US Water Alliance and Water Environment & Reuse Foundation Launch National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems

January 5, 2017 10:32 AM

December 14, 2016 – San Francisco – Today, the US Water Alliance and Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF) launched a National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems. Thirty representatives from municipalities, public health agencies, water utilities, and national organizations will serve on the commission.  

As water supplies become more strained, climate change persists, and populations grow, communities are looking for new ways to develop and manage local water supplies and increase the resiliency of water infrastructure. Onsite water systems collect wastewater, stormwater, rainwater, and more, and treat it so that it can be reused in a building, or at the local scale for non-potable needs such as irrigation, toilet flushing, and cooling. These systems are usually integrated into the city’s larger water and wastewater system and contribute to more resilient and sustainable water management by using alternate water sources, reducing valuable potable water used for non-potable purposes, and minimizing strain on wastewater systems.

Despite the broad range of benefits, adoption of onsite non-potable systems has been constrained by policy and regulatory barriers. Over the next two years, the National Blue Ribbon Commission will develop model state and federal guidelines based on best practices underway in local communities and world-class research in order to support local implementation of onsite non-potable water systems. The commission will also identify new opportunities for water utilities to facilitate implementation of onsite non-potable systems. 

The National Blue Ribbon Commission builds upon four years of work beginning in 2012 by several municipalities, water utilities, public health officials, the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation, the Water Research Foundation, and the US Water Alliance. 

The goals of the Commission are to:

• Serve as a forum for collaboration and knowledge exchange on the policies, best management practices, procedures, and standards for onsite water systems for non-potable purposes;
• Identify new business models for water utilities in the design, development, integration, and operation of onsite non-potable water systems;
• Craft model state guidance and policy framework for the management and oversight of onsite non-potable water systems (e.g. water quality criteria, monitoring and reporting requirements, and operational and permitting strategies);
• Develop model federal guidance for best management practices to support local implementation of onsite non-potable water systems for consideration by the US Environmental Protection Agency; and,
• Identify additional research needs in the field.

 

The National Blue Ribbon Commission is guided by the following principles:

• Protect public health. In order to secure a sustainable water future, we need diverse approaches to water management. In all of the work we do, we are committed to protecting public health and ensuring safe, secure, and reliable water use and reuse.
• Develop science-based policy. As the commission develops policy recommendations and guidance, it will be driven by risk-based science and research.
• Utilize a consensus-based approach. If we align our diverse experiences and expertise, we can achieve the best outcomes. The commission will seek consensus across all of the work we do together.
• Integrate best practices. The work of the commission is informed by the best practices in the management, operations, and oversight of onsite non-potable water systems.
• Honor local context. The commission sees great value in the development of policy and business models to support the effective adoption of onsite non-potable water systems. At the same time, the commission recognizes and respects that policy and program implementation will vary based on needs and context at the local and state level.
• Commit to continuous learning. As the adoption of onsite non-potable water systems is evolving, the commission is committed to staying abreast of new science and new approaches. We are inclusive of input from interested stakeholders as we learn together.

 

For more information about the work of the National Blue Ribbon Commission on Onsite Non-potable Water Systems, please visit: http://uswateralliance.org/initiatives/commission/.

 

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Media Contact:
Abigail Gardner | agardner@thevalueofwater.org | o. 412 421 0809 | c. 412 977 3051

Carrie W. Capuco | ccapuco@werf.org | o. 571-384-2097

 

National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems advances best management practices to support the use of onsite non-potable water systems for individual buildings or at the local scale. We are committed to protecting public health and the environment, and sustainably managing water—now and for future generations.

US Water Alliance is dedicated to promoting policies and programs to advance a sustainable water future for all. Established in 2008, the Alliance is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that educates the nation on the true value of water, accelerates the adoption of one water policies and programs, and celebrates innovation in water management. The Alliance brings together diverse interests to identify and advance common-ground, achievable solutions for our nation's most pressing water challenges. Our membership includes water providers, public officials, business leaders, environmental organizations, community leaders, policy organizations, and more. 

 Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF) is a 501c3 charitable corporation seeking to identify, support, and disseminate research that enhances the quality and reliability of water for natural systems and communities with an integrated approach to resource recovery and reuse; while facilitating interaction among practitioners, educators, researchers, decision makers, and the public.

Media Contact

Departments

Office of Sustainability and the Environment

More Information

http://uswateralliance.org/initiatives/commission/
http://uswateralliance.org/initiatives/commission/commissioners
http://uswateralliance.org//initiatives/commission/resources