This Article appears in our September 2004 Newsletter

Calgary Housing Company Makes Great Save
By Mike Meagher, ICI Coordinator, The City of Calgary Waterworks

In a Nutshell

S        Average 36% decrease in monthly water bill

S        Less than 3 year payback period

S        Replaced 18 high volume toilets
with 6-litre low-flush toilets

S        Replaced 2 older top load washing machines
with 2 water-efficient front-loading machines

S        No maintenance or repair issues with toilets
or washers since retrofit

Since October 2003, the Calgary Housing Company (CHC) has been saving an average of 36% off its water bill for one Calgary apartment building. Savings like this are enough to make them feel they’re doing something right, but on top of the financial savings, the CHC can feel extra good about consuming just under 114 cubic meters less water every month.

How are they achieving this success? CHC replaced the 18 high volume flush toilets and 2 older top load washing machines in one apartment block with new 6 litre low-flush toilets and high-efficiency front loading washing machines.

Short payback
Based on 2004 water and sewage rates, the payback time for CHC’s investment is less than 3 years. If tax deductions for this capital investment are taken into account along with probable increases in water rates and decreases in maintenance calls over the next few years, the payback period is even shorter.

Forward thinking
The retrofit was made because many of the toilets in the apartment building were leaky and requiring maintenance or replacement. Building manager Rod Bagnall—who had some knowledge of 6 litre toilets used in other CHC buildings—decided to take the plunge and use the opportunity to replace them all with water saving toilets. Rod said, “I was a bit skeptical about the 6 litre toilets at first, but the toilets we picked have proven themselves.”

Fast results
The first month after replacing the toilets and washing machines, Rod saw a 30% decrease in water consumption compared to the same month of the previous year, 2002. The following months came in at 39% and 43% less than the same months of 2002—an almost instant reward for a pretty straightforward retrofit.

Less maintenance
Besides reaping the reward of saving on water and sewage bills, Rod found he had no maintenance calls to answer about the toilets or washers: more money and time saved because of the new installations. “We shopped around and picked toilets that had a strong performance,” Rod said, “and I have not had any calls about problem toilets or the washing machines since we installed them in the building.”

Future benefits
Based on the success of this first installation, the CHC is contemplating the best approach to make similar savings in other buildings in the future. Both the CHC and the City of Calgary win through CHC’s action: the Calgary Housing Company pays less in water and sewage bills and spends less time on repairs, while decreased demand on Calgary’s water supply and wastewater treatment system benefits all Calgarians.

Visit the City of Calgary web site to view our new multifamily page www.calgary.ca/waterworks/ICI.

This article was supplied by Mike Meagher, ICI Coordinator,
The City of Calgary Waterworks, and he can be reached
at (403) 268-5862.

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