Healthcare
Cure Your Water Problems. Reduce Water Use and Decrease Energy Costs.
Legionella Outbreak Immediate Response
Background:
An independent Senior Living Facility experienced a Legionella outbreak resulting in the death of a resident due to recent plumbing issues. The state's Department of Public Health required the involvement of a qualified Water Management firm to provide guidance and mitigate risks to residents during necessary repairs.
Earthwise Legionella Response Solutions
Immediate Response
Within 12 hours, Earthwise CWT's and Certified Water Operators were on site and providing emergency solutions to prevent the mandated evacuation of residents. Point-of-use filtration including shower heads and faucet adaptors were installed, allowing the residents to stay in their homes for the 8 weeks needed to complete repairs.
Water Management Program
5 days after the first call to Earthwise, our Compliance Team wrote an ASHRAE-188 compliant Water Management Plan and presented the complete Water Management Program (WMP) to the facility. Site personnel and plumbers were instructed on standard practices for legionella control and to identify high-risk piping runs.
Earthwise continues to work with the Senior Living Facility to administer the WMP, helping the program team to respond to potential issues before residents are put at
Results:
- The facility saved $450,000 in tenant relocation costs during repair
- A quick return to normal business reduced bad media attention and a loss of tenancy
- Residents have peace of mind, knowing their building managers are doing everything possible to prevent illness and disruption to their lives
Read our published case study on Legionella Emergency Response.
Are you prepared for a Legionella Outbreak?Healthcare - Optimized Cooling Tower Performance
Challenge
The metropolitan hospital was searching for ways to reduce their water footprint while minimizing the risk of legionella growth.
Opportunity
Earthwise's Certified Water Technologists (CWT) surveyed the facility to uncover ways to improve the efficiency of critical equipment, extend asset life, reduce chemical consumption, and provide remote system performance monitoring.
Solution
An Ion-Exchange System and 24-hour monitoring software were installed. The Ion-Exchange System's pretreatment of cooling water allowed the cycles of concentration to increase to 7, resulting in significant savings in utility spend and treatment product consumption. The monitoring software allowed for data driven control. The real-time data gathered within the 24-hour monitoring software improved onsite personnel's reaction to system changes that previously went untreated and decreased system performance.
600-Bed Metropolitan Hospital Increased Water Efficiency and Reduced Treatment Chemicals
Benefits
- Increased cooling tower efficiency by 2 million gallons of water per year
- Reduced risks to staff from hazardous chemical handling
- Provided immediate (day one) reduction in facility operating costs
- $22,000 water savings annually
- $17,000 reduction in treatment chemicals
New, State-of-the-Art Hospital Saved Money, Water and Energy
Challenge:
As part of a cost-saving initiative, the hospital sought to reduce water and energy consumption, which would require a significant capital investment.
Opportunity:
Earthwise Environmental investigated the Nicor Gas™ energySMART rebate program. The natural gas rebate program — $1.00 incentive for each therm saved —would reduce the project payback period, allowing the hospital to undertake long-term conservation efforts. Without the incentive, the hospital would have been unable to undertake the capital improvements required.
Solution:
Earthwise Environmental installed a reverse osmosis system on the boiler feedwater. By removing supply impurities, the water could be cycled (concentrated) by a factor of 10. This cycling reduced boiler blowdown, water consumption and energy consumption.
Investment:
$100,000
Benefits:
- 2.5MM gallons of water saved per year
- 54,462 therms saved annually
- Energy incentive: $54,462
- ROI: 1.8 years
Top Teaching Hospital in Chicago Increased Humidity and Saved Water and Energy
Challenge:
The existing steam humidification system was incapable of supplying the required amount of humidity to the hospital in general and to the operating rooms in particular.
Opportunity:
The system, as designed, was based on generating steam in one boiler, and using that steam in a Clean System Generator to produce steam to humidify. The system was energy intensive, inefficient and incapable of providing required levels of humidification. A steam plant/humidification retrofit was required.
Solution:
Earthwise Environmental proposed eliminating the Clean Steam Generators and designed a water chemistry program that exceeded the quality and purity requirements of the hospital. A new steam boiler with reverse osmosis treatment of feedwater was installed. Energy waste from inefficient steam generators was eliminated and sufficient steam could now be generated to meet humidification needs.
Investment:
$1.35M project to eliminate clean steam generators, install a reverse osmosis system and restore humidity levels
Benefits:
- High quality/purity steam for direct humidification requirements
- 1.3 million gallons of water saved per year
- $348,000 energy savings annually
