High and Dry at GBMC
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Just two weeks after World Water Day, we had none. A fire knocked out power to a local reservoir pumping station causing water to stop flowing in the Towson area. Here we go again. Code Yellow.We drink it. We bathe and swim in it. We cook with it. We take it for granted. We turn on the faucet and expect instant, clean water. But, have you thought about how much water is part of your daily life? When it’s not there you may start to think about the possibilities. How much water does a hospital use? Lots.
In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, hospitals are better prepared to handle a variety of conditions that might arise. All hospitals are stocked to be self sufficient for 96 hours. That includes water.
As tankers brought extra water on site yesterday morning, Tressa Springmann, VP and CIO, took command in the GBMC Command Center. With the emergency management team, she outlined the priorities. It was déjà vu. Only this time rather than two feet of snow outside it was sunny and nearly 90 degrees! As the hospital’s water pressure dropped the team acted quickly. From prior experience we know which areas use the most water. The chillers providing HVAC to the adjoining office buildings were brought down. Outpatient appointments were cancelled. All operating rooms and patient care areas were kept open and running. All surgical sets for the next day’s 125 cases 
were sterilized and ready. Bottled water was delivered to each patient’s bedside. Alcohol based hand cleaners became more plentiful. The kitchen switched to cold food preparation. Portable eye-wash stations were positioned in the laboratory. “Bucket-brigades” were formed to flush toilets, signs were posted and broadcasts issued.
When I asked Tressa what her biggest concern was, she quickly replied “fire”. There would be little support from the fire department. Fire rounds had started early in the day visiting all areas of the medical center and keeping a log.
were sterilized and ready. Bottled water was delivered to each patient’s bedside. Alcohol based hand cleaners became more plentiful. The kitchen switched to cold food preparation. Portable eye-wash stations were positioned in the laboratory. “Bucket-brigades” were formed to flush toilets, signs were posted and broadcasts issued.When I asked Tressa what her biggest concern was, she quickly replied “fire”. There would be little support from the fire department. Fire rounds had started early in the day visiting all areas of the medical center and keeping a log.
Water Facts:
• Although a person can live without food for more than a month, a person can only live without water for approximately one week.
• Only 1% of the earth's water is suitable for drinking water.
• The average person in the United States uses 100-150 gallons of water each day, Europeans use an averageof 74 gallons, Africans use 17 gallons and the Chinese use about 23 gallons.
• About 70% of water is used for agriculture globally, while 20% is used for industry and 10% for residential use.
• Asia has significant water challenges with 36% of the world's water supply, yet 60% of the total population.
• Leaks are an enormous problem. In developing countries, nearly 40% of the water is lost before it reaches its destination.
• In the US, we pay about $.005 per gallon of water. Compared water to a gallon of milk at $3.50--700 times the cost of water.
How can hospitals save water? Here are two case studies from Massachusetts.
Case Study Example #1 Carney Hospital in Dorchester is installing flow control fixtures on all patient and exam room faucets at their facility. The existing flow rate of the faucets was measured at 5 gallons per minute (gpm). After retrofitting the faucets the flow was reduced by 3.5 gpm to 1.5 gpm. The average usage of sinks at the facility is estimated at 25 minutes per day. This results in a water savings of 88 gallons per day, or 32,000 gallons of heated water per year for a combined water and energy savings of approximately $280 annually per sink. The cost to retrofit one sink is estimated at $12 resulting in a payback of less than one month.
Install flow control fixtures on all faucets.
Install water saving shower heads.
Retrofit flushometer toilets and urinals with low consumption valve replacement kits.
Replace existing higher consumption toilets and urinals with Massachusetts Plumbing Code conforming Ultra Low Flush (ULF) toilets and urinals which use 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) and 1.0 gpf respectively.
• Although a person can live without food for more than a month, a person can only live without water for approximately one week.
• Only 1% of the earth's water is suitable for drinking water.
• The average person in the United States uses 100-150 gallons of water each day, Europeans use an averageof 74 gallons, Africans use 17 gallons and the Chinese use about 23 gallons.
• About 70% of water is used for agriculture globally, while 20% is used for industry and 10% for residential use.
• Asia has significant water challenges with 36% of the world's water supply, yet 60% of the total population.
• Leaks are an enormous problem. In developing countries, nearly 40% of the water is lost before it reaches its destination.
• In the US, we pay about $.005 per gallon of water. Compared water to a gallon of milk at $3.50--700 times the cost of water.
How can hospitals save water? Here are two case studies from Massachusetts.
Case Study Example #1 Carney Hospital in Dorchester is installing flow control fixtures on all patient and exam room faucets at their facility. The existing flow rate of the faucets was measured at 5 gallons per minute (gpm). After retrofitting the faucets the flow was reduced by 3.5 gpm to 1.5 gpm. The average usage of sinks at the facility is estimated at 25 minutes per day. This results in a water savings of 88 gallons per day, or 32,000 gallons of heated water per year for a combined water and energy savings of approximately $280 annually per sink. The cost to retrofit one sink is estimated at $12 resulting in a payback of less than one month.
Install flow control fixtures on all faucets.
Install water saving shower heads.
Retrofit flushometer toilets and urinals with low consumption valve replacement kits.
Replace existing higher consumption toilets and urinals with Massachusetts Plumbing Code conforming Ultra Low Flush (ULF) toilets and urinals which use 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) and 1.0 gpf respectively.
Case Study Example #2 New England Memorial Hospital in Stoneham has over 300 flushometer toilets in their facility which use approximately 4.5 gallons per flush. Replacing all the existing toilets with ULF toilets would save over 5 million gallons of water annually based on estimates of average daily population in the hospital and information on toilet use. The cost of this measure is estimated at $65,000 and the water and sewer savings of approximately $42,000 result in a payback of 18 months.
By 7:30 p.m. the water was restored. Water pressure in the hospital quickly rose. Toilet valves that stick when water flow is interrupted for a period of time, were all changed by 9:00 p.m. The hospital was back to normal. We could flush again.