12-16-14 Regular Meeting of the La Porte Area Water Authority

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LA PORTE AREA WATER AUTHORITY WATER CONSERVATION PLAN A. BACKGROUND In 1981 the State of Texas created the La Porte Area Water Authority for the purpose, among others, of acquiring, treating, and delivering water to member water districts and industries throughout Southeast Harris.County. The Authority has the right to serve any utility within a thirty (30) mile radius of the Authority's boundary. The present area within the Authority's boundary encompasses approximately 20,600 acres. A mandate by the Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District to convert to surface water by the year 1990 has resulted in the study of the surface water problem by the Authority. Various alternatives have been investigated, and it has been concluded that the most cost effective method to provide an adequate supply of treated surface water to Southeast Harris County is to buy capacity at the new Southeast Water Purification Plant, and construct transmission and distribution mains to identified customers. Customers included are the cities of La Porte, Morgan's Point, and Shoreacres. Since the early 1960's per capita water usage in the State has increased about four (4) gallons per person, per decade. More important, per capita water use during droughts is usually about one-third greater than during periods of average precipitation. Many communities throughout the United States have used conservation measures to successfully cope with various water and wastewater problems. Reduction in water use as much as 25% or more have been achieved, but the normal range is from 5 to 15%. As a result of reduced water use, wastewater flows have also been reduced by 5 to 10%. B. PURPOSE AND INTENT The purpose of a Water Conservation Plan is to reduce the quantity required for each water using activity, insofar as is practical, through the implementation of efficient water use practices. The plan defines objectives and specific targets to reduce the loss and waste of water resources and improve efficiency in the use of water. The purpose of this report is to present the data collected, alternatives, and elements selected for the La Porte Area Water Authority Water Conservation Plan and to provide procedures and information for the implementation of the plan. Nine (9) principal water conservation methods to be considered in preparing a water conservation plan are as follows: Education and Information Plumbing codes for new construction Retrofit programs Conservation oriented water rate structures Universal metering and meter repair and replacement Water conserving landscaping Leak detection and repair Recycling and reuse Means of implementation and enforcement 2