LEED v4.

1 Indoor Water Use Reduction

& Best Management Practices
Introduction 
 
Earth may seem to have abundant water, but less than 1% is actually available 
for human use. The rest is either salt water found in the oceans, freshwater 
frozen in polar ice caps, or unavailable for practical use. 
 

 
Image source: ​usgs.gov 
 
While the population and demand for freshwater resources are rising, supply 
will remain constant. And while it is true that the water cycle continually 
returns water to Earth, it is not necessarily returned to the same area, or in 
the same quantity and quality. 
 
Water plays a significant role in helping our communities. There would be no 
local business or industry without water. Firefighting, city parks, and public 
swimming pools all require a lot of water. An array of pipes, canals, and 
pumping stations operated by our public water systems are required to 
provide reliable water supplies to our taps every day. 
 
Where's all this water coming from? It begins as rain or snow and flows into 
our local lakes, rivers, and streams or underground aquifers. You can learn 
more about the water in your state, including how it is protected and where 
your local drinking water comes from. 

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In the US, we are fortunate enough to have convenient access to some of the 
safest treated water in the world only by turning on the tap. We wake up in 
the morning, take a shower, brush our teeth, take a cup of coffee, and head 
out for the day. 
 
The average American family consumes more than 300 gallons of water a day 
at home. Approximately 70% of this use occurs indoors. 
 

 
 
Water management is a growing concern in the US. Communities around 
the country are beginning to face water management issues and the need to 
upgrade outdated water treatment and distribution systems also referred to 
as 'water infrastructure.' 
 
Many of the states that have expected an increase in population also have 
higher per capita water usage and may expect greater competition for water 
supplies. Forty states told the Government Accountability Office in the 2014 
EXIT study​ that they predicted water shortages not related to drought in the 
next ten years. 
 
Water supply strains and our aging water treatment systems can have a 
number of impacts on communities, such as: 

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● Higher water prices to ensure sustained access to reliable and safe 
supplies. 
● Increased summer watering limits in order to manage shortages. 
● Seasonal loss of recreation areas such as lakes and rivers when human 
demand for water is in conflict with environmental needs. 
● Expensive water treatment projects for the transport and storage of 
freshwater when local demand overcomes the available capacity. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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LEED v4.1 BD+C: New Construction, Water Efficiency: 
Indoor Water Use Reduction Prerequisite 
 
Intent 
To reduce indoor water consumption. 
 
Building Water Use Requirements 
 
For the fixtures and fittings listed in Table 1, as applicable to the project scope, 
reduce aggregate water consumption by 20% from the baseline. Base 
calculations on the volumes and flow rates shown in Table 1.  
 
All newly installed toilets, urinals, private lavatory faucets, and showerheads 
that are eligible for labeling m​ ust be WaterSense labeled​ (or a local 
equivalent for projects outside the U.S.). 
 

 
Image source: t​ otousa.com 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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 Table 1. Baseline water consumption of fixtures and fittings 
 
Representing image  Commercial  Current Baseline  Current Baseline 
Fixtures, Fittings,  (IP Units)  (SI units) 
and Appliances 

Water closets 
(toilets)*  1.6 gallons per  6 liters per flush 
  flush (gpf)  (lpf) 
   

Urinal*  1.0 (gpf)  3.8 lpf 

0.5 gpm at 60 psi  1.9 lpm at 415 kPa, 

Public lavatory  all others except  all others except 
(restroom) faucet  private  private 
  applications  applications 

Private lavatory 
2.2 gpm at 60 psi  8.3 lpm at 415 kPa 
faucet* 
 

Kitchen faucet 
(excluding 
faucets used  2.2 gpm at 60 psi  8.3 lpm at 415 kPa 
exclusively for 
  filling operations) 

9.5 lpm at 550 

2.5 gpm at 80 psi 
Showerhead*  kPa per shower 
per shower stall 
stall 
 

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* WaterSense label available for this product type gpf = gallons per flush gpm 
= gallons per minute psi = pounds per square inch lpf = liters per flush lpm = 
liters per minute kPa = kilopascals 
 
Projects located where standard supply pressure is different from the LEED 
baseline supply pressure may calculate the water consumption of flow 
fixtures and fittings at the local standard supply pressure. 
 
Appliance and Process Water Use 
Install appliances, equipment, and processes within the project scope that 
meet the requirements listed in the tables below. Existing appliances 
intended for reuse in the project are not required to meet the requirements 
in Table 2. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Table 2. Standards for appliances 
 
Representing image  Appliance  Requirement 

Residential clothes  ENERGY STAR or 

washers  performance equivalent 

Commercial clothes  ENERGY STAR or 

washers  performance equivalent 

Residential dishwashers  ENERGY STAR or 

(standard and compact)  performance equivalent 

Pre-rinse spray valves  ≤ 1.3 gpm (4.9 lpm) 

ENERGY STAR or 

performance equivalent 
and use either 
air-cooled or 
Ice machine 
closed-loop cooling, 
such as chilled or 
condenser water 
  system 

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gpm = gallons per minute 
lpm = liters per minute 
 
*Projects in Europe may install residential appliances meeting the EU A-label. 
 
 
Table 3. Standards for processes 
 
Representing image  Process  Requirement 

No once-through 
cooling with potable 
Heat rejection and  water for any 
cooling  equipment or 
appliances that reject 
  heat 

Equip with: 
● makeup water 
meters 
● conductivity 
controllers and 
overflow alarms 
● efficient drift 
eliminators that 
reduce drift to 
Cooling towers and  maximum of 
evaporative condensers  0.002% of 
recirculated water 
volume for 
counterflow 
  towers and 
0.005% of 
recirculated water 
flow for cross-flow 
towers 

 
 
 
 

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LEED v4.1 BD+C: New Construction, Water Efficiency: 
Indoor Water Use Reduction Credit 
 
Intent 
To reduce indoor water consumption. 
 
Requirements 
Further reduce fixture and fitting water use from the calculated baseline in 
WE Prerequisite Indoor Water Use Reduction. Additional potable water 
savings can be earned above the prerequisite level using alternative water 
sources. Include fixtures and fittings necessary to meet the needs of the 
occupants.  
 
Some of these fittings and fixtures may be outside the tenant space (for 
Commercial Interiors) or project boundary (for New Construction). Points are 
awarded according to Table 1. 
 
Percentage  Points (BD+C)  Points (CS)  Points (Schools, 
Reduction  Retail, 
Hospitality, 
Healthcare) 

25%  1  1  1 

30%  2  2  2 

35%  3  3  3 

40%  4  4  4 

45%  5  --  5 

50%  6  --  -- 

Table 1. Points for reducing water use 

 
 
AND 
 

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Appliance and process water 
 

 
Image source: ​cannonartes.com 
 
Install equipment within the project scope that meets the minimum 
requirements in Table 2, 3, 4, or 5 .  
 
One point is awarded for meeting all applicable requirements in any one 
table.  
 
All applicable equipment listed in each table must meet the standard. 
Schools, Retail, and Healthcare projects can earn a second point for meeting 
the requirements of two tables. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Table 2. Compliant commercial washing machines 
 

 
Image source: h
​ ydrofinity.com 
 
To use Table 2, the project must process at least 120,000 lbs (57 606 kg) of 
laundry per year. 
 
Washing machine  Requirement (IP units)  Requirement (SI units) 

On-premise, minimum 
Maximum 1.8 gals per  Maximum 7 liters per 
capacity 2,400 lbs (10 
pound *  0.45 kilograms * 
886 kg) per 8-hour shift 

   
* Based on equal quantities of heavy, medium, and light soil laundry. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Table 3. Standards for commercial kitchen equipment 
 

 
Image source: c
​ onnect2local.com 
 
To use Table 3, the project must serve at least 100 meals per day of operation. 
All process and appliance equipment listed in the category of kitchen 
equipment and present on the project must comply with the standards. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Kitchen equipment  Kitchen equipment  Requirement (IP units)  Requirement (SI units) 
name 

Dishwasher  Undercounter  ENERGY STAR  ENERGY STAR or 

performance equivalent 

Dishwasher  Stationary, single  ENERGY STAR  ENERGY STAR or 

tank, door  performance equivalent 

Dishwasher  Single tank, conveyor  ENERGY STAR  ENERGY STAR or 

performance equivalent 

Dishwasher  Multiple tank,  ENERGY STAR  ENERGY STAR or 

conveyor  performance equivalent 

Dishwasher  Flight machine  ENERGY STAR  ENERGY STAR or 

performance equivalent 

Food steamer  Batch (no drain  ≤ 2 gal/hour/pan  ≤ 7.5 liters/hour/pan 

connection)  including condensate  including condensate 
cooling water  cooling water 

Food steamer  Cook-to-order (with  ≤ 5 gal/hour/pan  ≤ 19 liters/hour/pan 

drain connection)  including condensate  including condensate 
cooling water  cooling water 

Combination oven,  Countertop or stand  ≤ 1.5  ≤ 5.7 liters/hour/pan 

gal/hour/panincluding  including condensate 
condensate cooling  cooling water 
water 

Combination oven,  Roll-in  ≤ 1.5 gal/hour/pan  ≤ 5.7 liters/hour/pan 

including condensate  including condensate 
cooling water  cooling water 

Food waste disposer  Disposer  3-8 gpm, full load  11–30 lpm, full load 
condition; 10 minute  condition; 10-min 
automatic shutoff or 1  automatic shutoff or 3.8 
gpm, no-load condition  lpm, no-load condition 

Food waste disposer  Scrap collector  Maximum 2 gpm  Maximum 7.6 lpm 
makeup water  makeup water 

Food waste disposer  Pulper  Maximum 2 gpm  Maximum 7.6 lpm 

makeup water  makeup water 

Food waste disposer  Strainer basket  No additional water  No additional water usage 
usage 

gpm = gallons per minute gph = gallons per hour lpm = liters per minute lph = liters per hour 
 

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Table 4. Compliant laboratory and medical equipment 
 
To use Table 4, the project must be a medical or laboratory facility. 
 
  Lab equipment  Requirement  Requirement 
(IP units)  (SI units) 

Reverse-osmosis  75% recovery  75% recovery 

water purifier 

Steam sterilizer  For 60-inch  For 1520-mm 

sterilizer, 6.3  sterilizer, 28.5 
gal/U.S. tray  liters/DIN tray 

  For 48-inch  For 1220-mm 

sterilizer, 7.5  sterilizer, 28.35 
gal/U.S. tray  liters/DIN tray 

Sterile process  0.35 gal/U.S.  1.3 liters/DIN tray 

washer  tray 

X-ray processor, 150  Film processor water recycling 

mm or more in any  unit 
dimension 
 

Digital imager, all  No water use 

sizes 

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Table 5. Compliant municipal steam systems 
 

 
(Individual condensate disposal from every tank of every fryer using ball float steam traps 
image source: s​ timexeng.com​) 
 
To use Table 5, the project must be connected to a municipal or district 
steam system that does not allow the return of steam condensate.[1] 
 
Steam system  Standard 

Cool municipally supplied steam 

condensate (no return) to drainage 
Steam condensate disposal 
system with heat recovery system or 
reclaimed water 

 
 
OR 

Reclaim and use steam condensate  100% recovery and reuse 

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What has changed in LEED v4.1 compared to LEED 
v4.0? (As per Indoor Water Use Reduction)

Changes in the prerequisite requirements 

LEED v4.1 BD+C: New Construction Indoor water use reduction prerequisite 
had an additional requirement now which didn’t exist in the earlier version 
LEED v4.0.

Building water use  

“Projects located where standard supply pressure is different than the 

LEED baseline supply pressure may calculate the water consumption of 
flow fixtures and fittings at the local standard supply pressure.” 

This is a very logical course of action since different water utilities use 
different supply pressure for their distribution networks. This causes different 
projects to consume different amounts of water used in the same period of 
time (as referred to by gallons per minute/liters per minute). 

Pressure management has a great potential to greatly increase performance, 

reduce costs and alleviate the inevitable shortage of water; in fact, pressure 
management is now regarded as the basis for efficient management of water 
supply and distribution systems. 
 
Appliance water use 
 
In LEED v4.0 it is required that installed appliances, equipment, and 
processes within the project scope meet the requirements in the tables. In 
LEED v4.1 prerequisite now explicitly clarifies that existing appliances 
intended for reuse in the project are not required to meet the requirements 
in Table 2. (Standards for appliances) 
 
In LEED v4.0 commercial clothes washers are required to be “​CEE Tier 3A” 
while it is changed in LEED v4.1 as “​ENERGY STAR or performance 
equivalent”. 
 

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The requirements for the use of process water remained unchanged. 
 
Changes in the credit requirements 
LEED 4.1 BD+C: New Construction, Indoor Water Use Reduction credit offers a 
lot of water-saving opportunities that didn’t exist in v4.0. 
 
In both versions (v4.1 & v4.0) credit points that can be earned for reducing 
water use remained the same. However, there are extra points that can be 
earned in v4.1 by following the requirements asked for the following water 
using systems:  
 
● Appliance and process water 
● Standards for commercial kitchen equipment 
● Compliant laboratory and medical equipment 
● Compliant municipal steam systems 
 
Projects install equipment within the project scope that meets the minimum 
requirements shown in tables (Table 2, 3, 4, or 5.) 
 
They can earn one point for meeting all applicable requirements in any one 
table. All applicable equipment listed in each table must meet the standard. 
Schools, Retail, and Healthcare projects can earn a second point for meeting 
the requirements of two tables. 
 
What has changed with LEED v4.1 for the existing 
buildings? 
 
LEED v4.0 credit language grouped water efficiency under two titles: 
 
 
1. Indoor water use reduction prerequisite 
2. Indoor water use reduction credit 
 
However, with LEED v4.1 these two titles are combined under the “​ Water 
Performance”​ title.  
 
Did the new grouping remove all the prerequisite requirements? Absolutely, 
not!   

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In fact, existing buildings are assessed now by using a stronger point of 
judgment called the “​ Water Performance Score” w ​ hich wasn’t available in 
the earlier version LEED v4.0.  
 
A minimum water performance s ​ core of 40​ is required in order to be 
compliant with the prerequisite requirement. 
 
By LEED v4.1 existing buildings no more need to prove their water 
consumption at the fixture, and appliance level. This was the case with the 
v4.0. Because LEED v4.0 required all water closets, urinals, public & private 
lavatory faucets, showerheads meet with the consumption requirements set 
either as gpm (gallons per minute) or gpf (gallons per flush). 
 
This caused the projects to conduct extra calculations since the consumption 
requirements are only meaningful at the pressure levels set by the credit 
language. For instance, a kitchen faucet is expected to consume 2.2 gpm or 
less water at 60 psi, and a showerhead is expected to consume 2.5 gpm or 
less water at 80 psi per shower stall. 
 
Since we cannot use water consumption information of each fixture and 
appliance, then how could we acquire a performance score or more 
specifically a water performance score? 
 
In order to calculate the water performance score, we need the following 
data: 
 
1. Annual water consumption (gallons), with monthly or daily totals 
2. Gross floor area (sq. ft. or sq. m.) 
3. Weighted occupancy 
4. Weighted operating hours 
 
The water performance score rates the building’s total water consumption 
against the total water consumption of comparable high-performing 
LEED-certified buildings. The score is a value from 1-100 based on the 
project’s water consumption per occupant and water consumption per floor 
area. 
 

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The water consumption is adjusted for weighted operating hours and 
converted into daily water consumption using ​Equation 1.  
 
Equation 1: adjusted daily water consumption * operating hours 
adjustment factor / 365 days  
 
The operating hours adjustment factor is determined using Table 2. The 
adjustment factor accounts for typical LEED buildings operations of 50 hours 
a week. 
 

 
Table 2. Operating hours adjustment factor (Image source: ​usgbc.org​) 
 
Daily water consumption per occupant is calculated by dividing the daily 
water consumption by the weighted occupancy, using E ​ quation 2.  
 

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Equation 2: adjusted daily water consumption per occupant = daily 
water consumption / weighted occupancy  
 
Daily water consumption per floor area is calculated by dividing the daily 
water consumption by the gross floor area, using ​Equation 3.  
 
Equation 3: adjusted daily water consumption per floor area = daily 
water consumption / gross floor area  
 
The project’s daily water consumption per occupant AND daily water 
consumption per floor area are input into the water scoring function for the 
specific project type to produce a water performance score.  
 
The water scoring functions were developed using water consumption data 
from high-performing buildings. The data set includes LEED buildings that 
shared their water consumption data with USGBC as part of the 
whole-building energy and water usage requirement​. 
 
The water use baseline for buildings with a certificate of occupancy dated 
1995 or later & before condition is removed. 
 
In LEED v4.0  
 
Pre-1995 buildings that have had only minor fixture retrofits (e.g., aerators, 
showerheads, flushing valves) but no plumbing renovations in or after 1995 
could use the 150% baseline, while buildings with a certificate of occupancy 
dated 1995 or later could use 120% baseline. 
 
With LEED v4.1 
 
Pre or after 1995 date has no more meaning since the water consumption 
calculations are assessed by using a more objective scoring system. 
 
Water consumption is measured on a monthly basis for twelve consecutive 
months (one full year). This Input (the twelve months of potable water use 
data is plugged into the Arc Platform and a Water Performance Score for the 
project is calculated. The minimum required score is 40, and the scores above 
40 are awarded according to Table 1.  

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Interiors projects that do not have fixtures or fixture fittings in the project 
scope are exempt from the requirement to obtain a minimum Water 
Performance Score of 40.  
 
All interiors projects must input twelve months of potable water use data into 
the Arc Platform and calculate a Water Performance Score for the project.[1] 
 
Why do LEED Projects use Energy Star Performance Metrics?  
 
Energy Star often helps users achieve LEED certification. As an early adopter 
of energy performance standards, Energy Star helped pave the way for the 
development of USGBC’s LEED rating system.  
 
Buildings earn LEED certification upon meeting certain levels of energy 
efficiency, among other measures. In fact, LEED uses the Energy Star system 
to empower property owners and occupants with the tools they need to 
meet these requirements and earn additional credits. 
 
Among the LEED prerequisites is a requirement to reduce indoor water 
consumption by reaching certain performance standards for appliances, 
which includes those labeled as Energy Star. In addition to products, Energy 
Star identifies energy-efficient buildings. 
 
Energy Star gives users the tools they need to reach a higher level of building 
energy performance, therefore positioning them closer to the standards 
required for LEED certification. In short, Energy Star helps make LEED 
possible.[2] 
 
How to strategize Indoor Water Use Reduction with LEED v4.1? 
 
There are certain relatively low cost strategies projects can implement 
immediately to improve their water reductions without much effort.  
 
The most basic and correct action to take is using WaterSense labeled 
products.  
 

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WaterSense labeled products​ use at least 20 percent less water than 
standard models, while providing equal or superior performance. By installing 
WaterSense labeled faucet aerators and showerheads, the average family can 
save nearly 3,500 gallons of water and nearly 410 kilowatt-hours of electricity 
per year.[3] 
 
For instance, replacing existing ​“high-flow, low-efficiency”​ fixtures with 
“low-flow, high-efficiency”​ versions, such as WaterSense-labeled fixtures, 
and adding aerators to faucets is very quick to implement. However, potential 
savings can be immediately observed. 
 
In addition, by ​installing sub meters for plumbing fixtures​ Projects can 
monitor and manage the use of water by installing submeters, while also 
recognizing opportunities for savings wherever available. 
 
Projects can ​use sensor faucets (​ aka. non-contact faucets) to save water by 
controlling usage based on hand movements. Here are a few benefits that 
come using sensor faucets. 
 
● Save water by being less likely to leak. 
● Reduces spread of germs in the bathroom. 
● Reduces days employees are sick. 
● Many also have aerators that reduce water usage while retaining spray 
coverage area. 
 
By achieving higher water savings goals, projects can achieve extra LEED 
points. More aggressive targets for water efficiency include dual 
high-efficiency flush water closets​ and the use of ​waterless closets​ for 
almost all urinals. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Image source: youtube.com 
 
Replace old clothes washers​. Washers are the second largest water user in 
your home. If your clothes washer is old, you should consider replacing it with 
an ​ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer​.  
 
Most ENERGY STAR clothes washers use four times less energy than those 
manufactured before 1999. To save more water, look for a clothes washer with 
a low water factor. The lower the water factor, the less water the machine 
uses. Water factor is listed on the certified product list.[4] 
 
Reduce the pressure: ​ In many high-rise and commercial settings, domestic 
water booster pumps are necessary to overcome the loss of pressure due to 
increases in elevation and to maintain water supply in water towers and 
supply tanks.  
 

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Image source: ​plumbingsupply.com  
 
With these higher pressures, water flows through the system with resulting 
greater flow through terminal fixtures beyond rated flow capacities, and this 
additional water is wasted as it serves no additional benefit to the rated 
performance.  
 
Most plumbing codes require pressure-reducing valves on systems where 
pressures exceed 80 psi. In most cases, these pressures could be lowered by 
the implementation of additional pressure-reducing valves.  
 
Additionally, the higher pressures can rupture pipes and damage fixtures. 
This leads to even greater waste in the domestic water system. When it 
comes to the domestic heating plant, if less water flows through the system, 
then less energy is needed to heat the domestic hot water in the first place. 
 
Educate users:​ Water conservation is not only about innovation and good 
design practices, but also about building an understanding among water 
consumers to work together to achieve a greener and more energy-efficient 
environment.  
 

24
  
Image source: w
​ ellingtonwater.co.nz 
 
It is important to educate users about water scarcity issues and the impact of 
water conservation practices through signage and awareness campaigns at 
the point of use. The conservation of water reduces water waste and energy 
costs too, on both operation and production.  
 
Educated consumers will be better able to identify problems and think 
innovatively about ways to conserve or reuse water within the facility. Not 
only will the work environment benefit, but these tools can be taken back to 
the home, where individuals and families can use these practices to play an 
even larger role in the preservation of rapidly dwindling freshwater resources. 
[5] 
 
Projects that make excellent savings with this credit can be eligible for 
Exemplary Performance and Regional Priority​ LEED credits, maxing out the 
available points. 
 
Projects in California qualify for an additional LEEDv4.1 O+M point for a 
regional priority with water-efficient fixtures. 

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Based on the size and type of building, the installation of permanent sub 
meters for plumbing fixtures, fittings and other process water may be costly 
and require major design coordination. 
 
Despite the cost, the additional benefit of installing permanent submetering 
is the detection of leaks. Aging infrastructure and seasonal stress can lead to 
broken pipes, flushing down the drain your efficiency goals along with 
wasted water. 
 
By efficiently metering various subsystems, these leaks can be identified early 
and corrective action can be taken before it is too late. Metering and 
monitoring the water consumption of plumbing fixtures also helps better 
decision-making processes to wholly understand the business case and 
quantify the return on investment. 
 
Have leak detection equipment installed​ on the main supply lines of 
households, public or commercial space. They can detect abnormal flow 
patterns and shut the water flow to reduce losses.  
 

 
Image source: ​https://i.ytimg.com 
 
Leaks in buildings are not easily detected leading to unnecessary 
consumption of water. Leak detection equipment does not reduce water 
consumption per se but avoid unneeded use especially important in metered 
facilities.  
 

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Consider rainwater harvesting:​ Water harvesting is water collected from 
roofs when it rains and potentially from air conditioning condensate. The 
collected water can be stored and used in irrigation and/or flushing toilets.  
 

 
Image source: e
​ co-business.com 
 
The volume of collected rainwater is approximately equal to the surface area 
of the roof multiplied by the average rainwater depth per year minus about 
25% in losses through evaporation. The first rain event is usually not stored 
because it carries dust and dirt accumulated during the dry season. The 
amount of saved water will depend on location (rainfall depth per year), the 
size of the roof and the type of dwelling (building or single house).   
 
Treat and reuse greywater: ​Greywater is wastewater coming from sinks, 
showers, baths and dishwashers. It does not contain organic waste nor 
excrement. Some jurisdictions have or are planning to allow installation of 
greywater distribution systems.  
 
 

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Image source: r​ iverlabs.ca  
 
The water is considered non potable, but is suitable for use in toilets and 
urinals. Use of greywater can considerably reduce consumption of domestic 
water.  
 
This water can be reused immediately or with minimal treatment in flushing 
and irrigation but needs treatment if stored. Treatment can be through 
filtration and disinfection using chlorine for example or through simple 
biological treatment systems.   
 
Plumbing must be adjusted in order to isolate greywater from wastewater 
and to allow a separate distribution network for water closets to allow 
flushing with harvested and greywater.[6] 

Potential Water Metering Issues To Be Aware Of.

The size and accuracy of a water meter is important when accurately 
accounting for water use. Public buildings generally use compound, high 
velocity style meters that are usually 2-4 inches in size. 

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Keep in mind that water meters can become less accurate when the 
intended water use of a facility has changed or when substantial water 
conservation activities have been implemented. 
 
If a meter is oversized for the facility’s needs, the facility could be paying 
unwarranted service charges for it. Even properly selected and sized water 
meters can become inaccurate due to wear, which is affected by age and 
water quality.  
 
You can use in-place field testing using a pitotmeter for large meters and a 
portable meter test unit for smaller water meters.  
 
Submetering is an excellent way to accurately account for large water uses in 
specific areas of the facility. It helps personnel become familiar with water use 
for all operations and indicates whether equipment is using water when it is 
not needed. 
 
Temporary meters will indicate whether it is cost-effective to install 
permanent meters. Bucket and stopwatch is a simple and accurate 
measurement tool.  
 
To use this method, collect a specified amount of water for a specific time 
period (i.e. one quart per minute, which is equivalent to 0.25 gpm). 
Micro-weirs are small hand-held weirs that are used to measure low flows of 
water (0.5 to six gpm) in tight spaces, such as under lavatory faucets. 

Summary 
Water is a necessity for the sustenance of life on earth. While the supply may 
seem abundant, water is not an infinite resource, particularly fresh potable 
water necessary to our survival.  
 
Without our acknowledgement in the design and construction industry and 
in our everyday consciousness, this vital supply of water may be threatened. 
We, as owners, developers, and engineers, play a vital role in looking beyond 
our building codes and budgets to achieve higher levels of water efficiency.  
 

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New technologies that use less water are becoming more important than 
ever, but our common sense and realization that our planet cannot give 
forever will ensure that future generations will enjoy the benefits of abundant 
fresh water because of the decisions that we make now. 
 
LEED v4.1 awards water efficiency points on the basis of the water 
performance score, which measures the total water consumption of the 
building against the total water consumption of comparable 
high-performance buildings. 
 
The score is from 1 to 100 based on the project water consumption per 
occupant and water usage per floor area over a 12-month period. This 
streamlined, outcome-based strategy is encouraging to improve efficiency 
and sustainability in existing facilities. 
 
LEED Zero Water is important to consider for building owners and facility 
managers who take a leadership approach to water.  
 
USGBC introduced LEED Zero certification about a year ago during the 
Global Climate Action Summit to honor LEED projects that function at a net 
zero level for a given resource: carbon, electricity, water, or waste, and that 
have been shown to have 12 months of operational data. 
 
LEED Zero Water focused on balancing potable water consumption against 
alternative sources of water and restoring water to its natural source. 
Certification is intended to acknowledge leadership and to demonstrate 
innovative strategies for water management. 
 
The first project in the world to earn LEED Zero Water certification is the 
Eurobusiness office in Curitiba, Brazil. The 14-story LEED Platinum building 
treats 100% of its wastewater (gray and black) on site through a constructed 
wetland on its roof. 
 
Treated wastewater is then reutilized for toilet/urinal flushing or infiltrated 
on-site (returned to source). (returned to source). No chemicals are used in 
the treatment process and the on-site artesian well is supplied with potable 
water. 
 

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The municipal building code mandated the treatment and reuse of 
greywater and the construction of a rainwater catchment basin to minimize 
runoff. The conventional design approach would have put these systems 
underground, eating up the space of two parking spots. 
 
In order to minimize the first costs and free up parking space, rainwater was 
collected on the roof instead. A 20-centimeter-deep "water pool" occupies the 
entire surface of the roof deck. 
 
The raised floor system for outdoor use is covered with fine gravel and 
planted with macrophytes or aquatic plants grown in or near water. The 
entire assembly acts as a built wetland and is part of the wastewater 
treatment system. 
 
The replication of natural systems has proven to be the most economical 
method for the treatment of wastewater in the building. It also allowed the 
treatment of both gray and black water without any additional cost. 
 
At the end of the day, parking spaces paid for the system. Efficient fixtures 
and fittings have been used to reduce potable water consumption and the 
amount of wastewater produced. 
 
This was vital to the success of the design, as the available roof or wetland 
area was small. The building was built to use 45% less water and, when 
alternative sources were taken into account, overall potable water use was 
reduced by 82%. 
 
The building uses several alternative sources of water on site, including 
collected rainwater, condensate from AHUs(air handling unit), subsurface 
infiltration, as well as gray and black water. 
 
At about 65% of the water used has been reclaimed and the building uses 
only municipally treated potable water as the back-up. 
 
According to Guido Petinelli, LEED project consultant, the building had 
already installed meters for both potable and alternative sources of water, 
making it easier to measure data for a year and showing that LEED Zero 
Water requirements had been satisfied. 

31
 
The project developer and investor, Marcos Bodanese, saw certification and 
sustainability decisions as the right thing to do. LEED Zero now offers an 
opportunity to assess and verify performance, while still promoting resilience 
initiatives. 
 
Life cycle cost savings 
 
Building owners and facility managers can often justify water management 
programs on their own or in combination with energy efficiency or other 
improvements to life cycle cost analyses. 
 
Analyzes should seek to provide energy savings as well as water and 
wastewater utility savings involved in the project. As these projects allow 
facilities to better cope with storms or to return to operation more efficiently, 
tangible resilience benefits can have substantial financial value. 
 
Lost business income from prolonged closures can be a significant cost of 
storms, beyond physical property loss.[7] 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

32
 
REFERENCES  
 
 
[1]​https://www.usgbc.org/credits/new-construction-data-centers-new-constru
ction-warehouse-and-distribution-centers-new?return=/credits/New%20Cons
truction/v4.1 
 
[2]​https://www.usgbc.org/articles/energy-star-and-leed-work-together-privat
esector-energy-efficiency 
 
[3]​https://www.energystar.gov/products/saving_water_helps_protect_our_nati
ons_water_supplies#:~:text=WaterSense%20labeled%20products%20use%20a
t,hours%20of%20electricity%20per%20year​. 
 
[4]​https://www.energystar.gov/products/saving_water_helps_protect_our_nat
ions_water_supplies#:~:text=It%20can%20also%20reduce%20water,%2C%20p
ump%2C%20and%20heat%20water.&text=Homes%20with%20high%2Defficie
ncy%20plumbing,%2C%20sewer%2C%20and%20energy%20bills​. 
 
[5]​https://www.csemag.com/articles/10-ways-to-save-water-in-commercial-bu
ildings/ 
 
[6]​http://www.lcec.org.lb/Content/uploads/ProcedureDocument/1810191231391
18~Indoor%20Water%20Reduction%20for%20Residential%20and%20Commer
cial%20Applications.pdf 
 
[7]​https://www.facilitiesnet.com/green/article/How-LEED-Guides-Users-to-Wa
ter-Efficiency--18644 
 
 
 
 
 

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