Re-Thinking Water Sources: Regulatory Blueprints for Non-Potable Water Use

Although San Francisco residential and commercial water demand is among the lowest in California, in 2012, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) spearheaded an effort to further reduce water use by creating a program to allow developments to utilize onsite, alternate water sources. Codified in September 2012 via the San Francisco Onsite Water Reuse Ordinance, developments in San Francisco can now use rainwater, stormwater, foundation drainage, graywater, and blackwater for non-potable purposes such as toilet flushing and irrigation. The Ordinance called for three local agencies – the SFPUC, San Francisco Department of Public Health, and the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection – to develop a stream lined permitting process and regulatory framework including water quality and reporting standards. In 2013, the SFPUC expanded the program to allow for buildings to share non-potable water across property lines. During the first two years of the program, twenty projects have formally submitted water budget applications to the SFPUC. In May, 2014, the SFPUC hosted a dedicated group of water agencies, public health departments, and research institutions from across North America to discuss onsite water treatment systems at the Innovation in Urban Water Systems Meeting. The purpose of this meeting was to share knowledge and lessons learned in order to overcome institutional barriers to onsite water treatment. To continue the momentum, the SFPUC is leading the development of a blueprint which will serve as a how-to guide for communities interested in implementing an onsite water treatment program and working with a group of state public health officials to develop a water quality regulatory framework for onsite water treatment systems.