Water Resources Division Annual Report FY 2015-2016 | Page 19

NON-POTABLE WATER PROGRAM
The capture and reuse of water generated on-site for non-potable purposes, such as toilet flushing and irrigation, is
a key strategy for expanding water savings and diversifying water supplies in dense, urban areas. On-site water reuse
can help reduce potable water consumption by up to 50% in new multi-family residential developments and up to 95%
in new commercial developments. Primary sources of water include graywater, rainwater, stormwater, blackwater, and
foundation drainage. The Non-potable Water Program has developed water quality rules, regulations, and a streamlined
process for new commercial, multi-family, and mixed-use developments in San Francisco to collect, treat, and reuse
water treated on-site. For more information about the Non-potable Water Program, visit sfwater.org/np.

MANDATING NON-POTABLE WATER USE
Beginning November 1, 2015, all new development projects of 250,000 square feet or more of gross floor area located
within the boundaries of San Francisco’s designated recycled water use areas must install on-site water systems to treat
and reuse available alternate water sources for toilet and urinal flushing and irrigation. This requirement expands to
the entire city on November 1, 2016. While not required to install an on-site water system under the Non-potable Water
Ordinance, developments between 40,000 and 250,000 square feet of gross floor area must submit a water budget
application and accompanying Water Use Calculator to the SFPUC.

NON-POTABLE PROJECT APPLICATIONS
Seventeen water budget applications to install on-site water systems were received by the Non-potable Water Program in
FY 2015-16. Fifteen of the projects are individual building-scale projects and two are district-scale projects. The 17 new
projects propose to offset approximately 38.3 million gallons per year of potable water. Combined with the 13 projects
from FY 2014-15, 12 projects from FY 2013-14, and 18 projects from FY 2012-13, the estimated total offset is 62.2
million gallons of potable water each year.

NON-POTABLE WATER GRANT PROGRAM
The Non-potable Water Program offers grants of up
to $250,000 for building-scale projects and up to
$500,000 for district-scale projects that meet specific
requirements. In FY 2015-16, SFPUC offered three
non-potable grants, including one $500,000 grant
for the U.N. Plaza project, a district-scale project.
This project will treat and reuse foundation drainage
(nuisance groundwater) underneath the U.N. Plaza
fountain for irrigation and street sweeping. Overall,
the project will offset about 5.3 million gallons per
year of potable water.

U.N. Plaza in Civic Center, the site of a district-scale
non-potable water project to utilize underground water
to produce water for street cleaning and irrigation.

PUBLIC HEALTH STANDARDS INITIATIVE
The SFPUC is leading a public health initiative to develop a water quality regulatory framework for on-site water
treatment systems. The National Water Research Institute (NWRI) in partnership with the SFPUC is developing the
Risk Based Framework for the Development of Public Health Guidelines for Decentralized Non-potable Water Systems
report, which will provide recommendations for public health standards for alternate water sources for non-potable
applications, including water quality criteria, monitoring regimes, and permitting strategies for on-site water systems.
The project is sponsored by Water Research Foundation (WRF) and Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF).
More information is available at sfwater.org/np/iuws.

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