WATER IN ARCHITECTURE

How to keep it out of building. Last 100 yrs.-water. Building in industrialized countries.

A. NOURISHMENT - Nourishment-In human body-needs pure (potable) water-3 g/cd (gallons per capita per
day-11.4L/cd). Most common supply system is central municipal fountain of well. Technically important
aesthetically-overall sculptural composition + detail in water spouts etc. Socially-central plaza. Now social
diminished kept drinking fountain.
B. CLEANSING AND HYGIENE - water ideal for dissolution and transport of organic water and bathing (can be
heated). In US-14gal/cd-clothes washing and 19g/cd bathing Before-Saturday night bath, now private except
hot tubs, etc.
C. CEREMONIAL USES - religious services.
D.TRANSPORTATION USES - use in buildings to transport organic waste. Flush toilet-32g/cd. Past-waste
thrown from windows.
EX-Manhattan Island. 1700's: Dry Pit privies. 1800's: paved streets, streams enclosed in storm sewers. Late
1800's-flush toilets to storm sewers, renamed combined sewers, fast flowing rivers. Some storm sewers do not
carry waste- a confused pattern that exists today. Later- design issues grew more complex-need running water,
large diameter pipes. Sewer gas a problem-need vents, traps.
E.COOLING - water cools, stores heat readily, remove heat when evaporated, vaporizes at temp commonly
found at human skin surface. Cooling towers- large building cooling system.
F.ORNAMENTAL USES - Landscape Design. Water-reflective, liquidity, life sustaining to allow plants and
animals in a garden
G.PROTECTIVE USES - Fire Protection-must be delivered quickly from large pipes with large valves, immediate
system distribution
 THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
99% water inaccessible (frozen). Accessible are precipitation and runoff.

A.PRECIPITATION - large but thinly spread resource-rainwater

B.RUNOFF - concentrated flow-possibly polluted: organic, chemical, radioactive
C.SOIL MOISTURE - daily participation that doesn't evaporate or runoff. Groundwater-zone of saturation. Wells
below water table.

Glaciers and polar ice caps:

29,200 stored (2.14%)

Atmosphere: 13 stored (0.001%)

Daily precipitation Daily precipitation

160 775 Daily evaporation
Daily evaporation
875
260
Daily runoff
100
Daily Transfer by
Freshwater lakes and rivers winds
Soil moisture
126 store (0.009%) 100
67 stored
(0.005%)
Oceans, saline lakes, seas
1,320,100 stored
(97.3%)
 Quality Cycles

Fresh Pure

Fresh

Precipitation
Increases acidity
Water becomes “soft” pH less than 7
Evaporation purifies

Runoff
Increases organic content
Increases temperature Affects color

Salty
Percolation Difficult
Increases mineral content
Decreases organic content
Water becomes “hard”, pH more than 7
Fresh

(a). Hydrologic cycle. The figure given are in cubic kilometers. Evaporation” includes transpiration from plant as well as evaporation from surfaces.
“Precipitation” can be rain, hail, sleet, or snow. The vast majority of stored water is in the ocean. (b). Quality of water at various stages within this cycle.
BASIC PLANNING – After relationship between building and water, designer does basic sizing: quantity,
areas of use, equipment associated with hydraulic cycle.
Water also important to building construction: 1 ton bricks:58 – gal, 1 ton steel-43,600 gal, 1 ton plastic-
348,750 gal, concrete-94 lb. bag+6 gal water
ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION-POWER PLANTS, NUCLEAR POWER
A. WATER SUPPLY- conflict between current practice and conservation 1st estimate-gal per capita per day.
Recently conservative. See tables 482, 483. Reduce the table by 25% conservation or 50%-recycling
B. CISTERNS- When using rainwater approximate catchment area and cistern storage volume
1.g/cd x population = gpd
2.gpd x 365 days=gal/yr
3.Assume- dry year will have 2/3 precipitation of average year= design precipitation (can be found from
NOAA annual summaries)
AVERAGE ANNUAL PARTICIPATION X 2/3= DESIGN PRECIPITATION
4.From Fig 8.4 determine catchment
5.Cistern capacity=gpd x days of dry period
6.Capacity to volume
1F° STORES 7.48 GAL OF WATER
C. REQUIRED FACILITIES- no. of plumbing fixtures needed: Table 18.3, p. 874 from Uniform Plumbing
Code- minimal requirements
D. SEWAGE- Only concern if private or on-site sewage treatment is required. Sewage flow
may differ from supply flow, especially if irrigation or in evaporative processes.
1. DETERMINE TYPE OF TREATMENT PROCESS
a. Septic Tank Drainfield-min 750-f? area
1.Shallow Trench, poor drainage=total sewage flow in gpd x 3.6f1?/gal
2.Deep Trenches, goof drainage=total sewage flow in gpd x .4 ft?/gal
B. S.I. UNITS (minimum 70 m?)
1.Shallow Trench-L/day x 0.087 m°/L
2.Deep trench-L/day x 0.01 m7/L
C.MOUNDS-built-up leaching fields on top of existing grade for single family dwelling
4ft high for square 44 ft. per side, sloped 1:3 vertical to horizontal
D.PACKAGE SEWAGE PLANT DRAINFIELD-Effluent is filtered.
1.Poor draining soil=total sewage flow in gd x .49 dt?/gal
2.Well Draining=total sewage flow in gpd x 0.23 f2/gal
E. SEWAGE LAGOONS-2 Open treatment ponds(primary & secondary)- sized on pounds of
biological oxygen demand (BOD) instead of sewage flow
1.Ordinary domestic-0.2lb BOD/person
2.Garbage Grinders, etc-0.3lb BOD/person

TOTAL ACREAGE FOR 2 PONDS:

1.18 lb. BOD-colder
2.35 lb. BOD-drier, warmer
Primary pond usually sized for 50 lb. BOD/a.
18.4 RAINWATER- Rainwater and solar energy are similar, essential for agriculture, needed in architecture.
Our society well established to encourage central suppliers of water and heat. Better than individual-
substantial first cost penalty. Would still be better if combination of public and private.
18.5 COLLECTION AND STORAGE- Rainwater near purest in hydrolic cycle except: acid rain, air
polluted(lead), dust and bird droppings ,roofing materials, form of the roof. Rainwater is soft.
A. WE COULD MEET REQUIREMENT WITH RAINWATER BUT DON'T. Manhattan-42" rain/ yr=148%
needs of 1.7 million inhabitants
Unfiltered rainwater- lacks additive- good for small lawns and gardens.
Cisterns used many countries. Can be strong design element. Passive solar heated home-living areas on
North. Aided by pergolar on west and south.
B. SIZING-Take close look at rainfall deposits and user withdrawals from a cistern using average rainfall
(NOAA Local Climatological Data), monthly water usage, catchment area yield.
TABLE 18.7, P. 972
18.11 RAINWATER AND SITE PLANNING At first-surface flow, natural destina-tions, low area-lakes etc.
Later cities by rivers, sloped to river. interior-high ground.
Evaporation to clouds. Sidewalks, roads-ponding. Storm sewers built- quick disposal which increase
flooding. Overflow influences building design, emphasizing stormwater infiltration rather than quick runoff. 3
design strategies:
A.ROOF RETENTION- ROOFS THAT WILL RETAIN WATER AND SLOWLY RELEASE IT: Use slow flow.
Flat roof, drain slowly, yet eventually completely dry(discourage mosquitoes)
Cisterns-sloped, cleaner, needs more structural, high winds blows water out. Flooded roof-adds thermal
advantage in summer.
B.POROUS PAVEMENT-CATCH RAINFALL ON SITE: porous concrete or incremental paving(many joints to
allow water to pass through, more expensive, alternate paving and ground cover). R-5 for 10 in thickness.
IN Florida strength of over 3800 psi and permeability of 2.3 gal of water per minute per square ft(2500psi-
permeability of 18.5 gal per minute per square foot.

2.5” - 4”
Water storage Porous asphalt surface course
½” to ¾” aggregate with asphalt binder

Concrete
service core
Filter course

2”
½” aggregate only

Reservoir base course

varies
Gray water filter Thickness based on ponding time

Subgrade:
Minimal compaction
Retaining rainwater so that gravity flow can encourage its usage.

Porous paving encourages groundwater recharge rather than storm runoff. (a) Standard porous asphalt
pavement as used in Rockville, Maryland. (b) Subsurface basin allows required retention ponds to
serve as parking lots; this example is at the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia. (Reprinted by
permission from B. Ferguson. 1998. Introduction to Stormwater. John Wiley and Sons. New York.)
C. SITE DESIGN FOR RECHARGING-ONSITE infiltration of runoff: suburban density develop ment-dry
climate with absorptive soil
A. GUTTERLESS SLOPED ROOF-one story basement- less with wide overhanging roof.
Gravel skirting perimeter beneath
B. GUTTER LEADER COMBINATION
1.Splash pan at foot of each leader
2.Gravel filled pipe
3.Dry wall
Footing drains- collect and lead away groundwater at foundations
Recharge basins deliver stormwater to the ground(collect numerous areas)
Hydrozone-landscaping method to minimize water consumption

Roof drainage for houses. Method (a) is suitable for low rates of flow introduced into very pervious soil. When denser soil is encountered, method (b) is used
Porous paving encourages groundwater recharge rather than storm runoff. (a) Standard porous asphalt
to get the water into the ground and thus avoid surface erosion. For heavy flowasorused
pavement to lead the water
in Rockville, farther(b)
Maryland. from the structure,
Subsurface method
basin allows (c) may
required be used
retention with
ponds to
one or several dry wells. serve as parking lots; this example is at the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia. (Reprinted by
permission from B. Ferguson. 1998. Introduction to Stormwater. John Wiley and Sons. New York.)
18.7 COMPONENTS-
1st design decisions-watershed on building roof. Find minimum hourly rainfall for each location. Size
depends on horizontal projected area of the roof and maximum hourly rainfall.

Maximum 100-year, 1-hour rainfall (in inches). (a) eastern United States; (b) central United States; (c) western United States.
Porous paving encourages groundwater recharge rather than storm runoff. (a) Standard porous asphalt
(Note: Alaska, range 0.4 to 1.4 in. [10 to 36 mm]; Hawaii, range 1.5 to 8 in. [38astoused
pavement 203 inmm]) (International
Rockville, Maryland.Plumbing Code.
(b) Subsurface Reprinted
basin with permission.
allows required All to
retention ponds
rights reserved. 1997, International Code Council, Inc., Falls Church,serve
VA.)as parking lots; this example is at the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia. (Reprinted by
permission from B. Ferguson. 1998. Introduction to Stormwater. John Wiley and Sons. New York.)
18.8 SIZING-
1st design decisions-watershed on building roof. Find minimum hourly rainfall for each location. Size
depends on horizontal projected area of the roof and maximum hourly rainfall.

Porous paving encourages groundwater recharge rather than storm runoff. (a) Standard porous asphalt
pavement as used in Rockville, Maryland. (b) Subsurface basin allows required retention ponds to
serve as parking lots; this example is at the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia. (Reprinted by
permission from B. Ferguson. 1998. Introduction to Stormwater. John Wiley and Sons. New York.)
 WATER AND WASTE

FIG. 24 A downspout terminates the roof

with flair at the Pleasanton BART (Bay
Area Rapid Transit) station near San
Francisco. (Photo by Jane Lidz.)

FIG. 25 Separate storm drainage. Areas drained and corresponding sizes of vertical leaders and horizontal drains are from Tables 8
and 9. Storm drain piping within a building needs insulative covering with a vapor retarder on the outside. This prevents
condensation (sweating) on the pipes when, in winter, warm, moisture-laden air in the building could otherwise reach the pipe
surface (which would be cold from carrying icy water), condense there, and lead to wet, dripping conditions on the pipes. Each roof
has two drains in case one is temporarily blocked. (Drawing by Nathan Majeski.)

Porous paving encourages groundwater recharge rather than storm runoff. (a) Standard porous asphalt
pavement as used in Rockville, Maryland. (b) Subsurface basin allows required retention ponds to
serve as parking lots; this example is at the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia. (Reprinted by
permission from B. Ferguson. 1998. Introduction to Stormwater. John Wiley and Sons. New York.)
Thank You!!!

Porous paving encourages groundwater recharge rather than storm runoff. (a) Standard porous asphalt
pavement as used in Rockville, Maryland. (b) Subsurface basin allows required retention ponds to
serve as parking lots; this example is at the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia. (Reprinted by
permission from B. Ferguson. 1998. Introduction to Stormwater. John Wiley and Sons. New York.)