As the demand for efficiency and LEED compliance in design increases, the importance of reducing initial construction costs continues to rise. The use of reclaimed water systems can provide clients with large irrigation or industrial process water requirements with an opportunity to qualify for LEED points under credits WE1 and WE2. In addition, reclaimed water systems can reduce domestic water tap fees, reduce ongoing operating costs and diminish impacts to municipal drinking water systems and the environment.
Reclaimed water is treated wastewater drawn from the municipal stream prior to discharge into the environment. It is further cleaned and disinfected before distribution to secondary users. Standards for the quality of reclaimed water are more stringent than those for surface water and streams and are overseen by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment and the Environmental Protection Agency. Reclaimed water is suitable for large-scale irrigation, industrial processing, cooling towers, fire protection and other non-potable uses, such as water closets and urinal supplies. Typically, reclaimed water is sold for approximately 80% of the cost of potable water. Some providers offer additional incentives to large volume users who participate in these programs.
Each jurisdiction should be consulted for locally accepted applications. The availability of reclaimed water varies substantially between programs and early coordination is required with local authorities to determine the requirements for connecting to existing infrastructures.
There are currently more than a dozen reclaimed water systems in Colorado including Arapahoe County and the Cities of Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs and Westminster. For more information, please see the following:
Denver Water - http://www.denverwater.org/WaterQuality/RecycledWater/FAQs/
Aurora Water- https://www.auroragov.org/AuroraGov/Departments/AuroraWater/
WaterConservation/ReclaimedWater/index.htm
Westminster – http://www.ci.westminster.co.us/353.htm
Arapahoe County – http://www.arapahoewater.org/faq
