Water Resources Division Annual Report FY 2016-2017 | Page 9

In FY 2016-17, the Non-potable Water Program received 20 water
budget applications to install onsite non-potable water systems.
These new projects could offset approximately 33 million gallons
of potable water per year to meet a portion of their non-potable
demands. The Non-potable Water Program also offers grants to
projects that install onsite non-potable water systems voluntarily
under Article 12C. In FY 2016-17, SFPUC awarded a grant to one
project that is proposing to install an onsite blackwater system for
toilet flushing, irrigation and cooling tower makeup. The project will
offset about 5.6 million gallons per year of potable water. Since the
Non-potable Water Program’s inception in 2012, the total potable
water offset is approximately 94 million gallons per year, among a
total of 80 projects.
The SFPUC is at the forefront of the movement to enhance water
supply reliability through use of onsite non-potable water. In
partnership with a coalition of public health agencies and water
utilities from across the county, the SFPUC led an effort to evaluate
existing water quality standards for alternate water sources develop
recommendations to help regulators implement oversight and
management programs for onsite non-potable water systems,
and establish uniform standards among states. After a year-long
research effort, Risk-Based Framework for the Development of
Public Health Guidelines for Decentralized Non-potable Water
Systems was published by the Water Research Foundation and
Water Environment & Reuse Foundation to provide regulators with
an appropriate water quality framework and monitoring regimes.
For more information about the Non-potable Water Program, visit
sfwater.org/np.
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