ITEM:		ACTION ITEMS
21.	CONSIDER APPROVAL OF PROPOSED STRATEGY FOR INVESTIGATION INTO DEVELOPMENT OF REGULATIONS ALLOWING ALTERNATIVE WATER SOURCES:  RECYCLING AND REUSE OF GRAYWATER; RAINWATER HARVESTING AND STORAGE; AND STORMWATER STORAGE AND REUSE
Meeting Date:			January 29, 2009	Budgeted:	No
From:			Darby Fuerst	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared by:			Stephanie Pintar	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Review: Yes
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: At its September 22, 2008 meeting, the Board agreed to prioritize the exploration of available alternative water sources and directed staff to develop a plan of action for moving ahead on this priority. The item was scheduled for action by the Board at the November 17, 2008 meeting, but no action was taken and the item was continued to the January 2009 Board meeting.

To facilitate development of staff’s action plan for this topic, this topic was discussed at the December 11, 2008 Water Demand Committee meeting and at the Legislative Committee meeting of January 9, 2009. The Water Demand Committee recommended that staff:

1. Contact other counties that have water reuse programs (i.e. Contra Costa, Marin and Santa Barbara) and obtain any available resources and past studies;

2. Become familiar with SB 1258 (Lowenthal) which will enact building standards for the construction, installation, and alteration of graywater systems for indoor and outdoor uses;

3. Create a matrix showing the potential uses and sources of the alternative water supply, current regulations and regulators (local, regional and state), and identify potential issues related to the development of new regulations.

4. It was recommended that the matrix be developed prior to meeting with County Environmental Health staff and the Board committee assigned to pursue this topic.

The Legislative Committee recommended that the Board refer this topic to the Water Demand Committee for further development.

RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the Board refer the exploration of available alternative water sources from the reuse of rainwater, graywater and stormwater to the Water Demand Committee.

BACKGROUND: Following the September meeting, staff hosted a webcast on New Developments in Greywater Irrigation and Funding. Staff also met with County Environmental Health staff on another matter, and was able to discuss the County’s policies related to graywater use at the conclusion of the meeting. In addition, as part of the presentation for the proposed Monterey Bay Shores Eco-resort in Sand City, at the January 2009 Board meeting, the project proponent was asked to provide additional information regarding rainwater, graywater, and stormwater reuse. Specifically, the applicant was asked to provide documentation regarding Monterey County Health Department’s approval of this reuse for the proposed eco-resort. Finally, the District’s Technical Advisory Committee was tasked with providing their jurisdiction’s regulations and policies related to cisterns and graywater.

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