Lab Water Consumption
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Overall Strategies
Best Practices
- Shut off water using equipment when not in use.
- Set equipment to the minimum flow rate allowable per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Run glassware washers at full load only.
- Retrofit steam sterilizers with controls that automatically sense the need for tempering water.
- Install expansion tank instead of using water to temper steam in steam sterilizers, if it does not interfere with the normal operation.
- Increase the recovery rate of water purification systems with pre-treatment and optimization of the flow configuration.
- Consider reusing discharge water from water purification systems in non-potable applications.
- For new water purification systems, choose equipment based on high recovery rate.
- Eliminate water stills. Use reverse osmosis or ion exchange methods when possible, to save water and energy.
Compare Lab Water Consumption Options
Federal Requirements
Guiding Principles
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Indoor Water Use ( <span>Guiding Principles criteria 4.6</span>)
“Minimize the use and waste of indoor potable water, and in accordance with statue, implement water conservation technologies to the maximum extent that the technologies are life cycle cost-effective. Purchase water conserving products and ensure optimized indoor water operations to the maximum extent practicable.”
DOE’s Developing a Water Management Plan
FEMP | Best Management Practices for Water Efficiency
EPA | WaterSense
2018 IgCC Section 601