Building scale
The use of non-drinking water sources is increasingly being considered in the design of new buildings such as multi-tenanted office or apartment complexes in the Perth metropolitan area.
Rainwater tanks, greywater treatment systems or on-site wastewater treatment systems may provide viable options for uses such as toilet flushing and watering of small green spaces. Depending on the purpose of the building – residential or commercial – the produced quantities of greywater and wastewater available for reuse can vary considerably. The non-drinking water source is supplied through an additional set of pipes, often referred to as third pipe scheme. A water service provider may be required to operate a building scale third pipe scheme.
Potential single household (on-site) non-drinking water sources and common use(s)
For more information on the sources click on the links in the table.
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Source:
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Rainwater
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Treated wastewater
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Greywater
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Supply option:
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Tanks (plumbed for in-house use)
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Treatment unit + third pipe
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Treatment unit + third and ‘fourth’ pipes (out/in)
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Garden/verge irrigation
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Laundry cold water tap1
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Toilet flushing
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| identified as suitable option subject to availability of source, adequate treatment and suitability of location |
1 Relevant for residential buildings only