The objective of this article is to present potable water end-uses and assess the potential for potable water savings by using rainwater, reusing greywater, using water-saving plumbing fixtures, and their combination, in two schools located in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. Thus, it was necessary to obtain information about the water consumption habits of users and to perform water flow measurements and data survey in the schools. The Netuno 2.1 computer programme was used to estimate the potential for potable water savings obtained by rainwater harvesting. As for greywater reuse, the water supply from toilet taps and one washing machine were considered in one of the schools, and toilet taps in the other. Potable water savings due to water-saving plumbing fixtures were evaluated for toilet flushing, urinals and taps. Potable water consumption of 28.8 litres/person.day and 25.3 litres/person.day were obtained in each school. As for the potable water end-uses, kitchen taps were responsible for the highest water consumption level in one school, and urinals in the other. With regards to the potential for potable water savings, the best result was 27.8% for one school and 72.7% for the other, through combining water-saving plumbing fixtures and rainwater harvesting.
Potable water savings; Water end-uses; Schools
