Under the auspices of the Interdepartmental Advisory Group on Water Conservation at Federal Facilities, member agencies pledged to conduct water audits at selected sites. This institution is a multi-discipline research facility with laboratories and offices in two wings and a large animal wing. Water is supplied from the regional network and, beyond a main meter, the system branches into the three distinct wings of the building. The recirculated hot water system is arranged similarly and serves the animal handling wings for cage washing and hydrobrushing. There is a 'shower in' and 'shower out' requirement for personnel entering the area.
Cold water is used for cooling, the cafeteria, the washrooms, and laboratory use.
A distilled water unit fulfills requirements for the research areas of all wings. Since the facility had only one meter and was a high consumer of both cold and hot water, it was decided to submeter both systems for all three wings. The main objectives of this study were to identify and quantify uses of both hot and cold water for each wing and for the entire facility. The study was to identify and recommend options, based on a cost-benefit analysis, for reducing the overall water requirement. Due to the sensitive nature of processes dealing with the animals drinking water supply, cleaning, etc., water reductions in these areas have not been included.