Water recovery system in Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building at 828 meters with 163 floors, uses its air conditioning system to recover condensation, producing about 15 million gallons of water annually—equivalent to roughly 57 million liters. This amount is said to be enough to fill about 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools, though some calculations suggest the number might be closer to 23 pools.

Use of recovered water

The recovered water is mainly used to irrigate the 11-hectare park near the tower, which is roughly the size of fifteen football fields. Technical documents mention the volume as 57,000 cubic meters, a figure that aligns with the 57 million liters described on the building’s website.

How the system works

The water is collected through a separate pipeline network and stored in an underground basin located in the parking area. The condensation process happens when humid air passes over cold coils, causing vapor to condense and drip. This is part of the air conditioner’s latent load, which increases with higher humidity levels.

System components and water usage

The building’s air conditioning system includes seven double-height mechanical floors, spaced roughly every 30 levels, which house air handling units, pumps, and reservoirs. Pressurized and cooled refuge areas are also installed approximately every 25 floors. The Burj Khalifa’s average daily water consumption is around 946,000 liters, or about 11 liters per second.

Purpose and limitations of the system

The system was originally designed to cool potable water supplied by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and to collect it in an on-site irrigation tank for landscaping. While some tourist materials mention the Dubai Fountain as a destination for this water, official sources confirm it is used only for park irrigation. The 57 million liters of recovered water is described as an estimated design figure, not a confirmed measurement, and no annual report confirms this volume since 2010.

Broader implications of the system

The system’s value lies in its ability to repurpose a by-product of air conditioning rather than discharging it. This principle can be applied at the household level, where air conditioners and dehumidifiers can collect water for non-potable uses such as watering plants.