Section 173-98-130. Green project reserves projects.

When considering eligibility of green project reserves, the department will consider guidance documents provided by the EPA as well as the provisions provided in subsections (1) through (4) of this section.

(1) Water efficiency. Water efficiency projects are building activities that implement capital water efficiency projects. Water efficiency encompasses conservation and reuse efforts, as well as water loss reduction and prevention, to protect water resources for the future. Water efficiency projects can be stand-alone projects, or project elements of a larger capital improvement project.

(2) Energy efficiency. Energy efficiency projects include renewable energy projects that provide power to publicly owned treatment works (POTW), Collection System Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) detection equipment, and POTW energy management planning. Energy efficiency projects can be stand-alone projects, or project elements of a larger capital improvement project.

(3) Green infrastructure. Green infrastructure projects can be stand-alone projects, or project elements of a larger capital improvement project.

(a) On a regional scale, green infrastructure is the preservation and restoration of natural landscape features, such as forests, flood plains and wetlands, coupled with policies that reduce overall impervious impacts in a watershed.

(b) On the local scale, green infrastructure consists of site- and neighborhood-specific practices, such as bioretention, trees, green roofs, porous pavements, and cisterns.

(4) Environmentally innovative projects. Environmentally innovative projects include projects that:

(a) Achieve pollution prevention or pollutant removal with reduced costs;

(b) Prepare a POTW for adaptation to the long-term effects of climate change and/or extreme weather;

(c) Produce total/integrated water resources management planning likely to result in a capital project;

(d) Construct buildings or renovation of an existing building on POTW facilities that are U.S. Building Council LEED certified; and

(e) Develop decentralized wastewater treatment solutions to existing deficient or failing on-site wastewater systems.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 90.50A RCW, RCW 90.48.035, and 43.21A.080. WSR 11-20-036 (Order 10-14), § 173-98-130, filed 9/27/11, effective 10/28/11.]

Chapter 90.50A RCW, RCW 90.48.035, and 43.21A.080. WSR 11-20-036 (Order 10-14), § 173-98-130, filed 9/27/11, effective 10/28/11.