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Water use in day schools
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
CANADA
DIVISION O F BUILDING RESEARCH
WATER USE IN DAY SCHOOLS
by D.
R. Robson
I n t e r n a l R e p o r t No.
328 ofthe
Divisionof
BuildingR e s e a r c h
OTTAWA
May1 9 6 6
P R E F A C E
The observations on d a y school w a t e r u s e now r e p o r t e d provide some evidence on which t o a s s e s s the r e q u i r e d w a t e r supply c a p a c i t i e s . T h i s s m a l l p r o j e c t , which could with profit be supplemented by f u r t h e r m e a s u r e m e n t s in other r e g i o n s , was c a r r i e d out by the a u t h o r , a mechanical engineer and a r e
-
s e a r c h officer with the Atlantic Regional Station of t h e Division in Halifax.Ottawa
M a y
1966
N.B.
Hutcheon A s s i s t a n t D i r e c t o rWATER USE IN DAY SCHOOLS by
D.R. Robson
In r e c e n t y e a r s the t r e n d in school c o n s t r u c t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y in r u r a l a r e a s , h a s been t o build l a r g e r school buildings to s e r v e g r e a t e r a r e a s . Coupled with t h i s tendency t o consolidate, t h e r e h a s been a significant i n c r e a s e in school population i n Nova Scotia and, correspondingly, a r e q u i r e m e n t f o r new c l a s s r o o m s p a c e .
School buildings housing 600 t o 1 , 0 0 0 s t u d e n t s a r e not uncommon i n r u r a l and u r b a n a r e a s of Nova Scotia. T h i s t r e n d t o w a r d l a r g e r
buildings h a s c r e a t e d s o m e p r o b l e m s with w a t e r supply, p a r t i c u l a r l y w h e r e the w a t e r s o u r c e i s a p r i v a t e well.
At the p r e s e n t t i m e the Nova Scotia D e p a r t m e n t of Health r e q u i r e s a w a t e r supply of t e n gallons p e r pupil p e r d a y i n a l l school c o n s t r u c t i o n . If a new school i s t o be built i n a n a r e a s e r v i c e d by municipal s e w e r and w a t e r s y s t e m s , t h i s p r e s e n t s no problem. I f , however, t h e w a t e r supply f o r the school i s t o be a p r i v a t e well and the sewage d i s p o s a l i s through a p r i v a t e s y s t e m , t h e n the a c c u r a c y of the t e n gallons p e r pupil p e r day r e q u i r e m e n t i s i m p o r t a n t . A r c h i t e c t s and e n g i n e e r s c o n c e r n e d with school d e s i g n have suggested t h a t t h i s r e q u i r e m e n t i s not r e a l i s t i c and t h a t five gallons p e r pupil p e r d a y would be a m o r e a c c u r a t e f i g u r e . A s u r v e y had not, up t o the p r e s e n t t i m e , been made t o d e t e r m i n e the a c t u a l u s e of w a t e r i n d a y schools i n Nova Scotia, and the a u t h o r i t i e s a r e r e l u c t a n t t o change the r e q u i r e m e n t on the b a s i s of a n opinion only.
T h e Atlantic Regional Station staff of the Division of Building Re s e a r c h , with the co -ope r a t i o n and a s s i s t a n c e of t h e Nova S c o t i a D e p a r t m e n t of P u b l i c Health and the Engineering D e p a r t m e n t of the County of Halifax, undertook t o c a r r y out a s u r v e y in the i n t e r e s t of p o s s i b l e i m p r o v e m e n t i n d e s i g n conditions for public schools. T h i s r e p o r t will not be concerned with the hourly d e m a n d f o r w a t e r but r a t h e r with the quantity of w a t e r r e q u i r e d in 24 h r .
P r o v i s i o n f o r a m a x i m u m h o u r l y demand m a y be made with adequate s t o r a g e and sufficiently l a r g e p r e s s u r e t a n k s . The c o n c e r n h e r e , however, i s with the capacity of the well n e c e s s a r y t o provide the quantity of w a t e r r e q u i r e d in 24 h r .
Nine s c h o o l s i n the Halifax County a r e a , i m m e d i a t e l y a d j a c e n t to the C i t y of Halifax and s e r v i c e d with municipal w a t e r and s e w e r s y s t e m s , w e r e chosen t o p a r t i c i p a t e in t h i s s u r v e y . T h i s g r o u p of s c h o o l s w a s s e l e c t e d with r e g a r d t o type and facility; a photograph of e a c h school c h o s e n i s included ( F i g u r e s 1 , 2, 3 ) .
T h e schools s e l e c t e d w e r e visited and t h e plumbing, s y s t e m s e x a m i n e d b e f o r e s t a r t i n g the s u r v e y . Table I d e t a i l s the plumbing f i x t u r e s i n s t a l l e d in e a c h of t h e schools included i n t h i s s u r v e y .
R e c o r d s of w a t e r consumption w e r e a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e s e s c h o o l s f o r t h e p a s t two y e a r s t h r o u g h the County of Halifax o f f i c e s , but i t w a s thought a d v i s a b l e t o supplement t h e s e r e s u l t s with a m o r e d e t a i l e d check of the daily w a t e r u s e i n e a c h school. T h r e e two- week p e r i o d s w e r e s e l e c t e d i n which t o c a r r y out t h i s d e t a i l e d s u r v e y . The f i r s t p e r i o d s t a r t e d on 1 October 1963, the second on 10 F e b r u a r y
1964, and t h e t h i r d on 5 May 1964. The janitor i n e a c h school w a s provided with c h a r t s on which t o r e c o r d m e t e r r e a d i n g s a t d e s i g n a t e d t i m e s e a c h day f o r the two-week p e r i o d s . R e c o r d s of school attendance w e r e obtained f r o m t h e school p r i n c i p a l s .
RESULTS
R e c o r d s f o r e a c h two-week p e r i o d have been compiled f o r
e a c h school and a v e r a g e s c a l c u l a t e d f o r t h e p e r i o d of t e s t . T h e a v e r a g e consumption p e r pupil p e r school day, the a v e r age consumption p e r pupil p e r 24-hr d a y , and the m a x i m u m consumption p e r pupil p e r 2 4 - h r d a y a r e p r e s e n t e d i n T a b l e 11 and F i g u r e 4.
F r o m the two-week p e r i o d s i n s i x of the s c h o o l s , a v e r a g e quantities of consumption f o r specified p e r i o d s d u r i n g the d a y have been c a l c u l a t e d f r o m d a t a r e c o r d e d , and t h e s e a r e shown i n g r a p h f o r m i n F i g u r e 5.
R e c o r d s of w a t e r u s e d and student a t t e n d a n c e i n s e v e n of the s c h o o l s f o r a t w o - y e a r p e r i o d have been obtained f r o m the E n g i n e e r i n g D e p a r t m e n t of the County of Halifax. T h e a v e r a g e gallons p e r pupil p e r d a y consumption f r o m t h e s e t w o - y e a r f i a u r e s i s included i n Column D of T a b l e
I1
and F i g u r e 4. T h e s e a v e r a g e v a l u e s , d e r i v e d f r o m the t w o - y e a r r e c o r d s , include the w a t e r u s e d in the school d u r i n g thes u m m e r p e r i o d when school i s not in s e s s i o n a n d , t h e r e f o r e , t h e s e v a l u e s a r e higher than i s a c t u a l l y the c a s e i f only the occupied portion of the y e a r i s c o n s i d e r e d .
T h r o u g h the c o - o p e r a t i o n of the P u b l i c S e r v i c e C o m m i s s i o n , i t i s p o s s i b l e t o include F i g u r e s
6
and 7, which a r e d i r e c t c o p i e s of r e c o r d e r c h a r t s f r o m School No. 1. In t h e s e f i g u r e s , t h e d i s t a n c e a r o u n d t h e c i r c u m f e r e n c e r e p r e s e n t s t i m e e l a p s e d , and t h e d i s t a n c e f r o m t h e i n n e r t o the o u t e r r i n g s r e p r e s e n t s consumption i n g a l l o n s-
e a c h d a r k l i n e 100 g a l l o n s ; t h e full d i s t a n c e , 500 g a l l o n s . F o r e x a m p l e , i n F i g u r e6,
500 g a l l o n s w e r e u s e d f r o m 2:20 a . m . t o 3:40 a . m .,
and 1008 gallons f r o m 2:20 a. m . t o 4: 55 a . m . E a c h t i m e t h e s c r i b e d line t r a v e l s out f r o m the b a s e line t o the t o p l i n e ,500 g a l l o n s a r e r e p r e s e n t e d , and on a r e t u r n t o t h e b a s e l i n e , a f u r t h e r 500 gallons. In F i g u r e 7, 500 g a l l o n s w e r e u s e d f r o m 7:45 p. m . t o
6:
1 5 a. m.OBSERVATIONS
T h e r e i s v e r y l i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e in t h e quantity of w a t e r u s e d i n t h e school day and t h e full 2 4 - h r d a y , indicating a v e r y s m a l l u s e of w a t e r a f t e r s c h o o l h o u r s . T h i s w a s the s i t u a t i o n in a l l but two of t h e nine s c h o o l s included in t h i s study. T h e s c h o o l s providing t h e exception w e r e No. 1 and No. 3 ( T a b l e
I1
and F i g u r e 4 ) .A m o r e d e t a i l e d e x a m i n a t i o n of the u s e of w a t e r i n school No. 1 w a s then m a d e s t a r t i n g with a c h a r t of d a i l y consumption ( F i g u r e
6).
The c h a r t indicated a u s e of 3900 gallons of w a t e r f r o m 8: 1 5 a . m . t o 5: 1 5 p. m. and 5800 g a l l o n s f o r the r e s t of t h e 24 h r , a night u s e of 5800 gallons with no a c t i v i t y i n t h e school.F u r t h e r investigation of t h e plumbing f i x t u r e s showed t h a t f i v e u r i n a l t a n k s w e r e running continuously, e i t h e r b e c a u s e of
s e d i m e n t i n t h e regulating valve o r b e c a u s e t h e valve had b e e n
p u r p o s e l y s e t t o s t a y open. T h e s e v a l v e s w e r e r e p a i r e d and a d j u s t e d p r i o r t o taking a second c h a r t of d a i l y consumption ( F i g u r e 7). T h i s
second c h a r t indicated a night u s e of 750 gallons a f t e r r e p a i r of t h e u r i n a l tank v a l v e s . M e t e r r e a d i n g s f o r two m o r e d a y s indicated a n a v e r a g e night u s e of 1100 g a l l o n s . T h i s r e d u c t i o n i n w a t e r u s e a t night f r o m 5800 t o 1100 gallons would m e a n a t o t a l r e d u c t i o n i n 24 h r of 4700 gallons.
T h e w a t e r consumption v a l u e s in T a b l e 11 w e r e then a d j u s t e d t o c o m p e n s a t e f o r t h i s reduction. T h e v a l u e s shown a s t h e 2 4 - h r a v e r a g e f i g u r e s a r e , t h e r e f o r e , t h e c o r r e c t e d v a l u e s .
Another i t e m of i n t e r e s t in connection with s c h o o l No. 1 w a s the f a c t t h a t a s m a n y a s t h r e e o r f o u r school b u s e s a r e w a s h e d on the school g r o u n d s d u r i n g t h e d a y and f o r t h i s t h e y u s e w a t e r f r o m the school. T h e a m o u n t of w a t e r u s e d f o r washing b u s e s in r e l a t i o n t o t h e t o t a l w a t e r u s e d w a s s m a l l , but m i g h t u n d e r s o m e conditions be significant.
F r o m the above d e t a i l e d study i n school No. 1 and t h e r e s u l t s obtained, it would a p p e a r t h a t a s i m i l a r s i t u a t i o n e x i s t s i n school No. 3. If one c o m p a r e s t h e 2 4 - h r value f o r school No. 3 i n Column B , T a b l e
I1
w i t h t h e t w o - y e a r f i g u r e i n Column D, one m u s t conclude e i t h e r t h a t the 2 4 - h r value f o r s c h o o l No. 3 i s not c o r r e c t o r t h a t s o m e u n u s u a l s i t u a t i o n e x i s t e d . T h e r e m a i n i n g s e v e n s c h o o l s show v e r y l i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e w a t e r u s e i n a s c h o o l d a y and a 2 4 - h r day. A s t i m e did not p e r m i t a d e t a i l e d study of school No. 3 s i m i l a r to t h a t c a r r i e d out i n s c h o o l No. 1 , t h e r e c o r d s f o r s c h o o l No. 3 m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d with s o m er e s e r v a t i o n f o r t h e p u r p o s e s of t h i s r e p o r t .
T h e m a x i m u m value r e c o r d e d f o r any. 24 h r d u r i n g t h e t h r e e two-week p e r i o d s is shown i n Column
C
of T a b l e I1 and i n F i g u r e 4. T h i s h i g h e s t p o s s i b l e c o n s u m p t i o n p e r d a y would o c c u r i f f a u c e t s w e r e left open o r i f v a l v e s w e r e s t u c k , but should not be c o n s i d e r e d a n o r m a l consumption f i g u r e on which t o b a s e a ne s t i m a t e of t h e a m o u n t of w a t e r r e q u i r e d p e r student. CONCLUSIONS
( 1 Maintenance of f a u c e t s a n d v a l v e s m u s t be c a r r i e d out on a r o u t i n e b a s i s i f t h e s i t u a t i o n t h a t developed i n school No. 1 is t o be avoided. A s i d e f r o m t h e f a c t t h a t t h e r e w a s a w a s t e of 4700 g a l l o n s p e r d a y that would i n a y e a r r e s u l t i n a l o s s of
$685.
00 ( a t p r e s e n t r a t e s ) , t h i s a m o u n t of potable w a t e r , had i t gone i n t o as e p t i c tank s y s t e m , could have c o m p l i c a t e d t h e o p e r a t i o n of t h e s y s t e m .
( 2 ) I n b a s i n g a n e s t i m a t e on t h e 24 - h r f i g u r e s (Column B , T a b l e
11)
only one school e x c e e d e d f o u r g a l l o n s p e r pupil p e r 2 4 - h r p e r i o d , a p a r t f r o m school No. 3 which r e p r e s e n t e d a n u n u s u a l s i t u a t i o n f o r r e a s o n s which have not b e e n d e t e r m i n e d . T h e r e s t of t h e s c h o o l s , including t h e high school, did not e x c e e d 3.7 g a l l o n s p e r pupil p e r 2 4 - h r p e r i o d .( 3 ) The question of when the highest demand period o c c u r r e d d u r i n g t h e day w a s not a n s w e r e d a s i n f o r m a t i o n on t h i s point w a s i n c o m p l e t e . D e t a i l s of r e s u l t s collected a r e p r e s e n t e d i n F i g u r e 5, and a n examination i n d i c a t e s w a t e r u s e d i s t r i b u t e d f a i r l y u n i f o r m l y throughout the day. T h e two exceptions a r e s c h o o l s Nos. 5 and 8, and in e a c h c a s e t h e school follows t h e p r a c t i c e of sending t h e pupils t o t h e w a s h r o o m s in g r o u p s d u r i n g the period of 9:15 a. m. t o
10:45 a . m . W h e r e t h i s i s done, i t a p p e a r s t h a t 40 t o 4 5 p e r c e n t of t h e t o t a l d a i l y consumption could t a k e place i n the
9:
1 5 a . m . t o10:45 a . m . p e r i o d . M e t e r r e a d i n g s throughout t h e d a y f o r e v e r y school a r e not c o m p l e t e , h o w e v e r , and a m o r e d e t a i l e d study should be m a d e with m o r e m e t e r r e a d i n g s a v a i l a b l e b e f o r e a n y f i r m
conclusion m a y be made. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The a u t h o r w i s h e s t o thank the Nova Scotia D e p a r t m e n t of Health, t h e Engineering D e p a r t m e n t of t h e County of Halifax, and t h e P u b l i c S e r v i c e C o m m i s s i o n of Halifax f o r t h e i r i n t e r e s t and a s s i s t a n c e .
T A B L E
I
PLUMBING FIXTURES INSTALLED IN T H E SCHOOLS INCLUDED IN THIS SURVEY
I t e m
-
1 N u m b e r of C l a s s r o o m s 38
G y m o r A u d i t o r i u m Yes C a f e t e r i a Yes A v e r a g e D a i l y Attendance 1 , 2 9 0 G r a d e s i n School W a t e r C l o s e t s ( T a n k )65
W a t e r C l o s e t s ( F l u s h Valve) --
U r i n a l s ( T a n k ) 24 L a v a t o r i e s 2 8 W a s h F o u n t a i n s ( 1 / 2 ' s ) 12 Shower H e a d s 10 B a t h s-
-
L a b Sinks 12 Slop Sinks- -
Kitchen Sinks (Single)
6
Drinking F o u n t a i n s
8
D i s h w a s h e r s 1
K i t c h e n Sinks (Double) 3
T o t a l F i x t u r e Units 560
T A B L E
LI
School and No. Halifax W e s t #1 South A r m d a l e #2 A r m d a l e J u n i o r High #3 Rockingham C e n t r a l #4 C e n t r a l A r m d a l e (old s e c t i o n ) # 5 C e n t r a l A r m d a l e (new s e c t i o n ) #6 Springvale #7 St. P i u s
X
#8 F a i r v i e w #9 gal/pupil/ school d a y 2.79 1 . 5 3 4 . 4 5 gal/pupil/ 24 h r max. 3.70 c o r r e c t e d 1 . 9 5 A) Average and m a x i m u m v a l u e sB )
F r o m t h r e e two-week p e r i o d s C ) 1963-1964 D) A v e r a g e v a l u e s f r o m t w o - y e a r p e r i o d including s u m m e r period 3 . 7 3 c o r r e c t e d 2. 72 gal/pupil/ 24 h r y e a r l y r e c o r d No r e c o r d s 4.04.
3 No r e c o r d s 3. 2F i g u r e 1
~ .. " . . .... ..
Halifax We s t High School 38 c l a s s r o o m s Gymnasium C a f e t e r i a 1290 pupils in attendance G r a d e s 9 t o 12 South Armdale E l e m e n t a r y School (both buildings)
18 c l a s s r o o m s Gymnasium No c a f e t e r i a
440 pupils i n attendance G r a d e s P r i m a r y t o
6
A r m d a l e Junior High School 18 c l a s s r o o m s
Gymnasium No c a f e t e r i a
420 pupils i n attendance G r a d e s 7 and 8
Rockingham C e n t r a l School 23 c l a s s r o o m s Gymnasium No c a f e t e r i a 600 pupils in attendance G r a d e s P r i m a r y t o
8
C e n t r a l A r m d a l e School (old section) 1 3 c l a s s r o o m s No gymnasium No c a f e t e r i a 305 pupils in attendance G r a d e s 4 to 6 C e n t r a l A r m d a l e School (new section) 13 c l a s s r o o m s No gymnasium No c a f e t e r i a 313 pupils in attendance G r a d e s P r i m a r y t o 3 F i g u r e 2Springvale E l e m e n t a r y School E l e m e n t a r y g r a d e s 8 c l a s s r o o m s C r u s h a r e a f o r play No c a f e t e r i a 270 pupils in attendance G r a d e s P r i m a r y to
6
St. P i u sX
-
E l e m e n t a r y School6
c l a s s r o o m s No gymnasium No c a f e t e r i a 265 pupils in attendance G r a d e s P r i m a r y to6
F a i r v i e w C e n t r a l School E l e m e n t a r y g r a d e s 17 c l a s s r o o m s No gymnasium No c a f e t e r i a 485 pupils in attendance G r a d e s P r i m a r y t o6
F i g u r e 3S C H O O L NUMBER
LEGEND
A
-
G a l l o n s p e r p u p i l p e r s c h o o l d a y
-
a v e r a g e
f r o m t h r e e t w o - w e e k p e r i o d s .
1111
B
-
G a l l o n s p e r p u p i l p e r 2 4 h r
-
a v e r a g e f r o m
t h r e e t w o - w e e k p e r i o d s .
.
.
. .
C
-
G a l l o n s p e r p u p i l p e r 24 h r
-
m a x i m u m
i n
..
t h r e e t w o - w e e k p e r i o d s .
A B C D
D
-
G a l l o n s p e r p u p i l p e r 2 4 - h r d a y b a s e d o n
t w o - y e a r r e c o r d s .
F I G U R E 4
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R O C K I N G H A M@)
C E N T R A L A R M D A L E S P R I N G V A L EF I G U R E 5
P E R C E N T A G E O F D A I L Y T O T A L C O N S U M P T I O N U S E D I N S U C C E S S I V E P E R I 0 D S
