WATER AUDIT DO IT YOURSELF

WATER AUDIT

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.

• 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

Definition: Water Audit is a qualitative and quantitative analysis of water consumption to identify means of Reducing, Reusing and Recycling of water

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
DID YOU KNOW?
It is possible to cut your water usage by 10-30% by implementing simple conservation measures
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
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

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

What are the sources of water ?

• Municipal supply
• Bore well
• Dug well
• Tankers
• Others

Estimate the quantity of water supplied from each source
Bore well and Dug well supplies…

1. Measure flow rate ( time taken to fill a 10 litre bucket at the outlet of the pump.)

Keep a track of number of hours the pump is on in a day (record every day of the week for two weeks).
Use these two to calculate the quantity of water
withdrawn
Estimate the quantity of water supplied from each source
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
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

• 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.

• 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
Estimating Water use without a meter
Calculate the quantity of water that flows
out through each tap.
• 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.
Calculations, water Consumption
• 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.
Estimating Water use without a meter
• 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.

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?
FIXTURES AND FITTINGS
• 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
WATER CONSUMPTION PATTERN
When tabulating the consumption patterns, you may come across varied results from the normal.
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
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
Ideal scenario : no losses
Average scenario : 15 – 30% losses
There is a problem : losses > 30%

DISCUSSIONS
AND TAKING THE RIGHT STEPS
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.

WAYS TO
CONSERVE WATER
Represent water
usage graphically
. Identify areas where water can be conserved
Conduct
Group discussions
and brainstorming sessions
List down your
Suggestions for each area where water is used


Garden
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
Toilets and washing points
• Reduce the flush water volume in toilets.
• Replace single flush cisterns with dual flush
• Install low flow fixtures for taps.
Install a rainwater harvesting system and use the water for toilets, cleaning floors and gardening.
Create interesting awareness programmes.