USGBC San Diego kicks off its 2010 LUNCH + LEED® series with a discussion of water conservation strategies, features and benefits of rainwater harvesting, advantages of using regionally appropriate plantings to maximize water usage, and other efficiency-related subjects. This course provides a one (1) hour GBCI CE credit for credentialed LEED® Accredited Professionals. Our presenter, Dr. Haselbeck, is a co-owner of San Diego-based Building Green Futures, Inc; a company that specializes in the design and installation of green (living) roofs and rainwater harvesting systems. She is a green roof accredited professional, a Certified GreenPoint Rater and a LEED® for Homes Rater In-Training. Dr. Haselbeck also lectures part-time in Biology at the University of San Diego.

1. Water Conservation &
Reuse Strategies for
Southern California
Rosalind Haselbeck , PhD, LEED AP
Building Green Futures Inc.
LUNCH + LEED
July 15, 2010

2. Learning Objectives
1. Apply the historical context to our current water
crises, both globally and here in San Diego.
2. Identify strategies to reduce indoor water use.
3. Discuss the basic features of a rainwater
harvesting system including benefits,
components, and estimating supply and demand.
4. Develop an outside water usage and
conservation strategy.
5. Identify resources to support water conservation
and rainwater/graywater systems.

3. www.zmescience.com/.../2009/08/water_b.jpg

4. Historical Context
• How We Use Water
• The Water Cycle and Urbanization
• Water Usage in San Diego

5. Water Footprint
Item Gallons to
produce
Glass of Milk 52
Cup of Coffee 37
1 Apple 19
Cotton T shirt 530
Hamburger 635
Meat-based diet 1320/day
Vegetarian diet 687/day
Source: United Nations
Development Report, 2006

6. Water Usage
Location Water use
GPC/day
San Diego 164
US average 152
Japan 99
Germany 51
Nigeria 10
Uganda 4
Water scarcity <13
Source: SDWA Annual Report 2009

7. How We Use Water
• “Reducing potable water demand by 10% could
save approximately 300 billion kilowatthours of
energy each year” (Michael Nicklas, Rainwater,
High Performance Buildings, Summer 2008).
• Use of potable water
– Single vs. multi-use
– Need for potable water indoor applications
– According to the EPA, 80% of indoor use doesn’t
require potable (Municipal Handbook Rainwater
Harvesting Policies, 12/08)

8. Water Run-off: developed vs. natural
Source: http://www.coastal.ca.gov/nps/watercyclefacts.pdf

9. Source: http://www.epa.gov/volunteer/stream/vms21.html

10. History of Water Usage
in San Diego
Old Mission Dam; completed 1815 San Vicente reservoir; 1947
Source: San Diego County Water Authority
(http://www.sdcwa.org/about/who-history.phtml)

11. “Water conservation is the cheapest new source of water”
--SDWA, ‘07
Source: SDWA Annual Report 2009

12. Indoor Water Usage
• Water usage and fixture choices
• Water reuse for indoor applications
• LEED credits for Water Efficiency
• Standards for indoor rainwater usage

13. Source: American Waterworks Association Research Foundation (AWWARF)
Residential End Uses of Water, Denver, CO; 1999

14. Annual Indoor Water Usage
Very High Efficiencyf vs. Standard**
Fixture Average # Typical Gallons Gallons Very hi Gallons Gallons per
uses per fixture per per year efficiency per year
day per (gal or person family of fixture person family of 4
person* min)** per day 4 (gal or per day
min)f
Toilet 4 1.6 gpf 6.4 9,344 1.1 gpf 5.2 7,592
Lavatory 5 2.2 gpm 5.5 8,030 1.5 gpm 3.75 5,475
faucet 0.5 min 0.5 min
Shower 1 2.5 gpm 15.75 22,995 1.75 gpm 12.6 18,396
6.3 min 6.3 min
Clothes 7 per wk 55 gal* 20,020 (25 gal) 9,125
washer Family*
Total 60,389 42,413
* Source: http://www.csgnetwork.com/waterusagecalc.html
** Source: EPAct 1992; http://www.epa.gov/watersense/docs/matrix508.pdf
f Source: LEED-H Reference Guide WE 3.2; 2008

15. WE Credits for LEED-Homes:
Maximum 15 points possible
WE (min 3 pts) Credit Points
WE 1: Water Reuse 1.1 Rainwater 4 points outdoor +
5 points max Harvesting System indoor (>50% roof)
And/or
1.2 Graywater 1 point
OR 3 pts max if use
1.3 Municipal instead of
Recycled Water 1.1-1.2
WE 2: Irrigation 2.1 Hi-efficiency 3 points max
4 points max 2.2 3rd party 1 point max
OR 2.3 Reduce 4 points max
irrigation demand
WE 3: Indoor Water 3.1 Hi-efficiency 3 points if all fixtures
Usage fixtures/fittings
6 points max 3.2 Very hi-efficiency 6 points max
Source: USGBC LEED for Homes Rating System, 2008

16. WE Credits for LEED-NC:
Maximum 10 points possible
WE (min 3 pts) Credit Points
WE 1: Water Efficient 1.1 Use 50% reduction: 2 points
Landscaping rainwater, graywater, or
4 points max recycled municipal
OR 1.2 NO potable water 4 points
or NO irrigation
WE 2: Innovative Reduce potable water for 2 points
Wastewater sewage conveyance or
2 points max treat to tertiary (50%)
WE 3: Water use 3.1 Use 30% Reduction 2 points
reduction (all indoor (20% is prerequisite v 3.0)
fixtures; not irrigation)
4 points max 3.2 Use 35% reduction adds 1 point
3.3 Use 40% reduction adds 1 point
Source: USGBC LEED for New Construction Rating System, 2009

17. Example Commercial Building
Indoor Rainwater Application (WE 2 Option 1; LEED-NC v 3.0)
http://www.sloanvalve.com
Source: Building Green Futures (www.buildinggreenfutures.com)

18. CA Dual Plumbing Code 2010
• Air gap required (recycled and potable)
• Water disinfected to tertiary recycled standard
(CA Dept Public Health; filtration/chlorine)
• Allowed structures specified by 13553 Water
Code (no single-family residential)
Source: California Plumbing Code Chapter 16A-Part II, 2010

19. Non-potable Indoor Use of Rainwater*
• Gutters & tank inlet with debris screen
• First flush/roof washer (first 10 gallons)
• Return elbow or calming inlet
• UV-resistant for above-ground
• Air gap or back-flow assembly (municipal vs.
rainwater)
• Label pipes and fixtures
• Disinfection is not required
* Code Guide for Rainwater Harvesting; City of Portland for one and two family
dwellings, 2001

20. Rainwater Harvesting Overview
• Benefits of rainwater harvesting
• System components
• Water-harvesting earthworks
• Estimating supply & demand to size tanks

21. Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting
COMMUNITY
• Storm water management (reduces run off to
storm drains)
• Reduces summer peak water demands
(conserves water)
INDIVIDUAL
• Superior water for irrigation (soft, non-alkaline)
• Lower water bills (1st tier)
• Possible rebates/incentives (AB 1834)

22. Components of Rainwater Harvesting
for Irrigation
Roof catchment area
Gutters & downspout
Storage
Tank
To drip system/hose Overflow
Pump
Source: Building Green Futures (www.buildinggreenfutures.com)

23. Above-ground Tanks
Source: RainHarvest Systems Source: Tankworks Australia
Source: BH Tanks Inc. Source: Bushman Tanks USA

24. Below-ground Tanks
Source: Graf Rainwater Tanks
Source: Rainwater Collection Solutions
Source: Xerxes Fiberglass Tanks
Source: Atlantis Water Management

25. Using Earthworks
Source: Building Green Futures (www.buildinggreenfutures.com)

26. Landscape Features
that Manage Stormwater
Source: EncinitasStormwaterManual, 2009
Source: SD County LID manual, 2007
Photograph: City of Encinitas, Roadside GrassCrete parking

27. Sustainable Water Management
Source: Building Green Futures (www.buildinggreenfutures.com)

28. Sizing a Rainwater Tank based on
Supply & Demand

29. Basic formula to calculate monthly or annual collection
volume in gallons:
SUPPLY (gallons) = Catchment Area (ft2) X Rainfall (ft)
X Runoff Coefficient X 7.48 gallons/ft3
Note: Runoff coefficient = 0.9 for a typical roof
Example scenario: a 2,000ft2 building:
2000ft2 x 0.83ft/yr x 90% x 7.48 gal/ft3 =
11,175 gallons per year!!
Basic formula to calculate monthly or annual irrigation
demand in gallons:
DEMAND (gallons) = (ETo X Plant Factor) X Area (ft2)
X 7.48 gallons/ft3

30. Estimating Supply & Demand
Source: Building Green Futures (www.buildinggreenfutures.com)

31. Outdoor Water Usage
• Drought-tolerant and native plant choices
(and soil/mulch)
• Brief introduction to gray water for irrigation
• Rainwater Harvesting Design Strategies
(for San Diego County)
• Example projects

32. Graywater Code for California
• Ch 16A “Nonpotable Water Reuse Systems”
added to 2007 California plumbing code August
4, 2009
• 1603A.1.1 Clothes Washer System and/or Single
Fixture System: May be installed without a permit if in compliance
• May not result in ponding or run-off
• Design directs to irrigation and contained on site
• If released above-ground requires >/= 2” mulch

33. Graywater System to Mulch Basins
www.yourhome.gov.au/technical/fs74.html

34. Characteristics of Drought-tolerant Plants
Source: Building Green Futures (www.buildinggreenfutures.com)

35. Resources for Drought-Tolerant and
Native Plants
• Sunset Western Garden Book by Editors of Sunset
Books and K. N. Brenzel; watering designation 1 or 2
• San Diego County Native Plants by James Lightner
(2006, San Diego Flora)
• http://www.water.ca.gov/wateruseefficiency/docs/wuc
ols00.pdf Water Use Classification of Landscape
Species (University of California Cooperative
Extension)
• http://www.bewaterwise.com/knowledge01.html
California Friendly Garden resource (from MWD)
• http://www.thegarden.org/ Water conservation
Garden at Cuyamaca College; bookshop & classes

36. Project 1: An Above-
ground System with a
550 gallon tank
Source: Building Green Futures (www.buildinggreenfutures.com)

37. Project 2: An Above-
ground System with
(2) 2,000 gallon tanks
and French drains to
landscape
Source: Building Green Futures (www.buildinggreenfutures.com)

38. Project 3: a Rainwater Pillow
Source: Building Green Futures (www.buildinggreenfutures.com)

39. Source: Building Green Futures (www.buildinggreenfutures.com)

40. Project 4: A Modular Underground Storage System
Source: Building Green Futures (www.buildinggreenfutures.com)

41. Source: Building Green Futures (www.buildinggreenfutures.com)

42. WE Credits for LEED-Homes:
Maximum 15 points possible
WE (min 3 pts) Credit Points Project item
WE 1: Water Reuse 1.1 Rainwater 3 points outdoor 2 x 1700 gallon
5 points max Harvesting System 1 point indoor cisterns for irrigation
And/or only = 3
1.2 Graywater 1 point Clothes washer = 1
OR 3 pts max if use
1.3 Municipal instead of
Recycled Water 1.1-1.2
WE 2: Irrigation 2.1 Hi-efficiency 3 points max
4 points max 2.2 3rd party 1 point max
OR 2.3 Reduce 4 points max
irrigation demand
WE 3: Indoor Water 3.1 Hi-efficiency 3 points if all fixtures All fixtures meet
Usage fixtures/fittings standards = 3
6 points max 3.2 Very hi-efficiency (6 points max) TOTAL = 7
System size = Harvest area/Total Roof Area
Storage capacity = 0.62 gal/ft3 x Harvest area
Therefore 2,000 ft2 roof area min capacity = 620 gallons; max = 12,000 gallons

43. Project 5: Rainwater Harvesting at NC
Schools: indoor and
outdoor usage
Diagrams and Photo Courtesy of Innovative Design (Raleigh, NC)

45. Resources
• http://www.sandiego.gov/water/conservation
Rainwater harvesting information; residential water
surveys (free)
• http://www.bewaterwise.com ; Rebates and
incentives (So Cal Metropolitan Water District)
• http://socalwatersmart.com/index.php;
Rebates/incentives
• http://www.harvesth2o.com/ ; Online rainwater
harvesting community
• http://www.arcsa.org/Rainwater-10-09.pdf;
Rainwater Catchment Standards ARCSA and ASPE

46. Resources; continued
• http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/gi_municha
ndbook_harvesting.pdf; EPA Rainwater
Harvesting Guidelines
• http://www.whollyh2o.org; California’s
Integrated Water Reuse Management Center
• http://www.h2ouse.org; California’s Urban Water
Conservation Council
• http://www.oasisdesign.net/greywater/law/ca
lifornia/; California Graywater Policy Center
• Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands vol 1-3 by
Brad Lancaster, Rainsource Press (2005-2011)

47. IF we combine low water use fixtures
with water reuse indoors and outdoors
we can:
• Reduce wastewater and stormwater runoff
• Reduce use of potable water
• Increase water reuse
• Restore natural hydrologic cycle
• Preserve freshwater for future generations

48. “."
Contact:
Rosalind Haselbeck, PhD, LEED AP
(619) 300-7114
rosalind@buildinggreenfutures.com