Investment Grade Audits

Every NWS project begins with a comprehensive physical audit of the facility. We understand that our customers are counting on our expertise to deliver the best possible savings programs, and then for NWS to stand by those numbers.

Water Closet Replacement/Urinal Retrofit and Replacement

Replacing or retrofitting existing water closets (toilets) and urinals is the cornerstone of any domestic water conservation project. NWS’ personnel have been involved in designing and implementing large-scale water conservation projects for more than 25 years. We know what products will work best in a specific application. We also are in constant contact with major fixture manufacturers, are aware when improvements are made, and often are asked to evaluate design changes by manufacturers.

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 faucets, and we always strive for the greatest amount of savings without directly impacting the convenience of our clients.

Shower Replacement

In order to receive good water flow during a shower, a showerhead should be installed that is designed to flow at minimum rate of 1.50 gallons per minute at 80 pounds per square inch. Showerheads can be plastic or metal, chromed or brass; aerating or non-aerating; and cost $2 or $200 – as long as they work properly. NWS does not represent any one brand or style, instead the company selects products based on the long-term savings goals and personal tastes of our clients.

Wastewater Reuse Systems

National Water Services can set up systems that capture and use treated gray water or wastewater effluent for beneficial, non-potable purposes such as toilet flushing, irrigation, cooling tower make-up, industrial processes, dust control, and other purposes. In a contained environment, such as a military installation or campus, the long term savings will almost always far outstrip any initial installation costs.

Rainwater Harvesting

Another innovative application offered by NWS is the development of water supply systems that capture and store rainwater for later use. Captured rainwater can be used for toilet flushing, landscaping, and other non-potable purposes. Although rainwater is relatively clean and the quality is normally acceptable for many purposes, filtration and disinfection may be necessary in some applications.

Green Roof Environmental Systems

NWS’ experienced water conservation specialists can also accommodate the installation of green roof systems. Green roofs are building roofs that are either partially or completely covered in vegetation and/or soil. Green roof technologies not only provide building owners with a proven return on investment, but also represent opportunities for significant social, economic and environmental benefits. Benefits include improved air quality and temperature regulation; storm water retention and water filtration; longer roofing material lifespan; savings on energy heating and cooling costs; and the potential to reduce the size of HVAC equipment on new or retrofitted buildings. Green roofs can also facilitate a significant improvement in the LEED rating of a building.

Synthetic Grass Installation

Synthetic grass offers many substantial environmental benefits compared to natural grass lawns, which are typically the largest areas of excess water consumption. Water use is nearly eliminated with synthetic grass, as it does not require any irrigation to retain its color and texture. It also eliminates the need for fertilizers, pesticides and other harmful chemicals. Synthetic grass can be used for several applications including traditional landscape replacement and beautification of lawns, playgrounds, parks, sports fields, pet facilities, golf courses and airfields, just to name a few.

Chilled Water Drinking Fountain Systems

As part of any comprehensive water management approach, NWS always investigates 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.

Laundry Systems

Test results indicate that new technology horizontal-axis clothes washing machines can save significant amounts of water, energy and related costs. Additionally, many large facilities 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 is necessary. Every job has its own personality and there are several approaches that may be taken to conserve laundry water. We rely on our laundry specialists to customize the design of piping, pumps,
controls and storage tanks for every job.

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. Additionally, most cooling towers are bled-off automatically when the conductivity of the water reaches a preset level. NWS installs flow sub-meters 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. As a retrofit option, NWS can add an automatic control to shut off the unit during unoccupied night or weekend hours and install pumps to re-circulate 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 steam engineers, NWS’ experts will implement the changes necessary to improve the overall performance of the steam system.

Once-Through Cooling

Occasionally, NWS will find a facility that still uses once-through cooling in their buildings, usually found in a refrigeration system. Our typical approach is to replace any pass-through system by tying into an existing chilled water loop or changing it out for an air-cooled unit delivering the same output.

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 new pool covers.

Leak Detection

NWS provides a leak detection service for our clients. Ultrasonic leak detection can pinpoint the location of water leaking out through underground piping. Many utility systems estimate that leaks can account for 5% to 20% of water consumed at a facility.

Irrigation System Upgrades

Irrigation systems present significant opportunities to reduce water and sewer consumption. Retrofits can include using timers to regulate when and how much water is distributed, using soil meters to gauge water needs, and using cathodic conditioners to reduce water pressure and spray force or weather based tracking systems that monitor the amount of moisture in the atmosphere.  Replacement options include installing irrigation systems with more advanced controls and sensors, using low-flow sprinkler heads, and the use of underground drip irrigation systems.