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PUC urges repeal of dual-plumbing recycled-water ordinance; committee forwards measure
Summary
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission staff recommended rescinding an older recycled-water dual-plumbing ordinance, citing changed technology and a shift toward on-site nonpotable systems for many East-Side projects; the committee moved the legislation to the full Board.
The Land Use Committee on July 30 heard a presentation from San Francisco Public Utilities Commission staff recommending repeal of the city's recycled-water (dual-plumbing) ordinance.
Steve Ritchie of the PUC explained the ordinance framework has evolved since a 1991 recycled-water policy and a 2015 update that applied dual-plumbing requirements to large new developments. Ritchie said growth in decentralized, on-site nonpotable systems — particularly for East Side urban infill projects — reduces the value of retaining a citywide dual-plumbing mandate for all projects.
Ritchie said the PUC recommends rescinding the ordinance and pointed to grant programs intended to help projects that wish to use on-site systems. He described grants ranging from $100,000 for projects replacing at least 450,000 gallons per year up to larger $250,000 and $500,000 awards tied to higher replacement volumes. "Therefore, we recommend that you rescind recycled water ordinance," Ritchie told the committee.
Supervisors asked about projects that would fall between the 40,000 sq ft threshold in the 1991 ordinance and the 250,000 sq ft threshold used in 2015; PUC staff noted nine such projects in the current pipeline and suggested grant funding could support dual-plumbing where warranted. The committee voted without objection to forward the item to the full Board for consideration.
