Publisher’s version / Version de l'éditeur:
Vous avez des questions? Nous pouvons vous aider. Pour communiquer directement avec un auteur, consultez la première page de la revue dans laquelle son article a été publié afin de trouver ses coordonnées. Si vous n’arrivez pas à les repérer, communiquez avec nous à PublicationsArchive-ArchivesPublications@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.
Questions? Contact the NRC Publications Archive team at
PublicationsArchive-ArchivesPublications@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca. If you wish to email the authors directly, please see the first page of the publication for their contact information.
https://publications-cnrc.canada.ca/fra/droits
L’accès à ce site Web et l’utilisation de son contenu sont assujettis aux conditions présentées dans le site LISEZ CES CONDITIONS ATTENTIVEMENT AVANT D’UTILISER CE SITE WEB.
Internal Report (National Research Council of Canada. Division of Building
Research), 1966-05-01
READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS WEBSITE.
https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/copyright
NRC Publications Archive Record / Notice des Archives des publications du CNRC : https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=a3d2c62b-23a1-4bef-aab6-6f3f84d369f5 https://publications-cnrc.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=a3d2c62b-23a1-4bef-aab6-6f3f84d369f5
NRC Publications Archive
Archives des publications du CNRC
For the publisher’s version, please access the DOI link below./ Pour consulter la version de l’éditeur, utilisez le lien DOI ci-dessous.
https://doi.org/10.4224/20337968
Access and use of this website and the material on it are subject to the Terms and Conditions set forth at
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
@
H A L I F A X W E S T@
S O U T H A R M D A L E@
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