HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Water Resources Advisory Committee - 05/11/2011 RECEIVE®
Minutes DEC 0 9 2011
Water'Resources Advisory Committee
May 11, 2011 CITY SEOREIARY'S OFFICE
Members Present: Jeff Edmonds, Michael Cox, Mary K. Fant, Michael W. Potter, Don Roach and
Don Zimmerman.
Members Absent:
Staff members and Presenters:
Mark Scott, City Council Member
Gustavo Gonzalez, P.E., Director of Water Services
Rocky Freund, Deputy Director of the Nueces River Authority
Yolanda Marruffo, Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator
Mr. Edmonds called the meeting to order at 11:40 a.m. Mr. Edmonds asked members to review
the minutes. Mr. Roach motioned to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Mr. Cox and
approved unanimously by the members of the committee.
Mr. Edmonds introduced Mr. Don Zimmerman, the newly appointed member.
Texas Watershed Protection
Ms. Freund provided a brief history on watershed protection, making reference to the clean-up
work done at County Road 73 next to the Nueces River. Crews collected over 40 cubic yards of
waste.
Since then, the City contracted the Nueces River Authority to develop a Nueces River Watershed
Protection Plan that would include contributions from state, county and city representatives along
with residential, commercial and industrial input. She provided information on the development of
stakeholders interested in developing a source water protection plan for the entire Nueces River.
Mr. Freund reported holding several community meetings aimed at creating workgroupsin
education and outreach, water quality, utilities, agricultural nonpoint source protection and.
recreational.
Discussion turned to the mining of shale and the need to have the Regional Water Planning Group
look into the issue. Every two years, the TCEQ assesses total dissolved solids (TDS) in water
quality. The current criterion is 500 mg/L. Mr. Potter reported that the use of fertilizer contributed to
creation of chlorophyll-a. Mr. Gonzalez stated that if the City were placed on the 303D list, the City
would have enforcement ability. Mr. Freund reported that the Texas State Soil and Water
Conservation Board is willing to provide monetary funds.
TWDB Annual Water Conservation Summary Report
Mrs. Marruffo provided copies of the Texas Water Development Water Conservation Annual
Report that reflected water use for the period of August 2009 through July 2010. The total water
use for Corpus Christi (less wholesale water use) was measured at 22.9 billion gallons or 70,310
acre feet. The City's total gallons per capita per day (gpcd) measured 211 gpcd, while residential
consumption was measured at 77 gallons per capita day. The City has 131,244 connections,
including apartments. A water savings of 381,966,995 gallons was made possible through the
City's long term water conservation program.
SCANNED
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Water Conservation Campaign and Survey
Mr. Gonzalez reviewed the contents of the water survey completed by Perception Insight.
8% of residents felt that City needed to acquire more water to keep up with growth in the city. In
regards to conservation, residents preferred having rebates available to them to promote water
conservation; however 61% opposed having a monthly fee added to their bill. The study showed
that 70 percent of customers surveyed were satisfied with the services provided by the City Water
Department and the general consensus was that the quality of water is good.
Questions regarding storm water service resulted in 75% of residents knowing that their monthly
water bill included the cost of storm water services.
City Water Department is working with Thompson Marketing to use their"Don't Waste the Wet
Stuff' campaign to promote water conservation through various media resources.
Mr. Gonzalez reported that the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) reserves revenues from the
top ten percent of their highest water users and dedicates the funds for water conservation
programs. Ms. Freund reported that SAWS is currently in Stage 2 of the drought plan.
Toilet Giveaway Program
Staff reported on the status of the toilet giveaway program. The City Council approved Ordinance
No. 0283490 appropriating $250,000 from the Department of Energy Grant on July 20, 201. A total
of $225,000 was designated for the purchase of 2,000 high efficiency toilets (HET).
The proposed agenda item will go before the Council on May 26 to approve the award bid to
Caroma, USA, Inc.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
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