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WHITE PAPER

Reforming National and State Policies to Reduce Inequity of Safely Managed Sanitation in the United States

The Decentralized Wastewater Innovation (DWI) Cohort is a nationwide community-driven research initiative by DigDeep Right to Water Project elevating decentralized wastewater challenges, solutions, and policy opportunities. Given the unique intersection of (1) unprecedented federal funding for decentralized and alternative wastewater solutions, (2) the complex landscape of residential infrastructure needs, and (3) the diverse, comprehensive expertise of the DWI Cohort.

The Cohort recommends the following policy opportunities for federal agency consideration:

  1. Develop an accurate count and map of decentralized wastewater system deficiencies in the US; use this improved data to drive resource allocation to increase the efficiency and impact of federal and state programming.
  2. Expand and improve outreach programs to impacted communities and households to reduce access barriers to funding mechanisms.
  3. Prioritize regulatory support and funding for alternative technologies to improve access to affordable and effective decentralized wastewater systems.
  4. Invest in long-term relationships with impacted communities and households to improve compliance, ensure longevity, deepen cultural integration, and improve public health outcomes.
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Adaptive Reuse: Converting Offices to Multi­Residential Family

Adaptive reuse of commercial office spaces to residential multifamily offers opportunities to ease some of the housing shortage in the US. These types of construction projects have many challenges, from zoning restrictions, financing, and also controlling construction costs. Construction costs specifically can have a disparate impact on whether an adaptive reuse project is possible, let alone successful. Therefore, flexibility during the construction process is vital to the success of an adaptive reuse project. Codes for plumbing and mechanical systems that support design versatility and science-based methods, such as the Uniform Codes, will be essential for controlling construction expenses.

Capacities of Stacks and Horizontal Drains in Storm Drainage Systems

The sizing for storm drainage systems are dependent upon flow capacity equations used to calculate velocities and flow rates in pipe conduits. One of the variables in the equations is the coefficient of roughness. This paper explores how the roughness of different types of material will change the computational results that are dependent upon the roughness coefficient of the pipe.

Increase in Flow Diversity From Simultaneous Fixture Use: Impact on Peak Flow Estimate

In calculating peak water demand, there can be instances where an increase in fixture count results in a decrease in the expected peak demand. This white paper explains why this counterintuitive result can occur, especially when there is some probability of stagnation (i.e., zero demand). Using IAPMO’s Water Demand Calculator (WDC), we are not designing with zero flow in mind; hence, zero flows are ignored, and the 99th percentile is extracted from actual flows for any combination of busy fixtures.


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