i O 1
*1 PRO'4*
WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN, REVISION 3
Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center, Ada, Oklahoma
OARM Office of Administration, Safety and Sustainability Division
September 2018
Overview:
This report summarizes the findings and recommendations associated with a water use and conservation
assessment conducted at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Research and
Development (ORD) Ground Water and Ecosystem Restoration Division (GWERD) Robert S. Kerr
Environmental Research Center (hereafter referred to as the ERC) located in Ada, Oklahoma. Under this Water
Management Plan revision, the ERC will consider implementing the potential water conservation opportunities
identified during the water assessment, which are summarized in Table 1. The Water Management Plan also
describes the facility's water reduction goals, water use trends, end uses of water, drought management plans
and stormwater management efforts.
Background
Executive Order (EO) 13834, Efficient Federal Operations, Section 2(c) requires agencies to reduce potable and
non-potable water consumption in federal facilities and comply with stormwater management requirements. In
addition, the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 directs agencies to complete comprehensive
energy and water evaluations for 25 percent of covered facilities (i.e., those accounting for 75 percent of total
agency energy use) each year, resulting in each covered facility being assessed once every four years.
To achieve greater facility and Agencywide water efficiency and to meet EISA requirements, a water assessment
was conducted by the OARM's Office of Administration, Safety and Sustainability Division (SSD) at the ERC
June 25-26, 2018. Since 2002, the SSD's Sustainable and Transportation Solutions Branch (STSB) has
conducted water assessments at EPA-owned and operated laboratories to improve water efficiency and comply
with EISA 2007. The assessment team (Rafael Hernandez, STSB; Praveen KC, STSB; and Robert Pickering,
Eastern Research Group, Inc. [ERG]) conducted the water assessment at the ERC to review existing conditions
and update the facility's 2015 Water Management Plan.
Figure 1. View of the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center main building and library conference center (LCC)
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Table 1. Potential Water Conservation Opportunities at the ERC
Suggested
Priority
Project Description
Number
of
Fixtures
Initial
Project
Cost
Potential
Annual
Water
Savings
(Gallons)
Potential
Annual
Energy
Savings
(Million
Btu)
Potential
Annual
Utility
Cost
Savings1
Potential
Payback
(Years)
Notes
Low and No-Cost Maintenance
1
Monitor water meters
and submeters on a
monthly basis and
record meter readings.
N/A
N/A
Not
Estimated
N/A
Not
Estimated
N/A
Tracking
water use
regularly can
help
establish
water use
trends and
identify
potential
leaks or mal-
functions.
2
Replace faucet aerator
in kitchenette
handwashing sink with
aerator rated at 1.5
gallons per minute
(gpm).
1
$10
875
0.4
$14
0.7
None
3
Replace urinal flush
valve inserts in 3rd
Floor Men's Bathroom
(both urinals) and
Basement Men's
Bathroom (urinals #3
and #5) of the Main
Building with valve
inserts rated at 0.125
gallons per flush (gpf).
Each of these urinals
appeared to flush at
volumes higher than
0.125 gpf.
4
$2002
9,000
0
$60
3.3
None
1	Estimated water cost savings are based on the City of Ada's water rate of $5.24 per Kgal and a sewer rate of $1.55 per Kgal.
Estimated energy cost savings are based on electricity rate of $0.0713 per kilowatt hour (kWh), estimated based on the average
electricity costs from the ERC's FY 2017 and FY 2018 electricity bills.
2	Project cost assumes new urinal valve inserts are $50 each; however, once installed, valve replacement is part of regular
maintenance and would not result in additional maintenance costs.
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Suggested
Priority
Project Description
Number
of
Fixtures
Initial
Project
Cost
Potential
Annual
Water
Savings
(Gallons)
Potential
Annual
Energy
Savings
(Million
Btu)
Potential
Annual
Utility
Cost
Savings1
Potential
Payback
(Years)
Notes
4
Replace 1.0 gpf flush
valve inserts for urinals
in LCC men's
restrooms with new
valve inserts rated at
0.5 gpf.
4
$2002
5,000
0
$30
6.7
None
Capital Improvements
5
Install 150 gpm side-
stream filtration
system, inclusive of a
50-micron filter, on the
cooling tower water
loop.
N/A
$8,000
86,000
Not
quantified
$2003
40.0
This project
is not
recommend-
ed unless
other system
improve-
ments are
planned for
the cooling
tower
system.
Facility Information
The ERC is an EPA-owned, EPA-operated facility situated on a 16-acre tract 3 miles south of Ada, Oklahoma.
Completed in 1966, the main laboratory building provides approximately 50,000 square feet of laboratory and
office space in a four-story structure. An addition to the facility in 1993 provided another 20,000 square feet for
the library, computer support services, and the library conference center (LCC). The 2008 addition of an East
Wing to the main laboratory provides approximately 9,200 square feet of conditioned office space. The nearby
10,000-square-foot annex building contains a machine shop and storage facilities for field equipment and
supplies. Separate, smaller buildings have been constructed for storing bulk chemicals, compressed gases and
hazardous waste. In total, the research center contains 87,119 square feet of conditioned space.
The ERC is occupied by approximately 96 employees. The facility operates on a flex time schedule, one shift
per day from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Water Management
The ERC achieves its resource conservation goals by implementing the EPA ORD-wide environmental
management system (EMS). The Water Management Environmental Management Program (EMP) within the
ORD's EMS sets objectives and targets related to water use to reduce the impact on natural resources. It does
3 Filter replacement costs will result in increased operation and maintenance expenses. Filters cost approximately $250 to replace.
Based on discussion with SMC Technologies, the cooling tower water treatment vendor currently used by the ERC, filter replacement
frequency is dependent on the quality of the system water. For purposes of this analysis, the filter is assumed to require replacement
annually. The cost of a replacement filter is subtracted from the annual utility cost savings.
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so by reducing the consumption of water from facility and laboratory operations and by properly managing
stormwater runoff. Targets established under this objective call for ORD facilities to:
•	Achieve the agency ConservW water reduction targets (set annually by EPA's STSB) as a cumulative
total of all seven ORD locations.
Identify a potential water conservation or stormwater management project that will be started by one of
the six ORD locations in FY 2019.
Water Supply, Measurement and Historical Use
The ERC uses water for cooling tower make-up, miscellaneous laboratory and research purposes, sanitary
needs, generation of laboratory grade water through reverse osmosis, landscape irrigation, operations of the
ornamental landscape fountain, and ground-source heat pump (GSHP) well field make-up. A water softener
equipment malfunction in 2017 also resulted in significant water use within the LCC. The following sections
provide additional details on the facility's water use.
Water Supply
Ada City Utilities provides the ERC's potable water and sewer service. Each of the ERC's accounts has a base
rate of $20.30 per month for potable water, which includes the first 200 hundred cubic feet (ccf). After the initial
200 ccf, potable water is billed at a rate of $3.92 per ccf ($5.24 per thousand gallons [Kgal]). For sewer, each of
the ERC's accounts has a base rate of $20.20 per month, which includes the first 200 ccf (as measured at each
potable water meter. After the initial 200 ccf, sewer use is billed at a rate of $1.16 per ccf ($1.55 per Kgal). The
ERC does not pay for sewer service for water used at its cooling tower or in its irrigation system, both of which
are separately metered by Ada City Utilities.
The ERC does not use any sources of non-potable fresh water.
Meters and Submeters
Incoming water is supplied through six meters under five different water accounts that serve the following areas:
•	LCC
Main laboratory
Main laboratory bypass
Cooling tower and hazardous material storage
Irrigation system
•	Annex building
Flow totalizing meters are also installed on many of the subsystem flows. Table 2 provides a summary of the
meters and submeters installed at the ERC, the area or subsystem each meter serves, and the meter reading
collected at the time of the assessment.
Table 2. List of Meters and Submeters at the ERC, June 2018
Meter Location
Area/System
Served by Meter
Meter
Number
Utility Account
Number
Water Source
Meter Reading From
Assessment
Below grade, exterior
north face of the LCC
LCC
N/A
#60-0475-00
City potable
water
6,558,087 cubic feet (cf)
Below grade, exterior
north corner of main
laboratory
Main laboratory
N/A
#60-0480-00
City potable
water
Not able to obtain
(confined space)
Below grade, exterior
north corner of main
laboratory
Main laboratory
bypass
N/A
#60-0485-00
City potable
water
Not able to obtain
(confined space)
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Meter Location
Area/System
Served by Meter
Meter
Number
Utility Account
Number
Water Source
Meter Reading From
Assessment
Below grade, east of
main parking lot
(black plastic meter
box)
Cooling tower,
hazardous
material storage
N/A
#60-0490-00
City potable
water
1,115,483.7 ccf
Below grade, near
the east entrance
along Kerr Research
Drive
Irrigation sprinkler
Meter #1
#60-0495-00
City potable
water
1,027,878.6 ccf
Below grade, east of
main parking lot
(meter box with iron
cover)
Annex building
Meter #2
#60-0495-00
City potable
water
22,013.27 ccf
Mechanical room
Cooling tower
blowdown
N/A
N/A
Cooling tower
blowdown
648,420 gallons
Mechanical room
Make-up to the
closed ground
loop for the ground
source heat pump
(well field)
N/A
N/A
City potable
water
148,031 gallons
Mechanical room
Make-up to the
internal, closed,
chilled water loop
(reheat)
N/A
N/A
City potable
water
22,672 gallons
Maintenance storage
area, integral to
reverse osmosis
(RO) system panel
RO system (total)
N/A
N/A
City potable
water
252,679 gallons
(116 gallons daily
average)
Maintenance storage
area
RO system
(permeate)
N/A
N/A
RO product
1,771,250 gallons
Mechanical
penthouse
Air-handler
condensate
recovery system
N/A
N/A
Recovered air-
handler
condensate
1,213,342 gallons
LCC basement
custodial closet,
integral to water
softener system
panel
LCC water
softener (total)
N/A
N/A
City potable
water
15,807 gallons
(76 gallons daily
average)
LCC basement
custodial closet
LCC water
softener (reject
water)
N/A
N/A
Water softener
reject water
23,939 gallons
LCC basement
women's restroom
Ornamental
landscape fountain
make-up
N/A
N/A
City potable
water
35,215 gallons
There is generally no flow through the submeters to the two closed-loops systems (GSHP loop, chilled water
loop); however, since its FY 2015 water assessment, the ERC experienced two leaks in the closed ground loop
of the GSHP, resulting in an average of 8,350 gallons of water needed annually to refill the loop.
System submeters are regularly monitored to ensure leaks or other malfunctions can be quickly identified.
However, meter readings are not regularly recorded. Under this Water Management Plan, facilities management
and operations and maintenance (O&M) staff will begin to record meter readings at least monthly and report
values to the facilities manager so that water use trends can be monitored on an ongoing basis. Any unexpected
changes in water use will be investigated and resolved immediately.
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Historical Water Use
In response to various executive orders and laws addressing federal sustainability, the ERC established a FY
2007 water use intensity baseline of 48.9 gallons per gsf based on 3,806,403 gallons of water used that fiscal
year. In FY 2017, water use intensity was reduced to 15.8 gallons per gsf, or 1,377,270 gallons of water—a
decrease of 68 percent compared to the FY 2007 baseline. The facility has further reduced its water use over
most recent 12-month period for which water use data was available during the water assessment (June 2017
through May 2018) to 12.9 gallons per square foot—a 74 percent reduction over the facility's baseline.
Malfunctioning of the ERC's LCC water softening system led to higher than normal water use from July 2017
through November 2017. The system has been replaced; therefore, water use in FY 2018 is expected see further
reductions from the baseline. Figure 2 provides a graph of the ERC's water use from FY 2007 through FY 2017.
Annual Potable Water Use Intensity, ERC
60.00
«
'w 30.00
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Table 3. Major Potable Water Uses at the ERC, June 2017 Through May 2018
Major Process
Annual Water Use
(gallons)
Total Water
Use (%)
Basis of Estimate
Main Building and Annex
Cooling tower make-
up
641,365
57.0
Metered total4
Miscellaneous
laboratory and other
process water use
139,143
12.4
Calculated by subtracting all other estimated and
known water uses from the ERC metered total water
use
LCC water softener
malfunction
130,000
11.6
Estimate based on comparison between LCC water
bills before, during, and after water softener
malfunction
Sanitary
128,000
11.4
Engineering estimate based on sanitary fixtures
installed, occupancy and daily usage factors
RO system
42,340
3.8
Estimate based on RO system meter readings.
System indicated average daily water use of 116
gallons. Estimate verified by looking at meter readings
between FY 2015 and FY 2018 water assessments
Irrigation
25,845
2.3
Metered total
Ornamental
landscape fountain
9,600
0.9
Engineering estimate based on annual pan
evaporation amount and an estimate that the fountain
is 8' x 24'
GSHP well field
make-up
8,350
0.7
Engineering estimate based on meter readings
between FY 2015 and FY 2018 water assessments
Total Potable Water
Use
1,124,643
100
Metered total
Onsite Alternative Water Use
Cooling tower make-
up (air handler
condensate)
200,000

Engineering estimate based on meter readings
between FY 2015 and FY 2018 water assessments.
4 Meter also takes into account water use from the hazardous storage facility, but since the only water use is an outdoor spout that is
rarely used (per facility staff), this water use is considered negligible.
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LCC water softener
malfunction, 11.6%
Miscellaneous
laboratory and
other process water
use, 12.4%
Sanitary, 11.4%
RO system, 3.8%
Irrigation, 2.3%
Ornamental
landscape fountain
0.9%
Cooling tower
make-up, 57.0%
Ground source heat
pump well field
make-up, 0.7%
Figure 3: The ERC's Water End Uses, June 2017 Through May 2018

Onsite alternative


water (recovered air


handler

I
condensate), 15.1%


Potable city water,


84.9%

Figure 4: The ERC's Sources of Water, June 2017 Through May 2018
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Cooling Towers
The ERC's most significant water use is from operation
of the cooling tower system, which accounts for
approximately 57 percent of its annual potable water
use. The ERC is equipped with a two-cell cooling
tower, rated at 450 tons of total cooling capacity. The
tower has a flow rate of up to 1,050 gpm and a system
volume of approximately 8,040 gallons.
During the cooling season, a cooling tower
maintenance contractor performs a monthly quality,
performance and water chemistry review of cooling
tower operation. Chemical treatment is provided to
control scale and corrosion. A conductivity meter set at
1,800 microSiemens per centimeter (uS/cm) is used to 	
control blowdown. Incoming make-up water has a conductivity between 600 and 700 uS/cm. Therefore, when
maintained, the facility achieves approximately two and a half to three cycles of concentration in the cooling
tower. Cooling tower make-up water quantity is metered separately and recorded monthly. The facility does not
pay for sewer service on the meter that supplies the cooling tower. The cooling tower blowdown is also metered.
Under this water management plan, meter readings should be recorded and reported to the facilities manager
monthly.
The ERC collects air handler condensate from the air handling units on the roof and uses it for cooling tower
make-up. The collected condensate is metered but not regularly recorded. Under this water management plan,
meter readings should be recorded and reported to the facilities manager monthly. Collected air handler
condensate makes up an estimated 24 percent of the cooling tower system's make-up water demand.
The ERC is considering implementing an energy and water conservation project that would install side-stream
filtration on the cooling tower water loop. A 150 gpm filtration system could be installed on the cooling tower
system, filtering approximately 15 percent of the overall system flow. Using side-stream filtration, it is estimated
that the cooling tower would consume 11 to 16 percent less water.5
Side-stream filtration may also nominally improve energy efficiency;6 however, energy savings are not quantified
in this water management plan, as they are largely dependent on other operational procedures. Note that filter
replacement costs would offset any realized water or energy cost savings. Because of the uncertainty of this
project and the long payback period, this project is not recommended.
5	Assumption based on increasing the cycles of concentration by one (either from 2.5 to 3.5 or from three to four), however water
savings could be higher depending on improvements in water quality from side-stream filtration and chemical management. Water
reduction percentage established from the EPA's WaterSense at Work: Best Management Practices for Commercial and Institutional
Facilities. Table 6-1, Percent of Make-Up Water Saved by Maximizing Cycles of Concentration,
www.epa,aov/sites/production/files/2017-02/documents/watersense-at-work final 508c3.pdf
6	The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) estimates that side-stream filtration can reduce energy use by up to 10 percent.
Source: FEMP. Side Stream Filtration for Cooling Towers. October 2012.
www.enerav.gov/sites/prod/files/2013/10/f3/ssf cooling towers.pdf
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Miscellaneous Laboratory Uses
The ERC contains glassware washers in the laboratories. It is also
equipped with two steam sterilizers with temperature-activated
control valves that only allow tempering water to flow when they are
operating. The Consolidated Stills & Sterilizers Model 4906-32 was
installed in 2007. The Consolidated Stills & Sterilizers Model 4600-
90 was installed in 1999. Each steam sterilizer is used a few times
per month.
The ERC has two water softeners, which each regenerate
automatically. From July through November 2017, the water softener
that serves the LCC began to malfunction, resulting in water regularly
discharging from the softener to the sanitary sewer. The system was
placed in November 2017, which resolved the issue and returned
water use at the LCC back to normal. Approximately 130,000 gallons
of water were wasted from the system, based on a comparison of
monthly water use at the LCC before, during and after the
malfunction. The new water softening system in the LCC is equipped
with two meters, one integral to the operating system that measures
the feed water to the water softener, and one on the reject water line
running to the floor drain. In addition to monitoring LCC water bills,
both meters associated with the water softener should be monitored
regularly to ensure no irregularities in water use persist.
The ERC has a Scotsman Model
machine located in the lunch room.
#F0522A-1A air-cooled ice
in October 2016, the ERC replaced two air compressors that used
single-pass water cooling with air-cooled models. Therefore, the
ERC no longer utilizes any single-pass cooling.
Cooling is supplied by electric GSHP. The heat pumps operate using
external and internal closed cooling water loops, which consume
virtually no water. However, Facility Management staff indicated that
multiple leaks had occurred since the last assessment, resulting in
water being released from the closed loop system that runs to the
well field. Each of the water loops is metered and monitored, so leaks
were identified and fixed. Since the FY 2015 assessment,
approximately 30,600 gallons of water have leaked from the system.
Restroom and Other Sanitary Fixtures
Figure 7. Ada installed a new water
softener system for the LCC in November
2017 to replace an inefficient and
malfunctioning unit.
With the exception of one original toilet installed in the laboratory
director's office, all toilets installed at the ERC are dual-flush models (1.6 gpf for full flush/1.1 gpf for reduced
flush). The toilet in the laboratory director's office flushes at 3.5 gpf. A total of 75 percent of urinals are
WaterSense labeled high-efficiency urinals flushing at 0.125 gpf. The remaining four urinals, located in the two
men's restrooms of the LCC, are Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct 1992)-compliant urinals flushing at 1.0 gpf.
During the assessment, four of the 12 WaterSense labeled urinals appeared to be flushing at greater than 0.125
gpf. The urinal flush valve inserts for these urinals should be replaced with valve inserts rated at 0.125 gpf to
return these urinals to their intended flush volume.
Figure 6: Two steam sterilizers at the ERC
have on-board steam generation and only
apply tempering water when in operation.
Twenty-eight of the ERC's 29 lavatory faucets have been equipped with aerators that limit the fiow to 0.5 gpm.
The 0.5 gpm flow rate is lower than the EPAct 1992 requirement for faucets and is compliant with the American
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Society of Mechanical Engineers/Canadian Standards Association (ASME/CSA) standard for lavatory faucets in
public use. This flow rate is sufficient for hand washing and is considered a best practice for lavatory faucets in
public settings. One faucet, located in the restroom of the Annex, is not controlled with a flow-restricting aerator.
However, due to its location within the Annex where maintenance staff may need a higher flow rate to wash
heavily soiled hands, installation of an aerator is not recommended. There is an additional hand-washing sink
located in the kitchenette that with a flow rate of 2.2 gpm. To reduce sanitary water use, the ERC should consider
installing a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator with a flow rate of 1.5 gpm or less, which is suitable for
handwashing, lunch preparation and dish rinsing.
WaterSense labeled showerheads have been installed throughout the ERC. Six of the eight showerheads flow
at 1.5 gpm, while two showerheads located in the handicap-accessible shower stalls have flow rates of 2.0 gpm.
Janitorial staff and employees are trained to report leaks or other maintenance problems. Identified leaks or other
maintenance problems are immediately corrected.
Domestic hot water is provided through electric hot water heaters. Table 4 provides an inventory of sanitary
fixtures.
Table 4. Restroom Fixtures Inventory, the ERC
Fixture Type
Flow Rate
Total Number
Toilets
Dual-flush (1.6 gpf/1.1 gpf)
28

3.5 gpf
1
Urinals
1.0 gpf
4

0.125 gpf
12
Lavatory faucets
0.5 gpm
28

Uncontrolled
1
Kitchenette hand-washing faucet
2.2 gpm
1
Showerheads
2.0 gpm
2

1.5 gpm
6
Full urinal replacement of the four remaining urinals that flush at 1.0 gpf with WaterSense labeled models flushing
at 0.125 gpf is not life-cycle cost effective. Instead, replacing existing flush valve inserts with inserts rated at 0.5
gpf could be a cost-effective approach to reduce water use. If the ERC decides to replace the flush valve inserts,
it should consider conducting a pilot with one urinal to verify adequate performance and user satisfaction with
the lower flush volume. The ERC should also consider replacing the urinals if future restroom renovations within
the LCC are planned.
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Reverse Osmosis System
Purified water for laboratory use is generated through
a multi-step process consisting of deionization and RO.
The RO system was replaced in December 2013 with
a more efficient and appropriately sized model for the
ERC's laboratory requirements. As RO permeate is
generated, it fills a 500-gallon tank, and a float switch
controls when more RO water is produced. The RO
system's control panel has an integral water meter that
provides total and average daily water use. RO system
permeate is also metered as it runs to the laboratories.
Neither meter is currently recorded; however, under
this water management plan, meter readings should be
recorded and reported to the facilities manager
monthly.
Irrigation
The ERC has significantly decreased irrigation water use since the FY 2015 water assessment. Irrigation
currently only accounts for 2.4 percent of the ERC's annual potable water use (down from 38.1 percent in FY
2014). The irrigation system is composed of 19 different irrigation zones capable of irrigating two of the facility's
16 acres. This irrigated landscape is primarily covered with Bermuda grass, which is not irrigated and allowed to
go dormant during drier summer months.
In the front of the main facility, within approximately 10 feet of the building exterior, the ERC has a mulched area
with shrubs and other plantings and an ornamental landscape fountain.
Figure 8. The ERC replaced its RO system with a more
efficient model in December 2013.
Irrigation water use is metered separately by the ERC
and Ada City Utilities. The facility does not pay for
sewer service on the meter that supplies the irrigation
system.
Ornamental Landscape Fountain
The ERC has an ornamental landscape fountain
located at the main entrance. The fountain recirculates
water and is filled using an automatic valve to make up
for evaporation or other losses. The make-up line is
submetered. Under this water management plan,
meter readings should be recorded and reported to the
facilities manager monthly.
Based on discussions with the facilities manager, the irrigation system is only activated to prevent loss of
plantings during dry periods. Zones that require watering during the summer months include the planters in the
medians located in the parking lot and at the main entrance of the laboratory (Zones 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and
17), and the shrubs at the front of the building near the
ornamental fountain (Zone 9). The ERC will continue to
pursue opportunities for reducing supplemental
landscape irrigation when possible.
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Completed Water Efficiency Projects
As described in Table 5, the ERC has completed 14 projects to improve water efficiency and water management
since FY 2007.
Table 5. Completed Water Efficiency Projects at the ERC Since FY 2007
Project
Estimated Annual Water
Savings (Gallons)
Completion
Year
Additional Notes
Submeter
installation
Not estimated
FY 2017
The ERC installed submeters on the ornamental
landscape fountain make-up and LCC water softener drain
lines to improve water management.
Irrigation
minimization
400,000
FY 2016
The ERC revised irrigation practices so that only priority
landscape areas are watered during summer months.
Turf-grass is no longer irrigated.
Water-cooled air
compressor
replacement
80,000
FY 2016
The ERC replaced two water-cooled air compressors in
the penthouse with air-cooled models.
Faucet aerators
6,000
FY 2016
The ERC installed faucet aerators on two additional
lavatory faucets. All lavatory faucets now flow at 0.5 gpm.
RO system
replacement
105,000
FY 2014
The ERC replaced the RO system with a more efficient
and more appropriately sized system in FY 2014.
Minimize single-
pass cooling
80,000
FY 2014
The ERC minimized the flow rate of the single-pass
cooling on the air compressors such that cooling water is
only used when necessary.
Cooling tower
blowdown meter
Not estimated
FY 2014
The ERC installed a blowdown meter on the cooling tower
in April 2014.
Install air handler
condensate
recovery system
200,000
FY 2013
The ERC installed a system to recover air handler
condensate and route it to the cooling towers in FY 2013.
In FY 2014, the system provided 188,400 gallons of make-
up water to the cooling tower system.
Toilets
171,000
FY 2013
The ERC has replaced or retrofitted all 28 of its toilets with
dual-flush toilets with a rated flush volume of 1.6 gpf for
full flush and 1.1 gpf for reduced flush.
Urinals
90,000
FY 2013
The ERC replaced 12 of 16 urinals with WaterSense
labeled models flushing at 0.125 gpf.
Faucet aerators
35,000
FY 2013
The ERC retrofitted 26 lavatory faucets with faucet
aerators that flow at 0.5 gpm.
Showerheads
14,000
FY 2013
The ERC replaced six of eight showerheads with
WaterSense labeled models flowing at 1.5 gpm. Two
showerheads already flowed at 2.0 gpm.
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Project
Estimated Annual Water
Savings (Gallons)
Completion
Year
Additional Notes
Fix leak in cooling
tower
515,000
FY 2012
The ERC fixed a leak in the cooling tower resulting from a
stuck valve.
Irrigation
400,000
FY 2010
Based on recommendations from a 2008 irrigation audit,
the ERC has optimized irrigation water use by only
irrigating certain zones and only when necessary.
Drought Contingency Plan
Drought Risk
The ERC is located in an area that periodically experiences drought and, at times, can experience extreme
drought. Water is supplied by Ada City Utilities, which obtains water from the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer, an
underground reservoir located approximately 11 miles south of Ada. The aquifer occupies more than 500 square
miles of underground terrain. The water flows by gravity from the aquifer approximately 11 miles north into the
city's water treatment plant.
Information on drought and water resource monitoring in Oklahoma is maintained by the Oklahoma Water
Resources Board (OWRB). It can be reviewed at: http://www.owrb.ok.qov/drouqht/.
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality maintains information on local water systems
experiencing problems or implementing water use restrictions/rationing at:
http://www. deq. state, ok. us/conservation/index, htm I.
Recent Contributions to Drought Contingency
The ERC has reduced its water use intensity baseline of 48.9 gallons per gsf, set in FY 2007, to 12.9 gallons per
gsf over the most recent 12-month period for which water use information was available at the time of the
assessment (June 2017 through May 2018)—a 74 percent reduction. The ERC plans to pursue projects to
continue to reduce facility water use. The ERC staff will monitor water meters and submeters so that leaks or
other malfunctions resulting in increased water use can be identified and resolved quickly.
Potential Capital Improvement Projects to Reduce Water Use
Potential capital improvement projects are identified in Table 1. These projects represent the ERC's plans to
further reduce facility water use, particularly if the facility is faced with water supply limitations or undergoes a
major renovation. If necessary, all of the projects could be implemented relatively quickly, although some do not
have short-term payback periods. If fully implemented, these projects are estimated to reduce facility water use
by nearly 9 percent.
Opportunities for Short-Term Response to Local Drought
In the event of a drought or other water supply shortage, the ERC will follow any water use recommendations
and restrictions from Ada City Utilities and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.
Because the majority of the laboratory's water usage is for sanitary, research, and laboratory functions that are
critical to the ERC's mission, there is not much opportunity for short-term response to local drought. However,
the ERC could further curtail outdoor water use, ultimately eliminating it entirely in cases of severe drought. In
addition to reducing and/or eliminating outdoor water use for irrigation, the ERC could also cease operation of
the ornamental landscaping fountain in the event of a drought. While the fountain is recirculating and is not a
heavy water user, nearly 10,000 gallons of water is lost annually through evaporation and must be made up via
an automatic valve throughout the year.
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Considerations for New Construction
The ERC includes many aspects that are considered water efficiency best practices. However, if the EPA decides
to pursue further expansion of the ERC through new construction or major renovations, the design choices listed
below could be considered to further reduce water use:
1) Install restroom fixtures with the maximum flush volume/flow rate and performance requirements
provided in Table 6.
Table 6. Requirements for Restroom Fixtures in New Construction/Major Renovation
Fixture Type
Maximum Flush
Volume/Flow Rate
Performance Requirement
Toilets
1.28 gpf
WaterSense labeled
Urinals
0.125 gpf
WaterSense labeled
Lavatory faucets
0.5 gpm
None
Kitchen faucets
1.8 gpm
None
Showerheads
1.75 gpm
WaterSense labeled
2) Incorporate air handler condensate collection and/or rainwater collection into the initial design to use for
cooling tower make-up, toilet and urinal flushing, or other non-potable water end uses.
Stormwater Management
The ERC operates under a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
System (MS4) permit with the City of Ada. Stormwater mostly
collects in storm drains on site; however, some stormwater runs
off to the east and west of the parking lot into nearby woods and
landscape.
Onsite Green Infrastructure
The ERC does not currently have any onsite green infrastructure.
Contact us
For more information about our services:
Rafael Hernandez
hernandez.rafael@epa.gov
202.564.2827
Praveen KC
kc.praveen@epa.gov
202.564.5044
Visit us on the web at:
https://www.epa.gov/areeninaepa
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