Battery Park City Water Reuse Systems

Project's context & challenges

As part of a pioneering initiative for sustainable urban development, Battery Park City in New York became one of the first neighborhoods in the U.S. to adopt decentralized water reuse systems on a building scale. The challenge: design and operate multiple in-building systems that could sustainably treat blackwater, reduce potable water use, and relieve strain on municipal infrastructure — all while maintaining long-term performance and public confidence in a dense urban setting.

Solution

Natural Systems Utilities, part of Nijhuis Saur Industries, partnered with the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) to develop and operate six decentralized water reuse systems across eight residential buildings: The Solaire, Tribeca Green, Millennium Tower, The Visionaire, Riverhouse, Liberty Luxe, Liberty View, and The Verdesian. These compact, in-building membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems treat blackwater on-site using advanced technologies including hollow fiber micro-filtration, ultraviolet light disinfection, and biological nitrogen removal to meet New York City Department of Buildings’ direct water reuse standards.