Domestic Savings
Investment Grade Audits
Every National Water Services project begins with a comprehensive physical audit of the facility. We understand that you’re counting on our expertise to deliver the best possible savings program, and then to stand by those numbers.
Water Closet Replacement/Urinal Retrofit and Replacement
There a number of truths about fixture upgrades.
Modifications of Toilets Don’t Last. You can install toilet dams, refill flow diverters, early closing flappers and what ever the “Latest Greatest Product” is that comes out next week. NWS doesn’t install gimmicks or short term solutions. We want to do it right the first time.
Not Every Fixture is Right for Your Facility. We don’t represent any one type, style or manufacturer of fixtures. Our common sense approach to water conservation includes exchanging an inefficient fixture with a more efficient one that fits easily into the existing space.
You Need Commercial Specialists to Replace Commercial Bowls and Urinals. Dealing with flushometers, wall hung toilet bowls, carrier fittings, concealed back spuds, automatic flushing systems, wash down vs. blow out urinals, angle stops and everything else that is involved in a commercial retrofit project is best left to the professionals — the NWS staff.
Faucet Retrofit or Replacement
Faucets represent a significant opportunity to save water and the related heating costs in nearly every facility. NWS uses only the highest quality fixtures in retrofitting our faucets. We always strive for the greatest amount of savings, without directly impacting the convenience of our clients.
Shower Replacement
No gimmicks or shortcuts here. To get a good shower, you must install a showerhead designed to flow at 2.5 gpm at 80 psi. It can be plastic or metal, chromed or brass, aerating or non-aerating and cost two dollars or two hundred dollars. As long as it works properly. NWS doesn’t represent any one brand or style. We are simply after long term savings for our clients.
ADA Upgrades
ADA is nearly always a concern for facility managers when they investigate doing a retrofit program. NWS has a broad background in commercial installations and how the ADA requirements affect facilities. We can steer the concerned facility manager away from the threshold that would trigger ADA compliance, and we can make recommendations to the facility manager who wants to begin working toward compliance in the future.
Chilled Water Drinking Fountain Systems
As part of our comprehensive water management approach, we investigate chilled water drinking fountains. Depending on the age of the fountain and its lead content, it may be efficient to either modify or replace the drinking fountains in a facility.
Non-Commercial Laundry Systems
Test results indicate that the new technology horizontal-axis clothes washing machine can save significant amounts of water, energy and related costs.
Commercial Savings
Cooling Towers
In a cooling tower, water is initially wasted or lost in the process through evaporation, bleed-off and drift or leaks. NWS has found that water used for other equipment within a building can be recycled and reused for cooling tower makeup water with little or no pretreatment, including the following:
- Water used in a once-through cooling system.
- Pretreated effluent from other processes, provided that any chemicals used are compatible with the cooling tower system.
- High-quality municipal wastewater effluent or recycled water (where available).
Operation Modifications
Improve the method of releasing the tower bleed-off. Most cooling towers are bled-off automatically, when the conductivity of the water reaches a preset level. NWS installs flow submeters on the makeup and bleed-off lines so that a facility can operate the bleed-off on a more continuous basis, maintaining the conductivity of the tower closer to the limits, without wide fluctuations.
Retrofit Options
Add an automatic control to shut off the unit during unoccupied night or weekend hours.
Install pumps to recirculate water through the cooler, reducing unnecessary consumption.
Steam Systems
The NWS approach to inefficiency in a steam system focuses on the replacement of old mechanical steam traps with new, tested technology. Working hand-in-hand with the steam engineers our crews will implement the changes necessary to improve the overall performance of the steam system.
Once Through Cooling
Occasionally we will find a facility that still is using once-through cooling in their buildings usually in the refrigeration system. Our typical approach is to replace any pass through systems by tying into an existing chilled water loop or changing it out for an air-cooled unit delivering the same output.
Submetering
One cost reducing strategy that has been very successful is submetering the intake lines on the cooling tower. The rational is that since the make up water is used to replace water that was lost due to evaporation, the facility should be able to get a deduction for that amount of water from their sewer charge. If it was evaporated, it never was put back into the sewer system.
Commercial Laundry ReUse Systems
Many hotels, medical facilities and some colleges and universities have commercial, on-site laundry systems that consume tremendous volumes of water, energy and chemicals. It has been our finding that in most cases these laundry systems are consuming significantly more water than they need to consume. Every job has it’s own personality and there are several different approaches may be taken to conserve laundry water. We rely on our Laundry Specialists to customize the design of piping, pumps, controls and insulated storage tanks for every j
Swimming Pools
Swimming pools must be covered to be efficient. Whether it’s an indoor or outdoor pool, the amount of water that is lost to evaporation can easily justify a pool cover system. There are several manufacturers today who have developed systems that, once installed, are convenient to use. We work closely with our clients to compute the financial justification for a new pool cover.
Photographic Film Processing
Film processing also uses water, usually at a flow rate of 2 to 4 gpm. Water consumption as part of this process can be significant. An unregulated Photographic film washing/processing unit can use in excess of 1,000,000 gallons a year. Our experience in this area of water management allows us to recommend retrofits or replacements for almost any facility.
Leak Detection
National Water Services provides a leak detection service for our clients. Ultrasonic leak detection can pinpoint the location of water leaking out through underground piping. Some utility systems estimate that leaks can account for between 5% and 20% of water consumed at a facility.
Irrigation System Upgrades
Irrigation systems present significant opportunities to reduce water and sewer consumption.
Retrofit Options include:
- Regulate when and how much water a sprinkler system distributes by using an irrigation timer.
- Use a soil tensiometer or an electronic sensor to help determine when the soil is dry, and gauge the amount of water needed.
- Attach a cathodic conditioner to the sprinkler system’s water supply to reduce the pressure of the water and the force of its spray. By reducing the surface tension of the water, between 25 and 50 percent less water is expended and wasted.
Replacement Options include:
- Install an irrigation system that has controls or sensors.
- Use low-flow sprinkler heads instead of turf sprinklers in areas with plants, trees, and shrubs.
- Use a trickle or subsurface drip irrigation system (also known as a soaker hose) installed underground to provide water directly to turf roots, preventing water loss by evaporation and runoff.
Additional Fee Based Services
Water Conservation Consulting Services
Consulting services are offered when a client is not interested in an implementation program, yet is looking to understand and solve site specific issues as they pertain to water usage and water conservation.
Quality Assurance Maintenance Program
National Water Systems has developed this program to deliver the optimal performance from the products installed on this project. It is possible that, over time, these products may begin to lose their effectiveness in maintaining the high degree of savings initially found, because of the wide variety of applications and operators, as well as the potential harshness of the existing water system. Every program will be tailored specifically to the needs of the facility involved. In our maintenance proposal we outline several procedures that could potentially occur throughout the life of the maintenance contract.
