Emory University
IN-17: Natural Wastewater Systems

The WaterHub is an on-site water recycling system on the Emory University campus which utilizes eco-engineering processes to clean waste water for future non-potable uses. It was inaugurated in April 2015 and is the first system of its kind to be installed in the United States. Emory’s WaterHub is capable of recycling up to 400,000 gallons-per-day –nearly 40% of Emory’s total campus water needs. Wastewater cleaned by the WaterHub is used as process make-up water in Emory’s steam and chiller plants and for toilet flushing in select residence halls. The system reduces Emory’s draw of water from Atlanta’s municipal water supply by up to 146 million gallons of water annually. The WaterHub includes a 50,000 gallon emergency water reserve which will allow Emory’s heating and cooling systems to function for an average of seven hours, depending on seasonal operating demands, in the event of any disruption in water availability. The WaterHub was made possible by an innovative water purchase agreement between Emory University and Sustainable Water, a water reclamation technology provider. The WaterHub creates lower cost water at a long-term stable rate and is expected to save millions of dollars in water utility costs to Emory over a 20 year period. The WaterHub aligns with the University’s vision for a sustainable campus and reduces the overall water demand in the largest municipalities reliant on the smallest single watershed in the United States.