Author(s)

A. A. E. Luising

Abstract

EVA-Lanxmeer is an ecological residential area in the centre of The Netherlands. An integrated (waste) water concept was an essential part of the design. On the incoming side two water streams are distinguished: drinking water and household water. On the outgoing side the household wastewater is divided into two streams: black water and grey water. This paper discusses the attitude of the users on water saving and water treatment systems. The central theme is the relation between the physical implementation of the water systems in the design and the use of it by the inhabitants of the area. For this research interviews were held with the inhabitants of the project. The water concept was an important part of the concept of the project and it added to the visible quality of the area. Furthermore, the people considered the systems very reliable even if the systems had not yet been put into practice. Keywords: grey water, black water, wastewater, decentralised sanitation, user experiences, ecological residential area. 1 Introduction Central end of pipe wastewater management causes various environmental and social problems. Integrated water management can offer an opportunity for residential areas to improve building and living quality. Centralised wastewater concepts are not sustainable: they use water for flushing, need for infrastructure, loss of valuable nutrients in the wastewater and a lack of user consciousness. Decentralised wastewater concepts can be a solution for these problems. The change from central to decentralised systems means that wastewater systems come closer or even in the built environment.

Keywords

grey water, black water, wastewater, decentralised sanitation, user experiences, ecological residential area.