Video: Stormwater Credit Trading

Grand Rapids, Michigan: Stormwater Credit Trading Program

Watch this video to learn about Grand Rapids' stormwater credit trading program and the benefits of this market-based system.

Video: Comprehensive Water Conservation Ordinance

San Antonio Water System: Comprehensive Water Conservation Ordinance

Watch this explanatory video with Director of Conservation Karen Guz and learn about the success of their Comprehensive Water Conservation Ordinance in motivating San Antonio Water System customers to employ localized water strategies.

You can find further details on San Antonio Water System's water efficiency and conservation programs in their detailed case study here, and you can read the entire ordinance here.

San Francisco: Recycled Water Ordinance

San Francisco's Recycled Water Ordinance: Alternate Water Sources for Non-Potable Applications

San Francisco's Recycled Water Ordinance requires that private property owners of any building above a specified size threshold, as detailed below, and within designated “water recycling areas” install onsite recycled water systems in new construction, modification, or remodel projects. The goal of the ordinance is to maximize the use of recycled water, and includes a financial penalty for non-compliance.

Designated water recycling areas are shown in the below map of the City.

The recycled water requirements apply to:

• New, remodeled or converted buildings and all subdivisions with a total cumulative area of 40,000 square feet or more
• New and existing irrigated areas of 10,000 square feet or more

In addition, property owners subject to the Recycled Water Ordinance are required to use recycled water for all applicable State of California approved uses including:

• Landscape Irrigation
• Toilet and Urinal Flushing
• Cooling or Air Conditioning Involving a Cooling Tower
• Decorative Fountains
• Industrial Process Water
• Industrial Boiler Feed
• Commercial Laundries
• Commercial Car Washing
• Soil Compaction and Dust Control

Read San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's Fact Sheet on the Recycled Water Ordinance by clicking the link below.

One Water LA 2040 Plan

One Water LA 2040 Plan: Executive Summary

The One Water LA 2040 Plan (Plan) takes a holistic and collaborative approach to consider all of the City’s water resources from surface water, groundwater, potable water, wastewater, recycled water, dryweather runoff, and stormwater as "One Water." Also, the Plan identifies multidepartmental and multi-agency integration opportunities to manage water in a more efficient, cost effective, and sustainable manner. The Plan represents the City's continued and improved commitment to proactively manage all its water resources and implement innovative solutions, driven by the Sustainable City pLAn. The Plan will help guide strategic decisions for integrated water projects, programs, and policies within the City.

Download the Executive Summary to learn more.

Philadelphia Water Department: Greened Acres Grants

Philadelphia Water Department: Greened Acre Retrofit Program Grant

Philadelphia Water Department's (PWD) Greened Acre Retrofit Program (GARP) program provides grant funding to companies or contractors to construct stormwater projects across multiple properties in Philadelphia’s combined sewer area. Funding GARP is reserved for stormwater retrofit projects on private property owned by companies and project aggregators that can assemble large areas, often over multiple properties, for stormwater management projects in PWD's combined sewer area.

Download PWD's fact sheet to learn more.

New Orleans Redevelopment Authority

New Orleans Redevelopment Authority Community Adaptation Program

The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA) Community Adaptation Program (CAP), provides funding for the design and installation of a range of small-scale stormwater management interventions that help manage flooding around your home and in your neighborhood. These personalized measures will reduce the effects of rainstorms that result in standing water on your property and in your neighborhood. While the city is working to handle water better in public spaces, low to moderate income Gentilly homeowners can take action with their own property through the NORA CAP.

Download the CAP for more details.

Short List of Considerations: Private Property

COMING SOON - A Short List of Considerations for Developing a Private Property Localized Infrastructure Program

There are some common questions to consider when developing a localized infrastructure program that leverages private property. Check back soon for a short list of these considerations. In the meantime, there are several resources about the multiple benefits of localized solutions available here and you can find success stories of utilities already using these strategies here.

Intra-agency Coordination: Philadelphia’s Cost-Sharing

Intra-agency Coordination: Philadelphia’s cost-sharing for decentralized stormwater infrastructure

For the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), building localized “green” stormwater infrastructure on non-utility owned locations and public rights-of-way is an important element in achieving the utility’s stormwater management requirements as laid out in its Long Term Control Plan (named “Green City Clean Waters”) adopted in June 2011.

This raised some novel questions about who was responsible for the installed localized infrastructure. If PWD installs porous pavement on a city street in order to manage stormwater, for example, this surface needs special care when it is plowed for snow. Which agency should bear the cost of this extra service, and what is the most efficient way to provide that service, given that the city department responsible for street maintenance is already out there plowing snow? Similarly, there may be green infrastructure opportunities on land controlled and maintained by Philadelphia’s Parks Department. PWD would build green infrastructure within city park land, but it may require care that differs from the normal Parks Department protocol. Who is responsible for paying for this cost?

In order to help navigate these challenges, and establish agreements on cost-sharing for the maintenance of the green infrastructure, PWD is in the process of developing memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with other city departments to help delineate responsibilities. Under the MOUs, PWD may transfer funds to other city departments to help pay for some or all of the maintenance costs of the localized infrastructure located on that public non-utility property. Check back soon to download a copy of PWD's MOU!

Inter-agency Coordination: An Example from City of Lancaster

Intra-city Coordination for Funding Localized Infrastructure: An Example from City of Lancaster

In the City of Lancaster, PA, the City’s goal is to manage 750 million gallons of stormwater and the City has completed over 60 projects including green roofs and rain gardens across many types of property. The work is financed by a combination of fee revenue grants, and bonds, including low-cost debt from Pennvest (Pennsylvania’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund).

To ensure that the construction of the distributed green infrastructure located on non-utility property is well-coordinated, the City’s Stormwater Division budget includes line items to pay for other City agencies’ work to build green stormwater infrastructure (GI) projects on publicly owned land such as city parks and streets. For example, by providing funding for employees of the City’s Streets department, the Stormwater Division is able to ensure that the GI practices on streets are built to the Stormwater Division’s specifications. Similarly, the Stormwater Division funds positions in the Parks Department to maintain the trees and shrubbery that form part of GI installations on Parks Department land. This close coordination is facilitated by the City’s organizational structure, shown in the chart below, in which the Streets, Parks, and Stormwater departments are all part of a larger Department of Public Works.

Additional details about the payments the Stormwater Division makes to other divisions of the Department of Public Works is available on pages 128-141 of the City of Lancaster 2018 City budget available here.

San Francisco City Charter

San Francisco City Charter: Water, Clean Water, and Power Revenue Bonds

In June 2018, San Francisco’s Proposition A amended the City Charter to make clear that no matter where a project was located, so long as a project furthered the purposes of the utility, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission would be able to finance the project. As amended, in relevant part, the Charter now specifies:

"the Public Utilities Commission is hereby authorized to issue revenue bonds ... for the purpose of reconstructing, replacing, expanding, repairing, or improving water facilities, clean water facilities, power facilities, or combinations of water, clean water, and power facilities ... for any [] lawful purpose of the water, clean water, or power utilities of the City... ."

Download the complete City Charter section by clicking the link below.