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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 15344: UPDATES TO CITY'S WATER CONSERVATION & DROUGHT cONTINGENCY PLANMEMORANDUM CITY OF PORT ARTHUR UTILITY OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT TO: Stephen Fitzgibbons, City Manager // FROM: Kelly Eldridge, Director of Utility Operations l l.~ ~` DATE: June 25, 2009 SUBJECT: Proposed Resolution No. 15344 RECOMMENDATION I recommend the approval of Proposed Resolution No. 15344 approving updates to the City's Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan. BACKGROUND The Code of Ordinances Chapter 110 (Utilities), Article II (Water), Section 110-34 states that the City Manager shall develop, implement, and modify, as necessary, a Water Conservation Plan. The Water Conservation Plan also includes a Drought Contingency Plan for use during emergency conditions. Such plans are required by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), set forth in the Texas Water Code, for those applicants seeking financial assistance over $500,000 from water and wastewater project fund accounts. The TCEO, per Title 30 TAC Chapter 288, also requires the City to provide an approved Drought Contingency Plan, which was last approved in May 2006. Since that time, we have made a few minor updates, mostly pertaining to the re-numbering City Codes, statistical changes, and a couple of mentions of water recycling/reuse and record keeping changes we have recently made in order to reduce water use. BUDGETIFISCAL EFFECT These plans are required for TWDB grant/loan eligibility. STAFF/EMPLOYEE EFFECT None. SUMMARY I recommend the approval of Proposed Resolution No. 15344 approving updates to the City's Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan. P. R. No. 15344 06/25/09 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION APPROVING UPDATES TO THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR WATER CONSERVATION PLAN, INCLUDING THE DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN. WHEREAS, the City applied to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) for various sanitary sewer projects to be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as a part of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program; and, WHEREAS, the TWDB has placed the City's application as the highest priority project for cities in our size category, pending the completion of plans and specifications on these projects by July 2009; and, WHEREAS, a Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan aze required by the Texas Water Development Boazd, as set forth in the Texas Water Code, for those applicants seeking financial assistance over $500,000 from water and wastewater project fund; and, WHEREAS, TCEQ requires, per 30 TAC Chapter 288, that the City develop and maintain a Drought Contingency Plan; and' WHEREAS, the City of Port Arthur Code of Ordinances, Chapter 110 (Utilities), Article II (Water), Section 110-34 requires the City Manager to develop, implement, and modify as necessary a Water Conservation Plan; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR: THAT, the City of Port Arthur Water Conservation Plan, which incorporates a Drought Contingency Plan, is approved as modified, shown in Exhibit "A" attached and made a part hereof; and, P. R. No. 15344 06/25/09 Page 2 THAT, the City Manager shall issue the Water Conservation Plan in writing to the City staff for implementation and shall publish a notice in the Port Arthur News for public information and guidance; and, THAT, a copy of the caption of this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the City Council. READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED THIS day of 2009 at a Regulaz Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor Councilmembers NOES: ATTEST: Terri Hanks City Secretary Deloris Prince Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: Y Mazk Sokolo / 1M. t.,,, -.,,, o) City Attorney l• ~°~' ,,;.;ii- P. R. No. 15344 06/25/09 Page 3 APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION: Stephen B. Fitzgibbons City Manager v~ Ross E. Blackketter, P.E. Director of Public Works Kelly El idge Director of Utility Operations EXHIBIT A Water Conservation Plan I. Purpose Water conservation and drought contingency plans aze required by the Texas Water Development Boazd (TWDB), set forth in the Texas Water Code, for those applications seeking financial assistance over $500,000 from water and wastewater project fund accounts. This water conservation and drought contingency document is written to provide the City of Port Arthur with plans and methods to use water more efficiently by reducing the consumption and loss or waste of water. It also contains a plan for implementing measures to significantly, but temporarily reduce water use during drought conditions or other emergency situations. II. Planning Area Raw water is supplied to Port Arthur through a canal system owned and operated by the Lower Neches Valley Authority (LNVA). The City of Port Arthur operates a surface water clarification and filtration facility with a firm capacity of 20.0 mgd and a peak capacity of 26.0 mgd. The water treatment plant produces all of the City's potable water. The planning azea encompasses southern Jefferson County which is presently served by the City's water treatment plant through its water distribution system. The azea consists of the City of Port Arthur, and has a population of approximately 57,755 persons and an azea of 140.64 squaze miles. III. Utility Evaluation Data The City of Port Arthur utilizes Texas Water Development Board guidelines, historical data obtained from our accounting and operational records, along with benchmazking information from similar sized cities. In Mazch 2006, JBS Associates completed a Water Distribution System Audit to identify and address unaccounted-for water and develop recommendations to implement which will save water. 1 of 9 IV. Goals The present goal of the City is to reduce the unaccounted-for water losses in the City's water distribution system by a minimum of 25 percent over the next five (5) yeazs. This will reduce the volume of water purchased by the City of Port Arthur from the LNVA. V. Education and Information The City of Port Arthur promotes water conservation by informing water users about the ways to save water inside of homes and other buildings, in landscaping and lawn uses, and in recreational uses. These tips are included with the customer's monthly water bills. Additionally, water conservation literature is available to new customers when they apply for service at our customer service department. VI. Water Conservation Oriented-Rate Structure Water Conservation oriented-rate structures are used to discourage the waste of water. The City of Port Arthur currently has a uniform rate structure for water users which discourages water waste. All water customers aze subject to the uniform rate structure. VII. Universal Metering and Meter Repair and Replacement All water users are currently metered. Currently, the City has a water accounting program that is implemented by computerized water consumption tracking. Utilizing the computer, the City monitors each metered connection for consistency in water use. If water consumption increases or decreases dramatically, the suspect meter is tested and repaired or replaced. As a result of this effort, the City tests approximately 100 meters and replaces approximately 1250 meters annually. The City has recently begun a program to replace all its meters with Automated Meter Reading (AMR) technology meters. This program will assist our personnel in obtaining regular meters readings, and will replace our old, under-registering meters. 2of9 VIII. Leak Detection and Repair Port Arthur, like many Texas cities, has no formal leak detection program and none is anticipated. However, the utility department continues to cross check Production vs. Consumption in an effort to narrow the gap and eliminate water losses due to lazge leaks and theft of service. Elevated storage tank levels and all pump stations aze monitored 24 hours per day to alert repair crews of major leaks. The City has also recently implemented procedures to better account for water losses due to leaks and water main flushing. IX. Means of Implementation and Enforcement The City Council of Port Arthur passed Ordinance No. 80-61 on July 21, 1980, which establishes a policy for water conservation. The ordinance authorizes the City Manager to implement and develop the water conservation plan as required by the water supply and demand conditions in the City's water supply system. The ordinance gives the City Manager the legal authority to enforce the Water Conservation Plan and includes penalties for violations. This ordinance is included in the Code of Ordmances Section 110.34. X. Annual Report The City of Port Arthur completes a report including "water audit" for the TWDB annually. XI. Pressure Reduction The City's water distribution system does not provide pressures in excess of 80 psi for any of its service connections. Therefore, there is no need to provide any reduction in pressure to reduce water consumption. 3 of 9 XII. Recycling and Reuse The City of Port Arthur owns and operates four wastewater treatment plants. The Sabine Pass Wastewater Treatment Plant is permitted for 0.3 MGD and dischazges into the Sabine Pass Channel of the Neches-Trinity Coastal Basin. The Pleasure Island Wastewater Treatment Plant is permitted for 0.1 MGD and dischazges to the Sabine-Neches Canal of the Neches-Trinity Coastal Basin. Upon approval of our CWSRF project, this WWTP will be scheduled for closure in 2010. The Port Acres Wastewater Treatment Plant is permitted for 2.7> MGD and dischazges into Rodhair Gully. This WWTP recycles plant effluent (process water) for general plant clean-up uses. The City of Port Arthur's Main Wastewater Treatment Plant is permitted for 9.2 MGD and discharges into the Sabine-Neches Canal of the Neches-Trinity Coastal Basin. This WWTP recycles plant effluent (process water) for general plant clean-up uses. The City of Port Arthur Water Purification Plant recycles filter backwash water and water decanted during our dewatering process. XIIi. Plumbing Codes The 72nd Texas Legislature passed legislation requiring that plumbing fixtures sold in Texas after January 1, 1992 be water efficient. The standazds are listed as follows: Fixture Standazd Shower Heads No more than 2.75 gallons per minute at 80 pounds per squaze inch of pressure. Lavatory and Sink Faucets No more than 2.2 gallons per minute at 60 pounds And Aerators per square inch of pressure. 4 of 9 Wall Mounted, Flushometer Toilets All Other Toilets Urinals Drinking Water Fountains No more than 2.0 gallons per flush. No more than 1.6 gallons per flush. No more than 1.0 gallons per flush. Must be self closing. The City has incorporated these standards into its local plumbing codes. 5 of 9 Drought Contingency Plan I. Introduction Drought, or a number of other uncontrollable circumstances, can disrupt the normal operation of the City of Port Arthur's water supply system, including supply, treatment, storage and distribution. Even though the City may have an adequate water supply, this supply could become contaminated or a disaster could destroy all or a portion of the water system, creating an emergency management situation for the City. The Drought Contingency Plan includes those temporary measures that the City can utilize to significantly reduce water use in response to an emergency. These measures generally involve voluntary use reductions. They also may include the restriction or elimination of certain types of water use, and water rationing. Because emergency conditions aze often unexpected, it is important that the City be prepazed in advance. The purpose of the Drought Contingency Plan is to establish measures and procedures for identification, classification, and handling a water supply and/or demand emergency effectively and efficiently It is important to understand the differences between the Water Conservation Plan and the Drought Contingency Plan. The Water Conservation plan involves implementing and practicing permanent water use efficiency, while the Drought Contingency Plan establishes temporary methods designed to be used during emergency situations. This plan will be reviewed and updated every five (~) yeazs. II. Trigger Conditions The City of Port Arthur receives its water from the LNVA. Upon notification from the LNVA; or the Deep East Texas Regional Planning Group, that the water supply is, or will be, limited, or a determination is made that the demand is excessive, the City will classify the conditions into condition levels. Condition levels have been established to distinguish between the severity of the 6of9 trigger conditions, such as mild, moderate and severe. A. Mild Conditions The trigger conditions that will indicate mild conditions aze as follows: 1. Notification from LNVA that a mild water storage condition exists. 2. Water demand has reached or exceeded 90 percent of the safe capacity of the City's water plant or distribution system. B. Moderate Conditions The trigger conditions that will indicate moderate conditions are as follows: 1. Notification from LNVA that moderate water storage conditions exist. 2. Water demand has reached or exceeded 95 percent of the safe capacity of the water treatment plant beyond which failure of a part of the system could cause serious disruption of service to a portion, or all, of the City. 3. Contamination of LNVA Canal which requires use of the City's reservoir only for raw water. C. Severe Conditions The trigger conditions that will indicate severe conditions aze as follows: 1. Notification from LNVA that severe water storage conditions exist. 2. An imminent or actual failure of a major portion of the water supply system, which vv711 cause an immediate health or safety hazard. 3. Water system capacity in the distribution system is low enough that sufficient fire fighting capabilities are hindered. 4. Continued contamination of the LNVA source such that our reservoir level is below 50 percent of its useful capacity. III. Drought Contingency Measures The following actions will betaken by the City according to the level of trigger conditions reached. A. Mild Condition Measures 1. Inform the customers through the mail that a trigger condition has been reached and that 7of9 the water users should look for ways to voluntarily reduce water use. 2. During winter months, request through the news media that water users insulate pipes rather than n,nning water to prevent frozen pipes. B. Moderate Condition Measures 1. Continue all relevant measures from the preceding condition. 2. Notify major water users by telephone of the situation and request voluntary water use reductions. 3. Advertise through the news media a voluntary daily lawn watering schedule. 4. Request industries or other non-municipal water users to stop certain uses, find alternative sources, increase recycling, or modify production processes where possible. C. Severe Condition Measures 1. Continue all relevant measures from the preceding conditions. 2. Inform the public through the news media that a severe condition has been reached and that the water users should look for ways to reduce water use. 3. Implement a mandatory lawn watering schedule. 4. Prohibit certain uses such as ornamental fountains or other non-essential water uses. 5. Require industrial or commercial water users to stop operations so that remaining water is available for essential health and safety related uses. IV. Education and Information The City of Port Arthur will inform the public of the purpose and effect of the Drought Contingency Plan and of the expectations of them during a drought condition or emergency situation. When trigger conditions appear to be approaching, the public will be notified through available news media and additional information on water conservation methods will be distributed. In the event that trigger conditions are reached, the public will be kept fully informed ofthe status of the drought condition or emergency situation. 8of9 V. Variances The City Manager, or his/her designee, may, in writing, grant a temporary variance to the policies provided by this plan if it is determined that failure to grant such variance would cause an emergency condition adversely affecting the public health, welfaze, or safety, and if one or more ofthe following conditions is met: A. Compliance with the plan cannot be technically accomplished during the duration of the water supply shortage or other condition for which the plan is in effect. B. Alternative methods can be implemented which will achieve the same level of reduction in water use. Persons requesting an exception from the provisions ofthis plan shall file a petition for variance with the City Manager. Variances shall be subject to the following conditions: A. Variances granted shall include a time table for compliance. B. Variances granted shall expire when the plan is no longer in effect, unless the petitioner has failed to meet specified requirement. No variance shall be retroactive or otherwise justify any violation of this plan occurring prior to the issuance of the vaziation. VI. Termination Notification Termination of the drought conditions or emergency situation measures will take place when the trigger conditions which initiated the drought contingency measures have subsided. The public will be informed by the City of Port Arthur of the termination in the same manner in which thev were informed of the initiation procedures. VII. Implemen tatio n/En fo rce ment The City of Port Arthur Code of Ordinances authorizes the City Manager to develop, implement and enforce this plan. 9of9