Water is life Virtually everything we do or use each day involves water. Yet, we do not give it the importance that is due to it. India will soon be a water-stressed country and we all need to work towards our water security. Simple actions can be adopted to reduce the wastage of water and use it wisely. 1

Water audit for a school 2

INTRODUCTION – What is a Water Audit? – How does it help? – Importance of Water Audit – Myths – Audit types AUDIT PROCESS – Conducting Audits – First Steps – Measurements, Water Consumption – Water consumption Pattern MOVING AHEAD – Identifying and Fixing the Problem – Water Conservation – Awareness CONTENTS 3

Definition : Water Audit is a qualitative and quantitative analysis of water consumption to identify means of Reducing, Reusing and Recycling of water. INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 4

HOW DOES IT HELP? A water audit can help save money by reducing school water bills Water conservation helps our cities – Cities are stressed for water resources. A water audit will help reduce wastage and unnecessary use. It makes the students more aware and responsible. A water audit can be a student project that encompasses a number of subjects INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 5

It is possible to cut your water usage by 10-30% by implementing simple conservation measures DID YOU KNOW? INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 6

IMPORTANCE OF WATER AUDIT Systematic process May yield some surprising results Easier to work on solutions when the problems are identified A tracking mechanism can be put into place INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 7

MYTHS Doesn’t compromise on quality of water Doesn’t make water a priority over studies Doesn't require the student to stay beyond school hours INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 8

AUDIT PROCESS 9

Planning and process finalization AUDIT PROCESS Measurements Calculations Audit observations Report Discussions Zeroing in on conservation steps that can be taken Implementation INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 10

Decide the time period of your water audit 1 day/yr, 1 wk/yr, 1 month/yr, 1 day/Season INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 11

FIRST STEPS MEASUREMENTS INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 12

What are the sources of water for the school ? Municipal supply Bore well Dug well Tankers Others INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD MEASUREMENTS- SUPPLY 13

Bore well and Dug well supplies … 1. Measure flow rate ( time taken to fill a 10 litre bucket at the outlet of the pump.) 3. Use these two to calculate the quantity of water withdrawn 2. Keep a track of number of hours the pump is on in a day (record every day of the week for two weeks). FIRST STEPS- MEASUREMENTS INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD Estimate the quantity of water supplied from each source 15

Estimate the quantity of water supplied from each source MEASUREMENTS- SUPPLY Municipal Supply Tabulate monthly municipal water supply (from bills) for the past three years in the supply tracking sheet For tankers…. Using bills, tabulate the amount of water received on a monthly basis using the supply tracking sheet INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 14 Tabulate consumption patterns and depict using graphical tools

Map the water points and usage areas Draw a plan of the school premises showing the building and main features. Mark the water supply inlets and storage tanks INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD FIRST STEPS- MEASUREMENTS 16 Municipal supply Bore well Dug well Tankers

Mark all water points (toilets, hand wash points, Sinks in labs, drinking water fountains, canteen, irrigation taps, water meters, pumps etc. Identify each point with an alphanumeric code Colour code freshwater and waste water lines Mark where the waste water goes. Mark the storm water drain system in the premises, if any. INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 17 FIRST STEPS- MEASUREMENTS

L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 GT1 GT2 GT3 GT4 BT1 BT2 BT3 BT4 L- INLET L- OUTLET GT- INLET GT- OUTLET BT- INLET BT- OUTLET CT1 CT2 CT3 C- INLET C- OUTLET WASH BOYS TOILET GARDEN WATER TANK PUMP HOUSE WATER INLET DRAIN PIPE MUNCIPALITY SEWER DRINKING TAP GIRLS TOILET WASH LAB KITCHEN WATER TANK DRAIN PIPE Municipal supply Bore well Dug well Tankers DN1 INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 18 UNDERGROUND SUMP

DRAW A WATER FLOW CHART Supply Washing W1 W2 Wn Gardening G1 G2 Gn Drinking D1 D2 Dn Underground Sump Toilets T1 T2 Tn Sewage Overhead Tank 19 INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD FIRST STEPS- MEASUREMENTS 19

Calculations : water consumption Can you meter water consumption at various inlet points? Meters are expensive. Can you purchase one meter and use it in rotation to monitor water use at different locations? If you cannot afford a meter, use surveys, observations and calculations INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 20

Calculate the flow of water using a measuring jar and a stop watch. Monitor / survey the time for which the tap is open in a day. Fill this data in the consumption tracking sheet. Estimating Water use without a meter Calculations, water consumption INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD Calculate the quantity of water that flows out through each tap. 21

To calculate flow of toilets, turn off the water supply to the toilet, mark the water line on the inside of the tank, flush and then fill the tank with water from mug. Measure the volume of one mug and record number of mugs required to fill water back up to the water line mark. Monitor / survey the number of times each toilet is used. Fill this data in the consumption tracking sheet. INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD Calculations, water Consumption 22

Follow similar procedures to estimate water use at each water outlet. The consumption tracking sheet will help you calculate the total quantity of water used in a day. Calculations, water consumption Estimating Water use without a meter INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 23

AUDIT OBSERVATIONS 24

Speak to the person in charge of the water valves and pumps. Is water usage planned or is pump switched on when water levels in the tank are low? What monitoring mechanisms are in place to check tank overflow? How often does the tank overflow? How much water is wasted each time the tank overflows? SUPPLY INPUT INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 25

FIXTURES AND FITTINGS At each water outlet point make a note of: Type of fixture (dual flush toilet, capacity of flush tank, type of tap spring-loaded / screw type / lever, etc.) Notice condition of fixtures – dirty, stuck, leaking, broken etc. INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 26

ANALYSIS AND REPORT 27

WATER CONSUMPTION PATTERN When tabulating the consumption patterns, you may come across varied results from the normal. INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 28

Consumption of water in winter may be less Consumption of water in summer just before the holidays may be high Rainy season – you might not consume water for gardening purpose Exams, Weekends and Holidays – water consumption is likely to be less 28 INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD Allow for variations due to the above reasons when you are analysing the tabulated results 29

Supply Overhead Tank WashingToilets GardeningDrinking X Y = ?X 0.4Y 0.25Y 0.3Y 0.05Y Sewage Underground Sump Leaks Quantify water use in a Flowchart INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 30

IS THERE A PROBLEM? Ideal scenario : no losses There is a problem : losses > 30% Average scenario : 15 – 30% losses 31 INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD

DISCUSSIONS AND TAKING THE RIGHT STEPS MOVING AHEAD 32

FIRST, FIX THE PROBLEMS Identify the points where there are losses Identify the solutions Assign the responsibility for implementation. Implement the solutions Prepare a Monitoring schedule Assign a person for monitoring. Leaks and overflow INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 33

4. List down your Suggestions for each area where water is used 1. Represent water usage graphically WAYS TO CONSERVE WATER 2. Identify areas where water can be conserved 3. Conduct Group discussions and brainstorming sessions INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 34

Keep a check on hoses in the garden Try out efficient devices like the spray nozzles Drip Irrigation Plant native plants that require less water Change the ground surfaces and vegetation to control run off in the school grounds Water the roots of the plant and don't splash water all around WAYS TO CONSERVE WATER Garden INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 35

Toilets and washing points Reduce the flush water volume in toilets. Replace single flush cisterns with dual flush Install low flow fixtures for taps. WAYS TO CONSERVE WATER Install a rainwater harvesting system and use the water for toilets, cleaning floors and gardening. INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 36

Suggest solutions for these spaces. Can the water from the wash area be diverted to the garden area for watering the plants ? TOILET WASH LAB INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 37

1. Create interesting awareness programmes. 2. Praise the water audit and water conservation teams during assembly. 3. Request students not to play with water taps. AWARENESS INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD 38

DARWIN ADVISES Everything evolves, including water conservation programs. Learn from other schools what works and what doesn’t. Analyze your situation for the pieces that fit. Document….document…. to disseminate it to others. 39 INTRODUCTION AUDIT PROCESS MOVING AHEAD