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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution - 2008-R0255 - Approval And Adoption Of Water Conservation Plan - 07_22_2008Resolution No. 2008—RO255 July 22, 2008 Item No. 5.5 RESOLUTION BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCK: THAT the City of Lubbock hereby approves and adopts, the Water Conservation Plan - Statement of Current Efforts and Progress (the "Current Efforts Water Conservation Plan"), and all related documents. Said Current Efforts Water Conservation Plan is attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated in this Resolution as if fully set forth herein and shall be included in the minutes of the Council. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCK: THAT the Strategic Water Supply Plan of the City of Lubbock, adopted July 26, 2007 by Resolution No. 2007-R6320, is hereby amended to add the Current Efforts Water Conservation Plan, as attached hereto as Exhibit "A". Passed by the City Council this 22nd day of July 2008. /�' Ioir TOM MARTIN, MAYOR ATTEST: Reb ca Garza, City Secretary AS TO CONTENT: s-- AYbrey A. ear, P.E. Assistant VArector of Water Utilities APPROVED AS TO FORM: RichaM K. C FirstVA7ssistant City Attorney ao/ccdocs/Water Conservation Plan.res 071508 Resolution No. 2008—RO255 EXHIBIT "A" City of Lubbock, Texas Water Conservation Plan Statement of Current Efforts and Progress (Submitted as part of a Texas Water Development Board WIF Application) June 23, 2008 Several years ago, the City of Lubbock, Texas began efforts to promote water conservation education and related and programs. Today the City is vigorously implementing a full range of significant water conservation programs and activities that impact all areas of our water utility service. All of these efforts constitute a part of the City's overall water conservation plan. Lubbock's water conservation efforts are having an impact on the City's water demand. The City has experienced a noticeable decrease in water usage over the past ten years. Both peak day demands and total annual water use has decreased while population growth has continued at a steady pace. While changes in weather patterns, including fluctuations in rainfall and temperature, impacts annual water use, the per capita use has steadily decreased as a result of conservation programs and activities. The City's water conservation efforts have shifted downward the range of per capita water use as well as the peak day and annual use. In 2004, the City of Lubbock set a new record low of 160 gpcd. This record low was followed by a new record low in 2007 at 138 gpcd. The change in water use patterns shows a reduction in water use of over 20% from previous use patterns. The per capita history is as follows for the past 10 years. Year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 GPCD 223 187 192 187 180 189 160 167 175 138 City of Lubbock Water Use Pattern Annual Trend CL - -. - 7 �� C 140 r s t�J �• _ _ 10D •• _ V 100 Year ■d 11 The City's water conservation goal was to achieve a 15% reduction in per capita water use by 2020. The City has already achieved over a.20% reduction as of 2007. Now we are ready to reassess and set new goals for water conservation. Major Water Conservation Plan Programs, Activities and Events 1. Creation of the Lubbock Water Advisory Commission In 2003, the City of Lubbock created the Lubbock Water Advisory Commission to assist the City by having a board comprised of citizens that advise the City Council on water supply and water conservation issues as well as all other related water service issues. The citizen commission has taken a strong leadership role for water supply projects and water conservation efforts. 2. Strategic Water Supply Plan In July of 2007 the City Council approved the City's first Strategic Water Supply Plan in order to document how much water is used and how much water will be needed. The plan includes modeling so that the City can now understand the impact of conservation on water use and the total cost of water supply projects. The Plan was prepared so that the City can update sections as plans and programs are refined over time. 3. Use of Water Billing for Conservation Education 3(a) Water Rate Structure. The City of Lubbock has encouraged water conservation by creating the following modifications to its water rate structure: (1) decreasing the base monthly fee as a percent of total water revenue, (2) creating an increasing block rate, and (3) adopting an Average Winter Consumption approach. These steps require customers to pay more for water on a per 1,000 gallon basis as they use more water. Prior to March 2007, the City of Lubbock relied on the base monthly service fee for up to 30% of its annual water revenues. In March of 2007, the reliance upon the base monthly fee was decreased to about 25% of the total revenue in order to place more emphasis on water conservation by charging more for water use. The City used a decreasing block rate structure prior to 1990. Under this approach, customers would pay less per 1,000 gallons as they used more water. In 1991, the City adopted a flat water usage rate. Under this approach, the customer paid the same amount per 1,000 gallons of water used. The next step was taken in March of 2007. The City adopted an increasing block rate structure that charges more per 1,000 gallons for water used. The rate structure includes three blocks or tiers, with the cost of water increasing from as more water is used. The block rates currently in effect are as follows: 2 • Block 1 - $2.42 per 1,000 gallons — basic water needs. • Block 2 - $3.03 per 1,000 gallons — additional water use like irrigation. • Block 3 - $4.19 per 1,000 gallons — excessive water use. At the same time, the City also took one additional conservation step with the block rates by adopting the Average Winter Consumption (A WC) approach. Under this rate structure the block 1 volumes are not set by one standard, but calculated for each customer based upon their winter use. The philosophy behind this approach is that each customer's basic needs are different, and that customers should pay the lowest amount for basic water needs. This philosophy assumes that winter use generally demonstrates basic water needs. Block 2 is assumed to be for additional water use such as yard irrigation. Water for block 2 is at a higher rate than block 1 since yard irrigation is not as important to health and safety as basic water needs. Block 3 is considered as excessive water use and the charge for water use is higher than block 2. While there are many programs and plans that encourage conservation, water rate increases offer the most basic incentive to conserve. The bill reaches the customer each month and the bill amount as determined by the conservation rates helps educate and change water use patterns. 3(b) Detailed Water Use Utility Bill. The City of Lubbock implemented a new water utility bill that breaks out water billing information in detail to show the base monthly fee as well as the water use and charges for each block. This new bill helps customers to understand how their water use patterns impacts their monthly bill, and enables them to adjust water use in order to reduce the monthly charge. NO Town Hall Meetings in All Districts. The City has held town hall meetings throughout the City to educate citizens on the new AWC increasing block rate structure and to answer questions about the new utility bill that itemizes water use information and charges. 4. Water Leak and Loss Reduction The City of Lubbock has set the reduction of water loss as an important part of the water conservation program. Even with a low water loss rate, the City has over $24 million approved in capital improvement projects for the replacement of older water lines in order to eliminate water line breaks, water leaks and the loss of water. For six of the last 8 years the City's water loss as a percent of water intake has been below 10% for total water loss, and in 2003 the loss was down to 3.64%. The higher water loss in 2006 was directly related to the accidental breaking of a water line by a contractor and not to system leaks. The project was for the relocation of a water line as required by the Texas Department of Transportation, and pipe connections that were not shown in the pre 1965 drawings made it difficult to shut off the water supply for repairs. The history of water loss is as follows: WATER LOSS YEAR TOTAL WATER LOSS AS % OF WATER INTAKE AS % OF METERED SALES 2000 1,278,870,000 8.75% 2001 1,056,519,000 7.28% 10.29% 2002 1,612,751,000 11.76% 15.71 % 2003 529,994,000 3.64% 6.28% 2004 1,019,632,000 8.12% 8.87% 2005 971,029,000 7.21% 7.14% 2006 2,303,874,000 16.41% 19.78% 2007 646,401,000 6.00% 6.20% 5. Drought Contingency Ordinance The City is using the drought Contingency Ordinance in order to encourage greater conservation. The first step was to adopt conservation as a standard within the ordinance without moving into any stage of the drought plan. The second step is to use the ordinance by placing the City within Drought Stage 1 so that additional conservation efforts could be achieved. 6. Park Irrigation Program The City has and continues to shift away from the use of the public water supply system for the irrigation of park and open space areas. This shift enables the City to conserve the groundwater in its municipal well fields that is being mined and that is not sustainable in the long term. Instead, the City is now using groundwater under the City to irrigate parks. Engineering modeling has demonstrated that there is enough recharge in the Ogallala Aquiver under the City of Lubbock to sustain wells for the irrigation of parks and other open space without depleting the aquifer. Water stored in the City's playa lake system not only provides a system of wetlands for an enhancement to the environment, but also helps recharge the aquifer. The City is therefore beginning to make use of this groundwater at a level that is sustainable over time to water parks and other open space. Not only is the City of Lubbock taking advantage of this opportunity, but the Lubbock Independent School District, Texas Tech University, Lubbock Christian University and private businesses and home owners are taking advantage of this opportunity where the aquifer formation will support use. These entities are no longer using the City's public water supply system to irrigate their open spaces. 4 The City is also installing modern controls on the park irrigation system equipment so that even this sustainable supply of water is conserved. These controls include sensors that shut down the irrigation system during rainfall events, windy conditions, or freezing weather. 7. Reuse Planning and Projects for Water Conservation 7(a) Reuse Part of Lubbock's Strategic Water Supply Plan. The City has included within its 2007 Strategic Water Supply Plan opportunities for the reuse of wastewater effluent. The City is now in the process of updating the Region O Llano Estacado Water Supply Plan to reflect this opportunity. The main projects are included within the regional water plan, like Lake #7, the Post Reservoir, North Fork Scalping Project, and the Lake Alan Henry Project, but the reuse aspect has specifically defined within each of these projects. 7(b) Reuse Part of the Lake Alan Henry Preliminary Engineering. The 2007 Preliminary Engineering report for Lake Alan Henry Water Transmission Line, Pump Stations, Water Treatment Facility and Relate Projects includes reuse planning for the sizing of all facilities. About 50% of the final facility capacity, including almost 50% of the water transmission line capacity from Post to Lubbock, will be dedicated to reuse projects. 7(c) EPA Grant to Study Reuse Alternatives. The City applied for and received an EPA Grant with a matching requirement to study wastewater reuse opportunities. Reuse plans are a significant part of the City's water conservation plan. Since the 1930's, the City has attempted to dispose of wastewater effluent in the least costly manner. Now the City recognizes how valuable this water resource is. Plans are being developed to make use of reuse water to offset the needs from area reservoirs and especially from groundwater in the Ogallala Aquifer that is being mined due to slow recharge. 7(d) Reuse Impact on Per Capita Water Use from Groundwater and Surface Water Sources. The City estimates that it will be able to use 20,000 to 30,000 acre-feet of water per year from treated wastewater effluent. This represents 50% to 70% of the City's water supply needs, and could reduce water use from groundwater and reservoir sources by as much as 60 to 70 gallons per capita per day. 7(e) Wastewater Treatment Projects to Enable Reuse. One major step toward this goal is a $50 million project to upgrade the City's Southeast Water Reclamation Plant to stream quality discharge with nutrient removal. The first two phases of a four phase project will be completed in 2011, and enable treatment of about 90% of the wastewater influent to this higher level. By 2015 the entire plant will be raised to this new capacity. 8. Public Conservation Information Program 8(a) City Cable Television Channel. The Water Utility Department is making use of the City Cable Television Channel to promote water supply education and water conservation 5 programs. Ten to twenty minute programs have been and will continue to be developed on various water supply and conservation programs in order to educate the public on water supply projects and water conservation opportunities. 8(b) News Paper Articles. The City is developing a series of articles or advertorials for the newspaper to help educate the public on Lubbock's water supply needs. Part of this education effort focuses on how conservation can help save money by either slowing down the pace of new water supply projects, or by eliminating the need for some projects altogether. Infrastructure is very expensive, and revenue from customers must be used with care. By educating the citizens of Lubbock about water issues, they can do their part to assist with conservation efforts. 8(c) Television and Radio Ads. The Water Conservation and Education Department works closely with a local advertising firm to develop television and radio ads, which target water conservation, water education, and Texas SmartScape. The ads emphasize maintenance and upkeep of irrigation systems. Since over fifty percent of our treated water is used for landscaping purposes, the department has concentrated its efforts to educate in this area. The ads range from turning off irrigation system in the winter to avoid freezing hazards, to following the City's irrigation ordinance by watering two days per week with one and a half inches total between the hours of 6pm and loam. Included in the ad is a phone number to call to request a free water wise kit with a rain gauge to measure the one and a half inch requirement. The department is tracking how many requests are received this year and will be able to measure if the program is working. Television ads have also been filmed with the greenerlubbock.com website and are shown on Channel 11 and on the website. These ads concentrate on water conservation tips. 9. Irrigation System Programs 9(a) Customer Visits for Conservation Education. The Water Utility Department Conservation Education staff visit homes and businesses to provide direct, one-on-one conservation education. If a homeowner or a business has a problem with an irrigation system controller, our irrigation inspector will assist them to correct the problem. The inspector utilizes this opportunity to educate the citizen on correct watering of the landscape material they have. He also explains the irrigation ordinance so that they know when they can water and how much. 9(b) Irrigation System Inspections. The Water Conservation and Education Department includes one full time inspector position to inspect irrigation systems. This inspector is responsible for making sure that irrigation systems being installed in the City of Lubbock meet the irrigation ordinance requirements for installation. These requirements are a critical factor to promote water conservation in the landscape. Since this program began in 2006, 1,594 irrigation systems have been inspected to date. n 9(c) Irrigation Ordinance — Rain and Freeze sensors. Rain and freeze sensors are required by City ordinance on all new irrigation systems installed after October 1, 2006. These sensors help to promote water conservation by not allowing the system to operate if the temperature is 35 degrees or below or in the case of the rain sensor, if there has been 1/4" of rainfall or more. 9(d) Irrigation Ordinance - Define waste of water. The City of Lubbock is preparing an ordinance to define and then enforce the waste of water. For years water has run down the streets as a result of overwatering, improper use of sprinkler systems, broken sprinkler systems, or other related issues. The Lubbock Water Advisory Commission is assisting with the drafting of the ordinance, and it will be considered by Council in 2008. 10. Conservation Education Programs 10(a) Education Programs through the Public School Systems. The City of Lubbock's Water Utilities Conservation and Education Department offers conservation education programs for area students grades K-12, providing an opportunity for young people to participate in engaging, hands-on activities that creatively explore the science of water and the complex issues surrounding its management and stewardship._ We also educate on other conservation issues including recycling, use of natural resources, and solid waste issues. Our first seven presentations were given in the 1996-1997 school year. Since this small beginning, the education team has grown to include three full time educators, all with education and backgrounds dealing with the natural world and environment, who speak to thousands of children each year. In 2003-2004, educators presented 1,313 presentations with an average of 20 students per class. In 2005, a single educator delivered 580 presentations. In 2006-2007 a total of 865 presentations were given, reaching over 3000 children. In 2007- 2008 a total of 973 presentations were given. Our presenters go to the classrooms, equipped with all necessary materials and supplies. The Conservation Education Program offers over twenty different presentations available for students of all ages free of charge. The program is not only offered to the Lubbock Independent School District within the City of Lubbock, but also to area schools including: • Frenship ISD • Lubbock Cooper ISD • New Deal ISD • Tahoka ISD • Roosevelt ISD Educational presentations range from teaching the water cycle, water conservation, and learning about water contamination to learning recycling and solid waste management. 7 Whether our children grow up and live in or around Lubbock or in some other distant place, water use and conservation will be one of the greatest challenges they will face. Our program strives to educate students about this place we live in, it's natural resources their cycles, uses. and preservation. 10(b) Adult Education through Civic Group Meetings. In addition to classroom presentations, we also have the opportunity to work with the Harwell Elementary Garden Club, Boy Scouts of America, and Girl Scouts of America. For these groups we provide educational presentations, garden plantings, and special field trips. The Water Conservation and Education Department is available to speak to groups about water conservation, current water issues, Texas SmartScape, and recycling. In 2004-2005, the department made 12 presentations to adult groups. In 2005-2006, 15 presentations were given and in 2006-2007, 24 presentations were made. Since August of 2007, the department has made 26 presentations to adult groups. These groups include different church groups, the Hotel/Motel Association, Texas Water Utilities Association, Lion's Club, Women's Club, South Plains Irrigation Association, and Lubbock Realtors Association. 10(c) Water Wise Workshop Participation. In 2007, the department held two water wise workshops at two different nurseries in Lubbock. The total attendance was 55 citizens. In 2008, the department increased to four water wise workshops. The total attendance of the four was 106. These workshops consisted of three speakers, a licensed irrigator, a landscape architect, and a horticulturist from the department. These speakers covered information ranging from how to landscape your yard, to how to irrigate efficiently, to using Texas SmartScape plants. Water conservation seemed to be at the forefront of all attendees' minds as there were many questions asked concerning our current and future water supplies. Upon conclusion of the workshop, each attendee received a $25 gift card to purchase Texas SmartScape plants or water saving devices from the nursery. The nurseries are getting more involved by having the Texas SmartScape plants available to our citizens. 10(d) Web Page Educational Efforts. The City of Lubbock Water Utilities web page is updated regularly with valuable information including the Drought Contingency Plan and which stage of the plan we are currently in, all applicable ordinances, a daily water usage report, and conservation and education information. Teachers can sign up on the website for education presentations. The Water Conservation and Education Department is also a sponsor of the greenerlubbock.com website. This site links to the Water Utilities website to promote water conservation and Texas SmartScape. 10(e) Radio and Television Interviews. The Water Conservation and Education Department is actively involved in public relations thru radio and television media. A radio interview is recorded on a weekly basis with Fox Talk 950. A television interview is filmed every other week and is shown twice during the week during the 9:00 pm news on Fox 34. These interview topics include current events the department is involved with, water conservation tips, explaining the irrigation ordinance, showing Texas SmartScape plants in the demonstration garden. Other interviews are made when requested by television stations, radio stations, and newspaper reporters. Since August 2007 the Water Conservation and Education Department has made 98 media contacts. Another collaboration the department is involved with is the Regal Park Development. This development is encouraging the use of Texas SmartScape plants with the production of television commercials. The department has been actively involved in the production of these commercials. 11. Water Conservation Projects 11(a) Water Conservation Landscape Demonstration Projects. The Water Conservation and Education Department budgets for and participates in demonstration projects across the City of Lubbock. Several Texas SmartScape gardens have been planted with the help of Harwell Elementary Garden Club at different City of Lubbock offices, including Solid Waste, Streets, and Water Utilities. The Harwell Garden Club consists of 4th and 5th grade students who are interested in water conservation and learning more about Texas SmartScape plants. The Water Conservation and Education Department has collaborated with the Harwell Garden Club for the past 6 years. The department also participated in a demonstration garden planting at the Ramar Communication Building on a highly visible corner of 98th Street and University. Fescue grass was removed and a Texas SmartScape garden was planted in April of 2007. Plants grown for the Home and Garden Show were used in this planting. Also involved in the project were Lubbock Chamber of Commerce — Water Conservation Council, Lubbock Master Gardeners, and numerous volunteers from Texas Tech. This demonstration has been very useful to the department with the ability to film commercials and live television spots at the garden to help educate about Texas SmartScape. 11(b) Home and Garden Show. The Water Conservation and Education Department have participated the last eight years in the annual West Texas Home Builders Association Home and Garden Show. The department sponsors a large booth at the Show and displays a home with a SmartScape yard. Plants are grown at the Texas Tech Greenhouse Facility and are transported to the Civic Center for the display. The Lubbock Master Gardeners and the Education Department work in the booth the weekend of the Show to distribute water conservation and Texas SmartScape information. The department also schedules speakers during the weekend to discuss water conservation in the yard. Normal attendance for this three-day event is 5,000 — 6,000 each year. 0 12. Community Involvement 12(a) Trade Show Events. The Conservation and Education Department has participated in 10 trade show type events to date since August 2007. These events included working with the Lubbock Apartment Association, West Texas Regional Water School, Ogallala Commons, Lubbock Land Company, West Texas Home Builders Association, among others. The Department also held events for Earth Day and Texas Recycles Day. These types of events give the Department a chance to visit one-on-one with citizens and educate on conservation. 12(b) Texas SmartScape Program. The City of Lubbock collaborated with the North Central Texas Council of Government on the Texas SmartScape website (www.txsmartscape.com). City staff, with the help of Extension agents, local nurserymen, local horticulturists, and Master Gardeners complied a list of about 200 plants to start the Texas SmartScape for West Texas website. The website consists of a picture of each plant and general information including water requirements. Public education has been a conscious goal through the annual Home and Garden Show, television and radio advertising, and presentations. 12(c) Water Conservation Council. The City participates regularly in a Water Conservation Council organized and conducted by the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce. Representatives meet each month to discuss ways that various groups in the community can assist in promoting and implementing water conservation ideas. 12(e) Working with Developers on Landscaping. In past years, presentations have been made to the West Texas Home Builders Association to encourage the use of Texas SmartScape plants. Two years ago, the Department was approached by a builder for the West Texas Home Builders Association about landscaping his Parade of Homes house with Texas SmartScape type plants. We worked with the builder and the Education Department was at his location for the Parade of Homes giving information on SmartScape to the citizens. This year we have worked with a developer to have SmartScape landscaping at all homes in one edition of the Parade of Homes. The Department will again be on site during the Parade of Homes to give out information and answer any questions regarding SmartScape. The Parade of Homes event is a multi -day event lasting about 17 days. The normal attendance is about 10,000. 12(f) Region O Water Conservation for Lubbock. The City also works with and has members that serve on the Region O Water Group for the Llano Estacado water planning region. In this role, conservation efforts and goals as well as water supply projects are discussed and worked on through a regional effort. 13. Conservation Education Awards received Several awards have been received by the Water Conservation and Education Department for their work to promote water conservation thru education activities. Most recently the 10 department received the Texas Association of Partners in Education Crystal Award for government participation in education in the state of Texas. In April of 2007, the department earned the Watermark Award for Communications Excellence from the Water Environment Association of Texas and the Texas Section of the American Water Works Association for a video produced called "A Tale of Two Droplets". The video features two water droplets that help a young boy discover ways to conserve water. During the 2006-2007 school year the video was viewed by approximately 650 students ranging in age from Kindergarten thru 2nd grade. The department has also won several awards for their efforts at the annual Home and Garden Show. There have been six prized trophies earned for either Most Beautiful Booth or Most Creative Booth over the past eight years. The focus of our conservation team is to offer attractive drought tolerant alternatives to water intensive landscaping. R/Water Conservation Plan 071508 11