In This Section:
Flush With Approval: EPA To Set Specs For High-Efficiency Urinals
California May Preempt Local Calorie Counters With State Bill
Retro Flush: Atlanta Requires Low-Flow Toilets In Older Buildings
Bonita Springs Looking At New Grease Trap Rules
This issue's Economic Report Sponsor: Manitowoc Foodservice Group
Industry Report Sponsor: FER E&S Market Forecast Meeting
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Flush With Approval: EPA To Set Specs For High-Efficiency Urinals
WaterSense, the Environmental Protection Agency's water efficiency program and counterpart to Energy Star, has announced that it intends to develop specs for high-efficiency urinals.
The federally mandated spec for urinals now is 1 gal. per flush (gpf), but the folks at WaterSense estimate that about 80% of the country's 12 million urinals don't meet that spec, with many exceeding it by 2 gpf or more.
To encourage adoption and retrofitting for more efficient urinals, WaterSense is drafting specs for High Efficiency Urinals, or HEUs, which will use far less water than the federal mandate. The Notification of Intent says the EPA plans to look at two specs, one for flushing urinals and one for non-flushing or non-water urinals. WaterSense is actively seeking feedback and input on the specs. You can e-mail comments or suggestions to watersense-urinals@erg.com.
For more information about WaterSense or the draft specs process for HEUs, go to www.epa.gov/watersense.
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California May Preempt Local Calorie Counters With State Bill
To avoid confusing local legislation on how chains should provide nutrition information to customers, the California state Assembly has approved a statewide menu labeling bill.
The bill would require chains with 20 or more stores to make nutrition info available on site, including calories, total fat content, saturated fat, trans fat, carbohydrates and sodium. Chains could use a variety of means to impart the information, including listing it on the menu, on food packaging, tabletents, electronic kiosks, tray liners, posters, brochures or other signage at the point of sale.
The California Restaurant Association lauded the bill and said it looks forward to improving it as it works its way through the Senate approval process.
Retro Flush: Atlanta Requires Low-Flow Toilets In Older Buildings
If you're considering buying or selling an existing facility in DeKalb County, Ga., listen up: The county, which encompasses eastern metropolitan Atlanta, has passed a new ordinance that requires older buildings to be retrofitted with low-flow toilets when sold to new owners.
The county has required low-flow (1.6 gal. per flush, or gpf) toilets in new construction since 1993. The county estimates it has 165,000 houses that were built before then, not to mention commercial buildings. Water savings if all these older buildings were retrofit would be around 6 million gal. per day, the county estimates.
As of January 1, 2009, new owners of commercial buildings will be required to replace old toilets with 1.6 gpf models before they start water service. Homeowners had to comply with the new rules starting June 1.
Bonita Springs Looking At New Grease Trap Rules
The Bonita Springs, Fla., city council is considering a new grease trap ordinance that could require existing restaurants to update their traps.
The city, about 15 miles north of Naples, already requires grease traps for newly constructed restaurants, but older ones may have to install new grease traps or increase the size of their existing traps under the new code. The ordinance in its first reading mirrors the surrounding county's rules, which state that existing restaurants will have to put in additional or larger grease traps if they remodel or if they're cited for putting grease in the sewer system or for a trap that's not operating effectively.
The local water and sewer utility is presenting more information to the city council on June 18. The council will then decide whether the new ordinance needs revision.
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