SFPUC authorizes $500,000 nonpotable water grants to support on-site reuse

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on June 12 authorized the general manager to execute grant agreements for a nonpotable water program with $500,000 available in fiscal year 12–13, staff said.

Steve Ritchie, assistant general manager for water, said the grant program is designed to pair with a forthcoming nonpotable ordinance and will provide grants of up to $250,000 to building developers, public or private, to assist projects that capture, treat and reuse water on-site. Ritchie said the program’s required savings would be “all toilet flushing in any large building or up to 40 or or at least 40% of all non potable use within the building.”

Radhika Fox, the commission’s legislative affairs director, earlier told the commission that Board President David Chu will introduce a nonpotable ordinance that aims to scale on-site reuse practices in new commercial development. Fox said the SFPUC and other city departments have collaborated on a regulatory framework to support that practice.

Public commenters expressed support and raised timing questions. Victoria Duong of Clean Water Action said the organization submitted a letter with recommendations on the Urban Watershed Framework and offered to discuss details. June Weintraub, senior epidemiologist at the San Francisco Department of Public Health, said the health department is continuing to work with SFPUC staff to allow safe on-site water reuse and will seek a resolution in support of its involvement. Peter Drechmeyer of the Tule River Trust said the program is a “real role model” and urged delay of any water transfer vote until the commission has reviewed conservation alternatives.

After public comment, a motion to approve the grant program was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote.