NEW YORK — Wastewater reuse is becoming more common in drought-stressed areas, but a New York City high-rise condominium tower was recently built with a wastewater recycling system that can produce up to 25,000 gallons of water per day for toilet flushing and air-conditioning cooling systems.

Due to recycling, the 33-story building, called The Visionaire, will use 55 percent less potable water than other residential buildings of the same size, according to a March 3 press release from American Water, the Voorhees, NJ-based utility company. American Water’s Applied Water Management Group installed the water recycling system.

A March 5 article about the building in the quarterly newsletter Desalination & Water Reuse said its wastewater recycling system includes aeration, aerobic digestion, ultrafiltration, ozonation and ultraviolet components. American Water said the system is nearing commissioning and full-scale operation.

Potable water, drawn from the New York City water system, is treated in a separate central system in the building, according to the building’s Web site.

The building also has a stormwater collection system that can capture up to 12,000 gallons of rainwater to irrigate rooftop gardens. Water-saving appliances have been installed, and the building has been designed to meet Platinum LEED® standards of the US Green Building Council. American Water calls the tower “the greenest high-rise residential condominium in the United States.”

Construction of The Visionaire began in January 2007, and it has been ready for occupancy since late 2008. Located on the southern tip of Manhattan in the Battery Park City section, The Visionaire is a product of developer The Albanese Organization and architect Rafael Pelli. The building contains 251 condominium units, priced from $690,000 to $2.35 million each.

To read the full American Water press release, click here.

To read the full Desalination & Water Reuse article, click here.

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