30 SECONDS WITH THE MAYOR
Retrofitting Fixtures in Municipal Facilities
Replacing old plumbing fixtures in municipal facilities saves water, and the energy required to
treat the water. Water use in government office buildings, libraries, schools or other public
buildings is often the largest portion of a utility’s institutional water use. Therefore, retrofitting
fixtures in municipal facilities has a large water savings potential and the payback period in usually
short.
PROPOSED RETROFITS
Most conservation opportunities in municipal facilities are similar to other facilities in the
commercial and institutional sectors. Municipal facilities can realize significant water savings by
retrofitting the following fixtures:1
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Toilets: replace older toilets (3.5 gallons-per-flush/gpf or greater) with new Ultra Low-Flow
Toilets (ULFTs) (1.6 gpf) or High Efficiency Toilets (HETs) (1.28 gpf)
Urinals: replace the entire urinal and flush valve with a 0.125 gpf, 0.25 gpf or waterless urinal
Lavatory Faucets: replace older faucets with new models with flow rates of 0.5 gallons-perminute (gpm) or lower
Irrigation Controllers: replace traditional controllers with drip controllers, moisture sensors or
demonstration rain gardens
Cooling Towers: install and properly maintain new conductivity controller (automated
mechanical device that reduces the amount of water and energy used in the cooling process).
BENEFITS
In addition to saving water, retrofitting fixtures in municipal facilities can:
 Set a good example to the public about water conservation.
 Serve as a demonstration project to promote water conservation.
 Offer easy access for the public to use water-efficient products and technologies.
 Provide positive media opportunities with civic leaders to endorse and promote water
conservation.
COSTS*
Estimated Toilet Retro Costs: $250 - $400
Estimated Urinal Retro Costs: $200 - $350
Estimated Faucet Retro Costs: less than $1.00 per faucet.
Estimated Irrigation Controller Costs: $200 - $1000 depending on features
Estimated Cooling Towers (Conductivity Controller) Costs: less than $1,500 per cooling tower
*Includes labor costs, which can be substantially less if utilizing municipal personnel.
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Alliance for Water Efficiency: http://www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org/government.aspx
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