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WaterWise Commercial News | Winter 2017
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CubeSmart Self-Storage Facility is Austin’s First “Net Zero” Building
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 Montopolis Storage will save about 434,500 gallons of water with their new pressurized rainwater collection system and high efficiency drip irrigation system.
These systems will assist in maintaining over 30,000 square feet of landscaping and turf areas at its CubeSmart self-storage facility on Ben White Boulevard. In addition to the savings, they received a rebate from Austin Water’s Rainwater Harvesting rebate program.
The facility is Austin's first 'net zero' commercial building where all energy and water needs can be met from on-site sources rather from public utilities. To reach net-zero status, the facility uses a large, solar-photovoltaic array; geothermal heating and cooling systems; geothermal wells; three rainwater towers; and a regenerative drive elevator, which generates electricity from elevator movement.
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Cooling Tower Tip to Reduce Water Use
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Did you know that if an 800 ton cooling tower operating at 5 cycles of concentration increased its cycles of  concentration to 8, the cooling tower would reduce its water use by 9%, or an estimated 194,000 gallons of water a year? In addition to reducing the cost of water, savings would also include decreased wastewater charges and chemical costs.
Higher cycles of concentration can be achieved through the use of mechanical or chemical water treatment methods such as side stream filtration and water softening, which are eligible for Bucks for Business rebates from Austin Water. To prevent scale from building up, consider installing advanced automation, flow sensors on chemical feeds, level sensors in chemical tanks, and feed verification systems.
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High Tech Industries Take 3C Business Challenge and Save
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Two high tech industries have recently taken the 3C Business Challenge by installing manufacturing process water recyling systems that will save an estimated combined total of over 54.6 million gallons of potable water annually. Both have also applied for funding assistance under Austin Water’s Bucks for Business rebate program that pays up to $100,000 in rebates for a wide variety of commercial and industrial water saving measures and equipment.
Flex Ltd, formerly known as Flextronics, is installing a system to reuse rinse water in the anodizing of electronic components including the aluminum casings for the Mac Pro computer. The treatment and recycling of this process rinse water replaces the use potable water and reduces the amount of pretreated wastewater discharged to the sanitary sewer system. The project is expected to save approximately 64,500 gallons per day, or about 23.5 million gallons per year.
NXP Semiconductors, now NXP QualComm, is installing systems at its Austin manufacturing plants that will reuse rinse water in the manufacture of semiconductors and for cooling tower make-up.  The treatment and recycling of this process rinse water replaces the use of potable water and reduces the amount of pretreated wastewater discharged to the sanitary sewer system. The project at its Bluestein Highway facility is expected to save over 80,000 gallons per day in the manufacturing process, or about 29.4 million gallons annually. Recycling the process water for cooling tower make-up at its William Cannon Drive facility is expected to achieve an average daily water savings of 4,591 gallons or about 1.675 million gallons per year.
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UT Austin Saves Big with On-site Alternative Water Uses
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