City of Vancouver | Once through cooling and single pass systems bylaw
DEVELOPMENT, BUILDINGS AND LICENSING
Chief Building Official (CBO) and Building Code and Policy
Building Policy Branch
BULLETIN 2018-003-PL
March 21, 2018
The Use of Once Through Cooling and Single Pass Systems n
The Water Works By-law (WWBL) has been amended to prohibit the connection of once through cooling equipment, non-recirculating liquid ring pumps and other single pass systems to the City’s water system (WWBL Section 3.9).
Additionally, existing once through cooling equipment, non-recirculating liquid ring pumps and other single pass systems must be disconnected from the City’s water system by January 1, 2020 (WWBL Section 3.10, which also defines exceptions).
Acceptable: Air-cooled systems
Prohibited: Once-through cooled systems
Explanation:
Once through cooling systems use drinking water in a single pass as a cooling medium. The water used for this process is then drained to the sewer. As a result of this wasteful use of drinking water, many jurisdictions in North America have banned their use. Alternative systems, such as air-cooled systems, are readily available.
P. White
Gas Safety Manager
Assistant Trades Manager
P. Ryan, M.Sc., P.Eng.
Chief Building Official
Director, Building Code and Policyn
D. Wong
Manager, Waterworks Design
City Hall 453 West 12th Avenue Vancouver BC V5Y 1V4 | website: vancouver.ca/CBO
Office of the Chief Building Official | tel: 604.873.7611 | fax: 604.873.7100 | email: cbo@vancouver.ca