O-2009-3136 water conservation and drought contingency plan

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D. SYSTEM AUDIT I PROBLEMS 1. System Audit: a. Average, seasonal, peak use patterns. Figure 1 illustrates average, seasonal and peak use patterns. These figures indicate that the City of La Porte follows most cities in having higher average water use in the summer months from lawn watering. The peak to average use ratio (average daily summer use divided by average annual daily use) is 1.98. This ratio is relatively low because of the very humid climate and high average rainfall the area receives. b. Unaccounted water volumes and likely causes. Figure 1 also illustrates the relationship between water production and sales. The difference between production and sales can typically be attributed to all or some of the following: 1. Flushing of water mains 2. Fire fighting 3. Inaccurate metering 4. System leaks 5. Unauthorized water use 6. Unmetered water sales c. Adequacy of treatment, storage, and distribution system. The surface water is purchased by the City from the La Porte Area Water Authority. The remaining 10% of their water needs are supplied from groundwater wells. The water is tested on a regular basis in accordance with all state and federal regulations. The City of La Porte currently has adequate storage facilities required to meet TCEQ requirements and currently is classified as a "Superior Public Water System". The City of L.a Porte does not a surface water reservoir therefore an operations plan is not a component of ttlis water conservation plan. d. Limit of existing supply/potential new sources. It is apparent from the systems audit that the City of La Porte is very capable of providing water to its customers from groundwater sources. In addition, the distribution and transmission systems are adequate to supply its needs for several years. With the conversion to surface water, the adequacy of groundwater supplies to meet peak load demands in any drought contingencies that might occur are apparent. However, due to the constraints imposed by the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District on groundwater withdrawal, these sources will only be used to supply peak demand in possible drought contingencies. e. Wastewater collection and treatment system. Currently, the City of La Porte treats the bulk of its own wastewater. The remainder of the La Porte wastewater flows is pumped to a regional wastewater facility owned by the Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority. 3 f' ,l. ",- - .;'