The WaterHub® at Emory University recently reached a milestone by reclaiming 150 million gallons of campus wastewater. Since May of 2015, the WaterHub has mined wastewater from Emory’s sewer system, turning what was once a waste, into highly treated reclaimed water that is used for toilet flushing and process make-up demands at the University utility plants.
During its operation, the WaterHub has made a substantial impact on not only the University, but the surrounding community as well. The innovative ecological technologies that drive the decentralized facility provide a real-life example as to what sustainable water and wastewater management look like in an urban environment. Beyond recycling up to two-thirds of the University’s wastewater, the WaterHub is an academic icon that stimulates research and aids in the University’s scholastic and social mission.
The WaterHub has proven what decentralized water reclamation facilities can achieve in an era where water is priority resource that must efficiently managed. As we come upon 2018, the WaterHub will continue to improve the University’s water resiliency and overall environmental footprint by conserving community water resources, reducing wastewater discharge, and insulating critical campus utilities.