Largest users cut consumption

With low-flow equipment, recycling, use of nonpotable water, they reduce usage by up to one-half

Many residential water customers in the Triangle have questioned whether the region's large industrial and institutional water users are doing their part to conserve. Here's a sampling of what some of the largest water customers in Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh say they are doing to reduce the amount of water they consume.

CHAPEL HILL

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Hospitals are by far the biggest single user of Orange Water and Sewer Authority water -- drawing nearly 2.2 million gallons a day, or 27 percent of the daily average in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

In November, the students living on campus began a water conservation competition with N.C. State University that has resulted in a 12 percent drop in overall use in residence halls.

As part of an overall sustainability project, the university has been installing waterless urinals, dual-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads and other water-conserving technology in dormitories and other campus buildings.

On a larger scale, the university is partnering with OWASA, which provides water to southern Orange County, on the construction of a water reclamation and reuse system that administrators say will reduce water demand by 10 percent.

The campus has added 2.75 million square feet of buildings since 2003, and the number of students, staff and faculty members have increased 14 percent since 2000. Yet annual water consumption has remained below pre-2002 drought levels, according to university officials.

RALEIGH

Ajinomoto AminoScience manufactures amino acids for pharmaceutical and food applications. The company says it implemented 15 conservation measures in 2007 in an effort to cut its water use by 18 million gallons a year, or about 10 percent.

In August, Ajinomoto began using non-potable water in more operations at its wastewater-treatment plant, saving an estimated 14.2 million gallons a year. In November, the company completed a water audit of its 18 bathrooms and lab sinks that identified 84,000 gallons a year in savings.

N.C. State University says it has cut water consumption on campus by 29 percent over the last five years even while expanding its physical campus and increasing the campus population.

N.C. State stopped all outside irrigation on Oct. 8 and implemented most of Raleigh's Stage 2 restrictions at the end of October, four months before they were required. It is now pulling water from Lake Raleigh on the Centennial Campus for any essential outside watering.

In recent weeks, N.C. State has installed low-flow devices in most residence halls and nonresidential buildings. In the future, the university says it is looking at drilling wells to satisfy its need for non-potable water and increasing its use of drought-resistant plants and turf.

DURHAM

Duke University, counting the hospitals, is Durham's largest water user. But the institution has employed a combination of public relations efforts and new technology to cut its water use significantly.

Duke's water use is just above 1 million gallons per day now, down about 50 percent since August and about 23 percent from the same time last year, said Tavey McDaniel Capps, Duke's sustainability coordinator.

Duke uses disposable plates and utensils in its cafeteria and has installed 200 low-flow washing machines. The university has also switched to biodegradable underpads for hospital beds, saving 58,000 gallons a week, McDaniel Capps said.

Duke students, faculty and staff snatched up 5,000 low-flow shower heads for use in their homes, and a giveaway of 5,000 more is planned soon.