University of Texas at Austin
IN-1: Innovation 1

The University of Texas at Austin is presenting a Water Reclamation Program for innovation credits through the 2014 Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Ratings System managed by AASHE. The Water Reclamation Program involves using reclaimed water, water that is recycled from wastewater generated by homes and businesses in place of higher-quality domestic potable water for industrial cooling tower operations. The University of Texas commissioned reclaimed water as the primary source of industrial cooling tower makeup to one of many central chilling stations in April 2013. The Water Reclamation Program at The University of Texas demonstrates water conservation through water reuse, however other water conservation efforts to include reclaim and recycle originating at the wastewater plant has afforded the University with the reuse option. Together, these concerted practices will reduce standard treatment effluent of the wastewater plant and extend the limited, finite water resource – our domestic drinking water supply. Through reclaimed water use, this program and practice will allow the University to replace several million gallons of potable drinking water a year, thereby saving thousands of gallons of water each day that would otherwise be withdrawn from the water reservoir. Over and above, replacing potable drinking water with reclaimed water in an industrial cooling tower application is sure to encompass savings to the city with respect to the energy required in the production of potable, treated municipal water. Likewise, although the practice of reclaimed water use is fairly new to the Austin area with recently provided service to the University, the forthcoming ability to adopt reclaimed water use campus wide will enable the city to concentrate greater efforts on innovative wastewater treatment plant retrofits. Increasing the availability of reclaimed water through reuse lines and infrastructure could, in all probability, shelve costly construction of a new drinking water treatment plant. The University of Texas at Austin reclamation program is a win-win for the University and the environment. This practice has resulted in a net cost savings for the University, attributed to the reduced cost of the reclaimed water. Equally as important, this practice has reduced the pressure on the scarce fresh water resource and reduced the volume of treated effluent discharged to the Colorado River.

As of March 7, 2014, we have used 68,200,000 gallons of reclaimed water.