Wholly H2o - California's Integrated Water Reuse Management Center

Architects, designers, planners, developers, and state policy makers must jump into the fray with both feet in order to collaboratively lead the state into significant water use reductions. Reductions should entail an integrated approach to water management that considers not only conservation and efficiency, but the incorporation of designs that utilize alternative waters such as rainwater, graywater, stormwater and recycled water as well. 

Sustainable design addresses the largest sources of water use in order to reduce overall consumption of water. These designs:

• improve the efficiency of plumbing fixtures
• improve commercial and industrial processes to increase efficiency
• reduce the water demands of landscaping
• increase water re-use from alternative water sources such as rainwater, graywater, stormwater and recycled water.

In addition, sustainable design considers opportunities to capture and reuse water through rainwater and graywater harvesting, as well as the use of recycled water where appropriate. Water use reductions must be considered.

For targeted design information, visit the appropriate sector.

Wholly H2o's monthly forums are an excellent place to meet other professionals working on water reuse and build up your knowledge on various water reuse issues.

Additional Information on Water Efficient Design

• Architectural roles in water efficiency
• Essential Elements House
• Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure
• National Center for Appropriate Technology, Water Efficient Design
• National Center for Appropriate Technology, Regional Design
• Sustainable Design Update: Water Efficiency
• Sustainable Infrastructure for Water and Wastewater
• Sustainable Site Design/Water Efficiency
• Water Efficiency to Become Critical in Green Building Designs