Myron Hess, National Wildlife Federation

Myron HessManager, Texas Water Programs/CounselNational Wildlife FederationSouth Central Regional Center, Austin

TOPIC OVERVIEW• REUSE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL POSITIVE• UNLESS IT ISN’T• RETURN FLOWS PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE INENVIRONMENTAL FLOW PROTECTION• REUSE IS CHARACTERIZED AS WATER CONSERVATION, BUTIT DOESN’T ACTUALLY INCREASE EFFICIENCY OF USE• THERE ARE LEAKS IN THE REGULATORY STRUCTURE:• DIRECT REUSE (THE DISAPPEARING WATER)• INDIRECT REUSE• WATER QUALITY IMPLICATIONS• OPPORTUNITIES (w/CHALLENGES)

WASTERWATER REUSE: + OR – FORTHE ENVIRONMENT?• CAN HELP AVOID DESTRUCTIVE NEW RESERVOIRAND EXTENSIVE/EXPENSIVE INFRASTRUCTUREPROJECTS• MAY REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS• ANSWER IS CONTEXT SPECIFIC• LOCATION AND SCALE MATTER• WATER SOURCE MATTERS• REGULATORY SAFEGUARDS MATTER

REUSE CONTEXT IN DALLAS-FT. WORTH REGIONFrom 2011 Region C Water Plan

REUSE CONTEXT IN DALLAS-FT. WORTH REGIONFrom 2011 Region C Water Plan

RETURN FLOWS PROVIDE CRITICALLYIMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWPROTECTION• VAST MAJORITY OF FLOW IN TEXAS STREAMSAND RIVERS HAS BEEN PERMITTED FOR USEWITHOUT ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWPROTECTIONS• GOOD NEWS IS MUCH OF THOSE RIGHTS AREN’TCURRENTLY BEING FULLY USED• FOR MANY TYPES OF USES, WATER USED ISN’TFULLY CONSUMED

CONSERVATION v. EFFICIENCY• DEFINITION OF WATER CONSERVATION IN TEXASWATER CODE INCLUDES REUSE• THAT DEFINITION ALSO RECOGNIZES THATEFFICIENCY IS A SEPARATE CONCEPT FROMREUSE• INCREASED REUSE DOESN’T AUTOMATICALLYMEAN INCREASED WATER USE EFFICIENCY

REUSE ≠ EFFICIENCY• City A• 1,000 people• 150,000 gpd diverted• 150 gallons per person• 60% return factor• 60,000 gpd net flow lossCity B1,000 people150,000 gpd diverted150 gallons per person60% return factor60,000 gpd net flow loss

USUALLY PORTION OFWATER DIVERTED ISRETURNED TO THE STREAM90,000 gpd150,000 gpdNet loss for stream of 60,000 gpdTEST CASE of attempt to whiteout underlying text box throughuse og a rough approach to see if itwill work

• City AREUSE ≠ EFFICIENCYCity B• 1,000 (1,200) people 1,000 (1,200) people• 150,000 gpd diverted 150,000 gpd diverted• 150 gallons per person 150 gallons per person• 60% return factor 60% return factor• 60,000 gpd net flow loss 60,000 gpd net flow loss• Efficiency (30,000 gpd) Reuse (30,000 gpd)• 150,000 diverted 150,000 diverted + 30,000• 1,200 people = 125 gal/person 1,200 people = 150 gal/person• 60,000 gpd net flow loss 72,000 gpd net flow loss

USUALLY PORTION OFWATER DIVERTED ISRETURNED TO THE STREAM+ 18,000 gpd60,000 gpd150,000 gpd + 30,000Net loss for stream = 150,000 - 60,000 – 18,000= 72,000 gpdTEST CASE of attempt to whiteout underlying text box throughuse og a rough approach to see if itwill work

REUSE IN 2012 STATE WATER PLANFrom “2012 Water For Texas” (State Water Plan)

HOLES IN REGULATORY APPROACH• DEFAULT APPROACH ALLOWS 100% DIRECTREUSE• UNLIKELY TO HAPPEN SOON, BUT ALLOWED BY LAW• IN EFFECT, HUGE SUPPLY FOR PERMIT HOLDER• NOT ADDED IN WHEN ASSESSING APPLICATIONS: THEDISPPEARING WATER• OPTIONS FOR ADDRESSING• QUANTIFIED RETURN FLOW REQUIRED IN NEW PERMIT• DEDICATION OF PORTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW• INDIRECT REUSE REQUIRES NEW AUTHORIZATION(NEED RIGOROUS APPROACH)

WATER QUALITY ISSUES• FROM STREAM PERSPECTIVE, REUSE ISPRIMARILY A QUANTITY ISSUE• FROM HUMAN HEALTH PERSPECTIVE,POTENTIAL ISSUES EXIST BUT IMPACTS APPEARTO BE MINIMAL

PHARMACEUTICAL RETURN FLOW CYCLE

OPPORTUNITIES FOR WIN/WIN• GREAT POTENTIAL FOR STRIKING A BALANCE TOADD WATER SUPPLY AND FLOW PROTECTIONS• CITY OF HOUSTON INDIRECT REUSE APPLICATION• ≈ 50% OF RETURN FLOWS COMMITTED FOR GALVESTONBAY INFLOWS (ALSO APPLICABLE TO DIRECT REUSE)• DISCHARGE LOCATIONS CLOSE TO BAY MINIMIZEPOTENTIAL FOR SUBSEQUENT DIVERSION• KEY CHALLENGES IN ENSURING RETURN FLOWCONTRIBUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS• POTENTIAL FOR DOWNSTREAM DIVERSION• HOLES IN THE REGULATORY APPROACH

WITH THE RIGHT REGULATORY APPROACH,REUSE CAN HELP ENSURE THAT FUTUREGENERATIONS OF TEXANS HAVE THE WATERSUPPLY THEY NEED AND HAVE A FAIR CHANCETO ENJOY A RICH NATURAL HERITAGE