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Committee agrees to pursue CHIPS water-efficiency bump by switching to ultra-low-flow toilets
Summary
Middletown project staff said switching the middle-high school’s toilets from 1.28 to 1.1 gallons per flush could lift calculated water efficiency from roughly 23% to the 30% CHIPS threshold, potentially unlocking a roughly 2% reimbursement estimated at about $3.4 million for the high-school portion.
As design documents were finalized, the team reported the middle-high school’s calculated water efficiency fell short of the 30% threshold required for a higher CHIPS reimbursement. The design’s current calculation was about 23% water-efficiency; the design team said changing to ultra-low-flow (1.1 gallons per flush) toilets from the 1.28-gpf fixtures could move the project to meet the 30% target.
"We asked you what could we do to get from the 23% water efficiency that was calculated to 30%. And they came back and said, well, if we switch to a, ultra low flow toilets, a 1.1 gallon per flush toilet from the 1.28 ... we could just get to the threshold," Matt, the architect, told the committee.
Project staff linked that threshold to a roughly 2% additional CHIPS reimbursement. The figure was described in the meeting as about $3.4 million, but staff said that estimate came from Justin and that the team would confirm the exact amount and whether the 2% applied to the high-school portion only. Committee members noted the flow calculations are specific to the middle-high school; staff said the 2% would apply only to the high-school portion and that final numbers would be clarified when the PR/PRC documentation was issued.
Concerns were raised about plumbing hydraulics: the design team reported the building’s outflow velocity is calculated at 2.5 feet per second, above the threshold staff said previously caused clogging problems in other projects. Staff also said the design places hand dryers in multi-user toilet rooms rather than paper towels, and that drain piping will be PVC to reduce clog risk.
The committee gave direction to proceed with preparing and submitting the CHIPS documentation using the ultra-low-flow fixtures, with a formal approval to follow when the PR with final costs is circulated. Committee members asked staff to provide clearer numbers in the PR and to confirm whether post-occupancy monitoring or billing verification would be required; staff said verification is based on the CHIPS scorecard affidavit and architect stamp rather than a year of water bills.
No final procurement decision for fixtures was recorded at the meeting; the committee authorized proceeding with the submission and requested staff supply the finalized cost and scope details for the committee’s formal approval.
