2010 Symposium CIB W062 - Sydney Australia
Impact of installation of water saving technologies at the
International Airport of São Paulo in Brazil
M. S. O. Ilha (1), L. H. Oliveira (2), W. C. Sousa Júnior (3), O. M.
Gonçalves (4), M. A. S. Campos (5)
(1) Department of Architecture and Construction, School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and
Urban Design, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil, e-mail: [email protected]
(2) Department of Construction Engineering of Escola Politécnica, Brazil, P.O. Box 61548,
University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, e-mail: [email protected]
(3) Department of Hydraulics, Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica, São José dos Campos, SP,
Brazil, e-mail: [email protected]
(4) Department of Construction Engineering of Escola Politécnica, Brazil, P.O. Box 61548,
University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, e-mail: [email protected]
(5) Department of Architecture and Construction, School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and
Urban Design, University of |Campinas, SP, Brazil, e-mail: [email protected]
Abstract
The International Airport of São Paulo - AISP, in Guarulhos annually takes care of 17
million passengers and with forecast of amplification for 29 million. It has about 200
sanitary, beyond the frozen water central and of the sector of food. Since 2008 it has been
developed a research project called HIDROAER that aims to promote the efficient water
use with new water saving. Four steps were developed based on adjustments in the sanitary
fixtures and installation of different types of water saving technologies. The greatest impact
was achieved with the adjustments made in the sanitary appliances, which indicates the
importance of such activities on water conservation programs. This article presents the final
results of this survey and the recommendations for the development of water conservation
programs in bathrooms in similar airports and other public plants
Keywords
Water conservation; airport; HIDROAER; water consumption pattern.
2010 Symposium CIB W062 - Sydney Australia
1. Introduction
The International Airport of São Paulo (AISP) is the object of study of the HIDROAER
Project - Efficient water use at airports, which has been developed by the Instituto
Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA) in partnership with the University of São Paulo and the
University of Campinas and financed by the FINEP - Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos e
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). The objectives
of the HIDROAER Project are to specify saving water technologies as well as the
implement of non-potable water systems for the reduction of water consumption, from a
diagnosis of the water use at the AISP, carried out in 2006 by AISP.
The International Airport of São Paulo (AISP) is located in the city of Guarulhos, about 20
kilometers from the city of São Paulo, in an area of 14000 km2. The Brazilian Airports
(INFRAERO) has managed it since 1985, when it started operating.
The INFRAERO is responsible for the administration of 67 Airports and 81 Air Navigation
Support Units throughout Brazil. Aware of its environmental responsibilities, INFRAERO
maintains an Environmental Policy compatible with the planning, construction and
operations of its activities in accordance to national and international regulations and laws.
INFRAERO’s environmental management system is supported by the Environmental
Programs developed by the Superintendence of Environment and Energy, the
environmental units of the Regional Superintendence and airports, one of them being the
Water Resources Program [1].
The AISP can attend about 17 million passengers per year with two air terminals. However,
it takes care of about 12 million of users annually and the construction of the third terminal
of passengers is been prepared. After this, the AISP will increase its capacity for 29 million
passengers per year. It is important to mention that it is one of the main modes of logistics
of air cargo, with the largest cargo terminal in South America [2].
In accordance to the Report of the Action Plan [2], the water supply in the AISP is carried
out by underground water through wells provided with water meters, which allow the
management of the volume of water consumption. The collected water is conveyed to a
treatment plant and later distributed to three reservoirs with 199 m3 of capacity each. From
these reservoirs the water is conveyed by gravity to the airport. The drainage system
conveys the effluents from the AISP to two biological treatment plants. After the treatment
the water is conveyed to lagoons and to a stream.
The aim of this work is to present the final results of this survey, which was developed at
the restroom 93 of the international terminal of passengers, one of them for men and
another for women. There are also small restrooms for children and for people with special
needs in this restroom 93.
2010 Symposium CIB W062 - Sydney Australia
For the study and specification of the water saving technologies to be replaced in restroom
93 of the AISP, which was chosen as a pilot, located in the superior level of the Terminal of
Passengers and the international section. Restroom 93 is composed of two restrooms for
adults, one for women and the other for men, two small restrooms for children, one for
boys and the other for girls. In addition, two special needs restrooms, one male and another
female. Figure 1 shows the plant of the studied environments and Table 1 shows the
sanitary appliances of the restroom 93.
Drink Fontains
Lavatories
MENS'
RESTROOM
Urinals
BOYS'
RESTROOM
HANDICAPPED
MENS' RESTROOM
HANDICAPPED
LADIES' RESTROOM
GIRLS'
RESTROOM
Water Closets
LADIES'
RESTROOM
Figure 1 - Plant of Restroom 93 monitored at the International Airport of São Paulo
Table 1 – Original situation of the sanitary appliances - restroom 93 - AISP
ROOM
Ladies’ restroom
SANITARY APPLIANCE
6 valve operated water closets(1) (6 l/f)
6 wash basins with electronic faucets
4 valve operated water closets(1) (6 l/f)
Men’s restroom
6 wash basins with electronic faucets
5 urinals with electronic valves
1 valve operated water closet (1) (6 l/f)
Girls’ restroom
1 wash basin with metering faucet
1 faucet for cleaning
1 valve operated water closet(1) (6 l/f)
Boys’ restroom
1 wash basin with metering faucet
1 faucet for cleaning
Handicapped ladies’ restroom
1 valve operated water closet(1) (6 l/f)
1 wash basin with metering faucet
Handicapped men’s restroom
(1)
1 valve operated water closet(1) (6 l/f)
1 wash basin with metering faucet
The duration of flush depends on the user, i.e. the volume is variable.
2010 Symposium CIB W062 - Sydney Australia
2. Methodology
Initially, 13 water meters (H) were installed. However, after the first series of the water
consumption monitoring it was detected a great difference between the total volume
measured by the H1 and the sum of the all others. Furthermore, there were problems in the
data acquisition system of water meter H13. Thus, the water consumptions measured by the
water meters H1 e H13 were not considered. Table 2 shows the water meters used in this
survey.
Table 2 – Water meters installed in restroom 93 of the AISP
Water
meter
H2
H3
H4
H5
H6
Type and
Metrological class
Volumetric, class D
Volumetric, class D
Volumetric, class D
Volumetric, class D
Volumetric, class C
H7
Multi jet, class B
H8
H9
H10
H11
H12
Volumetric, class D
Volumetric, class D
Volumetric, class D
Volumetric, class D
Multi jet, class B
Appliances monitored
5 urinals (electronic) - men’s restroom
5 wash basins with electronic faucets - men’s restroom
1 wash basin with electronic faucet - men’s restroom
1 water faucet for cleaning - men’s restroom
1 wash basin with metering faucet + 1 faucet for cleaning (boys’
restroom)
6 valve operated water closets - 4 in the men’s restroom, 1 in
the boys’ restroom and 1 in the special needs restroom (male)
2 drinking fountains - outside hall
1 faucet for cleaning - ladies’ restroom
1 wash basin with electronic faucet - ladies’ restroom
5 wash basins with electronic faucet - ladies’ restroom
8 valve operated water closets(- 6 in the ladies’ restroom, 1 in
the girls’ restroom and 1 in the special needs restroom (female)
The localization of the water meters was chosen considering the branches that feed just one
type of sanitary appliance and also considering the specific difficulties to install them.
All water meters were instrumented for remote metering, with pulse transmitters. Water
consumption data were recorded and stored in 1-minute intervals. These data were
collected weekly. Afterwards, all data were aggregated into periods of 1-hour and 1-day.
2.1 Steps of the research
Four steps of monitoring, depending on the water saving technologies were set, as
presented in Table 3. Each step of measurement was planned to have 15 days, however,
problems in the data acquisition system resulted in different periods of monitoring the
water consumption.
2010 Symposium CIB W062 - Sydney Australia
Table 3 - Steps and respective water save technologies implemented - restroom 93 AISP
Period
Step
Activity
1
08/12/2009 - 09/01/2009
2
09/04/2009 - 09/18/2009
3
A: 10/28/2009 – 11/09/2009
B: 11/18/2009 – 11/23/2009
C: 02/01/2010 – 02/08/2010
4
A: 02/23/2010 – 03/08/2010
B: 03/10/2010 – 03/15/2010
C: 03/17/2010 – 03/22/2010
D: 03/23/2010 – 03/29/2010
E: 04/07/2010 – 04/12/2010
F: 04/14/2010 – 04/19/2010
Installation of water meters and instrumentation. Original
situation of the sanitary appliance (see table 1)
Measurement 1: data collect and data analysis
Adjustments in the sanitary appliances: flow rates, duration of
discharges, volumes Measurement 2: data collect and data
analysis
Installation of:
 dual flush valves in the water closets - ladies and men’s
restrooms;
 metering faucets with a special kit for time reducing in the
wash basins - ladies and men’s restrooms;
 electronic faucets in the wash basins – special needs
ladies´ and men’s restrooms; and in the boys and girls’
restrooms
Measurement 3: data collect and data analysis
Installation of:
 metering faucets in the wash basins - all restrooms
 electronic valves in the water closets – all restrooms
 electronic valves with fuzzy logic system in the urinals –
men’s restroom
Measurement 4: data collect and data analysis
The number of passengers per international flight of the companies installed in the
influence area of the Restroom 93 was provided by INFRAERO. The average total number
of passengers per day in the influence area of the Restroom 93 was estimated in 3468 in
2009 (variation coefficient - CV=16%) in 2009 and 3615 (CV=13%) in 2010. Fridays,
Saturdays and Sundays presented the biggest flight load, as expected.
It was planned to measure the numbers of uses of each sanitary appliance by using a
presence sensor in the entrance of each restroom of the Sanitary 93 and an electronic device
in each sanitary appliance. However, these data acquisition systems did not provide reliable
results. Thus, it was considered just the number of the passengers for the determination of
the consumption indicator (IC). It should be noted, however, that not all passengers
entering the restroom in this area, with or without the use of the sanitary appliance.
3. Results and discussion
About 84% of the water consumption, on average, has been occurred in the WC in all steps
of the investigation, as it is illustrated in the Figure 2. Approximately 51% of the total
consumption of the WC was in the feminine restrooms.
2010 Symposium CIB W062 - Sydney Australia
0,25%
1,88%
4,05%
1,32%
0,18%
0,01%
4,11%
3,38%
1,31%
0,00%
0,15%
0,12%
23,78%
46,39%
41,23%
61,31%
0,64%
0,02%
0,22%
3,65%
H2
H3
H4
0,58%
H5
H6
0,44%
0,04%
H7
H8
H9
4,93%
H10
H11
H12
H13
H2
H3
H4
Step 1 – Original situation
3,36%
0,45%
6,37%
H5
H6
H7
H8
H9
H10
H11
H12
H13
Step 2 – After adjustments
0,24%
0,47%
2,64%
4,75%
0,01%
0,4
3,46%
0,48%
6,77%
0,36%
0,01%
0,00%
0,27%
0,34%
0,
38,51%
30,06%
53,19%
28,42%
53,03%
48,18%
0,94%
0,81%
4,47%
H2
H3
H4
H5
H6
H7
H8
H9
H10
0,76%
0,53%
H11
H12
0,03%
3,58%
0,01%
1,03%
0,14%
H13
H2
H3
H4
0,64%
H5
H6
H7
5,15%
H8
H9
H10
H11
H12
H2
H3
H4
H5
H6
H7
H8
H9
H10
H11
H12
H13
Step 3 – After the installation of water saving technologies in the wash basins and WC
2,18%
0,43%
0,13%
0,00%
0,21%
9,79%
28,20%
51,43%
0,65%
0,00%
5,86%
H2
H3
H4
H5
H6
H7
H8
H9
1,12%
H10
H11
H12
H2 -5 urinals - men’s restroom
H3 - 5 wash basins’ faucets - men’s restroom
H4 - 1 wash basin - men’s restroom
H5 - 1 faucet for cleaning - men’s restroom
H6 -1 faucet for cleaning - men’s restroom
H7 – 6 water closets - 4 in the men’s restroom, 1 in
the boys’ restroom and 1 in the handicapped men’s
restroom
H8 - 2 drinking fountains - outside hall
H9 - 1 faucet for cleaning - ladies’ restroom
H10 - 1 wash basin - ladies’ restroom
H11 - 5 wash basins - ladies’ restroom
H12 – 8 water closets: 6 in the ladies’ restroom, 1 in
the girls’ restroom and 1 in the handicapped ladies’
restroom
H13 – 1 wash basin and 1 faucet for cleaning
H13
Step 4 - after the installation of water saving technologies in the wash basins, WC and urinals
Figure 2 - Distribution of the water consumption - restroom 93 - AISP
It is also noted that the second sanitary appliance more used was the wash basin. Its water
consumption was about 13% in al steps of the investigation.
Figure 3 shows the water consumption distribution just for the toilets.
2010 Symposium CIB W062 - Sydney Australia
100%
90%
Média : 85%
80%
Porcentagem de consumo
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
4/9
5/9
6/9
7/9
8/9
Data
H7
Step 1 – original situation
Step 2 – after adjustments
100%
100%
90%
100%
Média : 87 %
90%
90%
Média : 81%
80%
80%
70%
70%
70%
60%
50%
40%
Porcentagem de consumo
80%
Porcentagem de consumo
Porcentagem de consumo
Média : 84%
60%
50%
40%
60%
50%
40%
30%
30%
30%
20%
20%
20%
10%
10%
0%
0%
28/10
29/10
30/10
31/10
1/11
2/11
3/11
4/11
5/11
6/11
7/11
8/11
9/11
10%
0%
18/11
19/11
20/11
21/11
Data
H7
H12
22/11
23/11
1/2
2/2
3/2
4/2
Data
H12
H7
5/2
6/2
7/2
8/2
Data
H12
H7
H12
Step 3 – after the installation of water saving technologies in the wash basins and WC
100%
90%
Média : 79 %
80%
Porcentagem de consumo
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
7/4
8/4
9/4
10/4
11/4
12/4
Data
H7
H12
Step 4 - after the installation of water saving technologies in the wash basins, WC and urinals
H7 – 6 water closets - 4 in the men’s restroom, 1 in the boys’ restroom and 1 in the handicapped men’s restroom
H12 – 8 water closets: 6 in the ladies’ restroom, 1 in the girls’ restroom and 1 in the handicapped ladies’ restroom
Figure 3 - Distribution of the water consumption of the toilets - restroom 93 -AISP
As observed in Figure 3, approximately 56% of the total consumption of the toilets was in
the feminine restrooms. This percentage ranged from 24% to 88%.
The distribution of the water consumption indicator (L/passenger.day) in all steps of the
investigation is shown in Figure 4.
First of all, despite being the most representative variable of the water consumption of this
type of building, the number of passengers may not be the most appropriate in this specific
case, since not all passengers use the restroom before boarding and if they do it, they do not
necessarily use the restroom 93.
2010 Symposium CIB W062 - Sydney Australia
Figure 4 - Distribution of the water consumption indicator –restroom 93
The initial value of IC was high, ranging from 8.1 to 18.4 L/passager.day in step 1 (S1),
with an average of 11.9 L/passenger.day. From step 2 (S2), with the flow rates and duration
adjustments, the IC ranged between 7.5 and 7.8 L/passager.day, with an average of
7.7 L/passager.day.
In the step 3 (S3 - phases A, B and C), the IC was respectively 7.3, 9.1 and
7.1 L/passager.day. This variantion can be due to diffent users using the restroom in
different periods.
2010 Symposium CIB W062 - Sydney Australia
The IC reached 7 L/passager.day in the step 4. It can be noted the original situation of the
sanitary appliances of the restroom 93 (step 1) already contemplated water saving
technologies. The greatest impact of the water consumption was verified in the step 2. This
fact shows the importance of a maintenance program of the technologies in order to
conserve the reductions in water consumption obtained with the technologies actions.
4. Final considerations
The main objective of this study is to evaluate water saving components that represent
major water consumption decrease for other restrooms of the airport.
This paper presented a survey of the water consumption pattern of one of the international
terminal of passengers in the International Airport of São Paulo, Brazil. This restroom is
composed of six restrooms, including installation for children and for people with special
needs.
The results obtained indicate that the WCs represent 84% of the total water consumption of
the restroom 93, on average. Approximately 56% of toilets consumption is due to the
feminine toilets.
The greatest decrease of the water consumption was due to the adjustments made in the
water saving technologies already installed in the sanitary 93 originally. It indicates the
importance of the periodic maintenance for perpetuating water savings.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos - FINEP (Research and Projects
Financing – Brazilian Innovation Agency, Ministry of Science and Technology) and
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq (The National
Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Ministry of Science and
Techonology) for the financial support.
5. References
[1]
[2]
INFRAERO – Empresa Brasileira de Infra-Estrutura Aeroportuária. Relatório
Ambiental 2005/2006. Brasília 2006. Disponível em: http://www.infraero.gov.br.
Acesso em 21 jun. 2009.
AEROPORTO INTERNACIONAL DE SÃO PAULO. Relatório do Plano de Gestão
de Recursos Hídricos. Vitalux Efifiência Energética Ltda, 2006. Contrato 0053St/2005/0057.
2010 Symposium CIB W062 - Sydney Australia
7. Presentation of Authors
Marina Ilha is a Head of Department of Architecture and Construction, School of Civil
Engineering, Architecture and Urban Design, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, where
she is the Head of the Building Services Research Group.
Lúcia Helena de Oliveira is a professor at Department of Construction Engineering of
Escola Politécnica of University of São Paulo, Brazil, where she teaches and conducts
researches on building services.
Wilson Sousa Júnior is a professor at Department of Hydraulics, Instituto Tecnológico de
Aeronáutica, where he teaches and conducts researches on Environmental Engineering,
with emphasis in integrated water resources planning and economics.
Orestes Gonçalves is a professor at Department of Construction Engineering of Escola
Politécnica of University of São Paulo, Brazil, where he is the Head of the Building
Services Research Group.
Marcus André is a PhD student at School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urban
Design, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil.