Site-Level Stormwater Reuse: A Cost Assessment of Commercial Developments in Canada

This paper presents an economic feasibility analysis of a new site-level stormwater reuse system for commercial sites in Canada. The new reuse system utilizes captured stormwater from an on-site stormwater management (SWM) pond and temporarily detains the treated water in an underground storage facility for reuse. The reclaimed water is distributed for nonpotable end uses such as toilet flushing and irrigation in commercial buildings on site. Research has indicated that the reuse system can achieve a potable water replacement between 63% and 99% for single-commercial developments across Canada. Results from the hydrologic analysis were used to evaluate capital and operating costs and expected water savings for a novel large-scale stormwater reuse system. Preliminary results indicate favorable pay-back periods for implementation in municipalities across Canada.