i_wrrc_2017a_2017-09-06t09:01:07z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 09/06/2017

Location: SCR 357

09:02 AM -- Implementation of Water Quality Control Commission Regulations 84 and 86



Pat Pfaltzgraff, Director, Water Quality Control Division (WQCD) of the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) discussed the implementation of Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC) Regulation 84 concerning reclaimed water and Regulation 86 concerning graywater. He explained that Chapter 6 of the Colorado Water Plan identifies the state's objective to increase water reuse, also called reclaimed water, to help address Colorado's growing demand for water (Attachment A and Attachment B). Regulation 84 allows the reuse of municipal, domestic wastewater that has received secondary treatment from a wastewater treatment facility that that is then treated for approved uses under the regulation. Approved uses include industrial, landscape irrigation, commercial, fire protection, and agricultural irrigation for non-edible crops. Mr. Pfalzgraff identified water reuse facilities in Colorado.



Attachment A.pdf Attachment B.pdf



09:09 AM



Mr. Pfaltzgraff explained that graywater is the portion of wastewater that, before being treated or combined with other wastewater, is collected from fixtures within residential, commercial, industrial building or institutional facilities for additional use. Regulation 86, adopted in 2015, allows graywater use for subsurface irrigation and indoor flushing of toilets and urinals. To allow graywater use, local jurisdictions must adopt an ordinance or resolution and implement a graywater control program. To date, only the City of Denver has adopted an ordinance for graywater use. He discussed potential health risks related to water reuse and identified measures to reduce these risks.



09:13 AM



Tyson Ingels, Lead Drinking Water Engineer for CDPHE, responded to questions from the committee about the potential for direct potable reuse to address Colorado's water demand. Direct potable reuse occurs when treated wastewater is introduced into an existing water supply system for beneficial uses, such as drinking and bathing. He also explained how graywater use differs from direct potable reuse.



09:17 AM



Mr. Pfaltzgraff responded to questions from the committee about the impact of water reuse on downstream water rights and water reuse facilities in Colorado. He also discussed Regulation 84 and whether changes are needed to the regulation and how other states regulate water reuse. He explained that Regulation 84 is scheduled for review by the WQCC in 2018 (Attachment C). He also explained that Regulation 84 allows irrigators to apply reused water to non-edible crops.



Attachment C.pdf



09:28 AM



Melanie Criswell, Senior Review Engineer, CDPHE, explained how the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates use of reused water to irrigate food crops under the Food Safety Modernization Act. Mr. Pfaltzgraff responded to questions from the committee about total dissolved solids (TDS) standards for reused water under Regulation 84 that were developed to protect groundwater. She also explained how water reuse may affect crop yields and discussed FDA's regulation for graywater and black water reuse.





09:41 AM



Mr. Pfaltzgraff and Mr. Ingels responded to questions from the committee about WQCD orders for rural and disadvantaged communities to improve their drinking water and wastewater systems to comply with water quality requirements. He also discussed the revised total coliform regulation and its impact on rural communities. Mr. Pfaltzgraff responded to questions from the committee about the authority of the WQCC to regulate water quality under current law and the differences between state and federal water quality standards.