Water Management
Irrigation control via building automation system
Irrigation zones throughout campus are controlled through the building automation system. The system determines the most efficient application of irrigation through a complex evaporation transpiration algorithm. This algorithm takes into account the normally occurring rainfall and determines the minimum irrigation required to maintain healthy growth of the grasses, plants and trees on campus. Landscaping Services at Western Michigan University also uses hardy, native plant materials that require less water, care and maintenance and are less susceptible to infestation.
Low flow showers and faucets
Installing low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators is the single most effective water conservation savings you can do. Inexpensive and simple to install, low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators can reduce your water consumption as much as 50 percent, and reduce your energy cost of heating the water also by as much as 50 percent. This conservation of water and energy is not only good for the environment, but the savings in utility bills will pay for the cost of the aerators within a few months.
Chemical free water treatment
The Dolphin System represents the most economic solution to water treatment, representing a one-time purchase and installation cost as compared to the annual escalating cost of chemical treatment. The system reduces the total cost of system operation by saving energy through elimination of scale and biofilm, reducing water and sewer usage by achieving higher cycles of concentration and avoiding the annual cost of chemicals.
Retention of storm run off for new construction
At the Engineering and Applied Sciences Building and the surrounding Business Technology and Research Park, extensive site development for maximum retention of storm water has taken place.
Rerouting illicit discharge to sanitary
Western Michigan University has begun a program to identify and locate cross connections between storm water drains and sanitary water lines that may have occurred in buildings built in the 1950s and 1960s. The procedure involves the use of dyes poured into sanitary water lines and tracing the dye to see if it shows up in the storm water lines. Thus far, eight locations on campus where this has occurred have been found and corrected. A project to correct a cross-connection issue at Rood Hall is currently ongoing.
Touchless faucets
Touchless faucets operate on a low 24 volts AC. A sensor on the faucet neck emits a pulsed light beam with an adjustable range of 1 inch to 8 inches. Once the beam is broken, water is dispensed at a low flow rate of 0.5 gallons per minute. An adjustable time out setting controls the amount of time that water flows. The factory time-out setting on a touchless faucet is 30 seconds, but the following time out settings are available: 3, 6, 12, 30 and 45 seconds; 1, 3 and 20 minutes sensors for lights in many campus buildings.
Auto-flush urinals
Western Michigan University is currently investigating three different types of auto-flush urinals:
- Urinals with infrared sensors
- Sloan dual-flush retrofit handle for exposed, low consumption water closet flushometers
- Sloan Environmental Council of the States dual-flush sensor
Waterless urinals
No-flush urinals resemble conventional fixtures and easily replace them. They install to the regular waste lines, but eliminate the flush water supply lines. Flush valves are eliminated as well; there are no handles to touch, no sensors, no moving parts. The urinal bowl surfaces are urine repellent; urine is 99 percent liquid and its drainage is effected without flush water. Daily cleaning procedures are the same as for flushed urinals. The conventional water-filled urinal's trap drain is replaced by a disposable EcoTrap® inserted in the urinal outlet. It holds a layer of the immiscible BlueSeal® liquid floating on top of a urine layer. This combination trap seal blocks out sewer gases, and the covering BlueSeal® layer blocks out urine odors from the room. A three ounce dose of BlueSeal® lasts over 1,500 uses.
Water reduction program for cooling towers
Cooling towers are heat removal devices used to transfer process waste heat to the atmosphere. Our cooling towers use the evaporation of water to remove process heat and cool the working fluid thus cooling the temperature of the air dispersed throughout the building. Through close monitoring and manipulation of the systems pH and mineral levels in the water, we are able to reduce our water use by 30 percent. This equals over3 million to 4 million gallons annually across campus.
Water efficient washing machines in resident halls
In keeping with the WMU policy to purchase Energy Star rated appliances, older washing machines throughout the residence halls on campus are being replaced with more water and energy efficient models.
Conversion of water cooled condensers to air cooled
Western Michigan University has systematically replaced or converted all water cooled condensers in use at all dining services throughout campus with air-cooled condensers as a water saving measure. In addition to the water savings, air cooled condensers represent a labor savings as they require less maintenance and upkeep.