Harris County Onsite Wastewater Program. Danielle Cioce Manager, Watershed Protection Group Harris County Engineering Department August 2017

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1 Harris County Onsite Wastewater Program Danielle Cioce Manager, Watershed Protection Group Harris County Engineering Department August 2017

2 Harris County Watershed Protection Group Water Quality Permitting Stormwater Wastewater Water Quality Inspections Stormwater Wastewater Household Hazardous Waste Water/Wastewater engineering projects MS4 permit coordination Regulatory compliance

3 Harris County Onsite Wastewater Program Review plans and issue permits in unincorporated HC Field inspections Complaints (failing/overflowing OSSFs) Violations and enforcement Justice of the Peace Court (JP Court) or County Attorney s Office

4 How are OSSFs regulated? Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 366 Texas Water Code, Chapters 7 and Texas Administrative Code (TAC) 285 Local Regulations Authorized Agent and Local Order Authorized Agent may have more stringent standards than the State (TCEQ approval required)

5 Rules primarily target the following objectives: The ability of the system to meet wastewater treatment objectives The ability to maintain the system Protect neighbors, self, & the environment

6 Why do you do this? We re here to protect public health and the environment Photo:

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8 Harris County Local Order Harris County program began July 1, 1978 Statewide regulation began September 1, 1989 Just under 17,000 permitted systems in HC Approx. 800 permits issued per year

9 Harris County Local Order Bacteria impaired watersheds: 10/10 Rule: 30 day average of 10 mg/l for CBOD and TSS ATU has to be certified to treat to this level and on HC approved list Autodialer required for new and replacement systems Maintenance requirements Residential: quarterly Commercial: monthly Homeowners can maintain system if they have a Class D wastewater license

10 OSSF Professionals Continuing Education hours required, similar to many other professions (legal, engineering, etc.) TCEQ licenses have to be renewed every 3 years Designated Representative Maintenance Provider Installer Site Evaluator Etc.

11 Grant funded projects Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)- US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development Texas Water Development Board Economically Distressed Areas Program (EDAP) grants Water/sewer/or both Since 2008: Almost $40 million received; 1083 connections to sanitary sewer Current projects: 422 possible connections $14 million pending (880 possible connections) Future of program?

12 The future of wastewater

13 Texas is growing US Census Bureau reported 10.8% increase in the population of Texas between Texas or Bust Source:

14 And the growth is projected to continue! Projected Population Growth in Texas: Source: Texas State Data Center 2014 Population Projections and

15 2017 State Water Plan Texas is split into several regional areas for water planning (Texas Water Development Board) We are located in Region H- all or part of 15 counties

16 Predictions for Region H Population will increase 60% by 2070, to 11.7 million residents Water demand will increase 37% by 2070 Recommended strategy: volumes include 43% reuse by 2070 Additional water supply needed: 1,791,000 acre-feet/year (at a cost of almost $11 billion)

17 What the heck is an acre-foot of water?

18 Can we reuse OSSF effluent? We are wasting water daily, in the form of OSSF effluent disposal That effluent, with minimal additional treatment, can be reused to help meet water supply needs

19 In order to reuse wastewater effluent inside the building envelope, improved treatment must occur. Look to the future

20 NSF 350 NSF has already anticipated this demand and has developed NSF 350 Onsite Residential and Commercial Water Reuse Treatment Systems. Photo courtesy of Dialogue Earth

21 NSF 350 Performance requirements for onsite reuse systems Non-potable uses-surface or subsurface irrigation, and toilet/urinal flushing Applies to any technology capable of meeting the requirements Treatment requirements for TSS, turbidity, E. coli, ph, odor and more!

22 Benefits of reuse Reuse = less land area required for disposal Eventually, OSSFs will become viable in suburban and urban settings.

23 Future Development And when the price of water rises enough Market forces will make OSSFs with onsite reuse in suburban and urban areas the cost effective way to develop.

24 Legislation

25 House Bill 2771 $10 permit fee paid to TCEQ statewide Texas Onsite Wastewater Treatment Research Council (TOWTRC); sunset by legislature in 2011 Requires TCEQ to award competitive grants Adds wastewater reuse as allowable expenditure Limits use of the fee Effective 9/1/ R&Bill=HB2771

26 8 th Annual Harris County Onsite Wastewater Seminar Coming Spring 2018!

27 Questions? Danielle Cioce Manager, Watershed Protection Group Harris County Engineering Department