How do we take the next step in sustainable water management? During a recent Community of Practice (CoP) on water reuse in Ghent (Belgium), two inspiring projects showcased how greywater reuse offers an efficient solution for different sectors. Both the Cohousing Project Jean in Sint-Amandsberg and the Ibis Hotel Gent-Dampoort demonstrate how innovative technologies can drastically reduce water consumption while adding value for residents and users.
🏠 Cohousing Project Jean pioneers in greywater treatment
This cohousing community of 10 homes does not only bring people together, but it also uses water intelligently. Thanks to an advanced greywater system, wastewater from showers, baths and sinks is purified and reused for toilet flushing. The take-home messages from this case are:
- How does it work? The system uses computer-controlled aeration to break down organic pollution, after which the water passes through filters and a UV system. This water is then safely reused.
- Ecological impact: Every year, the community saves thousands of litres of drinking water
- Challenges: Investment is rather high (scale of the project!), but the project offers long-term benefits.
- Careful planning of in the design and construction phase is crucial. For instance, you need to pay close attention to system sizing and levels of pipe network.
🏨 Ibis Gent-Dampoort: Greywater reuse in hospitality
With 281 rooms and a weekend capacity of 600 guests, this hotel annually consumes more than 10,350 m³ of water. To make this more efficient, the hotel is taking a chance on grey water recycling system for toilet flushing. The take-home messages from this case are:
- How does it work? Ibis plans to install a grey water treatment system that recycles shower water, but they hit peak capacity when many guests shower at the same time. The solution? A smart buffer tank to keep recycled water available for reuse.
- Ecological impact: Annual savings of 1,500 m³ of drinking water per building by reusing shower water for toilets.
- Investment: An expected payback period of 7-8 years, even with modest capacity.
- What’s next? The hotel group is also exploring scaling up, whereby excess treated water can be supplied to other users in the future. For example, a hotel located in a larger residential tower could recycle the greywater in the entire building (hotel + apartments) for toilet flushing and sell the surplus water for use in the apartments to explore new business models. Communication towards hotel customers: an information panel in the toilets tells visitors about the use of recycled water, which can sometimes cause slight discolouration.
💡 Why greywater reuse is the future
- Drinking Water Conservation: In both residential and commercial buildings, greywater reuse can reduce drinking water consumption by 20-30%.
- Scale makes a difference: Especially in shared residential projects and hotels, it offers greater efficiency and feasibility.
- Technology is ready: (Innovative) watersystems and computer-controlled treatment, including sensors make implementation easier and more reliable.
- Importance of planning: From piping and labelling to buffer capacity, good preparation prevents problems and reduces costs.
Our take? Grey water is no longer a pipe dream, but a viable solution. These projects prove that smart reuse of water can play a key role in the battle against water scarcity and unnecessary consumption of drinking water.
👉 Do you think grey water reuse can become a standard in homes or businesses? What opportunities do you see to implement this? Share your vision with us!
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For any questions about this article you can reach out to the authors, Veerle Depuydt (VITO) and Dries Seuntjens (DuCoop).