Go Purple
Expanding Austin's water recycling systems could save 16 million gallons of drinking water every day.
Go Purple is Austin Water's program to increase the use of reclaimed water and onsite water reuse systems throughout Austin. Austin City Council approved key elements of our water recycling program on March 7, 2024. Go Purple is part of Austin Water's 100-year plan for sustainable water resource management, Water Forward.
The program expands requirements and incentives for new developments to connect to Austin Water's reclaimed water system. or install onsite water reuse systems that recycle water for non-potable uses such as irrigation, toilet flushing and cooling towers. The program's name comes from the special purple-colored pipes used for the distribution of reclaimed water.
By 2040, onsite water reuse is estimated to save six million gallons of potable water daily. Expanding reclaimed water use will save an additional 10 million gallons daily, for a combined savings of 16 million gallons per day.
Go Purple is funded through a Community Benefit Charge (CBC) of $0.15 per thousand gallons, which is expected to generate about $10 million per year and increases the average residential customer's bill by approximately $1.47 per month. Customers enrolled in the Customer Assistance Program (CAP) will not be affected by the CBC. Austin Water also offers Purple Choice, a voluntary rate program for residential and commercial customers to support reclaimed system expansion. Affordable housing projects meeting specific criteria may be exempt from expanded requirements.
Resources
In the mid-1990s, Austin Water began constructing a centralized reclaimed water system to supply customers with reclaimed water for irrigation, cooling towers and other non-potable uses through the "purple pipe" system. During the historic drought from 2008 to 2016, Austin Water developed Water Forward, a 100-year plan for a sustainable water future emphasizing reuse, conservation and protection of Austin's water supply. City Council adopted Water Forward in 2018.
Under a 1999 agreement with the Lower Colorado River Authority, the City incurs annual payments if water use exceeds 201,000 acre-feet for two consecutive years. Community water conservation efforts have delayed reaching this threshold by up to eight years, resulting in an estimated annual cost savings of $10 million.
Requirements vary by development size. Download the printable requirements summary (PDF).
| Development Type | Current Requirements (effective Dec. 1, 2021) | Updated Requirements (effective April 1, 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Small — less than 250,000 sq ft | Water Benchmarking; connect to reclaimed water within 250 feet | No change |
| Large — 250,000 sq ft or more, without multifamily | Water Benchmarking; connect to reclaimed water within 500 feet | Water Benchmarking; connect to reclaimed water within 500 feet OR install an onsite water reuse system |
| Large — 250,000 sq ft or more, with multifamily (excludes qualified affordable housing projects) | Water Benchmarking; connect to reclaimed water within 250 feet | Water Benchmarking; connect to reclaimed water within 500 feet OR install an onsite water reuse system OR install dual plumbing, make ready to connect to reclaimed water and pay a fee to support reclaimed system expansion (for developments more than 500 feet from reclaimed water) |
Learn more about obtaining reclaimed water service and onsite water reuse systems for development projects.
Affordable Housing Incentives
Incentives are available for developments that are exempt from reuse requirements. Projects must be certified to have at least 50% on-site affordable housing units, income-restricted at 60% of median family income for rental units or 80% for ownership units.
| Incentive | Small or Large with Multifamily |
|---|---|
| Onsite Water Reuse System pilot incentive | Up to $1,500,000 per project |
| Reclaimed Water pilot incentive | Up to $1,500,000 per project |
| Austin Water-funded expedited building permit review | Up to $36,000 per project |
| Assistance with Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program | Up to full cost of energy/water efficiency project |
Download incentive applications on the Onsite Water Reuse Systems and Reclaimed Water Service pages.
Reclaimed Water Connection Incentives
| Development Type | Distance to Reclaimed Water | Cost Sharing | Expedited Permit Review | PACE Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small — less than 250,000 sq ft | Less than 250 feet | Developer pays 100% of first 250 feet | No | Yes |
| 251–500 feet | Austin Water pays 100% of 251–500 feet | Yes | Yes | |
| More than 500 feet | Austin Water evaluates case by case; brings agreements to City Council | Yes | Yes | |
| Large — 250,000 sq ft or more, without multifamily | Less than 250 feet | Developer pays 100% of first 250 feet | No | Yes |
| 251–500 feet | Austin Water pays 50% of 251–500 feet | Yes | Yes | |
| More than 500 feet | Austin Water evaluates case by case; brings agreements to City Council | Yes | Yes | |
| Large — 250,000 sq ft or more, with multifamily | Less than 250 feet | Developer pays 100% of first 250 feet | No | Yes |
| 251–500 feet | Austin Water pays 50% of 251–500 feet | Yes | Yes | |
| More than 500 feet | Austin Water evaluates case by case; brings agreements to City Council | Yes | Yes | |
| Large — 250,000 sq ft or more, with multifamily (qualified affordable housing) | Less than 250 feet | Austin Water pays 100% of first 250 feet | Yes | Yes |
| 251–500 feet | Austin Water pays 100% of 251–500 feet | Yes | Yes | |
| More than 500 feet | Austin Water evaluates case by case; brings agreements to City Council | Yes | Yes |
Onsite Water Reuse Incentives
| Development Type | Pilot Incentive Eligibility | Capacity Charge Adjustment | Expedited Permit Review | PACE Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incentive amount | Up to $500,000 per project | Up to $7,528 per year | Up to $36,000 per project | Up to full cost of energy/water efficiency project |
| Small — less than 250,000 sq ft | Yes, for voluntary onsite water reuse system | Yes, for systems that pass annual inspections | Yes | Yes |
| Large — 250,000 sq ft or more, without multifamily | Yes, if meets criteria for Above and Beyond project | Yes, for systems that pass annual inspections | Yes | Yes |
| Large — 250,000 sq ft or more, with multifamily | Yes, if meets criteria for Above and Beyond project | Yes, for systems that pass annual inspections | Yes | Yes |
| Large — 250,000 sq ft or more, with multifamily (qualified affordable housing) | Yes, for voluntary onsite water reuse system | Yes, for systems that pass annual inspections | Yes | Yes |
Dual-Plumb Development Incentives
These incentives apply to developments that install dual plumbing, make ready to connect to reclaimed water and pay a fee in lieu of installing an onsite water reuse system. The fee is equivalent to the cost of installing 500 feet of reclaimed pipeline.
| Development Type | Expedited Permit Review | PACE Assistance |
|---|---|---|
| Large — 250,000 sq ft or more, with multifamily | Up to $36,000 per project | Up to full cost of energy/water efficiency project |