Environmental Design + Construction - March 2009 - (Page 36) STUDIO By Greg Hurst, PE Good to the Last Drop OPTIMIZING WATER CONSERVATION THROUGH WHOLE SYSTEMS PLANNING. Water is one of six critical elements that make up what we call the “whole system” in terms of sustainability. The others are energy, site and ecology, green building, transportation, and socio-economic. Designed to balance these elements in the proper proportions, a whole systems approach focuses on the interconnections between structures and community/ecological systems, linking components of high-performance project and Mesa del Sol The true value of “balance” in water usage and conservation is underscored in the new Mesa del Sol master-planned community in Albuquerque, N.M. Mesa del Sol is a 12,900-acre community being developed by Forest City Covington NM LLC on an expansive mesa that is planned for 50,000 jobs, 100,000 residents and more than 37,000 homes during the next quarter-century. The successful development of the community in this historically dry region hinges largely on the efficacy of the water-management plan that features a whole systems approach to the responsible and intelligent use and re-use of water resources with a goal of minimizing the consumption of potable water. At this level, smart water management becomes key. Within Mesa del Sol, wastewater and runoff are viewed not as a planning liability but as potential resources that should be retained and reused. The goals of Mesa del Sol’s water-conservation program are to: ■ Understand the relationship between water and energy; reduced water treatment and use saves energy. ■ Minimize indirect uses of water, particularly by conserving energy. ■ Consider all water, including stormwater and wastewater, a precious resource. ■ Capture water falling on the site where possible either for use or infiltration to groundwater. ■ Minimize water demand indoors and out. ■ Use potable water only when absolutely necessary. ■ Minimize consumptive use WITHIN MESA DEL SOL, WASTEWATER AND RUNOFF ARE VIEWED NOT AS A PLANNING LIABILITY BUT AS POTENTIAL RESOURCES THAT SHOULD BE RETAINED AND RE-USED. IMAGE COURTESY OF EDAW|AECOM. site planning to each other so that dramatic conservation efficiencies can be realized. The key to a more ecologically—and economically—viable sustainability program for a project or an entire community is to adopt a whole systems approach as early as possible in the planning process. Whether a new or existing community/ project, sustainability planning must begin with an understanding of the ecology of a site. Through the multiple lenses of ecology, sustainability and urban/community design, each site offers diverse ecological capabilities to enhance the built and natural environment. to utilize water as many times as possible before it leaves the site. ■ Ensure any water leaving the site is treated. The key metric in the conservation program is the use of potable water that will be used almost exclusively for indoor needs. (Some potable water may be directed to outdoor uses.) The city-county water utility has established a daily water allocation of 75 gallons per person at Mesa del Sol, which is significantly less than normal household water usage. A typical waterconserving household may use 40 to 50 gallons per person per day for indoor use. The remainder may be used outdoors, but the residual for outdoor use is significantly less than current and traditional water use. (Currently, Denver post-drought use is 170 gallons per capita per day and Albuquerque use is estimated at 175 gallons per capita per day– combined interior and exterior.) Because Mesa del Sol is taking a whole systems approach to sustainability, its water-conservation program recognizes and honors the linkages between critical resources. For instance, the production of electricity uses significant amounts of water, primarily for cooling the generating equipment. Whole Systems Water Planning To advance the whole systems approach as being implemented at Mesa del Sol, EDAW|AECOM has created the Sustainable Systems Integrated Model (SSIM), a proprietary, multisystems planning, environmental and economic evaluation tool that is based on the latest technologies and created for larger scale multiuse projects. Organized 36 ed+c M AR C H 09
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