AUSTIN INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE PLANNING COMMUNITY TASK FORCE March 5, 2024 --12:00pm Hybrid Regular Meeting Austin Permitting and Development Center Room 1405 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX 78752 Some members of the BOARD/COMMISSION may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live For more information go to: Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. The first 10 speakers to register will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns not on the agenda. To register, contact Emily Rafferty at emily.rafferty@austintexas.gov. The information required is the speaker’s name, item number(s) they wish to speak on if applicable, email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). CURRENT TASK FORCE MEMBERS: Voting Members: Bill Moriarty Sarah Faust Hani Michel Perry Lorenz Madelline Mathis Todd Bartee Robert Mace, Vice Chair Paul DiFiore Vanessa Puig-Williams Jennifer Walker, Chair Ex Officio Non-Voting Members: Austin Water: Kevin Critendon Austin Energy: Kathleen Garrett Austin Resource Recovery: Donald Hardee Housing and Planning: Tymon Khamsi Office of Innovation: Daniel Culotta Office of Sustainability: Lucia Athens Parks and Recreation: Liana Kallivoka Watershed Protection: Katie Coyne AGENDA CALL TO ORDER – PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 9, 2024 DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. Review and approve the meeting minutes from the Regular Task Force meeting on January 2. Update on Lower Colorado River and Highland Lakes water supply conditions 3. Update on Reuse Ordinances related to clarifying requirements and modifying variances for Reclaimed Water Connections and Onsite Water Reuse requirements, reauthorizing the Onsite Water Reuse Systems pilot incentive, creating a GoPurple Community Benefit Charge, and approving negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement related to reclaimed connections for the Travis County Courthouse 4. Update on Indirect Potable Reuse Emergency Implementation Project 5. Water Forward 2024 plan update methodology overview ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve a letter from the Water Forward Task Force to the Austin City Council regarding voting items on the March 7, 2024, Austin City Council agenda related to implementing Water Forward reuse and reclaimed strategies FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURN The City of …
WATER FORWARD R E U S E S T R AT E G I E S One City, One Water: A plan for the next 100 years Water Forward Task Force – March 5, 2024 Agenda Water Forward Overview Reuse Strategies Addressing Affordability Key 2024 Activities to Advance Reuse 2 Water Forward Water Forward is Austin’s 100-year integrated water resource plan, unanimously adopted by Council in November 2018. Water Forward identifies diverse and environmentally conscious water management strategies to adapt to growth, drought, and climate change and ensure a sustainable, resilient, equitable, and affordable water future for our community. 3 Austin’s Water Supply: 325,000 Acre Feet Per Year Colorado River: • Combination of State-granted water rights & long-term contract with LCRA • Up to 325,000 acre-feet per year (afy) LCRA reservation & use fees pre-paid in 1999 • Additional use payments trigger when average for 2 consecutive years exceeds 201,000 afy Centralized Reclaimed System 4 Water Forward Guiding Principles Water Forward is updated on a 5-year cycle. The updated plan will be submitted for Council Approval in November 2024. Resiliency Inclusive approach + Community values Diverse strategies Equity + Affordability Protect the Colorado River Reduce operational risks Focus on local supplies 5 WATER FORWARD One City One Water One Approach Environmental Sustainability & Climate Equity Affordability Reliability & Resiliency 6 Climate Change Planning for Uncertainty Population Growth 7 Combined Storage Lakes Buchanan and Travis 8 Water Forward Strategies Reuse Conservation Supply Partnerships 9 Why Now? Why Reuse? 1999 2024 10 Value of Reuse Affordability • $10M+ Annual Cost Savings to Customers Reliability & Resiliency Environmental Sustainability Centralized Reclaimed System 11 AW & COA Leading the Way Advancing Reuse Central Library Permitting & Development Center Austin Energy Headquarters Other Developments • Austin Peace Academy • Waterloo Park Restrooms • Mueller Visitor Center • Travis County Community Center 12 Reuse Strategies Water Forward WF18 Implementation Progress Reuse & Conservation Implementation Highlights Reuse Onsite Water Reuse System (OWRS) regulatory framework and incentive approved by Council New Voluntary Reclaimed Water Connection incentive developed 14 Conservation Water benchmarking, onsite water reuse, and extension of reclaimed water connection requirements approved by Council Investments to Advance Reuse Walnut Creek WWTP Reclaimed Water Initiative Phase 1A&B Central Zone Projects 51st Street Tank Bulk Fill Stations Montopolis Tank & Pump Station Planning and Development Center …
Water Forward WAVE evaluation Water Forward Task Force Meeting March 5, 2024 Water Forward: Planning for Uncertainty Develop a range of plausible future scenarios Find common near-term water management strategies (WMSs) that perform well over many scenarios For long-term (WMSs), develop an adaptive management plan with key decision points Continue to update the plan, re- evaluate, and adapt s o i r a n e c s g n i l e d o M Range of demands Possible climate futures Droughts worse than the drought of record Regional supply trends Water Forward 2024 Decision points including regular updates to the WF Plan Scenarios of plausible future water needs A C D B E 2120 WF24 Methodology Overview Goal Define the needs Evaluate potential solutions Identify potential solutions Select the best solution & implementation strategy We are here Ongoing community engagement and equity work Tasks Develop range of future scenarios WF18 implementation evaluation and update Preliminary needs assessment Identify, screen, and characterize additional WMS Use optimization model to identify top-performing WMSs over all scenarios Construct 50-yr portfolios for further evaluation 50-Year portfolio trade-off analysis Conduct vulnerability assessment to identify system stressors Preferred 50-yr portfolio & equity and affordability analysis Adaptive Management Plan (AMP) Outcome Updated WF18 strategies and range of baseline needs WMSs variables and rules for testing Evaluated 50-year portfolios and identified system stressors Water Forward 2024 Plan Timeline 2022 Fall 2024 WF24 Methodology Overview Goal Define the needs Evaluate potential solutions Identify potential solutions Select the best solution & implementation strategy Ongoing community engagement and equity work Tasks Develop range of future scenarios WF18 implementation evaluation and update Preliminary needs assessment Identify, screen, and characterize additional WMS Use optimization model to identify top-performing WMSs over all scenarios Construct 50-yr portfolios for further evaluation 50-Year portfolio trade-off analysis Conduct vulnerability assessment to identify system stressors Preferred 50-yr portfolio & equity and affordability analysis Adaptive Management Plan (AMP) Outcome Updated WF18 strategies and range of baseline needs WMSs variables and rules for testing Evaluated 50-year portfolios and identified system stressors Water Forward 2024 Plan Timeline 2022 Fall 2024 Water management strategy Assessment and Vulnerability Evaluation = WAVE WAVE Team Members Rob Lempert Michelle Miro Swaptik Chowdhury RAND Will Support the WAVE with Multi-Objective Robust Decision Making (MoRDM) We live in a fast-changing, hard-to-predict world We can shape the future, even when we can’t predict …
Subject: Water Forward Task Force Support for Reclaimed Water Ordinances DRAFT Dear Austin City Council, As representatives of the Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community (Water Forward) Task Force, we would like to convey our collective support for the reclaimed water ordinances to be considered at the March 7th City Council meeting. These ordinances include the following: • Land Development Code Amendments: Affordable housing exemptions for requirements effective 4/1/24 for onsite reuse, dual plumbing, and connections to Austin Water’s centralized reclaimed water system • City Code Chapter 15-13 Amendments: Regulation of Onsite Water Reuse Systems • Pilot Incentive Reauthorization for Fiscal Year 23-24: $500,000 per project, not to exceed • GoPurple Community Benefit Charge: Fee Amendment & Budget Amendment • Travis County Interlocal Agreement: Reclaimed connections for Travis County $5.6 million Courthouse Our endorsement stems from a long history of championing the use of reclaimed water as a key strategy in the Council-approved Water Forward 2018 plan. These forward-thinking initiatives, which are anticipated to save approximately 16 million gallons per day by 2040, demonstrate a commitment to One Water practices and are essential for the continued well-being and resilience of our community. Advancing reuse will be a key part of how Austin adapts to the challenges posed by climate change. These measures reflect an innovative approach to balance our City’s needs for reliability and resiliency, environmental sustainability, and affordability with an expected $10 million annual cost savings for customers in addition to long term water rate savings for developments using reclaimed water. It is our collective belief that embracing reclaimed water is a progressive and necessary step for Austin. The ordinances align with our shared vision for a city that leads the way in advancing reuse as an innovative and sustainable solution. We respectfully urge the City Council to adopt these ordinances. Sincerely,
Indirect Potable Reuse Emergency Implementation Planning AGENDA IPR Project Update • Key progress to date and upcoming activities • Water quality modeling and permitting Emergency Supply Strategy Alternatives • Direct Potable Reuse Next Steps IPR PROJECT UPDATE WHAT IS INDIRECT POTABLE REUSE (IPR)? IPR is an emergency water supply strategy included in the 2018 Water Forward plan The strategy would use Lady Bird Lake as an environmental buffer and to convey highly treated WWTP effluent to Ullrich WTP for use in supplementing drinking water supplies Reclaimed water system New advanced treatment processes (SAR or Walnut WWTP) Lady Bird Lake (Ullrich WTP) Source: ensia.com/features/in-an-arid-u-s-west-water-agencies-look-to-delive%E2%80%8Br%E2%80%8B-purified- wastewater-directly-to-customers-faucets%E2%80%8B-despite-yuck-factor/ Full Storage Stage 1 Drought Trigger Stage 2 Drought Trigger Lowest Recorded Level Pro-Rata Curtailment/ Stage 3 Drought Trigger Stage 4 Drought Trigger* IPR Trigger 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 * Assumed 400KAF Stage 4 Drought Trigger for WF18 modeling IPR: PRELIMINARY PROJECT LAYOUT Tom Miller Dam T P PS Ullrich Water Treatment Plant Walnut Creek WWTP T P Longhorn Dam Conveyance of Reclaimed Water – Walnut Creek WWTP Alternative Conveyance from Intake Pump Station to Ullrich WTP Conveyance of Reclaimed Water – South Austin Regional WWTP Alternative South Austin Regional WWTP T P KEY PROGRESS TO DATE Nov. 2022 Feb. 2023 Initial regulatory discussion with TCEQ Consultant rotation list procurement begun September 21, 2023 Plummer NTP issued; Water quality modeling begun December 5, 2023 Internal IPR working group formed Dec. 2023 – Feb. 2024 Plummer continued updating 2016 EFDC (flow dynamic) and WASP (water quality) modeling January 19, 2024 Internal AW IPR Emergency Implementation February 23, 2024 TCEQ informal meeting on preliminary water quality Workshop modeling UPCOMING ACTIVITIES February – June 2024 Design engineer procurement March – July 2024 Refinement of emergency water supply implementation plan Summer 2024 WF24 evaluation of emergency strategies Coordination with ongoing permitting activities WATER QUALITY MODELING & PERMITTING Initial model was developed in 2016, modeling the period from July 2012- December 2013 Plummer updated the modeled period to January 2018 – December 2022 Includes flows from period of record (EFDC hydrodynamic model) and water quality data (WASP model using both measured and reference values) Purpose of modeling is to provide TCEQ with updated Ladybird …
Update on Lower Colorado River and Highland Lakes water supply conditions 225,000 200,000 175,000 t e e F - e r c A 150,000 125,000 100,000 75,000 50,000 25,000 0 Highland Lakes Inflows Average 1942 - Present Average 2008 - 2015 2023 Jan. - Feb. 2024 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Combined Storage of Lakes Buchanan and Travis January 1, 2005 through March 1, 2024 2.0M ac-ft Full Storage Austin Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) Storage Volume Trigger Levels 1.4M ac-ft DCP Stage 1 0.9M ac-ft DCP Stage 2 0.6M ac-ft Interruptible stored water for non-Garwood agricultural operations was not provided by LCRA in 2012 through 2015 and beginning with the second growing season of 2022 through 2024. 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 t e e f - e r c a , e g a r o t S 2,200,000 2,000,000 1,800,000 1,600,000 1,400,000 1,200,000 1,000,000 800,000 600,000 400,000 200,000 0 NOAA 3-month Outlook: Dec - Feb The seasonal outlooks combine long-term trends, soil moisture, and El Nino/Southern Oscillation. As of 2/8/24: A transition from El Niño to ENSO-neutral is likely by April-June 2024 (79% chance), with increasing odds of La Niña developing in June-August 2024 (55% chance). Questions?
3/1/2024 Water Forward Task Force Future Meeting Dates and Current Planned Agenda Topics (Subject to Change) Meeting Date Proposed Agenda Items April 15, 2024 • Presentation of water management strategies characterization May 14, 2024 • Presentation and consideration of 2024 Water Conservation Plan, Drought Contingency Plan, and the associated Chapter 6-4 code amendments for voting • Present preliminary WMS Assessment and Vulnerability Evaluation (WAVE) results June 4, 2024 • Overview of 50-yr portfolio development process July 9, 2024 • Present refined WAVE results August 13, 2024 September 10, 2024 October 8, 2024 December 3, 2024 • Present 50-yr portfolio multi-criteria decision making analysis • Present preferred 50-yr portfolio and Equity and Affordability • Present draft WF24 plan report and adaptive management • Seek Water Forward Task Force recommendation for Council results evaluation results plan TBD approval for plan
3/1/2024 – updated 4:48pm Summary of Water Forward Reclaimed and Reuse Ordinance Items to Be Considered by Council on March 7, 2024 and Links to Backup Item 2: Authorize nego�a�on and execu�on of an interlocal agreement with Travis County for the County to reimburse the City for the County’s propor�onate share of costs to design and construct oversized reclaimed water mains and appurtenances within the Central Business District that will provide service to the County’s Civil and Family Court Building and Probate Court Building. Item 3: Approve an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 15-13 (Regula�on of Onsite Water Reuse Systems) to establish development project requirements and clarify onsite water reuse regula�ons. o Link to backup material o Link to backup material Item 4: Approve a resolu�on authorizing Aus�n Water to con�nue a pilot program and issue incen�ves on a pilot basis during Fiscal Year 2023-2024 for alterna�ve onsite water reuse systems and reclaimed water connec�ons for new commercial, mixed use and mul�-family developments in the total amount of $5,600,000, not to exceed $500,000 for each project. o Link to backup material Item 30: Conduct a public hearing and approve an ordinance amending Exhibit A to the Fiscal Year 2023- 2024 City Fee and Fine Ordinance (Ordinance No. 20230816-007) to add a dedicated GoPurple component of $0.15 cents per thousand gallons to Aus�n Water’s water u�lity and wastewater u�lity community benefit charges to support reuse strategies in the Water Forward plan; and amending the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Aus�n Water Community Benefit Charge Special Revenue Fund (Ordinance No. 20230816-008) to increase revenue and appropria�ons by $4,100,000 and the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Aus�n Water Opera�ng Funds (Ordinance No.20230816-008) to increase transfers in and appropria�ons by $4,100,000 for reuse strategies in the Water Forward plan. o Link to backup material Item 37: Conduct a public hearing and consider an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 25-9 (Water and Wastewater) rela�ng to clarifying requirements for water conserva�on in the implementa�on of the Water Forward Plan, including distances for the Reclaimed Water Connec�on requirement, clarifying defini�ons, and modifying variances including adding certain affordable housing exemp�ons for Reclaimed Water Connec�ons and Onsite Water Reuse requirements; and waiving the requirement in City Code Sec�on 25-1-502 (Amendment Review) for Planning Commission review of Land Development Code amendments. o Link to backup material
AUSTIN INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE PLANNING COMMUNITY TASK FORCE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, March 5, 2024 The Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force convened in a Regular Meeting on March 5, 2024, with Social Distancing Modifications. Chair WALKER called the meeting to order at 12:05 pm. Members in Attendance: Jennifer Walker, Chair Robert Mace, Vice Chair Paul DiFiore Madelline Mathis Ex-Officio Members in Attendance: Kevin Critendon Members in Attendance Remotely: Sarah Faust Hani Michel Todd Bartee Bill Moriarty Vanessa Puig Williams Austin Water Staff: Shay Ralls Roalson Anna Bryan-Borja Joseph Gonzales Teresa Lutes Kevin Kluge Heather Cooke Katherine Jashinski Marisa Flores Gonzalez Sara Eatman Emily Rafferty The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please contact Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force liaison Emily Rafferty at 512-972-0427, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. Page 1 of 2 Others in Attendance: Robert Lempert (RAND) Michelle Miro (RAND) Richard Hoffpauir (Hoffpauir Consulting, PLLC) PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of the meeting minutes from the January 9, 2024, Task Force meeting. The minutes from the January 9th meeting were approved on Vice Chair MACE’S motion and Member MICHEL’s second on an 9-0 vote. STAFF BRIEFINGS, PRESENTATIONS, AND/OR REPORTS 2. Update on Lower Colorado River and Highland Lakes water supply conditions The presentation was made by Marisa Flores Gonzalez, Program Manager III, Austin Water. 3. Update on Reuse Ordinances related to clarifying requirements and modifying variances for Reclaimed Water Connections and Onsite Water Reuse requirements, reauthorizing the Onsite Water Reuse Systems pilot incentive, creating a GoPurple Community Benefit Charge, and approving negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement related to reclaimed connections for the Travis County Courthouse The presentation was made by Shay Ralls Roalson, Director, Austin Water. 4. Update on Indirect Potable Reuse Emergency Implementation Project The presentation was made by Sara Eatman, Engineer A, Austin Water. VOTING ITEMS 5. Approve a letter from the Water Forward Task Force to the Austin City Council regarding voting items on the March 7, 2024, Austin City Council agenda related to implementing Water Forward reuse and reclaimed …
