1. Update on the resolution related to a rule to be proposed to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality related to the beneficial reuse of wastewater Presented to the City of Austin Environmental Commission January 13, 2016 Chris Herrington, P.E. 1

2. Summary of Draft Rule Why? Reduce disincentive for wastewater land application to provide more economically attractive alternative to direct discharge Encourage more beneficial reuse of reclaimed water (aka, treated wastewater effluent) to conserve water and protect water quality How? Provide credit for the amount of “firm reclaimed water demand” against the size of dedicated land application disposal fields and effluent storage ponds Firm Reclaimed Water Demand = volume of effluent that can be guaranteed to be reused somewhere other than dedicated disposal field 2

3. Example Expansion under Rule Proposal Area required for TLAP disposal is reduced by the amount of wastewater that can reliably be utilized for beneficial reuse Q disposal = Q generated – Q reuse firm demand 3

4. Changes Since 10/12 Version Concern: Outdoor reclaimed uses do not require a water balance to ensure that demand is firm in wet weather Modification to Draft Rule: Applicant may claim credit for 100% of the volume of firm demand for indoor uses Applicant may claim credit for 80% of the volume of firm demand for outdoor uses UNLESS – During the 1 st term of the permit the applicant reserves enough land to apply total volume generated Water balance required for outdoor uses to ensure “no unauthorized discharge to waters of the State or a contamination of groundwater” 4

5. Changes Since 10/12 Version Concern: Areas receiving firm reclaimed water demand are not required to be mapped Modification to Draft Rule: Explicitly require a map of reclaimed water application areas utilized for the credit Map must show information to validate that new protective buffer requirements are satisfied The type of reclaimed water use for the area must be identified 5

6. Changes Since 10/12 Version Concern: An applicant could claim that firm reclaimed water demand equals the total volume of effluent effectively bypassing most of the land application requirements Modification to Draft Rule: Added a stipulation that “in any phase of a permit, the volume of firm reclaimed water demand relied upon must be less than the total permitted volume of wastewater” 6

7. Changes Since 10/12 Version Concern: The alternative disposal method require was not feasible and not necessary Modification to Draft Rule: This provision was removed, and replaced with a requirement for a water balance for outdoor reclaimed water uses utilized for the credit 7

8. Changes Since 10/12 Version Concern: Do not allow a reduction in storage to ensure that there no unauthorized discharge would occur in wet weather Modification to Draft Rule: Because of other changes to the draft rule to better document how outdoor uses are “firm”, the credit to allow reduction in storage for firm reclaimed water demand was left unchanged 8

9. For More Information Access documents at: ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/wre/wastewater/ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/wre/wastewater/ austintexas.gov/department/proposed-wastewater- management-rule-revisions Chris Herrington (City of Austin) 512-974-2840 Chris.Herrington@austintexas.gov 9