Once-Through Cooling Units: Prevalence Study & Retrofit Field Test for Water Savings in Vancouver

The City of Vancouver will conduct a feasibility study and field test to reduce potable water consumption in institutional, commercial and industrial (ICI) buildings by targeting facilities with once-through cooling (OTC) units. OTC uses municipal water to remove unwanted process heat and discharge this water to storm sewers after a single use. For some facility types, OTC can account for 20% or greater water use. The cumulative impact of a successful test would result in significant water savings and contribute to the City of Vancouver’s commitment to reduce its potable water consumption by 33% compared to 2006 levels. Vancouver will first conduct a feasibility study to verify and refine estimates of water consumption, potential water savings and prevalence of OTC units provided by a 2004 study commissioned by Metro Vancouver. Vancouver will calculate actual water reduction potential by facility type which, when aggregated, will support the City's per sector targets. The study will aim to estimate the prevalence of OTC units in Vancouver and will provide a thorough analysis of the practical, financial and environmental implications of retrofitting or upgrading OTC in buildings, for a cross-section of real property conditions in Vancouver. Vancouver will then conduct a field test to demonstrate a viable alternative technology and develop an upgrade guide for businesses affected by a future OTC bylaw change. Vancouver will identify a typical OTC unit candidate, examine available options for upgrading OTC, and determine costs, benefits and which methodology adheres to best environmental practices and is appropriate for the widest range of building types. By performing a field test, the City will explore potential hidden barriers and costs associated with a common OTC upgrade and establish the payback period. The study and test will involve key personnel in ICI sectors, maintenance and repair technicians, and relevant governing bodies. The initiative will provide a full analysis of environmental, social and economic factors associated with multiple approaches to upgrading OTC technology and will likely result in an updated by-law enforcing a phase-out of OTC units in the ICI sector. As this initiative is in line with British Columbia's Living Water Smart plan, lessons learned from this initiative will be of interest to several BC municipalities and will lay groundwork assisting them to better predict the total water conservation resulting from a ban on OTC units and the impact a ban would have on local businesses. (Project description from original funding application)