Action Summary:
Text amendments. To add Metro Water District's Water Efficiency Code Requirements to Sec. 24-2. - Additional codes adopted; Relating to improving water efficiency; providing an effective date; and for other purposes.
1s Reading: July 15, 2024. | 2nd Reading: August 19, 2024.
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Local government must adopt the ordinance for the Metro Water District-Water Efficiency Code Requirements to remain in good faith compliance with the District’s Plan. By maintaining your good faith status, you will continue to be eligible for expanded water and sewer permits and low-interest state funding for infrastructure improvements.
Summary of Proposed Amendments to the Plumbing Code
Amendment Overview: The proposed amendments to the local plumbing code aim to enhance water efficiency standards in alignment with the Metro Water District's Water Efficiency Code Requirements. These changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2024, and introduce new definitions, maximum flow rates for various plumbing fixtures, specific requirements for landscape irrigation systems, and regulations on the use of reclaimed water.
Key Changes and Objectives:
• Definitions:
o Addition and revision of definitions for kitchen and lavatory faucets, landscape irrigation components, shower heads, and WaterSense-labeled fixtures.
o Clarification of terms to ensure compliance with updated water efficiency standards.
• Flow Rate Limits:
o Kitchen faucets: Reduced maximum flow from 2.2 to 1.8 gallons per minute (gpm) at 60 psi.
o Lavatory faucets (private): Maximum flow set to 1.25 gpm at 60 psi.
o Shower heads: Reduced maximum flow from 2.5 to 2.0 gpm at 60 psi.
• Landscape Irrigation:
o Mandatory components for new systems, including rain sensors, master shut-off valves, and pressure-regulating devices.
o Design standards to minimize water waste, such as restrictions on sprinkler placement and requirements for subsurface irrigation in narrow areas.
o Requirements for WaterSense irrigation controllers and flow sensors to detect leaks and abnormal flow conditions.
• Cooling Towers:
o Prohibition of once-through cooling using potable water.
o Specifications for efficiency measures, such as conductivity controllers, overflow alarms, and efficiency drift eliminators.
• Reclaimed Water Systems:
o Clarification on permissible uses of reclaimed water in various building types.
o Restrictions on the use of reclaimed water from private systems for outdoor irrigation, limiting it to golf courses and agricultural operations.
• Design Methods for Water Piping Systems:
o Acceptance of alternative sizing methods, including the IAPMO/ANSI Peak Water Demand Calculator, for designing water-efficient plumbing systems in multi-family buildings.
Objectives of the Amendments:
• Enhance Water Efficiency:
o Reduce water consumption across residential and commercial plumbing systems.
o Align local standards with WaterSense and other recognized efficiency programs.
• Promote Sustainable Irrigation Practices:
o Ensure new landscape irrigation systems are designed and installed to minimize water waste.
o Encourage the use of advanced irrigation controllers and sensors to optimize water use.
• Improve System Performance:
o Mandate the use of pressure-regulating devices to maintain optimal operating conditions and prevent water wastage due to pressure fluctuations.
o Equip cooling towers with necessary efficiency features to reduce water consumption and improve operational efficiency.
• Regulate Use of Reclaimed Water:
o Define acceptable uses for reclaimed water, promoting its use in non-potable applications while restricting inappropriate uses.
o Encourage the sustainable use of reclaimed water in specific applications, supporting overall water conservation efforts.
• Support Future Innovations:
o Allow for the use of evolving design methods and tools that account for water-efficient fixtures and appliances, ensuring the plumbing code remains adaptable and forward-thinking.