Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force - July 15, 2024
Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force Special Called Meeting of the Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force
AUSTIN INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE PLANNING COMMUNITY TASK FORCE July 15, 2024 --12:00pm Hybrid Special Called Meeting Waller Creek Center, Room 104 625 East 10th Street Austin, Texas 78701 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: Zach Baumer Parks and Recreation: Liana Kallivoka Watershed Protection: Ramesh Swaminathan AGENDA CALL TO ORDER – PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2024. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. Review and approve the meeting minutes from the Regular Task Force meeting on June 4, 2. Update on Lower Colorado River and Highland Lakes water supply conditions 3. Update on refined Water management strategy Assessment and Vulnerability Evaluation (WAVE) results and 50-year portfolios 4. Update on Water Forward 2024 demand management strategies 5. Update on water supply strategy implementation FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURN 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 call 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. …
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Consolidated Strategy No. Consolidated Strategy Description Raw Comment No. Category & Next Steps Raw Commments From Task Force Members WFTF Member Origin Key topic Related Topic Can we further limit outdoor irrigation during each drought stage? For example, rather than one day a week in stage 4, maybe it is every other week and only for 30 minutes? The permitted irrigation seems too high during all the stages. Sarah Faust 4/24/2024 Drought DCP Low hanging fruit is outdoor irrigation. Can we have even more stringent outdoor irrigation rules that apply to commercial irrigation? Sarah Faust 4/24/2024 Drought DCP Date Received Written email feedback Written email feedback Increase outdoor water restrictions in all stages of drought in the DCP, including possible elimination of all outdoor water use in Stage 5 of the DCP. Water Conservation Strategy - Will be evaluated for potential water savings/cost Limited hours for patio misters Water Conservation Strategy - Will be evaluated for potential water savings/cost Analyze and potentially limit the number of new pool permits and rules for refilling. Water Conservation Strategy - Will be evaluated for potential water savings/cost Expand existing reuse ordinance to require all new industrial users to connect to the reclaimed system or utilize onsite reuse. Water Conservation Strategy - Will be evaluated for potential water savings/cost Connect the Travis County Courthouse to the reclaimed system. Water Conservation Strategy - Will be evaluated for potential water savings/cost Evaluate and consider connecting the State Capital Complex to the reclaimed system. Water Conservation Strategy - Will be evaluated for potential water savings/cost 1 2 3 4 5 6 Look at more stringent irrigation restrictions in drought stages 4/25/2024 WFTF Meeting Drought DCP Outdoor irrigation restrictions are too lenient at each DCP stage. Suggested in stage 4 or 5, outdoor watering may be limited to every other week instead of weekly Cut off all outdoor water usage at some point in extreme drought and clarify that sooner rather than later in stage 5. 6/26 Clarification: include language in Stage 5 that anticipates DWDR and acknowledged need for potentially more severe restrictions such as cutting off all outdoor irrigation. Have we evaluated this measure [patio misters limited hours] in terms of actual water savings? Have we evaluated this measure in terms of overall climate goals? For example, if a restaurant could provide outdoor seating during lunch with …
Update on Lower Colorado River and Highland Lakes water supply conditions Highland Lakes Inflows Lakes Buchanan & Travis Combined Storage U.S. Drought Monitor NOAA 3-month Outlook: August – October The seasonal outlooks combine long-term trends, soil moisture, and El Nino/Southern Oscillation. NOAA El Niño/Southern Oscillation Forecast ENSO-neutral conditions are expected to continue for the next several months La Niña is favored to emerge during August-October (70% chance) and persist into the Northern Hemisphere winter 2024-25 (79% chance during November-January) Lakes Buchanan & Travis Combined Storage Projections Questions?
Water Forward Task Force Meeting Preliminary WAVE Results July 15, 2024 Portfolio evaluation process Develop 2080 optimal portfolios. Build out identified 2080 portfolios for 2030-2070. Use multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) analysis to select the recommended 2030- 2080 portfolio for Water Forward. Develop an adaptive management plan for the recommended portfolio. 2 Today - Step 1: 2080 Optimized Portfolios Step 2: Build 2030-2070 pathways Portfolio 1 Portfolio 1 Portfolio 2 Portfolio 2 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 WMS 1 WMS 1 WMS 1 WMS 1 WMS 1 WMS 2 WMS 2 WMS 2 WMS 2 WMS 2 WMS 3 WMS 3 WMS 3 WMS 3 WMS 3 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 WMS 4 WMS 4 WMS 4 WMS 4 WMS 4 WMS 5 WMS 5 WMS 5 WMS 5 WMS 5 WMS 6 WMS 6 WMS 6 WMS 6 WMS 6 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 WMS 4 WMS 4 WMS 4 WMS 4 WMS 4 WMS 5 WMS 5 WMS 5 WMS 5 WMS 5 WMS 6 WMS 6 WMS 6 WMS 6 WMS 6 2080 WMS 1 WMS 2 WMS 3 2080 WMS 4 WMS 5 WMS 6 2080 WMS 7 WMS 8 WMS 9 Portfolio 3 Portfolio 3 Step 3: Select Water Forward portfolio using MCDM analysis and develop adaptive management plan WMS 10 WMS 11 WMS 12 WMS 13 50-year candidate portfolios will be evaluated using MCDM analysis incorporating criteria informed by Task Force input. Objectives Avoid severe water shortages during drought and a variety of climate change scenarios Focus on water conservation and water use efficiency Include diverse water management strategies that make use of all water sources. Minimize impacts and maximize benefits of plan outcomes for marginalized communities Develop strategies that continue to protect the natural environment, including source and downstream water quality Performance Measures • WAM/WAVE modeling results • • Potable GPCD Portfolio diversity score Cost (lifecycle, capital, O&M) Equity & Affordability Tool • • • Net return flows • Operational energy use • Water quality impacts • • Develop strategies that are technically, socially, and economically feasible and can be implemented and operated with a manageable level of risk Implementation and operational risk score System resiliency benefits Develop strategies that make use of locally available and AW-controlled water resources resources • Volume of local and AW-controlled water Candidate portfolios are built from samples of nearly 2 million combinations …
Update on Water Forward 2024 demand management strategies Summary of Task Force Comments Next Steps Category Individual Comments Strategies Will be evaluated for potential water savings/cost Will be considered; Will not be evaluated for potential water savings/cost Will not be evaluated for water savings/cost Water Conservation Strategy Related to Existing WF24 Strategies Policy Matter Best Management Practice Reporting General Comments Editorial/General Comments Currently Being Implemented Likely Insubstantial Yield TOTAL COMMENTS RECEIVED 21 8 1 19 5 20 1 2 78 11 3 1 9 1 1 NA NA 28 2 Will be evaluated for potential water savings/cost Consolidated Strategy No. Consolidated Strategy Description 1 2 3 4 5 Increase outdoor water restrictions in all stages of drought in the DCP, including possible elimination of all outdoor water use in Stage 5 of the DCP. Limited hours for patio misters Analyze and potentially limit the number of new pool permits and rules for refilling. Expand existing reuse ordinance to require all new industrial users to connect to the reclaimed system or utilize onsite reuse. Connect the Travis County Courthouse to the reclaimed system. 3 Will be evaluated for potential water savings/cost Consolidated Strategy No. Consolidated Strategy Description 6 7 8 9 10 11 Evaluate and consider connecting the State Capital Complex to the reclaimed system. Evaluate and consider connecting the UT campus to the reclaimed system. Perform an analysis and consider expanding the voluntary reclaimed water rebate. Consider providing cost-sharing or additional incentives to promote onsite reuse in low-income housing. Expand CII ordinances to include upgraded standards and requirements for reclaimed water. 4 Increase enforcement efforts. Will be evaluated for potential water savings/cost as part of existing WF24 strategies Consolidated Strategy No. Consolidated Strategy Description 13 14 15 Increase resources for voluntary water budgeting and implement mandatory water budgeting sooner. Expand water loss program. Expand onsite reuse ordinances to include smaller buildings. 5 Will be considered; Will not be evaluated for potential water savings/cost Consolidated Strategy No. Consolidated Strategy Description Category 12 16 17 18 19 Expand public oversight into the SER process, especially regarding new large industrial users. Policy Matter Allow splash pads to continue operation in Stage 4 of the DCP. Develop an education campaign to better promote knowledge of watering days. Best Management Practice Best Management Practice Provide follow-up information after MyATXWater meters are installed. Best Management Practice Increase public outreach and education, possibly partnering with community organizations, …
Update on Water Supply Strategy Implementation Water Forward 2018 Supply Strategies Emergency Indirect Potable Reuse Update What is Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR)? The use of reclaimed water for potable purposes by discharging to a water supply source, such as surface water or groundwater. The mixed reclaimed and natural waters then receive additional treatment at a water treatment plant before entering the drinking water distribution system. What is Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR)? There are five indirect potable reuse operating facilities in Texas: • El Paso Water Utilities - recharging the Hueco Bolson Aquifer since 1985. • North Texas Municipal Water District - polishing water using wetlands and augmenting the Lavon Lake since 2009. • Tarrant Regional Water District - polishing water using wetlands and augmenting the Richland Reservoir. • The City of Abilene - augmenting Lake Fort Phantom Hill since 2015. • The City of Wichita Falls - augmenting Lake Arrowhead since 2017. How Would AW Implement 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 convey highly treated WWTP effluent to Ullrich WTP for use in supplementing drinking water supplies Drought Triggers Lakes Buchanan and Travis Total Combined Storage Projection (LCRA) City of Austin Drought Triggers DCP Stage 1 1.4 MAF DCP Stage 2 0.9 MAF DCP Stage 3 0.75 MAF DCP Stage 4 0.6 MAF IPR Operational Trigger 0.4 MAF Progress Update AW Internal IPR Task Force progressing on project tasks • Includes Operations, Engineering, Systems Planning, PIO, and Government Relations staff and key executives Decision on water supply source has been made Staff have developed scopes for further rotation list consultant services to support project components and is moving forward on consultant procurement Water Supply Source SAR has been selected as source of treated effluent for emergency IPR implementation Current plan is to construct and separately permit sidestream IPR treatment facilities to further treat effluent Planned Consultant Support Rotation List Engineering Support Schematic design, design criteria, technical specifications for: • Intake and pump station facilities • Reclaimed transmission main • Sidestream wastewater effluent treatment facilities Design Build Project Full IPR project design and construction Timeline Fall 2024 Development of schematic design, design criteria, technical specifications ~Summer 2025 Pending Council approval, issue design-build contract Winter 2024/2025 Begin …
DRAFT ‐ Water Forward Modeling Characterization of Water Management Strategies Name: Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Strategy description & assumptions: ASR is characterized as storage of drinking water from AW's water distribution system in an underground aquifer for recovery and use when supplies are scarce. ASR costs and operational assumptions are based on project parameters that have been developed through ASR implementation planning. The yield and storage ranges are used to test the project size against future scenarios. ASR is included in every candidate portfolio for modeling since implementation of the project has started. Modeling assumptions: Yield and storage ranges Year 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 2080 2120 Min model test annual yield (AFY) 0 6,000 6,000 6,000 6,000 6,000 6,000 Max model test annual yield (AFY) 0 60,000 83,000 83,000 83,000 83,000 83,000 Min model test total storage (AF) 0 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 Max model test total storage (AF) 0 60,000 120,000 180,000 240,000 300,000 360,000 Scalability assumptions Max start volume (AF) 60,000 Max decadal yield increase (AFY) 30,000 Storage assumptions Does this strategy have a modeled storage element? Other assumptions Yes Can this strategy meet needs above existing COA run‐of‐river water rights and LCRA backup contract? No DRAFT ‐ Water Forward Modeling Characterization of Water Management Strategies DRAFT DRAFT ‐ Water Forward Modeling Characterization of Water Management Strategies Cost Estimate Summary City of Austin ‐ S‐1 Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) CAPITAL COST Item Estimated Cost For Facilities Primary Pump Station (74 MGD) Transmission Pipeline (66 in dia., approx. 50 miles) Well Fields (72 Wells, Pumps, and approx. 13 miles Well Field Piping) Storage Tanks (Other Than at Booster Pump Stations) Water Treatment Plant ‐ wellfield (37 MGD) Integration Point Infrastructure (10 MG GST, 74 MGD Pump Station, Yard Piping, etc) TOTAL COST OF FACILITIES Engineering and Feasibility Studies, Legal Assistance, Financing, Bond Counsel, and Contingencies (30% for pipes & 35% for all other facilities) Environmental & Archaeology Studies and Mitigation Land Acquisition/Leasing and Surveying Interest During Construction (3% for 5 years with a 0.5% ROI) x TOTAL COST OF PROJECT ANNUAL COST Debt Service (6 percent, 20 years) Operation and Maintenance Pipeline, Wells, and Storage Tanks (1% of Cost of Facilities) Intakes and Pump Stations (2.5% of Cost of Facilities) Water Treatment Plant Pumping Energy Costs (248,925,076 kW‐hr @ 0.08 $/kW‐hr) TOTAL ANNUAL COST Available Project Yield (acft/yr) Annual Cost of Water ($ per …
Water Forward Task Force (WFTF) Water Forward 2018 Implementation Working Group June 11, 2024 Meeting Notes Teams Meeting, 3:00 pm Attendees: Paul DiFiore, WFTF William Moriarty, WFTF Emily Rafferty, Austin Water Marisa Flores-Gonzalez, Austin Water Discussion of IPR Updates Staff provided a verbal update on the progress of implementing the Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) water management strategy to date. Staff has been working internally on implementing IPR as an emergency strategy. An internal IPR working group meets bi-weekly with representatives from many Austin Water (AW) work groups. AW has had initial conversations with TCEQ about permitting. AW has made the decision to use effluent diverted to sidestream IPR treatment facilities from South Austin Regional (SAR) Wastewater Treatment Plant for the IPR project after weighing the pros and cons between SAR and Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. AW has been working internally to develop the 3 different scopes below: 1. Reclaimed transmission main routing study for a rotation list engineer 2. Improvements necessary at intake to Ullrich – new pump station and intake downstream of Tom Miller Dam for rotation list engineer 3. Amendment for current consultant’s (Plummer) scope to include support for application for a separate TPDES permit for side-stream treatment process AW hopes to have all three of these consultants on board by the end of Summer 2024. In Fall 2024 AW will work with consultants to provide information for a bid package that can be put out to issue an RFQ in Winter 2025. Between approximately Summer of 2026 through Summer of 2028, AW is aiming for design and construction of IPR. Task Force member questions and discussion included the following: - Questions and discussion regarding the permitting, timeline, and cost of the strategy - Potential concerns were raised about algae and PFAS - Questions and discussion regarding the criteria used to make the decision between SAR and Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment plants - Request to provide information on how the IPR strategy compares to others in terms of cost/benefit from the WF2018 plan Water Forward 2018 Implementation Working Group Meeting June 2024
Water Forward Task Force (WFTF) Water Forward 2024 Working Group June 26, 2024 Meeting Notes Teams Meeting, 1:00 pm Attendees: Robert Mace, WFTF Marisa Flores-Gonzalez, Austin Water Vanessa Puig-Williams, WFTF Emily Rafferty, Austin Water Kevin Kluge, Austin Water Helen Gerlach, Austin Water Kevin Critendon, Austin Water Teresa Lutes, Austin Water Preview of WFTF member conservation and demand management strategies feedback evaluation: Austin Water talked through their approach of evaluating the feedback received from the WFTF and incorporating it into Water Forward 2024, the Water Conservation Plan, and Drought Contingency Plan. All the feedback received was compiled and categorized based on feedback type. Feedback categories included water conservation strategies, best management practices, and general comments. Water savings and costs will be developed for water conservation strategies and best management practices will be considered and prioritized. There was discussion and questions regarding following: - The process of attributing water savings to the feedback - Tying in the Water Forward planning process so that it directly feeds into the Water - Suggestion for staff to provide review/overview on the goals and scope of Water Forward Conservation Plan in the future to Task Force members Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Analysis Preview: Austin Water shared how they will be using a multi-criteria decision-making analysis process to further evaluate top candidate portfolios determined through the WAVE process. The multi- criteria decision-making analysis allows for evaluation of multiple, potentially conflicting criteria, such as cost and reliability. Staff shared the proposed criteria, guiding principles, and performance measures that were developed earlier in the Water Forward process with Task Force input. Water Forward 2024 Working Group Meeting June 2024
Water Forward Task Force (WFTF) Water Forward 2018 Implementation Working Group July 11, 2024 Meeting Notes Teams Meeting, 10:00 am Attendees: Bill Moriarty, WFTF Marisa Flores Gonzalez, Austin Water Paul DiFiore, WFTF Emily Rafferty, Austin Water Hani Michel, WFTF Scott Sticker, Austin Water Jennifer Walker, WFTF Perry Lorenz, WFTF Advanced Metering Infrastructure Update Austin Water staff shared an update about Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) implementation. At the time of the meeting, 229,000 meters were installed out of 250,000 total installs, meaning the program is about 90% implemented. The ones remaining are the trickier meters to replace. Staff shared that there has been a low opt out rate for the program compared to other cities and spoke about the customer outreach and communications efforts. The leak alert system was discussed and is a significant source of customer water conservation. Discussion regarding AMI included the following: - The ability to talk to human staff when people encounter leak issues - The ability to plug in specifics about your home, such as having low flow faucets, to help the metering give a more accurate water-use read General discussion included the following: - Timeline of assigning costs and yields to the additional conservation measures based on WFTF member comments - Additional WFTF meetings to be scheduled between Summer 2024 and Fall 2024 - Follow up on Indirect Potable Reuse emergency implementation status and initial projected cost Water Forward 2018 Implementation Working Group Meeting July 2024
AUSTIN INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE PLANNING COMMUNITY TASK FORCE SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, July 15, 2024 The Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force convened in a Special Called Meeting on July 15, 2024, with Social Distancing Modifications. Chair WALKER called the meeting to order at 12:04 pm. Members in Attendance: Jennifer Walker, Chair Paul DiFiore Madelline Mathis Sarah Faust Hani Michel Ex-Officio Members in Attendance: Kevin Critendon Kathleen Garrett Chase Bryan Members in Attendance Remotely: Todd Bartee Bill Moriarty Vanessa Puig Williams Austin Water Staff: Shay Ralls Roalson Teresa Lutes Kevin Kluge Marisa Flores Gonzalez Helen Gerlach Emily Rafferty Fatima Wahid Daria Deeds Richard Hoffpauir Joe Smith Young-Hoon Jin Heather Cooke Anna Bryan-Borja 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 Delorean Wiley Others in Attendance: Brigit Buff, Plummer Qiwen Zhang, Plummer Cody McCann, Plummer Ellen McDonald, Plummer Robert Lempert, RAND PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of the meeting minutes from the regular called June 4, 2024, Task Force meeting. The minutes from the June 4th, meeting were approved on Member DIFIORE’S motion and Member MATHIS’ second on an 6-0 vote. Member WALKER and BARTEE abstained. STAFF BRIEFINGS, PRESENTATIONS, AND/OR REPORTS 2. Update on Lower Colorado River and Highland Lakes water supply conditions The presentation was made by Fatima Wahid, Graduate Engineer A, Austin Water. 3. Update on refines Water management strategy Assessment and Vulnerability Evaluation (WAVE) results and 50-year portfolios The presentation was made by Helen Gerlach, Engineer B, Austin Water. 4. Update on Water Forward 2024 Demand Management Strategies The presentation was made by Brigit Buff, Plummer. 5. Update on water supply strategy implementation The presentation was made by Marisa Flores Gonzalez, Program Manager III, Austin Water VOTING ITEMS None Chair WALKER adjourned the meeting at 2:03pm. The minutes were approved at the August 13th, 2024, meeting on Paul DiFiore’s motion, Madelline Mathis’ second on a 6-0 vote with one vacancy. Task Force Members Perry Lorenz, …
