C3.4: Reduce Outdoor Water Use

(4-6 points)

INTENT

Conserve water resources and minimize energy use by encouraging alternative irrigation methods and water conservation strategies that limit or eliminate the use of potable water, natural surface water, and groundwater withdrawals for landscape irrigation and other outdoor use.

REQUIREMENTS*

This credit applies to short- and long-term water use.

Reduce or eliminate the use of potable water, natural surface water (e.g., lakes, rivers streams), and groundwater withdrawals for outdoor use, including landscape irrigation and created water features. Ensure that water use will not negatively affect receiving waters.

Exemptions: Water volume used for the following purposes may be included or excluded from calculations at the project team’s discretion:

• Water used during establishment period (excluding Option 3)
• Water used to irrigate non-commercial food production gardens. Irrigation used on edible plants should not harm human health. (See HHWB C6.7: Provide for on-site food production.)
• Water used as required by local regulations in fire-prone areas for fire-suppression systems

Option 1: Reduce outdoor water use (4 points)

For landscape irrigation:

• Reduce water use by at least 75 percent from a baseline case beyond the establishment period. Refer to the U.S. EPA WaterSense Water Budget Tool (or local equivalent for projects outside the United States) used in Water P3.2: Reduce water use for landscape irrigation (www.epa.gov/watersense/water_budget/application.html).
• Install water meters to record and measure water usage to compare to the established baseline.

For created water features:

• Verify that 50 percent of annual make-up water for site water features comes from non-potable water sources OR that site water features only require a total of 10,000 gallons (37,854.12 liters) or less of potable water annually. Note that initial filling may be derived from potable water if less than 37,500 gallons (141,952.94 liters).
• Ensure the section of the site maintenance plan (see O+M P8.1: Plan for sustainable site maintenance) is complete. Regarding the water features, the plan must describe appropriate maintenance activities that do not use chemicals likely to harm aquatic life, such as chlorine and bromine (except where required by local health code), and that ensure habitat for mosquitoes will not be created.

Option 2: Significantly reduce outdoor water use (5 points)

For landscape irrigation:

• Use no potable water or other natural surface or groundwater withdrawal resources for landscape irrigation beyond the establishment period. Refer to the U.S. EPA WaterSense Water Budget Tool (or local equivalent for projects outside the United States) used in Water P3.2: Reduce water use for landscape irrigation (www.epa.gov/watersense/water_budget/application.html).
• Install water meters to record and measure water usage to compare to the established baseline.
• Use temporary irrigation systems that rely on potable water during the establishment period only if such systems will be removed or disconnected at the end of the period.
• Use the following water for landscape irrigation only after the establishment period:
  • Captured rainwater
  • Reclaimed water
  • Recycled wastewater
  • Recycled graywater
  • Air-conditioner condensate
  • Blowdown water from boilers and cooling towers
  • Water treated and conveyed by a public agency specifically for non-potable uses

For created water features:

• Site water features must total 5,000 gallons (18,927 liters) or less of potable water annually.

OR

• 75 percent of annual make-up water for water features must come from non-potable water sources.
• Ensure the section of the site maintenance plan (see O+M P8.1: Plan for sustainable site maintenance) is complete. Regarding the water features, the plan must describe appropriate maintenance activities that do not use chemicals likely to harm aquatic life, such as chlorine and bromine (except where required by local health code), and that ensure habitat for mosquitoes will not be created.

Option 3: Eliminate outdoor water use (6 points)

For landscape irrigation:

• Eliminate long-term irrigation
• Use the following water for landscape irrigation only during the establishment period:
  • Captured rainwater
  • Reclaimed water
  • Recycled wastewater
  • Recycled graywater
  • Air-conditioner condensate
  • Blowdown water from boilers and cooling towers
  • Water treated and conveyed by a public agency specifically for non-potable uses

For created water features:

• 100 percent of annual make-up water for water features must come from non-potable water sources.
• Ensure the section of the site maintenance plan (see O+M P8.1: Plan for sustainable site maintenance) is complete. Regarding the water features, the plan must describe appropriate maintenance activities that do not use chemicals likely to harm aquatic life, such as chlorine and bromine (except where required by local health code), and that ensure habitat for mosquitoes will not be created.

RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES

See strategies listed in Water P3.2: Reduce water use for landscape irrigation.

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