Understand the water
available at your site.
Know the water you have before deciding what it could do next.
Follow it
back.
Water from a process
Start with the activity generating the water. Note when it runs, how the source changes and what operating information already exists. An intermittent cleaning process needs a different conversation from a steady production stream.
Keep different streams separate in the initial description. Combining them too early can hide useful differences.
Water from a building
Show where water is generated and how it is currently collected. Different sources within a building can carry different risks and requirements; they should not be treated as interchangeable.
The collection points, available space and intended uses help establish whether an onsite project deserves further investigation.
Water from rainfall
Consider the collection area, seasonal availability and the pattern of demand. Rainwater and stormwater projects also depend on the setting and the surfaces the water encounters.
Bring a site plan if one exists. It can help connect collection, storage and a possible destination.
Start with what
you know.
A short source description is more useful than an early equipment shortlist.
Where it comes from
Name the building area, process or collection surface. Separate sources where their characteristics differ.
When it is available
Describe the operating pattern, seasonal changes and interruptions. Use existing records where available.
What has been measured
List the water-quality information you already have and when it was collected. Unanswered questions are useful to record too.
Where it could go
Describe the proposed non-potable use and the physical route between the source and that destination.
Further reading: US EPA — Basic information about water reusehttps://www.epa.gov/waterreuse/basic-information-about-water-reuse
The destination
matters too.
Assess a water source alongside the use you are considering.
Look at the application alongside the source. What will use the water, when will it need it and what quality will it require?
Find the next use