Proposed Regulatory Framework for Onsite Water Reuse Systems

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Consultation has concluded

Austin Water is currently establishing a new chapter of city code to regulate the design, permitting and operation of Onsite Water Reuse Systems (OWRS) in commercial and multi-family buildings. OWRS involve the collection of alternative water sources such as rainwater, stormwater and graywater to be treated and reused for non-potable applications like toilet flushing, irrigation and cooling. This new regulatory framework is based on a model ordinance developed by the National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems, which aims to advance the use of these onsite reuse systems. In addition, the Austin City Council adopted the Water Forward plan in 2018, which includes strategies to increase the adoption and use of OWRS in development projects. This page serves as a resource to help you understand the proposed new regulations and provides a venue for stakeholder input.

You will find:

  • Key Dates for the ordinance review process
  • FAQs about the proposed regulations
  • A pre-recorded presentation to the public detailing the regulations
  • Important Links to documents
  • Resource Links to additional information provided by the National Blue Ribbon Commission
  • Lifecycle notes explaining what to expect now and in the future

To provide feedback on these rules, please use the survey and Q&A tool provided below by October 21, 2020. Your feedback will be used to improve the final ordinance proposal and will help us provide these services more effectively once the final regulations are in place.

Take the Survey

Austin Water is currently establishing a new chapter of city code to regulate the design, permitting and operation of Onsite Water Reuse Systems (OWRS) in commercial and multi-family buildings. OWRS involve the collection of alternative water sources such as rainwater, stormwater and graywater to be treated and reused for non-potable applications like toilet flushing, irrigation and cooling. This new regulatory framework is based on a model ordinance developed by the National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems, which aims to advance the use of these onsite reuse systems. In addition, the Austin City Council adopted the Water Forward plan in 2018, which includes strategies to increase the adoption and use of OWRS in development projects. This page serves as a resource to help you understand the proposed new regulations and provides a venue for stakeholder input.

You will find:

  • Key Dates for the ordinance review process
  • FAQs about the proposed regulations
  • A pre-recorded presentation to the public detailing the regulations
  • Important Links to documents
  • Resource Links to additional information provided by the National Blue Ribbon Commission
  • Lifecycle notes explaining what to expect now and in the future

To provide feedback on these rules, please use the survey and Q&A tool provided below by October 21, 2020. Your feedback will be used to improve the final ordinance proposal and will help us provide these services more effectively once the final regulations are in place.

Take the Survey

Consultation has concluded
  • Share 1) How does the permitting work? Much of the “end use” of the water is related to the site development/landscaping, however the system will be designed as part of the plumbing system (building permit, not SDP) which is not typically designed/done concurrent/prior to SDP. I.E. there are timing issues related to permitting that will need a creative solution before the mandatory adoption period. 2) Has the city done an affordability impact statement for this code requirement? I realize they are delaying the requirement for a few years but this is a costly code change and should be evaluated as it will impact a lot of multifamily projects as written (although some of this could be offset with comment 1 above). 3) I don’t see anything in here for downtown sites (or others in the system zone) to utilize existing COA public reclaimed water system as an option towards meeting required reuse goal (I do see connecting to it is mandatory in some cases) – is that going to be allowed and what are the rules surrounding that (it will be harder to show the use volume calculation discussed here with tapping into the shared/public system). 4) The presentation contemplates regional system but is silent to how that can be done across City ROW. Right now, the City’s public works department is a barrier to creating any private-shared system between two sites because the system has to cross public ROW with private infrastructure – what is the proposal to remove this barrier? on Facebook Share 1) How does the permitting work? Much of the “end use” of the water is related to the site development/landscaping, however the system will be designed as part of the plumbing system (building permit, not SDP) which is not typically designed/done concurrent/prior to SDP. I.E. there are timing issues related to permitting that will need a creative solution before the mandatory adoption period. 2) Has the city done an affordability impact statement for this code requirement? I realize they are delaying the requirement for a few years but this is a costly code change and should be evaluated as it will impact a lot of multifamily projects as written (although some of this could be offset with comment 1 above). 3) I don’t see anything in here for downtown sites (or others in the system zone) to utilize existing COA public reclaimed water system as an option towards meeting required reuse goal (I do see connecting to it is mandatory in some cases) – is that going to be allowed and what are the rules surrounding that (it will be harder to show the use volume calculation discussed here with tapping into the shared/public system). 4) The presentation contemplates regional system but is silent to how that can be done across City ROW. Right now, the City’s public works department is a barrier to creating any private-shared system between two sites because the system has to cross public ROW with private infrastructure – what is the proposal to remove this barrier? on Twitter Share 1) How does the permitting work? Much of the “end use” of the water is related to the site development/landscaping, however the system will be designed as part of the plumbing system (building permit, not SDP) which is not typically designed/done concurrent/prior to SDP. I.E. there are timing issues related to permitting that will need a creative solution before the mandatory adoption period. 2) Has the city done an affordability impact statement for this code requirement? I realize they are delaying the requirement for a few years but this is a costly code change and should be evaluated as it will impact a lot of multifamily projects as written (although some of this could be offset with comment 1 above). 3) I don’t see anything in here for downtown sites (or others in the system zone) to utilize existing COA public reclaimed water system as an option towards meeting required reuse goal (I do see connecting to it is mandatory in some cases) – is that going to be allowed and what are the rules surrounding that (it will be harder to show the use volume calculation discussed here with tapping into the shared/public system). 4) The presentation contemplates regional system but is silent to how that can be done across City ROW. Right now, the City’s public works department is a barrier to creating any private-shared system between two sites because the system has to cross public ROW with private infrastructure – what is the proposal to remove this barrier? on Linkedin Email 1) How does the permitting work? Much of the “end use” of the water is related to the site development/landscaping, however the system will be designed as part of the plumbing system (building permit, not SDP) which is not typically designed/done concurrent/prior to SDP. I.E. there are timing issues related to permitting that will need a creative solution before the mandatory adoption period. 2) Has the city done an affordability impact statement for this code requirement? I realize they are delaying the requirement for a few years but this is a costly code change and should be evaluated as it will impact a lot of multifamily projects as written (although some of this could be offset with comment 1 above). 3) I don’t see anything in here for downtown sites (or others in the system zone) to utilize existing COA public reclaimed water system as an option towards meeting required reuse goal (I do see connecting to it is mandatory in some cases) – is that going to be allowed and what are the rules surrounding that (it will be harder to show the use volume calculation discussed here with tapping into the shared/public system). 4) The presentation contemplates regional system but is silent to how that can be done across City ROW. Right now, the City’s public works department is a barrier to creating any private-shared system between two sites because the system has to cross public ROW with private infrastructure – what is the proposal to remove this barrier? link

    1) How does the permitting work? Much of the “end use” of the water is related to the site development/landscaping, however the system will be designed as part of the plumbing system (building permit, not SDP) which is not typically designed/done concurrent/prior to SDP. I.E. there are timing issues related to permitting that will need a creative solution before the mandatory adoption period. 2) Has the city done an affordability impact statement for this code requirement? I realize they are delaying the requirement for a few years but this is a costly code change and should be evaluated as it will impact a lot of multifamily projects as written (although some of this could be offset with comment 1 above). 3) I don’t see anything in here for downtown sites (or others in the system zone) to utilize existing COA public reclaimed water system as an option towards meeting required reuse goal (I do see connecting to it is mandatory in some cases) – is that going to be allowed and what are the rules surrounding that (it will be harder to show the use volume calculation discussed here with tapping into the shared/public system). 4) The presentation contemplates regional system but is silent to how that can be done across City ROW. Right now, the City’s public works department is a barrier to creating any private-shared system between two sites because the system has to cross public ROW with private infrastructure – what is the proposal to remove this barrier?

    KRobinson asked about 4 years ago

    1) How does the permitting work? Much of the “end use” of the water is related to the site development/landscaping, however the system will be designed as part of the plumbing system (building permit, not SDP) which is not typically designed/done concurrent/prior to SDP. I.E. there are timing issues related to permitting that will need a creative solution before the mandatory adoption period.

    It is recommended that project applicants complete the Austin Water-provided water balance calculator tool at the site plan development phase of a project to get an initial planning-level assessment of non-potable water demands and alternative water supplies for their project. If an applicant chooses to incorporate an Onsite Water Reuse System into their development project, a more detailed review of the assumptions in the water balance calculator tool (fixture flow rates, irrigation system watering schedule, etc.) should be conducted to ensure the Onsite Water Reuse System design reflects actual project demands.

    Ideally the Onsite Water Reuse System engineering report and final design would be submitted during the building permit phase to ensure all plumbing and other building design and cross connection requirements are reviewed and inspected at the same time the Onsite Water Reuse System design is reviewed and inspected. The permit to operate the Onsite Water Reuse System would be issued after all system-related inspections have been finalized (plumbing, mechanical, cross connection, and Onsite Water Reuse System inspections). Austin Water will be publishing detailed permitting guidance (currently under development) on their webpage to coincide with the adoption of this proposed ordinance to establish a new chapter of City Code, Chapter 15-13, to regulate the design, permitting and operation of Onsite Water Reuse Systems. 

    2) Has the city done an affordability impact statement for this code requirement? I realize they are delaying the requirement for a few years but this is a costly code change and should be evaluated as it will impact a lot of multifamily projects as written (although some of this could be offset with comment 1 above).

    An Affordability Impact Statement is currently being conducted for the proposed ordinance to establish a new chapter of City Code, Chapter 15-13, to regulate the design, permitting and operation of Onsite Water Reuse Systems. The Affordability Impact Statement will be available as backup material for the Council agenda where this ordinance will be presented for Council adoption. The date for this has not been finalized, but Austin Water is targeting the month of December. This SpeakUp Austin page will be updated when the Council agenda and date for consideration of this ordinance is set, and the Affordability Impact Statement is available.

    The requirement for large development projects to install an Onsite Water Reuse System is contained within the Land Development Code Revision and is outside the scope of the current proposed ordinance to establish a new chapter of City Code, Chapter 15-13, to regulate the design, permitting and operation of Onsite Water Reuse Systems. However, an Affordability Impact Statement was conducted for the Land Development Code Revision. More information on the Land Development Code Revision and staff contacts can be found here: https://www.austintexas.gov/ldc.

    3) I don’t see anything in here for downtown sites (or others in the system zone) to utilize existing COA public reclaimed water system as an option towards meeting required reuse goal (I do see connecting to it is mandatory in some cases) – is that going to be allowed and what are the rules surrounding that (it will be harder to show the use volume calculation discussed here with tapping into the shared/public system).

    Requirements to connect to the City of Austin’s reclaimed water system are currently contained within Chapter 6-4 of City of Austin Code, but are proposed to be moved to Title 25 of City Code with the Land Development Code Revision. The requirement for large development projects to install an Onsite Water Reuse System is also contained within the Land Development Code Revision and is outside the scope of the current proposed ordinance to establish a new chapter of City Code, Chapter 15-13, to regulate the design, permitting and operation of Onsite Water Reuse Systems. However, development projects which utilize reclaimed water for all of their non-potable water demands will be exempt from any future requirement to install an Onsite Water Reuse System.

    4) The presentation contemplates regional system but is silent to how that can be done across City ROW. Right now, the City’s public works department is a barrier to creating any private-shared system between two sites because the system has to cross public ROW with private infrastructure – what is the proposal to remove this barrier?

    The draft Chapter 15-13 regulations contain special provisions for district-scale Onsite Water Reuse Systems:

    § 15-13-38 – SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR DISTRICT-SCALE OWRS.

    (A) A district-scale project entails the sharing of an OWRS across two or more parcels or for use in multiple structures, whether under the jurisdiction of one entity or several. District-scale projects are subject to additional permit requirements as outlined in this division.

    (B) An encroachment agreement as required by Chapter 14-11 ( Use of Right-of-Way ) of the Code must be obtained for an OWRS which has piping or any other components located in the City of Austin’s right-of-way.

    More information on encroachment agreements can be found here: http://austintexas.gov/service/encroachment-agreements