DRF conducted a multi-phase project over two years to eliminate non-essential potable water use.
The project cost $123,225. The payback period was less than one year. DRF estimated the annual potable water savings to be 4-6 million gallons.
The original goal was to get a well on campus that would eliminate the use and purchase of domestic water for irrigation of grass areas and a soccer field. Further research exposed the need for cooling tower makeup water as well, and the difficult task of bringing in a well large enough for the job.
A campus walk brought the team to an 80,000 gallon cistern which was ultimately reclaimed for capture of rain & ground water. A water level control system was installed in the cistern to achieve automatic well operation. A new pressure controlled pump station, replenishment well and supply lines completed the new highly efficient irrigation system, eliminating potable water use for irrigation and cooling tower makeup water.
