Boosting Restaurant Profits With Energy Efficiency

Water Use: Bathroom Fixtures

Without question, replacing high-volume plumbing fixtures is critical. That said, most water savings occur through proper maintenance of existing fixtures and plumbing, rather than through upgrades in technology. Even the most expensive, technologically advanced toilet is a waste if a leak goes without repair.

A small leak wastes about 20 gallons of water per day; a large leak can waste hundreds of gallons. Left unchecked, the price of minor leaks leads to major costs. Water audits that detect leaks and identify outdated fixtures offer fast - and often free - savings. Check with your local water utility to see if this service is provided.

Ultra-Low Flush Toilets
Flushing a toilet is, quite literally, pouring good water down the drain. In California, almost all toilets and urinals use otherwise drinkable (potable) water to flush waste into the sewer system.

If toilets were installed in the 1980s, they probably use 3.5 gallons per flush (gpf); if older, they may use as many as 7 gallons. Compare this to new, federally mandated ultra-low flush toilets (ULFTs) that only flush 1.6 gallons - saving up to 77 percent of water used. Admittedly, early versions of the ULFT were poorly received because of problems with clogging and double-flushing. Since then, manufacturers have all but eliminated these concerns; today's ULFTs perform even better than their high volume counterparts. These new toilets save water, are better designed, more durable, and have improved flush performance.

When calculating annual water savings from low-flow toilets, chances are good that the payback period will be relatively short. Local utilities offer great rebates, reducing the cost of upgrading your plumbing fixtures and increasing the rate of return on this no-risk investment.

Flushometer (Flush Valve) Toilets
The standard for commercial applications, tankless, flushometer toilets relies on the wider water supply pipes found in commercial buildings to deliver a high pressurized flush (23 to 40 psi). Most flow at 1.6 gpf, but some models are as low as 1.0 gpf.

High-Efficiency Toilets (Dual Flush and Pressure-Assisted)
The newest technology in toilets has enabled manufacturers to reduce gallons per flush even further. High-efficiency toilets (HETs) are those that perform 20 percent better than the mandated 1.6 gpf, meaning a maximum of 1.3 gpf. HETs can be either dual flush or pressure-assisted designs. Some rebate programs make a distinction between ULFTs and HETs, offering higher rebates for HETs.

We can thank Australia - the world's driest inhabited continent - for pioneering the dual flush toilet. Dual flush toilets, as the name implies, have two flush modes. The solid mode acts much like a ULFT, using only 1.6 gallons per flush. The liquid mode only uses 0.8 gallons per flush. Total water savings over a comparable ULFT are about 30 percent. While the first-cost is marginally higher than a ULFT, most water agencies offer rebates to help offset this.

ULFTs and dual flush toilets both rely on gravity to pull waste through the system. With pressure-assisted toilets, a tank in the internal chamber traps and compresses air, which is released as the water is flushed through the bowl at a rate of 70 gallons per minute-three times faster than a gravity toilet and twice as fast as one with a flushometer. These toilets are easy to identify by the powerful flushing noise. New models use only 1.0 gpf and are becoming increasingly quieter.

Waterless Urinals
Waterless urinals are cheaper to purchase and install, more hygienic, and less expensive to maintain than their flush counterparts. According to manufacturers, each waterless urinal can save up to 40,000 gallons of water annually - that's more than the average person uses for all of their water needs in a single year. Depending on water and sewer charges, payback can be as quick as one year.

End users will appreciate the waterless urinal. Since there is no water, bacteria and ammonia odors are minimized. Since there is no flush, it is not necessary to handle or touch the urinal. Maintenance is also reduced because of the elimination of stoppages, overflows, and leaking flush valves. This is especially true for areas with hard water, which tends to encrust pipes and valves over time.

Faucets and Showerheads
Be sure that all faucets and showerheads are equipped with low-flow aerators. You can check this by looking at the imprint on the side of the aerator, which should read 2.75 gpm (gallons per minute). Check with your local water agency since many install low-flow fixtures for free.

Resources

Flex Your Power Product Guide: Ultra-Low Flow Toilets

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Using Water Efficiently: Ideas for Commercial Businesses.

California Department of Water Resources, Office of Water Use Efficiency.