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Commission backs larger Go Purple incentives for deeply affordable housing, adds dual‑plumbing rebate
Summary
The commission approved an amendment to Austin Water’s Go Purple pilot incentive program to increase the on-site reuse incentive cap for exempt deeply affordable housing projects from $500,000 to $1,500,000 and to add a dual-plumbing rebate. Funding for the pilot was noted at $4 million for the fiscal year.
The Austin Water/Wastewater Commission on May 21 voted unanimously to amend the Go Purple pilot incentive program to increase incentives for deeply affordable housing projects and add a rebate for dual plumbing.
Catherine (first name only in the presentation), supervising engineer in Austin Water’s Reclaimed and On-site Reuse Program, briefed the commission on the proposed changes. She said the code adopted in March 2024 requires on-site water reuse and reclaimed connections for many multifamily and commercial projects but exempts deeply affordable housing projects (projects that reserve at least 50% of units at specified income thresholds). The ordinance directed staff to consider affordability strategies, she said, and the Go Purple program included incentives to help cover the added cost of reuse infrastructure.
Under the amendment the commission approved, the on-site water reuse incentive cap for exempt deeply affordable housing projects would increase from $500,000 to $1,500,000 per project. The reclaimed-main extension cost-share cap remains at $500,000. Austin Water staff also proposed and the commission approved adding a dual‑plumbing rebate to cover the cost of dual plumbing inside buildings.
Catherine told the commission the utility set aside $4,000,000 for the Go Purple program for the current fiscal year; she said the city had received three applications historically (two in progress) but no new applications since October. Staff described outreach efforts, coordination with the Housing Department, and plans to report program activity quarterly. Catherine also said the incentive increase is intended only for the exempt deeply affordable housing projects, not for market-rate developments.
Why it matters: dual plumbing and on-site reuse can lower utility bills and reduce potable water demand, but they require design and construction changes. Staff told commissioners they sometimes hear that design teams prefer to wait until mandatory projects establish best practices before advising clients to pursue voluntary incentives. The higher cap and addition of a dual-plumbing rebate are intended to reduce financial barriers for deeply affordable projects.
Vote: Commissioner Marzullo moved and Commissioner Maxwell Gaines seconded the motion to approve the FY25 amendments to the Go Purple pilot incentive program; the vote was unanimous.
Ending: Austin Water will begin applying the amended caps and rebate structure and will continue outreach to affordable housing developers and design teams while reporting program uptake quarterly.
