Onsite Water Recycling & Public Health Issues Michelle Bilodeau, REHS Environmental Health...

Onsite Water Recycling & Public Health Issues

Michelle Bilodeau, REHSEnvironmental Health Specialist IV

San Mateo CountyEnvironmental Health Services

April 15, 2015

Conception of Guidelines

What are non-potable water sources?

Courtesy of SFPUC

Determining Risk as Foundation for Guidelines

SourceExternal Use

Allowed?Internal Use

Allowed?EH Review Required?

TreatmentRequired?

Backflow protection required?

Rainwater Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Irrigation Well

Yes No YesDetermined

by UseYes

 FoundationDrainage

Yes No YesDetermined

by UseYes

 Graywater

 Yes No Yes

Determined by Use

Yes

 Stormwater

 No No N/A N/A N/A

 Blackwater

 No No N/A N/A N/A

Residential Requirements

Commercial Requirements

SourceExternal Use

Allowed?Internal Use

Allowed?

EH ReviewRequi

red?

TreatmentRequired?

Backflow protection required?

Rainwater Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Irrigation Well

Yes No YesDetermined

by UseYes

 FoundationDrainage

YesDetermined

by UseYes

Determined by Use

Yes

 Graywater

 Yes

Determined by Use

YesDetermined

by UseYes

 Stormwater

 Yes

Determined by Use

Yes Yes Yes

Process Water

Determined by Source and Use

Determined by Source and Use

Yes Yes Yes

 Blackwater

 No No N/A N/A N/A

Develop material and improve website to make policies regarding onsite water recycling accessible to public

Meeting with Building Officials throughout County

Potential Onsite Water Recycling Ordinance

Next Steps – Local Scale

Health System is part of Technical Guidance for Public Health Standards for Onsite Water Systems

AB1463 – would require SWRCB to “establish water quality standards and distribution, monitoring, and reporting requirements for onsite water recycling systems prior to authorizing the use of onsite recycled water in internal plumbing of residential and commercial buildings”

Larger Scale

Lack of adequate training and knowledge of onsite water recycling

Lack of unified standards, water quality and permitting requirements

Lots of stakeholders involved Resiliency of onsite water recycling systems Water recycling should not replace conservation

Things to Consider

Michelle BilodeauEnvironmental Health SpecialistEnvironmental Health Services

2000 Alameda de las Puglas, Suite 100San Mateo, CA 94403

(650) 372-6204mbilodeau@smcgov.org

Questions/Comments?