Chapter 13.09
RECLAIMED WATER
Sections:
13.09.030 City of Blaine reclaimed water plan.
13.09.040 Use of reclaimed water.
13.09.060 Reclaimed water charges.
13.09.070 Inspection of premises.
13.09.010 Policy and purpose.
It is the policy of the city of Blaine to produce high-quality effluent from its wastewater treatment process which can meet state reclaimed water standards contained in Chapter 90.46 RCW and be used for beneficial purposes where financially and technically feasible. The city is dependent on groundwater sources and limited water rights for potable water which is vital to public health, safety, and welfare. Developing and using reclaimed water for nonpotable beneficial uses can defer the need to acquire additional potable water rights and water infrastructure. This chapter establishes a reclaimed water commodity as part of the wastewater utility fund and provides a basis for the use of and assessment of fees for reclaimed water that encourage reclaimed water use in place of potable water. (Ord. 2788 § 1, 2011)
13.09.020 Definitions.
The following words when used herein shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
A. “Agronomic rate” means the amount of water required to sustain and promote plant and vegetation growth without saturation of the underlying soils.
B. “Agricultural purposes” means and includes the growing of field and nursery crops, row crops, trees, and vines and the feeding of fowl and livestock.
C. “Beneficial use” means the use of reclaimed water which has been transported from the point of production to the point of use without an intervening discharge to waters of the state, for a beneficial purpose.
D. “Irrigation” means application of water to nonconsumptive vegetation and landscaping at normal agronomic rates.
E. “Industrial process water” means water used by any industrial facility with process water requirements which include, but are not limited to, rinsing, washing, cooling and circulation, or construction process.
F. “Potable water” means groundwater that is used or intended to be used as, and is suitable for, a source of a water supply for domestic purposes and has been classified as a source of drinking water by the Department of Health.
G. “Reclaimed water” means effluent derived in any part from sewage from a wastewater treatment system that has been adequately and reliably treated, so that as a result of that treatment, it is suitable for a beneficial use or a controlled use that would not otherwise occur and is no longer considered wastewater. As used herein, reclaimed water shall be classified as Class A reclaimed water as defined in Chapter 90.46 RCW and the Water Reclamation and Reuse Standards.
H. “Reclaimed water distribution systems” means a piping system intended for the delivery of reclaimed water separate from and in addition to the potable water distribution system.
I. “Reclaimed water user agreement” means a binding agreement between the city of Blaine and the owner of a use area outlining the conditions for use of reclaimed water to ensure that construction, operation, maintenance and monitoring meet all requirements of the Washington Departments of Ecology and Health and the city.
J. “Reuse” means the use of reclaimed water in compliance with Washington Departments of Ecology and Health regulations for a beneficial use.
K. “Service connection” means that portion of the reclaimed water supply system connecting the reclaimed water distribution main including the tap into the main, the water meter and appurtenances and the service line from the main to the meter and from the meter to the user’s property line. “Service connection” includes connections for fire protection as well as for irrigation, commercial and industrial uses.
L. “Service use area” means any facility, building, or area approved for use of reclaimed water as evidenced by an executed user agreement.
M. “Water reclamation and reuse standards” means the most current version of the standards developed by the Washington State Departments of Ecology and Health. (Ord. 2788 § 1, 2011)
13.09.030 City of Blaine reclaimed water plan.
The city of Blaine has prepared and adopted a reclaimed water plan which has been approved by the Washington State Department of Ecology and the Washington State Department of Health consistent with the Blaine general sewer plan. Reclaimed water requirements and restrictions are defined in Chapter 90.46 RCW and the current Water Reclamation and Reuse Standards, published by Washington State Department of Ecology and Department of Health. (Ord. 2788 § 1, 2011)
13.09.040 Use of reclaimed water.
A. Irrigation. Reuse water may be used for irrigation purposes and shall be at normal agronomic rates for the types of plants and vegetation being irrigated. There shall be no application of reclaimed water for irrigation purposes when the ground is saturated or frozen or when the city has temporarily suspended the use of reclaimed water. Reclaimed water shall not be allowed to be sprayed on people, or on areas where humans or pets consume food or liquids, and/or any other area not designated for application of reclaimed wastewater.
B. Other Beneficial Uses. The city has identified other uses for reclaimed water including rest rooms and utility stations at the Lighthouse Point water reclamation facility. A reclaimed water hydrant has also been located adjacent to the facility to be used for flushing the wastewater equalization basin, and filling the city street sweeper and other tank trucks or other equipment used to distribute reclaimed water. Tank trucks used to transport reclaimed water shall be clearly identified with advisory signs and shall not be used to transport potable water that is used for drinking or other potable purposes. Tank trucks used to transport reclaimed water shall be inspected and approved for such use by the city prior to transporting reclaimed water. The city also anticipates the potential for future use of reclaimed water as industrial process water in the vicinity of the wharf district. Specific conditions and limitations on those industrial uses shall be established by separate user agreements as described in subsection (C) of this section.
C. User Agreements. User agreements are contracts between the city and a specific user which specify the terms and conditions under which beneficial use of reclaimed water may be:
1. Requested Service. Staff shall review requests for reclaimed water service for consistency with the approved reclaimed water plan and evaluate the expected demand and available production capacity and make a determination whether the subject property can be served with reclaimed water. Based upon such determination, a user agreement may then be prepared.
2. User Agreement Conditions. The user agreement shall specify the service use area, operation, maintenance and monitoring requirements for the applicant’s planned use based on the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter and shall require compliance with the Washington State Departments of Ecology and Health requirements (see Chapter 90.46 RCW), and requirements of the Water Reclamation and Reuse Standards.
3. Connection – General Requirements. When an agreement has been accepted for the installation of reclaimed water service, the city shall cause the premises described in the agreement to be connected with the reclaimed water system by a service pipe extending from the reclaimed water main to the property line and a shutoff valve and reclaimed water meter placed within the right-of-way. Every separate user and premises shall have its own separate meter. All connections to the city’s reclaimed water distribution system shall conform to the standard specifications and regulations of the city.
4. Water Meters. All service connections to the city reclaimed water system shall be metered. Reclaimed water meters shall be sized to provide adequate flow of reclaimed water to the customer. Minimum water meter sizes shall ordinarily be determined from the maximum flow requirements for the user as determined by an engineering study. All water meters shall be American Water Works Association (AWWA) approved.
D. Identification of Pipe and Appurtenances. All reclaimed water pipelines, valves, outlets, and other appurtenances, including all irrigation system pipelines, valves and control boxes, shall be color-coded purple (Pantone 622 or other shades of purple acceptable to the city). Signs for notification of reclaimed water connections shall read “Reclaimed Water – Do Not Drink” or other similar city-approved language. All identification shall comply with state regulations contained in the current State Water Reclamation and Reuse Standards.
E. Cross-Connection Control. There shall be no cross-connections between the reclaimed water and potable water systems. Where both reclaimed water and potable water are supplied to a reclaimed water use area, a “reduced pressure principle backflow” prevention device or an approved “air gap separation” shall be installed at the potable water service connection to the reuse area. The cost of such device and the installation thereof shall be borne by the owner of the premises affected. The installation and periodic testing shall conform to the provisions of WAC 248-54-500. An independent testing laboratory shall submit a test report indicating the backflow prevention device has been tested and is in conformance with this section. Annual testing and reporting shall be required.
F. Ownership of Mains and Service Connections. The ownership of all mains, service connections and appurtenances (up to and including the water meter and meter box) shall be vested fully in the city, and the person responsible for the construction shall relinquish by deed of conveyance all interest in the ownership of such upon acceptance by the city and ensure that all are constructed within rights-of-way or utility easements. The city shall operate, control and maintain all approved and accepted components of the city reclaimed water distribution system in the public streets or utility rights-of-way up to and including the meter, but shall not be responsible beyond the meter. The owner of the property served shall be responsible for maintenance of all pipe and fittings from the meter to his premises. No alteration shall be made to any connection nor shall any connection be made to the city’s reclaimed water distribution system without the approval of the city. All connections or alterations shall be made by the city’s public works department or by a contractor supervised by the city.
G. Conversion of Existing Potable Water System. The city may authorize a potable water user to convert their irrigation and/or other nonpotable uses of water to the use of reclaimed water for potable water conservation purposes. Requirements for identification of pipe and appurtenances and responsibility for all other costs associated with the required connection shall be identified in the user agreement.
H. Dwelling Unit. Reclaimed water shall not enter a dwelling unit or a building containing a dwelling unit except as specifically provided in the Water Reclamation and Reuse Standards. (Ord. 2788 § 1, 2011)
13.09.060 Reclaimed water charges.
A. Reclaimed Water Rate. The rate charged for reclaimed water shall be a volume rate as established in the unified fee schedule.
B. Reclaimed Water Service and Meter Charge. To help encourage use of reclaimed water in lieu of potable water and to advance the use of reclaimed water, the only charge for connection shall be a service and meter charge, based on the meter size, identified in the unified fee schedule. Special circumstances may be taken into consideration to allow for a different charge. Such special circumstances shall be identified in the user agreement and shall be approved by the city council. (Ord. 2788 § 1, 2011)
13.09.070 Inspection of premises.
Authorized employees of the public works department, properly identified, shall have free access at reasonable hours of the day to all premises served by the city’s reuse system for the purpose of ascertaining conformity to this chapter, the user agreement, Water Reclamation and Reuse Standards, and the city’s NPDES permit. (Ord. 2788 § 1, 2011)