Addressing Water Scarcity Through Recycling and Reuse

8/12/2019 Addressing Water Scarcity Through Recycling and Reuse

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©2008, General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

TP1161EN May-08

Addressing Water ScarcityThrough Recycling and Reuse:A Menu for Policymakers

Prepared by Baker & McKenzie LLP



Page i

Table of Contents

Executive Summary ...........................................................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................1 Education and Outreach.................................................................................................................................................................................2 Removing Barriers ..............................................................................................................................................................................................3 Incentives................................................................................................................................................................................................................4 Mandates and Regulation ..............................................................................................................................................................................5 Conclusion..............................................................................................................................................................................................................6 Appendix – Matrix of Policy Examples and Additional Information............................................................................................7

Education and Outreach.........................................................................................................................................................................7 Remove Barriers..........................................................................................................................................................................................9 Incentives ....................................................................................................................................................................................................10 Mandates and Regulation ................................................................................................................................................................... 15

Acknowledgments: This white paper draws on information provided by individuals from around the world. FromGE Water & Process Technologies, they include: Jeff Fulgham, Jon Freedman, Sameer Agrawal, Roger Jacklin,Chris Morico. Patrick Regan, Shirley Shao and Paul Valeck. From Baker & McKenzie LLP, they include: BradGentry, Sasha Reyes, Alexandra Holt, and Borbala Brassoi in the US; Jonathan Cocker in Canada; J. Raul Felix-Saul and Alejandro Castaneda-Loya in Mexico; Ulrich Ellinghaus and Julia Pfeil in Germany; PierfrancescoFederici, Francesco Goisis, and Gianluca De Rosa in Italy; Xavier Junquera, Laia Colome, and GeraldineJackman in Spain; Andrew Beatty and Jennifer Crittenden in Australia; Chew Chin and Jason Cheng in

Singapore.



1 The terms water reuse, water recycling, and reclamation are often used for the recapture and treatment of water from wastewatertreatment facilities. Generally, and in this paper, recycling, and reuse are used for water that has been discharged by a business orhome and treated to remove its contaminants. Reclamation is a broader term that includes recycled water, as well as water from avariety of other sources such as brackish groundwater or the sea. This paper does not discuss water conservation or waterefficiency programs that focus on using less water for a particular purpose

Page 1

Executive Summary

While governments in water scarce regions arelooking for ways to expand water recycling andreuse, they often have difficulty finding informationon the policy options from which they mightchoose. The purpose of this white paper is to

provide such a menu of policy options, drawing onexamples from around the world. While this is onlya representative sample and does not provide anexhaustive list of programs and policies, the majortypes of policies being used to increase waterrecycling and reuse include the following:

Education and Outreach

Recognition awards and certification programs

Information dissemination and educationaloutreach efforts

Reporting of water consumption, discharge, and

reuse data

Removing Barriers

Modifying local regulations that require that allwater meet potable standards

Revising plumbing codes to allow dual piping

Alleviating stringent permitting and inspectionrequirements for recycled water

Incentives

Direct subsidies

Reductions in payments to the governmentPayments for reintroduction of recovered water

Pricing mechanisms

Regulatory relief for recycled water users

Government procurement of water recycling/reuse equipment

Structuring of water rights to reduce the use ofpotable water

Mandates and Regulation

Requiring utilities to develop plans for recycled

waterRestricting potable water to human or foodrelated uses

Requiring the use of recycled water for certainlarge volume activities, e.g., irrigation

Requiring water recovery systems

This menu provides a valuable starting point forgovernments to evaluate the appropriate mix ofpolicies that will best fit their needs. For some, tools

applied elsewhere to one type of water use may beapplied to a different use. For others, informationwill be enough to spur action; while for still others,financial incentives or regulatory requirements willbe more effective.

For further information on how this policy menumight be applied to your needs, please visitwww.ge.com/water.

Introduction

Water recycling and reuse is most common in

communities that face limited water supplies. Manyof their responses combine aggressive waterconservation measures with water recyclinginitiatives to address current as well as future waterscarcity.1

The purpose of this white paper is to helpcommunities and other governmental authoritiesthink through their options for increasing recyclingand reuse of water in their area. The paper is builtaround a menu of policies that are being used indifferent locations, including efforts to:

• Provide more information on and recognition ofwater recycling and reuse efforts

• Reduce or remove regulatory or cost barriersthat prevent more water reuse or recycling

• Provide financial, regulatory or other incentivesfor water recycling and reuse

• Require more water recycling and reuse

This menu offers a spectrum of policy tools rangingfrom less intensive mechanisms, such as makinginformation available, to more proactive, regulatory

approaches that require water reuse. Examples ofhow these policies are being applied incommunities around the world are included below,as well as in a more detailed appendix at the end ofthis paper.



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Spain’s National Autonomous Communities

in cooperation with thenational government havelaunched a national public

awareness campaignadvertising rational water

use in newspapers andother media.

Like many communities with restricted water supplies

Singapore has a comprehensive education and outreachcampaign for both residents and businesses to promote itsrecycled water program known as NEWater. The campaign

includes media advertising, an audit program for commercialcustomers, and an education center.

The National Environmental Agency and the Public UtilitiesBoard of Singapore have at least three separate awards

recognizing individuals and businesses for their commitmentto water conservation and environmental sustainability.

The California EasternMunicipal Water District

( U.S. ) provides informationfor landscaping, industrial,

and agriculturalbusinesses, on applying to

use recycled water. A widevariety of uses arepermitted, including cropand landscape, irrigation,

construction sitemanagement and

industrial processes.

Clearly, each community has different water,economic, social, and other needs. As such, thismenu is best seen as a tool to help spark discussionof what set of policies might work best in anyparticular situation or for any particular group ofusers. Over 2500 GE Water & Process Technologiesfield based personnel are located in a community

near you. Contact your local GE representativethrough our website at www.ge.com/water.


One of the tools commonly used by governments,and especially local govern-ments, in promotingtheir programs is public edu-cation. The area ofwater recycling and reuse is no exception – localgovern-ments with water recycling programs makeeducation a key element of their efforts.

Education and outreach

is generally perceived ascritical to advancingwater recycling, not onlyto encourage its use, butalso to overcome anypublic concerns aboutthe safety and quality ofrecycled water. Thus,most communities with a water-recycling programhave active public education programs. Theseprograms are often supplemented by state andregional level government campaigns.

Local communities raise awareness through anumber of common techniques used bygovernments worldwide:

Recognition programs support private water reuseefforts by:

• Presenting awards to individuals and entitiesthat have voluntarily made significantcontributions to water recycling.

• Officially recognizing private water recyclingefforts in government publications and websites,in particular those efforts that are innovative orare role models for other water users.

• Developing government certification programsfor water recycling technologies.

Information dissemination and educationaloutreach are probably the most commonmechanisms used by local governments andtreatment districts in the promotion of theirrecycling and reuse programs. These education andoutreach programs raise awareness by publishingbrochures, posting information on governmentwebsites, and advertising on TV and in newspapersand other media. The messages conveyed by theseoutreach programs fall into several broadcategories:

• The condition of the community’s water supplyand the importance of water recycling to thefuture growth and stability of the community.

• The community’s water reuse programs andhow residents and businesses may participate.

• The allowable uses of recycled water or thesituations when its use is required.

• The treatment processes required for recycledwater and the methods for ensuring the safetyand quality of the treated water.

For example: The National Water Commission andthe various state and municipal water utilities inMexico have numerous education programsregarding recycled water use and technologiesincluding outreach to the general public andtraining for utility managers and engineers.

Technical assistance isanother form of publiceducation for the larger,more sophisticated waterusers such as industrialor institutional users.

Governments and watertreatment or wastewaterdistricts offer morespecialized informationand services for theseusers, including:

Water use audits intended to identifyconservation and water reuse opportunities.



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The New Jersey, U.S. Wastewater ReuseProgram produces

recycled waterguidelines entitled

“Reclaimed Water forBeneficial Reuse

Technical Manual.”

The Australian state of Victoria’s Environment and ResourcesEfficiency Plan requires all large users of water and energy,including shopping centers, hospitals, sporting facilities, anduniversities, as well as commercial and industrial sites, toaudit their water and energy use and register with thegovernment if they exceed certain thresholds.

Permitting requirements vary depending on the end use ofrecycled water in Arizona, U.S., as well as the level of

potential contaminants and the anticipated exposure tohumans. Industrial wastewater with a sewage component or

wastewater used for crops or food products requires apermit, while industrial waste water that is recycled or usedonly in industrial processes typically does not. For individualresidents, a general use permit allows the use of 400 gallons

per day of grey water for irrigation in single family homeswith no notification requirements. Other types of reuse

require a notice of intent but may still operate under thegeneral use permit.

In Spain national law provides

for regulation of recycledwater, including i) permitted

and prohibited uses; ii) qualitystandards; and iii) treatmentplant operating conditions.

The BritishColumbia, Canada

plumbing codeexplicitly permits

grey and black

Technical manuals thatdetail the water recyclingtechnologies available tolarge users and thetreatment standards thatmust be met beforeeffluent may be reused.

Construction and development guidelines forrecycled water systems.

• Recycled water permit application guidelines.

For example: The EU has developed industry-specific reference documents on pollution-prevention measures (Best Available Techniques orBAT), which include recommended water recyclingand reuse techniques. BAT reference documentsare available for over 30 industry types andpractices, including iron and steel production,refineries, and intensive livestock farming. The BAT

reference documents assist permitting authoritiesand industry in determining compliance with BAT,which is one of the conditions for obtaining anenvironmental permit under the EU IntegratedPollution Prevention Control Directive.

Reporting of water consumption, discharge, andreuse by large water users is used primarily by localgovernments to track their water recyclingprogress. However, reporting requirements havethe additional benefit of educating users about theirown efforts and allowing the government to identify

entities that could be encouraged (or required) toreplace potable water with recycled water.

Removing Barriers

Barriers to water recycling and water recyclingsystems come in many forms: technological,financial, and regulatory. In fact, regulationsintended to protect the public or programsproviding services to the community may have theunintended effect of discouraging or evenpreventing voluntary water reuse.

One of the biggest barriers to water recycling is amunicipal, state, or regional water code that doesnot recognize the use of recycled water. Local

regulations requiring that all water used in thecommunity meet potable water standards hindersor prevents water reuse.

As a result, the first steps toward water recyclingare to set specific qualitystandards for recycled waterand to provide guidance on theuse of the reclaimed water.

Other local requirements thatmay present barriers to water

reuse by making it more difficult or expensiveinclude:

• Building and plumbing codes that prohibit theinstallation of the dual piping necessary forrecycled water or grey water use.

• Regulations that impose stringent permittingand inspection requirements for recycled waterregardless of the use or risk of human exposure.For example, imposing the same set ofstandards on a water reuse system in anindustrial chemical manufacturing facility as forresidential lawn irrigation.

• Actions that encourage (or do not discourage)potable water use, such as subsidizing theconstruction of potable water systems or notimposing full cost pricing on potable water use.

• Incentives forinvestments intechnologies

that consumelarge amountsof water.

Depending on their authority and the structure oftheir state or national legal schemes, not allcommunities will initiate the regulatory changesnecessary to allow the use of recycled water. Manycommunities are constrained by state or federalrequirements that they must follow. However,communities do have control over their local



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The Emilia RomagnaRegion in Italy offers

grants for theadoption of water

reuse and water reusetechnologies in the

petrochemical sector.

Two EU sources – LIFE and Eco-Innovation – provide fundingfor environmental projects including water reuse.

Recent water reuse projects funded under LIFE include: a

pilot project for effluent reuse in the textile industry (ENEA,the Italian National Agency for Energy, New Technology and

the Environment), a demonstration project on waterrecycling for photo film and photo paper production (FujiPhoto Film BV), and development of a new wastewater

recycling system for the commercial laundry industry (Textil-Service Klingelmeyer GmbH & Co. KG).

One of the four areas prioritized by Eco-Innovation in 2008 isthe building and construction sector, including new water-

saving systems such as grey water use.

Mexican incometax regulations

provide foraccelerated

depreciation ofassets used forwater recycling

and reuse.

St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. imposes a per-gallon chargefor the use of potable water

and a flat per-acre fee for the

use of recycled water inirrigation.

building and development codes as well as theirlocal funding, all of which can play a significant rolein encouraging or discouraging water recycling andreuse.

Incentives

Incentives used by communities to encouragewater recycling most commonly take the form ofeconomic incentives that make recycled watercheaper than potable water. Another approach is totie water usage to conservation programs andexempt recycled water users from many of thecommunity’s conservation requirements. Still othersinvolve property rights and payments for the reuseof recycled water, pricing schemes that use higherrates for potable water, subsidies or grants forwater recycling and reuse technologies, andprograms for government procurement of water

recycling infrastructure. Examples of these types offinancial and regulatory incentives include thefollowing:

Direct subsidies, generally in the form of grants forthe installation of water reuse technologies andother capital expenditures.

For example:

• The Singapore PublicUtilities Board will fund upto 50% of the cost ofrecycled water feasibilitystudies and the capitalcost of recycling facilities. It will also paycompanies an incentive fee for every cubicmeter of water saved up to a cap.

• New South Wales, Australia offers rebates forthe installation of rainwater tanks at residencesand schools.

• Tucson, Arizona, U.S. made loans to two schooldistricts for the capital costs associated withreclaimed water. The City also fundedinstallation of dual piping in a neighborhood thatwas an early adopter of recycled watertechnologies.

•

California, U.S. provides grants for facilities’planning studies to determine the feasibility ofusing recycled water.

Reductions in payments to governments in theform of tax deductions or reduced lease paymentsfor investments in water recycling technologies.

For example:

In Singapore, the water conservation tax doesnot apply to recycled water and potable waterusage fees are higher than for recycled water.

In Spain environmentalinvestments are entitled to acorporate tax deduction ofup to 10%.

The purchase of effluenttreatment or conveyanceequipment is exempt fromsales and use taxes in NewJersey, U.S., as well as being eligible for acorporate business tax credit.

Payments for the reintroduction of recovered waterinto the raw water source: programs under which

the water supply or wastewater treatment districtcompensates water users who recover and reinjecttreated water into its original source.

For example: The Metropolitan Water District ofSouthern California (U.S.) pays local water agenciesa fee for every gallon of water that is recycled,recovered, or returned to the groundwater supply.

Pricing that imposeshigher charges for theuse of potable water.

For example:• The EU Water

Framework Directive requires that, by 2010,Member States must ensure that their waterpricing policies are structured to provideincentives for water efficiency.

• The Balearic Islands in Spain are consideringmodifying their water pricing structure topenalize high volume consumers.



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Reclaimed water in St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S., as in many

other communities, is not subject to the same restrictions onuse as is potable water. For example, during water shortages,

lawn irrigation is limited to one day per week for mosthouseholds – while users of recycled water have no

limitations on lawn watering.

In Florida, U.S. regional

water management districtsmust assess their waterresources and designate

areas where water is or willbe in short supply within the

next 20 years. In these areas,recycled water is required

for certain types of uses suchas golf courses and farms.The water management

districts also must providefunding for the developmentof recycled water systems.

California, U.S. requires itsDepartment of General

Services and Department ofTransportation to installpiping appropriate for

recycled water use in any oftheir landscape irrigation

projects if they are notifiedby a recycled water producer

that recycled water will beprovided for those projectswithin 10 ears

• San Antonio, Texas and Tucson, Arizona (U.S.) have lower charges for recycled water. InTucson, recycled water pricing is set to recoverapproximately 80% of cost, with users ofpotable water paying the difference.

• In New York, New York, U.S., buildings withrecycled water systems pay $1.52 per 100 cubicfeet of water vs. $2.02 per 100 cubic feet.

Regulatory relief by eliminating certainrequirements for users of recycled water.

For example: landscape areas irrigated withrecycled water are exempt from the approvalrequirements of the Cerritos, California, U.S. WaterConservation in Landscaping Ordinance.

Additional incentives for water recycling and reuseinclude government procurement of waterrecycling and reuse equipment, requirements thatgovernment buildings and operations maximizetheir recycling and reuse of water, and structuringof water rights to reduce use of potable water.


Water recycling and reuse programs are not limitedto encouraging the use of recycled water througheducation, incentives, and the elimination ofbarriers to reuse, although these are often the firststeps for many communities. Those communitiesfacing severe water restrictions due to naturalwater scarcity, population growth, or resourceoveruse frequently adopt laws requiring the use ofrecycled water. A number of communities havetaken these actions on their own, while others areresponding to state or regional mandates.

There are two common approaches to mandatingthe use of recycled water: (a) requirementstargeting the supply of recycled water by regionalor local wastewater treatment or water supplydistricts; and (b) requirements affecting the use ofrecycled water by residents or businesses.

Wastewater Treatment and Water Supply Utilities

In most communities,recycled water isprovided by thecommunity’s wastewatertreatment district orutility as these

organizations are bestpositioned to deliver highquality recycled water.Not only do the districtshave a large volume ofwastewater, they oftenare the only ones with thecapacity to carry out the level of treatmentnecessary to meet water quality standards.

Communities may require treatment districts todevelop plans for recycled water, to encourage the

use of recycled water among their customers, oreven to provide recycled water to certain types ofusers. Some local governments couple the

wastewater treatmentutility mandates withrestrictions on the localwater supply utility.These regulationstypically restrict the useof potable water,forcing water users torely on recycled water

and creating morecustomers for the localwater reuse program.

For example:

• Applicants for national water licenses in Mexico must include treatment and reuse options intheir applications.

• Hesse, Germany requires its public watersystems to encourage water recycling amongusers.

• California, U.S. indirectly mandates waterrecycling by its local water districts by definingthe use of potable water for certain uses suchas golf course irrigation as a waste ofresources. Thus communities such as SantaBarbara, California prevent the use of potablewater on golf courses when reclaimed water isavailable so as to comply with the Statemandate against wasting resources.



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The government of New SouthWales, Australia has developed aBuilding Sustainability Index that

requires water reuse andconservation in new homes. First

required as part of the developmentprocess for single family homes in

Sydney, use of the Index requires a40% improvement in waterefficiency. Similarly, Western

Australia is proposing mandatorywater efficiency measures for all

new homes including plumbing thatallows for the use of recycled water

in toilets and grey water use onlawns and gardens.

British Columbia, Canada requires new and existing

public buildings be retrofittedto operate two water systems

providing for reuse of greywater for toilets and certain

other functions.

Residents and Businesses

Ensuring that wastewater treatmentdistricts are prepared to supplyrecycled water is a prerequisite toany community’s program, but acommunity must also ensure that

there are users for the recycledwater. Thus the second category ofregulation targets water usersthemselves, either mandating theuse of recycled water or prohibitingparticular uses of potable waterthereby forcing water reuse. Some ofthe most common requirements are:

• Restricting potable water tohuman or food related uses.

• Requiring the use of recycled water for certain

large volume activities such as landscape andagricultural irrigation.

• Using local permitting and development codesto require the provision of the infrastructurenecessary for recycled or grey water reuse,such as the installation of dual piping systemsand other systems in new buildings ordevelopments that allow the use of recycledwater now or in the future.

• Requiring water recovery systems for highvolume water users and dischargers such as

car washes.For example:

• New suburbancommunities inSydney, Australiamust install dualpiping systemsallowing for the delivery of recycled water to160,000 homes.

• Singapore requires water recovery systems at

locations where vehicles are washed, includingconstruction sites.

• Applicants for water usagecertification in New Jersey,U.S. must demonstrate thatthey will be using the lowestappropriate quality water inorder to receive approval fromthe state.

• Edmonton, Canada andPetro-Canada workedtogether to supply thecompany with recycled waterwhen new water regulationsforbid increases in fresh waterwithdrawals Petro-Canadaneeded for its operations.

Conclusion

More and more communities are facing acute

water scarcity issues. Many are choosing waterrecycling and reuse as one part of their response.

The major types of policies for encouraging waterrecycling and reuse described in this paper –education, barrier removal, incentives, andmandates – provide a menu of options forcommunities to address their unique waterresource needs. As illustrated by the examplesprovided above and in the appendix, choosing fromthis menu depends on various factors of anyparticular community, including: time horizon forprogram implementation; governmental structuresand processes to promulgate and implement suchprograms; resources, including both funding andexpertise; and degree of “buy-in” from relevantstakeholders and policymakers.

While the needs and circumstances of differentcommunities vary greatly, the menu presented inthis white paper should provide comfort that othersare adopting policies to promote water recyclingand reuse around the world.



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Appendix – Matrix of Policy Examples and Additional Information

Location Program Description


Australia

Federal Guidelines for Water

Recycling

The Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling: Managing Health and

Environmental Risks (Phase 1) and Augmentation of Drinking WaterSupplies (Phase 2) were recently released for public comment. Theguidelines are intended to support recycling of water that hastraditionally been discarded.

These guidelines will inform the development of regulations and addressthe public health and environmental concerns associated with greywater and recycled water reuse.

Victoria Environment andResources EfficiencyPlan

www.epa.vic.gov.au/bus/erep/default.asp

A new program designed to encourage energy and water efficiency;expected to deliver $85m in net savings to large organizations acrossthe state. The Environment and Resources Efficiency Plan requires alllarge users of water and energy, including shopping centers, hospitals,sporting facilities, and universities, as well as commercial and industrial

sites, to audit their resource use.These users need to register with the Environment Protection Authority if they trigger certain thresholds. About 250-300 large sites in Victoria willneed to register by March 31 2008. Action to reduce water, energy, andwaste will be required if the cost to the organization can be recoveredwithin three years or less.

Canada

Toronto Water Departmentwww.toronto.ca/water/index.htm

Water EfficiencyCoordinators

Coordinators work with industry and residents to provide ideas andresources.

Mexico

National WaterCommission(“CONAGUA”).

Water Culture Program State and Municipal water utility systems and CONAGUA developprograms on water reuse for the general public. CONAGUA provides upto 50% of the costs associated with the local implementation of theseprograms.

Mexican Center fortraining on watermanagement andtreatment.(“CMCAS”).

Recycled WaterProgram

CMCAS train technicians, managers, and engineers of local and stateutility systems on the best practices and the use of new technologyincluding water recycling and reuse.

Most municipal

and state watersystems

Recycling Programs Most water utility systems provide training on water conservation and

water reuse alternatives. However, water recycling itself is generallylimited to systems that have already developed the requiredinfrastructure most notably those areas of water scarcity (in theNorthern part of Mexico).

Singapore

Public UtilitiesBoard

Watermark Awardwww.pub.gov.sg/home/index.aspx

Award given by Board in recognition of water usage and conservation.



Page 8


NationalEnvironmentalAgency

Lee Kuan Yew WaterPrize

Award recognizing outstanding contributions towards solving theworld’s water problems.

NationalEnvironmental

Agency

Singapore Green Plan Award to individuals and entities that are role models of environmentalprotection and sustainability including water recycling.

NationalEnvironmentalAgency

Public Education andInformation

http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/category_sub.asp?cid=40

Outreach programs include:

TV/Internet/Newspaper tipsWater audit program for commercial usersNEWater Visitor Centre, to advocate to the public about recycledwater

Encouraging companies to replace potable water with recycledwater

Spain

NationalAutonomousCommunities

Public awarenesscampaigns

http://www.mma.es/

(See the Training andEnvironmentalEducation, Media, andthe A.G.U.A. programs)

Campaigns referring to rational use have been launched in newspapersand other media by the Ministry of Environment and Departments ofEnvironment of the 17 Autonomous Communities.

United States

USEPA Water EfficiencyLeaders Award

Annual award and recognition program. Recognizes public and privateentities for water conservation and recycling efforts.

All Generally all municipalities with reclamation/reuse programs havesome type of public education program including brochures and webbased information on how to access the community’s recycled waterprogram. They also recognize various recycled water projects/users in

these materials and on their web siteCalifornia(Northern) EasternMunicipal WaterDistrict

Recycled WaterProgramwww.emwd.org

Provides information for landscaping, industrial, and agriculturalbusinesses on applying to use recycled water. A wide variety of uses arepermitted, including crop and landscape irrigation, construction sitemanagement, and industrial processes.

New Jersey Wastewater ReuseProgramwww.state.nj.us/dep/dwq/reuseff.htm

The NJDEP Division of Water Quality maintains a website on the state’sWastewater Reuse Program, which contains useful information,including detailed guidelines entitled “Reclaimed Water for BeneficialReuse Technical Manual,” (www.state.nj.us/dep/dwq/techmans/reuseman.pdf ) among other materials and links.

Austin WaterUtility, WaterConservationDivision, Texas

Water EfficientEquipment and Design,a Guide for Non-ResidentialConstruction andDevelopment

www.ci.austin.tx.us/watercon/downloads/EquipmentGuide.pdf

The Guide provides information on equipment and design practices thatlead to additional water savings above regulatory requirements. It istargeted at new commercial and institutional construction projects,including major renovations of existing facilities.



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Remove Barriers

Canada

British Columbia British Columbia, 2006BC Building Codewww.housing.gov.bc.ca/building/code

BC Plumbing Code permits grey and black water systems.

Ontario Ministry of the Environment approved the treatment of sewagewastewater for surface and subsurface irrigation of golf courses.

Italy

Federal Federal laws set purification standards for recycled water and limit theuse of recycled water to:

IrrigationStreet washing, building heating and cooling and other “urban uses”

Industrial uses (no contact with food or cosmetics)

Spain

National Reuse of recycled water National law provides basic regulation of recycled water, including:

(i) permitted and prohibited uses; (ii) quality standards (depends on theuse); (iii) conditions to run treatment plants; (iv) conditions to userecycled water.

Permitted uses include: urban irrigation, irrigation of gardens, parks, andgolf courses, agricultural irrigation, industrial vehicles washing andindustrial uses. Reuse of water is not allowed for drinking purposes, thefood industry, hospitals, refrigeration towers in most cases, ornamentaluse, and other uses that may entail risk for human health or danger tothe environment.

United States

Arizona Recycled WaterPermitting

www.azdeq.com

The State environmental agency provides different levels of permittingdepending on the end use of the recycled water, the level of potentialcontaminants, and the exposure to humans. For example:

Industrial wastewater with a sewage component or which is used forcrops or food products requires a permit while industrial wastewaterthat is recycled or used only in industrial processes typically does not.

A general permit allows 400 gallons per day of gray water use forirrigation in single family homes with no notification requirements. Othertypes of reuse require notification but may still operate under thegeneral permit.

California Barriers to reuse:

Industrial plants that use recycled water are subject to CaliforniaDepartment of Health Services inspections and tests that areotherwise not required.

Using recycled water in a building for toilet flushing requires dualplumbing to keep the recycled and potable water separate. HealthDepartment and building code requirements prevent the retrofittingof buildings, so the use of recycled water is often limited to newconstruction or irrigation.

Santa Clara ValleyWater District,California

Provides a general permit for certain users of reclaimed water, allowingthem to submit notification only.



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City of Cerritos,California

www.ci.cerritos.ca.us/citygov/publicworks/recycledwater.html

Water Conservation inLandscaping Ordinance

www.codepublishing.com/ca/cerritos.html

Landscaped areas irrigated with reclaimed water are exempt from therequirements of the Water Conservation in Landscaping Ordinance,including the requirement for approval of landscape plans for newdevelopments and periodical audits.

Clark CountyWaterReclamationDistrict, Nevadawww.cleanwaterteam.com/waterreclamation.html

Reclaimed waterprogram

therightwater.com

(A member agency ofthe Southern NevadaWater Authority)

Reclaimed water is available on a case-by-case basis for a variety ofapplications, including: irrigation of golf courses and landscaped areasat public facilities; use as a coolant in generators at power generationstations; and dust control

Note: Reclaimed water is availability-based in the District, and notlegislation- or program-driven.

Oregon Revision of recycledwater use regulations

Oregon Administrative

Ruleswww.deq.state.or.us/regulations/rules.htm

The state of Oregon amended its recycled water use rules to:

Expand the list of beneficial purposes for which recycled water maybe used;

Remove potential regulatory barriers and language that undulystigmatizes recycled water;Clarify the requirements for a recycled water use plan;Clarify the requirements for coordination with the human resourcesand water resources departments;Allow for innovative and improved treatment technologies; andUpdate the bacteria rule language pertaining to effluent limitationsfor recycled water.

Incentives

AustraliaFederal National Urban Water

and Desalination PlanOne election policy of the newly elected government is the introductionof a National Urban Water and Desalination Plan which would involveeither a tax credit or a grant. The tax credit structure under discussion isas follows:

A 10% Water Tax Credit:Capped at $100 million a project – will support up to $10 billionworth of eligible up-front capital costs for approved desalination,water recycling, and storm water capture projects.Would provide support at the level of 10 per cent of eligible up-frontcapital costs, and would be on top of existing depreciationallowances.Where the project proponent of a water infrastructure project is agovernment-owned business that does not pay income tax, supportwill be in the form of a cash payment.

Grants for approved desalination, water recycling, and major storm

water capture projects developed by the private sector, localgovernments, and State and Territory Governments.

New South Wales

www.nsw.gov.au/water.asp

Rebates for rainwatertanks

www.sydneywater.com.au/EnsuringTheFuture/WaterSchool/RebateSchools.cfm

Offers rebates of up to $650 for installing a rainwater tank at an existinghome. In addition, schools can take advantage of the Rainwater Tanksin Schools Rebate Program, which offers a rebate of up to $2,500 toschools that install a rainwater tank. The rebate is available to allprimary and secondary schools, public and private, connected to theSydney water system and helps reduce the cost of purchasing andinstalling a rainwater tank.



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Italy

Emilia RomagnaRegion

Regional waterguidelines and PrivateIncentives

Regional guidelines for water conservation, water management, andreuse include:

Financial incentives for installing water reuse devices for agriculturalpurposes.Local strategies including public education and promotion of the use

of recycled water.Grant funds for water reuse in the petrochemical industry.Economic incentives are granted to private companies forconstructing new facilities and implementing new technologieswhich improve water reuse and water saving. The incentives rangefrom 30%-40% of the costs based on the size of the company.

Mexico

CONAGUA Evaluation of newconcession titles

Applicants of new concession titles for the use of national waters mustinclude the treatment and reuse of water and the volume that could bereclaimed in their application.

CONAGUA, localgovernments, and

water utilitysystems.

Joint investment in theinfrastructure required

for the reuse of water.

Water utility companies may jointly invest/finance the infrastructurerequired for the reuse of water.

SHCP Tax Incentives Income tax regulations permit the accelerated depreciation of assetsused for the reuse of water.

Singapore

Taxation Water fees include a water conservation tax of 30% to 45% of the watertariff. The water conservation tax is waived for recycled water.

Water Pricing Recycled water may be used for non-potable purposes and the tariff islower than for potable water use.

Public UtilitiesBoard

www.pub.gov.sg/home/index.aspx

Water Efficiency Fund

www.pub.gov.sg/conservation/water_effciency_fund.aspx?l1=3&l2=32

Co-funds cost of recycled water use feasibility studies. Provides up to50% of capital cost of water recycling facilities. Also will fund a company

for every cubic meter of water saved up to a cap.

Spain

National Environmental taxdeductions

Environmental investments are entitled to a corporate tax deduction ofup to 10% on investments in fixed tangible assets used to protect theenvironment. Water reuse is not specifically mentioned but wouldappear to be consistent with the intent of the deduction.

National National HydrologicPlan

Allows and encourages water reuse. Establishes an urban watermanagement model which includes the use of recycled water for:

Irrigation of gardens, parks, and golf courses

Agricultural irrigationIndustrial vehicle washing and other industrial uses

National /AutonomousCommunities

“Getting the pricesright” – Water prices

The price of water has increased as a result of the new EU FrameworkDirective. Member States, such as Spain, are required to ensure that theprice charged to water consumers, for the abstraction and distributionof fresh water, and the collection and treatment of waste water, reflectsthe true costs.

Balearic Islands Water pricing Currently reviewing water pricing structure and may modify to penalizehigh volume consumers.



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United States

Tucson, Arizona

www.tucsonaz.gov/water/index.htm

www.wateruse.org

Water pricingwww.tucsonaz.gov/water/rates.htm

Additional information

available on reclaimedwater, waterconservation, includinggrey water use.

Reclaimed water is cheaper than potable water.

Reclaimed water rate is recovers 73-85% of service costs with theremaining percentage paid by potable water users.Potable water fees increase as the volume used increases while

reclaimed water is a flat fee.Made to two school districts for capital costs associated with reclaimedwater. Funded installation of dual piping in a neighborhood which wasan early adaptor (not an ongoing program –an example of governmentfunding of pilot programs).

California StateWater ResourcesControl Board

Water RecyclingFunding Program

www.waterboards.ca.gov/recycling/fundingsources.html

Promotes the reuse of treated municipal wastewater by providingtechnical and financial assistance. Eligible projects must beeconomically feasible; result in a statewide public benefit; and achieverecycled water targets (state-wide goal of recycling is 1,000,000 acre-feet/year by 2010).

The current level of funding is about $59 million (from various state bondissues) for construction loans and grants, planning grants, andresearch. Of this total, $47.6 million is available for construction, $10million for planning, and $1.3 million for research.

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/recycling/fundingsources.html

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/recycling/docs/strategicplan2007.pdf

California StateWater ResourcesControl Board

Water RecyclingConstruction Program

www.waterboards.ca.gov/recycling/construction.html

Grants are provided for facilities planning studies to determine thefeasibility of using recycled water. The grant will cover 50 percent ofeligible costs up to $75,000. Only public agencies are eligible to receive afacilities planning grant.

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/recycling/docs/guidelines2004.pdf

MetropolitanWater District ofSouthern California

Local ResourcesProgram

See applicationguidelines(www.mwdh2o.com/mwdh2o/pages/business/BDE_LRPApplicationPackage.pdf )

The program provides a sliding-scale incentive, paying local wateragencies up to $250 for every acre-foot of water that is recycled,recovered, or returned to the groundwater supply.

MetropolitanWater District ofSouthern California

Water SavingsPerformance Program,Process Improvements

www.bewaterwise.com/rebates_industrial.html

(in collaboration withother Southern CAWater Agencies, seemap of memberagencies, including theMunicipal Water Districtof Orange County)

Provides financial assistance to public, commercial, industrial, andinstitutional entities for documented water savings that meet theminimum qualifying criteria. Qualifying process improvements includeinstallation of equipment to capture, treat, and reuse water that wouldotherwise be discharged to the sewer.

Based on the project cost and water savings, the program pays thelesser of:

$3.00/1,000 gal of actual water saved for a 1 year monitoring period;or100% of the project’s water-related process improvement costs.



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San Jose andSanta Clara ValleyWater District,California

Water EfficientTechnologies Program(WET)

www.slowtheflow.com/whatswet.html

WET offers rebates of up to $50,000 (or 50% of the project cost,whichever is less) to commercial, industrial, and institutional businessesfor the implementation of process and equipment changes whichreduce the company’s wastewater discharge. Sample projects include:reclamation and reuse of rinse waters; and reuse of process water infume scrubbers.

Rebates are based on wastewater flow reduction. Eligible projects mustreduce wastewater flows to the sanitary sewer system by at least 100ccf (hundred cubic feet) per year. (1 ccf is equal to 748 gal.).

Los Angeles,CaliforniaDepartment ofWater and Power

Water pricing

www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp001149.pdf

Charges for recycled water service are set by contract. The City hasentered into contracts for delivery of recycled water in which the chargewas 80% of the charge for potable water.

Denver Water,Colorado

Commercial, Industrial& Institutional IncentiveProgram

www.denverwater.org/cons_xeriscape/

conservation/Commercial_IndustIncentivePrgm.html

Commercial and industrial water users may receive $4,500 (up to$40,000) per acre-foot of water saved over a one-year period resultingfrom the installation of new water-saving equipment or introduction ofwater reuse applications including process water reclamation systems.Projects must meet a minimum savings requirement of 300,000 gal/year

in order to qualify.

Denver Water,Colorado

Commercial, Industrial& Institutional Rebates

www.denverwater.org/cons_xeriscape/conservation/Commercial_IndustIncentivePrgm.html

The program offers various rebates for commercial customers includingthe Single-Pass Cooling Rebate of $450 for commercial customers usingsingle-pass or once-through cooling systems (e.g. air compressors, X-rayprocessing, or hydraulic equipment) that install a closed-loop systemthat recycles cooling water, or replaces single pass water cooledequipment with air-cooled options.

Florida

South Florida

WaterManagementDistrict

Alternative WaterSupply FundingProgram

Provides grants to cities, community development districts, and otherwater users of up to 40% of project construction costs for alternativewater supplies including reclaimed water. (All of Florida’s five watermanagement districts provide construction grants for waterreclamation activities.)

St Petersburg,Florida

www.cms.stpete.org

Reclaimed waterprogram

http://cms.stpete.org/default.asp?page=1528

Restrictions on wateruse:http://cms.stpete.org/default.asp?page=1426

Reclaimed water is available for agriculture and golf course irrigation aswell as residential lawn irrigation. Reclaimed water is not subject to thesame use restrictions as potable water during drought or the dry seasonwhen, the use of potable water for lawn irrigation is restricted to 1day/week while reclaimed water lawn irrigation is not restricted(residents are asked to limit watering to 3 days/week on a voluntarybasis). Jupiter, Collier County, and Cape Coral, Florida and San Antonio,Texas similarly all have less restrictive rules for reclaimed water.

Charges for potable water are per-gallon while reclaimed water is a flatfee based on the size of the property. (The City is looking to change this

due to overuse of reclaimed water.) San Antonio, Texas also charges lessfor recycled water.

Las Vegas,Nevada

Water WasteRegulations andManmade Lakes andManmade WaterFeatures Regulationswww.lvvwd.com/html/ws_waste_ordinances.html

May not use water from the public water district for coolingrefrigerators, ice plants, ice machines, cooling plants, air-conditioningmachines, engines, etc. However, the use of water for the above coolingpurposes is not prohibited if it is collected, recooled, and reused, and isnot permitted to flow into a sewer or cesspool or onto the ground.

Potable or shallow aquifer groundwater may not be used for thepurpose of filling or refilling a manmade lake; or a manmade decorativefeature, unless the water is recirculated.



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New Jersey

www.state.nj.us/dep/watersupply/

Corporate Business Taxcredit concerning thereuse of treatedeffluent in industrialfacilities

www.njleg.state.nj.us/2000/Bills/PL01/321_.PDF

A one-time tax credit against the Corporate Business Tax for thepurchase of effluent treatment or conveyance equipment is availablefor industrial facilities (up to 50% of the cost).

Treatment equipment includes any equipment that is used exclusively totreat effluent from a primary wastewater treatment facility, for reuse inan industrial process. Conveyance equipment includes equipment usedto transport effluent to the facility in which the treatment equipment isinstalled, and also to transport the product of that further treatment tothe site of the reuse.

New Jersey Exemption from Salesand Use Tax forrecycling, effluenttreatment, andconveyance equipment

www.njleg.state.nj.us/2000/Bills/PL01/322_.PDF

Treatment or conveyance equipment that is purchased to allow reuse ofwastewater effluent from an industrial operation is exempt from theState’s Sales and Use Tax. The definitions of “treatment equipment” and“conveyance equipment” are the same as for the purposes of theCorporate Business Tax credit program above.

New Jersey The New JerseyEnvironmentalInfrastructure FinancingProgram

www.state.nj.us/dep/dwq/mface.htm#finance

Revolving loan program which provides zero percent interest rate loansto local government units for up to half the allowable project costs anda market rate loan for the remaining allowable costs. Eligiblewastewater projects include facilities for the treatment and beneficialreuse of sewage and water treatment system sludge.

Note: generally, state revolving loan programs are severely underfundedand do not allow for expenditures on “green infrastructure.”

New York City,New York

Comprehensive WaterReuse Program, NewYork City Water BoardWater and WastewaterRate Schedule

http://nyc.gov/html/dep/html/ways_to_save_water/index.shtml

www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/waterrates.pdf

Residential, commercial, and mixed-use buildings with a ComprehensiveWater Reuse System (CWRS) are provided rate incentives. CWRSincludes both black water and grey water systems. The water rate for aCWRS building is $1.52/100 cubic feet vs. $2.02/100 cubic feet for otherbuildings.

Town of Cary,North Carolina

townofcary.org/depts/pwdept/reclaimhome.htm

Bulk Water Program

www.townofcary.org/depts/pio/bwindex.htm

Non-potable, reclaimed water is available at no charge to approvedcustomers who have completed a training course. Customers must takeat least 250 gallons and are responsible for hauling the waterthemselves.

Water rates are lower for reclaimed water and the town’s outdoorwatering restrictions do not apply to reclaimed water.

Texas Water-related

Exemptions from StateSales and Use Tax

http://secure.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=T&app=9&p_dir=N&p_rloc=19776&p_tloc=&p_ploc=1& pg=6&p

Equipment, services, or supplies used solely for water recycling and

reuse are exempt from sales and use tax.



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Texas Property TaxExemptions RegardingCertain WaterConservation Initiatives

www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/

tc06/ch11b5.htm#11.32

Local governments may exempt from taxation part or all of theassessed value of property on which approved water conservationinitiatives have been implemented.

Austin, Texas Water Use Manage-ment Ordinance

http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watercon/summer.htm

Water conservation regulations contained in the ordinance do not applyto reclaimed water.

Austin, Texas Water ConservationProgram, CommercialIncentive

www.ci.austin.tx.us/watercon/systemaudits.htm

The Commercial Incentive Program offers rebates up to $40,000 toindustrial, commercial, and institutional water users towards the cost ofinstalling new equipment and processes that conserve water at existingfacilities. The City also offers rebates for specific items such as efficientlandscape irrigation equipment.

Eligible projects include the reuse of high quality rinse water, and

combined process or storm water reuse for landscape irrigation.

San Antonio, Texas Large-Scale RetrofitRebate Program, SanAntonio Water System(SAWS)www.saws.org/conservation/commercial/retrofit.shtml

The program offers rebates of up to 50% of the cost of water-savingequipment rebates to commercial, industrial, and institutional waterusers for implementing water saving processes or installing watersaving equipment. The amount of the rebate is determined by watersavings, the life of the equipment and the installed cost.

Eligible equipment include process water reclamation systems and airconditioning condensate capture and reuse.


Australia

All States Water Restrictions Water restrictions are currently in place in all major cities of Australia inresponse to the severe drought. There are different stages, starting atStage 1, for the least restrictive, going up to as far as Stage 8. Waterinspectors patrol streets in several cities, and impose fines or turn offwater systems. Compliance with these restrictions has forcedAustralians to adopt innovative water recycling and reuse actions.

States (Victoria/Queensland/NSW/Western Australia)& Commonwealth(Murray-DarlingBasin)

Water Trading In many parts of Australia, rural water use is managed through wateraccess entitlements and water allocations. A water access entitlement,such as a water license, refers to an ongoing entitlement to exclusivelyaccess a share of water. A water allocation refers to the specific volumeof water that is allocated to water access entitlements in a given season.

Water trading is the process of buying, selling, leasing, or otherwiseexchanging water access entitlements (permanent trade) or waterallocations (temporary trade). Australian water markets are stilldeveloping and have, so far, been dominated by temporary transfers,partly owing to the lack of secure water entitlements.

Reference materials: The Department of the Prime Minister and CabinetNational Water Initiative Water Trading Study, June 2006, providesdetailed information on water trading in Australia.www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/action/pubs/nwi-wts-full-report.pdf Further information on the State schemes can be found atwww.agriculture.gov.au/browse/resources/water/trading .



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New South Wales BASIX – BuildingSustainability Indexwww.basix.nsw.gov.au/information/index.jsp

www.build.qld.gov.au/smart_housing/news/updates/2004/aug/page6.asp

www.basix.nsw.gov.au/information/whats_new.jsp

The Building Sustainability Index encourages recycling water, rainwatertanks, and water conservation to improve the water efficiency of all newhomes by 40 per cent better than existing housing stock. Since July2004, the BASIX assessment has become a mandatory part of thedevelopment approval process for new housing in New South Wales.The Index started in Sydney in 2004 and then was rolled out to the rest

of New South Wales.www.sydneywater.com.au/SavingWater/RecyclingandReuse/RecyclingAndReuseInAction/FutureProjects.cfm

New South Wales Recycled waterinitiatives in newsuburbs

State Governments are increasingly requiring “new” suburbs to adoptdual reticulation systems. For example:

Western Sydney Recycled Water InitiativeRouse Hill Recycled Water AreaHoxton Park Recycled Water Scheme

Victoria Environment and

Resources EfficiencyPlan

See Education and Outreach

Western Australia 5 Star Plus buildinginitiativewww.5starplus.wa.gov.au/

The 5 Star Plus building initiative seeks to mandate water efficiencymeasures on all new houses starting in 2008, including:

plumbing to toilets to allow for alternative water supply at a laterdateplumbing drainage to allow easy recycling of grey water at a laterdate for use on lawns and gardensan alternative water supply for appropriate non-potable use inhouses with high water demand

Western Australia Recycled water target Victoria is one of a number of States which has set a recycled watertarget – 92% reuse of treated waste water by 2011 and 100% beneficial

use of all recycled water supplies thereafter.Canada

Alberta Energy and Utilities Board has imposed water reuse obligations onproposed projects in the oil sands. 100% reuse obligation.

Victoria CapitalRegional District,British Columbia

BC Municipal SewageRegulation

Requires new and existing public buildings be retrofitted to operate twowater systems providing for reuse of grey water for toilets and certainother functions.

European Union For information regarding European Union regulations and directivesregarding:

Water Protection and Management:http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/s15005.htm

Water Framework Directive:http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l28002b.htm



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Germany

Hesse State water laws Public water supply systems must take measures to reduce potablewater consumption. The Hesse State Water Law requires operators ofpublic water supply systems to encourage the following measures:

Reduce supply systems water losses to an unavoidable minimum.Exploit process water and runoff rain water.

Direct high water demand businesses to use process and surfacewater.Encourage efficient use of water by appropriate structuring of pricing.Advise water users on measures to save water.

Public authorities may request the operators of supply systems reporton which measures they take to improve the efficient use of water.

Italy

Lombardy Region Rain water collection and storage systems are required for newbuildings and renovation of old buildings.

Mexico

CONAGUA National Water Lawand National WaterProgram.

CONAGUA is required to develop the incentives for the development ofthe infrastructure for the reuse of water.

Singapore

National Handbook onApplication for WaterSupply

www.redas.com/einformation/pu/handbook/pub/000515.htm

The Handbook serves as a single source for water supply matters,containing mandatory requirements and non-mandatoryrecommendations:

Water recovery systems for washing of vehicles at construction sitesand other premises where washing of vehicles are required;Setting up a water recycling system, where possible, to reclaimprocessed water for reuse in the production process and other non-potable purposes such as cooling, irrigation, etc.; and

Recycling facilities shall be incorporated into any bath which has acapacity, measured to the overflow level of the bath, exceeding 250liters.

Public UtilitiesRegulation

The regulations prohibit:

The installation of any cooling system which is of once-throughdesign;Any cooling system in which the cooling water is not recycled; orAny bath having a capacity, measured to the overflow level of thebath, exceeding 250 liters which does not incorporate recyclingfacilities or has a drain plug for direct discharge of water.

United States

California The Water Recycling

Act of 2006www.owue.water.ca.gov/recycle/laws/AB371-2006.pdf

The Act requires the State Dept. of General Services and Dept. of

Transportation to install piping appropriate for recycled water use in anyof their landscape irrigation projects if they are notified by a recycledwater producer that recycled water will be provided for those projectswithin 10 years.



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California Water Recycling inLandscaping Act of2000

www.owue.water.ca.gov/recycle/laws/SB2095-2000.pdf

Requires any local or private entity that produces recycled water anddetermines that within 10 years it will provide recycled water within theboundaries of a local agency, to notify the local agency of that fact.Within 180 days of receipt of notification from a recycled waterproducer, the local agency shall adopt and enforce a recycled waterordinance.

The local ordinance shall at least

state at least that it is the policy of the local agency that recycledwater determined to be available shall be used for non-potable uses;

designate the areas that can or may use recycled water;establish general rules; andestablish, among others, that the use of the recycled water isdetermined to be available in new industrial, commercialsubdivisions located within the designated recycled water use areas.These provisions shall require a separate plumbing system to servenon-potable uses.

California Water Code

www.leginfo.ca.gov/

cgi-bin/calawquery?codesection=wat&codebody=&hits=20

www.owue.water.ca.gov/recycle/laws/laws.cfm

The use of potable domestic water for certain specific non-potable uses,including, but not limited to, golf courses, parks, industrial, and irrigation

uses, is a waste or an unreasonable use of the water, if recycled water isavailable which meets certain conditions. The state thus indirectlymandates the regional water boards to promulgate rules thatencourage or mandate the use of recycled water.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=wat&group=13001-14000&file=13550-13557

Santa Barbara,California

Water EfficientLandscape andReclaimed Water UseRegulations

www.santabarbaraca.gov/Documents/

Municipal_Code/03_Individual_Titles/SBMC_TITLE_14_Water_and_Sewers.pdf

The regulations declare that it is the policy of the City of Santa Barbarathat reclaimed water be used wherever it is available.

Pursuant to the State Water Code, the City of Santa Barbara requiresthat a person or public agency not use water suitable for potabledomestic use for the irrigation of greenbelt areas when reclaimed wateris available.

Florida Water Reuse Program,Department ofEnvironmentalProtection:

www.dep.state.fl.us/water/reuse/index.htm

www.dep.state.fl.us/water/reuse/

apprules.htm

State law requires water management districts to assess their waterresources and designate water resource caution areas where the watersupply is limited or will face critical shortages within the next 20 years.Recycled water is required for certain types of users such as golfcourses and farms unless they can show that using reclaimed water isnot feasible. Districts must provide funding for development ofalternative water supply systems. The State has established a WaterProtection and Sustainability trust Fund to help fund conservation and

reclamation projects.




Las Vegas ValleyWater District

Las Vegas Valley WaterDistrict Services Rules,2008

www.lvvwd.com/assets/pdf/serv_rules_fulldoc.pdf

(A member agency ofthe Southern NevadaWater Authority)

All large-scale turf and landscape irrigators (e.g. golf courses, landscapeareas) and appropriate non-residential users must use non-potablewater (recycled/reclaimed) when and where it is available.

Note: Recycled water is not generally available.

New Jersey Department ofEnvironmentalProtection, WaterSupply Allocation Ruleswww.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/NJAC7_19.pdf

www.state.nj.us/dep/dwq/techmans/

reuseman.pdf

The permittee of a water supply allocation permit or temporarydewatering permit is required to investigate the feasibility of waterreuse if the diverted water is used for non-potable purposes.

New Jersey Agricultural,Aquacultural, andHorticultural

Water UsageCertification

www.nj.gov/dep/ watersupply/NJAC7_20A.pdf

The applicant for a water usage certification must demonstrate that thewater used is the lowest quality water that is appropriate for theintended use.

For non-edible agricultural, aquacultural, or horticultural products, andwhere feasible, the Department may require the use of reclaimed waterfor irrigation or other purposes.

San Antonio, Texas Water Conservationand Reuse Ordinance

www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=11508&sid=43

The Ordinance creates the following mandates in connection with waterreuse:

Cooling towers not utilizing recycled water must operate a minimumof four cycles of concentration.Vehicle wash facilities using conveyorized, touchless and/or rolloverin-bay technology must reuse a minimum of 50% of water fromprevious vehicle rinses in subsequent washes.Golf courses, other than those utilizing recycled water for irrigation,must comply with residential irrigation requirements on areas otherthan tee boxes, fairways, and greens.

Gray water, treated wastewater, and water reuse are exempted fromsome provisions of the Drought Management Plan.

Addressing Water Scarcity Through Recycling and Reuse

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