Examining the impact of healthcare facilities on regional water systems
Abstract
Water issues are a major concern worldwide. As the world’s population increases, finding a way to provide water to these people is a worry for the leaders of the planet. Many nations suffer from not enough water to serve the population while others are beginning to recognize that the current rate of withdrawals is unsustainable. Conservation has become more than just a trend; it is a necessity for the future. There are many industries in which conservation can be a challenge due to the large amount of water necessary for the functioning of facilities. Healthcare, more specifically hospitals, falls into this category of water intensive industries. Due to the large number of patients, a twenty-four hour schedule, mechanical system needs and medical process needs, hospitals can be one of the largest consumers of water in a municipality. The problem that is addressed by this research is that hospitals are not using water efficiently. This inefficient use of water is wasting a valuable natural resource. In order to begin the path to solving this problem, some possible solutions are proposed. The research addressed in this paper attempts to analyze the water use habits of hospitals and provide potential solutions that can both conserve money and be implemented through a scheduled maintenance program. The goal is to save the hospital needed money that could be spent either for future capital expenditures or more medical based needs.
Degree
M.S.
Advisors
Lasker, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Architectural|Civil engineering|Water Resource Management
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