Increasing strain on water resources is evident across a vast swath of the country, and large-scale water users are coming under heightened scrutiny. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, buildings account for 13.6 percent of the total potable water consumed in the U.S., the third largest consumer as a category behind thermoelectric power and irrigation.[1] Communities are under pressure to conserve water and are more frequently establishing conservation regulations for commercial, industrial, and residential development. Consequently, onsite non-potable water reuse systems (ONWS) are becoming more widely implemented to offset decreasing resources.

ONWS reclaim water from varied sources around a building such as wastewater, greywater, stormwater, and collected rainwater; the systems treat it and reuse it for different applications according to the level of treatment. Most buildings require water for heating, cooling, irrigation for landscape, toilets, and sinks, all of which can be sourced with reclaimed water. In the April edition of Facility Executive, several benefits of reuse systems were identified:

• ONWS greatly reduce the demand for potable water (up to as much as 75 percent), resulting in corresponding cost savings.
• Reuse reduces the demand on municipal water supplies and decreases greenhouse gas emissions associated with water treatment and distribution.
• Reuse reduces the depletion of freshwater resources and contributes to water conservation efforts.
• ONWS increase a building’s resiliency and ability to respond to volatile weather conditions and changing water supplies. [2]

Improvements in technology coupled with governmental incentives have elevated reuse as a more feasible approach to navigating water scarcity. Confronting increased water vulnerability, municipalities are choosing to incorporate water reuse mandates for new construction. For several years, San Francisco has had such a requirement for new construction at 250,000 gross square feet, but in January 2022, the city increased the requirement, mandating that new development of gross 100,000 square feet install and operate an onsite water reuse system. Beginning December 1, 2023, Austin, Texas will also require onsite water reuse systems for new commercial and multi-family development projects of 250,000 gross square feet or greater.

As the demand for alternative water sources continues to soar, regulations with increasing limits are likely to be imposed on the commercial sector. ONWS provides a new water management strategy for communities and the buildings within those communities to meet those limits, helping to balance water budgets and preserve resources for the future.

[1] Anderson, Rich. “A Critical Tool for Water Conservation.” Facility Executive Magazine, 6 Apr. 2023, https://facilityexecutive.com/a-critical-tool-for-water-conservation.

[2] Anderson, Rich. “A Critical Tool for Water Conservation.” Facility Executive Magazine, 6 Apr. 2023, https://facilityexecutive.com/a-critical-tool-for-water-conservation.