| Early in the design phase, the architect, client and consultant team discussed how to go beyond water conservation and make water reclamation an organizing principle for the new Administration Campus complex. Before the engineered wetland came into being, the Rancho Mirage area where Sunnylands is located was not served by the regional wastewater agency and relied on a septic system for processing wastewater. All wastewater throughout the extensive Sunnylands property was processed in traditional septic tanks and then into leach lines for percolation back into the aquifer. The Coachella Valley’s sandy soil filters out most nitrates and other harmful substances, but with the area’s overreliance on septic systems, the elevated nitrate levels make the aquifer below Sunnylands unusable for drinking. Historically, all domestic water at Sunnylands, including water used for irrigation and toilet flushing, drew from this aquifer. The aquifer itself is a consequence of subterrain geology (a rocky underground basin bounded by the San Andreas and San Jacinto Faults) and mountain forming geologic forces that have pushed up the tallest, rainfall capturing mountains in Southern California. However, with extensive development, including over 120-golf courses, this artesian aquifer was over-drafted and requiring supplemental recharge with Colorado River water.
After consideration, the team decided to intercept all wastewater produced at the Sunnylands Center & Gardens (100,000+ visitors each year) and newly built administrative campus (100+ staff) back through the wetland for cleansing. The wetland acts very much like a living organism, balancing the water that comes to it from building waste and fluctuating seasonal demands. The design and engineering of the wetland enables staff to gauge a myriad of important metrics including the water's pH balance, nitrate levels and turbidity before it is released for reuse in flushing toilets and irrigation. If any element is not up to par, the water will not make the journey back to the rest of the complex. Overall, this process minimizes the need to use potable water in landscaping and plumbing. The building is a forthright example of timeless desert modernism while it pushes the cutting edge of arid water ecology in this era of increasingly demanding climates. |
