Fresh water is one of the world’s most limited and increasingly stressed resources, with only about 1% of Earth’s water readily available for human use and over 2 billion people already living under water-stressed conditions. Demand is projected to rise by 20–30% by 2050, placing even greater pressure on aging infrastructure and limited supplies. Prolonged and more frequent droughts are reducing available water supplies across many regions.
In the United States alone, an estimated 6 billion gallons of treated water are lost every day due to leaks and system inefficiencies. These challenges highlight a clear reality—the issue is not just availability, but how effectively we manage and maintain the water systems we already depend on.
Water Management Systems:
Controlling Usage at the Source
NCDAC is deploying Sloan Programmed Water Technology (PWT) and I-CON water management systems to:
- Control fixture-level water usage by installing devices that control hot and cold water run times, decrease the amount of water used to flush toilets, and ensure the offender population utilizes water responsibly
- Prevent excessive or continuous flow by eliminating the ability for sinks and showers to be left running
- Provide actionable data by tracking and trending water use and/or waste
- Reduce infrastructure demand by eliminating the waste of water and repairing leaks
Facilities are achieving 10–30% reductions in water consumption. At many facilities water usage exceeds 1 million gallons per month and combined water and sewer costs exceed $35,000–$40,000 monthly. At this scale, even small inefficiencies create significant financial and environmental impacts. Even a 10% reduction statewide saves millions of gallons annually.
Warren Correctional Institution
- System Installed: Sloan PWT Water Management System
- ~834,000 gallons per year savings
- ~$143,000 per year cost avoidance
- Additional savings expected as installation completes
Hyde Correctional Institution
- System Installed: ICON Water Management System
- ~740,000 gallons per year savings
- ~$206,000 per year cost avoidance
- Additional savings expected as installation completes
Leak Detection:
Immediate Impact, Proven Savings
NCDAC Sustainability, Efficiency & Resilience staff provides hands-on training to maintenance staff on how to use ultrasonic leak detection equipment. Use of the equipment is creating substantial time savings by honing location directly over leaks.
Columbus Correctional Institution (March 2026)
Leak: ~240 gallons/hour
Impact:
- ~5,760 gallons/day
- ~170,000+ gallons/month
- ~$40,000 annual savings
Sanford Correctional Center (February 2026)
Leak: ~80 gallons/hour
Impact:
- ~2,000 gallons/day
- ~60,000+ gallons/month
- ~$12,000 annual savings
Performance Driven Maintenance (PDM)
Every day across North Carolina, NCDAC facilities depend on reliable water systems to operate safely and effectively. With that reliance comes responsibility.
Through PDM:
- Systems operate correctly
- Issues are addressed quickly
- Staff receive targeted training
- Equipment life is extended
Reducing water usage results in:
- Lower energy use
- Reduced chemical costs
- Less infrastructure strain
- Longer equipment life
If you are aware of potential opportunities related to water usage or leaks……..the SE&R Team wants to hear from you! Early identification allows us to prioritize high-impact issues, prevent unnecessary costs and improve overall facility performance.
Contact the SE&R Team at : DAC_SER_WaterEfficiency@dac.nc.gov