Special Maintenance Considerations - Effective Building Maintenance: Protection of Capital Assets - page 101

concentration defines the ratio of the desired concentration of dis-
solved solids in the condenser water to the concentration of dis-
solved solids in the make-up water. Table 4-5 summarizes the water
flows associated with a cooling tower for various cycles of concen-
tration.

It is clear that the amount of make-up water is reduced signifi-
cantly as the number of cycles is increased from 2 to 6. However,
there is only a further 5% reduction as the cycles is increased from
6 to 10, and only a further 2% reduction as cycles is increased to 20.
Therefore, to minimize water consumption, cycles of concentration
should be maintained at no lower than 10 and deposition inhibitors
added as necessary.

• Steam and condensate leaks due to piping leaks and/or trap fail-

ures, which require make-up water consumption, can be addressed
by preventative maintenance procedures. However, condensate re-
covery measures may be required to capture condensate that, for
whatever reason, is purposely wasted. This waste falls into three
categories: (a) condensate lost through distribution line traps, (b)
condensate lost at process equipment (industrial equipment, steril-
izers, laundry equipment, kitchen equipment, etc.), and (c) conden-
sate lost via boiler blowdown:

Outdoor Water Consumption:
Automatic irrigation systems are the prime culprit in excess out-
door water consumption. Every one of these systems results in excessive
water consumption, increased runoff, and increased pollution. (And, no
amount of tinkering with their controls will improve their poor environ-
mental impact.) However, the need for these systems can be significantly
reduced or even eliminated very easily, as follows:

• Revamp landscape plantings to minimize, or even eliminate, the

need for irrigation. In every climate zone, there are landscaping
plants, both “native” and those that have climate adapted, that are
far more “drought resistant” than others. There are numerous na-
tional and state publications available (most over the Internet) that
can provide guidance for replacing existing plants with those that
require far less water and can thrive with only natural rainfall.

• Decorative lawns surrounding facilities may be pretty, but if irri-