Best practice

Management of rain water - UR'ZAIN

Focus area

Recover, manage and use rainwater

Name of university

ESTIA

Brief description

The Estia Berri building has been equipped with a rainwater recovery system since its construction in September 2020. The system supplies the toilets and the waterjet cutting machine in the technology hall.

There is also a project called UR’ZAIN, which aims to study the best way to recover, manage and use rainwater from another existing tertiary building at Estia (Estia 2). In this case, there is also an educational and research focus.

Duration of project/activity

2020  – ongoing
 

Department

Estia Berri

Objectives

  • Estia has 4 buildings (Estia 1, Estia 2, Estia Berri and Incubator) in Bidart; we estimate that more than 70% of the annual water consumption of these buildings is used for toilet flushing. As a research and transfer institute, ESTIA is identifying other ways of using rainwater as innovative solutions: demonstrating the possibility of recovering energy from high-level water storage, making harvested rainwater drinkable, etc.

    General objective

    To study the best way to collect, manage and use rainwater from existing tertiary buildings.

    Objective linked to the management of buildings: to save water.

    Objective linked to research activities: to study the potential of rainwater for energy self-consumption in a building.

    Educational objective: to make students aware of the issues related to water, its cycle and the impact of practices.

Outcomes

  • At Estia Berri, the system supplies the toilets and the water jet cutting machine in the technology hall.
  • On the roof of the Estia 2 building, a system for recovering water to supply planters
  • Prototype of a micro step
  • Technical and economic study on the recovery and use of rainwater

Challenges and solutions

Collect and purify rainwater from photovoltaic canopy car park to produce and store hydrogen through electrolysis.

Key stakeholders

  • Users of the Estia Berri buildings

More information

2023 JARDUERA TXOSTENEA – ACTIVITY REPORT – INFORME DE ACTIVIDAD (PDF)