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The Port Authority of NY & NJ at LaGuardia
Airport (PA-LGA) is installing low-flow water devices as restrooms are
renovated. PA-LGA has renovated approximately 78 percent of its restroom
fixtures. As part of the ongoing renovations, PA-LGA implemented a water
conservation program, which involved the following initiatives:
- Established a leak detection and prevention program to reduce wasted water. A faucet drip or invisible leak in the toilet could result in up to 15 gallons of wasted water per day, or 5,475 gallons of wasted water per year.
- Installed low-flow toilets. Ultra-low-flow toilets use only 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Older toilets use 3.5 to 5 gallons per flush.
- Installed high-efficiency, low-flow faucets and aerators on all faucets. These use water at a rate of 0.5 gallons per minute (gpm), as compared to standard faucets, which use 3 gpm.
- Installed flow restrictors on all showerheads. Each showerhead was reduced from a 4.5 gpm shower head to high performance 2.5 gpm models.
The following table shows a brief cost analysis of the water conservation initiatives undertaken at LaGuardia Airport.
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ANALYSIS FOR RESTROOM WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM
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Before
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After
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Fixture costs1
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Showers
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—
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$250
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Sinks
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—
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$48,320
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Toilets
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—
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$41,175
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Total Cost of Fixtures
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$89,745
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Estimated yearly water usage (gallons)
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Showers2
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$246,375
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$136,875
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Sinks3
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$10,995,600
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$4,581,500
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Toilets4
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$57,750,000
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$32,043,000
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Total yearly water usage (gallons)5
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$68,991,975
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$36,761,375
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Cost of water6
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$115,303
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$61,437
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Cost of sewage7
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$183,378
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$97,710
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Total yearly water and sewage costs
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$298,681
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$159,147
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Savings
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$139,534
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Payback period (months)8
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8
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- Low-flow showerheads, faucet/aerators, and auto-flush
toilets, respectively, cost approximately $25, $302, and $225 each.
- Low-flow showerheads reduce water use from 4.5 to 2.5
gpm (44 percent). Ten showerheads have been replaced. Typical shower usage is
30 showers per day for five minutes, 365 days per year.
- Low-flow auto-flush faucets reduce water use from 3
to 0.5 gpm per fixture (83 percent). As of spring 2003, 160 of 228 (70
percent) low-flow faucets have been installed. Typical faucet usage is once
per passenger for 10 seconds. Approximately 22 million passengers visit the
airport yearly.
- Low-flow auto-flush toilets reduce water use from 3.5
to 1.6 gpm per fixture per flush (54 percent). As of spring 2003, 183 of 223
(82 percent) low-flow toilets have been installed. The number of toilet
flushes per day is based on the assumption that all visiting passengers flush
the toilet once. It is assumed that the male/female ratio of passengers is
50/50 and 50 percent of male passengers will only use a urinal. This makes the
base figure for the number of toilet flushes a year 16.5 million.
- Water reduction rates for urinals are not included in
calculations because data on usage rates was not available. As of spring 2003,
89 out of 104 (86 percent) urinals have been replaced.
- Water costs are $12.50 per 1,000 cubic feet. Number
of cubic feet = number of gallons x 0.1337
- Sewage treatment costs are 159 percent of water costs
or $19.88 per 1,000 cubic feet. Number of cubic feet = number of gallons x
0.1337
- Payback period is Total cost of fixtures/savings x 12.
Source: NYC WasteLe$$ Business Project findings and conversation with Port Authority at LaGuardia Airport facilities management, Spring 2003
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