HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-2009-3136 water conservation and drought contingency plan
E
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
Requested By: S. Gillett
AJ)ril27.2009
CfJtth~
AJ)J)roJ)riation
Agenda Date Requested:
Source of Funds:
N/A
Department:
Public Works
Account Number:
Report:
Resolution:
Ordinance:
x
Amount Budgeted:
Exhibits: Ordinance
Amount Requested:
Exhibits: Water Conservation Plan
Budgeted Item: N/A
Exhibits:
SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATION
The City of La Porte. along with the La Porte Area Water Authority (LP A W A) and its customers,
approved the Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan in 1987. The Plans were updated and
approved by City Council on October 8, 2007.
The Legislature amended the Texas Administrative Code Title 30, Chapter 288, effective January 10,
2008, to require additional revisions to water conservation plans, which are due May 1,2009. The
proposed changes are administrative in nature, mainly additional language, and are shown as highlighted
in the attached Plan for the City of La Porte.
Approve Ordinance approving changes to the City of La Porte Water
Date
ORDINANCE 2009-3 13.~
,
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING A WATER CONSERVATION
AND DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR THE CITY OF LA PORTE;
MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE
SUBJECT; FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW;
AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS:
Section 1. The City Council hereby approves and adopts a Water Conservation and
Drought Contingency Plan for the City of La Porte, in substantially the form as shown in
the document which is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference.
Section 2. The City Council officially finds, determines, recites and declares that a
sufficient written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of this meeting of the
Authority was posted at a place convenient to the public at the City Hall of the City of La
POlie for the time required by law proceeding this meeting, as required by the Open
Meetings Law, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code; and that the meeting has been
open to the public as required by law at all times during which this Resolution and the
subject matter thereof has been discussed, considered and founally acted upon. The
Authority further ratifies, approves and confirms such written notice and the contents and
posting thereof.
Section 3. This Ordinance shall be effective from and after its passage and approval, and
it is so ordered.
PASSED AND APPROVED, this the 27th day of April, 2009.
CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS
~~'P~
By:
Mayor
ATTEST:
Ytl aJLcJ)L ~ A"M
Secretary ~. ~
APPROVED:
~fi~. ~
Ci y Attorney
City of La Porte
Water Conservation Plan
Adopted April 1987
Updated: April 1999
April 2005
March 2009
CITY OF LA PORTE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN
A. 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.
Tile pia; I defines objectives and specific targets to reduce tile loss and waste of water
resources and improve efficiency in the use of water. 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%.
Nine (9) principal water conservation methods to be considered in preparing a
water conservation plan are as follows:
1. Education and Information
2. Plumbing codes for new construction
3. Retrofit programs
4. Conservation oriented water rate structures
5. Universal metering and meter repair and replacement
6. Water conserving landscaping
7. Leak detection and repair
8. Recycling and reuse
9. Means of implementation and enforcement
B. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PUBLIC AT LARGE:
The City of La Porte holds regular City Council meetings on the second and fourth Monday of
each month. The meetings are open to the public, and citizens are free to speak on any
subject during the portion of the meeting designated for this purpose.
C. SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
1. La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce
2. Homeowner's Associations
3. Various civic and religious organizations
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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.
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2. System Problems:
The City of La Porte currently has no serious water supply problems. The storage and
distribution systems are adequate to supply surface water to its customers through the La
Porte Area Water Authority from the City of Houston Southeast Water Purification Plant.
E. ALTERNATIVES:
Water conservation methods are typically divided into two (2) categories, Demand
Management Methods and Supply Management Methods. Demand Management
Methods deal with water use on the downstream side of a customer meter. Demand
management provides for education or incentives to reduce the water use by the
consumer. This method of conservation generally results in a decrease in water
revenues because less water is purchased from the City.
Supply Management Methods deals with the utility's water system upstream of the
customer's meter. The goal of supply management is to improve efficiency and reduce
waste within the production treatment, and distribution system. Supply management
usually results in decreased costs to the utility as water losses in the system are reduced.
1. DEMAND MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES
a. Education and Information:
The most readily available and lowest cost method of promoting water
conservation is to inform water users about ways to save water inside homes and
other buildings, in landscaping and lawn uses, and in recreational uses. An
effective education and information program can be easily and inexpensively
administered by the City of La Porte. Materials available from the American
Water Works Association, Texas Water Development Board, and other like
associations are made available to its customers, through hand outs, mail outs,
and other sources. The City of La Porte has adopted the Bayshore Sun as its
official newspaper. This publication can be used to print articles concerning water
conservation.
The City of La Porte currently participates in the Harris-Galveston Coastal
Subsidence District's program for education of elementary school students in the
importance and methods of water conservation. The City sponsors the program
by funding the program for the La Porte students in the school district.
b. Plumbinq Codes:
Water saving plumbing codes for new construction and for replacement of
plumbing in existing structures may be adopted. The standards recommended by
the Texas Water Development Board represent readily available technologies
and do not involve additional costs when compared with "standard" fixtures.
Water conserving plumbing codes are adopted for cause, specifically, the
Inlelllat:onal Plumbing Code (2006 Version)
The City of La Porte utilizes standard codes whenever possible.
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c. Retrofit Proqrams:
The City makes information available through its education program for plumbers
and customers to use when purchasing and installing plumbing fixtures, lawn
watering equipment, or water using appliances. Information regarding retrofit
devices such as low-flow shower heads or toilet dams that reduce water use by
replacing or modifying existing fixtures or appliances should also be provided.
d. Water Rate Structures:
A water conservation oriented rate structure usually takes the form of an
increasing block rate, although continuously increasing rate structures, peak or
seasonal load rates, excess use fees, and other rate forms can be used. The
increasing block rate structure is the most commonly used water conservation
rate structure. Separate rate structures are usually used for commercial,
institutional, and industrial customers. The City of La Porte uses a form of
increasing block rate structure.
e. Water ConservinQ LandscapinQ:
In order to reduce the demands placed on a water system by landscape watering,
the city or utility should consider methods that either encourage, by education and
information, or require, by code or ordinance, water conserving landscaping by
residential customers and commercial establishments engaged in the sale or
installation of landscape plants or watering equipment. Because the City of La
Porte is located on the Gulf Coast, it has a very high annual average rainfall. The
need for outdoor watering is not as high as for arid climates. Agricultural land in
the area is not irrigated. Although not made a specific section of the
Conservation Plan, water conserving landscaping information will be made
available through the Information/Education Section.
2. SUPPLY MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES
a. Universal MeterinQ:
All public water supply utilities should master meter their water source. In
addition, all users, including the utility itself, should be metered. A regularly
scheduled maintenance program of meter repair and replacement also needs to
be established to ensure that proper metering is taking place. Metering and
meter repair and replacement, can be used in conjunction with other programs
such as leak detection and repair and, thereby, save significant quantities of
water. 1\11 sales in the City of La Porte are metered. Currently, the City of La
Porte has a regular meter repair and replacement program with production
meters being tested yearly.
b. Leak Detection and Repair:
A continuous leak detection, location, and repair program can be an important
part of a water conservation plan. Utility employees for the City of La Porte
periodically check for leaks when reading meters and while performing regular
maintenance. Major leaks are usually quickly detected by either city employees
or customers and are repaired immediately. Soil in the area is generally clay and,
therefore, leaks show up at the ground surface quite readily. Leak detection
technology is also available in the form of electronic sonic devices.
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c. Recyclinq and Reuse:
A city or utility should evaluate the potential of recycling and reuse because these
methods may be used to increase water supplies in the utility's service area.
Reuse can be especially important where the use of treated effluent from an
industry or a municipal system or agricultural return flows replace an existing use
that currently requires fresh water from a city's or utility's supply. Recycling of in-
plant process or cooling water can reduce the amount of fresh water required by
many industrial operations. Currently, the City of La Porte has a water reuse
program. Because of its size and daily flows, the reuse of treated effluent for
processed water has proven quite economical for the City of La Porte, with an
estimated three million gallons per month being used for this purpose. The City
of La Porte's Municipal Golf Course along with one of the City parks, Little Cedar
Bayou, are irrigated with plant effluent. This resulted in a savings of
approximately 60,000,000 gallons of potable water in 2005.
F. PLAN OBJECTIVES
.:. To reduce vvater consumption from levels that would prevail without conservation efforts
To reduce the loss and waste of water
.:. To improve efficiency in the use of water
.:. To implement Cl system to quantify the effects of tile plan
In aCCmci3r1Ce with 30 TAC Chapter 288.2, tile following five and ten year targets
have bet,1l established
Ei~t3~J5'f"Lli:1L9?t based on 1?~yeEl.I.l21liDSL9!lIlual averam~
1) Reduce the per capita per day water usage' by 5 percent
?) Maintain a level of l.li1ccounted for water loss at 12 percent or less
1) H.ecluce ttle per
per day water usage" by an additional [)
2) f\chieve a level of unaccounted for water loss atl 0 percent or less
" f:or tile {Jwpose of this plan, per capita water use has been equated to use per
conned/on The number of connectiolJs IS more accurate. more easily Iracoa/Jle
and does not rely on celJsus information published infrequently. nlis allows for a
yearly tracking instrument will, real-time data and results
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G. PLAN DESCRIPTION
Based on the evaluation of alternatives available to the City of La Porte for
conserving water, the following elements have been selected as those best suited
to the needs of the City for water conservation:
Continuing Public Education and Information
Water conserving plumbing code for new construction
Retrofit programs
Water rate structures
Supply Management
Universal metering
Meter repair and replacement
Leak detection and repair
Recycling/reuse
1. CONTINUING PUBLIC EDUCATION AND INFORMATION
A program of public education and information to promote water conservation by
the public has been instituted. The program includes the following:
.:. Conservation messages printed on customers water bills
.:. The City provides support to the Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence
District's "Water Conservation Education Program" that provides water
conservation information to the residents through their elementary school
children.
.:. In addition, all new customers are provided water conservation literature
at the time they initially sign up for service.
The public education program covers the water saving methods such as those
listed in Appendix A "Water Saving Methods". The City places special emphasis
on the need to insulate pipes to prevent freezing in cold weather, retrofitting of
plumbing fixtures and devices, and landscaping conservation methods. The
energy savings associated with a water conservation program are also be
emphasized. Assistance in obtaining publications and materials for the program
is obtained from: Texas Water Development Board; American Water Works
Association; Texas Water Utilities Association, American Public Works
Association, and the Environmental Protection Agency. During the first year of
the program, individual pamphlets and flyers were developed, tailored to the
specialized needs and goals of the City.
2. WATER CONSERVING PLUMBING CODE
The City of La Porte has adopted the International Plurnbll)Q Code (2006 version)
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3. RETROFIT PROGRAMS
The City of La Porte makes information available through its education program
for plumbers and customers to use when purchasing and installing plumbing
fixtures, lawn watering equipment, or water using appliances. Information
regarding retrofitting devices such as low-flow shower heads or toilet dams that
reduce water use by replacing or modifying existing fixtures or appliances will also
be provided.
4. UNIVERSAL METERING
The City of La Porte currently meters all water sales from its system, with the
exception of a few public uses. In addition, in response to requirements by the
Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District, all wells are currently metered at
the well head. Well production meters are lested for accuracy on a three year
schedule", while meters for surface water are tested on an annual basis The
source water meters are maintained Within an accuracy of plus or minus 5%,
The program of universal metering will continue and is made a part of the Water
Conservation Plan.
5. WATER RATE STRUCTURES
The City of La Porte has adopted an Increasing Block Rate structure. A copy of
the current water rate structure is attached in Appendix B and is made part of the
Water Conservation Plan,
6. METER REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT
The City of La Porte currently owns and operates equipment for small meter
testing. The testing of large meters is conducted by contract forces. The current
meter repair and testing program in place at the City of La Porte has been and
will continue to be as follows:
1. Major Production meters - test once per year
2. Minor Production meters test every 3 years
3. Meters larger than four inch - random testing every 3 years
4. Meters larger than one inch - random testing every 5 years
5. Meters smaller than one inch - random testing every 7 years
In addition, the City will verify that each meter in the system is properly sized for
the average volume of water being used in accordance with the manufacturers'
specification for the meter. Based on test!f1~J and field evaluation, meters are
repalrl",i or replaced as needed,
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7. LEAK DETECTION AND REPAIR
The City of La Porte Area currently has leak detection programs which will be
maintained. The program includes:
a. Monthly water use accounting by the Billing Department which
identifies high water used after the service meters which may
indicate leaks.
b. Visual inspection by utility employees who keep a constant watch
out for abnormal conditions indicating leaks or illegal
connections.
c. An adequate maintenance staff which is available to repair any
leaks.
d. An annual water accounting or audit is considered be part of the
program. Sources of unaccounted for water, once located, are
immediately corrected Data frorn tile audit is used to monitor
and evaluate system conditions.
8. RECYCLING/REUSE
As previously noted the City of La Porte has the capability of reuse and recycling
of treated effluent. Current use includes the recycling of approximate one million
gallons per month at the La Porte Wastewater Treatment Plant used in process
water, Le., process, washdown. Additionally, as indicated above, recycled water
is made available and used by the La Porte Municipal Golf Course and the Little
Cedar Bayou Park for irrigation purposes. The amount will vary during the year
according to the season.
H. HECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The Ci'i:f Df la Porte maintains a records management system to monitor and
track ClJstcrner account information and llsage. The 8illing Department flas the
ability to segregate usage groups such as residential, commercial, institutional
and industrial users. The data for water produced is monitored and recorded to
enable accurate tracking of monthly or daily water usage.
I. IMPLEMENTATION/ENFORCEMENT
The City of La Porte Public Works Director acts as the Administrator of the Water
Conservation Program. The Administrator oversees the execution and
implementation of all elements of the program. He is also responsible to oversee
the keeping of adequate records for program verification.
The program will be enforced through adoption of the Water Conservation Plan
by Ordinance or Resolution.
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,I. coormlNATION WITH REGIONAL WATER PLANNING GROUPS
The ~;crVice area of tho City of La Porte is located witt-lin I~t:~gion H of the re~JiCln~}1
water planning area The City of La POI te has provided a copy of thiS Water
Conservation Plan to the Texas Water Development Board.
f\. PLAN HEVIEW AND UPDATE
This waler conservation plan will be reviewed and updated, as appropriate, based
on all assessment of previous five-year and ten-year targels and any alller new
or updated information. The City will review and update tile next revision of its
Water Conservation Plan and Implementation Report not later than May I , 2009
and every five years after that date. to coincide with the regional water planning
group Future amendments or updates will be evaluated the Administrator to
determine if a substantial modification exists trIal would Wfln8nt additional review
by City Council.
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