Emory University
IN-24: Natural Wastewater Systems

In 2015, Emory opened the WaterHub, its natural wastewater system and water reuse facility. 300 million+ gallons of water have been recycled by the WaterHub since it opened in April 2015. The WaterHub has now been open for five years, and it recycles 40% of Emory’s wastewater for reusable purposes. The treatment process takes 12-18 hours. Microbes enter the wastewater when it reaches the greenhouse facility. Then, the water is pumped through hydroponic bio-habitats. Microorganisms convert the wastewater into safe reclaimed water through consuming nutrients. Some of the water is pumped to a nearby wetland to undergo more treatment from microorganisms, while more of it goes directly to filtering and disinfection. UV light clarifies, filters, and disinfects the recycled water. The recycled water is finally distributed through pipes to campus steam and chiller plants and to buildings for toilet flushing.

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.