The sound of water

Photo:L. Langham

The day we visited the Queens Botanic Garden Visitor Center was a great one to see the water systems of the building in action. We watched the rain and snow come down and we listened to it pouring off the large terrace roof in front of the center.

Photo: L. Langham

Photo: Nicole De Feo

The following is from QBC website:

Throughout the project, rainwater is filtered and absorbed into the soil through bioswales instead of entering the city’s combined sewer, reducing pollution in Long Island Sound.

Graywater from the Visitor & Administration Building’s sinks, dishwashers, and shower is piped to a constructed wetland, while rainwater cascades off the terrace roof into a cleansing biotope.  In both places, water is filtered and treated naturally through bacterial activity on the roots of carefully selected plants.  The treated graywater is returned to the building for use in toilet flushing, while the cleansed rainwater supplies a meandering water feature and fountain.