AWWA SOURCES55634

Hospitals commonly have several medical x-ray processors operating 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Published water flow rates for the 35 units on the market range from .2 to 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm), but can flow at much higher rates in practice. Units specified to operate at 2.5 gpm are very common while the .2 gpm units are rare. This study tested a new technology that re-circulates the water to the film processor thereby reducing consumption to approximately 35,000 gallons per year. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has had several customers install the equipment with the savings verified by a meters specifically placed to measure processor flows. To gain more precise information on the effect, Irvine Ranch Water District used a datalogger that continuously recorded the flow prior to and after the installation. In all cases, the equipment performed well and saved the anticipated amount of water. Includes table.