Dry Heaves: Developers in drought-ridden regions are tasked with water conservation. The Colorado River’s level is at a 40-year low, and Atlanta’s watershed is suffering after the second-driest year since 1931. These kinds of conditions alone strain water supplies. strain water supplies.
“As population centers grow, the amount of surface water may not increase,” says Ken Rainwater, director of the Water Resources Center at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. “Extended droughts can deplete reservoirs and threaten municipal supplies.”
Growth, climate change, and droughts are prompting more local governments to put the onus of water conservation on developers. In Soquel, Calif., about 6 miles east of Santa Cruz, developers who spec high-efficiency fixtures that surpass current building requirements can receive a lower water demand offset credit.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, an Atlanta-based trade group, is developing a set of minimum requirements for the design of buildings, landscapes, and mechanical systems that minimize the volume of water required. The guidelines will address water-use efficiency through water-conservation measures implemented during the design and construction of residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial projects. The organization offers training for developers who want to know more about water-conservation techniques as well as system design.
Everyone in the real estate business can make a difference when it comes to water conservation. Take Norcross, Ga.-based fiber cement manufacturer Nichiha: The company’s new plant in Macon, Ga., features an on-site water treatment and reuse system that enables the facility to recycle 95 percent of all the water it uses in production.
“It’s a multimillion dollar investment, between $2 million and $4 million. But we’ll get our money back,” says Darrin Haugin, a Nichiha senior vice president. Demand for sustainable building materials and lower operating costs will offset the initial investment.
“Resource conservation is no longer just a topic of conversation, but a new way of living, working, and recreating,” says Terry Townsend, a Chattanooga, Tenn., engineer and ASHRAE president. “Developers who want to be a part of the future [must] begin work toward a sustainable future today.”
What exactly can developers do to conserve water?
Use Submetering: “Water is the second-highest expense for multifamily developments,” says Deborah Keltner, marketing communications manager for Ista North America, an energy management company in San Diego. Owners can lower costs by using submeters to track each unit’s use. This not only reduces water use by 37 percent but can cut costs from leaks and other system problems.
Deploy Xeriscapes: Developers want sites to look good, and often that means plantings with high water demand. “It’s relatively wasteful to use potable water just to water lawns and gardens,”
