Blueprint Document
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Advancing Decentralized Non-Potable Water Use in the San Diego Region BLUEPRINT DOCUMENT December 2019 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY “You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” – Rabindranath Tagore The Blueprint for Advancing Decentralized for the San Diego region with an emphasis on Non-Potable Water Use in the San Diego Region the cities of Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, and (Blueprint) is the recommendations report issued San Diego, as well as the County of San Diego, by the Public Health Advisory Committee to which are actively participating in the Project. augment on-site water reuse, as the second The recommendations include actionable steps to component of a larger project entitled Advancing develop best practices under the Section “Charting Safe, Healthy Non-potable Water Use for the San 5 Waterways for Successful Decentralized Non- Diego Region (the Project). This multi-sector and Potable Water Systems,” and pave the way toward multi-jurisdiction Project seeks to identify and a regional approach that ensures health and overcome challenges related to the expansion of equity and value all water, as discussed in Section on-site non-potable water reuse efforts. The Project “Catalyzing an Equitable Water Future.” Through is part of a planning grant led by the University the adoption of these recommendations we can of California San Diego (UCSD) and the San increase conservation efforts, enhance water supply Diego Housing Commission (SDHC), funded diversification, ensure water resilience in a changing by California Proposition 1, through the San climate, and support a healthy environment and Diego Integrated Regional Water Management vibrant communities. These recommendations (IRWM) program. In this Project, on-site non- are informed by the valuable insights garnered potable water systems encompass greywater, during the Project’s first undertaking, a Discovery stormwater, rainwater, and air conditioning (A/C) Document published in May 2019, which identified condensate reuse in any type and size of building. the barriers to implementing decentralized The purpose of this Blueprint is to provide a series non-potable water reuse technologies. The next of recommendations to aid in the development phase of the Project will consist of devising a of non-potable water reuse strategies, with a Communication and Outreach Strategy to promote focus on under-resourced communities and food the recommendations of the Blueprint among our production. This report discusses recommendations communities of interest. i The Project consists of three (3) main Additionally, the Advisory Committee has components: identified seven (7) core values to inform the Project and support the vision described: * Discovery Document (key barriers), published in May 2019 ◊ Enhance Health and Equity; * Blueprint for Advancing Decentralized Non- ◊ Encourage a One Water Philosophy; Potable Water Use in the San Diego Region ◊ Promote the Right Water for the Right Use; (providing recommendations and suggesting best practices) ◊ Create an Ethic of Place; * Communication and Outreach Strategy ◊ Maximize Water and Regulatory Literacy; All efforts undertaken as part of the Project ◊ Utilize a Holistic, Ecosystem Approach; and are overseen and approved by a Public Health ◊ Prioritize a Positive Community Experience. Advisory Committee, comprised of a diverse range of multi-sector experts. The Blueprint has been developed to guide further implementation of decentralized Our vision for this Blueprint, formulated by non-potable water systems, by providing a the Advisory Committee, is as follows: series of recommendations based on local, state, national, and international best practices. The document is divided into two main Sections. The first, Charting 5 Waterways for Successful Decentralized Non-Potable Water Systems, “TO FORGE A NEW addresses regulatory, educational, financial, environmental, implementation, operation, and maintenance recommendations, through WATER PARADIGM five main objectives (organized into chapters). These objectives guided the development of FOR SAN DIEGO our recommendations that utilize best practices to implement and use on-site non-potable – ONE IN WHICH water systems, and to address upcoming state requirements for on-site water treatment. ALL LOCAL WATER Development of best practices is informed by data collection, therefore recommendations to continuously collect data and feedback are IS VALUED AND suggested and discussed. Additionally, water is intrinsically connected to many existing programs 80 PERCENT OF and initiatives, thus recommendations are offered to include water strategies in climate action plans WATER IS LOCALLY to ensure greater resilience and adaptation of our cities and communities. Lastly, art projects SOURCED BY 2070.” have been proven to be effective and powerful in developing a sense of ownership in communities. Recommendations to leverage art are included to ii enhance the outcomes of water projects and actively organizational approach provides the opportunity engage with communities. for greater collaboration and cooperation, resulting in improvements to conservation as well as health The second Section of the Blueprint, Catalyzing and equity outcomes. Education, data collection, an Equitable Water Future, creates a feedback loops, and funding are also emphasized pathway for health and equity to be integrated in throughout the recommendations as they are organizational frameworks and fully embedded essential elements to ensure that both regional and in the development of water programs and local needs and challenges are considered. initiatives. Valuing all water in the region through the establishment of “One Water San Diego” (One Currently we face a future in which water resilience Water SD) is highlighted to ensure greater water and climate adaptation will become increasingly resilience. Advocacy for equitable water rates is also imperative. By taking proactive measures and essential to ensure water equity in our community. voluntarily implementing the recommendations related to non-potable water capture and reuse that The Blueprint report provides recommendations are laid out in this Blueprint, the San Diego region for: will be better positioned to weather the uncertainty of our water future. These recommendations CHARTING 5 WATERWAYS FOR SUCCESSFUL provide a blueprint for a new water landscape DECENTRALIZED NON-POTABLE WATER SYSTEMS – one in which we recognize and value water’s • Promote Decentralized Non-Potable Water connectedness to our environment, values, health, Systems and well-being. • Address Upcoming State Requirements for On-Site Treated Non-Potable Water Systems at a Regional Level • Ensure Data-Driven Decision-Making • Incorporate Water Strategies in Climate Action Plans • Leverage Art for Community-Driven Water Projects CATALYZING AN EQUITABLE WATER FUTURE • Integrate Organizational Health and Equity Frameworks • Establish One Water San Diego • Advocate for Equitable Water Rates A recurring theme of the Blueprint is an emphasis on a holistic regional approach, in which non- potable water reuse can be examined and addressed from multiple perspectives and levels. Focusing on these issues through a multi-pronged, multi- iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Public Health Alliance of Southern California, landscape and for the constructive feedback which facilitated the development of this Blueprint, provided by field experts. We gratefully acknowledge would like to express its deepest appreciation for the University of California San Diego Bioregional all the members of the Public Health Advisory Center for Sustainability Science, Planning & Committee who volunteered their time and Design; the City and County of San Diego; provided invaluable insights and expertise during and the San Diego County Water Authority for the development of this document. administering and supporting these activities, as well as the San Diego Housing Commission which We appreciate city and county officials’ assistance partnered on the project. in reviewing the existing research on the regulatory iv TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................................I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...............................................................................................................................................................IV PROJECT DESCRIPTION ..............................................................................................................................................................1 VISION FOR THE BLUEPRINT .....................................................................................................................................................3 CORE VALUES ..............................................................................................................................................................................4 SUMMARY OF THE DISCOVERY DOCUMENT ...........................................................................................................................5 COMPONENTS OF THE BLUEPRINT ...........................................................................................................................................6 Recommendations of the Blueprint .................................................................................................................6 Topics Weaved into the Blueprint ....................................................................................................................6