Serving Community by Conserving Water. by Kathy Danforth

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1 Serving Community by Conserving Water by Kathy Danforth At first glance, Florida appears to be awash in water, with the ocean, swamps, an occasional hurricane deluge, the nebulous Fountain of Youth, and ever-present humidity, but with its many uses, having the right water at the right time takes planning and management. Florida has established five water management districts Northwest Florida, St. Johns River, Suwannee River, South Florida, and Southwest Florida to oversee water quality, floodwater, conservation, and other water issues. Community associations are recognized as being in a powerful position to influence the use of water in their community 22 Jan 2011 FLCAJ

2 through choosing efficient systems, implementing waterconservation practices, maintaining water systems, and educating residents. Outdoor water use accounts for as much as 50 percent of residential water consumption and in many communities is largely under the control of the association. Irrigation is usually the prime component, and step one in conservation is the installation of appropriate landscaping. Florida-friendly landscaping will require less water, less often, since the right plant in the right place will thrive in a manner more like plants in the wild. Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) provides assistance to associations to evaluate plant health and maintenance issues, reduce water use, recommend landscape design changes, and provide advice regarding maintenance contracts and association deed restrictions related to landscaping. In reviewing one association s landscaping situation, Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Community Association Coordinator Lisa Strange was able to make several suggestions to improve appearance and cut water use. Maintaining proper turf height (one-half inch to one and one-half inch for Bermuda grass), replacing white heat-retaining rocks in plant beds with organic mulch, avoiding over-pruning, expanding planting beds, and fixing sprinkler heads all would minimize water use while improving plant health. SWFWMD and other organizations throughout the state are available to make site-specific recommendations for water conservation. SWFWMD has pinpointed The United Nations projects that if current trends in climate, population growth and migration, and consumption continue, twothirds of the world s population could face a lack of water in 20 years. While that is not specific to Florida, the direction is clearly toward more demand. several easily-fixed water wasters encountered with irrigation. To avoid watering after or during rainfall, they recommend installation of a rain sensor with automatic turn-off during rainfall. For turf areas that are difficult to maintain, converting the location to a planting bed with droughttolerant plants may best preserve water and appearance. Turf areas should be in a separate watering zone from established planting areas, which require less water. Sprinkler head location and function is a key to optimal use of irrigation water. Heads should be placed to create head-to-head coverage; any bent heads should be straightened to avoid spraying directly into the ground. Nozzle spray patterns should be adjusted (or the head capped) to avoid spraying paved areas or plantless mulch areas. Clogged, broken, or blocked sprinkler heads should have the area or head cleared, with broken heads replaced. Though irrigation seems a simple and routine activity, the amount of water at stake is substantial. Other outdoor water use can be minimized by having an automatic shutoff nozzle on hoses for car washing, hand watering, or other water activities. What about washing the car? Washing it on the grass will FLCAJ Jan

3 water the grass and avoid runoff. Or, a commercial car wash will use more pressure and less water to achieve the same cleanliness. Sweeping rather than hosing off a sidewalk will save 150 gallons on average. Water can be conserved in both pools and spas through use of a cover, which can reduce evaporation by as much as 30 to 50 percent. Despite the best systems and practices, leaks will sabotage all water conservation efforts. For detecting outside water leaks, Jimmy Carter with American Leak Detection recommends watching planted areas for discoloration. If an area is either really healthy or dead that could indicate an issue, he observes. Besides the problem of broken or leaking pipes, he explains that with faulty valves, Water can seep through the pressurized part of the valve to the open side, losing water through the sprinkler head. With swimming pools, if the auto-fill is running constantly, it can be a sign of a structure leak or a broken water line, he comments. Another symptom can be difficulty in keeping the proper chemical levels and controlling the growth of black algae. This can be caused by fresh water diluting the chemicals, he notes. A bucket test or meter test (directions at AmericanLeakDetection.com or WaterMatters.org) can help identify if there is a problem to locate. Conserving indoor residential water also starts with the right systems. EPA s Energy Star and Water Sense appliances will help reduce water and energy use; if less water is used, frequently that means that less water is heated and pumped. Energy Star clothes washers may use percent less water and energy per load, with similar savings for dishwashers. A high-efficiency toilet using 1.28 gallons per flush may save up to 4000 gallons of water per year. Low-flow showerheads can save gallons per month, and adding aerators to faucets to reduce flow to 2.5 gallons per minute or less can save the average household over 2000 gallons per year. For some water conservation purchases, rebates are available, with a listing at rebate_finder_saving_ money_water.html. The next step may be breaking habits of letting the water run while brushing teeth, shaving, or washing dishes by hand. If water is running to warm up or cool down, it can be captured for watering plants or other uses. Limiting showers to five minutes can save 1000 gallons of water per month. With water and sewer bills growing higher and higher, make the water earn its keep before it goes down the drain. Again, inside leaks are the insidious downfall to water conservation. And not only is the water not going where intended, it may be wreaking havoc in another spot. Carter points out, Whether the leak is undermining a home or creating wall damage, it could contribute to mold damage if not addressed. Carter observes, In condominiums, the biggest thing is to make sure someone is checking that there is not an obvious leak continuously running toilets, dripping faucets or showerheads, or valves that don t function properly. A leaking toilet can use as much as 90,000 gallons in a month, while a dripping faucet may lose 180 gallons in the same period. Leak detection comes into play in determining what is going on in the ground, slab, 24 Jan 2011 FLCAJ

4 and walls. Carter explains, With age you start to get leaks either from pipes being eaten from the exterior in or the interior out, depending on whether it s hot or cold water pipes. Normally what we see on the cold water side is that certain water electrolysis problems will occur from the inside out. Electrolysis will build little deposits on the inside and as those break off they leave an indentation on the copper pipe. As the water continues to erode past that, it s like a river with the swells going up and down. That little spot continues to erode till it actually pops a hole in the pipe. On the hot water side, it s actually just the opposite most of the time it deteriorates from the outside in. The pipe gets extremely flaky like pie crust and at that stage if you get a little earth movement from earthquakes or expansive soil, it s enough to apply pressure that causes the pipe to collapse. Electrolysis occurs as different metals react together over time. Carter comments, On the beach the salt content in the soil is corrosive. The water in certain areas can cause an increased effect. Or, if there s any type of electrical current close by, you get a certain amount of 60-cycle hum that causes electrolysis as well. With the variations in the quality of piping materials, water, the mineral content of the soil, and proximity to electrical current, pipe life expectancy varies widely. Carter says, I ve seen pipes break down in two years, and other homes can be 30 years old without a problem. FLCAJ Jan

5 Clues that a leak may need to be attended to include hearing water running when nothing is on, noting a warm spot on the floor, which might come from a hot water leak in the slab, or seeing higher water or heating bills. In a high-rise building, Carter notes, We ve found that a leak may start on the fifth floor and find its way out in the underground parking deck. To locate a leak, Carter explains, We use electronic equipment to listen on the pressurized plumbing system. By doing that we can go back with microphones and locate a leak within a onefoot area. The options for fixing the leak include rerouting the line, re-piping, and epoxy pipe relining. Epoxy pipe relining is suitable for pipes one-half inch to one inch in diameter with minimal deterioration. Carter describes the process: You run aluminum sulfate through the line to clean it and then blow epoxy resin through the pipe for a set time at a set temperature. This puts on a 10-milliliter protective coating to keep wear down, and if the corrosion is from the inside, it s reduced percent. More extensive leaks will require new pipes, either in the same location or through a new route through the building. Carter notes other sources of leaks and water loss. Nobody looks at their laundry hoses, but they will bloat like a bubble and then burst. Plastic flex-lines or anglestops that blow apart when the owner is not there can run for a couple of hours or a couple of days until the landscaper sees water coming out the front door. Since a one-eighth inch hole at 40 psi leaks 2500 gallons in 24 hours, it does not take long for a minor occurrence to have a major impact. Carter suggests that deterioration and consequent leaks from recirculating lines at 26 Jan 2011 FLCAJ

6 complexes can be reduced by putting the systems on timers to only run during peak periods of use, such as early morning and evening. Installing a submeter where the main water lines enter each individual building in a community is also a useful tool in identifying where leaks may be occurring. Grants are available from various organizations to facilitate significant environmental conservation, so before abandoning an idea because of the initial costs of implementation, communities should explore what grant options may be available. The 16-county SWFWMD currently offers grants for water preservation education, with details at WaterMatters. org/communitygrants. An adequate supply of water is essential to all watermanagement concerns. Since water is miraculously fundamental to plant and animal life as well as most commercial processes, growth in any area will be tied to the supply of water available. The United Nations projects that if current trends in climate, population growth and migration, and consumption continue, two-thirds of the world s population could face a lack of water in 20 years. While that is not specific to Florida, the direction is clearly toward more demand. Savings on water bills provides another incentive for conservation, as well as the motivation that voluntary measures are always more palatable than forced edicts. The verdict is evident: conserving water will serve the community well. FLCAJ Jan