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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Water Resources Advisory Committee - 09/21/2006 ry,\2�yg3037 Jc) co MINUTES eit 4e? �^� �, Water Resources AdvisoryCommittee N � s��'�� �� 1 1 :30 a.m. - September 21 , 2006 4-4> Water Department Conference Room 0,1 4,0 ce ti 0„.1$1a940'���. Members present: Jerry- Garcia, City Council Member, Carola Serrato- Chair, Lena Coleman, Herman R. Johnson, Jon Kiggans, and Kimberly Stockseth. Members absent: Capt. Timothy E. Coolidge Staff Present: Ron Massey, Assistant City Manager Eduardo Garana, P. E. Director of Water Danny Ybarra, P.E. Assistant Water Director Max Castaneda, Water Resources Management Advisor Mucio Garza, P.E. Water System Optimizer Yolanda R. Marruffo, Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator Mrs. Carola Serrato called the meeting to order at 11:40 a.m. I. Approval of Minutes - Mrs. Serrato requested corrections to the minutes of January 28, 2006. a motion to approve the July 28, 2005 minutes as presented. Mr. Kiggans made motion to approve the minutes and seconded by Mr. Johnson. The minutes were approved. II. Status of Reservoir System and Triggers for Implementing Drought Contingency Plan Mr. Garana reported on the availability of reservoir level data on the City Water Department web (www.corpuschristiwater.com) and the Nueces River Authority website (www.nueces-ra.org). .Reservoirs levels rebounded from 62% to 66.1% combined capacity with inflow cresting based on the recent rains. He discussed the existing pass through plan which allows water that falls between Lake Corpus Christi to the Calallen saltwater barrier as a free zone. The water that falls in the area passes through the Calallen river gauge and that is counted against the pass-through requirements, which is fortunate because there is a substantial target liability of 11 ,500 acre feet of water. Mr. Garana found it fortunate the way the. order was structured as much of the rain actually falls in that zone. The pass through plan is structured to offer a win-win situation. The environmental groups get the water into the bays and estuaries and we have a method of taking a credit for rainfall, allowing us to have two free zones of water. The Water Department is allowed to wait until the end of the month in case additional waters fall within the free zones. The City has been given up to ten days to SCANNED NED complete all pass through requirements. While it is an unofficial thing, everyonehas accepted it as a way to operate. Mrs. Serrato asked that when he refers to the free zones, he is referring to the drainage in the watershed area and where it actually empties above or below a certain gauge. Mr. Garana stated that it wasn't planned; however, it has evolved. Mrs. Serrato stated that she had asked that the item be placed on the agenda based on an excellent newspaper article written by David Sikes on July 27, 2006 that captures our water resource situation in the Coastal Bend. The only constructive criticism that she would offer would be that the article did not emphasize the distinction between conservation measures and restrictions that go into effect when reservoirs levels fall below 50% of combined capacity. She expressed her concern for the City to educate the public on misconceptions between conservation and drought management. Mr. Garana stated that the article was well written for a sports reporter. The City abides by the 2001 TCEQ Agree Order. In addition, the city maintains a Drought Contingency Plan and a Water Conservation Plan. Conservation messages are being made available during primetime television where people can actually see them and staff takes an active role to implement water conservation activities daily. The Drought Plan is not implemented unless the combined reservoir capacity of Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Dam falls below 50 percent. City facilities implement mandatory conservation while the community is asked to implement voluntary conservation measures. He stated that he was around during the 1984 and 1996 drought when citations were issued and included working with the general public and local nurseries. Mrs. Stockseth stated that by the time we educate the people to conserve enough water and the combined reservoir capacity at 30 percent; people are generally glazed over about converting to Xeriscape style landscape. Mr. Garana stated that behavior modification is difficult and that is the target of media campaigns and staff participation at weekend trade shows as well as interacting with various organizations to promote conservation of water resources. Mr. Massey stated that public education needs to be reexamined. It is not the City's intent to restrict our citizens anymore than is needed. We basically retained as much flexibility when the agreed order was changed. After that, the City needs to have a certain amount of water sales because that affects everyone's water rate. The raw water rate is based on total water sales. Most of those costs do not go away when you sell less water and there is a fine balance between using water wisely and maintaining healthy water sales to invest in future water supply. Industry is concerned about the cost of water because it affects the cost of their products. The City is.keeping water demand as predictable as possible and long term modifications of everybody's habits are the right solution in order to avoid fluctuations in water rates. III. Review of Newly Adopted Raw Water Rate Mr. Massey stated that the water rate study consultants had been delayed in order to wait for the latest water consumption and budget expense reports ending July 2006. The consultants also have the current capital improvement plan to develop an accurate cost of service rate plan. With regards to the raw water rate,a letter was sent to the City's wholesale customers indicating a new raw water composite cost of$0.888 per thousand for treated water purchased for the period of August 1, 2006 through July 31, 2007. Mrs. Serrato acknowledged receiving the letter from the Public Utility Office. Mr. Massey stated that the City placed excess fund collection in a reserve account in case water sales drop. Funds will be taken from the reserve to balance the books to avoid unexpected increases in rates. Previously, there was a debt service charge in the raw water that should've been a treated water charge. Those that purchased treated water did not get a reduction as it was a legitimate expense. Naturally, raw water customers received a credit. Mr. Garana stated that the change of month-to-month calculation to annual methodology and limit the wide swing in costs. The retaining fund allows wholesale water customers to budget accordingly for water expenses. Mr. Massey reported that this is the first year that the City collected more revenue than expenses. During 2005, funds were being repaid to the raw water fund money based on the loan taken. Mr. Garana stated that a single rain event can depress water sales by 10 million gallons a day loss in production/revenue. Mrs. Serrato stated that a public hearing would be held this evening at the Texas A&M University with the Texas Water Development Board presenting information on the adopted state water plan. She reported that there weren't any major changes to the plan. Thirty projects were evaluated and prioritized. Discussion followed on finding partners to share the cost of such projects. For example, the Nueces River fills quicker and spills quicker. With an off-channel reservoir, water can be scalped during high flows and transfer the water to that reservoir. From an environmental stand point, less water is used to deliver the required volumes to the bays and estuaries. The big picture reminds us of the rain events of 2002 whereby 1.8 million acre feet of water went into the bays and estuaries, as compared to our TCEQ Agree Order that requires us to pass through 151,000 acre feet. By holding the water, it can be sent out when it is beneficial to the bays and estuaries. Mrs. Serrato stated that it was more a water quantity problem than a water quality problem. Mr. Garana stated that industrial customers had problems with chloride and aluminum that impacts their cooling equipment. We make sure that water leaving the treatment plants contains no more than 0.8 part per million in fluoride based on CDC recommendations. The City will have to go through enhanced coagulation process for aluminum sulfate'to satisfy TOC rules. We are looking to modify the way we use chemicals. Those are the two primary issues that we've discussed with Port Industry Technical Committee. We aim to maintain the chloride levels to an agreed level and do everything in our power not to overdose with aluminum sulfate and not use anything that contains copper. • San Patricio Municipal Water District uses nanofiltration membrane, not reverse osmosis (RO) to filter its water. Robstown treats an average of 10 million gallons per day whereas the O.N. Stevens Water Treatment Plant has a capacity to treat up to 167 million gallons per day and anticipated upgrading the plant to 192 MGD. Mr. Garana stated that it is difficult to compare an 8 MGD plant to a 192 MGD plant. He added that staff is always looking to improve the quality of the drinking water produced. Mrs. Serrato inquired about the use of granulated activated carbon filters used. Mr. Garana stated that the filters, which are replaced every three years, are costly. Filters 1 through 22 were replaced in order to keep them from stripping the chlorine out of the water leaving the plant, plus the underground drain system was modified. Based on improved technology, the staff concentrates on the overall development and expansion of the water treatment plant. Mrs. Serrato stated there are reports questioning the safety of by-products from chloramines in water. Mr. Garana stated that the membrane filtration technology does not negate the need to put disinfectant residuals. So even though you go through a membrane technology to the turbidity level at the appropriate level once it leaves the plant, you still have to select a disinfectant that will achieve the needs of the system. Years ago the city changed to a free chlorine based on the trihalomethanes and haloacetic formations and with the chloramines, we were not able to form those two constituents and the chloramines achieve the end results that we want in the system. The city's distribution system is as long as 45 miles and the chlorine residual must stay at a safe level even during winter months when water stays in the lines for up to 5 days as compared to 2 to 3 days for summer months. The staff is quiet cognizant of everything in the system. Mr. Garana referred to a saying that "the distribution system is nothing more than a biological reactor with its whole goal is to deteriorate the quality of the product that is put inside of it." IV. Update on the Newly Approved 2006 Coastal Bend Regional Water Plan Mrs. Serrato Carola identified conservation as one of the items in the regional water plan with concern that different regions in the state would not be categorized equally or forced to utilize the same conservation management practices. It was agreed that different regions in the state could not be 'put in a box' as other parts of the state work differently. Our region will implement best management practices; however, no utility will be forced to implement specific water conservation practices. Four projects are pending grant approval from the Texas Water Development Board. V. Update on the Water Transfer from the Garwood Irrigation Company Mr. Massey reported that the consultant had developed the final draft of Phase 2A which involves the permitting the pipeline which is estimated to cost approximately $5 million. Mr. Massey stated that a good assessment would be made in order to prevent any possible interference due to opening the water rights permit. The climate is different now from the stand point that people are not concerned about invasive.species. The city must decide whether to access the water only during emergencies or draw water to show usage and protect its water rights. While there is currently no environmental flow requirement in the city's water right permit to the Colorado River, the idea may come up. This is a chance the city is taking to ensure its water rights are protected. VI. New or Old Business Mrs. Serrato requested clarification for setting the agenda. Mr. Massey stated that we look for water items that have been taken or will be taken to the City Council. We might want to consult the committee on information provided by our advisors. Mr. Garcia stated that the City Council benefits from the feedback given by this committee in order to get the best use of our regional water supply system. Mr. Massey stated that questions.be sent in. In some cases staff might send in email to everyone on the committee. And if in fact something needs to be handled with more depth, then we can bring it up as a future discussion item. Mrs. Serrato referred back to the minutes and the briefing provided on the water rate study indicates that the staff would provide an update sometime in March or April. She expressed her concern that the committee receives periodic updates because consultants or staff may not see things that are not as deeply involved that may be very apparent. Once the course of action becomes entrenched, and there is a valid issue or concern out here, it's hard to change the course of action. Mrs. Serrato stated that it was her concern and didn't know if any other committee members felt that way. Mr. Massey stated that if there is ever a question that needs to be answered, that Mrs. Serrato should email it to staff. In addition, City has internet video streaming to catch up with City Council discussion or perhaps utilize Wi-Fi to extend network capability. The City is considering Wi-Max shot for emergency standpoint or disaster recovery. Mrs. Serrato stated that internet service within their area does not have the speed to take advantage of internet video streaming. Mrs. Marruffo reported that there were three vacancies to the committee. Mr. Garcia asked that we find replacements as soon as possible so that the committee would not have to come to a stall. Mrs. Serrato stated that filling the vacancies might but hoped that a meeting could be held on the 16th of November. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:05 pm