The credit ruling dated 1/20/04 states that using any form of municipal supplied water for irrigation would not meet the intent of this credit. Is the issue that the water originates offsite, that it is supplied by a municipality, or that it is considered treatable and therefore ultimately potable? Our project is a new city building, and we have planned to use the city\'s reclaimed water supply for irrigation. Although the water does not originate on-site, it is "recycled graywater" from other sources. The city collects wastewater from homes and businesses, filters it, and then distributes this water for irrigation and toilet flushing instead of having to use surface or aquifer water. This approach can be more practical then individual graywater systems at each building, since many building owners cannot afford and would have difficulties maintaining their own graywater system, and the city graywater achieves the same water efficiency results as individual graywater systems. The municipality is supplying the water, but the municipality is also the Owner of the LEED project. We would like to know if using municipal supplied reclaimed water meets the requirements of this credit for this project. We\'d like to add as a footnote that we have been awarded this credit on a previous project using this same strategy.
Neither municipally supplied water or any other water treated off site is accepted under this credit as it is currently written. As noted in CIR ruling dated 11/5/04, the credit\'s intent is to promote the use of site-sourced reclaimed water for irrigation (if irrigation is needed) to achieve site self-sufficiency and reduce the demand for water that would otherwise be used elsewhere. The credit requirements specifically state "captured rain or recycled site water," thus disqualify water treated off site. CIR ruling dated 1/20/04 stated that "using any form of municipal supplied water for irrigation would not meet the intent of this credit." This issue has previously been brought to the attention of the LEED Water Efficiency Technical Advisory Group which confirmed that municipally supplied graywater cannot contribute to achievement of this credit in the context of version 2.1. However, the WE TAG has proposed a modification to this credit for Version 2.2 that would allow renovated wastewater provided by a municipal agency to be used for WE Credit 1. This modified language is currently undergoing public review prior to balloting. Under Version 2.1, consider using your proposed non-potable water source for achieving WE Credit 2 and an innovation point for doubling that credit\'s requirement. Applicable internationally.