regenwaterfed

Regenwaterfed is a term used in sustainability discourse to describe water systems and practices that intentionally feed water after it has been regenerated or reclaimed. The concept focuses on closing the water loop by reusing treated or naturally regenerated water in place of virgin freshwater whenever feasible. Regenwaterfed designs typically combine collection, treatment, and reuse steps to ensure water quality matches its intended application while aiming to minimize energy use and waste.

Applications span urban, agricultural, and industrial settings. In buildings, regenwaterfed approaches may use rainwater harvesting and on-site treatment (for example, filtration and disinfection) to supply landscape irrigation, toilet flushing, or cooling towers. In agriculture, treated drainage, harvested rainwater, or constructed wetlands can provide irrigation water with reduced reliance on groundwater. In industry, regenerated process water may serve non-potable roles such as process cooling or cleaning.

Benefits include reduced freshwater extraction, lower wastewater volumes, and increased resilience to drought. Challenges encompass ensuring consistent water quality, meeting regulatory requirements, managing treatment costs and energy use, and maintaining specialized infrastructure. The term remains informal and is used variably across regions and disciplines, with related concepts including water reuse, rainwater harvesting, and regenerative design.