Environmental Management (S-7)

MCAS Miramar has two sources of water both potable and non-potable.  

• Potable water is supplied by the City of San Diego and is used for the majority of our daily life on the air station.  
• Non-potable water or “reclaimed water” (RCW) indicated by purple piping is a resource that is purchased from the City of San Diego.  The opportunity first came about in 2007 when the golf course was converted entirely to reclaimed water.  Since then, the system has been expanded to include the majority of the irrigation north of Miramar Way.  RCW is also used for construction purposes like dust control and even in three of our facilities for the water closets and urinals. 

Every gallon of RCW used is a gallon of potable water saved, and we are proud to state that our RCW usage in 2014 accounts for 39% of our total water consumption on the installation.  This success has equated to a 31% reduction in water intensity against the EO goal of 26% by 2020.

Although, we have met our federal mandate, we must continue to conserve water in preparation for future droughts in the state of California.  MCAS Miramar is dedicated to continuing the effort to preserve our most precious resource.  The program is installing efficient, low flow fixtures all over the base and looking forward to reclaimed washrack systems.  It will always be a joint effort of the marines, sailors, and civilians aboard MCAS Miramar to conserve whenever possible.

Executive Order

Executive Order (EO) 13693, Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade, was signed by President Obama on 19 March 2015.

• reducing agency potable water consumption intensity measured in gallons per gross square foot by 36 percent by fiscal year 2025 through reductions of 2 percent annually through fiscal year 2025 relative to a baseline of the agency's water consumption in fiscal year 2007
• installing water meters and collecting and utilizing building and facility water balance data to improve water conservation and management;
• reducing agency industrial, landscaping, and agricultural (ILA) water consumption measured in gallons by 2 percent annually through fiscal year 2025 relative to a baseline of the agency's ILA water consumption in fiscal year 2010; and
• installing appropriate green infrastructure features on federally owned property to help with stormwater and wastewater management.

1. Program and budget for personnel, equipment, materials, training, and monitoring required to comply with drinking water systems and water conservation requirements. Pay appropriate federal, state, and local fees. Ensure that the EMH is employed, P2 alternatives evaluated, and life-cycle cost impacts assessed, in evaluating and selecting projects that address compliance requirements.
2. Ensure that all required federal, state, and local permits are applied for and obtained. Sign certifications and permit applications, as required,
   for construction of all drinking water systems and water conservation projects.
3. Ensure that a base or station order is written to implement specifications set forth in this chapter. This requirement can be accomplished either by writing an ECPSOP document to implement all environmental requirements or by writing a separate base order to implement these requirements.
4. Identify and submit to the CMC (LF) nonrecurring projects and funding required to make drinking water systems, potential contamination sources
   within WHP areas, and underground injection wells compliant with applicable existing and emerging regulations, requirements, and permits. 
5. Program and budget for sufficient personnel, equipment, materials, training, and monitoring resources required to effectively operate, maintain, and repair drinking water systems in compliance with drinking water program requirements. With command counsel concurrence, pay related federal, state, and local fees.
6. Operate and maintain adequate facilities to produce, store, and distribute drinking water in the quantities required for compliance with applicable state standards, regulations, and Marine Corps requirements.
7. Ensure that management programs and controls exist to comply with applicable regulations; NPDWR, MCLs, and TTs; UIC permit conditions; and
   monitoring, recordkeeping, public notification, and reporting requirements for drinking water systems and underground injection wells.
8. Ensure compliance with all applicable water system operator certification requirements. Identify training and certification needs for Marine Corps
   operators of PWSs and allocate needed resources.
9. Oversee and provide resources for monitoring, recordkeeping, reporting, public notification practices, and the use of certified laboratories for analyses in compliance with EPA or EPA-approved state requirements. Retain copies of all records, reports, and public notices submitted to EPA, state, and local water district offices per the applicable  references.
10. Submit annual CCRs to consumers and provide a copy to CMC (LF).
11. Coordinate with appropriate EPA, state, and regional offices the review of all projects for the construction of new or upgraded drinking water system facilities and for the construction, modification, or closure of underground injection wells.
12. Implement corrosion control treatment, source water treatment, and/or lead service piping replacement as needed to comply with NPDWR requirements for the control of lead and copper in drinking water.
13. Ensure that a cross-connection control and backflow prevention program is developed and implemented. Properly inspect, operate, and maintain
    backflow prevention devices, altitude and pressure-reducing valves, water meters, water-saving devices, and water reuse and recycling systems.
14. Ensure that the installation has applied for, and obtained, all required federal and state UIC permits. Comply with UIC requirements.
15. Inventory all class V wells and provide a copy of the inventory to the EPA or state, as appropriate.
16. Implement a multifaceted Marine Corps water conservation program that meets statutory and E.O.13693 requirements. Execute water conservation studies to reduce water usage and generation of wastewater flows. Review the various uses of water at respective activities to ensure that all economically practical water conservation measures are taken. Ensure that all water conservation measures with payback periods of less than 10 years, as required by EPACT, are installed in government-owned buildings.
17. Ensure that adequate access to drinking water system collection, treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, and underground injection wells, is provided to the EPA, state, and local regulatory agencies for the purpose of sampling water and injected wastes, and for the inspection of operations and records.
18. Ensure that water systems serving 25 to 3,300 people perform a VA and develop/revise ERPs per DOD and Navy policies. Review the VA and emergency response plan every five years or when there is a change in the water source or system process.

1. Basic water plant and/or distribution system design.
2. Basic water plant and/or distribution system operation.
3. Basic maintenance and calibration of plant controls and equipment.
4. Water plant and/or distribution systems treatment principles, including chemical storage and handling.
5. Water sampling and analysis.
6. Water plant and/or distribution system documentation and reporting requirements.
7. Cross-connection control and backflow prevention.

Practice

1. Operating the Installation

Aspect

1. Energy Usage - All buildings and facilities aboard MCAS Miramar use energy. It is in the interest of the Marine Corps to reduce energy usage when possible by utilizing more energy efficient systems, switching off lights and unplugging appliances when not in use, and generating sustainable energy via the establishment of photovoltaic arrays.
2. Water Consumption - Most buildings and facilities aboard MCAS Miramar are connected to the City of San Diego's water system. In the interests of good environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility, and assisting California in coping with future droughts, the Station is committed to conserving water. 

Impact & Risk

1. Energy usage and water consumption are utilities and necessary to the operation of the Station and its ability to fulfill the mission. MCAS Miramar is constantly identifying areas in which energy and water use can be decreased in order to meet EO 13693 benchmarks. In addition, MCAS Miramar has the interest of reducing energy and water consumption to lower operating costs.

Marine Corps installations must reduce water consumption intensity by 26 percent by FY 2020 using life-cycle cost effective measures relative to an FY2007 baseline. In addition, installations must reduce industrial, landscaping, and agricultural water consumption by 20 percent by 2020 relative to an FY2010 baseline. 

Potential water conservation measures to meet objectives and targets: 

• Installation of water efficient industrial equipment and recycling of industrial process water.
• Water efficient and low flow showers, toilets, faucets and other fixtures and devices where applicable.
• Timely repairs of water service line leaks and main breaks.
• Routine leak detection surveys.
• Water use metering and periodic water audits.

Water metering and billing tracks usage of water for buildings at MCAS Miramar.