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b. Review, discuss and act on a letter requested by County Council Member <br />Karen Eoff for policy recommendations on water reuse and conservation. <br /> <br /> Vice Chair Bennett explained that there had been a number of informal discussions <br />among community leaders and some of the members of the Council about freshwater <br />conservation. It came to a head when some of the well pumps failed. Councilmember Eoff felt <br />it would be a good opportunity to talk about integrating the freshwater side of water resources <br />and the reclaimed water side. The freshwater is managed independently by the Department of <br />Water Supply (“DWS”). Councilmember Eoff had asked him to think about it and discuss it <br />with the EMC. <br /> <br />Vice Chair Bennett provided the commissioners with a draft he’d written of “Policy <br />Proposal Suggestions” with water conservation and water reuse sections, and ran through what <br />he’d written. The commissioners discussed the contents, and Commissioner Olson pointed out <br />how the island’s districts were so different from one another in terms of water. <br /> <br /> Commissioner Olson asked what they were to do with the draft, and Vice Chair Bennett <br />said it is basically a brainstorm of ideas that the Council or Councilmember Eoff can consider. <br /> <br /> Director Kucharski said it is his understanding that the R-1 water cannot be connected to <br />a single spigot. It has to be for an institutional use, not a personal or private use. They would <br />need to go to the DOH to ask for modifications or exemptions of that requirement. The issue <br />came up because one of the great uses for the R-1 water would be at the harbor, to be able to <br />wash down fishing boats. However, that can’t be done with individual spigots. It makes no <br />sense to him. Discussions would also need to be had on who would be responsible for the R-1 <br />water. DEM treats it, but they are not in the business of selling anything. The whole issue of <br />how to manage R-1 water has to be addressed by the County. Most of this is outside DEM’s <br />purview. <br /> <br /> Vice Chair Bennett said he acknowledged what Director Kucharski was saying, but it is <br />in the scope of the Commission to advise the Council on policy. Commissioner Olson said that <br />the matter is regarding environmental management. Director Kucharski said he understood, but <br />it is a misnomer for his department in that DEM is not a regulatory agency but simply the <br />operational arm of wastewater and solid waste facilities. <br /> <br /> Vice Chair Bennett said another suggestion, thought it wasn’t in his draft, is to propose a <br />Charter amendment to move DWS to be under the mayor. Director Kucharski said DWS has <br />been nothing but supportive of the R-1 water. Though the more R-1 you have the less you’ll be <br />selling, there is no question about DWS’ support for the R-1 and the maximum production and <br />use of it. DWS has been completely cooperative with DEM and DEM’s goals. <br /> <br /> Vice Chair Bennett asked Ms. Wong whether he misunderstood the Charter and Code <br />that allows them to communicate with and respond to questions received from a Councilmember. <br />Ms. Wong said if Councilmember Eoff verbally requested of him a policy type of study, it would <br />be fine to send it to her since she asked for it. But as far as what the DEM does, she agreed with <br />Director Kucharski that it goes beyond the purview of DEM and its responsibilities, and in turn <br />would also go beyond what the EMC and its responsibilities were as far as advising the <br />4 <br /> <br />