Architect's Guide to Conserving Water

This article from Public Works and Services Canada has some information on how architects can conserve water in their buildings. For instance, water reuse, water conservation, hot water conservation.


Some general information on water in Canada:
"Canada has 20% of the world's freshwater. On average, Canadians use 390 litres a day each - the second highest water use per capita of all developed countries."
"the cost of water is currently relatively inexpensive, the cost of maintaining the existing infrastructure and providing additional supply to meet increasing demand will manifest itself in increased price of water supply to all users. "


These ideas seem to generally be helpful to us. I've copied over the ones that seem most relevant to us and our creation of an architect's Urban Survival Kit

The key strategies for building water conservation are:

• Using less potable water to accomplish sanitary tasks through the use of more efficient appliances;
• Communicating water use to occupants;
• Using water of lower quality such as reclaimed waste water effluent, grey water, or run-off from ground surfaces for toilet flushing or irrigation.

• Flush valve toilets and automatic flush urinals are the single largest users of water in many buildings. In offices, toilets may account for 50% of total use. This can be easily reduced by 60% by specifying water conserving flush toilets which are now widely manufactured or adjusting flush valves for minimum acceptable volume.
• Full flow lavatory faucets typically deliver 0.25 to 0.3 L/s. Low-flow faucets utilize aeration to function as well or better with far less water. Lower flows achieve a range from 0.03 to 0.16 L/s.-
• Where lavatory fixtures are located remote from the hot water source more water is often wasted to bring hot water over the distance than is actually used for washing.
• Considering the use of electronic proximity devices for controlling lavatory fixtures;
• Shower fixtures should be rated for a maximum flow rate of 0.16 Litres/second;
• Considering the collection, retention and use of rainwater for appropriate applications rather than diverting it to the nearest storm drain.

Building design can assist in informing users of their actual water savings as well as their responsibility by:

• Providing appropriate signage in rest-room to indicate the high priority placed on water conservation;
• Providing water metering in buildings to determine how much water is being consumed.

Building design can assist in informing users of their actual water savings as well as their responsibility by:

• Providing appropriate signage in rest-room to indicate the high priority placed on water conservation;
• Providing water metering in buildings to determine how much water is being consumed.

Grey-water, in combination with rainwater, can be stored, filtered and integrated into the water supply to toilets, with or without the possibility of waste heat recovery. (See Section 3: Site and Landscape)

Building type, size and the number of its occupants plays a large role in determining the quantity of potable water used, waste-water generated and the feasibility of waste water reuse. The amount of grey-water generated in a building is typically directly proportional to the economic feasibility of its reuse when it is treated on site.

Public Works and Government Services Canada, "An Architect's Guide for Sustainable Design of Office Buildings." July 10, 2010.http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/biens-property/archtct/page-6-eng.html (accessed November 9, 2010).

Posted by Monty de Luna November 9, 2010