Water Consultation

BLUE FLUENT™℠ NET ZERO INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT CONSULTATION

 

PART 1–    FEE $1,300.00 includes site visit, follow up preliminary research &  paper work deliverables  

DOCUMENT EXISTING, HELPFUL IF CLIENT CAN PROVIDE:

  • Obtain online GIS WEB  info, aerial maps, topographic surveys, USGS maps, Site plan that locates existing buildings, a schematic graph paper diagram (often from property tax assessor or real estate appraiser),  or property tax plat APN map, & if not architect will pace it off & approximate  roof & catchment surface areas, surfaces.
  • Water bills from water company from last 1 or 2 years, or client anticipated water use requirements

PART 1 INCLUDED:

  1. Discuss with Client  goals for water system (independent water security vs reduced water bills vs ROI), & improvement installation budget 
  2. Architect brings laptop computer, & on the spot does calculations, uses rain harvesting spread sheet to multiply catchment surface x statistical average annual rainfall, to determine annual possible rain catchment collection, then compare that to estimated domestic use of water needed.
  3. From that we can determine if you could be NET ZERO WATER meaning (collect & reclaim as much as you use) vs what % you could reduce what you currently use from either your well or buy from water company.
  4. Identify locations on property where collection surfaces, cisterns, tanks, pipes, pumps, distribution systems, & corresponding irrigated landscaping would be situated on property. Rain catchment can be filtered for potable. Identify potable filter treatment. 
  5. Identify collection and storage to hold-over for non-precipitation season 
  6. Water can be collected off of all surfaces: roofs, pavement, and earth. The separate catchment surface sources must be stored & filtered separately, pipes labeled, and the system would pre-designate what source of water is used for subcategories of the water demand budget. All of the used non-toilet waste water can be reclaimed, recycled and re-used perpetually for more grey water. The water lost to the closed loop system from orchard irrigation percolation or evaporation, is replaced by annual precipitation.
  7. Provide follow-up paperwork deliverables to include  summary & concept sketches of overall system
  8. Identify if Client wants to get permits, or not. 
  9. Identify strategy of what system could be installed immediately  without a permit vs what system components require a permit. Make recommendations for other design team consultant expertise 
  10. Calculations are always for worst case scenario. A balanced water budget, similar to financial security, determines Water Security.  Supply Calculations include safety factors to account for maintenance, tank cleaning, testing, leaks, percolation & evaporation losses. Demand calculations include domestic use, firefighting reserve, agricultural use, and special hobby or commercial uses. Old school “pre-water emergency” thinking budgeted 100 gallons of water per person per day. 10% of our domestic water is required to be potable quality (for drinking, food prep & bathing).  Indoor use accounts for 70%. Toilets account for 30 % of the indoor use (30% x 70% = 21%)  becomes toilet water. Some jurisdictions allow and some proprietary devices reclaim toilet water. Even if toilet water is  reclaimed to potable clear quality, people are repulsed by that, so use reclaimed toilet water for edible orchard irrigation or more toilet flushing. Preliminary  

PART 2–  Fees hourly . At end of Part 1, Architect will give hourly estimate for  additional services, Make referrals for company who can do installation, evaluate if local company could do design-build (make own technical drawings from Architect’s Part 1 schematics), if not, Architect makes technical drawing plans & specifications of all equipment & tanks, do request for proposal (RFP) for construction installations to local installers of components/consultants/engineers. Permit administration if required

PART 3 – Fees hourly. Communications during construction

PROJECTS IN ARCHITECT’S LOCAL REGION–  Fee for Travel Time  one-way only

LONG DISTANCE  PROJECTS– Travel fee minimum per diem 1-day.  Identify travel dates, advance review of existing site/floor plans & water bills, if possible, Architect researches & identifies water network associates/installers/consultants local to project region  in advance, Client provides transportation & lodging, Architect provides similar PART 1 & PART 2 services from above.

SUITABLE PROJECTS– Existing Facilities, Undeveloped Land, Residential, Commercial, Industrial, & Agricultural