Author(s)

Jinhui Zhao^*, Xi Xie, Chentong Lin, Yao Sun, Ruiju Liu, Mengke Wu

College of Urban Construction, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China.

Facing the contradiction of water scarcity and water wastage in most cities of China, this study aims at probing into the factors influencing water-use efficiency and assessing water-saving potential by adopting pressure control measures based on field survey conducted in 23 high-rise buildings in Suqian, China and laboratory tests. Results showed that per capita water consumption (PCWC) exceeding water consumption norms is common in these buildings. The hourly water consumption variation law is quite different among different types of buildings. These differences should be considered in designing building water supply systems to lower water and energy consumption. On the basis of correlation analysis, the order of factors influencing the PCWC follows average tap water pressure, percapita building area, and building age, suggesting pressure management in high-rise buildings is a key water-saving measure. Field tests of outflow characteristics under different water pressures indicated that over-pressure outflow (OPO) is a common cause of water wastage in buildings, however, no branch pipe pressure control measures were found in all the surveyed buildings. Laboratory tests showed that branch pipe pressure-reducing measures can lower water consumption and improve the comfortability of use as well. Therefore, in addition to applying high efficiency water-saving devices, we strongly recommend that branch pipe pressure-reducing measures should be strictly implemented in designing new building water supply systems and reconstruction of existing old building water supply systems, thereby, promoting water, energy saving and development of green building.

Water Saving, High-Rise Public Building, Over-Pressure Outflow, Pressure-Reducing Measure, Outflow Characteristics

Zhao, J. , Xie, X. , Lin, C. , Sun, Y. , Liu, R. and Wu, M. (2017) Survey-Based Analysis of Water Consumption Law in High-Rise Public Buildings and Water-Saving Performance of Pressure-Reducing Measures. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 5, 189-203. doi: 10.4236/gep.2017.59014.