University of Washington, Seattle
OP-T2-46: Non-Potable Water Usage

Currently, the UW has limited rainwater harvesting, although there is strong interest for growth. Reasons for limited rainwater harvesting follow: - Several capital projects have called for such features early in design but most are deleted from scope due to budget constraints. -The regional cost of water is relatively low. - Dry summer weather patterns require relatively large sized cisterns to store sufficient rainwater for summer irrigation. UW sites with rainwater harvesting follow: - Rainwater is harvested from roof run off at the Center for Urban Horticulture Merrill Hall, routed to an underground cistern, and pumped for irrigation when demanded via an irrigation controller. - A similar system is currently under construction as part of a student sponsored project with funding via the Campus Sustainability Fund and will be used to irrigate a moving green wall including additional challenges such as thermal protection to allow winter operation and a fertilizer injector system to support mostly hydroponically grown plants. - The UW Farm currently harvests water from their community space at the Center for Urban Horticulture, as well as a demonstration project on their sign at the UW Botany Greenhouse. - A rainwater harvesting system is under construction to supply water for laundry at the new Mercer Hall. - An existing roof run off is used to irrigation planted cells at the Molecular Engineering Building and the Community Design Center, a planted cell under construction at the Husky Union Building will use parking lot rainwater runoff for irrigation and to filter impurities, and a planned bio-swale at N1 Parking Lot will use parking lot runoff to irrigate and filter impurities.

Facilities Services, Focus on Environmental Sustainability at http://www.washington.edu/facilities/conserve/sustainability   Facilities Services, Salmon Safe, see Landscape & Athletic Field Irrigation and Green Roofs links at http://www.washington.edu/facilities/conserve/salmon_safe   Facilities Services, Campus Engineering, Utilities Master Plan at https://www.washington.edu/facilities/engr/ump/ump_secured/UW-UMP.pdf Facilities Services, Grounds Management, at http://depts.washington.edu/grounds/ (currently under revisions - this will be updated).