Orange County Water District’s (OCWD) – Advanced Water Quality Assurance Laboratory will assist OCWD in managing the groundwater basin that provides high-quality water to 20 affiliate cities and water agencies. Orange County Water District’s service area covers over 350 square miles and supplies water to more than two million customers in Orange County, meeting nearly 70 percent of the current water demand. The facility utilizes design components and construction practices in compliance with a LEED Silver certification level of sustainability. The design uses both passive and active strategies to promote conservation, improve efficiency, and reduce environmental impact. These elements include low flow plumbing fixtures, reclaimed water recycled onsite for landscape irrigation, and the effective use of natural light and optimal solar orientation to minimize the need for electrical light sources. Other strategies include high performance glazing and building envelope insulation, locally manufactured materials with high recycled content and low emission of volatile organic compounds, an operative selection of energy efficient HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) equipment, and high performance lighting and lighting control systems.
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