ESTRATÉGIAS DE CONSERVAÇÃO DE ÁGUA EM EDIFICAÇÃO RESIDENCIAL DE ALTO PADRÃO COM APROVEITAMENTO DE FONTES NÃO POTÁVEIS DE ÁGUA

Abstract

The technical and economic evaluation for the implementation of systems for use and reuse of water for non-potable purposes is an essential tool in decision making. The present research sought to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of water conservation strategies to meet the non-potable demands in Luiz Nogueira Building at Vitória - ES. Three water reuse scenarios were evaluated: gray water, rainwater and condensate. The technical evaluation was carried out with the aid of the STAN software (subSTance flow ANalysis), through the elaboration of water balances for three hypothetical scenarios for the building. The economic evaluation was carried out through budgets for the implementation of four configurations and two different types of treatment for alternative sources of non-potable water. The results obtained in the technical feasibility assessment indicated that the reuse of gray water offers better performance in meeting the demands for non-potable water, when compared to the use of rainwater and condensate water, as it ensures greater water security for the building, so that the entire demand for non-potable water could be met only with the supply of gray water. The results obtained in the evaluation of economic viability indicated that the scenario with reuse of gray water, after treatment of Constructed Wetlands, presents the best economic viability, with better NPV, IRR and Payback, when compared to other scenarios and treatments. Although higher initial investment and operation and maintenance costs, systems that consider the reuse of gray water have greater savings in potable water. Thus, for Edifício Luiz Nogueira, the reuse of gray water after the treatment of Constructed Wetlands showed better technical and economic feasibility for the conditions considered in this research.