Water+Efficiency

__ Water Efficiency: __ Across the country the growing population is causing stress on the available water sources in the United States. Form 1950-2000 the population nearly **doubled** and the demand for water nearly **tripled**. The average American uses about 100-200 gallons of water **per day** enough to fill over **1,600** drinking glasses. []

Rainwater Harvesting: We should also use this technology because it takes all of the rain that would go to **waste** and it is harnessed. It works by taking the rainwater that goes on the roof into the gutters and channeling all the water into a storage tank that goes into a sand filter then goes into a main tank that is made of concrete that is pumped into another filter then the water, once it is clean and ready for use it goes into a rainwater storage tank until it is used. In the winter when there is no rain to harvest if have a way to put a cover on the collection barrel, you would be able to melt the snow and use it the same way as you did rainwater. In many communities **30 to 50 percent** of water usage is for irrigation. Harvesting rainwater can reduce water bill and reduce the demand for water. Collected rainwater can stop or prevent flash flooding along with erosion. With lowering runoff the surface water will not get as contaminated by fertilizers and pesticides which can cause over growth of weeds in water ways.



Innovative Wastewater Technologies: Use high efficiency waterless fixtures, like waterless urinals. This is the best solution, because the cost is low, at about **$2.00 per gallon of water.** This would get 2 credits for LEED certification. This reduces water and sewer costs, and it can lower electricity costs. It can also reduce the septic system load and treatment time. They require no batteries, transformers, or other electronics. Some remodeling may be required to lower the drain lines to bring the urinals to their proper mounting height. Another disadvantage is that some people are reluctant to use them. But after they've used them, most people actually like them. Also, some facilities don't accept them. They don't like them, so they won't let them be put in their facilities.There are also some disadvantages. Toilets are the number one consumer of water in households. Flushing accounts for **38% or one third of water used in households each day**. By replacing a old toilet with a new low consumption toilets the household automatically cuts there water consumption by **25% or more annually.** We would also put in dual-flush toilets. Dual-flush toilets use less water depending on what you go. There would be two levers for the two different things you would go. One would use less for the first disposal than the second disposal. I would incorporate it into the new KIH building by putting waterless urinals into all the guy's bathrooms, and having dual-flush toilets in all the girls' bathrooms. == ==

(2010). Retrieved November 4, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Simple_Diagram_to_show_Rainwater_Harvesting.png
 * References**

Amadeus, G. (Photographer). (2009). Cute Bumblebee in a Waterless Urinal. [Image of photograph]. United States. Retrieved November 3, 2011,from http://www.flickr.com/photos/gabrielamadeus/4041157346/

Innovative Wastewater Technology. (2008). In green-buildings.com. Retrieved November 3, 2011, from http://www.green- buildings.com/content/78575-innovative-wastewater-technologies-how-does-it-help-leed-certification

"Making Water." N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. .

Rainwater Harvesting (2011). In TAMU. Retrieved November 4, 2011, from http://rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu/rainwater-basics/

Tomsic, C., & Sommer, C. (n.d.). EPA Video Contest. In Water Efficiency Videos. Retrieved November 4, 2011, fromhttp://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/water_efficiency/videos.html//

//Water Efficient Toilets (2011, September 12). In MWRA. Retrieved November 4, 2011, fromhttp://www.mwra.state.ma.us/comsupport/conservation/toilets.htm