Fight Leaks and Water
Waste in your Facility
with WaterSense
'Did	/lpM-Start by Gathering Information
At around 6 percent of water use, leaks
can be the greatest source of water
waste within a facility. Leaks and
continuously running water may not
always be visible, but they can add up
quickly and become a major cost in
water and energy bills.
Most plumbing fixtures and water-using
equipment have physical components
including valves, flappers, and gaskets
that can break down overtime. Broken
parts may not always stop the water
from flowing, but they can reduce
efficiency or cause leaks. Equipment
malfunctions can cause water to run
continuously instead of shutting off.
Often these kinds of "leaks" go
undetected for long periods because
they are not causing any damage or
disruption to daily operations.
Other types of leaks may seem
insignificant, but can cause damage
inside walls, under floors, and outdoors
for a long time before they are
discovered. All leaks add up fast, so
water use needs to be periodically
verified at the end use to make sure the
fixture is still performing correctly. Get a
handle on your facility's water use to
identify and fix leaks before they become
a big problem.
EPA
WaterSense
o
Track your water and energy usage
©
Compile your water and energy bills from at least the last 12 months. Compare
readings to previous ones to spot trends or inconsistencies. Use ENERGY
STAR®'s Portfolio Manager® or another utility management system to track
water and energy overtime. [Note: Portfolio Manager now also provides users
the ability to track waste and materials.]
Don't wait for the bill to see you have a problem
Read your water meter and submeters to identify problems and usage spikes.
Read water meters during off-peak hours when water use is lower. If the meter
continues to show high use, there may be a leak. Submeters and temporary flow
meters can closely monitor specific areas or pieces of equipment to detect
problems quickly.
NOTE: Submeters and temporary flow meters do NOT need to be on separate
utility accounts; they can just be used internally to pinpoint issues.
O
Set up alerts
Install leak detection and failure abatement devices on all major water-using
equipment such as cooling towers and boiler systems. Failure abatement
devices sense if equipment is malfunctioning or potentially leaking by detecting
abnormal increases in water flow. The devices can alert staff if an issue is
detected or automatically turn off the water supply.
O
Add leak detection to daily facility rounds
Listen and look for unexpected water use indoors and outdoors, such as running
water, unanticipated discharge to floor drains, or wet spots and puddling water
on floors or on the grounds. Put up signs in restrooms, kitchens, and other
high-traffic areas where water is used to instruct employees, tenants, and visitors
to report leaks to maintenance staff for repair.
Dive into your water use by walking around your facility with the
checklist on the next page to see if you can chase down any other
water wasters.

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Checklist for Spotting Water Waste
Here are some of the places leaks may be hiding in your facility. Some leaks require a simple fix like tightening a loose connection, but other
equipment malfunctions may require a licensed plumber or facility maintenance professional. Take a quick inventory of potential water waste
in your facility:
Throughout the facility:
In the restroom:
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Check for pooling water, rust, or other signs of leakage under
pipe connections and near floor drains. Look for signs of moisture
or mold on your walls, ceilings, or floors.
Routinely check equipment cooling water lines for leaks and
corrosion.
~	Inspect shutoff valves and sensors to ensure they stop
continuously running water.
~	Encourage employees to report leaks and broken/loose parts.
~
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Automatic sensors: Check and adjust sensors regularly to avoid
double flushing or continuously running water.
Toilets and Urinals: Listen for running water and time the flush
cycle. Regularly inspect and replace worn diaphragm or piston
valves. Test tank-type toilets for worn flappers and other leaks
with food coloring.
Faucets: Check for drips and verify that faucet aerators are still
properly installed.
~ Showerheads: Look for drips or stray sprays, signs of scale
buildup or other malfunctions restricting flow.
In the mechanical spaces:
Outdoors:
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Equipment with single-pass cooling: Check system specifications
to use the minimum water flow rate required for cooling.
Regularly check solenoid valves to make sure water is only
flowing when needed.
Boiler and steam systems: Regularly check steam traps and
steam and hot water lines for leaks.
Cooling towers: Read the conductivity meter and the make-up
and blowdown flow meters regularly and log readings. Check the
make-up and blowdown valves to make sure they cut off the flow
of water cleanly.
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Visually inspect the landscape for water pooling or puddling to
prevent damage to hardscapes and overwatering plants.
Irrigation systems: Repair broken sprinkler heads and nozzles
spraying in the wrong direction. Consult an irrigation auditor
certified by a WaterSense labeled program to improve system
efficiency.
Pools and Spas: Check water levels. A loss of more than 2" per
week in the water level may mean a leak.
In the kitchen:
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All eguipment: Shut down or use standby mode for all
continuous flow equipment between uses. Inspect shutoff
valves to ensure they are working properly.
Pre-rinse sprav valves: Clean openings as needed for smooth
spray. Train employees to use always-on clamps only when
necessary.
Dishwashers: Manual fill valves should close completely after
the wash tank is full. Inspect and repair valves and rinse
nozzles.
Steam eguipment: Inspect and replace gaskets and tighten
hinges on doors to retain heat or steam.
Food disposal systems: Turn off water to disposals during idle
periods. Train users to manually scrape as much food waste as
possible first.
Find more information about water-efficient best practices, tools,
and case studies on the WaterSense website
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/commercial-buildings.
Remember to look for the WaterSense label when purchasing
plumbing products. WaterSense labeled products are
independently certified to use at least 20 percent less water and
perform as well or better than standard models.
Fixing leaks at your workplace is important, but so is fixing leaks
in your household. For more information on fixing leaks
wherever they are, visit
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week.
look for
AeT.sey,
epa.gov/watersense

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