Two leaders of the global sustainability movement are the architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart. In the tenth anniversary edition of their book, The Hannover Principles: Design for Sustainability, the authors write: “Designs should recognize the communal, cultural, historical, spiritual, and poetic possibilities of the use of water and its central role as a precondition for life.”
More concretely, these visionaries say that architects, engineers, and developers should:
- Carefully account for water throughout their entire design process.
- Protect water sources from contamination and carefully consider efficiency techniques at every step.
- Use potable water only for life-sustaining functions.
- Consider groundwater, rainwater, surface-runoff water, graywater, and any water used for sewage transport or processing systems within a cyclical concept.
- Return wastewater to the earth in a beneficial manner, using organic treatment systems whenever possible.
- Avoid groundwater contamination in any use of water related to the construction or operation of a project or facility.
- Consider rainwater and surface-runoff water as possible resources for inhabitants and building systems.
- Minimize impermeable ground cover.
- Treat and apply graywater to practical or natural purposes that fit its characteristics.
- Put water used in any process back into circulation, and minimize the use of toxic chemicals or heavy metals. All discharges of process-related water should meet drinking water standards.
- Restore water used for sewage treatment or transportation to drinking water standards prior to distribution or reuse.
