WATER DEMAND COMMITTEE

ITEM:		ACTION ITEMS
4.	PROVIDE POLICY GUIDANCE TO STAFF ON GRAYWATER USE FOR IRRIGATION
Meeting Date:			August 10, 2004		Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David A. Berger,		Program/	N/A
			General Manager		Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Stephanie Pintar		Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Approval:				N/A
Committee Recommendation:				N/A
CEQA Compliance:				N/A

SUMMARY: Monterey County recently approved the use of graywater to irrigate commercial and residential uses.  Graywater is water from lavatory and laundry sinks, washing machines, showers and bathtubs that is used for irrigation. All graywater irrigation must occur subsurface. There is at least one anticipated water permit application that will use graywater to supply all exterior water for a new building. Staff is seeking direction on handling requests to use graywater irrigation in place of potable water irrigation.

The District has administered similar credit requests when private wells are proposed to provide exterior supply for properties served by Cal-Am.  The District’s practice is to debit the jurisdiction and charge the appropriate connection charge up front (including the full factor and connection charge for exterior use). Upon occupancy, if the exclusivity of the well water plumbing is verified by a site inspection, staff refunds the charges and the water is returned to the jurisdiction.

RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the current procedure for permitting well water in place of Cal-Am water for exterior uses be applied to applications that propose to use graywater. An applicant would be required to permit the project as if it will use Cal-Am for exterior uses, but upon final inspection and verification that there are no Cal-Am exterior fixtures, the applicant would be refunded and the jurisdiction credited for the exterior portion of the permit.

The District’s Rules and Regulations (Rule 24-G, Adjustment of Calculations Where Special Circumstances Exist) allows an adjustment of the connection charge (and allocation) when a dual system provides subpotable water for outdoor uses. However, it has been staff’s experience that dual-systems may be specified, but the final system is potable. Therefore, the District’s practice has been to assume that Cal-Am water will be used and to credit the applicant when the project is complete and a dual system is verified.

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