Water Access and Quality – Above Green

Required

Intent

To provide all sections of the society with equitable access to clean drinking water and sanitation services and prevent pollution from stormwater runoff.

Requirements

Water and wastewater systems must meet the following requirements:

1. Water and Sanitation Access

100% coverage of all buildings within the boundary by public water supply and wastewater collection system including centralized and decentralized systems. Requirement can be met using private water wells if it is permitted within the local or regional jurisdiction.

2. Drinking water quality

Comply with U.S. EPA’s 2018 Edition of the Drinking Water Standards and Health Advisories Tables for drinking water rules on chemical and microbial contaminants in drinking water pipes or comply with local, state, or national equivalent.

Provide information on periodic water quality testing as per the adopted standard for each of the water supply facility under the following categories:

Frequency of water quality testing (quarterly, monthly, bi-monthly, etc.)
Water quality testing parameters

Commit to enforcement actions to be taken in case of non-compliance for the following:
- Violation of testing frequency
- Violation in water quality parameter threshold

Reference: STAR v2 BE-2: Community Water Systems, Outcome 1: Drinking Water Quality

3. Treated Wastewater Quality

All centralized or decentralized (on-site, individual systems, septic systems, and others) wastewater treatment systems owned or operated by the city development authorities (or service providers) and the wastewater discharged to surface waters must comply with U.S. EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program of Clean Water Act (CWA) or local, state, or national equivalent for 100% of wastewater generated. Meet the water quality parameter thresholds in NPDES permit program manual, Section 5.1.1 - Secondary and Equivalent to Secondary Treatment Standards.

Provide information on periodic water quality testing as per the adopted standard for each of the wastewater treatment facility under the following categories:

Frequency of water quality testing (quarterly, monthly, bi-monthly, etc.)
Water quality testing parameters

Commit to enforcement actions to be taken in case of non-compliance for the following:

Violation of testing frequency
Violation of water quality parameter threshold

All wastewater treatment systems that are independently operated onsite or decentralized and are outside the jurisdiction of the city development authority must disclose the applicable standards for wastewater treatment and discharge. Wastewater management system should be planned and designed to cater to the phase-wise development of the city to ensure that the requirements are met at each phase.

Reference: STAR v2 BE-2: Community Water Systems, Outcome 3: Safe Wastewater Management

4. Stormwater quality

CITIES

Adopt a policy to comply with U.S. EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program for stormwater pollution prevention from construction and industrial activities and municipal sources or local, state, or national equivalent.

Reference: STAR v2 BE-2: Community Water Systems, Outcome 4: Safe Stormwater Management

COMMUNITIES

Monitor the quality of stormwater discharged from the community and ensure compliance with U.S. EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program for stormwater pollution prevention from construction and industrial activities and municipal sources or local, state, or national equivalent.