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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Water Resources Advisory Committee - 06/26/2002 Minutes Water Resources Advisory Committee June 26, 2002 11:30 A.M. Water Department Conference Room Members Present: Members Absent: Lena Coleman Maribel Bermudez Herman R. Johnson Conrado Garcia Bob Kent Capt. Rick Marcantonio Kimberly Stockseth Carola Serrato Jon Kiggans STAFF PRESENT: Art Sosa,Acting Director,Development Services Leland Kirbow, Sr. Chief Plumbing and Mechanical Inspector Yolanda Marruffo, Management Assistant DI,Water Department Rosie Cortez,Recording Secretary Meeting called to order at 11:50 by Yolanda Marruffo. It was determined that a quorum was present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ms. Marruffo asked if everyone had a chance to review the April and May minutes and if there were any revisions/corrections to be made. Ms. Stockseth stated that her name was misspelled. Ms. Coleman made a motion to approve both sets of minutes and Ms. Stockseth seconded the motion. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Ms. Marruffo stated that the committee needed to elect a Chair and a Vice Chair and asked if there were any nominations. Ms. Serrato stated that the committee needed to have a clear understanding of the group's expectations, the frequency of meetings, and the level of involvement for the Chair and Vice Chair. Ms. Marruffo stated that in her meeting with Ron Massey and Ed Garafia, the committee, especially the Chair, would serve as a spokesperson for the Committee. The Chair would have the opportunity to advise the Mayor, Council Members on water supply, water rates and review water conservation program. The Chair would lead committee meetings and offer the staff advice in terms of direction. Ms. Coleman stated that she was aware that some of the members wanted to have their role defined. Ms. Marruffo stated that she had done research to see if the ordinance identified the duties of the committee. Ms. Marruffo stated that the staff was identifying the duties of the committee and would present them at the next meeting. Ms. Serrato asked if the committee would be taking a formal approach or passing resolutions to Council or just give advice. Ms. Marruffo stated that City staff would have the primary role of presenting items to the City Council. The committee would serve the same role as other City committees. She stated that from time to time, a suggestion, or maybe an expansion, deletion from an ordinance might come before the committee and recommendations could be made to the Mayor and City Council Members. SCANNED Ms. Coleman stated that the City Manager had mentioned that the committee could only make recommendations to the staff and that the committee should reduce information down to laymen terms so that community can understand. Mr. Johnson stated that the committee would be able to apply some pressure on some suggestions or ideas on water resources. Ms. Marruffo requested that the members reintroduce themselves to each other and provide technical information on their background so that the committee members could make their decision for the position of Chair and Vice-Chair. Ms. Stockseth asked if the Chair would be in charge of running the meetings. Ms. Marruffo stated that the Chair would work closely with the City staff to organize the committee agendas, presentations, etc. Mr. Johnson stated that the committee needed a chair that could spend time and was familiar with the projects. Mr. Johnson nominated Ms. Serrato to serve as Chair to the Water Resources Advisory Committee stating that we she was familiar with water issues. Ms. Serrato stated that she would be willing to serve as Chair. Ms. Stockseth stated that she would be willing to serve as Vice-Chair. Ms. Serrato stated that in the past she had served on committees when there were two Co-Chairs instead of a Chair and a Vice-Chair and that this procedure worked very well. Ms. Marruffo stated that she would have to check with City Secretary's Office to find out if the committee could have two co-chairs instead of a Chair and Vice-Chair. PRESENTATION ON GRAY WATER Art Sosa, Acting Director of Development Services, and Leland Kirbow, Sr. Chief Plumbing and Mechanical Inspector, gave a presentation on the proper use of gray water. Mr. Sosa stated that the ordinance approving the use of gray water was effective September 1999. The ordinance set in motion allowances for use of gray water. The Building Department enacted in the Plumbing Code allowances for gray water. Copies were distributed of the Ordinance and an Appendix C- 101 (gray water recycling systems), which are written in the Technical Inspection Codes. The City amended Appendix C to add, the term "and gray water/condensate irrigations. Basically what is covered in Appendix C is gray waters can be used for all items outlined in third paragraph exceptions to 301.3 connections to drainage systems. Mr. Kirbow stated that originally the Board voted to amend the gray water and condensate drain and washing machine drain. The amendment was worded to say, "you will furnish the drain connected to the sewer, the condensate drain, and washing machine drain and if you wanted to use these two waters for irrigation to drain onto the ground that you provide an alternate drain and move the hose to one side and drain it into the ground. The Code states that you had to have the drainage system in the sanitary sewer, which is an alternate method, as long as it was not sprayed nor stored. A resident can revert to draining gray water into the sanitary system at any time. Mr. Sosa stated that the Board and staff felt that washing machine discharge could be problematic whenever a household utilizes cloth diapers. Mr. Sosa stated that in 2002, the City is making a move to correct it and back to what the Board wanted. Mr. Kirbow stated that the big problem with TNRCC is with storing the water. Section C101.4 states that gray water cannot be retained for more than 72 hours. In our amendment we did not address storing the water at all, but it tells you that you cannot use the water after it is stored for 24 hours. At the time, TNRCC was telling us we couldn't store over 24 hours without a permit. Then, someone had contacted TNRCC and they denied they had said it. Right now we don't know where TNRCC stands. Right now TNRCC is allowing that water be drained to the ground,but that any water that is held in a container cannot be stored for more than 72 hours. Staff does not know what TNRCC requires. Mr. Sosa stated 2 that the model code was used to draft the item. Ms. Coleman asked if this was in effect now and if it was being used and how the City knew if it was being done correctly. Mr. Kirbow stated that if it starts running into someone else's property, the City is going to know about it. The technical construction code requires building improvements comply with the code. The City does not have a maintenance code; therefore someone could change the plumbing the day after the inspection and we would not know about it. Ms. Coleman asked if there was any legal liability on the City. Mr. Sosa stated that if a customer complains about a neighbor who is allowing gray water to puddle onto their property, the City would investigate and handle it was a nuisance complaint or mitigate it as a violation which would be forwarded to Municipal Court. Mr. Sosa stated that the City works mostly on a complaint basis. Mr. Johnson asked about the Section 101.6 regarding disinfection of gray water and if gray water systems had to comply with the requirements. Mr. Sosa stated that we do not require the installation of a disinfection system for gray water systems. He pointed out that the City's water maintains a chlorine residual. Ms. Stockseth asked about the type of soaps used in gray water. Mr. Sosa stated that it was part of the Code. Ms. Stockseth stated that there should be a requirement to use low phosphate soap. After much discussion, it was decided that residents be encouraged to use low phosphate soaps or to provide a link on the Water Department's web site to a consumer-advocate web site. There was discussion regarding the use of condensation water. Mr. Sosa stated that households could hook up a drain line to a drip hose and place it around the foundation of the house. This would provide a constant moisture level around the foundation during the summer. Key element of condensation water is that it forms algae. The line must be maintained or it will clog up, causing it to backflow into the unit. There was some discussion regarding the use of air conditioning condensation. Mr. Sosa stated that Jay Reining did some research regarding the ordinance, which was adopted in 1999. The City hoped to clear up within the adopting of the International Code in September 2002. Ms. Marruffo stated the need to get the information on usage of gray water to the citizens was a very important issue. She stated that she would like to have a PSA done and possibly work with Mr. Kirbow and Ruth Blake so the public can understand the concept to save water resources. Mr. Sosa stated that they had been getting about 1,400 hits a month on their website and could possibly link with Water Department's web site. DROUGHT CONDITIONS Ms. Marruffo provided a PowerPoint presentation. She reported that today's combined reservoir system level was at 45.4% as compared to 34.5% one year ago. Ms. Marruffo stated that the City had revised the Drought Contingency Plan in April 2001 and September 2001. The Plan provides for trigger action when the combined reservoir system reaches 50%, 40%, and 30% level. Certain measures are implemented depending on the rule. Ms. Serrato asked if the citizens were allowed to water their yard only once a week, would it be enough. Mr. Johnson stated that you could grow a reasonable yard if you only water once a week. Ms. Serrato asked if the City were to approve an ordinance to allow once a week watering would it hurt the irrigation business. Mr. Johnson stated that people are not going to let their yards die, that some people are selfish and they water whenever they want to even though once a week watering does work. Ms. Serrato stated that citizens might follow that rule if there were an 3 • incentive, etc. Mr. Johnson stated that it might improve business because people would want to set up an irrigation system. Ms. Marruffo stated that she had talked with Cheryl Soward with the City's Public Information Office about a campaign on how to educate people on watering once every 5 days. Ms. Stockseth stated that going to once a week lawn watering based on the last number of your address would be better than what the City did last August. Mr. Kent stated that the City had done this in 1996. Ms. Serrato asked if we had any numbers on how much water was saved when we did it in 1996. Ms. Marruffo stated that she would have to go back and look up the numbers. Ms. Marruffo distributed copies of the City's Drought Contingency Plan and stated that the following two items would be discussed at the next meeting: 1. What additional measures are needed? 2. How successful are the drought measures currently in place? Ms. Marruffo stated that the committee review the City's Water Conservation Plan and the programs currently in place. She stated that the committee should consider educational and outreach programs that produce quantifiable water savings. Mr. Johnson stated that there were concerns when we were in a drought several years ago that other cities would not comply with the measures. Ms. Marruffo stated that we do have one or two communities that do not comply. Ms. Serrato stated that the City of Kingsville has previously refused to implement drought contingency measures, but that just recently they had implemented a voluntary conservation program. Mr. Kent asked about the current water blend ratio from Lake Texana. Ms. Marruffo stated that it usually runs 50%to 60%Lake Texana with the remaining coming the Corpus Christi Reservoir System. Ms. Marruffo stated that the next meeting needed to be scheduled. Ms. Marruffo stated that as drought conditions worsened, the committee might consider meeting more than once a month. Ms. Coleman stated that she understood that the committee was only supposed to meet four times a year. Ms. Marruffo stated that once the Committee got on solid ground and drought restrictions were lifted, then the meeting schedule would be reduced to four times a year. The Committee agreed to meet on the fourth Thursday of the month. The next month was scheduled for July 25. Mr. Kent stated that some Port of Corpus Christi officials wanted to make sure that the City actively pursued the Garwood Irrigation issue. There was concern regarding securing right-of- ways and that it was being done differently than from the Mary Rhodes Pipeline. Ms. Serrato stated that the Garwood issue along with the two co-chair issue be discussed at the next meeting. Ms. Marruffo stated that the committee would also review the conservation plan. Mr. Kent also brought up the subject on the Governor's desalination plan and that we try to make Corpus Christi a more attractive place for a possible plant. Ms. Serrato stated that Florida maintained laws allowing for the construction of desalination plants, but in Texas, there are no laws in place. If the committee is going to make a recommendation to the Council, Ms. Serrato stated that the Committee needed to make its preferences known. 4 With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:03 pm. 5