KBIS : Drops of Water
By Christoph Lohr
HEALTH AND SANITATION 33
I had the privilege of joining other industry water experts at KBIS 2024 on KBIS NEXTStage . The topic of the session was “ Drops of Impact : The Crucial Role Water Plays in Sustainable Futures .” Per the KBIS conference website : Water is a finite and essential resource , and its careful management is fundamental to sustainable home design . Sponsored by Moen and moderated by Sara Gutterman , CEO of Green Builder Media LLC , this panel will prove that sustainability and style can coexist harmoniously and demonstrate how new technology and innovations can help homeowners use water more responsibly . Featured speakers include Mark-Hans Richer , Moen ; Christoph Lohr , IAPMO ; and Ginger Rabe , Ginger Rabe Designs , LLC .
As I prepared for this panel discussion , I couldn ’ t help but smile over an early-career memory about design and functionality : As an early-career plumbing engineer , I was working on a residential kitchen project , and selected a very functional kitchen faucet . When I submitted my cutsheet to my client at the time , the designer of the kitchen came back with an email that said , “ Can ’ t we find something a little … nicer looking ? The one you picked is pretty ugly .” How humbling ! This was a good lesson for me that even as an engineer , I needed to be mindful that form and function need to go together and that “ nobody wants to use an ugly faucet .”
But we need to remember not to place form over function – especially as our water systems deal with many challenges . I was reminded of this as I have been reading the book The Profits of Distrust : Citizen-Consumers , Drinking Water , and the Crisis of Confidence in American Government by Manuel P . Teodoro , Samantha Zuhlke and David Switzer . In the book ’ s introduction , the authors ask a poignant question : “ The burgeoning bottled water industry presents a paradox : why do people choose expensive , environmentally destructive bottled water , rather than cheaper , sustainable , and more rigorously regulated tap water ?” I would add not only that , but likely unhealthy water as micro-nano plastics seem to proliferate bottled water , with high storage temperatures of bottled water being a possible catalyst . Water quality is just one challenge though ; sustainable water solutions are also important , as my home state of Arizona shows : new home developments in some parts of the Phoenix metro area are being halted due to a lack of sufficient groundwater . Kitchen designers can be part of the effort to develop kitchens that are more sustainable , with better water quality ( i . e . safety ), all while improving affordability – or as we at IAPMO like to say , a plumbing resilient solution . Here are three ways kitchen and bath designers can make an impact on water use in homes .
Tip 1 : Get the right filter for the right job – provide solutions to customers that improve water quality at the kitchen tap while also positively impacting water sustainability
One of the biggest hurdles to getting homeowners to drink from the tap is building trust that the water is safe to drink . The lowest-hanging fruit is to make sure water is aesthetically pleasing , especially by making sure “ floaters ” in water are removed before ending up in a glass . Micron filters , especially 2 – 5 micron filters , are the tool of choice for this concern . Next up are the “ unseen ” contaminants , like carcinogenic disinfectant byproducts ; PFAS , an emerging contaminant ; or even pharmaceuticals , which a granular activated carbon ( GAC ) filter can remove . For owners who want the highest level of filtration , the next choice is typically reverseosmosis ( RO ) systems . RO systems in essence remove everything from the water and can only connect to faucets via plastic piping . However , whereas micron filters and carbon filters do not waste water , RO water can use up much more water : the typical system only produces 1 gallon of drinkable water ( product water ) while 9 gallons go straight to the drain ( reject water ). EPA WaterSense RO systems improve this slightly by having 3 gallons of product water and 7 gallons of reject water . Owners who want the highest level of filtration but also want to be water conscious utilise ASSE 1086 RO systems , which create four gallons of product water and only six gallons of reject water .
To make sure quality products are used , look for a thirdparty listing on devices put in the home for products that are listed to a standard :
Client Concern Want to prevent “ floaters ”, sediment , etc . in the glass .
Want to remove “ unseen ” contaminants from water .
Wants to have the highest quality of as possible while minimising water waste .
Solution
Getting the right filter for the right job has never been easier .
David Viola , IAPMO CEO
In the spirit of the sharing of unique experiences that shape the plumbing industries in our respective nations , the following column looks at ways kitchen and bath designers can make an impact on water use in homes . Written by IAPMO vice-president of Technical Services and Research Christoph Lohr , P . E ., it is the next in a regular series of similar articles that will run in this magazine .
Dave Viola IAPMO CEO
> 5 micron filter that complies with NSF 42 Utilise a granular activated Carbon Filter that complies with NSF 42 and NSF 53 . Utilise a reverse osmosis ( RO ) system that complies with ASSE 1086 ( which exceeds current EPA WaterSense efficiency ).
July 2024 Volume 30 I Number 5 www . plumbingafrica . co . za