Facility Managers Questioned about Water Issues

April 11, 2012
About half of the facility managers answered “yes” when asked if they have experienced drought conditions in their communities in the past three years.

VISTA, CALIF. -- About half of the facility managers answered “yes” when asked if they have experienced drought conditions in their communities in the past three years.
 
This was the finding of a new online survey conducted by Waterless Co., LLC, makers of no-water urinals and other restroom products.*
 
Additionally, 55 percent indicated some type of water restriction was imposed on their communities during drought conditions.
 
Typically, water restrictions include limitations on irrigating landscaping and minimizing or eliminating home car washing.  When the drought is serious, actual limitations on the amount of water that may be used daily are imposed.
 
Sixty-four facility managers answered all or most of the survey’s questions.  All answers were included in the results.
 
Among the other findings were:
 
·       Seventy-three percent do consider the amount of water used by a restroom fixture during the selection process.

·       When asked about the amount of water a new toilet can use per flush under Federal law, about 40 percent indicated 1.2 gallons, which is incorrect; the correct answer, selected by 27 percent of respondents, is 1.6 gallons.

·       When asked if they were familiar with waterless urinals, 91 percent noted “yes.”

·       When asked if they have heard of dual-flush toilets, 77 percent indicated “yes.”

·       When asked if they were aware of compressed-air toilets, about 54 percent selected “yes.”

“Finally, we asked how much the respondents believe water and sewer rates have gone up in the past five years,” says Klaus Reichardt, CEO and founder of Waterless Co.  “Interestingly, most of the respondents (41 percent) were not sure.”
 
In fact, only nine percent were aware that water and sewer rates, on a national level, have increased about five percent annually.**
 
 
* A drought was defined in the survey as an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply.  Generally, this occurs due to below-average precipitation.

** This is an average rate.  Some communities have experienced significantly larger rate increases.
 

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