The difficult issue facing our species is how to provide for the needs of our communities with built structures for habitat, commerce, industry, religion, education, transportation and recreation, while sustaining the quality of our land and water. Cahill believes that it is possible and reasonable to develop methods and materials that allow us to meet all of our evolving needs without exploiting our natural resources. These "sustainable design" solutions are ever evolving, but are based on the principal of mimicking nature, and assuring natural processes will continue even as we occupy and use the land.
The hydrologic cycle provides one such natural process, and every site design developed by Cahill reflects the continuation of this cycle following development. This includes withdrawing water supply from the aquifer system where possible and returning this water to the land and aquifer by "on-site" treatment and recycling technologies, with re-use of "gray" waters for non-potable demands. As rainfall from impervious surfaces is produced on the built landscape, the immediate infiltration of this runoff into the soil mantle is the least expensive and most sustainable technology, with numerous solutions possible. This water can also be captured and used for such needs as irrigation, with many areas of the world utilizing rooftop runoff as the primary supply for all water demands, including potable needs.
Cahill provides a full range of site design services, but frequently works as part of a larger design team with emphasis on the land and water elements. With involvement from the initial site selection process, the approach of minimum disturbance/minimum maintenance guides all concept plans, reducing earthwork, minimizing vegetation removal, protecting environmentally sensitive areas and providing for water resource systems that sustain the natural hydrology. The careful integration of site design with other team members, such as Landscape Architects, Planners and Scientists is a key to this sustainable site design process.
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