Low Flow Retrofit Kits
Water Conservation Action No. 8 –
Distribute low-flow retrofit kits to residential users.
A water conservation retrofit kit is a package of water saving devices that can assist residents to save water at home. It is important to promote water conservation in the home due to the fact that 54 percent of water used in the Atlanta region occurs in the home. The District’s Water Supply and Water Conservation Plan requires water providers to distribute low-flow retrofit kits to customers and target the portion of the service area that have pre-1993 homes.
Recommendations for a Water Conservation Retrofit Kit
The recommended water conservation retrofit kit contains 5 products including a low-flow showerhead, a kitchen aerator, a low-flow faucet aerator, leak detection dye tablets and a flow meter bag. Detailed product descriptions are provided below.
Low-Flow Showerhead
A highly efficient showerhead uses 2.00 gallons minimum per minute. The showerhead uses air pressure instead of extra water to provide water at a comfortable rate. Low flow showerheads provides an even spray pattern and may also offer a variety of spray patterns.
Kitchen Aerator
A highly efficient kitchen aerator provides an even spray pattern at 2.0 gallons per minute.
Low-Flow Faucet Aerator
A highly efficient faucet aerator provides an even spray pattern at 1.0 gallon per minute.
Leak Detection Dye Tablets
The leak detection dye tablets are an easy way to check for leaks in your toilet. Just drop the tablets in the tank of the toilet and wait 30 minutes. Do not flush! If the water color in the bowl becomes colored, you have a leak.
Flow Meter Bag
The flow meter bag helps with measuring the flow from a showerhead or faucet. Hold the flow meter bag below the fixture so that it can catch the entire stream of water. Turn on your showerhead or faucet for 5 seconds. The flow bag is marked where a showerhead and faucet are efficient. If the water in the bag is at or below the efficiency line, congratulations you have an efficient fixture! If not, you may want to install a low-flow product.
Companies that Provide Water Conservation Kits
Niagara Water Conservation
45 Horsehill Road
Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927
Phone: 800-831-8383
Fax: 973-929-1400
www.niagaraconservation.com
AM Conservation Group, Inc.
2301 Charleston Regional Parkway
Charleston, South Carolina 29492
Contact: Phil Di Beta
Phone: 800-777-5655
www.amconservationgroup.com
New Resources Group, Inc.
PO Box 320049
Fairfield, CT 06825
Toll Free: 888-674-4332
Phone: 203-366-1000
Fax: 203-366-1004
www.nrgideas.com
Potential Savings
Typical fixtures use more water than the water conserving products offered by the water conservation retrofit kit. A household that replaces standard products on the market with low-flow fixtures offered in the retrofit kit can potentially save over almost 6,000 gallons of water per person each year!
Water Use Comparison for Replacing Standard Fixtures with Low-Flow Fixtures:
|
Product |
Standard
Product (gpm)¹ |
Low-Flow
Product (gpm)¹ |
Gallons of Water Saved per Capita |
|
per Minute |
per Day² |
per Year³ |
|
Kitchen Aerator |
2.5 |
2 |
0.5 |
4.05 |
1478 |
|
Sink Aerator |
2 |
1 |
1 |
8.1 |
2957 |
|
Showerhead |
2.5 |
2 |
0.5 |
2.65 |
967 |
|
|
|
Total |
14.8 |
5402 |
|
