In this topic area we are exploring how close the UCs can come to satisfying all water needs by locally capturing, treating, and using storm water runoff for potable and non-potable activities. To kick off this effort and in partnership with the Sustainability Office at UCI, the MRPI team held a half-day conference centered on the following questions: (a) What is the existing campus water portfolio, and how might the capture and use of storm water runoff fit into long range planning efforts, such as the Water Action Plan? (b) To what extent can storm water runoff retention address evolving requirements for runoff monitoring and treatment under the new Phase II storm water permit? (c) What does the water-energy nexus look like on campus, and how might it change if storm water becomes a primary water resource? The conference provided a forum for MRPI researchers to interact directly with on-the-ground managers, and jump-started several focused research projects including: (1) analysis of historical water and energy use data, in order to understand how consumption of potable water and reclaimed water has evolved over time (UCI and UCLA); (2) simulation of storm water runoff generation on the UCI campus, using both lumped (HEC-RAS) and physically-based (Hydrus 1D and 2D) modeling tools (UCI); (3) analysis of campus storm Phase II water permits and the campus management structures (UCLA); and (4) analysis of water conservation programs (e.g., turf replacement programs) by UCI and the surrounding residential communities (UCI and UCLA). The MRPI graduate student leading the latter effort (Ms. Kimberly Duong) is the 2018 recipient of the Mirzayan Fellowship (http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/policyfellows/).
Catalyzing A Revolution in Stormwater Management