Protect and Conserve Water

by the WBDG Sustainable Committee

Last updated: 05-02-2008

Overview

Within the federal sector, alone, it is estimated that expenditures for water and sewer run between $0.5 billion and $1 billion annually. Reducing water consumption and protecting water quality are key objectives of sustainable design. This is critical because consumption of water in many areas of the country exceeds the ability of the supplying aquifer to replenish itself. To the maximum extent feasible, federal facilities should increase their dependence on water that is collected, used, purified, and reused on-site.

Fort Worth Texas Post Office landscaped with native plantsFort Worth Text Post Office with rainwater catchment basins

Water conservation strategies implemented at the Post Office in Ft. Worth, TX include landscaping with native, or indigenous, plantings and rainwater catchment basins.
Photo courtesy of Don Horn.

The protection and conservation of water must be considered throughout the life of the building, and federal agencies must seek to:

Recommendations

Reduce, Control, and Treat Surface Runoff

Use Water Efficiently

Protect Water Quality

Recover Non-Sewage and Gray Water for On-Site Use

Design Waste Treatment and Recycling Programs

Apply the FEMP Best Management Practices for Water Conservation

Part of a water management plan includes identifying opportunities for water conservation at a facility. Some are construction related and some are O&M related. Per the requirements of Executive Order 13423, FEMP recommends implementing at least four of the following ten Best Management Practices (BMPs) for water conservation at federal facilities.

BMP #1—Public Information and Education Programs
BMP #2—Distribution System Audits, Leak Detection, and Repair
BMP #3—Water Efficient Landscaping
BMP #4—Toilets and Urinals
BMP #5—Faucets and Showerheads
BMP #6—Boiler/Steam Systems
BMP #7—Single-Pass Cooling Systems
BMP #8—Cooling Tower Systems
BMP #9—Miscellaneous High Water-Using Processes
BMP #10—Water Reuse and Recycling

The International Storm Water Best Management Practices (BMP) Database, developed under a grant from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, contains best management practices, and study references for the effective design of storm water management systems.

Emerging Issues

Dry Fire Hydrants

One of the synergistic technologies for achieving water conservation and fire safety is a dry fire hydrant. Dry hydrants are non-pressurized suction pipe systems that are permanently installed in ponds or lakes and use the untreated water, instead of municipal water, to fight fires. Utilized in areas that lack conventional fire protection; areas that cannot handle the large volumes of water due to antiquated systems; or during peak use seasons when there is low water pressure, dry hydrants allow fire departments to be much more efficient by providing close water sources to fire risks. Since dry hydrants are installed below frost line and do not require electricity, they are capable of supplying water in the case of natural disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes when electricity lines are knocked down, or during extreme cold or hot weather where conventional hydrant pipes can freeze or break. Also, dry fire hydrants help to save precious drinking water and conserve energy by using rainwater that does not need to be processed to be used for fighting fires. More

Relevant Codes and Standards

Major Resources

WBDG

Building / Space Types

Applicable to most building types and space types, especially high water users such as Health Care Facilities, Hospitals, Research Facilities, Clinic / Health Unit, Laboratory: Dry, Laboratory: Wet

Design Objectives

Aesthetics—Engage the Integrated Design Process, Cost-Effective, Functional / Operational, Historic Preservation—Update Building Systems Appropriately, Productive, Secure / Safe, Sustainable—Optimize Site Potential, Sustainable—Optimize Energy Use, Sustainable—Use Environmentally Preferable Products, Sustainable—Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality, Sustainable—Optimize Operational and Maintenance Practices

Products and Systems

Building Envelope Design Guide—Sustainability of the Building Envelope
Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers

Project Management

Building Commissioning

Tools

LEED® Version 2.1 Credit / WBDG Resource Page Matrix, LEED®-DoD Antiterrorism Standards Tool

Federal Agencies

Publications

Organizations

Others

WBDG Services Construction Criteria Base