Score: +23 (34/60/11)
Contra Costa County Grand Jury • 2015-2016

A Report by the 2015-2016 Contra Costa County Grand Jury*

Published: May 24, 2016 22 pages
View Original PDF

Findings and Recommendations 13 findings

F1
Among obstacles to using more recycled water are: determining who will pay for installing the necessary infrastructure and distribution system; finding a willing customer; and minimizing the financial and legal impacts to the current potable water purveyor.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should consider facilitating (possibly through a Task Force) the formation of a JPA to promote water recycling, stormwater capture and desalination projects.
F2
Water purveyors and wastewater processors can share water treatment costs and revenues under a JPA.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
CCCSD and CCWD should explore the feasibility of cooperatively developing an IPR Injection Well Project.
F3
State matching grants and low-interest loans are available for small indirect potable reuse projects, which could potentially increase water supply.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
CCCSD, CCWD, and DSRSD should consider the formation of a JPA to expand CCCSD's tertiary treatment capacity in order to free up fresh water for domestic and commercial customers.
F4
Indirect potable reuse projects are ideal for areas in the County where other new water sources are unavailable.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Board of Supervisors should consider directing that priority be given to capture and reuse of stormwater where possible in all new County flood control projects.
F5
It is difficult to develop large recycled water projects without the cooperation and commitment of water purveyors and customers.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The Board of Supervisors should consider adopting ordinances that promulgate recycling and recovery of water on a County-wide basis.
F6
Where recycled water can be wheeled to one customer, it could "free up" an equivalent amount of fresh water that could then be wheeled to another customer who might be willing to pay more, thus creating "win-win" results for recycled water projects.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
The city should consider adopting requirements relating to the use of reclaimed water for planned communities and large commercial buildings to maximize its use.
F7
While stormwater capture and reuse has potential for contributing to the County's long-term water needs, the County has focused on NPDES compliance.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
The district should consider facilitating the use of satellite wastewater treatment plants, where appropriate.
F8
Contra Costa County and its cities could adopt water saving and recycling ordinances for large commercial buildings, similar to those adopted in other large urban locations such as San Francisco.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The Board of Supervisors should consider adopting a County goal to exceed the State average for recycled water use and establish a target date.
F9
Satellite wastewater treatment plants are feasible in situations where the user is distant from existing recycled water distribution systems, needs water for irrigation, and is able to meet the costs to build and operate the plant.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
The County and Districts should consider meeting to discuss each District's need for land for demonstration of scaled-up recycling and desalination projects using green technologies, which may qualify for State grant money, and the County's ability to lease such land.
F10
The County is below the State average in use of recycled water.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
To promote public awareness and citizen involvement, the Board of Supervisors should consider establishing a citizen's "Water Reuse Advisory Council" which includes citizen stakeholders and technology experts to advise them on all water reuse issues affecting the County.
F11
Desalination technology continues to evolve, including smaller scale solar powered and HDH ("Dewvaporation") pilot plants, although neither has been developed to full commercialization.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
The Board of Supervisors should consider designating a single point of contact within County government for water recycle/reuse issues or establishing a permanent water sustainability subcommittee under their Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee to advise the committee on water reuse issues.
F12
Citizen involvement (possibly through an Advisory Council) is a key to getting buy-in for recycle and IPR/DPR projects because it is citizens who pay for, consume, and depend on a reliable source of pure water.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
There is no single point of contact for water recycle and reuse issues in the County.
No recommendations for this finding

Comments 2

Agency Responses 17

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

No Responses Found 3

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Contra Costa) Special District
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office
Contra Costa Water District Special District

* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.