1. By: John R. Blount, PE, LEED AP Director Harris County Architecture & Engineering Division

2. But change will happen. We need to be ready, as an industry, to respond to outside influences. The good news is that your expertise will be critical. Better onsite systems will be developed for an expanding marketplace.

3. The State and Federal governments are required by the Clean Water Act to mandate the clean- up of our waterways if they are considered “impaired” based on pollutant benchmarks defined by the State.

4. Texas Impaired Streams Statewide (based on 2012 assessment by TCEQ): Source: http://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/waterquality/swqm/assess/12twqi/2012_exec_summ.pdf & information from Andrew Sullivan, TCEQhttp://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/waterquality/swqm/assess/12twqi/2012_exec_summ.pdf Pollutant Examples Number of Waterbodies Impaired Percent of Waterbodies Assessed Impaired Bacteria27326% Dissolved Oxygen 9016% Organics9917% Other pollutants 10619%

6. In some impaired watersheds, new ATUs are required to meet 10 CBOD/10 TSS standards and electronic monitoring is being required. Onsite is already being held to a higher standard!

7. Another benefit: Effluent treated effectively by an OSSF never enters a stream and therefore cannot cause instream pollution.

8. High levels of pharmaceuticals have been found in our drinking water, local waterways, and fish tissue of the fish we eat.

9. Large wastewater treatment plants do not treat for pharmaceuticals.

10. But research is beginning to show that soils do help break down pharmaceuticals before they get out to the water column. Onsite wastewater technologies are needed to keep our water clean!

11. The U.S. Green Building Council has created a certification program for projects called “LEED” (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

12. Wastewater reuse earns the development points towards LEED certification: Water Efficiency Credit may be obtained specifically for Wastewater Management, including “to reduce pollution from wastewater and encourage water reuse.”* Onsite wastewater is a logical means to achieve this goal. * http://www.usgbc.org/credits/we4

13. Texas is growing! Geographic variation in growth rate. Historical: Percent Change in Population, 2000-2005 Source: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/tif/population.html

14. And the growth is projected to continue! Texas Population Growth & Projections, 1980-2040 (in millions) Source: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/tif/population.html

15. Therefore Demand is increasing with only a constant Supply. How will we respond?  Create New Water Sources (costly)  Conservation  Increase in Price of Water  REUSE!  Regulatory Changes  All of the Above

16. We are wasting water daily, in the form of wastewater effluent disposal. That effluent, with minimal additional treatment, can be reused to help meet water supply.

17. But in order to reuse the wastewater effluent inside the building envelope, improved treatment must occur.

18. NSF has already anticipated this demand and has developed NSF 350- Wastewater Reuse Technologies Standard.  Assures water is treated to a safe level for specific reuse, non-potable applications like surface or non- surface irrigation, toilet/ urinal flushing, and decorative fountains.  Applies to any technology type capable of meeting the requirements, without limitations on system design or treatment capacity.  Includes physical, chemical, and microbiological reduction requirements to assure public health, safety, and suitable reuse.

19. Reuse = Less land area required for disposal Eventually OSSFs will become viable in suburban and urban settings.

20. And when the price of water escalates high enough….. Market forces will make OSSFs with onsite reuse in suburban and urban areas the cost effective way to develop.

21. 25 years ago Perk Tests Anyone designed system Anyone installed the system No professional licenses Today Site Evaluations Professional design Professional installation Licensed maintenance providers Standards Professionalism 25 years from now Better systems Improved protection of public health Improved environment Onsite wastewater helping communities solve their needs

22. We expect to see:  Improved technologies  Increasing use of wastewater reuse  National recognition of the benefits on onsite  Onsite systems beginning to be used in an suburban and urban environments Resulting in:  Protection of public health  Protection of the environment  Market based solutions to water shortages

23. In short, the future of onsite wastewater is bright. Your expertise is needed for Texas’ future.