1. OAWU Conference
Seaside, Oregon
August 2016
The Relationship Between Extended Water Use Permits & Water Management and Conservation Plans
Lisa Jaramillo
Water Right Services Division
Oregon Water Resources Department

2. Water Use Permits
Upon its issuance, the water use permit will specify the deadline for:
Completing construction; and
Beneficially using all of the water allowed under the permit.

3. Permit Extensions of Time
If a permit holder cannot complete construction and/or accomplish full beneficial use of water by the permit’s deadline…
An Application for Extension of Time can be submitted.

4. Extended Water Use Permits - Municipal and Quasi-Municipal Uses -
An approved Extension of Time for most Municipal Water Use Permits and some Quasi-Municipal Use Permits will:
Require submittal of a WMCP within 3 years; and
Limit the amount of water that may legally be diverted or appropriated under the permit.
(i.e., the “Development Limitations” Condition)

5. “Development Limitations” Condition
A “Development Limitations” condition freezes the amount of water that a water supplier is legally authorized to divert under an extended permit.
Based on maximum diversion rate (or duty, if applicable) for beneficial use accomplished before the permit’s most recently authorized completion date. (i.e., before the most recent extension)
Reflects the “developed portion” of the permit.
Cannot exceed diversion rate limitation until authorized by OWRD through the WMCP process.

6. The “Developed Portion”
The “developed portion” of an extended permit refers to the maximum rate (or duty) of water diverted for beneficial use before the extension.
Final Order approving an Extension of Time for Municipal or Quasi-Municipal Permits will identify the developed portion of the permit in the “Development Limitations” condition.

7. Sample “Development Limitations” Condition
Permit Extension of Time Final Order: City of Anytown – Permit S (4.0 cfs) Development Limitations: Diversion of water beyond 1.75 cfs (out of the total permitted 4.0 cfs of water) under Permit S shall only be authorized upon issuance of a final order approving a Water Management and Conservation Plan under OAR Chapter 690, Division 86 that authorizes access to a greater rate of diversion of water under the permit consistent with OAR (7). The required Water Management and Conservation Plan shall be submitted to the Department within 3 years of this Final Order. Use of water under Permit S must be consistent with this and subsequent WMCPs approved under OAR Chapter 690, Division 86 on file with the Department…

8. The “Undeveloped Portion”
In contrast, the “undeveloped portion” of an extended permit is…
The portion of the permit that is the difference between the maximum rate specified in the permit and the maximum rate diverted for beneficial use before the extension
The Extension of Time Final Order for a municipal or quasi-municipal permit will identify the developed portion of the permit in the Development Limitations condition.
This developed portion will be a quantity that is less than the maximum rate (or duty) specified in the permit and represents the maximum amount of water the supplier may legally divert following approval of the extension.
Maximum Allowed Rate of Permit
Developed Portion
Undeveloped Portion

9. Water is Red Light Water?
The term “Red Light Water” refers to the portion of the extended permit that the supplier is not yet legally authorized to divert…
The remaining amount of water above the specified diversion rate limitation in the most recent Development Limitations condition in an Extension of Time Final Order.
(i.e., the “undeveloped portion”)
The portion of the extended permit not currently authorized (i.e., “Greenlighted”) for diversion in a Final Order approving a WMCP.

10. What is Greenlight Water?
The term “Greenlight Water” refers to the quantity of water beyond the “developed portion” of an extended permit to which the supplier has obtained legal authorization from OWRD to divert.
Accomplished through the WMCP process.

11. Sample Scenario Sample Scenario – 4.0 cfs Permit
Prior to Extension of Time…
The supplier diverted 1.75 cfs for beneficial use.
This is the “developed portion” of the extended permit.
The remainder of the permit (2.25 cfs) is frozen and cannot be diverted.
This is the “undeveloped portion” of the extended permit (or “Red Light Water”).

12. Sample Scenario - Requesting “Greenlight Water” -
The City submits a WMCP requesting and justifying the need for water in quantities above the “developed portion.”
Requesting 1.25 cfs of water be “Greenlighted” under the permit.
Once approved… the City is legally authorized to divert a total of 3.0 cfs. (Developed Portion + Greenlight Water = 3.0 cfs)
There is still 1.0 cfs of “Red Light Water” under the permit.

13. WMCPs and Requests for “Greenlight Water”
Authorization to divert quantities of water beyond the amount specified in a “Development Limitations” condition…
May only be granted through OWRD’s review and approval of a WMCP that requests “Greenlight Water.”

14. WMCPs and Requests for “Greenlight Water”
To request “Greenlight Water,” the WMCP must include:
A quantification of the amount of water the supplier needs under each extended permit over the next 20 years to help meet its projected demands for water; and
The required documentation to support and justify the need for the “Greenlight Water” and that it is the most feasible and appropriate water supply alternative available for meeting those projected demands.

15. Justifying a Request for “Greenlight Water”
The justification for “Greenlight Water” in the WMCP needs to consider alternative water sources, including:
Interconnection with other municipal water suppliers or regional water management; and
Water savings from implementation of conservation measures.
The WMCP also needs to describe any mitigation actions the water supplier is taking to comply with state and/or federal legal requirements related to the water source.

16. Authorization of “Greenlight Water”
If the WMCP provides clear justification that “Greenlight Water” is necessary and that the water supplier is managing and conserving its water in a responsible manner…
OWRD will issue a Final Order that:
Approves the WMCP; and
Includes a new “Development Limitations” condition that specifically grants authorization to a greater rate of diversion under the extended permit.

17. Resources Municipal Water Management and Conservation Plan Guidebook
(March 2015)

18. Water Supply and Conservation Team Transfer and Conservation Section
Contact
Water Supply and Conservation Team
Transfer and Conservation Section
Kerri Cope
Phone:
Chris Kowitz
Phone:

19. Contact Lisa Jaramillo, Manager Transfer and Conservation Section
Water Right Services Division
Oregon Water Resources Department
Phone:

20. Registrations of Reclaimed Municipal Water Use
OAWU Conference
Seaside, Oregon
August 2016
Registrations of Reclaimed Municipal Water Use
Kerri Cope
Water Management and Conservation Analyst
Oregon Water Resources Department

21. What is “Reclaimed Water?”
As defined in ORS , and , water that has been used for municipal purposes and after such use has been treated in a treatment works (NPDES or WPCF), and that as a result is suitable for direct beneficial use that could not otherwise occur.

22. The DEQ/OWRD Connection
Use of Reclaimed Water is authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) or Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) permit from Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) under their Division 55 Rules for “Recycled Water” use.

23. The DEQ/OWRD Connection
DEQ is the state’s lead agency on water reuse.
DEQ issues NPDES and WPCF permits.
DEQ and OWRD use different terminology for water reuse:
DEQ uses the term “recycled” water;
OWRD uses the term “reclaimed” water.

24. What are the Benefits?
Beneficial use of this water with an OWRD “Registration” provides an exemption from OWRD’s permitting requirements.
Reduces the quantity of warm, nutrient-rich wastewater that is discharged into local waterbodies.

25. What are the Benefits?
No fee required for registration, so cheaper (free!) than the OWRD water right permit process.
Can be used in place of, or supplemental to, an existing water right.
Can provide revenue to municipalities and help meet their DEQ permit requirements.

26. Who Can Use This Water? Agricultural – Irrigation (nutrient content!).
Golf Courses – Irrigation for Recreation.
Industry – Cooling Systems, Boiler Feed, Process Water.
Municipalities, etc. – Groundwater Recharge, Fire Protection, and Irrigation (ex. city park).

27. The Process
ORS provides the criteria under which the use of reclaimed water is exempt from OWRD water use permitting requirements.
Exempt reclaimed water use requires:
A DEQ-issued NPDES or WPCF permit and;
An OWRD Reclaimed Municipal Water Use Registration and a Map showing the Place of Use (POU).

28. A Registration of Reclaimed Municipal Water form is filed with DEQ

29. Cont…
DEQ signs the registration form, attesting to (1)(a)(b)&(c) and DEQ forwards the form to OWRD in Salem for evaluation ( defined later in the presentation).
OWRD staff evaluates the registration according to ORS and coordinates with the local watermaster to determine feasibility, etc. (60 days).

30. What About Existing Water Rights?
ORS (2)(h) – reclaimed water used in lieu of using water under an existing water right provides a rebuttal to the presumption of forfeiture for non-use of the water right.
The Registration document itself is not proof of use.
The DEQ permit requires an annual report of reclaimed water use (which provides proof of documentation to demonstrate use).

31. Clarification
Does a Registration need to be filed if the reclaimed water use will occur inside the service boundary of the municipality that produced and treated (at a WCPF) the wastewater ?
A Reclaimed Water Use Registration needs to be filed regardless of whether the reclaimed water use will occur inside or outside the service boundary.

32. Who’s Responsible?
Under ORS (2), any person using or intending to use reclaimed water shall file a Reclaimed Water Use Registration form.
The Registrant is not always the landowner where reuse will occur, nor the supplier of the reclaimed water.
If there are multiple users of a city’s reclaimed water, then each user will need to submit a Registration with a map.

33. Say what? So here’s the deal:
You and your neighbor are farmers. You both want to use “Central City’s” reclaimed water in addition to your current water rights.
You will each need to submit a Reclaimed Water Use Registration form with a map showing your intended place of use.

34. What about Downstream Water Users?
The statute states:
If the wastewater discharge was more than 50% of the “total average flow” of the stream for 5 or more years, affected downstream water users have preference to use of the reclaimed water.

35. New Registration Process
As previously stated, each person using or intending to use reclaimed water completes a separate Registration form and submits it to the DEQ permit writer along with the application for a DEQ permit (NPDES/ WPCF).

36. New Registration Process
Registration must be signed by the Registrant (the water user) and the Water Supplier.
Registrant must supply a map of water right application quality (Township, Range, Section, Q-Q) showing the Place of Use (POU).

37. New Registration Process
DEQ signs the Registration form and affirms:
( (1)(a)(b)&(c) )
Once the application for a DEQ permit (NPDES/WPCF) is approved; the reuse will be authorized under that permit;
They have determined, in consultation with ODFW, that the reuse will not have a significant impact on fish and;
The intent of reuse is to improve stream water quality.

38. New Registration Process
Then, DEQ sends the Registration form to the OWRD “Reuse Coordinator” in Salem (that’s me).
Within 60 days of receipt of the Registration the Reuse Coordinator will:
a copy to the appropriate Watermaster and;
Enter the Registration into OWRD’s WRIS database.

39. New Registration Process
Confer with Watermaster on streamflow impacts and to existing downstream water right holders.
If the reuse is for aquifer recharge, confer with the appropriate OWRD Hydrogeologist.

40. Letter of Acceptance/Rejection
A letter either accepting or rejecting the use will be sent to the registrant, watermaster and DEQ.
Registration is tracked in OWRD’s Water Rights Information System (WRIS) database.

41. What about WRIS?
Registrations will be coded as “RM” files (example RM-210).
Data will include the maximum rate of the reuse and the place of use by T, R, S, Q-Q (so the water reuse and it’s location are searchable).

42. What about WRIS?
A scanned image of the Registration form and of the map will be available.
The Registration will be tied to existing water rights located on the same land (if applicable).
The Registration will be valid as long as DEQ authorizes the reclaimed water use.

43. RM 210

44. So Basically…. The “Registrant” is the user of the reclaimed water.
The Registration goes to DEQ with the NPDES/WPCF application.
DEQ consults with ODFW, then signs off on the Registration and sends it to OWRD.
Actual use of reclaimed water in lieu of using underlying water rights provides protection from forfeiture for non-use.
For water reuse to be exempt from water right permitting, both a DEQ Permit and Registration are required.

45. Questions?
Kerri H. Cope Water Management and Conservation Specialist (Water Reuse Coordinator)