Cool Water - Preventing Water Crises in Central Texas

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Cool Water:Blue Is The New Green

JERRY YUDELSON • YUDELSON ASSOCIATES • TUCSON, ARIZONA

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Learning Objectives

Learn about water scarcity issues in Central Texas region, water conservation strategies for buildings, factories, cities and homes

Understand how to incorporate water conservation concerns into design process such as rainwater harvesting

Review successful approaches to water conservation in Central Texas through local case studies

Be able to articulate options for new water re-use and supply technologies, including water efficient technology, retrofits and existing buildings.

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Key Take-Aways

Water is the next big (green) thing

International experience and technology can be adapted here

Major new opportunities: owners, designers, facility managers, entrepreneurs and contractors

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Why Water?

Water: 21st Century oil

Freshwater supply limited

Population/urban growth: large water footprint

Global warming hits water

Major droughts since 2006

Water efficiency leads to conservation outcomes

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Water Is the Oil of the 21st Century

Resource conflicts

Existing water sources fully allocated

Next urban/rural battleground

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Water is the Oil of the 21st Century

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Freshwater is inherently limited

No more water since Adam & Eve

Usable freshwater a tiny fraction

Much is too polluted to drink

Aquifer depletion reduces water supply

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Freshwater

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Water Footprint

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Global Warming

Much of world’s summer water supply from snowmelt

Changes in climate = smaller snowpack, larger spring runoff, greater flooding, reduced summer stream flows

Water pricing for conservation will be huge issue

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Water Conservation vs. Water Efficiency

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Water/Energy Nexus

Hydropower still important

Water supply <=> energy use

Energy supply <=> water use

By 2020s: Not enough water for energy, or energy for water!

Lake Lanier, Atlanta, GA

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Major Droughts Since 2006

In the U.S.

Atlanta

South Texas (Austin/San Antonio)

California

Murray-Darling, Australia’s Largest River

In Australia

Every major city

• Murray-Darling basin

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Water Conservation vs. Water Efficiency

Conservation means less total use

But efficiency does not guarantee conservation

Behavioral change is equally important

Water conservation: some unintended consequences

San Francisco: $14 million for bleach

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Australia

20 million people

Most live near the coasts

Except for tropics, country is quite dry

Global warming has moved storm tracks south

Biggest drought in 117-year recorded history since 2005

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Australia

Coordinated response by national/state governments

$13 billion plan ($650 per person)

Water restrictions in all urban areas

Product innovations

WELS rating mandatory for products since

2006

Product innovations come out of labeling

Rainforest in Tasmania, Australia

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Australia

Plumbing industry front and center

Large water utilities recycle water, even for domestic use

Public cooperation vital

Desalination - viable option

Falcon water-free urinals

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Australia: Lessons Learned

In a crisis, everything’s on the table

Easier to do big things politically

System favors (big) long-term solutions

Don’t neglect public participation

New technology can be mandated in crisis

Exotic solutions can be tried and evaluated

Murray-Darling — Australia’s Largest River

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Germany

80 million people

Leader in adapting to global warming

Focus on rainwater harvesting codes

New technologies emerging for gray water reuse

Top: Heidelberg, GermanyBottom: Water House, Pforzheim,

Germany

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Pontos AquaCycle Gray Water System

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Driving Forces

Water shortages/droughts in many states

Financial/regulatory incentive programs

Green certification programs such as LEED

Rising costs for water supply and sewage treatment

Stakeholder concerns; political and regulatory changes

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Inhibiting Forces

Water is still cheap in most areas

High-water-use lifestyles still preferred

Unintended consequences

Agency revenues drop

Sewers and drain lines don’t flush

Codes hard to change

Lack of whole systems thinking

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Where Does This Leave Us?

A very dynamic future: much opportunity

New technologies, systems, approaches

New products coming to market constantly

Larger questions?

What about water for the environment?

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Some Opportunities?

“Green plumbing” jobs

Building fixture retrofits

NEWater reuse/recycling systems

New specialties

Whole systems engineer

Using less-than-potable sources

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The Future is Green (and Blue), But…

If we want to score, we run to where the ball is headed, not to where it is.

Ask yourself: how green (and blue) will the built environment be in 2015? What will be the Next Normal?

How can I participate in the water revolution?

Spain Wins FIFA World Cup 2010

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Water: Dry Run

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Thank you!

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