Post on 13-Jul-2015
Effective Code for Water Use Management During Drought and Beyond
Drema Gross Austin Water Water Conservation Division Manager
CTWEN Symposium February 26, 2013
2007 Code Changes
• Design/permit requirements for new residential irrigation systems, expanded for commercial systems
• Pressure reduction requirements for new residential properties • Expanded Water Use Management Ordinance
– 2x week watering for commercial year-round – 2x week watering for residential May-Sept
• Requirements for new commercial construction – Cooling towers @ 5 cycles of concentration – Minimum efficiency standards for new car washes and drought operation – Prohibited once-through cooling, liquid ring vacuum pumps, garbage
grinders
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Revising Watering Restrictions • Stage 3 restrictions written for short-term emergencies, not
sustainable in long-term drought
• Customer feedback on effects of Stage 2 restrictions, concerns about Stage 3 impact on businesses & trees
• Calls from citizens to “do more” earlier in response to drought
• Additional changes – Implement mandatory irrigation evaluations as recommended by Council
– Switch to administrative enforcement of water use rules
– Clean up unclear code language
– Modify once-per-week schedule
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Extensive Public Input Process
• Conservation staff worked with Public Affairs office and City’s Community Engagement consultant
• Multiple avenues for input: – Series of 4 workshops from December 2011-March 2012
– Online forum at SpeakUpAustin.org
– Periodic updates to boards and commissions – Small group meetings with key stakeholders
• Honest, transparent approach to receiving feedback – No draft documents presented at first meeting
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What We Heard… • Support for…
– Enabling efficient irrigation of trees and vegetable gardens
– Protecting business interests in drought conditions
– Enforcing water use regulations through water bill fines instead of Municipal Court
– Issuing a warning prior to a fine/citation
– Stronger restrictions year-round and in early drought
– Status quo in moderate/severe drought
– Less stringent in catastrophic conditions
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Our Response • Stronger conservation measures outside of drought
– Commercial irrigation evaluations & car wash standards, towel/linen reuse & water on request, max. 2x/week watering, water waste prohibited
• Stronger restrictions in early drought – Earlier trigger point at 1.4 MAF – 5% reduction target
• Status quo in moderate/severe drought – Continue to go to 1x/week watering at 900,000 AF – 15% reduction target
• Less stringent in catastrophic conditions – Allow some watering at 600,000 AF – 20% reduction from baseline year
• Align precisely with LCRA triggers – Maximizes media coverage, minimizes impact to citizens
• Administrative enforcement 6
• Able to document adequate stakeholder outreach • Able to prove public support for certain restrictions
• Industry buy-in to regulations affecting them
• Lasting contacts/advocates among stakeholders
• Improved public perception of utility staff
• Positive comments from stakeholders and Council members about public input process
Benefits of Public Process
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Proposed Changes – Option 1 Conservation Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4
Storage: Above 1.4 MAF <= 1.4 MAF 900,000 AF 600,000 AF Emergency
Irrigation 2x/wk (30 hrs total) No midday watering (except by hand)
2x/wk (20 hrs total auto / 30 hrs total hose) No midday watering (except by hand)
1x/wk (10 hrs auto / 15 hrs hose) No midday watering (except by hand)
1x/wk (6 hrs) No midday watering May require wholesale curtailment
May further restrict outdoor irrigation
Lodging Facilities
Towel / linen reuse option
Restaurants Water on request
Patio Misters Commercial patio misters 4p-midnight Comm patio misters 4-8pm
Comm patio misters prohibited
Car Washing Comm washes must meet efficiency standards
Home car wash on designated day
Home & charity car washes prohibited All car washing prohibited
Recreational Water Use
Fountains must recirculate Orn. fountains & spas prohibited. Splash pads have limited hours
No filling of pools or ponds; no outdoor recreational use
Pressure Washing
Commercial pressure washing must recycle Comm. & private power washers must recycle
All cosmetic power washing prohibited
Exemptions Drip irrigation. Tree watering & veg garden irrigation with drip, bubble, or soaker. Irrigating athletic fields & commercial nurseries. Watering in commercially applied herbicides/pesticides.
Ideal Irrigation Restrictions • Save water
• Are easy to communicate
• Are easy to follow
• Are enforceable
• Are manageable within system constraints – Demand doesn’t exceed treatment capacity
– Demand is evenly distributed throughout week
– Demand does not create pressure problems
Effects on Water Use • Clear compliance evident
– Time of Day: Peaks before 10a and after 7p
– Day of Week: No-watering day showed dramatic drop in pumpage
• Overall reduction in peak day use
• Overall reduction in average GPCD
• Demand relatively even between sectors on outdoor water use days
Major Changes • General Regulations always in effect
– Water waste prohibited, commercial irrigation evaluation & car wash certification required, hotel towel/linen program, water on request in restaurants
• 5 Conservation Stages (one always in effect based on storage/demand) – Conservation Stage (Above 1.4 MAF)
• Two days per week outdoor irrigation (30 hours/week max)
– Drought Stage 1 (Trigger of 1.4 MAF) • Two days per week outdoor irrigation (20 hours/week max auto) • Home car washing on designated outdoor water use day
– Drought Stage 2 (Trigger of 900K ac ft) • One day per week outdoor irrigation (10 hours/week max auto) • Home and Charity car washing prohibited
– Drought Stage 3 (Trigger of 600K ac ft) • One day per week outdoor irrigation (6 hours/ week max)
– Drought Stage 4 – Catastrophic • Outdoor water use for health and safety reasons only
• Enforcement – Removed from the Municipal Court and moved to fines on water bills
– Customer/AWU retains option to pursue in court
Exemptions for drip irrigation, gardening and tree watering through Stage 3