Two options, but three choices

The intent of this credit is to reduce the amount of potable waterPotable water meets or exceeds EPA's drinking water quality standards and is approved for human consumption by the state or local authorities having jurisdiction; it may be supplied from wells or municipal water systems. used for flush fixtures and to minimize the amount of wastewater conveyed to the municipal system. For credit compliance, you have two options: 

Option 1: Reduce the quantity of potable water used for flush fixtures (water closet and urinals only) by 50%. You have two ways to make this reduction:

• use low-flow fixtures;
• use non-potable water such as graywaterGraywater is untreated household waste water which has not come into contact with toilet waste. Graywater typically includes used water from bathtubs, showers, bathroom wash basins, and water from clothes-washer and laundry tubs, though definitions may vary. Some states and local authorities also allow kitchen sink wastewater to be included in graywater. Project teams should comply with the graywater definition established by the authority having jurisdiction in the project area. or rainwater, or combine both strategies.

Option 2: Treat 50% of wastewater onsite to tertiary standards and infiltrate it, or reuse the treated wastewater onsite. 

Establish a baseline

To determine your percentage reduction, compare a baseline case with the design case. Note that the baseline for WEc2 is not the same as the baseline for WEp1 and WEc3: Water Use Reduction. Whereas WEp1 and WEc3 count flow (shower, lavatory and kitchen sink) and flush fixtures (toilets and urinals), WEc2 only counts toilets and urinals. The data that you enter on flush fixtures in the LEED Online credit form in WEp1 will automatically populate the credit form for WEc2. 

The calculations for wastewater use are based on the number of full-time equivalentFull-time equivalent (FTE) represents a regular building occupant who spends 40 hours per week in the project building. Part-time or overtime occupants have FTE values based on their hours per week divided by 40. Multiple shifts are included or excluded depending on the intent and requirements of the credit. (FTEFull-time equivalent (FTE) represents a regular building occupant who spends 8 hours a day (40 hours a week) in the project building. Part-time or overtime occupants have FTE values based on their hours per day divided by 8 (or hours per week divided by 40). Transient Occupants can be reported as either daily totals or as part of the FTE. Residential occupancy should be estimated based on the number and size of units. Core and Shell projects should refer to the default occupancy table in the Reference Guide appendix. All occupant assumptions must be consistent across all credits in all categories.) occupants. FTE calculations can sometimes be confusing in certain building types or occupancy types—see WEp1 for more information. 

Fixture choice is the cheapest option, if you can make it work

Generally, the easiest and cheapest way to achieve this credit is to install low-flow and waterless fixtures. Using waterless urinals or pint-per-flush urinals in combination with ultra-low-flow toilets (1.0 gpf) or aggressive, dual-flushA type of water-saving toilet that gives a choice of flushes depending on the type of waste — solid or liquid. toilets (1.28/0.8 gpf) can work, although it depends on your project occupancy and will need to be verified for each project.

If your project comes up just a little short, consider supplementing some of your potable water use with graywater or rainwater, or installing composting toiletsComposting (or Nonwater) toilet systems are dry plumbing fixtures and fittings that contain and treat human waste via microbiological processes.. 

Treating wastewater onsite is great—if it’s right for your project

Onsite wastewater treatment has a number of environmental and educational benefits, but treating to tertiary standards can be challenging for some projects, especially if they have limited space. The Solaire, a LEED Gold market-rate apartment building in Battery Park City in Manhattan, located wastewater treatment facilities in the basement because above-grade space was at a premium.

Treating to tertiary standards involves extra filtration or biological activity to remove nutrient pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and it may also involve disinfection. Treating wastewater to this level goes beyond code in most places. Consider technologies that are passive or low-tech in order to minimize operation and maintenance costs.

Once the wastewater has been treated to tertiary standards, you’ll need to determine the best reuse method. Many projects prefer to use it landscape irrigation. This will generally be your cheapest and easiest reuse method. If your project doesn’t have landscaping, consider reusing the treated wastewater for toilet flushing.

Notes on specific building types

Office—In order for office spaces or other buildings to meet the credit through fixtures alone, they will most likely need to include waterless urinals. (Depending on your project, one-pint-flush urinals may work.)

Multifamily and Hotel—Residential and hotel projects, which don’t have urinals in private bathrooms, cannot meet this credit with low-flush fixtures alone, so they have to provide nonpotable waterNonpotable water: does not meet EPA's drinking water quality standards and is not approved for human consumption by the state or local authorities having jurisdiction. Water that is unsafe or unpalatable to drink because it contains pollutants, contaminants, minerals, or infective agents. or treat wastewater on site to earn the credit.