|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   | U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
        Federal Energy Management Program
        


Best Management Practice: Other Water Intensive Processes


        Many water using processes beyond the previously covered best
 management practices (BMPs) are found at Federal facilities, including 
vehicle wash systems, maintenance services, cleaning/laundry services, 
single pass air conditioners, water softening systems, and others. 
Identify and analyze all water intensive processes for potential 
efficiency improvements.
This page outlines best management practices for other water intensive processes across:
Overview
    Operations and Maintenance
    Retrofit and Replacement Options
    Resources
Case StudyOverview
Laundry facilities are often found at Federal facilities. The laundry
 facility may be a self-serve laundry where residents and personnel wash
 their own clothing, a commercial-type laundry service where residents 
drop off laundry to be washed or dry cleaned, or an industrial laundry 
facility where large volumes of Government-owned linens and uniforms are
 cleaned. Large amounts of water are regularly used in industrial 
laundries, making them highly suitable for a water efficiency program.
Evaporative coolers, also known as swamp coolers and desert coolers, 
work on the same principle as cooling towers. Air is cooled and 
humidified as it passes through porous pads that are kept moist by water
 dripped on their upper edges. Un-evaporated water trickles down through
 pads and collects in a pan for either discharge or recirculation. Since
 cooling relies on evaporation, these coolers work best in arid 
climates.
When water evaporates, it leaves behind scale and mineral deposits on
 the pads, reducing the volume of air flowing through the pads and 
compromising cooler performance. Bleed-off water serves to dilute the 
mineral concentration of pan water and reduces scale and dirt build-up 
on the pads. There are two types of bleed-off systems: once-through and 
recirculating. The once-through, or pumpless, type is simpler and less 
expensive than the recirculating, or pump, type but consumes more water 
and requires constant drainage.
In many areas of the country, additional water softening should not 
be necessary for most operations. When water softeners are required, 
look for systems that generate a minimal amount of waste brine per 
gallon of water softened.
The military maintains facilities for washing and rinsing aircraft 
and vehicles. These washrack facilities are an excellent candidate for 
water efficiency. There are five typical washrack groups based on the 
type of wastewater emitted:
Aircraft rinsing
    Aircraft washrack platform
    Automotive vehicle washrack
    Tracked vehicle washrack
    Automotive vehicle maintenanceThe amount of water used per item washed varies from approximately 
100 to 3,000 gallons. Newer, commercially available washrack equipment 
usually includes some retrofit and recycling options that significantly 
reduces the amount of water used per item washed.
Get expert advice to help determine if water efficiency improvements 
of other water intensive processes are appropriate. New system designs 
and improved materials can significantly reduce water and energy 
requirements. However, since this may involve significant capital costs,
 first investigate every retrofit or operations and maintenance option. 
Your first resource should be local or headquarters engineers, but do 
not overlook input from experienced contractors or other Government 
agencies.
Back to top
Operation and Maintenance
To maintain water efficiency in operations and maintenance, Federal agencies should:
If practical, consider metering or otherwise measuring the amount of water used in other water intensive processes.
    As with all water-using equipment, locate and repair leaks in plumbing connections.
    If applicable, ensure procedures are in place to turn off the 
water supply when equipment is not in operation. Some equipment allows 
water to constantly run even when the equipment is turned off.
    If applicable, check flow rates to ensure they are within 
manufacturer recommendations. For maximum water savings, the flow rate 
should be near the minimum allowed by the manufacturer.
    To reduce water used by evaporative coolers, keep a tight rein on
 bleed-off water amounts. For most small coolers, bleed-off volumes 
should be less than a few gallons per hour for each 1,000 cubic feet per
 minute of air flow. Also replace worn or torn pads and inspect the 
recirculation pump and reservoir level controls periodically during warm
 months when the system is running.
    For water softeners, set the controls to start softening and 
regeneration processes only when needed. Softeners with timers should be
 avoided.
    For existing washing machines, encourage users to wash only full 
loads. If the water level is able to be set by the user, encourage using
 only as much water as needed for that load. Also consider separating 
laundry by the number of cycles needed.
    Large commercial laundry equipment should be easily programmable 
to use no more water than required for the degree of soiling of the 
items being washed.
    For washrack cleaning facilities that use detergents, use high 
quality detergents to shorten the length of time required to clean each 
vehicle or aircraft.Back to top
Retrofit and Replacement Options
The following retrofit and replacement options help Federal agencies maintain water efficiency across facilities:
If applicable, replace water-cooled equipment with air-cooled 
equipment or the best available technology for achieving energy and 
water efficiency.
    Avoid single-pass or pumpless coolers. Recirculation saves water and increases thermal efficiency.
    New water softener models may come with water-efficient regeneration cycles.
    For existing washrack cleaning facilities, there are several 
low-cost measures that can save significant amounts of water. Timers and
 automatic spray heads are useful in aircraft rinsing facilities, but 
not for washrack units since each vehicle or aircraft must be washed 
until sufficiently clean. Automatic shutoff nozzles are designed for 
facilities with manual rinsing. Since water is usually left on during 
the entire time a vehicle or aircraft is washed and rinsed, the 
automatic shutoff spray nozzle can save tens to hundreds of gallons per 
run. Low-flow and high-pressure hot water units can reduce the amount of
 water and solvents used by facilities for cleaning engine components. 
Pre-wash areas are recommended for tracked vehicle washracks with 
recycling systems to eliminate a majority of the coarse dirt so that it 
will not enter into and clog up the treatment system. Where feasible, 
include water reuse equipment on vehicle washing equipment. Also 
consider using self-closing valves on chamois wringers.
    For washrack cleaning facilities, choose new rollover and 
conveyor equipment that uses less than 35 gallons per vehicle for 
automobiles and light trucks and less than 75 gallons per vehicle for 
bus and large truck washes.
    The costliest but most highly effective way to reduce water usage
 at wash and rinse facilities is to implement a wastewater recycling 
system (see BMP #14).
 Where possible reuse reverse osmosis or nanofiltration reject water for
 vehicle washing in rollover and conveyor type systems.
    Replace old commercial clothes washers (vertical axis) with 
high-efficiency washers (horizontal axis) that use significantly less 
energy, water, and detergent. Look for ENERGY STAR®-labeled washers with
 a water factor of 8.5 gallons of water used per cubic foot or less. 
Most full-sized ENERGY STAR-labeled washers use 18-25 gallons of water 
per load compared to the 40 gallons used by standard machines. These 
efficient washers have the potential to reduce combined utility costs by
 as much as 50%.
    For large industrial or commercial type laundries, consider 
replacing old washers with tunnel washers or ozone laundering. Tunnel 
washers, also known as continuous batch washers, are heavy-duty, 
multi-tank systems for use in large industrial laundries. They are 
capable of handling up to 2,000 pounds of laundry per hour. Tunnel 
washers use counter current wash methods to maximize water efficiency. 
These are costly to install, but are capable of saving up to 70% of the 
volume of water used with a washer-extractor and require less operating 
and maintenance labor. Tunnel washers typically use two gallons of water
 or less per pound of laundry.
    Technologies for reducing water use in laundry operations include
 ozone laundering. Ozone laundering is suited for light-to-moderately 
soiled laundry and uses no detergent, uses only cold water, and recycles
 water. Ozone-generating equipment is attached to the washer as a 
closed-loop system.Back to top
Resources
The following resources provide guidance on water best management 
practices. Some of the following documents are available as Adobe 
Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.
**Air Force Water Conservation Guidebook** (PDF 1.7 MB):
 Resource developed by the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency to 
assist base-level personnel in reducing potable water usage through 
life-cycle, cost-effective water efficiency programs.
    **Military Handbook: Water Conservation** (PDF 580 KB):
  Military guide on maximizing the efficient use of water resources to 
support military options and lessen demands placed upon existing water 
supplies.
    **General Services Administration Water Management Guide** (PDF 3.6 MB): Comprehensive approach for facility managers explaining new water conservation requirement under Executive Order 13123.
    **Water Conservation Guide for Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial Users** (PDF 2.2 MB): Overview of water conservation strategies and benefits presented by the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer.Back to top
Case Study
Sandia National Laboratories developed an extensive water efficiency 
program at its Microsystems and Engineering Sciences Application (MESA) 
complex following FEMP Best Management Practice #13PDF. The program saves the complex 80 million gallons of water annually.
Back to top | U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
        Federal Energy Management Program
        


Best Management Practice: Other Water Intensive Processes


        Many water using processes beyond the previously covered best
 management practices (BMPs) are found at Federal facilities, including 
vehicle wash systems, maintenance services, cleaning/laundry services, 
single pass air conditioners, water softening systems, and others. 
Identify and analyze all water intensive processes for potential 
efficiency improvements.
This page outlines best management practices for other water intensive processes across:
Overview
    Operations and Maintenance
    Retrofit and Replacement Options
    Resources
Case StudyOverview
Laundry facilities are often found at Federal facilities. The laundry
 facility may be a self-serve laundry where residents and personnel wash
 their own clothing, a commercial-type laundry service where residents 
drop off laundry to be washed or dry cleaned, or an industrial laundry 
facility where large volumes of Government-owned linens and uniforms are
 cleaned. Large amounts of water are regularly used in industrial 
laundries, making them highly suitable for a water efficiency program.
Evaporative coolers, also known as swamp coolers and desert coolers, 
work on the same principle as cooling towers. Air is cooled and 
humidified as it passes through porous pads that are kept moist by water
 dripped on their upper edges. Un-evaporated water trickles down through
 pads and collects in a pan for either discharge or recirculation. Since
 cooling relies on evaporation, these coolers work best in arid 
climates.
When water evaporates, it leaves behind scale and mineral deposits on
 the pads, reducing the volume of air flowing through the pads and 
compromising cooler performance. Bleed-off water serves to dilute the 
mineral concentration of pan water and reduces scale and dirt build-up 
on the pads. There are two types of bleed-off systems: once-through and 
recirculating. The once-through, or pumpless, type is simpler and less 
expensive than the recirculating, or pump, type but consumes more water 
and requires constant drainage.
In many areas of the country, additional water softening should not 
be necessary for most operations. When water softeners are required, 
look for systems that generate a minimal amount of waste brine per 
gallon of water softened.
The military maintains facilities for washing and rinsing aircraft 
and vehicles. These washrack facilities are an excellent candidate for 
water efficiency. There are five typical washrack groups based on the 
type of wastewater emitted:
Aircraft rinsing
    Aircraft washrack platform
    Automotive vehicle washrack
    Tracked vehicle washrack
    Automotive vehicle maintenanceThe amount of water used per item washed varies from approximately 
100 to 3,000 gallons. Newer, commercially available washrack equipment 
usually includes some retrofit and recycling options that significantly 
reduces the amount of water used per item washed.
Get expert advice to help determine if water efficiency improvements 
of other water intensive processes are appropriate. New system designs 
and improved materials can significantly reduce water and energy 
requirements. However, since this may involve significant capital costs,
 first investigate every retrofit or operations and maintenance option. 
Your first resource should be local or headquarters engineers, but do 
not overlook input from experienced contractors or other Government 
agencies.
Back to top
Operation and Maintenance
To maintain water efficiency in operations and maintenance, Federal agencies should:
If practical, consider metering or otherwise measuring the amount of water used in other water intensive processes.
    As with all water-using equipment, locate and repair leaks in plumbing connections.
    If applicable, ensure procedures are in place to turn off the 
water supply when equipment is not in operation. Some equipment allows 
water to constantly run even when the equipment is turned off.
    If applicable, check flow rates to ensure they are within 
manufacturer recommendations. For maximum water savings, the flow rate 
should be near the minimum allowed by the manufacturer.
    To reduce water used by evaporative coolers, keep a tight rein on
 bleed-off water amounts. For most small coolers, bleed-off volumes 
should be less than a few gallons per hour for each 1,000 cubic feet per
 minute of air flow. Also replace worn or torn pads and inspect the 
recirculation pump and reservoir level controls periodically during warm
 months when the system is running.
    For water softeners, set the controls to start softening and 
regeneration processes only when needed. Softeners with timers should be
 avoided.
    For existing washing machines, encourage users to wash only full 
loads. If the water level is able to be set by the user, encourage using
 only as much water as needed for that load. Also consider separating 
laundry by the number of cycles needed.
    Large commercial laundry equipment should be easily programmable 
to use no more water than required for the degree of soiling of the 
items being washed.
    For washrack cleaning facilities that use detergents, use high 
quality detergents to shorten the length of time required to clean each 
vehicle or aircraft.Back to top
Retrofit and Replacement Options
The following retrofit and replacement options help Federal agencies maintain water efficiency across facilities:
If applicable, replace water-cooled equipment with air-cooled 
equipment or the best available technology for achieving energy and 
water efficiency.
    Avoid single-pass or pumpless coolers. Recirculation saves water and increases thermal efficiency.
    New water softener models may come with water-efficient regeneration cycles.
    For existing washrack cleaning facilities, there are several 
low-cost measures that can save significant amounts of water. Timers and
 automatic spray heads are useful in aircraft rinsing facilities, but 
not for washrack units since each vehicle or aircraft must be washed 
until sufficiently clean. Automatic shutoff nozzles are designed for 
facilities with manual rinsing. Since water is usually left on during 
the entire time a vehicle or aircraft is washed and rinsed, the 
automatic shutoff spray nozzle can save tens to hundreds of gallons per 
run. Low-flow and high-pressure hot water units can reduce the amount of
 water and solvents used by facilities for cleaning engine components. 
Pre-wash areas are recommended for tracked vehicle washracks with 
recycling systems to eliminate a majority of the coarse dirt so that it 
will not enter into and clog up the treatment system. Where feasible, 
include water reuse equipment on vehicle washing equipment. Also 
consider using self-closing valves on chamois wringers.
    For washrack cleaning facilities, choose new rollover and 
conveyor equipment that uses less than 35 gallons per vehicle for 
automobiles and light trucks and less than 75 gallons per vehicle for 
bus and large truck washes.
    The costliest but most highly effective way to reduce water usage
 at wash and rinse facilities is to implement a wastewater recycling 
system (see BMP #14).
 Where possible reuse reverse osmosis or nanofiltration reject water for
 vehicle washing in rollover and conveyor type systems.
    Replace old commercial clothes washers (vertical axis) with 
high-efficiency washers (horizontal axis) that use significantly less 
energy, water, and detergent. Look for ENERGY STAR®-labeled washers with
 a water factor of 8.5 gallons of water used per cubic foot or less. 
Most full-sized ENERGY STAR-labeled washers use 18-25 gallons of water 
per load compared to the 40 gallons used by standard machines. These 
efficient washers have the potential to reduce combined utility costs by
 as much as 50%.
    For large industrial or commercial type laundries, consider 
replacing old washers with tunnel washers or ozone laundering. Tunnel 
washers, also known as continuous batch washers, are heavy-duty, 
multi-tank systems for use in large industrial laundries. They are 
capable of handling up to 2,000 pounds of laundry per hour. Tunnel 
washers use counter current wash methods to maximize water efficiency. 
These are costly to install, but are capable of saving up to 70% of the 
volume of water used with a washer-extractor and require less operating 
and maintenance labor. Tunnel washers typically use two gallons of water
 or less per pound of laundry.
    Technologies for reducing water use in laundry operations include
 ozone laundering. Ozone laundering is suited for light-to-moderately 
soiled laundry and uses no detergent, uses only cold water, and recycles
 water. Ozone-generating equipment is attached to the washer as a 
closed-loop system.Back to top
Resources
The following resources provide guidance on water best management 
practices. Some of the following documents are available as Adobe 
Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.
**Air Force Water Conservation Guidebook** (PDF 1.7 MB):
 Resource developed by the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency to 
assist base-level personnel in reducing potable water usage through 
life-cycle, cost-effective water efficiency programs.
    **Military Handbook: Water Conservation** (PDF 580 KB):
  Military guide on maximizing the efficient use of water resources to 
support military options and lessen demands placed upon existing water 
supplies.
    **General Services Administration Water Management Guide** (PDF 3.6 MB): Comprehensive approach for facility managers explaining new water conservation requirement under Executive Order 13123.
    **Water Conservation Guide for Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial Users** (PDF 2.2 MB): Overview of water conservation strategies and benefits presented by the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer.Back to top
Case Study
Sandia National Laboratories developed an extensive water efficiency 
program at its Microsystems and Engineering Sciences Application (MESA) 
complex following FEMP Best Management Practice #13PDF. The program saves the complex 80 million gallons of water annually.
Back to top | 
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| 
|U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
        Federal Energy Management Program
        


Best Management Practice: Other Water Intensive Processes


        Many water using processes beyond the previously covered best
 management practices (BMPs) are found at Federal facilities, including 
vehicle wash systems, maintenance services, cleaning/laundry services, 
single pass air conditioners, water softening systems, and others. 
Identify and analyze all water intensive processes for potential 
efficiency improvements.
This page outlines best management practices for other water intensive processes across:
Overview
    Operations and Maintenance
    Retrofit and Replacement Options
    Resources
Case StudyOverview
Laundry facilities are often found at Federal facilities. The laundry
 facility may be a self-serve laundry where residents and personnel wash
 their own clothing, a commercial-type laundry service where residents 
drop off laundry to be washed or dry cleaned, or an industrial laundry 
facility where large volumes of Government-owned linens and uniforms are
 cleaned. Large amounts of water are regularly used in industrial 
laundries, making them highly suitable for a water efficiency program.
Evaporative coolers, also known as swamp coolers and desert coolers, 
work on the same principle as cooling towers. Air is cooled and 
humidified as it passes through porous pads that are kept moist by water
 dripped on their upper edges. Un-evaporated water trickles down through
 pads and collects in a pan for either discharge or recirculation. Since
 cooling relies on evaporation, these coolers work best in arid 
climates.
When water evaporates, it leaves behind scale and mineral deposits on
 the pads, reducing the volume of air flowing through the pads and 
compromising cooler performance. Bleed-off water serves to dilute the 
mineral concentration of pan water and reduces scale and dirt build-up 
on the pads. There are two types of bleed-off systems: once-through and 
recirculating. The once-through, or pumpless, type is simpler and less 
expensive than the recirculating, or pump, type but consumes more water 
and requires constant drainage.
In many areas of the country, additional water softening should not 
be necessary for most operations. When water softeners are required, 
look for systems that generate a minimal amount of waste brine per 
gallon of water softened.
The military maintains facilities for washing and rinsing aircraft 
and vehicles. These washrack facilities are an excellent candidate for 
water efficiency. There are five typical washrack groups based on the 
type of wastewater emitted:
Aircraft rinsing
    Aircraft washrack platform
    Automotive vehicle washrack
    Tracked vehicle washrack
    Automotive vehicle maintenanceThe amount of water used per item washed varies from approximately 
100 to 3,000 gallons. Newer, commercially available washrack equipment 
usually includes some retrofit and recycling options that significantly 
reduces the amount of water used per item washed.
Get expert advice to help determine if water efficiency improvements 
of other water intensive processes are appropriate. New system designs 
and improved materials can significantly reduce water and energy 
requirements. However, since this may involve significant capital costs,
 first investigate every retrofit or operations and maintenance option. 
Your first resource should be local or headquarters engineers, but do 
not overlook input from experienced contractors or other Government 
agencies.
Back to top
Operation and Maintenance
To maintain water efficiency in operations and maintenance, Federal agencies should:
If practical, consider metering or otherwise measuring the amount of water used in other water intensive processes.
    As with all water-using equipment, locate and repair leaks in plumbing connections.
    If applicable, ensure procedures are in place to turn off the 
water supply when equipment is not in operation. Some equipment allows 
water to constantly run even when the equipment is turned off.
    If applicable, check flow rates to ensure they are within 
manufacturer recommendations. For maximum water savings, the flow rate 
should be near the minimum allowed by the manufacturer.
    To reduce water used by evaporative coolers, keep a tight rein on
 bleed-off water amounts. For most small coolers, bleed-off volumes 
should be less than a few gallons per hour for each 1,000 cubic feet per
 minute of air flow. Also replace worn or torn pads and inspect the 
recirculation pump and reservoir level controls periodically during warm
 months when the system is running.
    For water softeners, set the controls to start softening and 
regeneration processes only when needed. Softeners with timers should be
 avoided.
    For existing washing machines, encourage users to wash only full 
loads. If the water level is able to be set by the user, encourage using
 only as much water as needed for that load. Also consider separating 
laundry by the number of cycles needed.
    Large commercial laundry equipment should be easily programmable 
to use no more water than required for the degree of soiling of the 
items being washed.
    For washrack cleaning facilities that use detergents, use high 
quality detergents to shorten the length of time required to clean each 
vehicle or aircraft.Back to top
Retrofit and Replacement Options
The following retrofit and replacement options help Federal agencies maintain water efficiency across facilities:
If applicable, replace water-cooled equipment with air-cooled 
equipment or the best available technology for achieving energy and 
water efficiency.
    Avoid single-pass or pumpless coolers. Recirculation saves water and increases thermal efficiency.
    New water softener models may come with water-efficient regeneration cycles.
    For existing washrack cleaning facilities, there are several 
low-cost measures that can save significant amounts of water. Timers and
 automatic spray heads are useful in aircraft rinsing facilities, but 
not for washrack units since each vehicle or aircraft must be washed 
until sufficiently clean. Automatic shutoff nozzles are designed for 
facilities with manual rinsing. Since water is usually left on during 
the entire time a vehicle or aircraft is washed and rinsed, the 
automatic shutoff spray nozzle can save tens to hundreds of gallons per 
run. Low-flow and high-pressure hot water units can reduce the amount of
 water and solvents used by facilities for cleaning engine components. 
Pre-wash areas are recommended for tracked vehicle washracks with 
recycling systems to eliminate a majority of the coarse dirt so that it 
will not enter into and clog up the treatment system. Where feasible, 
include water reuse equipment on vehicle washing equipment. Also 
consider using self-closing valves on chamois wringers.
    For washrack cleaning facilities, choose new rollover and 
conveyor equipment that uses less than 35 gallons per vehicle for 
automobiles and light trucks and less than 75 gallons per vehicle for 
bus and large truck washes.
    The costliest but most highly effective way to reduce water usage
 at wash and rinse facilities is to implement a wastewater recycling 
system (see BMP #14).
 Where possible reuse reverse osmosis or nanofiltration reject water for
 vehicle washing in rollover and conveyor type systems.
    Replace old commercial clothes washers (vertical axis) with 
high-efficiency washers (horizontal axis) that use significantly less 
energy, water, and detergent. Look for ENERGY STAR®-labeled washers with
 a water factor of 8.5 gallons of water used per cubic foot or less. 
Most full-sized ENERGY STAR-labeled washers use 18-25 gallons of water 
per load compared to the 40 gallons used by standard machines. These 
efficient washers have the potential to reduce combined utility costs by
 as much as 50%.
    For large industrial or commercial type laundries, consider 
replacing old washers with tunnel washers or ozone laundering. Tunnel 
washers, also known as continuous batch washers, are heavy-duty, 
multi-tank systems for use in large industrial laundries. They are 
capable of handling up to 2,000 pounds of laundry per hour. Tunnel 
washers use counter current wash methods to maximize water efficiency. 
These are costly to install, but are capable of saving up to 70% of the 
volume of water used with a washer-extractor and require less operating 
and maintenance labor. Tunnel washers typically use two gallons of water
 or less per pound of laundry.
    Technologies for reducing water use in laundry operations include
 ozone laundering. Ozone laundering is suited for light-to-moderately 
soiled laundry and uses no detergent, uses only cold water, and recycles
 water. Ozone-generating equipment is attached to the washer as a 
closed-loop system.Back to top
Resources
The following resources provide guidance on water best management 
practices. Some of the following documents are available as Adobe 
Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.
**Air Force Water Conservation Guidebook** (PDF 1.7 MB):
 Resource developed by the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency to 
assist base-level personnel in reducing potable water usage through 
life-cycle, cost-effective water efficiency programs.
    **Military Handbook: Water Conservation** (PDF 580 KB):
  Military guide on maximizing the efficient use of water resources to 
support military options and lessen demands placed upon existing water 
supplies.
    **General Services Administration Water Management Guide** (PDF 3.6 MB): Comprehensive approach for facility managers explaining new water conservation requirement under Executive Order 13123.
    **Water Conservation Guide for Commercial, Institutional, and Industrial Users** (PDF 2.2 MB): Overview of water conservation strategies and benefits presented by the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer.Back to top
Case Study
Sandia National Laboratories developed an extensive water efficiency 
program at its Microsystems and Engineering Sciences Application (MESA) 
complex following FEMP Best Management Practice #13PDF. The program saves the complex 80 million gallons of water annually.
Back to top

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Content Last Updated: 02/25/2011