Facilities Management and Design Chapter 5 Water and Wastewater systems

Water usage levels and patterns Water consumption levels vary – Type of hotel – Location – Facilities – Managerial attention to water usage Larger properties use more water per room than smaller – As the level of services increases, so does water consumption – On-site laundry – Kitchens – Irrigation – Cooling towers

The basic structure of water systems Deduct meters—no disposal charges on cooling towers, irrigation, swimming pool Subsystems and isolation devices – Fire systems – Potable systems Hot/ Cold Equipment/ Human use – Backflow preventers Building water system pipes – galvanized iron – Steel – Copper – Plastic (PVC, CPVC) – Contain water under pressure

The basic structure of wastewater systems Storm sewer system (rainwater) Sanitary sewer system (removal of waste products) – Grease separator or grease trap – Facility owned sewage systems septic tanks treatment plants – Plumbing risers – sewer gas traps – Vents – Pipe insulation (to prevent heat loss, condensation)

Water quality problems Potability – Bacteria – Nitrates – Trace metals – Organic chemicals Aesthetics – Color – Odor – Taste – Clearness – Mineral content – Acidity/alkalinity Legionnaires' Disease – bacterial growth in cooling towers

Water heating Heating cost exceeds water cost Safety equipment - proper installation (mixing valves) Separate water heaters/boosters for kitchen needs Dedicated water heating systems for laundry operations

Water heating options Traditional options – directly fired water heaters – indirectly fired water heaters Non-traditional options – heat pump water heaters – waste heat recovery – solar energy

Water system maintenance issues Treating water to make it appropriate to the application need replacing sacrificial anodes cleaning filters and strainers lubricating pumps checking hot water temperature settings checking pressure relief valves repair of leaking valves general caulking, sealing water heater inspections wastewater system clearing inspecting and cleaning gutters, roof drains, site drainage

Water for entertainment and recreational purposes Landscaping elements – Fountains – Ponds/ Lakes – Streams Recreation – Swimming pools – Slides

Pool maintenance Involves cleaning the pool, equipment, and water Skimming Vacuuming Brushing Lime buildup removal Equipment pumps, filters Water pH level 7.2 to 7.6 Chlorine and algicide control algae Pool heating

Water conservation encouraged by rising costs, decreasing availability, and government restrictions on water usage Conservation strategies – low-flow shower heads (check guest reaction) – re-use of water (gray water) – careful control of landscape irrigation – foot-operated faucets in kitchens – keeping up with basic maintenance on water systems