216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-50-05-6.12

Current through December 26, 2024

Section 216-RICR-50-05-6.12 - Green Project Reserve (GPR)

6.12.1Introduction

A. GPR may be used for planning, design and/or building activities. Under the GPR in the DWSRF both entire projects may be considered for inclusion or appropriate identifiable components of larger projects may be considered for inclusion. All projects or project components counted toward the GPR requirement must clearly advance one or more of the objectives articulated in the following four (4) categories of GPR:

1. Green Infrastructure;

2. Water Efficiency;

3. Energy Efficiency; and

4. Environmentally Innovative. Source water protection projects are not eligible for RI DWSRF funding.

6.12.2DWSRF Green Project Reserve Eligibility Principles

A. All GPR projects and activities must otherwise be eligible for DWSRF funding. The GPR requirement does not create new funding authority beyond that described in the SDWA §1452.

B. GPR project and activities must meet the definition of one of four GPR categories. The individual GPR categories do not create new eligibility for the DWSRF. The projects that count toward the GPR must otherwise be eligible for DWSRF funding.

C. GPR projects and activities must further the goals stated in the SDWA §1452.

6.12.3Business Case Requirement

A. Projects and activities that fit within the four (4) specific categories as detailed in §§6.12.4(B), 6.12.5(B), 6.12.6(B), and 6.12.7(B) of this Part, define each category of GPR projects that do not require a business case. These sections list projects that are clearly eligible for GPR, heretofore known as categorically eligible projects.

B. Projects that do not appear on the list of categorically eligible projects must be evaluated for their eligibility within one of the four (4) targeted types of GPR eligible projects based upon a business case that provides clear documentation.

C. The Department, in consultation with the EPA, as necessary, is responsible for the business case review and will either accept or reject the business case. The Certificate of Approval process will not commence without an approved Business Case. Approved business cases will be posted on the Department website.

6.12.4Green Infrastructure

A. Green stormwater infrastructure includes a wide array of practices at multiple scales that manage wet weather and that retains and restores natural hydrology by infiltrating, evapotranspiring and harvesting and using stormwater. On a regional scale green infrastructure is the preservation and restoration of natural landscape features, such as forest, floodplains and wetlands coupled with policies such as infill and redevelopment that reduce overall imperviousness in a watershed. On the local scale, green infrastructure consists of site and neighborhood-specific practices, such as bioretention, trees, green roofs, permeable pavements and cisterns.

B. Categorical Projects

1. The following types of projects, proposed at a utility-owned facility or as part of a water infrastructure project, can be counted toward the GPR if they are part of an eligible DWSRF project:

a. Pervious or porous pavement;

b. Bioretention;

c. Green roofs;

d. Rainwater harvesting/cisterns;

e. Grey water use;

f. Xeriscape;

g. Landscape conversion programs;

h. Moisture and rain sensing irrigation equipment.

C. Projects That Do Not Meet the Definition of Green Infrastructure

1. Stormwater controls that have impervious or semi-impervious liners and provide no compensatory evapotranspirative or harvesting function for stormwater retention.

2. Stormwater ponds that serve an extended detention function and/or extended filtration. This includes dirt lined detention basins.

3. In-line or end-of-pipe treatment systems that only filter or detain stormwater.

4. Underground stormwater control and treatment devices such as swirl concentrators hydrodynamic separators, baffle systems for grit, trash removal/floatables oil and grease, inflatable booms and dams for in-line underground storage and diversion of flows.

5. Stormwater conveyance systems that are not soil/vegetation based (swales) such as pipes and concrete channels, Green infrastructure projects that include pipes to collect stormwater may be justified as innovative environmental projects pursuant to §6.12.7 of this Part.

D. Decision Criteria for Business Cases

1. Green infrastructure projects are designed to mimic the natural hydrologic conditions of the site or watershed.

2. Projects capture, treat, infiltrate or evapotranspire storm water on the parcels where it falls and does not include inter basin transfer of water.

3. GPR project is in lieu of or to supplement municipal hard/grey infra-structure.

4. Projects considering both landscape and site scale will be most successful at protecting water quality.

5. Design criteria is available on EPA's website

6.12.5Water Efficiency

A. EPA's WaterSense program defines water efficiency as the use of improved technologies and practices to deliver equal or better services with less water. Water efficiency encompasses conservation and reuse efforts, as well as water loss reduction and prevention, to protect water resources for the future.

B. Categorical Projects

1. Installing or retrofitting water efficient devices such as plumbing fixtures and appliances.

a. For example, showerheads, toilets, urinals, and other plumbing devices.

b. Implementation of incentive programs to conserve water such as rebates.

c. WaterSense labeled products

2. Installing any type of water meter in previously unmetered areas

a. If rate structures are based on metered use,

b. Can include backflow prevention devices if installed in conjunction with water meter.

3. Replacing existing broken/malfunctioning water meters with:

a. Automatic meter reading systems (AMR) for example:

(1) Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI)

(2) Smart meters.

b. Meters with built in leak detection.

c. Can include backflow prevention devices if installed in conjunction with water meter replacement.

4. Retrofitting/adding AMR capabilities or leak equipment to existing meters (not replacing the meter itself).

5. Conducting water utility audits, leak detection studies, and water use efficiency baseline studies, which are reasonably expected to result in a capital project or in a reduction of demand to alleviate the need for additional capital investment. For standard practices, refer to AWWA M36 Water Audits and Loss Control Programs. Free Water Audit Software is available through AWWA. 5.

6. Developing conservation plans/programs reasonably expected to result in water conserving capital projects or in reduction in water demands to alleviate the need for additional capital investment. For standard practices see AWWA M52 Water Conservation Programs - A Planning Manual.

7. Recycling and water reuse projects that replace potable sources with non-potable sources,

a. Gray water, condensate, and wastewater reuse systems (where local codes allow the practice).

b. Extra treatment equipment costs and distribution pipes associated with water reuse.

8. Retrofit or replacement of existing landscape irrigation systems to more efficient landscape irrigation systems, including moisture and rain sensing controllers.

9. Projects that result from water efficiency related assessments (such as water audits, leak detection studies, conservation plan, etc.) as long as the assessments adhered to the standard industry practices referenced above.

10. Distribution system leak detection equipment, portable or permanent.

11. Automatic flushing systems (portable or permanent).

12. Pressure reducing valves (PRVs)

13. Internal plant water reuse as allowed by the rules and regulations pertaining to Public Drinking Water (Part 1 of this Subchapter).

C. Projects That Do Not Meet the Definition of Water Efficiency

1. Covering open finished water reservoirs - Federally mandated, so not considered "above and beyond."

D. Decision Criteria for Business Cases

1. Water efficiency can be accomplished through water saving elements or reducing water consumption. This will reduce the amount of water taken out of rivers, lakes, streams, groundwater or other sources.

2. Water efficiency projects should deliver equal or better services with less net water use as compared to traditional or standard technologies and practices.

3. Efficient water use often has the added benefit of reducing the amount of energy required by a drinking water system, since less water would need to be treated and transported; therefore there are energy and financial savings.

4. Proper water infrastructure management should address where water losses could be occurring in the system and fix or avert them. This could be achieved for example, by making operational changes or replacing aging infrastructure.

E. Example Projects Requiring a Business Case

1. Water meter replacement with traditional water meters (see AWWA M6 Water Meter -Selection, Installation Testing and Maintenance).

2. Distribution pipe replacement or rehabilitation to reduce water loss and prevent water main breaks (see AWWA M28 Rehabilitation of Water Mains).

3. Storage tank replacement/rehabilitation to reduce water loss.

4. New water efficient landscape irrigation system.

6.12.6Energy Efficiency

A. Energy efficiency is the improved technologies and practices to reduce the energy consumption of water projects, use energy in a more efficient way, and/or produce/utilize renewable energy. Refer to EPA's website for further information on energy efficiency.

B. Categorical Projects. EPA has concluded that existing literature does not support a twenty percent (20%) energy efficiency improvement threshold for drinking water system. Therefore. there is no categorical twenty percent (20%) threshold for pumping/ treatment systems for the DWSRF. A business case is required.

1. Renewable energy projects, which are part of a larger public health project, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and micro-hydroelectric that provide power to a utility (. Micro-hydroelectric projects involve capturing energy from pipe flow.

a. Utility-owned renewable energy projects can be located on-site or off-site.

b. Includes a portion of a publicly owned renewable energy project that serves the utility energy needs.

c. Must feed into the grid that the utility draws from and/or there is a direct connection.

2. Utility energy management planning, including energy assessments, energy audits, optimization studies, and sub-metering of individual processes to determine high energy use areas, which are reasonably expected in energy efficiency capital projects or in a reduction in demand to alleviate the need for additional capital investment.

3. National Electric Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Premium energy efficiency motors

C. Projects That Do Not Meet the Definition of Energy Efficiency

1. Simply replacing a pump, or other piece of equipment, because it is at the end of its useful service life, with something of average efficiency. (Note: replacing it with a higher efficiency equipment requires a business case)

2. Hydroelectric facilities, except micro-hydroelectric projects. Micro- hydroelectric projects involve capturing the energy from pipe flow.

D. Decision Criteria for Business Cases

1. Projects should include products and practices which will decrease environmental impact, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and provide financial savings.

2. Projects should include approaches to integrate energy efficient practices into daily management and long-term planning.

3. Operator training in conjunction with any energy saving project is strongly encouraged in order to maximize the energy saving potential.

4. Using existing tools such as Energy Star's Portfolio Manager to document the current energy usage and track anticipated savings.

E. Example Projects Requiring a Business Case

1. Energy efficient retrofits, upgrades, or new pumping systems and treatment processes (includes variable frequency drives (VFDs)).

2. Pump refurbishment to optimize pump efficiency (such as replacing or trimming impellers if pumps have too much capacity, replacing damaged or worn wearing rings/seals/bearings, etc.).

3. Projects that result from an energy efficiency related assessments (such as energy audits, energy assessment studies, etc.), that are not otherwise designated as categorical.

4. Projects that cost effectively eliminate pumps or pumping stations.

5. Project that achieve the remaining increments of energy efficiency in a system that is already very efficient.

6. Upgrade of lighting to energy efficient sources (such as metal halide pulse start technologies, compact fluorescent, light emitting diode, etc.).

7. Automated and remote control systems (SCADA) that achieve substantial energy savings (see AWWA M2 Instrumentation and Control).

6.12.7Environmentally Innovative

A. Environmentally innovative projects include those that demonstrate new and/or innovative approaches to delivering services or managing water resources in a more sustainable way.

B. Categorical Projects

1. Total/integrated water resources management planning, or other planning framework where project life cycle costs (including infrastructure, energy consumption, and other operational costs) are minimized, resulting in communities adopting more efficient and cost-effective infrastructure solutions.

a. Plans to improve water quantity and quality associated with water system technical, financial and managerial capacity.

b. Planning activities by a utility to prepare for adaption to the long-term effects of climate change and/or extreme weather.

2. Utility Sustainability plan consistent with EPA's SRF Sustainability policy.

3. Greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory or mitigation plan and submission of a GHG inventory to a registry (such as Climate Leaders or Climate Change Registry), if for a facility which is eligible for DWSRF assistance.

a. EPA Climate Leaders

b. Climate Change Registry

4. Construction of United States Building Council LEED certified buildings, or renovation of an existing building, owned by the utility, which is part of an eligible DWSRF project.

a. Any level of certification (Platinum, Gold, Silver Certified)

b. All building costs are eligible, not just stormwater, water efficiency and energy efficiency related costs. Costs are not limited to incremental additional costs associated with LEED certified buildings.

C. Projects That Do Not Meet the Definition of Environmentally Innovative

1. Higher sea walls to protect water infrastructure facilities from sea level rise.

2. Reflective roofs at water infrastructure facilities to combat heat island effect.

D. Decision Criteria for Business Cases

1. The State program is allowed flexibility in determining what projects qualify as innovative in their state based on unique geographical and climatological conditions.

a. Technology or approach whose performance is expected to address quality but the actual performance has not been demonstrated in the state; or

b. Technology or approach that is not widely used in the state, but does perform as well or better than conventional technology/approaches at lower costs; or

c. Conventional technology or approaches that are used in a new application in the state.

E. Example Projects Requiring a Business Case

1. Projects or components of projects that result from total/integrated water recourses management planning (including climate change) consistent with the Decision Criteria for environmentally innovative projects and that are DWSRF eligible.

2. Application of innovative treatment technologies or systems that improve environmental conditions and are constant with the Decision Criteria for environmentally innovative projects.

a. Projects that significantly reduce or eliminate the use of chemicals in water treatment.

b. Treatment technologies or approaches that significantly reduce the volume of residuals, minimize the generation of residuals, or lower the amount of chemicals in the residuals.

c. Trenchless or low impact construction technology

d. Using recycled materials or reusing materials on site.

3. Educational activities and demonstration projects for water or energy efficiency such as rain gardens.

4. Projects that achieve the goals/objectives of utility asset management plans.

6.12.8Business Case Development

A. A business case is a due diligence document for those projects or portions of a projects, which are not included in the categorical projects listed in §§6.12.4(B), 6.12.5(B), 6.12.6(B), and 6.12.7(B) of this Part. A business case will be required to demonstrate that an assistance recipient has thoroughly researched anticipated 'green' benefits of a project. Business cases must be approved by the State in conjunction with the EPA prior to receiving a Certificate of Approval for the project or portion of the project which the assistance recipient seeks an additional Green Project Reserve (GPR) financial assistance subsidy. A GPR financial assistance subsidy shall be subject to availability of funds. The approved business case must be included in the assistance recipient project files and contain clear documentation that the project achieves identifiable and substantial benefits.

B. Length of a Business Case

1. Business cases should be adequate but not exhaustive.

a. There are many formats and approaches. State and EPA does not require any specific one.

b. Some projects will require detailed analysis and calculations, while others may not require more than one page.

c. Limit the information contained in the business case to only the pertinent 'green' information needed to justify the project.

2. A business case can simply summarize results from and then cite, existing documentation - such as engineering reports, water or energy audits, results of water system tests, etc.

C. Content of a Business Case

1. Business cases must address the decision criteria for the category project.

2. Quantifiable water and/or energy savings or water loss reduction for water and energy efficiency projects shall be included.

3. The costs and financial benefit of the project shall be included, along with the payback time period, where applicable.

D. Items Which Strengthen Business Case, but Are Not Required

1. Showing that the project was designed to enable equipment to operate most efficiently.

2. Demonstrating that equipment will meet or exceed standards set by professional associations.

3. Including operator training or committing to utilizing existing tools such as Energy Star's Portfolio Manager or CUPSS for energy efficiency projects

4. Example Business Cases are available at http://www.srfbusinesscases.net/

216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-50-05-6.12