week per person •Conventional = 45 to 51 gallons per load (gpl) •Front-loading = 27 gpl •Disadvantages •More expensive initially •Bending to get clothes •Longer wash time •Advantages •Significant energy savings •Less detergent •Less drying needed •Larger load capacity •Cleaner clothes •Less wear and tear on clothes

Dish Washer

•50% of homes have one •Similar water use to hand-washing •Average use = about 1 load per week per person •Conventional = about 11 gallons per load •Water efficient = 4 to 7 gpl

Faucets

•Average use = 4 minutes per day per person •Conventional = 3 to 6 gallons per minute •Low-volume = 1.5 gallons per minute (as low as 0.5 gpm for bathroom) •Very inexpensive •2.5 gpm faucets required since 1994

Showerheads

•Average use = 8 minutes per day per person •Conventional = 3 to 6 gallons per minute •Low-volume = 2 to 2.5 gallons per minute •Some have manual shut-off for extra savings •Very inexpensive •Savings depend on habits also •2.5 gpm showerhead required since 1994

Effect of Water Conservation

25 20 15 10 5 0 Without Conservation With Conservation Toilet Washer Shower Faucets Dishwasher Normal use = 68 gallons per day per person Conservation use = 38 gallons per day per person

Estimated Annual Water and Energy Savings (family of four) Appliance Low-flush toilet Low-volume showerhead Low-volume faucet Front-loading washer Water-efficient dishwasher Total Water Savings (gallons) 18,000 4,000 9,000 13,000 600 44,600 Energy Savings (kilowatt hours) 0 500 500 1,300 150 2,450 Annual Dollar Savings Water 44,600 gallons @ $0.005 per gallon ~ $225 Energy 2,450 Kwh @ $0.08 per kWh ~ $200

Outdoor Water Conservation

•Usually small in PA (< 10%) •High percentage is evaporated (consumptive use) •First target of drought restrictions •Examples •Rain barrels to collect roof water •Drip or soaker hoses for irrigation •Nighttime watering •No car washing, filling pools, etc.

Swistock Home Original Water Appliances

• House built in 1989, four family members • 2.5 bathrooms – Three – 4.0 gpf toilets – Two showers (3 gpm showerheads) – Three bathroom faucets (3 gpm aerators) • Kitchen faucet (3 gpm) • Standard 11 gpl dishwasher • Top loading clothes washer (51 gpl)

Estimated Daily Water Use (2002)

• • • • • Toilets – 4 family X 5 flushes each X 4 gpf = 80 gpd Showers – 4 family X 5 minutes each X 3 gpm = 60 gpd Faucets – 4 family X 4 minutes each X 3 gpm = 48 gpd Dishwasher – 4 loads per week X 14 gpl = 56 gpw = 8 gpd Clothes washer – 8 loads per week X 51 gpl = 408 gpw = 58 gpd • = 254 gallons per day • = 63.5 gpd per person

Water Conservation Retrofits

• Toilets (2005-2009) – Replaced three toilets (4 gpf) with low-flush (1.6 gpf) – Cost ~$700 • Showers (2007-2008) – Replaced two showerheads (3 gpm) with low flow (1.5 gpm) – Cost ~ $70 • Faucets (2006-2008) – Replaced four faucets (3 gpm) with low flow (1.5 gpm) – Two aerators, two faucets - cost ~ $300

Water Conservation Retrofits

• Dishwasher (2005) – Replaced 14 gpl with 4.5 (water miser) unit – Cost ~ $400 • Clothes washer (2009) – Replaced 51 gpl top-loader with 27 gpl front loader – Cost ~$650 • Total cost for retrofits = $2,120

COST SAVINGS - FAMILY OF FOUR

Appliance Cost Water Savings Annual $$ Saved (gpy) on Water 1 Annual $$ Saved on Energy 2 Toilets

$700 17,520 $88 ~

Showers Faucets Washer

$70 $300 $650 10,950 8,760 9,984 $55 $44 $50 $114 $40 $61

Dishwasher

$400 1,976

Total

$2,120 49,190 1 @ .5 cents per gallon 2 Gallons X kWh per gallon X $ per kWh 33 gppd $10 $247 $32 $247

•

Cost / Benefit

$2,120 in investment saves $250 to $500 per year • Keep in mind – Dishwasher, clothes washer , one toilet and two faucets were only replaced when necessary. Only added cost was ~ $300 for front-loading washer – Actual discretionary investment was closer to $900 – Added water heater replacement saves ~ $30 per year at no additional charge

What About Septic System Savings?

• Septic system failures often due to hydraulic overload from peak or sustained water use • Water conservation measures reducing wastewater by 25% to 40% may eliminate or reduce hydraulic overload • Does not reduce pumping frequency – solids still present

Low-Yielding Wells

• Low yielding wells can often be “solved” with water conservation • Focus on showers and clothes washer • Many examples of this working • Peak use reduction

Water Conservation Resources