Chapter 8 - Water Efficiency and Sanitary Waste

Abstract

The chapter focuses on water efficiency and sanitary waste. Due to increased demand and focus on water efficiency, the emerging water- and energy-conservation market has great potential to revitalize. Water efficient design should be one of the main goals of any project. Water efficiency (WE) is one of the principal categories of the LEED® Rating System, and the number of WE credits available depends on the type of certification sought. The purpose of water-efficient landscaping is to reduce or eliminate the amount of potable water and natural surfaces used for landscape irrigation. However, when landscape-design strategies alone are unable to reach a project's irrigation-efficiency goals, one needs to meet efficiency demands through optimization of the irrigation-system design, which can be achieved by use of high-efficiency drip, micro-, and subsurface systems that reduces the amount of water required to irrigate a given landscape. To assist in greening the supply, it is necessary to opt for alternate water sources. LEED™ recognizes two alternate water sources: rain-water collection and waste-water recovery. There are thousands of plumbing fixtures and fittings in the mainstream market that can help save water, energy, and money. These include: aerators, metering and electronic faucets, and prerinse spray valves. But the best way to increase water efficiency in buildings is through implementation of new technologies. By using water more efficiently in places like toilets, urinals, faucets, shower head, one can help preserve water supplies for future generations, save money, and protect the environment.