TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

 

3.

DEVELOP RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD REGARDING FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 137 – REVISE REGULATION XIV, WATER CONSERVATION, AND MANDATE INSTALLATION OF ZERO WATER CONSUMPTION URINALS FOR ALL NON-RESIDENTIAL NEW CONSTRUCTION AND REMODELS

 

Meeting Date:
August 5, 2008

Budgeted: 

N/A

 

From:

Darby Fuerst,

Program/

N/A

 

Interim General Manager

Line Item No.:

 

 

 

Prepared By:

 

Stephanie Pintar

Cost Estimate:

N/A

General Counsel Approval:

N/A

CEQA Compliance:

CEQA Categorical Exemption

 

SUMMARY:  On July 14, 2008, the Water Demand Committee reviewed a preliminary draft ordinance that would revise MPWMD Regulation XIV, Water Conservation, including a mandate for installation of Zero Water Consumption Urinals for Non-Residential New Construction and Remodels.  Staff indicated a need to update the regulation similar to updates that were done to the Permit Regulation (Regulation II) in 2006.  A follow-up ordinance will be proposed later this year to propose additional landscaping and outdoor water use guidelines and restrictions.

DISCUSSION:   Draft Ordinance No. 137 (Exhibit 3-A) includes the following edits, modification and changes to Regulation XIV, Conservation:

1.      Draft Ordinance No. 137 amends Rule 11 to add definitions for Pre-Rinse Spray Valve, PSI, and Self Regenerating Water Softener.

 

2.      Draft Ordinance No. 137 amends the definition for Low Water Use Plumbing Fixtures.

 

3.      Draft Ordinance No. 137 deletes Rule 140, Purpose; Rule 149, Enforcement; Rule 150, Civil Nuisance; Rule 151, Cost of Enforcement; Rule 152, Remedies Cumulative; and Rule 153 Severability.  These rules are either part of the ordinance adoption process or are duplicative with other District Rules.

 

4.      Draft Ordinance No. 137 amends the Low Water Use Plumbing Fixture Standards shown in Rule 142.

 

5.      Draft Ordinance No. 137 amends the retrofit and new construction requirements for Water Permits issued pursuant to Water Permit applications received after January 1, 2009.

 

6.      Draft Ordinance No. 137 amends the water conservation standards for New Construction and Remodels to include a maximum water pressure standard, requirements for High Efficiency Toilets, Zero Water Consumption Urinals in Non-Residential uses, updated standards for showerheads (2.2 gallons per minute (gpm)) and faucet aerators (1.5 gpm), Instant-Access Hot Water Systems in Residential uses, prohibition on Self-Regenerating Water Softeners for New Construction, Smart Irrigation System requirement including rain sensors for New Construction, and Cistern or Rainwater Collection Systems in New Construction.

 

7.      Draft Ordinance No. 137 excludes Change of Ownership, Change of Use, and Expansion of Use from the requirement to install rainwater collection or Cistern Systems.

 

8.      Draft Ordinance No. 137 requires Non-Residential New Construction to install automatic sensor faucets or self-closing faucets when there is more than one Washbasin in a room.

 

9.      Draft Ordinance No. 137 requires Non-Residential New Construction to install automatic shut-off or timer controlled showers in rooms with multiple showers and sets a time standard for these fixtures.

 

10.  Draft Ordinance No. 137 requires Instant-Access Hot Water Systems in Non-Residential New Construction when the building includes a hot water system.

 

11.  Draft Ordinance No. 137 prohibits evaporative coolers without recirculation pumps, water cooled refrigeration and cooling systems, and urinals designed to flush with water in Non-Residential New Construction.

 

12.  Draft Ordinance No. 137 amends Rule 143, Retrofit of Existing Commercial Uses, to require Visitor-Serving Facilities to be retrofitted with Zero Water Consumption Urinals, Low Consumption Washing Machines and water efficient ice machines by December 31, 2010.

 

13.  Draft Ordinance No. 137 amends Rule 143, Retrofit of Existing Commercial Uses, to require all Non-Residential Water Users within the District to be exclusively retrofitted with High Efficiency Toilets, except where 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) toilets were installed prior to January 1, 2009.

 

14.  Draft Ordinance No. 137 amends Rule 143, Retrofit of Existing Commercial Uses, to require Non-Residential laundry facilities to operate exclusively with Low Water Consumption Washing Machines by December 31, 2011.

 

15.  Draft Ordinance No. 137 amends Rule 143, Retrofit of Existing Commercial Uses, to require Non-Residential car washes to recycle and reuse a minimum of 50 percent of the water used in the wash and rinse cycles.

 

16.  Draft Ordinance No. 137 amends Rule 143, Retrofit of Existing Commercial Uses, to require Mobile Water Distribution Systems to use a water meter at the source of supply.

 

17.  Draft Ordinance No. 137 amends Rule 143, Retrofit of Existing Commercial Uses, to require Non-Residential facilities to use water efficient Pre-Rinse Spray Valves by December 31, 2009.

 

18.  Draft Ordinance No. 137 adds mobile homes, fractional ownership and timeshares to the District’s retrofit upon Change of Ownership requirements.

 

19.  Draft Ordinance No. 137 amends the Change of Ownership, Change of Use, and Expansion of Use retrofit requirements to include water pressure standards, High Efficiency Toilet retrofits, new standards for showerheads and faucet aerators, Instant-Access Hot Water Systems in Residential uses, Drip Irrigation when an Irrigation System is installed, and Rain Sensors on all existing Irrigation Systems.  These requirements apply to properties changing ownership or use on or after January 1, 2009.

 

20.  Draft Ordinance No. 137 updates and clarifies the certification requirements of the Conservation Regulation, Rule 143.

 

21.  Draft Ordinance No. 137 updates and clarifies the language used for discretionary exemptions of Rule 146.

 

22.  Draft Ordinance No. 137 adds a requirement for Visitor-Serving Facilities, where applicable, to utilize a towel and linen reuse program.

 

23.  Draft Ordinance No. 137 supports the requirement cited in Rule 11, Definitions, Non-Essential Water Use (1) for water service only upon request by requiring Visitor-Serving Facilities to provide notification of this requirement on the table of menu.

 

RECOMMENDATION:  Staff recommends the Technical Advisory Committee review the proposed changes and support the proposed amendments to the Conservation Regulation. 

 

 

EXHIBIT

3-A      Draft Ordinance No. 137, Amending Baseline Water Conservation Requirements

 

 

 

 

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