Syracuse University Carrier DomeRainwater Harvesting“From Dome Foam to Reality!”Presented By: Bruce W. Wanlass, PE, LEED AP

11th Annual CNYEngineering Expo 2014

What’s Being Covered

• What is rainwater harvesting?• Why harvest rainwater in Onondaga County?• Some history• Review of Code requirements• A couple other rainwater projects

• SU Carrier Dome Rainwater Harvesting

Things to Look For…

1. What is a good source for rainfall data?2. Describe two types of rainwater harvesting storage and

treatment systems.3. List specific codes that presently guide the design,

construction and use of rainwater.4. Identify two potential funding sources for rainwater

harvesting projects.5. Code requires reclaimed water piping to be what color?6. Code requires/allows reclaimed water to be dyed only

what two colors?

What is Rainwater Harvesting?

• Intercepting storm water runoff and putting it to beneficial use.

• Rainwater is usually collected from rooftops, or pavements.

• Rainwater is not the same as graywater, but presently must follow the Graywater Code!

• Challenges:• Rainfall is unpredictable• Storage systems are required• Back-up water supply system is required• Initial high cost. Payback will vary• Regular maintenance is required

Why Harvest Rainwater?

• Rainwater is a valuable resource• Reduces municipal water consumption

• Cuts down on a facilities water bill• Pure drinking water is unnecessary for many water uses• Reduces the amount of water that needs to be treated

• Retention of rainwater slows overflows

• Control/eliminate combined sewer overflows into the sanitary system

• SAVE THE RAIN!

Basilica Cistern—Istanbul, Turkey (6th Century)

Bell Caves—Maresha, Israel(7th & 8th Centuries)

Nagar Sagar Kund Step Well—Bundi, southern Rajasthan, India (1699)

Homestead Cistern—United States(19th Century)

New York State and ICC Codes allow the use of rainwater for…

• Flushing of water closets• Flushing of urinals• Irrigation

GUIDELINES ARE ESTABLISHED IN APPENDIX C OF THE PLUMBING CODE OF NYS ANDIN ICC CHAPTER 13

It can also be used for: • Evaporative coolers• Car washing and custodial uses• Pet and livestock watering • Indoor plant watering• Fire suppression

Harvested Water Piping Shall Be Marked As Non-Potable

• Rainwater (reclaimed water) Piping Distribution Systems:• Purple piping• Labeling• Food-grade vegetable dye

added to the harvested water

Blue

Green

Storage & Treatment System Variations

Recirculation Type:• Vortex separator prior to

cistern• Storage cistern• Bag filters• UV and/or Ozone (17min)• Recirculate cistern water

through treatment skid and back to cistern

• No day tank• Dye added to reclaimed

water prior to use

Non-recirculation Type:• Vortex separator prior to

cistern• Storage cistern• Primary & final filtration• UV treatment• Chlorine injection• Day tank• Dye added to reclaimed

water prior to use

Syracuse Hancock AirportRainwater Harvesting System

Syracuse Hancock Airport

• Roof capture area—61,000 square feet• Captured rainfall per year—1.3 million gallons• 5,000 visitors/day, 365 days/year• Estimated usage per year—1.5 million gallons• Water used for flushing toilets and urinals• Funding—airport passenger facility charges

Syracuse Hancock Airport

• Vortex separators• 15,000-gallon cistern (3 days of storage)• 500-gallon day tank

Syracuse Hancock Airport

• Secondary cartridge filtration (1 micron)• UV treatment• Day tank• Booster pumps• Dye injection

Syracuse VA Medical Center

• Federal mandate for VAMC to reduce run-off

• Multiple levels of existing flat roof

• Existing chiller plant cooling towers evaporates more than 5 million gallons of make-up water annually

• Make-up source is currently the City of Syracuse ($$)

• Outside of “Save The Rain” boundaries

Syracuse VA Medical Center

• Re-route existing roof drains through 10 floors• Extensive field work

• Passive filtration system• Vortex filters• Low maintenance, no clogging

• 10,000-gallon custom underground cistern to supplement 25,000-gallon cooling tower sump

• Simple float system prioritizes use of rainwater

• Augmented system expected to save 900,000 gallons per year (~20%)

Carrier Dome Rainwater Harvesting

Inspiration Can Come at the Strangest Times

Carrier Dome Advantages

• High-profile project. Everyone has heard of the Carrier Dome

• Extremely large roof area (7 acres)• Rainwater available year round

(heated roof/gutter)• Easy access to rest room piping

systems• Available space for indoor cisterns• Multiple adjacent facilities that

could use excess dome rainwater

Project Challenges

• Project funding… “Save The Rain”?... EFC?• Obtaining usage data for public toilet rooms• Sizing cisterns and day tanks• Finding space for pumping and treatment equipment

room• Locating cisterns (five times)• Limited access to the existing roof drainage system

Determining Design Parameters

• Rainfall Data—Cornell Northeast Regional Climate Center (NRCC)

• Measuring facility usage (Half-time is Huge!)• Sizing cisterns

• Rainfall per week• Sizing day tanks

• Two 4,100 gal tanks (8,200 gallons total)• Sizing triplex booster pumps

• 150 gpm, 90 psi each (450 gpm total)• 300 gpm during half-time

Available Rainfall

• NRCC data• Annual rainfall on dome

• 6,650,000 gals• Average rainfall per month

• 550,000 gals• Average rainfall per week

• 128,000 gals

Preliminary Calculated Usage

• Men’s room urinal usage per week 2,000 gals• Men’s room toilet usage per week 2,500 gals• Women’s room toilet usage per week 11,000 gals• Total usage per week 15,500 gals• Required cistern storage capacity 20,000 gals

No additional storage was calculated based on historical drought information. It was assumed that municipal water would be used during low rain periods.

Actual Measured Usage

• Measured total flow into the Dome during a football game

• Subtracted “base load” usages

• 60,000 gallons for a game with 30,000 fans

• Utilized two gallons/person for typical event

• Researched historical Dome attendance

Proposed Indoor Cistern Locations

• Above upper concourse

• Highly visible• Educational• Also looked at

locating below floor slab

• Structural concerns

Proposed Above Grade Cistern Locations

Proposed Above Grade Cistern Locations

• North & south sides of Dome

System Schematic

Storage & Treatment System Components

• Vortex solids separators• Primary filter w/backwash (100 micron)• Secondary filter (25 micron)• Final filter (1 micron)• UV lights• Chlorine recirculation

through day tanks • Dye injection (blue)

Day Tanks

Vortex Filter

• 380 Micron Screen

Below Grade Cisterns

• Single wall fiberglass• Existing utility conflicts

Rainwater Refinery Concept

Rainwater Mechanical Room

• Educational Component:• Touch screen• Animation• Spot lights• Signage & labels• Exterior sign• Murals

Men’s Room Mural Concept

Men’s Room Mural Installed

Women’s Room Mural Concept

Exterior Signage

Quiz

1. What is a good source for rainfall data?2. Describe two types of rainwater harvesting storage and treatment

systems.3. List specific codes that presently guide the design, construction

and use of rainwater.4. Identify two potential funding sources for rainwater harvesting

projects.5. Code requires reclaimed water piping to be what color?6. Code requires/allows reclaimed water to be dyed only what two

colors?7. Bonus Question: What color will the Carrier Dome RHS water be

dyed?

Thank you!Questions?

This presentation is protected by US and International Copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, display and use of the presentation without written

permission of the speaker is prohibited.

© C&S Companies, 2014

Copyright Materials