[SustainableNC] Text of Non-Essential Water Use Guidance

[Sharron Rogers]

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Guidance Materials


State Agency Non-Essential Water Use 


and Conservation Measures


 


Executive Order No. 26, Water System Protection, directs all state
government agencies to discontinue "non-essential" water use until further
notice. "Non-Essential" water uses for the purposes of this action are
defined as those that: 


 


·        Do not have any health or safety impacts; 


·        Are not required by regulation; and 


·        Are not needed to meet the core functions of the agency. 


 

The following guidance materials will be updated regularly over the coming
weeks and months. For the latest information, please visit
http://www.sustainablenc.org/water.htm
<http://www.sustainablenc.org/water.htm>   or call the Division of Pollution
Prevention and Environmental Assistance at (919) 715-6500.  

 

Based on the definition provided above, each facility must determine its
specific non-essential uses. Examples of non-essential water uses include:

 

*	Irrigation of lawns and ornamental plants;
*	Washing cars, off-road equipment, and other vehicles unless
necessary for operator safety; 
*	Washing of all building exteriors, outside structures, streets,
sidewalks and parking lots;
*	Operation of all inside and outside decorative pools and fountains;
*	Routine watering of athletic fields;
*	Recreational water uses such as swimming pools; 
*	Dust suppression with water sources other than treated wastewater;  
*	Operating hoses without hand-operated nozzles; 
*	Using hoses for clean up (i.e. do not use hose as a broom), unless
required by health code;
*	Washing partial loads in washing machines and dishwashers;
*	Non-essential ice machines;
*	Don't supply tap water at eating establishments unless requested;
*	Leaks, drips and other water losses.

 

 

Executive Order No. 26 also directs agencies to develop and begin
implementing long- term, financially feasible conservation measures.  To
support this direction, water conservation programs should be established at
each facility. A first step is to identify and track baseline water use
within each facility. The long-term conservation programs should include:

 

*	Delegation of authority to administer program;
*	Enumeration of all water uses and processes that use water; 
*	Identification and tracking of daily water use;
*	Detection and repair of leaks and malfunctioning equipment;
*	Installation of water conservation devices/equipment/fixtures as
feasible;
*	Establishment of an employee education and awareness program;
*	Formation of a rapid response system for fixing leaks and replacing
malfunction equipment.

 

Some examples of low or no-cost actions that can be considered include: 

 

*	Install aerators on all faucets;
*	Put water-filled plastic bottles (milk jugs) or dams in toilet
tanks;
*	Install low flow showerheads and other plumbing equipment;
*	Reduce water pressure;
*	Reduce water flow rates at lavatory faucets and at tank-less toilet
valves; 
*	Turn off water-using equipment when not in use;
*	Reduce or eliminate once-through cooling water;
*	Turn off air handling and cooling towers at nights and on weekends; 
*	Attach shut-off nozzles to all hand held hoses;
*	Sweep instead of using a hose to clean and implement other dry
cleanup techniques;
*	Minimize garbage disposal use;
*	Serve bottled water.

 

Agencies occupying leased properties should contact and work with landlords
to support water conservation initiatives and the elimination of
non-essential water use until further notice.  

 

There are many more conservation measures that may be considered. For more
information on establishing a conservation program please visit
http://www.sustainablenc.org/water.htm
<http://www.sustainablenc.org/water.htm>  or call the Division of Pollution
Prevention and Environmental Assistance at (919) 715-6500. The Web site is
under development and will be continually updated.

 

 

Sharron Rogers
Environmental Sustainability Coordinator
NC Division of Pollution Prevention
919.715.6526
 <mailto:sharron.rogers at ncmail.net> sharron.rogers at ncmail.net     
 <http://www.sustainablenc.org/> www.SustainableNC.org   
 



 
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