Investigators:
Mike Boyle, Vanessa Davis, Rebecca Kervella,
Allison Shannon & Craig Thomas
Urban Public Policy & Sustainability (SOS 594)
School of Sustainability │ Arizona State University
Decreased Wastewater
for Sustainable Development
To meet this challenge, we must achieve an appropriate balance between
• capacity expansion
• conservation
ChallengeTwo-fold Challenge:As water supplies decrease
Infrastructure stress increases
Opportunity
for savings
Reduce the need to:
Acquire and develop water resources
Construct new water supply, treatment
and delivery facilities
Construct new wastewater treatment
facilities and infrastructure
Effective Conservation Initiatives
Creating Sustainable Policies
• To be a sustainable city, Mesa must adopt revenue neutral or better policies that:
• Foster growth in the business sector
• Maximize city services
• Utilize resources wisely
• Promote sustainable practices
Policy Statement
Sustainable structures
Less burden on city facilities
Reduced development impact fees
(DIF)
A revenue-neutral policy to:
Conserve/manage Mesa’s water resources for future generations
Attract sustainability-minded businesses and development to Mesa
Wastewater Development Impact Fees
Development Impact Fees (DIF)
• One-time charges applied to offset the additional public-service costs of new development
• Applied at time building permit is issued
• Eight total elements to DIF
On average, wastewater DIF accounts for approximately 30% of fees charged to new developments in Mesa.
Breaking Down Wastewater DIF
Because wastewater treatment is the most costly aspect, developers who reduce their wastewater output should pay less for the reduced amount of wastewater that needs treated.
Tiered Wastewater DIF Reduction
Development meets Tier 2 IGCC standards for water resource conservation and efficiency
40% reduction of potable water consumption of fixtures and fittings
20% reduction in wastewater DIF
Development meets Tier 1 IGCC standards for water resource conservation and efficiency
30% reduction of potable water consumption via fixtures and fittings
15% reduction in wastewater DIF
Development meets minimum IGCC standards for water resource conservation and efficiency
20% reduction of potable water consumption via fixtures and fittings
10% reduction in wastewater DIF
Calculate the Benefits: Pilot Project
• Provides data to quantify efficiency of a policy or program
• Ability to thoroughly study and monitor small scale vs. city-wide
• Provides the opportunity to modify a policy to mitigate any unintended externalities
A P
ilot
Pro
gram
Op
tio
nVerde Dimora
•Multi-Family Development includes 160 units
• Designed to serve
surrounding community
• Emphasis on building
sustainable and equitable
development
• Projected Wastewater DIF
= $242,560
• Effluent meters can accurately
measure wastewater output
= Location of PAD
Benefits Quantified
This policy could result in savings up to $48,512 in wastewater development impact fees for Verde Dimora.
Water Savings
20% 30% 40%
$24,256
$36,384
$48,512
Example:
Low-flow toilets, faucets and
showerheads
Example:
Low-flow toilets, faucets and
showerheads
WaterSenseAppliances
Example:
Low-flow toilets, faucets and
showerheads
WaterSenseAppliances
Greywatersystems
Green Building
Design Standards
Building water use reduction • Plumbing fixtures and fittings • Appliances • HVAC systems and equipment • Roofs • Cooling towers • Commercial food service operations • Medical and laboratory facilities
Site water use reduction• Landscape design • Irrigation system design • Controls
Special water features • Water consumption measurement• Consumption management • Consumption data collection • Data storage and retrieval
Going Beyond Code: Building Technologies Program, Green Building Codes (U.S. Department of Energy)
Graduated wastewater impact fee policy
Reduced demand on current infrastructure
Decreased need to build new infrastructure
• Up to $3.4 billion savings over 50 years.
• Residential water and sewer bills could be
reduced by up to $200 million long-term.
• Water-efficient plumbing saves a typical
four-member household 55,800 gallons of
water and $627 in reduced water and
energy annually.
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
A Case Study in Texas
Low-flow toilet use throughout Texas could reduce the need
to build new water and wastewater treatment plants by 15%.
Saving Water is Good Business
Benefits for the City• Provides incentive to build new
development efficiently
• Competitive advantage to attract new
environmentally conscious businesses
• Reduce the burden on existing
infrastructure
• Reduce the demand for new
wastewater infrastructure
• Conserves Mesa’s water resource
Benefits for Developers• Money saved through reduced DIF can
offset the cost of innovative water
efficient technologies
• IgCC certification is fee-free and voluntary
• Reduced water consumption results in
lower monthly utility costs
• Those who choose not to participate are
not penalized
Companies planning to use water-efficient
practices and technology will:
• reduce water use by 20%
• decrease energy use by 10 – 11%
• reduce operating costs by 11 – 12%
Graduated Wastewater DIF:A Sustainable Urban Development Policy for Mesa
•Conserves Mesa’s water resources
•Reduce stress on wastewater infrastructure
•Incentivizes sustainable development
•Fosters business and growth
Summary
When the well is dry…
We learn the worth of water.—Benjamin Franklin
Questions?Thank you.