Iowa Rural H2O Assoc.

February 19th, 2013

5 Sullivan Brothers Convention Center, WATERLOO

Drought: 2011-12-13?

How Does It Affect Your System?Michael Anderson - DNR – w/ asstce frm Iowa Geological & Water

Survey

“declining” water table

Des Moines River Van Buren Co.

Iowa’s Driest Summer Months

• 1. July 2012 0.47”• 2. July 1886 0.50• 3. July 1936 0.52• 4. July 1894 0.72• 5. July 1975 0.95• 6. August 1984 1.04• 7. August 2003 1.05• 8. August 1901 1.29• 9. August 1971 1.30• 10. August 1947 1.48 {AUG 2012

2.95}From Harry Hillaker - IDALS

Iowa’s Hottest Months

• 1. July 1936 83.2• 2. July 2012 82.8• 3. July 1901 82.2• 4. August 1947 80.4• 5. July 1955 79.7• 6. July 1916 79.5• 7. July 1934 79.4• 8. July 1935 79.2• 9. August 1936 78.9• 10. August 1983 78.8 {Aug. 2012

71.2}From Harry Hillaker - IDALS

What’s the Big Deal about Heat?

• 90° 13% greater drying potential than at 86°.

• 96° 37% greater.• 100° 54% greater.• 104° 74% greater.• 108° 95% greater.

From Harry Hillaker - IDALS

JANUARY

• The new year has been very dry with a near-record low pace of precipitation into the 27th. There was 1 statewide rain event on the 10th-11th, with 0.7 inches to Fort Madison. However a far more active weather pattern prevailed the last few days of January, with two larger statewide rain events on the 27th and 28th-29th. Rain amounts of over an inch were common over eastern Iowa.

January, continued

• A statewide average of 0.7 inches of snow fell through the first 4 weeks of January. However, heavy snow fell from SC through NE IA on the night of the 29th into the 30th. Storm totals of 7 to 8 inches were common from Indianola to Guttenberg. Despite the late-month storm, the statewide average snowfall was only 3.6 inches or 4.1 inches below normal. This was the lowest January snow total since 2006 and ranks 19th lowest for the month among 126 years of record.

January (Summary)

• Monthly precipitation totals were above normal across eastern Iowa and well below normal over the northwest.

Here is the source of a lot of our basic information

• National and local databases…

Real-time streamflow data -> USGS web address:

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ia/nwis/rt

-> snapshot of what’s going on at any given time

Who Gets It? From 1985 Iowa Water Plan:

Drought Allocation Priorities

1. Self-supplied domestic: non-regulated, self-supplied wdrwl w/ lmtd ability for h2o elsewhere.

2. Domestic part of rural h2o & municipal systems: h2o for preserving human life & welfare.

3. Livestock: h2o for preservation of animal life.

4. Power: h2o used incidental to power generation.

5. Industrial: h2o used by commercial and industrial facilities.

6. Non-traditional irrigation: h2o for fruit, vegetables & other newly introduced crops.

7. Irrigation of traditional Iowa crops: h2o for soybeans, corn, alfalfa, etc.

8. Recreation: h2o for lawn and golf course watering, car washing, other incidental uses. 9. Out of state export: h2o exported to another state.

water “rights”

• This is a quick overview of Iowa water rights law. This attempts to focus on groundwater sources.

Appropriation doctrine

• 17 western states• “First in time, first in right”• Further appropriation ONLY if H2O

is physically available• How do you discern H2O

availability?

Riparian doctrine• Owner of land

adjacent to stream (riparian land) receives full natural flow, undiminished in quantity or quality.

• 30 eastern states.

IOWA uses….

A combination of these which is described as “modified riparian”. This focuses on

preservation of instream H2O uses. The concept originated in South Carolina and Mississippi. However, Iowa is the first state to

extensively implement it.

Beneficial use

• The purpose of the law, adopted in 1957, is to “...assure that water resources be put to beneficial use to fullest extent possible, that waste or unreasonable use of water be prevented, and that conservation be required”.

Use, not ownership

• The right of a riparian owner to prohibit use of h2o by nonriparian neighbors is established; this right by no means makes the h2o in the stream his property.

• The h2o is considered a “wealth” of the people of the State. That is actually an old Roman Law concept.

How Do We Allocate Water?• Iowa Code

– All waters are “public waters and public wealth” of Iowa citizens. Iowa statute provides an allocation system based on “beneficial use”.

• Waste, unreasonable use, and unreasonable methods of water use are prevented.

• Water conservation is expected

• Permit System– Withdrawals in excess of 25,000

gallons/day from streams or aquifers require a permit from IDNR.

• Permit Evaluations

WHY A PERMIT SYSTEM?• Water permits are used in Iowa to assure “water

rights”.• All water permits are ‘tied” to the land in

question. They remain an appurtenance to the land. If a property is sold, it does not follow the person.

• All permit must consider “effect on the natural flow” and the river’s established “average minimum flow”.

• Goal is to maintain level to satisfy demand.• Also must consider effects on landowners with

“prior or superior rights”.

Competing Uses• Iowa’s water allocation program sorts through

competing uses– A permitting program to ensure consistency

in decisions on use of water.– Ensure water is available for normal

[unregulated] domestic and livestock use.– Provisions for public involvement in issuing

water allocation permits.– Administrative procedure to resolve use

conflicts.

SO WHAT HAPPENS?

• Practically, it is IDNR’s responsibility to sort this out. The use of a public agency to resolve allocation conflicts is a

western phenomenon.

Priority allocation restrictions

• 567 -- 52.10(455B), IAC.• triggering events - - - “drought”is elusive

concept. Governor’s Task Force often defines. Drought Monitor uses concept of agricultural, hydrological droughts.

Priority Allocation is Unlikely to be invoked for municipal or

municipal-type systemsNot invoked in “droughts” of 1988-89, or in 2000-2002. Nor in 2005.

Or last year either.

Doesn’t mean the concept isn’t used

• It’s just the formal invocation appears to be reserved for EXTREME events.

• We use the concept for planning.

Numerical Thresholds we use for Municipal & Rural H2O Permits

• 150 gallons per capita per day (gpcd) is average expected usage

• 200 gpcd is maximum expected municipal usage

Samples.....

• Vinton, popult. 5,103; usage 300 mgy -> 161 gpcd.

• Hamburg, popult. 1,248; usage 115 mgy -> 252 gpcd.

• SIRWA; 163 gpcd. RWS # 1; 122 gpcd.• RWS #1 permit modification. 7.2%

growth rate…. Chariton permit.....held to 150 gpcd due to

negotiated settlement.

On to H2O Conservation

• Each IDNR water use permit will include conditions requiring routine (day-to-day) conservation practices, and…

• Emergency conservation practices after notification by the Department.

• Only general provisions for routine conservation will be included in a permit.

• Emergency conservation conditions will be based on a water conservation plan developed by the permittee.

What that means• IDNR does not like to get into mandating things like lawn

watering, alternate days, car wash bans, mandating low-flow toilets, and the like….

Suggested routine measures…

• Water-saving plumbing• Distribution system hydraulic capacity?• Irrigation scheduling• Leak detection survey• Metered water billing• Commercial retrofits• Re-use• Rate analysis/restructuring

Overall implementation of conservation programs

• Conceptual plan usually will include:– Customer education (bill stuffers?)– Financial assistance, incentives (e.g., toilet rebates?)– Legislation (plumbing codes?)

Overall savings

• Forecasts of the overall savings from routine conservation measures ranges from 5% - 20%.

• Source = “Impact of the National Plumbing Efficiency Standards on Water Infrastructure Investments (California Urban Water Conservation Council, 2001)”

Why conserve water?

• $ savings

• Competing beneficial uses

• Energy savings

• Reliability

• Lower customer bills

• Public perception/stewardship

Emergencies: Consumptive uses

• SHALL be reduced by at least 50% “over similar periods of normal use”.

• How you get there is up to you…• But you need a goal…..

Emergencies: General

• Shutdowns

• Surcharges

• Retire “inefficient” uses

• Source “restructuring”

• All outside consumptive water

use MUST be restricted

Emergencies: irrigation

• SHALL limit irrigation water use to the equivalent of one inch per irrigated acre per week

• SCHEDULING

• Cooperation w/ all nearby irrigators

• ADEQUATE well monitoring program

Some available plans

• Bloomfield

• Chariton

• Shenandoah

• Spirit Lake

• UNI– There are Many others

Info Sources

• IAMU: WaterWise—Water Efficiency Planning and Capacity Development for Water and Wastewater Utilities (June 2002).

• M52: Water Conservation Programs—A Planning Manual (AWWA, 2006)

• Vickers: Water Use and Conservation, Waterplow, 2001

Information:

• Water Supply-Allocation Program

http://www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/RegulatoryWater/WaterSupplyEngineering/WaterAllocationUse.aspx

Michael Anderson 515-725-0336

michael.anderson@dnr.iowa.gov