Based on the plans of the communities in Chapel Hill, Long Beach, and Inglewood, we have adapted and constructed a plan to build a recycled water site right off of campus that can be used, initially by New York City’s Department of Transportation to fill up the sweeper trucks that operate near our area.  These trucks do not require much water, since they use some water to treat and wash the streets and the rest to hold down the dust so it can be vacuumed efficiently.  The water from the roof of the W.E.B building (some going underground through gutters and others being redirected to the parking lot) will be used because of its proximity to the site we have in mind.  The site is an overpass on Bedford Avenue, which is above a parking lot (the former location of the LIRR tracks) that stretches out through the entire length of campus.  Our calculations reveal that nearly 19,500 gallons of water per hour is produced through 1-inch rains on the W.E.B building roof.  This amount of water adds to the stress of our city’s treatment plants and thus any alleviation of this problem will help the city deal with the overwhelming amount of water shuffling through the sewer systems.  

Planned recycled water site under the overpass of Bedford Rd., the actual filling site will be underneath the overpass, which currently houses a parking lot.

By building a recycled water site, we can introduce a recognizable center that can be repaired easily and used just as easily.  The cost of this site can be provided through the partnership with the city, while our water supply will fuel the running of these sites.  The pipeline will run from the W.E.B building to the parking lot underneath the overpass.  This parking lot has enough space for the street sweepers to come in and fill their tanks instead of utilizing tap water.  We also eliminate traffic that could be caused by the movement of these trucks into these areas as it will be used in a below traffic station.  By hooking up the pipeline to the overpass, we will be able to generate enough pressure for the trucks to be filled quickly.

The recycled water programs help alleviate many pressures put on New York City’s sewer systems, and may protect the sewage drains from being backed up. With the support from our council leaders, we can apply for funding through the city’s budget to build this pipeline.  It is one that can be a model for many other sites through the city and will help our campus become more efficient in dealing with our stormwater problems.

This proposal is to provide a rain based alternative water supply for Department of Sanitation street-cleaning vehicles by channeling the rainwater runoff from the roof of the West End Building (WEB) down to the parking lot below through a gutter and pipe system.

Pictures:

Gallon Water Tank Schematics

(TanksForLess.com)

Measurements:

The W.E.B building has a total perimeter of 666.666 feet and area of 31,388.9 square feet. The calculations follow:

Calculations:

Project Features:

In this project, we will be utilizing the rainwater gathered from the rooftop of the WEB building for street cleaning purposes around the campus. This will be done by collecting water from the gutter of the building to an external tank through a pipe system. As of now, the gutters of the building go through the concrete and underneath the building. This project depends on whether there is already a pipe system under the WEB building. If there is, we will modify the pipes to direct water into tanks near the parking lot behind the tennis courts The tank will be placed in the adjacent parking lot for ease of extraction by the Department of Sanitation. Furthermore, since the parking lot is below the building, no pump system is really required as gravity is the only necessary tool needed for this matter. However, the size of the water tank is a different matter. According to the calculations, 1-inch of rain in an hour would produce approximately 20,000 gallons of water. Of course, obtaining a tanker that can hold an amount that large can be inconvenient when determining where to place it, and they usually end up being those placed underground. Furthermore, a tanker that large wouldn’t be able to fit the space in the parking lot. What we would end up having to do is getting one that is large enough to supply the Department of Sanitation with a decent amount of water to use to clean the streets. Unfortunately, the rest of the water would have to go where they are currently being drained to now. We can place tanks elsewhere on the campus and build additional pipelines to those areas, but that may be too costly and inconvenient for the DOS to extract the water from different areas. According to a water tank distributor, Tanks For Less, a 360 pound, 2500 gallon water tank has a diameter of 96” and height of 95” inches, and can be placed with ease in the parking lot right next to the WEB building.  (http://www.tanksforless.com/2500-Gallon-Poly-Mart-Water-Tank-PM2500.htm)

Potential Problems:

The major problem of this project would be that it is almost completely dependent upon a pre-existing pipeline system. If there is no pipeline system in place, it would be close to impossible or may prove to be quite expensive to transport the water collected from the WEB building to the water tank. Further investigation of these problems and possibilities will have to be done in conjunction with engineers, DOS, and those most familiar with the current piping systems.

Functions, Benefits, and Attractions:

1. Conserves and reuses otherwise wasted rainwater resources to service a public need.
2. Will prevent the waste of many gallons of tap water by street-cleaning operators.
3. Capture and transform runoff rainwater into a valuable resource.
4. Utilizes existing infrastructure and gravity; no new pipes or energy needed.
5. Relieves pressures on water treatment plants and the sewage system.
6. May serve as a model for expanded water conservation projects across campus.