Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of greywater reuse in buildings

Abstract

The fast growth of urban population and industrialization has resulted in serious pressures on the water resources and on the capacity of environmental protection in many towns. Although Brazil has one of the biggest water resources of the Planet, the reuse of greywaters has become necessary, mainly in major urban centres, whose demand is limited by pollution. Sustainable construction seeks the interaction between human beings and the environment, resulting in a decrease in the degradation of both. Therefore, the possibility of replacing part of the drinking water used in a building for one of inferior quality, for uses that do not require such a high quality water, may reduce considerable the demand on drinking fountains. However, it is necessary to formalize, regulate and promote water reuse in Brazil, in order to increase the adoption of that practice according to adequate technical principles, and to make it economically feasible. The main objective of this research work is to determine quality parameters and the amount of the greywater in buildings, aiming to minimize the consumption of drinking water and to increase the sustainability of water resources, through the rational or efficient use of the water, which also involves the control of losses and wastes, and its reuse. This article suggests that water reuse in buildings is feasible, provided that the building is designed for that end, considering the analysed guidelines.