On-site Sewage Facility (OSSF) Trends in Texas by John R. Blount, PE, LEED AP, Director Harris County Architecture & Engineering Division

Current Legislation HB1535 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT Relating to the permitting of certain small commercial development and county park sewage collection, treatment, and disposal systems as on-site sewage disposal systems. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 366, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 366.0513 to read as follows: Sec. 366.0513. SMALL COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND COUNTY PARK SYSTEMS. (a) A small commercial development sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system may be permitted as an on-site sewage disposal system under this chapter if the system: (1) is located on property jointly owned by the property owners served by the system, as described by the county deed records; (2) produces not more than 5,000 gallons a day on an annual average basis; (3) serves an area that does not exceed 15 acres; (4) is designed to serve two or more sewage-generating units on separate tracts of land; (5) collects sewage only from commercial or institutional facilities or business parks; (6) is located more than 2,000 feet from the nearest reservoir used for municipal water supply, unless the owner of the reservoir consents in writing; Current Legislation HB1535

Current Legislation HB1535 (cont.) (7) is approved by the governing body of any municipality: (A) that provides wastewater utility service to the property where the system is located at the time of the request for the permit; and (B) in whose boundaries or extraterritorial jurisdiction the property is located; (8) includes an interceptor for any facility engaged in food service activities, if required by commission rule or local ordinance or code; (9) does not accept waste streams from industrial users subject to general pretreatment regulations under 40 C.F.R.Part 403 and (10) is professionally managed by an entity with the appropriate authorization required by the commission to manage the system. (b) A sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system that serves a county park may be permitted as an on-site sewage disposal system under this chapter if the system: (1) is located on property owned or operated by the county; (2) produces not more than 5,000 gallons a day on an annual average basis; (3) collects only sewage generated at the park; and (4) meets the requirements of Subsections (a) (6)-(10). SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013. Current Legislation HB1535 (cont.)

NSF 350 Water Reuse Technologies Standard Assures water is treated to safe level for specific reuse, non- potable applications like surface or subsurface irrigation, toilet/urinal flushing and decorative fountains. Applies to any technology type capable of meeting the requirements, without limitations on system design or treatment capacity Includes physical, chemical and microbiological reduction requirement to assure public health safety and suitable reuse

Scope of Standards Standard 350: On-Site Residential and Commercial Water Reuse Treatment Systems Building Types Residential, up to 1,500 gallons per day Commercial, more than 1,500 gallons per day and all capacity of commercial laundry water Types of wastewater treated (influent) Combined black and graywater Graywater Bathing water only Laundry water only Uses of treated water (effluent) Nonpotable applications, such as surface and subsurface irrigation and toilet and urinal flushing Ratings Two classifications that vary slightly in treated water quality Class R: single-family residential Class C: multifamily and commercial Systems are further described by the type of wastewater treated (combined, graywater, bathing only or laundry only).

Scope of Standards (Cont.) NSF/ANSI Standard 350-1:On-site Residential and Commercial Graywater Treatment Systems for Subsurface Discharge Building Types Residential, up to 1,500 gallons per day Commercial, more than 1,500 gallons per day and all capacity of commercial laundry water Types of wastewater treated (influent) Combined black and graywater Graywater Bathing water only Laundry water only Uses of treated water (effluent) Subsurface irrigation only Ratings Single effluent quality with no classifications Systems are further described based on the type of influent (graywater, bathing only, laundry only)

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Impacts in OSSF Industry What green building rating systems currently recognize water reuse strategies that could be achieved by products certified to the NSF/ANSI 350 Standard? LEED for homes (2008) projects can earn up to one point in Water Efficiency Credit 1.2 Graywater Re-use System by installing a graywater reuse system for landscape irrigation or indoor water use. LEED Building Design and Construction (BD+C) 2012 (Draft July 2011) Water Efficiency Credit: Sustainable Wastewater Management, under OPTION 2: Reuse, a project can earn up to 2 points for implementing water reuse. This credit specifically mentions the NSF/ANSI 350 standard and requires “Reused water must meet the applicable NSF350 standard or local code, whichever is more stringent”.

Question & Comments John R. Blount, PE, LEED AP, Director Harris County Architecture & Engineering Division 1001 Preston, 7th Floor Houston Texas 77002 713-755-5370