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The Plumbing Efficiency Research Coalition (PERC) was founded in 2009 to develop research projects that will support the development of water efficiency and sustainable plumbing products, systems and practices. The coalition is comprised of five industry organizations: Alliance for Water Efficiency, International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials, International Code Council, Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association, and Plumbing Manufacturers Institute.
PERC’s
inaugural research study will explore drainline transport efficacy. Special
consideration will be given to the impact of high-efficiency toilets, which
reduce water consumption volume to 1.28 gallons per flush.
Office buildings and other commercial
facilities are increasingly installing dual-flush Flushometers, such as this
electronic model from Sloan Valve Co., because they immediately reduce public
restroom water usage.
Looking forward,
newer technologies such as non-water consuming and high-efficiency urinals,
lower flow-rate faucets, and increasingly efficient water-consuming appliances
will further reduce the amount of water discharged into sanitary waste systems.
Greywater reuse systems, which collect discharged water usually for irrigation
purposes, is another emerging technology that significantly reduces wastewater
in sanitary drainage systems.
An extensive research project of sufficient scope to determine if significant problems could arise regarding drainline transport has yet to be conducted. PERC’s research is expected to provide a better understanding of these integrated issues through computer modeling, laboratory testing and field testing.
Toward this goal, PERC representatives have developed Request for
Qualification documents for each project element to solicit comments and proposals
needed to properly budget the project. The PERC technical committee has
contacted the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) regarding the
coalition’s field study element. A Statement of Interest proposal was submitted
by PERC for NAVFAC to gain approval to participate in the study in 2010.
Speakman's S-2005-HB has been a fixture of the hospitality market for many years and is now available at a 2.0 GPM flow rate.
More recently, the PERC technical committee has become aware of emerging plumbing technologies that have the potential to provide low-cost solutions where drainline transport problems associated with reduced flows in building drains arise. As a first order of business in 2010, the PERC technical committee will consider revising its Scope of Work document to evaluate these potential solutions. This may result in considerably reducing the cost of the study.
Funding for the program has not yet been obtained. The PERC associations will continue to work together in 2010 to identify sources of funding to support this important project. Updates and future research results will be shared at www.safeplumbing.org.
Speakman's SM-3000 shower valve meets and is approved at a 2.0 GPM flow rate.
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