CIB W116—Smart and Sustainable Built Environments - Test Input

Water Conservation in Brazilian Buildings: State-of-the
Art and Main Challenges Ahead
da Silva, V.G.
School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urbanism, University of Campinas, Brazil
(email: vangomes@gmail.com)
de Oliveria Ilha, M.S.
School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Urbanism, University of Campinas, Brazil
(email: marina.oilha@gmail.com)
Abstract
Water conservation contemplates rational use of water and use of alternative sources, like rainwater
and gray water. Rational use of water can be obtained basically by leakage repair, users’ awareness
for rational use and installation of water saving components. Brazil had developed an extensive
program to establish the adequate volume for water closets, and since 2002 only low flow toilets are
available in the market. There are additional programs that contemplate other water saving fixtures,
aiming at assuring products’ quality to the final user. However, leakages are still frequent in many
building typologies and it is necessary that users become sufficiently informed to change their
behaviour regarding water use to avoid wastage. Water metering is also important to improve water
consumption management. In Brazil multi-residential buildings usually have just one meter and total
consumption is simply divided into all users, disregarding their consumption profiles. Consequently,
there is no stimulation for water saving measures and attitudes. This reality is changing as some
Brazilian cities have just implemented laws for implementing sub-metering systems. On the other
hand, alternative water sources have being used for non-potable applications, although no standard is
in place yet to relate minimum water quality requirements and contact level with the final user. This
paper presents how water conservation actions have been developed in Brazil and the main
challenges ahead. Some case studies are also presented to demonstrate success of implemented
actions, as well as a proposal of topics related to water conservation to be considered in an
assessment system for residential buildings in Brazil to stimulate designers, constructors and other
stakeholders to incorporate sustainable building concepts in their practices.
Keywords: water conservation, sustainable, building
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