Water: Trying New Strategies to Combat the Coming Shortage

Earlier this year, Randy Hafer of High Plains Architects was invited by Gallatin Valley Earth Day to speak about the topic of water in Bozeman/Gallatin Valley, specifically water availability and consumption. His presentation, titled "Grape or Raisin? - The coming water shortage", was based on his years of research and how he has addressed this problem at his own residence in Billings, the Urban Frontier House. The summary of his presentation is as follows:

Water is essential for all living things. Sadly, our current rate of water consumption on this planet is not sustainable. The city of Bozeman in Gallatin County is a prime example of that reality. Depending on the county's current pace of growth, estimates indicate Bozeman will not have enough water for the growing population by 2033
(Jessica Ahlstrom, Bozeman Water Conservation Program). Only consistent, widespread, and responsible water stewardship will combat this issue, and immediate action is truly necessary.

To provide a bit of historical context, we must go back to the pre-industrial era (the years leading up to 1750). During this time, populations were dispersed, and there were few large cities. People were mobile, traveling by foot and on horseback, and they were able to seek out water wherever they went. Fast forward to the beginning of the Industrial Revolution (1750 to 1860), this pattern began to change. Cities started to grow, which led to housing, sanitation, and pollution challenges. While people still traveled on foot and horseback, they began to settle in cities, creating denser population centers across the country. During this time, we witnessed the genesis
of increased water consumption in more concentrated areas.

The "Oil Years" (1860 to 2060 - my declarative endpoint for this era) has produced a stark increase in the growth of cities, with aggregated populations and urban sprawl sweeping the nation and the world. Automobiles are now the primary means of transportation, allowing people to live outside of major cities and commute for work and
leisure. I often refer to this era as “the age of unintended consequences; a time of great madness” – while productivity has soared, so has pollution. In addition, as the demand for housing, water, and work has increased, so too has the lack of both affordability and accessibility for specific population groups.

Why does all of this matter? It cannot be overstated how vital water is to life in all forms. Interestingly, we are the only species capable of overwhelming our water supply. In the case of other species, when water is being over-consumed, the population decreases, returning to a level that the water supply can support. That being
said, we also have the capacity to reduce and ultimately reverse this overconsumption. Because we all have an equal stake in this, it is crucial that we follow these basic steps in our own lives: think big, start small, learn fast, try again, repeat. If we remain steadfast in following these steps, there is no end to the creative solutions that
we can come up with.

The Urban Frontier House, my wife's and my residence, is a prime example of this process at work. Located just a couple of blocks from Downtown Billings, our home is 100% off grid, while still being near the city center. It is a LEED Platinum certified building and Living Building certified, making it 1 of 4 residences with that distinction
in the entire world. With 2,400SF of living space, the entire house is passively heated and cooled. The home’s power is generated by a 6.02kW solar array. There are no connections to city water or sewer systems, and there is no well or septic system. Instead, we have developed a system where we collect all rain and drain water, which we store and treat in five 1,500 gallon tanks in the basement. Because of the water conservation system in place, including low flow fixtures and faucets, our daily consumption is far lower than that of the average Yellowstone County citizen. At our house, we average 10 gallons per person per day year-round (includes irrigation), while those who draw from the city’s water system average 86 gallons per person per day in the winter, and approximately 120 gallons per person per day in the summer when landscape irrigation systems are active.

The Urban Frontier House is just one example of the many creative solutions that we have the capacity to develop. We all must be committed to trying new things, learning from our mistakes, and adjusting accordingly. As an architect, my example is a replicable building that inherently uses less water compared to the typical home. If we all remain persistent and curious and responsible, we can dramatically reduce our consumption of water.