University of Austin's WaterHub aims to ease strained water supply
Editor's note: This story was written by University of Texas student Clara Carrabba.
The University of Texas is making a bold leap in water sustainability with its planned WaterHub facility, the largest of its kind at a university in the U.S.
Why it matters: The hub, which officials expect to be running by fall 2027, will be able to reclaim up to 1 million gallons of wastewater per day, easing the burden on Austin's water supply, which has been stressed from population growth and extreme weather conditions.
What they're saying: The WaterHub will decrease the university's dependence on city water supplies year-round and reduce campus water usage, according to Xavier Rivera Marzán, who led initial planning for the hub as the university's former executive director of utilities and energy management.
"Every gallon of water reclaimed by UT's WaterHub is another gallon of water made available for the Austin community," Rivera Marzán says.
Zoom in: The 9,600-square-foot water processing facility, which will be located in UT's engineering district, will serve as a laboratory for students and faculty to study water treatment and reuse technology.
It will also include a greenhouse space that's open to the public.
How it works: The WaterHub will intercept domestic wastewater from the newly installed diversion manhole at East 21st Street and San Jacinto Boulevard.
The water will enter a distribution system to be filtered and treated before it's used in cooling towers and boilers.
The reclaimed water, which is safe for non-drinking purposes, will help the university achieve a 40% reduction in campus portable water usage.
By the numbers: Existing WaterHubs across the U.S. reclaim between 300,000 to 600,000 gallons of water daily.
Beyond sustainability, the WaterHub will reduce water purchase costs and discharge fees over time, according to UT's utilities and energy management website.
What's next: The facility will be managed and maintained by H2O Innovation in a public-private partnership with the university.
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