Water reuse systems, in which rainwater, greywater and/or blackwater is captured on-site, treated to the appropriate standards and repurposed for non-potable end uses, offer New Yorkers the opportunity to optimize the city’s existing system, promote water conservation, and prepare for climate change. When done right, it is safe, cost-effective and energy-efficient. States around the country, including Minnesota, Washington, Oregon and California are in the process of creating new rules to promote these systems.

In many ways, New York is ripe for a proliferation of water reuse systems. Historical precedent in Battery Park City and on the New School campus have set the stage for what’s possible, while the NYC Department of Environmental Protection has created a generous grant for on-site water reuse systems in order to incentivize future development. New tools for designers and legislators have emerged in the past two years that take the guesswork out of the rule-creation and design process. In a water-rich city such as New York, water reuse should be looked to as a tool for providing resiliency, efficiency and innovation. Learn about the reasons for doing on-site water reuse, the successes of buildings that have paved the way, and the tools available for you to incorporate these systems into your next project.