Capturing rainwater for testing, treatment, and sustainable reuse
Purpose
To demonstrate building-scale rainwater harvesting for non-potable use and evaluate treatment strategies that could enable broader commercial applications of fit-for-purpose water reuse in urban settings.
Description
At CSU Spur, precipitation collected from the Hydro building rooftop is stored in an outdoor metal tank and used to irrigate select areas of the Hydro Backyard. In these zones, underground monitoring equipment tracks flow rates and water quality to support research on sustainable irrigation practices in semi-arid urban environments. In parallel, the same roof runoff is brought into the Water TAP lab, where researchers test various treatment methods—such as membrane filtration, microbial processes, and UV disinfection—to evaluate how this water could be safely used for other fit-for-purpose applications.
Impact
This project demonstrates how harvested rainwater can support urban green infrastructure while advancing research on water reuse strategies. CSU partners with Denver Water to ensure that the volume of water collected from the roof is returned to the South Platte River, maintaining ecological balance and flow conditions.
Partners
This integrated rainwater reuse system highlights collaboration across research, infrastructure, and watershed stewardship:
Project Photo Gallery
