Algiers Village Living Communities Challenge Vision Plan

WATER
The intent of the Water Petal is to realign how people use water and to redefine “waste” in the built environment,
so that water is respected as a precious resource. Scarcity of potable water is quickly becoming a serious issue as
many countries around the world face severe shortages and compromised water quality. Even regions that have
avoided the majority of these problems to date due to a historical presence of abundant fresh water are at risk: the
impacts of climate change, highly unsustainable water use patterns, and the continued draw-down of major aquifers
portend significant problems ahead. A water-independent community is a stronger, more resilient community, and the
Challenge calls for Communities that honor the realities of each project’s bioregion.
Imperatives
05. NET POSITIVE WATER
5. NET POSITIVE WATER
LCC CRITERIA:
Community water use and release must work in harmony with the natural water flows of the
Algiers Village Vision Plan
Community and its surroundings. 100% of the Community’s water needs must be supplied by captured
5. Net-Positive Water
precipitation or other natural closed loop water systems, and/or by recycling used Community water,
and must be purified as needed without the use of chemicals.
Existing sewer line
All stormwater and water discharge, including grey and black water, must be treated and managed at
Rooftop rain catchment
the Community scale either through reuse, potentiala closed loop system, or infiltration.
ANALYSIS
Vermont is a water-rich state and
Algiers Village is likewise imbued with
water resources. Windham County
experiences an annual average of
40.33 inches of precipitation a year,
according to the NOAA National
Climatic Data Center. However,
there are times of scarcity. The National
Weather Service reported that 2016
was the ninth driest year on record in
Vermont, and the worst since 2001.
Furthermore, Vermont struggles with
water quality, and protecting streams
rivers and lakes is a high priority.
Algiers Village Vision Plan
5. Net-Positive Water
Existing sewer line
Rooftop rain catchment
potential
On the flip side of scarcity is flooding.
Spring-time flooding commonly occurs as
the result of snow-melt and concurrent
moderate rainfall, generally from mid-
March through mid-May. Large weather
events occur as well. During Tropical
Storm Irene in 2011, the Windham
Region saw 113 major town bridges and
culverts damaged, over 40 major stream
0 100 200 300 Feet
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