The Pacific Institute, a global nonpartisan water think tank, has released guidance for developers to plan, design, and operate onsite water reuse systems.
The Guide for Developing Onsite Water Systems to Support Regional Water Resilience “advances circular, localized approaches to managing water that reduce a site’s water footprint, improve its resilience to water shortage or other disruptions, and provide benefits for local communities and regional water systems,” according to a news release. Onsite water systems collect and treat water from onsite sources, including wastewater, rainwater, and stormwater, and reuse it for non-potable water uses like toilet flushing, outdoor irrigation, and cooling, which can account for over 75% of a site’s water demand.
The new guide helps site developers envision and evaluate how an onsite system can use a multi-benefit approach to build water resilience, support equity, improve environmental health, and protect public health. Each section includes sample questions to consider, ways for stakeholders to engage, highlights resources to examine, and offers recommended analyses. The guide also provides a range of case studies illustrating best practices and lessons learned.
“Onsite water systems are gaining traction across the U.S. and the world as a water resilience strategy,” said Heather Cooley, director of research at the Pacific Institute. “This circular approach can provide multiple benefits for the building, water systems, and the larger community. In addition to diversifying water supplies, they can reduce pollution from stormwater, create green space, and provide added flexibility and redundancy to centralized water systems.”
Related Stories
Sustainability | Mar 31, 2020
Passive house standard becoming increasingly popular for multifamily housing development
Residents reap healthier indoor environment, lower utility bills.
Plumbing | Mar 13, 2020
Pioneer Industries launches new website
Pioneer Industries launches new website
Sustainability | Mar 12, 2020
Containing CO2 during construction
New tools make it easier to measure embodied carbon in materials before they get used for construction.
Sustainability | Mar 2, 2020
City of Buffalo to launch the largest environmental impact bond in the country
EIBs offer a novel approach to pay for high-impact projects based in part on the environmental, social, and/ or economic outcomes they generate.
Architects | Mar 2, 2020
Two ‘firsts’ for Sasaki and LEO A DALY
Following an industry trend, the firms hire chiefs of technology and sustainability, respectively.
Sustainability | Feb 26, 2020
Sustainability in a material world
The concepts of embodied carbon, zero waste, and deconstruction and reuse often run on parallel tracks.
Sustainability | Feb 12, 2020
KPF unveils The Pinnacle at Central Wharf, a high-performance, resilient tower
The project will reconnect Downtown Boston to the waterfront.
Sustainability | Feb 6, 2020
Passive House picks up steam
Passive solutions that reduce a building’s energy consumption could get more viable as cities toughen CO2 emissions limits.
Contractors | Jan 20, 2020
Wellness is for builders, not just for buildings
New research on wellness in the construction sector highlights interventions that could be effective in addressing dehydration, weight management, poor air quality, and stress.
Green | Jan 10, 2020
How the new EC3 tool raises the bar on collective action
Nearly 50 AEC industry organizations partnered to develop the groundbreaking Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator.
