Recode, the Rich Earth Institute, and Nutrient Networks are kicking off the "Gold Ribbon Committee for Urine Reuse" project. This Google Form Survey is the first part of that project kick-off and is an effort to roll up our sleeves and get right to work!  You are receiving this survey because you are on our membership rolls, in our  newsletter, a colleague or someone who is enthusiastic about urine reuse.

Our project goal is to create rules and policies for a national urine reuse standard so it can be further adopted into state and local site development and building codes. This goal will be discussed, vetted and developed in more detail through our process, but we imagine that our work will be summarized as "template code language to be adopted and incorporated into the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), the International Plumbing Code (IPC) and the US-EPA's On-Site and Effluent standards.  States and local jurisdictions would then be able to adopt our rules as a function of their normal code adoption update schedule.

Our work in developing "the urine reuse code" will address the procedures and requirements of collecting, handling, storing and the beneficial use of urine. This project may also choose to develop other related activities such as [organic] certifications, education & outreach, job training and business opportunities. We are collecting a list of participants who will help establish the scope of our work, schedules, potential budgets and other pertinent information to complete the project. By completing this survey you will be signed up to participate in a committee, comment on our progress and sign-up for news updates from this group. We are interested in making this process completely transparent and inclusive to all people that would like to participate.

We have created four preliminary groups that help expand the inclusion to participants beyond the experts and scientists already involved in this work--the only membership requirement is that you have urinated. We are anticipating creating groups in the following categories:  

    > Executive Committee: A group of experts in the field of code development, urine reuse, site sanitation and public health policy. This group will steer this process and do the bulk of the urine reuse code language.  

    > Technical Advisory Committee: A group of scientists, installers, fertilizer manufacturers, farmers and urine recyclers that can inform the executive committee and provide evidentiary knowledge to the final deliverable. These members may also be a part of the executive committee.

    > Public Reviewers: This group will be in charge of editing and organizing the information and reports. They may also contribute to document layout and graphics, organizing meetings and other non-technical support for the overall reuse committee.
   
    > Urine Reuse Enthusiasts: A group of urine recyclers, farmers / growers and front line community members that can address how this rule change could affect people's lives.

This is by no-means an exhaustive list, but merely a start of the process.

Meetings: We are anticipating 1-1.5hr monthly web-based meetings for these groups and possibly a bi-monthly meeting for the executive group.  We are also anticipating that a representative from each group will attend executive meetings for continuity. We are also anticipating some homework to prepare for these meetings and to help complete the project goals.  

Process:
We are hopeful to send "homework" to everyone in anticipation for the meetings. This is an opportunity to edit, comment and research issues to discuss during the meeting. All of the material will be posted on the shared google drive folder that is available to everyone. We will be working on funding opportunities to help pay for this time commitment, however nothing is secured at this time.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please complete this short survey and you will be signed up! You are encouraged to pass this information along to others that are genuinely interested in this work. If you know of someone that is unable to access this document, or needs to have direct or interpretive communications, please email pat@recodenow.org.


Pat Lando, Executive Director Recode