LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Changes to Gwinnett County’s internal plumbing audit process are expected to save approximately $50,000 and conserve about 13 million gallons of water each year, according to county officials.
The estimated water savings are equivalent to the annual usage of 179 Gwinnett households. County officials said the reduction is particularly significant amid abnormally dry conditions in the area.
Gwinnett audited approximately 3,700 plumbing fixtures across 232 county buildings through the updated Internal Plumbing Audit Program. Forty-six employees from multiple departments participated as auditors.
In previous years, a small group of Department of Water Resources employees traveled to each county facility, recorded measurements by hand and later transferred the information from paper forms into a digital database.
After reviewing the process, county employees identified opportunities to reduce travel, limit administrative work and use staff members already assigned to the facilities.
The county developed an online survey, a comprehensive audit guide and virtual training sessions. Employees from different departments were then trained to inspect fixtures in the buildings where they already worked, regardless of their previous plumbing experience.
County officials said the revised process reduced costs, allowed more flexible scheduling and improved the overall effectiveness of the audits.
The inspections help identify leaking or inefficient fixtures and other potential plumbing problems that can increase water consumption and operating expenses. Information collected through the audits allows the county to prioritize repairs and efficiency improvements.
Countywide plumbing audits are expected to continue on a recurring basis.
The program also supports Gwinnett’s participation in the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Green Communities program. Gwinnett most recently received platinum-level certification for its sustainability efforts.
The Green Communities program encourages local governments to incorporate sustainability measures into their operations to reduce environmental effects. Gwinnett’s plumbing audit is one of the county’s measures intended to conserve water and improve building efficiency.
Residents can find information about reducing household water consumption, lowering water bills and registering for Water Resources workshops through Gwinnett County’s Water Conservation page and Water Workshops calendar.
