State Facilities Plumbing Fixtures

• Project Type: General OWC
• Project Name: Water Efficiency Plans for State Agencies
• Title: Uniform Plumbing Code Amendments
• Date: 1/1/1991
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Reports

W ATER CONSERVATION PLUMBING FIXTURES
FOR STATE BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

INTRODUCTION

There exist many opportunities to reduce water use in government and institutional buildings and
facilities. The two highest interior uses of water include toilet and urinal operations and
showerhead operations. Although these two uses do not include all possibilities for reduction,
they typically represent the highest percent of daily indoor use. Other possibilities for water use
reduction include cooling towers, laundry facilities, lavatory aerators and, of course, water used
for landscape irrigation.

This guide has been developed as a tool to help the managers of buildings and facilities
. throughout Colorado decrease the amount of water used in daily operations. The following pages
- >\focuS on toilets, urinals and showerheads. The information in this guide includes a discussion
1:/ of considerations when selecting water-conserving plumbing fixtures, an explanation of water-
;,V,>/' conserving technologies currently available, helpful installation tips and a reference list of
IJ;~ 1 ' manufactures and distributors.J'he ideas and discussions contained in this guide are not
~){ll -..... endorsements ofaify-p1rffiCtiraf produce or category of technology. They are merely provided
c-, .' as guidance when adopting more water efficient practices and operations.
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/-). Why should building and facility managers be concerned with water conservation? There are
four primary reasons for water conservation in state agency operations. They include: I) Cost
savings. Reduced water consumption translates into a monetary savings. During tight budget
periods, reducing water use and will free up money that can be applied elsewhere; 2) Wise use
of a limited resource. In Colorado's semi-arid climate, water is truly a precious resource. No
one can afford to use the state's water resources inefficiently; 3) Leadership. With water as a
precious resource for all of Colorado, it is important for the State to provide leadership and
examples of wise management for other agencies; and 4) lts the law. HB 91-1154, the Water
Conservation Act of 1991, contains requirements for the installation of plumbing fixtures in new
construction and renovation of any state building or facility. Specifically, the legislation states:

"(7) In all state-owned buildings the construction or renovation of which commences after
January I, 1992, water-efficient plumbing devices shall be installed in accordance with
article 1.3 of Title 9. C.R.S., except that:

(a) Where tank-type water closets are installed, such water closets shall flush with a
maximum of one and six-tenths gallons of water.

(b) Where flushometer valves are used, such flushometer valves shall be the least water-
using type found to be safe and reliable." (CRS 37-96-103).