Water-Use Efficiency - Miami-Dade

1 Water-Use EfficiencyStandards ManualEffective January 2009 EveryDropCountsTABLE OF CONTENTS1. Introduction 2 2. Residential Indoor Water-Use Requirements 3 Plumbing Fixtures 3 Equipment Standards 43. Sub-metering 4 4. Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) Indoor Water-Use Requirements 5 Plumbing Fixtures 55. Alternative water Supply (AWS) Requirements for Large Developments 56. Recommendations for Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Water-Use Efficiency Requirements 7 Plumbing Design 7 Cooling Towers 7 Swimming Pools 7 Commercial Kitchens 7 Medical Facilities and Laboratories 8 Vehicle Washing 8 Laundry Operations 97. Recommendations for Outdoor Water-Use for Residential, Non-Residential and Rights of Way 9 Landscape Plan and Plant Selection 9 Irrigation 10 Surface Elements and Features 108.

2 Appendices 11 water Savings Calculation Table 12 Standards Checklist 1321. INTRODUCTION The Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners amended Chapters 8 and 32 of the Code of Miami-Dade County establishing new standards for water saving fixtures for new construction. This measure is part of the County s commitment to protect our natural resources while providing water for the future through efficient efforts outlined in the County s 20-Year Water-Use Permit will provide over 19 million gallons of water a day for future use, this being the most economically feasible source available. Through the use of new technology it is estimated that a new home can use up to 31% less water than homes using current technology. It is the County s intent to encourage and require the use of the most efficient water saving technology new requirements include the development and publication of a Water-Use Efficiency Standards Manual under Section 32-84 of the Code of Miami-Dade County.

3 The Manual was developed by the Miami-Dade County water and Sewer Department s Water-Use Efficiency Section in consultation and collaboration with the Miami-Dade Planning Department, other county departments, state agencies and an Advisory Committee of stakeholders. The general public was invited to participate in the process through public comment either in person or through the Water-Use Efficiency manual provides specific code changes per Ordinances 08-14 and 08-100 regarding high Efficiency flow rate requirements for bathroom and kitchen fixtures. The manual also provides additional guidance and recommendations for new development in Miami-Dade County with the intent of achieving the maximum water savings in new residential and commercial developments in both unincorporated and incorporated areas of Miami-Dade is recommended that developers and builders make every effort to use the most efficient water saving technology available for the specific building type of new construction.

4 The Water-Use Efficiency requirements included in this manual adopt the Environmental Protection Agency s (EPA) WaterSense recommendations as a baseline and call for stricter requirements in some instances. In the event where the EPA s WaterSense Program adopts water Efficiency standards that are less efficient than those adopted by Miami-Dade County, such products will be accepted as per Ordinances 08-14 and 08-100 of the Code of Miami-Dade effective date for the implementation of the requirements included in this manual is January 1, 2009 and will be updated annually to include the most efficient water saving technology Needs to Use the Manual? Each applicant for water service to a new residential (R), industrial, commercial or institutional (ICI) development in incorporated and unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade County shall include in its application Water-Use Efficiency standards detailed in Section 8-31 of the Code of Miami-Dade County.

5 These requirements apply to all new construction regardless of the water source ( well). These requirements also apply to remodeling permits of an amount greater than 50% or more of a structure s market value (the 50% Rule).TABLE OF CONTENTS1. Introduction 2 2. Residential Indoor Water-Use Requirements 3 Plumbing Fixtures 3 Equipment Standards 43. Sub-metering 4 4. Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) Indoor Water-Use Requirements 5 Plumbing Fixtures 55. Alternative water Supply (AWS) Requirements for Large Developments 56. Recommendations for Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Water-Use Efficiency Requirements 7 Plumbing Design 7 Cooling Towers 7 Swimming Pools 7 Commercial Kitchens 7 Medical Facilities and Laboratories 8 Vehicle Washing 8 Laundry Operations 97.

6 Recommendations for Outdoor Water-Use for Residential, Non-Residential and Rights of Way 9 Landscape Plan and Plant Selection 9 Irrigation 10 Surface Elements and Features 108. Appendices 11 water Savings Calculation Table 12 Standards Checklist 1321. INTRODUCTION The Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners amended Chapters 8 and 32 of the Code of Miami-Dade County establishing new standards for water saving fixtures for new construction. This measure is part of the County s commitment to protect our natural resources while providing water for the future through efficient efforts outlined in the County s 20-Year Water-Use Permit will provide over 19 million gallons of water a day for future use, this being the most economically feasible source available.

7 Through the use of new technology it is estimated that a new home can use up to 31% less water than homes using current technology. It is the County s intent to encourage and require the use of the most efficient water saving technology new requirements include the development and publication of a Water-Use Efficiency Standards Manual under Section 32-84 of the Code of Miami-Dade County. The Manual was developed by the Miami-Dade County water and Sewer Department s Water-Use Efficiency Section in consultation and collaboration with the Miami-Dade Planning Department, other county departments, state agencies and an Advisory Committee of stakeholders. The general public was invited to participate in the process through public comment either in person or through the Water-Use Efficiency manual provides specific code changes per Ordinances 08-14 and 08-100 regarding high Efficiency flow rate requirements for bathroom and kitchen fixtures.

8 The manual also provides additional guidance and recommendations for new development in Miami-Dade County with the intent of achieving the maximum water savings in new residential and commercial developments in both unincorporated and incorporated areas of Miami-Dade is recommended that developers and builders make every effort to use the most efficient water saving technology available for the specific building type of new construction. The Water-Use Efficiency requirements included in this manual adopt the Environmental Protection Agency s (EPA) WaterSense recommendations as a baseline and call for stricter requirements in some instances. In the event where the EPA s WaterSense Program adopts water Efficiency standards that are less efficient than those adopted by Miami-Dade County, such products will be accepted as per Ordinances 08-14 and 08-100 of the Code of Miami-Dade effective date for the implementation of the requirements included in this manual is January 1, 2009 and will be updated annually to include the most efficient water saving technology Needs to Use the Manual?

9 Each applicant for water service to a new residential (R), industrial, commercial or institutional (ICI) development in incorporated and unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade County shall include in its application Water-Use Efficiency standards detailed in Section 8-31 of the Code of Miami-Dade County. These requirements apply to all new construction regardless of the water source ( well). These requirements also apply to remodeling permits of an amount greater than 50% or more of a structure s market value (the 50% Rule).43 Review and Evaluation of New ApplicationsThe County or applicable municipality shall review the application for compliance with Section 8-31 of the Code of Miami-Dade County. In evaluating the application for compliance, the County or applicable municipality will consider the availability of products to implement the required Water-Use Efficiency standards at the time of construction.

10 The developer s agreement for water service should include the Water-Use Efficiency standards approved by the County. Additional Water-Use Efficiency options are provided for consideration as a Indoor Water-Use Requirements Residential new flow rates for fixtures and new requirements for appliances are detailed as adopted in the Code of Miami-Dade , Commercial and Institutional Indoor Water-Use Requirements Industrial, Commercial and Institutional flow rates for fixtures and new requirements for appliances are detailed as adopted in the Code of Miami-Dade County. Sub-Metering Requirement for Multi-Unit ComplexesMulti-unit complexes are required to install separate sub-meters throughout the property. Alternative water Supply Requirements Applications for new Development of Regional Impact ( DRI ) with a projected water demand of one million gallons per day or greater have additional requirements to meet their projected water demand.