HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Water Resources Advisory Committee - 08/21/2014 * Minutes of Water Resources Advisory Committee
held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 21, 2014 °
Water Utilities Building —Choke Canyon Conference Room
2726 Holly Road * Corpus Christi, Texas
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Attended by: Brian Williams„ San Patricio Water District;Jeff Edmonds,Residential;Sally Gill, Green Industry;Lillian Riojas,
Valero;Sam Sanders, Valero;Robert Kunkel,Lyondell Basell;Brian Faulkner, LAN;Rocky Freund, Nueces River Authority;Bill
Green,Brent Clayton, Wes Nebgen of City Environmental&Strategic Initiatives;minutes taken by Lori Bryant, Water Utilities
Chairman Jeff Edmonds called the meeting to order by adding the ongoing quorum problems to
the agenda. Brent reported that staff had been instructed to continue "as-is"for now, so minutes for
both February and June were approved as written. Four members need to be officially reappointed by
City Council. To replace the position of Apartment Representative with the suggested Watershed
Stakeholder position would require an ordinance revision. The City Secretary has attempted to reach out
to the local Apartment Owners Association, but with no luck. The question was raised whether that
representative must be an owner, or if they could be an apartment manager or resident.It is important to
have apartments represented since they are such a large consumer. Bill Green will investigate whether
the reappointments can be made before the apartment issue is resolved. He suggested adding the
Watershed post and keeping the Apartment position as well. Jeff reminded the group that his term limit
goes into effect in April 2015, so a new Residential representative will need to be appointed, and a new
chairperson elected.
Brent proceeded with his presentation (a copy has been e-mailed to members), updating the committee
on the following:
Reservoir System Statistics:
2007 was the last time the system was at full capacity.
He emphasized that required flows are cut back during drought periods. A proposal is being considered
to approach required flows seasonally rather than monthly.
TCEQ is no longer allowing banking of credits during periods when salinity levels are acceptable. The
current balance of 6000 ac-ft still banked will be allowed for use.
Current Drought Status and Projections:
Staff is currently adding the terms "Mild", "Moderate" and "Severe" to the existing numbered Stage
method so the public can more easily understand conditions.
Rocky made the suggestion that rainfall measurements be taken from somewhere within the watershed
rather than at the airport to more accurately reflect what's going into the reservoirs.
Weather projections for the near future indicate that EI Nino patterns should improve our precipitation
chances over the winter.
Water Conservation Efforts:
As a result of winning the National Mayors' Challenge, the City has received a free 6 month trial of
WaterSmart, a computerized billing program that can create reports of individual accounts.
Bill will be making a conservation presentation to Council on September 23, then take the same message
to the Port, wholesale customers, and other groups.
Sally urged him to include the message that the Coastal Bend is fortunate to have water available when
so many parts of the world do not.
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Water Supply Projects:
Brent reported that Mary Rhodes Phase 2 will come online in June 2015. It will decrease demand on the
Nueces system by about 100 ac-ft per day. MRP2 will include two basins which will allow one at a time to
be shut down for sediment removal.
Lillian asked about costs; currently it is estimated at$2 per person. Other cities spend much higher per
capita on new supply.
The desalination project is in the site selection phase while staff reviews application proposals. Seawater
is still the main contender, but blending it with brackish water is being considered to reduce the salinity of
the leftover brine.
Sam wondered if taking salt from the bays could help reduce the need for pass-thrus. Bill responded that
brine disposal would remain an issue; one of desal's primary benefits is that it reduces the demand on
water from the lakes, thus freeing up supply for inflows.
Rocky suggested looking into blending seawater with wastewater to reduce salinity, but Bill answered that
it is more cost effective for wastewater to go towards industrial use.
Part of the desal study will be to determine whether its best use is for potable water or industrial
purposes.
Environmental Flows:
Jeff brings up the question of whether the City will get credits as new supplies come online. Brent
answers that TCEQ only considers the Nueces supplies, but since more water will be left in the
reservoirs, it should be easier to meet our required releases.
The same question was raised regarding wastewater returned to the system—since more wastewater is
going to industry, the City must compensate inflow levels.
The Rincon pipeline built in 2009 goes to the Delta; water from the Calallen dam goes to the Bay.
The pass-thru done in July was the first ever that caused the City to enter Stage 2 drought restrictions.
The subject of petrochemical waste disposal was brought up. Brian stated that some groundwater
entities are opposed, along with other opponents around the Nueces Basin. Companies are not required
by the Railroad Commission to apply for disposal permits, so some may already be in place. Rocky
comment that an oil tanker truck washout facility near the Lake Corpus Christi watershed had been
denied. She offered to do a presentation on the Nueces watershed at the next meeting.
Next Meeting Date:
The next meeting will take place on Thursday, October 16, at the same time and place.
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