The recent drought in California has prompted statewide consideration of the practices surrounding water usage. Spanning from 2011-2017, the drought included the driest period in California’s recorded history between late 2011-2014. As a result, California sought to mitigate its exposure to water shortage; and found us.
With over 20 projects either completed or in the design stage, our technology has paved the way for California to excel in its approach to onsite non-potable reuse of water. In 2012, San Francisco became the first American municipality to adopt legislation that enabled buildings to collect, treat and reuse alternative water sources for non-potable purposes. Subsequently, San Francisco became the first American municipality to enact a mandate for onsite non-potable water systems to be used in all new developments above 25,000 square feet.
As noted by Bill Worthen of Urban Fabrick in the video below, we were ahead of the curve on water recycling in San Francisco. Bill was a trailblazer in the field of onsite non-potable reuse in San Francisco, pioneering the movement towards water recycling mandates in the city. Since 2014, we’ve installed onsite greywater, blackwater and rainwater treatment systems throughout the state, including in buildings such as the iconic 181 Fremont building, 505 Brannan (Pinterest HQ), 510 Townsend (Stripe HQ) and the Genentech Campus. We’ve also been chosen as the selected system for the new Salesforce Tower.
Continuing its forward-thinking water reuse legislation, California has recently introduced Senate Bill 966, requiring the state water board to create statewide water reuse standards. This enables the implementation of onsite non-potable water reuse programs by cities and municipalities, without compromising public health protections. The bill was introduced by Senator Scott Weiner, who stated that “water recycling should be part of our strategy in tackling our State’s water shortage. Yet, due to a lack of state standards on how to permit on-site water reuse systems, most cities don’t have on-site recycling programs. SB 966 gives cities the tools they need to put water recycling programs in place. It also gives innovative water reuse businesses clear standards for designing new technologies.”
If you’d like to explore how Aquacell’s reuse expertise can help your project, please contact us for more information.