LabRATS Best Practices

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Water

From both a laboratory and sustainability standpoint, water is an invaluable resource. Below are some best practices in water conservation.

Purchase energy-efficient/water-efficient equipment: 
When purchasing new water-intensive equipment for the lab (e.g. autoclaves, dishwashers), watch for the Energy Star logo, ACT label, or look to see if the item has any water conservation or energy saving features in its product description.

Eliminate single-pass cooling: Single-pass cooling in equipment such as autoclaves, ice maker condensers, distillation/reflux condensers, etc. utilizes a continuous flow of water from faucet to sewer at a rate of 0.25-2 gallons/minute, resulting in up to 1,000,000 gallons of water per year if left on continuously. Alternative condenser technologies include:

  • Simple recirculating bath
    • Cost: ~$50 to $160
    • Flow rate: up to 1 gallon/minute
    • No installation required
    • Can be as simple as an ice-water bucket and aquarium/fountain pump
  • Recirculating bath with Plumbed Heat Exchange
    • Cost: ~$2600
    • Flow rate: 0.5 gallons/minute
    • Requires installation to connect to building chilled water loop + extra plumbing cost
    • Suitable for most application in laboratories
    • Recirculating bath with built in heat exchange could be used for permanent or long-term distillation application
  • Radleys' Findinser Condenser
    • Cost: ~$400
    • Flow rate: uses no water
    • No installation required
    • Aluminum foil for heat exchange
    • Suitable for 95% of chemistry application

Eliminate vacuum aspirators: Replace vacuum aspirators with membrane/diaphragm/oil-free pumps. For more information on which pump is best for your lab's needs, visit our Dry vs Oil Vacuum Pumps page.

Establish protocols for washing lab supplies which take into account water efficiency practices: Efficient washing and drying does not have to be tedious! Set up bins for dirty dishes to soak in after they have been used and rinse out glassware beforehand to avoid unnecessary build-up of chemicals. Utilize tap water for initial rinsing of dirty glassware and use progressively purer water with each step as needed.

Install shut-down timers for water-intensive equipment: 

Look for and report leaks on water-using equipment or any other plumbing issues within the lab: Reporting faulty equipment and faucets to maintenance staff at the first sign of a leak is one of the easiest things anyone can do to greatly reduce unnecessary water waste. Encourage fellow lab members to regularly check for signs of dripping water around the lab space and report such leaks immediately.