Taisei begins Japan's first 'Zero Water Building' using 100% recycled rainwater
Japanese construction company Taisei Corporation announced on July 9 that it has commenced construction of Japan's first 'Zero Water Building,' a facility designed to meet all its water needs through the reuse of rainwater alone.
The project will serve as the management building of the Taisei Group's Next-Generation Technology Demonstration Center, to be built in Tamura City, Fukushima Prefecture. Named the "Nature Coexistence Management Building," the facility will also make extensive use of locally sourced timber from Fukushima, aligning with broader efforts to promote environmentally sustainable communities. Completion is scheduled for March 2026.
(Photo: The Daily Engineering & Construction News of Japan).
The insights gained from operating this model facility will be used to expand the Zero Water Building concept to disaster-affected regions and areas lacking adequate water infrastructure.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on site on July 9. The building will be a two-story wooden structure with a total floor area of 560 square meters, and construction is set to be completed by the end of March 2026.
The building will supply 100% of its indoor water needs—including drinking water, kitchen use, and toilets—using only rainwater. A storage tank with a 30-ton capacity will collect and hold rainwater, which will then be purified through a microbial membrane treatment system. The advanced water circulation system is designed to support approximately three months of use even in the absence of rainfall.
