Onsite water reuse holds promise for affordable housing developments, report says

Although nonpotable onsite water reuse approaches can benefit affordable housing residents in many ways, multiple barriers preclude the use of water reuse and other One Water practices, according to a report released in April by the National Wildlife Federation. At the same time, efforts to promote onsite reuse must be conducted in a manner that promotes, rather than impedes, housing affordability, the report says.

Titled Ensuring One Water Works for All: Opportunities for Realizing Water Reuse in Affordable Housing, the report notes the mounting housing and water affordability challenges faced by many cities, outlines how thoughtful implementation of onsite reuse can mitigate these challenges, and recommends ways to overcome barriers to onsite reuse in affordable housing.

“Cities across the country face mounting challenges around both affordable housing access and resilient water supply,” said Jennifer Walker, a co-author of the report and deputy director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Texas Coast and Water Program, in an April 20 news release. “Onsite water reuse can help address both crises by enhancing the financial benefits of living in affordable housing while also reducing the water footprint of new housing developments,” Walker said. “Cities and developers need to focus on long-term cost-benefits and realize the tremendous opportunity embedded in simple, affordable water reuse technologies.”

Multiple benefits

By enabling reductions in overall water consumption, onsite reuse can help affordable housing residents save on water expenses, thereby lowering their housing costs, the report says. More broadly, water reuse and other One Water practices also can enable utilities to reduce their costs associated with infrastructure upgrades. In turn, these savings can lead to lower water rates, further benefiting affordable housing residents.

When paired with various nature-based solutions, onsite reuse can provide multiple environmental benefits, including reduced temperatures and improved air quality, according to the report. Social benefits include aesthetic improvements, community enhancements, recreational spaces, and improved mental health.

Many barriers

The report cites three categories of barriers—regulatory, financial, and training and awareness—to greater implementation of onsite reuse in affordable housing facilities.

Among the regulatory barriers are requirements associated with federal and state funding for subsidized housing that “can hinder the inclusion of onsite reuse,” the report states. In areas that have little experience with onsite reuse, permitting also presents a regulatory barrier.

Financial barriers typically entail concerns about upfront costs and ways to finance onsite reuse. Training and awareness barriers arise from a lack of knowledge of onsite reuse systems and insufficient technical capacity for both design and operation of these systems.

Recommendations for water utilities

Among its recommendations for encouraging greater implementation of onsite reuse in affordable housing, the report includes many directed at water utilities in particular. For example, the report calls on water utilities to lead educational campaigns promoting onsite reuse to affordable multifamily residents, advocates, and developers. Utilities also are encouraged to provide technical assistance to facilitate broader acceptance of onsite reuse.

Workforce development programs are another area in which utilities should take the lead to increase local capacity and expertise regarding reuse, the report maintains. Water utilities also “should engage across departments to identify areas where housing and water-related plans and policy conflict,” the report states. Changes made as a result of such an assessment “should foster mutual support across plans and policies to support water resiliency and affordable housing goals.”

To the extent possible, cities and utilities should waive development, processing, and permitting fees to reduce the costs of affordable housing projects, the report states. As an example, the report notes that connection and other water-related fees “can be waived for those using onsite reuse or other One Water strategies.”

Maximizing onsite reuse

“Onsite reuse can significantly contribute to the broader mission of affordable housing,” said Jorge Losoya, lead author of the report and a water equity fellow at the National Wildlife Federation, in the April 20 news release.

“A strategic approach that incorporates anti-displacement strategies can lead to reduced water bills, increased access to green space, and the peace-of-mind that comes from a more resilient water supply,” Losoya said. “Cities, water utilities, and developers need to come together on maximizing onsite reuse in the affordable housing space by providing regulatory clarity, increasing incentives, and capitalizing on the many federal and state funding opportunities now available for reuse.”

The report includes case studies of affordable housing projects that incorporate onsite water reuse practices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, New York City, Los Angeles, La Verne, California, and Tampa, Florida.