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WELCOME

E-Town Hall

Developing a Water

Conservation Plan for Sechelt

JOIN THE CONVERSATION LIVE Tweet with #H2OSechelt

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Agenda

1. Welcome – Mayor Milne2. Introduction/Background 3. Outline of Plan, summary of public input4. Conservation and Efficiency measures, Q&A 5. Alternative Water Sources, Q&A6. District of Sechelt potential actions (regulatory,

incentives, parks) Q&A7. Wrap up – Mayor Bruce Milne

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What is a Water Conservation Plan?

A plan containing policies and actions aimed at;

Reducing potable water use or,

Making better use of water

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Why do we need a Water Conservation Plan?

1. Provincial requirement 2. OCP says so3. Sustainability Plan says so4. Helps avoid/delay/cope with

droughts or water restrictions

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Why do we need a Water Conservation Plan?

“When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water”

Benjamin Franklin, 1746

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“Okotoks, Alberta Water Conservation Plan

play Okotoks video

Actions Regulatory tools (bylaws, density bonusing,

etc) Metering, conservation rates Fixture replacement program Water audits Alternative water sources Education Maintaining the focus

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“Drought Response” is different from “Planned” Water

Conservation

Drought response are things we are forced to do, and/or would not otherwise do.

Planned measures are things that we plan to do, whether we are in a drought or not

drought responses are (usually) temporary, planned measures are (usually) permanent.

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Example – garden water use

Drought Response Planned Measures

Let lawn go brown Let lawn go brownLess lawn area

Let the tomatoes go brown Drip irrigation of tomatoes

Bucketing water from bath onto garden

Alternate water system (rain, grey, reclaimed, etc)

The primary focus of this Plan is on “Planned” measures

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Four main ways to reduce potable water use.

Conservation – to do less of something or reduce waste

Efficiency – to use less water for the same purpose/production

Productivity- to increase production for the same water

Alternative Source – use a non-potable water source instead

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Backyard Tomatoes

Category Action Potable Water L/day

Production (lbs)

Normal Spray watering

100 100

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Backyard Tomatoes

Category Action Potable Water L/day

Production (lbs)

Normal Spray watering

100 100

Conservation

Halve watering

50 50

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Backyard Tomatoes

Category Action Potable Water L/day

Production (lbs)

Normal Spray watering

100 100

Conservation

Halve watering

50 50

Efficiency Drip irrigation 50 100

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Backyard Tomatoes

Category Action Potable Water L/day

Production (lbs)

Normal Spray watering

100 1o0

Conservation

Halve watering

50 50

Efficiency Drip irrigation 50 100

Productivity Tenthouse 50 400

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Backyard Tomatoes

Category Action Potable Water L/day

Production (lbs)

Normal Spray watering

100 100

Conservation

Halve watering

50 50

Efficiency Drip irrigation 50 100

Productivity Tenthouse 50 400

Replacement

Reclaimed water

0 400

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Idea Number

Type Who

Rainwater collection, rebate program 14 Alternative DoS

SCRD Supply Expansion 12 Supply SCRD

Moratorium on new development 8 Supply SCRD/DoS

New development required to do rain/grey water/other

6 Alternative DoS

Don’t implement water metering 6 Conservation

SCRD

Do implement water metering 3 Conservation

SCRD

Earlier imposition of water restrictions 3 Supply SCRD

Summary of responses from first meeting (1)

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Idea Number

Type Who

Education program for homeowners

3 Conservation

DoS

Water efficiency bylaws 2 Efficiency DoS

Sechelt specific waterwise gardening guide

2 Efficiency DoS

Exemptions for agriculture 1 Supply SCRD

No exemptions for agriculture 1 Supply SCRD

Public potable and non-potable water filling stations

1 Alternative SCRD/DoS

Summary of responses from first meeting (2)

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Questions

Conservation Efficiency

{alternate sources still to come}

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Alternative Water Sources

Any source of water other than SCRD potable water

Generally meaning non-potable water, for non-potable purposes

Alternative sources are not subject to SCRD water Restrictions

San Ramon video

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Ebbtide Non-Potable Filling Station,

Aug 2015

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Ebbtide Filling Station, doubled!

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Rules for Non-Potable water

Don’t use it for drinking Specific plumbing code rules, permit

required No cross-connection to potable system allowed Water quality guidelines for for toilet flushing. Specific (and developing) rules and guidelines

about outdoor greywater use Specific rules about use of reclaimed water Cannot supply a neighbour

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Rainwater

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Rainwater

Defined as rain water collected from a roof

Needs to be stored in a Dark Place No treatment required for outdoor use Indoor use subject to plumbing code rules Roof material will affect quantity and

quality of water Large storage volume required to get

through long dry summers

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Stormwater

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Stormwater

Defined as rain water collected from roads, parking lots, playing fields

Can be used for “roadside Water Gardens” Potential for Street Tree watering Encourage infiltration to ground, where

possible. No private residential use allowed.

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Greywater

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Greywater

Defined as untreated water from bath, shower or laundry.

Kitchen and toilet water are black water Needs to be used, not stored Indoor use subject to plumbing code rules

and quality requirements Developing rules for outdoor use. Simplest approach is for diversion to

subsurface irrigation

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Groundwater

Defined as water from a well No provincial restrictions on single-house

residential groundwater wells Quality is variable If house is connected to SCRD water,

groundwater is considered as “non-potable” water and subject to plumbing code rules

No restrictions for outdoor use.

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Reclaimed Water

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Reclaimed Water

Water from the Sechelt Water Resource Centre

Considered “non-potable” water Rules and restrictions for all use. Users must register first Area specific for piped service Potential for service to residential areas in

downtown Sechelt Consideration of public and commercial

filling stations

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Summary of Alternative Water Sources

Use Approx L/p/day

Rain

Grey Ground Reclaimed

Laundry (permit)

25 Y N Y N

Toilets (permit)

25 Y Y (treated) Y Y

Lawn 50-200

Y Y (treated) Y Y

Garden 50-200

Y Y (subsurface/drip)

Y Y

Agriculture ? Y N Y Y

Commercial 20 Y ? Y (register)

Y

DoS Parks 20 N N N Y

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Questions/Discussion

Alternate Water Sources

{DoS Specific actions still to come}

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DoS Specific Actions (1)

Complete a Water Conservation Plan Update bylaws for water efficiency Co-operation with SCRD on water Compile all relevant information for

homeowners on water conservation and efficiency

Rainwater Harvesting Guide Facilitate a Sechelt Waterwise Gardening

guide

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DoS Specific Actions (2)

Compile all relevant information, rules etc on alternate water sources

Look for more ways to use stormwater for streetscapes

Public non-potable filling station Reclaimed water system Reclaimed water for DoS Parks Metered wastewater rates Consideration of financial incentives

Any others?

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Next steps

Additional input to info@Sechelt.ca or via Twitter to #H20Sechelt

Attend Public Open House Sechelt Water Resource Centre in Sat 3 Oct

Reclaimed Water Open House at SWRC 20 October

A report on a draft Sechelt Water Conservation Plan is scheduled for the agenda of the October 28th Public Works, Parks And Environment Committee Meeting