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FAQs about WEc1 :

Can non-potable well water that is used for irrigation contribute to potable water reduction?

Can surface water, such as water from an irrigation ditch or a local creek, be used as nonpotable water?

Do interior planters count in the calculation?

We are using non-potable water for irrigation. For drought conditions, can we hook up to a potable water source for backup and still earn this credit?

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NC-2009 WEc1:Water Efficient Landscaping

100% Municipal Non-Potable Water

Our project will irrigate with a drip irrigation system using 100% municipally supplied non-potable water. The way I am reading this credit, we cannot get any points for using non-potable water if we are using irrigation and it cannot meet the 50% reduction threshold. Due to turf grass areas, we cannot comply. Since the intent of the credit is reducing potable water use, not reducing water use overall, why do we have to show irrigation efficiency to achieve any points at all despite our 100% potable water use reduction?

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Susann Geithner
Principal
Emerald Built Environments
LEEDuser Basic Member
900 thumbs up

Fri, 09/09/2011 - 13:57

you should be able to get 2 points for option 1 since the water, which you are using seems to be "water treated and conveyed by a public agency specifically for nonpotable uses". To get 4 points however you will have to do 50% less water and 100% less potable water.

Fri, 09/09/2011 - 15:33

Hi Susann, I think I should get 2 pts for the non-potable water also, but I don't read the credit that way. To pursue Option 2 and use non-potable water, I have to explicitly meet Option 1 first. Hence my confusion.
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Susann Geithner
Principal
Emerald Built Environments
LEEDuser Basic Member
900 thumbs up

Fri, 09/09/2011 - 15:54

Michelle, The footnote in the reference guide and more specifically the addendum (they revised the wording a little bit) states the following:"If the percent reduction of potable water is 100% AND the percent reduction of total water is equal to or greater than 50%, then option 2 is earned, for a total of 4 points."

Fri, 09/09/2011 - 17:16

Susann, Thanks for the clarification. Our irrigation system does not reduce total water use 50% over a conventional system. It simply uses 100% non-potable water. When "total water reduction" was not the intent of the credit, I did not understand our inability to achieve at least 2 of the possible 4 pts. I'll check the addenda more closely. I guess I did not realize you could change the intent of a credit through that mechanism. Thanks.
Profile picture for user sgeithner
Susann Geithner
Principal
Emerald Built Environments
LEEDuser Basic Member
900 thumbs up

Fri, 09/09/2011 - 18:34

Michelle, you scenario sounds like you can get 2 points. Option 1 requires the reduction of potable water by 50%. You are using non-potable water for all your irrigation. As long as the non-potable water is in line with the restrictions of LEED e.g. no ground water, streams, ect.. Check is that's the water you are using: "water treated and conveyed by a public agency specifically for nonpotable uses". Furthermore the credit language for option 1 says any combination of the listed items. You don't have to be 50% more efficient just with your irrigation system. I hope that helps you sort this out.

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