EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF RECLAIMED WATER SYSTEM
POLICY STATEMENT 132
ADOPTED BY COUNCIL: 3/13/2008
EFFECTIVE: 04/01/2008
SUPERSEDES: 10/11/2001
In an effort to reduce the amount of wastewater going into streams and rivers while also reducing non-essential use of drinking water, the Town of Cary developed a reclaimed water system which went online June 22, 2001. Use of reclaimed water supports the Town’s goal of reducing potable water use 20 percent from 1995 levels, and thus preventing peak potable water demands from growing faster than planned and accelerating the need for expansion of the Cary/Apex WTP. The current service area includes hundreds of residents and businesses, and the Town plans to extend the system in the future. This policy has been adopted to ensure the continued orderly expansion of and effective utilization of the reclaimed water system.
It is the policy of the Town of Cary that residents and businesses utilize—to the maximum extent possible—the Town’s reclaimed water system for secondary plumbing usage, including irrigation, cooling towers, and other potential uses (“secondary water use facilities”) as determined by the Town Manager or designee (hereafter “Manager”). The Town has designated reclaimed water service areas (Figure 1) where reclaimed water service will be provided according to the Reclaimed Water Master Plan. For development within those service areas, the developer shall install, and shall be responsible for the full cost of, reclaimed water facilities within their own properties. The developer shall extend the reclaimed water system to the development including the reclaimed water line connecting adjoining properties along the edge of the developer’s property line, and shall be responsible for the full cost of these facilities. Any infrastructure reimbursement shall be accomplished as established in the Town’s system extension and connection policy. All facilities installed shall fully comply with Town design standards and the Reclaimed Water Master Plan. No waivers shall be granted without the written consent of the Director of Public Works and Utilities.
If reclaimed water is not available to a site for use when that site is ready for development, all on-site secondary water use facilities suitable for reclaimed water shall be designed to be converted to use reclaimed water. The Town may provide potable water to secondary water use facilities on such site, at potable water rates, only until reclaimed water is available to the site and connection to the Town’s reclaimed water system is possible. At the time that reclaimed water is available to the site, connection to the reclaimed water system is required.
No person shall plumb or alter secondary plumbing fixtures, including irrigation systems, or otherwise modify such potential reclaimed water appurtenances so as to preclude the use of reclaimed water when such becomes available.
This policy directs staff to develop the necessary ordinances and procedures to ensure the effective utilization of the Town’s reclaimed water system.
Figure 1, Reclaimed Water Service Areas, follows.