What’s Next for Potable Reuse in California What’s Next for Potable Reuse in California? Jennifer West WateReuse California February 8, 2017 This is an interesting time to be discussing this because the question of what DPR means in California is very much in flux. Today I am going to discuss: Regulatory Status of DPR The CA DPR definition and its intersection with the SWA regs Potable reuse around CA and the world WRRF activites to support DPR THe recent release of the DPR framework document Public perception of DPR in CA.

Promotes responsible stewardship of California's water resources by maximizing the safe, practical and beneficial use of recycled water and by supporting the efforts of the of WateReuse Association. But first a bit about WRCA. Here is our mission statement. We are all about maximizing the beneficial use RW in California. This means RW for agriculture, commercial uses, landscape, habitat uses and much more and also for potable reuse, which I will talk about today.

California Potable Water Reuse Projects PERMITTED GROUNDWATER (8) Existing ≈ 200,000 AFY ∼ 1.6 M People

California Potable Water Reuse Projects PERMITTED GROUNDWATER (8) Existing ≈ 200,000 AFY ∼ 1.6 M People PLANNED GROUNDWATER (17) Planned ≈ 225,000 AFY ∼ 1.6 M People PLANNED SURFACE WATER AUGMENTATION (4) Planned ≈ 100,000 AFY ∼ 800,000 People

California Potable and Non-Potable Water Reuse Projects PERMITTED GROUNDWATER (8) Existing ≈ 200,000 AFY ∼ 1.6 M People PLANNED GROUNDWATER (17) Planned ≈ 225,000 AFY ∼ 1.6 M People PLANNED SURFACE WATER AUGMENTATION (4) Planned ≈ 100,000 AFY ∼ 800,000 People NON-POTABLE WATER RECYCLING PROJECTS (141) Planned ≈ 300,000 AFY ∼ 2.4 M People

Planned Projects Total ≈ $5 BILLION California Water Reuse Projects: Costs POTABLE REUSE Existing Projects (8) ≈ 200,000 AFY Planned Projects (21) ≈ 325,000 AFY Cost ≈ $2 billion NON-POTABLE REUSE Existing Projects ≈ 525,000 AFY Planned Projects (141) ≈ 300,000 AFY Cost ≈ $3 billion Planned Projects Total ≈ $5 BILLION

CA Leading the “DPR” Future

Major CA DPR Milestone Reached Release of legislative report “Investigation on the Feasibility of Developing Uniform Water Recycling Criteria for Direct Potable Reuse” Huge water supply potential -- 1.1 MAF for all potable reuse, including DPR Legislative Report significant step in DPR future for CA Role of expert panel to “advise DDW on the public health issues and scientific and technical matters for this report. SB 918 also had the requirement of SWA regs. be developed. Draft regualtions are out this month. Why talking about this in a DPR speech…? The reservoir criteria in these regs may define the distinction between surface water augmentation and direct potable reuse

Will DDW Move Forward? Statute (SB 918) did not require DDW action! No specific deadlines for action included in DPR implementation plan. No DDW staff #s identified to complete research needs.

WRCA Concerns Contains open ended recommendations in the Implementation Plan. Examples: Monitoring raw wastewater Source control Identifying low molecular weight compounds in finished effluent. Problem for all drinking water systems Final report states that DDW will refine recommendations, metrics and timelines. Report living document-- but will DDW be accountable for outcomes?

2017 Potable Reuse Legislation WRCA and CA Coastkeepers Co-Sponsoring Legislation and budget action for 2017 Beginning of two-year legislative session Budget committees have significant role in ensuring agencies are properly staffed. Oversight Prop. 1 research funds

What’s In a Name? Defines “potable reuse” and subcategories Potable reuse and “IPR” and “DPR” have been confusing and sometimes misleading. DPR report to the Legislature acknowledges the different types of “Direct Potable Reuse”

§13561 of Water Code – new terms Remove References to “direct” and “indirect” potable reuse New Terms: "Potable reuse" means the planned placement of municipal wastewater that has gone through multiple barrier treatment processes to produce or supplement a drinking water supply that has an equivalent level of public health protection as other sources of water supply permitted under the California Safe Drinking Water Act

§13561 of Water Code – Forms of Potable Reuse "Potable reuse through groundwater augmentation" "Potable reuse through reservoir augmentation" "Potable reuse through raw water augmentation” "Potable reuse through treated water augmentation"

§13561 of Water Code – Forms of Potable Reuse "Potable reuse through groundwater augmentation" means the planned use of recycled water for replenishment of a groundwater basin or an aquifer that has been designated as the source of water supply for a public water system. Groundwater Recharge: Surface Spreading (Article 5.1, Jun 2014) Surface Spreading Extraction well Water Consumers 2ndry Treatment Tertiary Treatment Chlorination Groundwater Aquifer The second option for Groundwater replenishment (shown below) is subsurface injection. Here the water receives much more aggressive treatment (including reverse osmosis) and is then injected directly into the groundwater aquifer via an injection well. Once again, after a certain amount of time, it becomes water of the state Groundwater Recharge: Subsurface Injection (Article 5.2, Jun 2014) Injection well Water Consumers Extraction well 2ndry Treatment Full Advanced Treatment Groundwater Aquifer Chlorination

§13561 of Water Code – Forms of Potable Reuse "Potable reuse through reservoir augmentation" means the planned placement of recycled water into a raw surface water reservoir used as a source of domestic drinking water supply for a public water system…..

§13561 of Water Code – Forms of Potable Reuse "Potable reuse through raw water augmentation" means the planned placement of recycled water into a raw or untreated water distribution system serving a public water system…

§13561 of Water Code – Forms of Potable Reuse "Potable reuse through treated water augmentation" means the planned introduction of recycled water into the treated water distribution system of a public water system…

Requires Potable Reuse Framework By June 2018 SWRCB will establish a framework for potable reuse projects –similar to requirement in DPR report. Will include: Schedule for completing “DPR research” A regulatory framework for potable reuse projects that will be protective of public health. Timeline for updating surface water regs., as necessary. Declaration of existing authority to permit projects on a case-by-case basis before reg. are adopted.

Creates Statutory Deadline Requires adoption of statewide regulations for “Potable reuse for raw water augmentation” by Dec.31, 2021. Allows one year extension via state board finding. More time than 12 months requires convening an expert panel to make new recommended completion date.

Conclusions

“DPR Report” to the Legislature was major water supply milestone for CA. Deadlines, staff and specific research objectives needed to realize the full potential of the report and potable reuse for CA. Legislation will be introduced this year to help California continue its momentum.

Contact Information: Jennifer West WateReuse California Jwest@watereuse.org (916) 669-8401