Climate Masters Water and Water Conservation

8/6/2019 Climate Masters Water and Water Conservation

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Water and waterconservation

in Eugene


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Eugene water system

Current and historic view

Tap vs bottle water

Alternate Sources

Water and energyStormwater

What you can do


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Eugene water system

yWillamette River

y

Amazon Creeky Fern Ridge Reservoir

y McKenzie River

y Eugene-Springfield Water Pollution Control Facility

y Separate stormwater and wastewater system

y Eugene Water and Electric Board


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McKenzie River

BACKGROUND

The McKenzie River is animportant recreational resourceand a source of drinking water forthousands of people in Eugene,Oregon, and surrounding areas.

Drinking water for the city ofEugene, Oregon, is drawn from theMcKenzie River, a high-qualitysource that is nonethelessthreatened by urban, agricultural,and forestry land uses upstream aswell as by changes in watermanagement in the watershed.

The Eugene Water and ElectricBoard (EWEB) developed aDrinking Water Source Protectionplan for the McKenzie RiverWatershed that includescomprehensive monitoring andevaluation of potential threats todrinking water sources.


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EWEBThe Eugene Water & Electric Boardis Oregon's largest customer-owned utility. Founded in 1911 andchartered by the city of Eugene as amunicipal utility with a separateelected board, EWEB provides

electricity, water and steam heat toits customers.

Population

Eugene 146,160Springfield 55,860Lane County 336,085Oregon 3,631,440

McKenzie RiverThe McKenzie is the sole source ofwater for Eugene residents.


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EWEB water Q & AWater source:

Follow the stream: cascades,filtration, distribution

Why chlorine? bacteria, viruses,

and some protozoans , federalregulations

Hard or soft?

Determined by mineral content

WQ testing

85,000 tests, checks/annuallyEWEB technicians,

Independent laboratories

Rating: wq higher than EPA &

Oregon Health Divison standards


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Wastewater treatment facilityRegional WastewaterHistoryand Purpose

The state of Oregon began construction of WastewaterTreatment Facilities in1944. The WastewaterTreatment Facility in Eugene was completed in 1959.

The Eugene/Springfield Regional Water Pollution Control Facility beganoperation in April 1984. This regional wastewater treatment system replaced theold sewage treatment plants operated by the two cities.

Mission: to monitor, regulate, collect, and treat wastewater from the communityto protect public health and the environment.

The water pollution control facility uses an activated sludge process thatconsistently removes more than 95 percent of pollutants before treatedwastewater is discharged into the Willamette River.


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The tap and bottled

water questionBottled water

Safe or not?

NRDC found contamination in 17% of

bottle water tested; many oth

erscontained contaminants (33% wouldviolate enforceable standard for tapwater)

Bottled water produced and sold insame state is exempt from regulations

that assure water quality and safety.

y Cost of production:

y The SF Chronicle suggests it takes over47 million gallons of oil/year to produceplastic water bottles.

y This is 1 billion pounds of CO2 and equalto 100,000 cars.

y This does not include fuel to transportbottled water.


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Bottled water

Pristine sources or not?

An estimated 25% of all bottles water is fromTAP water.

Recycled or not?According to the Container Recycling Institute,86% of water bottles are thrown away.

Cost per gallon:

$2.66 - $12.72 per gallon ($6 for 24 12-oz bottlesor $1,59 for 16 oz.)


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Our energy futureThe Eugene Water & Electric Boardis committed to providing itscustomers with reliable,sustainable and clean sources ofpower. More than 95 percent of theelectricity EWEB needs to serve its

customers comes fromhydropower, wind and othersources that do not generatecarbon-based emissions that arelinked to global warming.

This plan sets two priorities:Continue an aggressive energyconservation effort, then acquirerenewable power to meet anyincrease in demand that cannot beoffset by conservation efforts.


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Water & EnergyWater heating-direct energy byend user

Water & wastewater treatment andpumping also use energy

y Carbon emitted to heat water for 10-minute shower is

y 4,342 g=4.3 Kg (electric) or

y 2,742 g= 2.7 Kg (natural gas)

y 4.3 Kg = 2 pounds;

y 2.7 Kg = 1.27 pounds.

y US EPA suggests that in 5 minutes, a hotwater faucet uses as much energy as a 60watt bulb used in 14 hours.


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Water conservation

Why conserve?

When we draw water from our reservoirs faster than we cankeep them filled, we threaten the supply of water needed for

drinking, irrigation, manufacturing, fishhabitat, andemergencies such as firefighting.

In addition to seasonal peaks, daily water use patterns can addstress to already stressed water distribution systems. Mostautomatic irrigation timers are set to go off early in the

mornings (5 a.m. - 7 a.m.) certain days of th

e week;


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What can you do - insidey Replace old toilets with

new, low flow models-

1. 8 gpf or lessy Install efficient showerheads and faucetaerators save up to 10%

waterh

eating costsy Full loads-dishwashers,

washing machines

yWash in cold water whenpossible.

y

Set water heat no higherthan 120 (140 fordishwashers w/o internalheat, not < 110.)

y

Old water heater? Addan insulated blanket.


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More inside conservation tips

y Showers-shorter, fewer

yA bath may not use more than a shower-test yourself.y Use towels more than once to reduce laundry

y Scrape dishes instead of rinsing before loading indishwasher

y Consider a greywater re-use system

y Rainwater can also be used indoors


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Conservation outsidey Healthy soils & mulch

y Right plant, right place

yWater efficiently

yWashing your car? Use anozzle.

y

Harvest your rainwatery Soon, greywater will be

regulated and can beused outdoors


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StormwaterManagement


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Vegetated Swales


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Stormwater Feature


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Rainwater Harvesting


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A little perspective

goes a long way


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y Thanks to Mark Taratoot with the City of Corvallis forsome of the material used in this presentation.


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Climate Masters Water and Water Conservation

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