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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Water Resources Advisory Committee - 04/21/2005 (2) f 1,5 Z&2.2.6j7. WATER RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE cnn Minutes of April 21, 2005 cv IJIJ ,00 00 -CEI ED T CITY SECRETARY'S c. CIRCMembers present: Carola Serrato - Chair, Capt. Paula Hinges, mar Johnson, Bob Kent, Dr. Karen Rue, Dr. Jane Stanford, and Kimberly St ppth.ZL Member absent: Lena Coleman Staff Present: Ron Massey, Assistant City Manager Eduardo Garana, P.E. Water Director Danny Ybarra, P.E. Assistant Water Director Mucio Garza, Water System Optimizer Max Castaneda, Water Resources Management Advisor Yolanda R. Marruffo, Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator M. P. Sudhakaran, PhD, Water Laboratory Director Mrs. Serrato requested a motion to approve the minutes as presented. A motion was made by Lena Coleman and seconded by Dr. Stanford. The minutes of December 16, 2004 were approved as presented. Yolanda Marruffo provided a presentation on the revised Water Conservation Plan as developed by Chris Brown Consulting. She stated that Mr. Brown has been involved in the development of the Best Management Practices as developed by the Water Conservation Implementation Task Force under the direction of the Texas Water Development Board. His assistance served to format the Conservation Plan to meet new Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) guidelines and to evaluate historic per capita water use for the period of 1988 to 2004. Mrs. Marruffo stated that the first Conservation Plan was developed in 1987 and was recognized by the Texas Water Development Board as a model for the state. The plan was amended in 1999 to coincide with TCEQ requirements for water purveyors to identify water conservation goals. The City proposed to maintain per capita water use below the state average for cities within the central portion of the state of Texas. House Bill 2660 requires all water conservation plans to identify quantifiable 5 and 10 year targets. The revised water conservation plans must be submitted to TCEQ by May 1, 2005. The work developed by the Chris Brown assesses water use as well as past and current water conservation programs. Based on careful review of the suggested Best Management Practices, staff made its suggestions on those programs which it will continue to pursue. SCANNED Discussion focused on whether an amendment to the landscape ordinance was ever adopted. Mrs. Marruffo stated that a recommended change to the landscape ordinance was delayed based on the revision to the City's Unification Code. The review of the water source flow chart reflected a total withdrawal of 20,428,000 gallons from the Choke Canyon/Lake Corpus Christi Reservoir System with 11,932,000 going to Corpus Christi alone. Total water drawn from Lake Texana was 16,241,000 with 2,625,000 going to San Patricio Municipal Water District and the remainder going to Corpus Christi. • Total raw water entering the 0. N. Stevens Water Treatment Plant during - 25,548,000 gallons. • Total treated water leaving the 0. N. Stevens Water Treatment Plant - 25,081,000 gallons • Total Public Utilities Treated Water Consumption - 22,578,000 gallons. Committee members asked if a separate utility category was kept for hotels. Ms. Marruffo stated that water consumption for hotels was included in the commercial category. Apartment water consumption is contained within the general commercial category. Mrs. Marruffo stated that she would look into the possibility of separating apartments and hotels into separate categories, outside of the commercial. • Dr. Stanford stated that Port Aransas has a seasonal influx of water use that reflects back to their annual per capita water use. A reduction of water use cannot be made unless an assessment can be made of the different types of water users. Mr. Garana stated that Padre Island faces similar conditions. Ms. Serrato asked how many local hotels used the laminated cards encouraging guest to reuse sheets and towels. Dr. Stanford stated that guest staying more than one night do not need to have sheets changed daily. Mrs. Marruffo stated that the City had initiated the program over ten years ago. Participating hotel managers were introduced to the City Council and were provided free cards for them to use in their hotels. Mrs. Marruffo stated that interest began to dwindle after several years. She stated that a survey could be developed to determine if the program could be reestablished. Mr. Garana stated that there was a decrease on industrial water use, noting that this group is motivated by operating cost to reduce usage. The recent events at Lon C. Hill Power Plant might be the cause for the reduction in water use for the industrial category. Capt. Hinger asked how much water was lost when the large main broke. Mr. Garana stated that the figure would be reflected as a portion of unaccounted for water since the water was not metered. A line graph indicated that the average monthly water use was 2.5 billion gallons with winter water use dropping to 1.7 billion gallons per month or approximately 20 percent. Mr. Garana stated that water systems are susceptible to climate conditions, seasonal conditions and rainfall. This was evident after the drought broke in August 2002 and water consumption plunged. The overall water demand by the City of Corpus Christi Water Department customers in the year 2004 was 36.8 billion gallons. In 2004, 46.7 percent of the raw water entered the water treatment plant (WTP) from the combined CCR/LCC system on the Nueces River. The remaining 53.3 percent of the raw water was withdrawn from Lake Texana on the Navidad River. Of the 25.5 billion gallons of raw water delivered to the O. N. Stevens WTP, 22.6 billion gallons were delivered to wholesale and retail customers. Staff reviewed the two different methodologies for calculating per capita water use. Historically, per capita water use was based on residential and commercial consumption, divided by population then by the number of days in the year. Under the Water Conservation and Implementation Task Force, Texas cities. must calculate per capita based on all raw water entering the WTP, divided by population and days of the year. The revised methodology accounts for all water usage in all customer classifications, including residential, commercial, industrial and unaccounted for water, leaks, etc. Table 2 of the Water Consumption Goals, showed recent gpcd consumption and the goal of 1 percent per year reduction over the next 10 years based upon the City's pre-conservation consumption rates. Actual consumption indicates that the City is ahead of the 1 percent reduction per year in total gpcd recommended by the Texas State Water Conservation Implementation Task Force. The projected gpcd target goals were shown at 5- and 10-year increments as required by House Bill 2660. Mrs. Marruffo stated that the reduction in per capita consumption is a result of a combination of conservation efforts, including public education and restrictions on outdoor water use, implemented as part of the City's conservation plan and weather patterns. Corpus Christi per capita water uses were presented as shown below. Table 2 Water Consumption Goals Based on Gallons Per Capita Per Day(gpcd) Actual Target Goals Year 1988 2004 2004 2009 2014 Total gpcd 259 218 221 210 200 z 87 70 74 70 67 Single-Family Residential gpcd s 152 134 129 123 117 Non-Industrial gpcd Wholesale customers are excluded. 2 The City of Corpus Christi's current billing system does not distinguish between multi-family customers with more than five units,and other types of commercial customers.Thus only single-family consumption and 2004 population estimated from 2000 census data for single-family homes are used in the residential gpcd calculation. 3 The City of Corpus Christi also tracks non-industrial gpcd,since industrial users play such a significant role in overall water usage in the city,and many of the conservation programs are targeted to outdoor discretionary use,which does not impact industrial water consumption. Discussion focused on the provision contained in the Drought Management Plan which permitted homeowners who installed and irrigate new lawns between the hours of 10 am to 6 pm during the first thirty days. Committee members expressed oppositionto allow watering. Mr. Johnson stated that there was a clause that allowed watering for the first three to five days. Mr. Garana stated that there was a lot of politicking taking place at the time. Mrs. Serrato recalled that the 32 member committee had a difficult time coming up with an agreement. Mr. Garana stated that the Plan's provision does not make sense now; however, it did back then. Research developed by the Texas Extension Center indicates that 50 percent or more of the water applied between the hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. is lost to evaporation. Mr. Garana stated that the staff would take a look at that again. Mrs. Marruffo continued to review the remaining features of the Drought Management Plan. Mr. Garana stated that the Drought Management Plan is already part of the City Code of Ordinances. The only portion that is being updated is the Water Conservation Plan. The first ordinance reading occurred on April 19, with the second reading expected on April 26, 2005. Mr. Garana stated that we are mandated to amend the plan. Staff is simply restructuring the Water Conservation Plan to identify targets, list best management practices, and set opportunities for us to measure those performance measures on our side. Mr. Kent asked why residential rates increased based on consumption versus industrial rates. Mr. Garana stated that the City recognizes that the upper tier of residential water use is based on lawn watering, etc. It is a water conservation style measure. Mrs. Serrato asked about the pending rate study. Mr. Garana acknowledged that a consultant would be reviewing the City's rate structure. Capt. Hinger asked if the City would provide advance notice of any.rate increases. She further stated that water entering the Naval Air Station has to be re-chlorinated. Mr. Garana stated that a loop needs to be developed through the North Gate entrance to enhance water quality. Mrs. Serrato called for a motion acknowledging review and support for the updated Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan. She recommended that the City Council approve the Plan,.with a few items brought to their attention. Mr. Kent made a motion to request the City Council to consider clarifying the description of lawn watering between 10 am and 6 pm and to revisit the allowance of watering new lawns to five days. The motion was seconded by Kimberly Stockseth. Mr. Johnson asked how the Water Conservation Plan measures would be enforced. Mrs. Marruffo stated the Water Department provides TCEQ an annual report on the progress of its conservation measures. Mrs. Serrato made reference to the City's Agreed Order with TCEQ page 5 of 11, paragraph 2 stated that "watering of lawns is prohibited between the hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additional discussion followed on the same topic. She stated that specific language was included and double underlined stating that "prohibits lawn watering between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Committee members suggested that language be submitted to the City Council requesting that it be made easier to understand. Mrs. Serrato stated that if Mr. Kent would accept that as a friendly amendment to the motion. Mr. Kent agreed. She stated that when the entire plan is read, it makes sense. Mrs. Serrato stated that a draft letter to the City Council could be developed. The motion passed unanimously. New or Old Business Mrs. Marruffo reported that Lena Coleman has been involved in a very bad fall resulting in her absence. The next meeting date was set for Thursday, July 28, 2005. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:50 p.m.