Facilities Management and Design

Chapter 5Water 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