Southeast Houghton Area Recharge Project – Tucson, AZ
In the SHARP Restrooms project, Romtec worked with Tucson Water on the Southeast Houghton Area Recharge Project (SHARP), a one-of-a-kind project that combines water recycling and the creation of a new green area for the public to enjoy. The unique story and design of this project is leading the way for more water recycling sites and was recently covered in the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association (APRA) official Fall 2021 publication.
Water recycling and water re-use are growing infrastructure concerns as the demand for water increases. The SHARP project is designed to handle these concerns head on, with nearly 7 acres of the SHARP site dedicated to 3 water basins that can recharge 1.3 billion gallons of recycled water per year. The basins receive recycled water from the Houghton Reclaimed Reservoir in Tucson, AZ, and feed into an aquifer 350 feet underground that stores water for future use such as irrigation, industrial usage, and firefighting.
The water recharge site is also open to the public as a green space for the community to enjoy, with over 500 trees, 906 flowering shrubs, and 338 cacti and bushes planted. Walking/running trails and three Ramadas (covered shelters) with picnic tables are placed throughout the site and between the basins for guests to walk throughout the site and enjoy the atmosphere.
One of the purposes of the site is to perform as an “educational facility for the community and a place for local school children to learn about water resources, recharge, and rainwater harvesting”, according to Beth Scully, Tucson Water’s Lead Hydrologist. With the SHARP site acting as a park and outdoor classroom in addition to a water recycling site, it was important to have facilities that guests could use during educational outings and fieldtrips. To satisfy these needs, Romtec supplied two restroom structures onsite for guests. (Duncan, 2021)
The larger of the Romtec restrooms in Tucson supplied for this project consists of 4 individual, unisex restrooms that are ADA compliant and feature diaper decks. A central mechanical room in this structure provides storage areas and easy access to plumbing and mechanical for maintenance. The smaller of the two structures is a stand-alone, single user restroom. Both buildings in Arizona are composed of split face block with a metal roofing, and wire mesh gable vents for natural ventilation inside the structure.
The Romtec structures were constructed onsite in Tucson, Arizona by Borderland Construction Company, and the successful installation of the buildings will allow guests of all types to visit the site and spend the day learning about water recycling and reclamation. Tucson Water has gone to great lengths and invested time, money, and an incredible effort to produce a facility that will address water concerns and engage the public.
Duncan, H. (2021). Tucson’s Southeast Houghton Area Recharge Project. Arizona Parks & Recreation Association, (Fall 2021), 8. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
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