Minimum Flow for a garbage disposal

[PEDARRIN2]

I have a client that is trying to get some LEED water conservation credits.

We have a kitchen sink with a residential sized garbage disposal.

They want us to specify a 0.5 gpm aerator on the sink faucet. The lowest I want to go is 1.5 and not really thrilled about going that low.

What is the lowest flow rate you would use on a sink with a small garbage disposal?

 

[dicksewerrat]

I think if he wants LEED, omit the garbage disposal. It serves no useful purpose. I have always been against them. All they do is make soup for the rats in the sewer system and adds solids to the flow. If everything in the area is 'low flow', there may not be enought flow in the mains to keep them clean. If they are really interested in the environment, Compost.

Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.

http://WWW.amlinereast.com

 

[kbs]

Not sure what the water supply requirement is, but there are LEED points available for using a food waste pulper instead of a garberater. Google "food waste pulper + LEED".

 

[PEDARRIN2]

A food waste pulper would be overkill for this application.

It is only for a break room sink which the client will be warming luches, etc. - not a heavy user.

 

[ChrisConley]

We installed an ultra-low aerator on a LEED office building in the kitchen sinks. Client was _extremely_ unhappy with the performance (they did ask for them though). Fortunately, an aerator change is simple and cheap.

They used the kitchen sink to fill coffee pots (took to long) fill a sink for dishes (took forever) and do basic washing (took forever to get hot water).

I don't recommend the low flow aerators on kitchen sinks.

 

[Artisi]

I could never see the point of low flow taps in bathrooms (maybe on the shower) or kitchens. Just fill the basin / sink and turn the tap OFF - it's about education / common sense. Waiting for 5 minutes to fill the sink doesn't save any water.

 

[tbonebanjo]

Leed Commercial Interiors ref. guide warns against using flow reduction on kitchen sinks used for pot filling, dish washing, etc. They also suggest installing pot fillers for that use, whereas flow reduction on the sink faucet still counts toward points. I just designed a commercial office building and was able to eliminate need for a very expensive rainwater harvesting system simply by reducing the faucet flows from 1.8 to 0.5 gpm on the pantry sinks. We went from 36 to 42 percent reduction and achieved our 11 point goal.
Residential food waste grinders do not require a lot of water to operate. GE or Insinkerator should be able to tell you the flow required. For more info, see the following link:

 

[PEDARRIN2]

The applicaton is for a break room sink - not for anything that would be filling pots/pans like found in a commercial kitchen.

In talking to Insinkerator - they want at least 1.5 gpm for their disposers.