Introduction – Water Supply and Conservation
“Operations involve minimal use of an ecologically
sustainable supply of water.” (Ecotourism Australia EcoCertification)
In the last two decades, whole system cost analysis has shown that
water efficiency delivers far more benefits than previously imagined.
Most nations’ water infrastructure assets total tens to hundreds
of billions of dollars, half of which is for metropolitan water
supply and sewerage. The latest studies are showing that we can
use water much more efficiently through water recycling, reuse and
the redesign of urban water systems over the next 50 years. CSIRO’s
Australian Urban Water Program concluded that ‘Together with
water conservation, water reuse and recycling provides a means of
extending limited water resources. In some circumstances, there
is potential to support three times as much activity as is possible
under traditional water use practices where water is used once and
then thrown away’.
Case study – An example of what is possible
Sixty Leicester Street, Carlton, Victoria- or 60L is a relatively
new ‘green’ commercial building that incorporates sustainability
principles in nearly every aspect of the design, construction and
fit out of the building. In a average rainfall year, only water
required for testing the fire sprinkler system will require the
use of mains water. 60L aims to use 90% less mains water when compared
to traditional commercial building of similar size and function.
A totally integrated water demand and management strategy was designed
and developed into the building, and included features such as:
- installing efficient fixtures and fittings, including water-less
urinals and low flush volume toilet pans;
- rainwater collection to replace 100% of normal mains water
consumption;
- 100% on-site biological treatment and reuse of grey-water (basins
and sinks) and black-water (sewage); and
- discharging surplus recycled water via a water feature in the
building atrium, with a succession of cascading tanks containing
aquatic plants and organisms to provide a third stage of purification.
References: Speers, A., Booker, N., Burn, S.,
Priestly, T. and Zappou, C. (2001) Sustainable Urban Water-Analysis
of the Opportunities, CSIRO, IWRA`s 6th National Water Conference,
Melbourne, Australia.
Case study sourced from Hargroves, K. Smith,
M.H. (2005) The Natural Advantage of Nations:Business Opportunities,
Inovation & Governance in the 21st Century. Earthscan, London.Chapter
18: Greening the Built Environment, p 349; 60L Green Building Website,
http://www.60lgreenbuilding.com/ |
