EXHIBIT 2-B
DRAFT PROPOSED REVISIONS TO
MPWMD REGULATION XIV, WATER CONSERVATION
March 18, 2009
Assumptions
1. The existing conservation regulation will apply to all Water Permits issued up to the date specified in the new regulation. The same shall apply to and Change of Title/Use. The ordinance will set a specific date for which the new regulation applies. For example, if the ordinance is adopted in April 2009, water permits issued after a future date (such as June 1, 2009) would be subject to the new regulation. Water Permits issued prior to that date would be subject to the existing regulation. This same theory would apply to Change of Title and Change of Use.
2. The existing conservation requirements will be summarized in the new regulation as a reference for future enforcement of those properties subject to those regulations.
NEW DEFINITIONS
Pint Urinal
Spa
Weather Based Irrigation Controller
MP Rotator
Pre-Rinse Spray Valve
NEW MULTI-UNIT DEVELOPMENTS
At such time as codes are developed to regulate installation of “purple pipe” in Residential and Non-Residential developments, there will be a requirement for installations of recycled water conveyance lines when there is potential for reuse for future use of recycled water. This would not apply to areas where there is no potential for purified water.
RESIDENTIAL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR NEW STRUCTURES:
Current Standards:
1. ULF (1.6 gallons per flush toilets)
2. 1.0 gallon per flush urinals (when installed)
3. 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) showerheads
4. 2.2 gpm faucet aerators
5. Instant-Access Hot Water System
6. Drip Irrigation where appropriate.
Proposed Standards:
All New Structures receiving a Water Permit
after July 1, 2009, shall meet or exceed the following standards:
1.
High Efficiency Toilets
shall be installed that have been manufactured to flush with no more than 1.28
gallons-per-flush; In 2007, California adopted legislation that will lower the
allowable flush volume for toilets and urinals to the high-efficiency toilet
(HET) and high-efficiency urinal (HEU) standards that many water utilities have
been promoting (see EBN Vol. 16, No. 1). These new standards—which reduce
the flush-volume limit from the EPAct-mandated 1.6 gallons (6.1 l) to 1.28
gallons (4.8 l) for toilets and from 1.0 gallons (3.8 l) to 0.5 gallons (1.9 l)
for urinals—will be phased in starting in 2010, with full implementation by
2014. The Plumbing Manufacturers Institute (PMI), the leading plumbing industry
organization in the
2.
Urinals, when installed
in a Residential use, shall be manufactured to flush with a maximum of 0.125
gpf (one pint) per flush. Zero Water
Consumption. This standard is greater
than High Efficiency Urinals (0.5 gpf).
3.
Showerheads, Rain Bars,
or Body Spray Nozzles shall be manufactured to emit a maximum of 2.0 gallons per
minute of water.
4.
Installation of multiple Showerheads
in one stall shall require timers for each Showerhead, Rain Bar, or Body Spray
Nozzle with a maximum three minute operating increment.
While certain laws,
principally EPAct, regulate what can be sold,
building codes and plumbing codes regulate how products must be installed. Herein lies an opportunity
to fix a loophole that has allowed a major trend in water waste with showers.
While the federal limit for showerheads is 2.5 gpm, some custom bath builders
and a number of manufacturers get around that limit by installing multiple
showerheads in a single shower stall or selling towers that incorporate
multiple showerheads and body-spray nozzles. Kohler’s WaterHaven custom shower
tower, for example, can deliver more than 10 gpm (38 lpm).
5.
Lavatory Sink faucets
shall be manufactured to emit less than 1.5 gallon of water per minute at 60 psi. The Lavatory Sink faucet or faucet
accessory shall not be packaged, marked, or provided with instructions
directing the user to an alternative water-use setting that would override the
maximum flow rate of 1.5 gpm at 60 psi, as established by this specification;
6.
Instant-Access Hot Water
System;
7.
Water softeners that use
salt (i.e. sodium chloride) shall be discouraged in New Construction;
8.
Irrigation System Controllers.
a.
Weather-Based Irrigation
System Controllers (e.g. Smart Controllers) shall be installed for irrigated Landscaping
on Sites with where there is an Irrigation System serving an area greater than 2,000
square-feet;
b.
Rain Sensors shall be
installed on all other Irrigation Systems that operate with an irrigation
controller. Note that irrigated areas
of greater than 2,000 square-feet require a Weather-Based Irrigation Controller.
9.
Drip Irrigation shall be utilized
for watering all non-turf irrigated plantings;
10. MP Rotators or spray heads of similar efficiency shall be utilized for
turf irrigation;
11. Overhead spray irrigation shall
not be used to water non-turf Landscaping, including trees and shrubs;
12. Rainwater collection and cistern systems are encouraged as supplemental
irrigation for Landscaping installed pursuant to New Construction. New Structures
shall be encouraged to include one or more rainwater cisterns and a system to
provide at least 75 percent of exterior irrigation during normal rainfall
years. Systems must be compliant with
local catchment system standards. Guidelines
will be included in landscape ordinance when available. Possible incentives for this (higher rebates,
connection charge credit?). This
voluntary program should become a requirement after several years.
NON-RESIDENTIAL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR NEW STRUCTURES:
Current standards:
1. ULF (1.6 gallons per flush toilets)
2. 1.0 gallon per flush urinals (when installed)
3. 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) showerheads
4. 2.2 gpm faucet aerators
5. Instant-Access Hot Water System
6. Drip Irrigation where appropriate.
Proposed Standards
All New Structures receiving a Water Permit
after July 1, 2009, shall meet or exceed the following standards:
1.
High Efficiency Toilets
shall be installed that have been manufactured to flush with no more than 1.28
gallons-per-flush;
2.
Urinals shall be installed
that have been manufactured to flush with no more than 0.125 gpf (one pint) per
flush. Zero Water Consumption Urinals
shall be encouraged in settings where there is a regular maintenance
staff.
3.
Showerheads, Rain Bars,
or Body Spray Nozzles shall not be installed if the fixture or fixtures are
capable of emitting more than 2.0 gallons per minute of water. Installation of multiple fixtures in one
stall shall require timers that allow three minute operating increments.
4.
Lavatory faucets shall not emit more than 0.5
gallon of water per minute at 60 psi. The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992 and
subsequent EPAct actions limited faucet flows to 2.2-gpm (at 60 psi). In the
mid-1990s, however, the U.S. plumbing codes and standards further reduced that
maximum flow rate to 0.5-gpm for public (non-residential) applications (the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
A112.18.1/Canadian Standards Association (CSA) B125.1 Plumbing
Supply Fittings). “Public” applications are defined in those
implementing codes as all applications that are not defined as
“private”. The codes (Uniform Plumbing Code, International Plumbing Code,
and the National Standard Plumbing Code) each define “private” as inclusive
only of fixtures in residences, hotel/motel guest rooms, and private rooms in
hospitals. All other applications are deemed as within the “public”
category and subject to 0.5-gallons per minute maximum for lavatory
faucets. This includes such applications as single-tenant and
multi-tenant office buildings, schools, gymnasiums, manufacturing facilities,
public buildings (including those where the general public is denied access),
bars, restaurants, retail stores, and any other type of building that does not
fall within the “private” definition.
5.
Lavatory Sinks shall be equipped with automatic
shut off devices or sensor faucets with a maximum flow of 0.25 gallons per
cycle. Metering faucets for non-public
applications are subject to the same codes and standards, all of which set the
maximum water use at 0.25 gallons per cycle. That is, the “on-off” cycle
(or time during which the faucet is on) cannot result in a total flow in excess
of 0.25 gallons of water.
6.
Ultra Low Consumption commercial washing
machines shall be required when a washer is installed in a New Structure
permitted under this Regulation. Need to specify rating.
7.
Ultra Low Consumption commercial dishwashers shall
be required when a dishwasher is installed in a New Structure permitted under
this Regulation. Need to specify qualifying criteria.
8.
Instant-Access Hot Water
System(s) shall be installed for hot water access points to ensure that hot
water is available within ten (10) seconds;
9.
The use of non-sodium
water softeners shall be encouraged in New Construction;
10. The implementation of water conservation Best Management Practices
shall be integrated into construction and operation of the project to the
extent possible.
11.
Water Efficient Pre-Rinse Spray Valves (add definition “cleaning
time of 26 seconds or less at 1.6 gpm (at 60 psi)”) shall be utilized when a
pre-rinse spray valve is installed. The federal Energy Policy Act of 2005
established a limit of 1.6 gallons per minute (gpm) for pre-rinse spray valves,
which are used to remove food scraps from dishes in commercial kitchens. EPAct
2005 also established, for the first time, a maximum water factor (gallons per wash cycle per cubic foot of capacity)
for commercial dishwashers (setting that maximum at 9.5).
12.
There shall be no single-pass water use systems in ice machines,
hydraulic equipment, refrigeration condensers, x-ray processing equipment, air compressors, vacuum pumps, etc. Air-cooled or better technology shall be
installed when available.
13.
Water cooled refrigeration equipment shall be
prohibited when there is alternative cooling technology available at the time
the Water Permit is issued. Most of this equipment has air-cooled
options available. Additionally, the user can recirculate cooling water to
reduce waste.
14. Boiler-less steamers or connectionless steamers shall be installed in place of boiler-based steamers. Steamers are commonly used in schools, hotels, hospitals and many restaurants for large-scale cooking of vegetables, fish, rice and steamed foods. Most food service establishments use the boiler-based atmospheric steamer. These are "zero pressure" steamers where steam is injected into the cooking chamber. These units typically use between 20 and 40 gallons of potable water per hour while in operation.
New boiler-less steamers, sometimes called connectionless steamers, are
jacketed. The cooking chamber and steam chamber are separated and the
condensate is returned and reused. The steamers use much less water than
atmospheric steamers, typically 2-3 gallons per hour. Because of the
significant energy savings associated with units, EPA has granted Energy Star
ratings to many of these units.
15. Irrigation System Controllers.
a.
Weather-Based Irrigation
System Controllers (e.g. Smart Controllers) shall be installed for irrigated Landscaping
on Sites with where there is an Irrigation System.
16. Drip Irrigation shall be utilized for watering all non-turf irrigated
plantings;
17. Irrigation spray heads at least as efficient
as MP Rotators shall be utilized for turf irrigation;
18. Overhead spray irrigation shall
not be used to water non-turf Landscaping, including trees and shrubs;
19. Rainwater collection and cistern systems are encouraged as supplemental
irrigation for Landscaping installed pursuant to New Construction. New
Structures shall be encouraged to include one or more rainwater cisterns and a
system to provide at least 75 percent of exterior irrigation during normal
rainfall years. Systems must be
compliant with local catchment system standards. Guidelines will be included in landscape
ordinance when available. Possible
incentives for this (higher rebates, connection charge credit?). This voluntary program should become a
requirement after several years.
CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP OR EXPANSION OR MODIFICATION OF AN EXISTING WATER
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (E.G. PROJECT THAT REQUIRE A WATER PERMIT)
Current standards:
1. ULF (1.6 gallons per flush toilets)
2. 1.0 gallon per flush urinals (when installed)
3. 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) showerheads
4. 2.2 gpm faucet aerators
1.
High Efficiency Toilets
shall replace all non-HET toilets that were installed more than ten (10) years
from the date of Change of Ownership or Change of Use;
2.
Urinals designed to use no
more than 0.125 gpf (one pint) per flush shall replace existing higher flow
urinals with the exception of those fixtures that require replumbing to meet
this requirement. Excepted urinals shall
retrofit with flush valve kits to reduce the flush volume to 0.5 gallons per
flush, if possible. Zero Water
Consumption Urinals shall be encouraged in settings where there is a regular
maintenance staff;
3.
Showerhead flow rates
shall meet or exceed New Construction standards;
4.
Bathroom faucet flow
rates shall meet or exceed New Construction standards;
5.
Kitchen faucet flow rates
shall meet or exceed New Construction standards;
6. Automatic irrigation systems shall be retrofit to include a Rain Sensor
with Weather Based Irrigation Controllers (e.g. Smart Controllers) upon Change
of Ownership and as a condition of any Water Permit.
7.
The implementation of Non-Residential
Best Management Practices shall be integrated into construction and operation
of any New Structure to the extent possible.
NON-RESIDENTIAL
CHANGE OF USE
Current standards:
1. ULF (1.6 gallons per flush toilets)
2. 1.0 gallon per flush urinals (when installed)
3. 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) showerheads
4. 2.2 gpm faucet aerators
Proposed Standards
All Change in Use after July 1, 2009, shall
meet or exceed the following standards:
1.
High Efficiency Toilets
shall replace all non-HET toilets that were installed more than ten (10) years
from the date of Change of Ownership or issuance of a Water Permit;
2.
Urinals designed to use
no more than 0.125 gpf (one pint) per flush shall replace existing higher flow
urinals with the exception of those fixtures that require replumbing to meet
this requirement. Excepted urinals shall
retrofit with flush valve kits to reduce the flush volume to 0.5 gallons per
flush, if possible. Zero Water
Consumption Urinals shall be encouraged in settings where there is a regular
maintenance staff;
3.
Showerhead flow rates
shall meet or exceed New Construction standards;
4.
Bathroom faucet flow
rates shall meet or exceed New Construction standards;
5.
Kitchen faucet flow rates
shall meet or exceed New Construction standards;
6.
The implementation of
Best Management Practices shall be integrated into operation
of the
project to the extent possible.
MANDATORY CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS
Current standards:
1. All
Visitor-Serving and Public and Quasi-Public Facilities shall display in visible
locations in all restrooms, kitchens, and dining areas, placards or decals
approved by the District promoting public awareness of the need for water
conservation and/or advising the public that waste of water is prohibited.
2.
The owner and/or manager of each rental
property shall provide a pamphlet, brochure, or other literature to current and
future tenants that list the water conservation requirements, including the
Water Waste and Non-Essential Water Use regulations of the District.
Proposed Standards
In addition to the current standards:
1.
Visitor-Serving Facilities,
where applicable, shall utilize towel and linen reuse programs, whereby towels
and linens are changed every three days or as requested by action of the guest.
2.
Any person who
purchases and installs an automatic Irrigation System that is not a Weather-Based
Irrigation System shall install and maintain a Rain Sensor on the system. Rain sensors are available for approximately
$30 wherever irrigation supplies are sold, and a homeowner or irrigation
professional can install them.
3.
By July 1, 2010,
all Non-Residential facilities that utilize one or more Pre-Rinse Spray Valves
shall install and maintain Pre-Rinse Spray Valves that flow at a maximum of 1.6
gallons per minute.
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