Water Management & Conservation Flashcards

An SFP professional is evaluating a rainwater harvesting system. Which factor most directly determines the system's yield potential?

Answer: Local annual rainfall and catchment area size

Yield is fundamentally a product of how much rain falls and how large the collection surface is — greater precipitation and catchment area produce more harvestable water.

Under EPA's WaterSense program, a certified fixture must use at least how much less water than the federal standard?

Answer: 20% less

WaterSense-labeled products must be at least 20% more water-efficient than the federal minimum requirement while meeting strict performance criteria.

Which irrigation strategy reduces evaporation losses and delivers water directly to plant root zones?

Answer: Drip or micro-irrigation systems

Drip irrigation delivers water at low pressure directly to the root zone, minimizing evaporation, wind drift, and surface runoff compared to overhead methods.

A facility manager notices a 15% spike in water consumption with no change in occupancy. What is the most likely cause?

Answer: An undetected leak in the distribution system

Unexplained consumption spikes with stable occupancy most commonly indicate a leak — even small leaks in distribution lines can waste significant volumes over time.

What is 'make-up water' in the context of HVAC cooling systems?

Answer: Potable water added to replace evaporation and blowdown losses in a cooling tower

Cooling towers lose water through evaporation and intentional blowdown; make-up water is the fresh supply needed to maintain proper water levels and concentration balance.

Which EPA program provides a framework for benchmarking a building's water performance against similar buildings nationwide?

Answer: ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tracks both energy and water use, allowing facility managers to benchmark water consumption against a national database of similar buildings.

What term describes water that has been used once and then treated to a level suitable for a second use such as toilet flushing?

Answer: Reclaimed or recycled water

Reclaimed water (also called recycled water) is treated wastewater that meets quality standards for non-potable applications like toilet flushing, irrigation, and cooling tower make-up.