AUSTIN INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE PLANNING COMMUNITY TASK FORCE August 13, 2024 --12:00pm Hybrid Regular 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: Chase Bryan 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 1. Review and approve the meeting minutes from the Regular Task Force meeting on July 15, 2024. DISCUSSION ITEMS Revisions FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 2. Update on Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan – Water Forward 3. Presentation of Water Forward 2024 Preliminary Portfolio Evaluation Results 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. For more information on the Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force, please contact Emily Rafferty at 512-972-0427 or emily.rafferty@austintexas.gov.
Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan Update 8/13/2024 Agenda Why has baseline GPCD increased? • How have demands changed over the past ten years? • How have conservation and reuse strategies performed? Where we go from here • What are updated projected baseline demands? • What savings can we achieve from conservation and reuse strategies? • GPCD goals • How can we measure and report water savings in the future? How is GPCD calculated? Gallons Per = Capita Daily Water Pumped Population Days Why has baseline GPCD increased? 2018 Water Forward and 2019 Water Conservation Plan GPCDs were likely based on under-projected demands Recent years of hot and dry weather contributed to increased Key Points demand Post-pandemic changes in customer behavior contributed to increased demand, especially for single-family residential Key Water Forward water conservation and reuse strategies did not achieve projected savings 4 What were WF18 demands based on? Water Forward 2018 baseline demands are based on 2013- 2015 water use Demands include passive conservation savings 5 How has customer usage changed over the past ten years? Historic Water Use by Customer Sector (Million Gallons Per Day) 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 SFR MFR COM LV COA WSL NRW y a D r e P s n o l l a G n o i l l i M 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 6 How has GPCD changed over the past ten years? Historic Gallons Per Capita Per Day Historic Gallons Per Capita Per Day 2013 2013 2014 2014 2015 2015 2016 2016 2017 2017 2018 2018 2019 2019 2020 2020 2021 2021 2022 2022 2023 2023 y y a a D D r r e e P P a a t t i i p p a a C C r r e e P P s s n n o o l l l l a a G G 160 160 140 140 120 120 100 100 80 80 60 60 40 40 20 20 0 0 7 How do we compare to peer cities? Avg 2019-2022 TWDB Submitted Data Total GPCD Residential GPCD Water Loss GPCD Infrast. Leakage Index SAN ANTONIO HOUSTON AUSTIN EL PASO FORT WORTH DALLAS CORPUS CHRISTI 116 124 127 136 154 178 206 69 61 67 73 71 51 63 21 25 …
Water Forward 2024 Preliminary Portfolio Evaluation Results August 13, 2024 Agenda Water Forward 2024 Process Preliminary Portfolio Evaluation Results Next Steps 2 Austin’s Water Supply: 325,000 Acre Feet Per Year 3 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 Water Forward 2024 (WF24) Process 4 Define our values and future water needs Identify and characterize potential strategies Develop and evaluate portfolios of strategies Select the best portfolio and implementation approach Updated Mission Statement 5 The purpose of Water Forward is to develop and implement 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 for the next 100 years. Define our values and needs Identify and characterize strategies Develop and evaluate portfolios of strategies Select the best portfolio and implementation approach Updated Guiding Principles Water Forward 2018 Guiding Principles Water Forward 2024 Guiding Principles Avoid severe water shortages during drought. Create a plan that is resilient to growth, drought, and climate change. 6 Continue Austin’s focus on water conservation and water use efficiency. Recognizing that Colorado River water is Austin’s core supply, continue a strong partnership between the City and LCRA to assure its reliability. Align with Imagine Austin’s “Sustainably Manage Our Water Resources Priority Program.” Maintain coordination and communication with regional partners. Engage the public and stakeholders throughout the plan development process. Continue to protect Austin’s natural environment, including source and receiving water quality. Focus on projects that are technically, socially, and economically feasible. Ensure Austin’s water supply continues to meet/exceed all federal, state, and local public health regulations. Strengthen long term sustainability, reliability, and diversity of Austin’s water supply through maximizing local water resources. Include diverse water management strategies that make use of all water sources, including reuse, conservation, and efficiency. Use a holistic and inclusive approach to water resource planning that incorporates the Austin community’s values. Use an equity and affordability lens to develop and implement the plan. Protect the health of the Colorado River and natural environment. Minimize implementation and operational risk. Focus on locally available water supplies. Define our values and needs Identify and characterize strategies …
Water Forward Task Force (WFTF) Water Forward 2024 Working Group July 24, 2024 Meeting Notes Teams Meeting, 2:00 pm Attendees: Madelline Mathis, WFTF Marisa Flores Gonzalez, Austin Water Sarah Faust, WFTF Emily Rafferty, Austin Water Jennifer Walker, WFTF Kevin Kluge, Austin Water Kevin Critendon, Austin Water Teresa Lutes, Austin Water Recap plan to revise Water Conservation Plan (WCP)/Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) and WCP goals: Austin Water staff gave a recap on the plan to revise the Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan, along with the Water Conservation Plan goals. Staff has reviewed total water demand and demand reduction goals for the near-term within Water Forward 2024. Staff plans on providing more detailed information on the water management strategy savings assumptions that went into the 2019 goals. There was discussion regarding the following: - Clarification on Task Force member input being used as additional tactical measures - Programs and incentives utilization and marketing - Request for more context of where 2019 WCP goals came from and why they were not met, in a written, narrative form - Cities that do concierge water conservation programs Water Forward 2024 Working Group Meeting July 2024
Equity and Affordability Framework Draft note sheets with scores for each strategy - attached Themes: • Water Supply Reliability: o Access to water o Infrastructure Resiliency • Public Health o Regulatory requirements o Water Quality o Environment • Accountability o Transparency o Accessibility o Community outreach and education • Affordability and Economic Impacts o Rate impacts o Growth and development o Workforce development Score summary – Potential Impacts/Benefits: • Green highlight: 5 points • Yellow highlight: 3 points • Red highlight: 1 point August 2024 1 Draft Equity and Affordability Notes Centralized Reclaimed Page 1 Themes Questions Potential Strategy Impacts/Benefits Potential Mitigation Strategies Score 1.1 Given that marginalized communities can be the most impacted by emergency situations, how does the strategy impact/benefit Austin Water’s access to water supply, especially during drought or other emergency situations? 1.2 How does the strategy benefit Austin Water’s water, reclaimed water, and/or wastewater infrastructure resilience? Potential for improved resiliency in emergencies by providing access to non-potable water from a second system source. Potential to increase access to water during drought situations if reclaimed water can be used for onsite purposes and to maintain outdoor irrigation to support community spaces. Outdoor irrigation from reclaimed in drought may provide benefit from mitigation of heat island effects. N/A Investing in centralized reclaimed system projects would expand AW's system and provide additional resilience to reclaimed water customers. N/A Water Supply Reliability Water Supply Reliability Water Supply Reliability 1.3 Does this strategy create an inequitable maintenance burden for Austin Water customers who are a part of marginalized communities? Possibly-- dual-plumbing for water distribution in residential buildings could result in increased maintenance requirements for owners due to additional pipe, some of which may be located in marginalized communities. However, development projects with a qualified affordable housing component are excluded from the reclaimed connection requirements. Programs to provide maintenance support, training for building management, etc. for dual plumbed systems. Water Supply Reliability 1.4 Does this strategy include energy resilience components? No significant energy resilience components. N/A 5 5 3 3 Draft Equity and Affordability Notes Centralized Reclaimed Page 2 Themes Questions Potential Strategy Impacts/Benefits Potential Mitigation Strategies Score Water Supply Reliability 1.5 Can this strategy be tailored to help improve water, reclaimed water, and/or wastewater service to marginalized communities? Implementation of this strategy could include a focus on bringing additional benefit to marginalized communities by providing an additional source of water (non-potable) …
DRAFT Strategies with Cost and Yield Estimates Consolidated Strategy No. Consolidated Strategy Description Category & Next Steps WF 24 Applicability Cost ($/AF/yr) Yield (AF/yr) Staff Response 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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 Water Conservation Strategy - Will be evaluated for potential water savings/cost Short-term N/A Yield estimate for restricting drip irrigation TBD. Amend the DCP to restrict drip irrigation as automatic irrigation in all stages (required by LCRA in Stage 4). Continue to improve irrigator engagement and expand the current enforcement capabilities. Consider benefit of patio misters. Short-term N/A Staff recommendation is not to include changes to patio mister hours in the DCP. 0.18 acre feet of water per year estimated to be used by patio misters per location 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 Short-term N/A Long-term TBD 0.025 acre feet of water per year estimated to be used per pool Staff recommendation is not to include additional moratoriums on pool permits as part of the DCP (beyond what is already included in Stage 4). Staff may revisit this in future DCPs, to include evaluation of pool size, etc. 2040: 7,400 acre feet per year 2080: 13,000 acre feet per year Staff recommendation is to further evaluate feasibility of requiring all new industrial users to connect to the reclaimed system or utilize onsite reuse. Connect the Travis County Courthouse to the reclaimed system. Water Conservation Strategy - Will be evaluated for potential water savings/cost Long-term Costs are included in current CIP projects to expand the centralized reclaimed water system. Approximately 2 acre feet per year (Estimate based on 2023 billing data) Evaluate and consider connecting the State Capital Complex to the reclaimed system. Water Conservation Strategy - Will be evaluated for potential water savings/cost Long-term Costs are included in current CIP projects to expand the centralized reclaimed water system. 133 acre feet per year (Estimate based on building square footage and …
AUSTIN INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE PLANNING COMMUNITY TASK FORCE REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, August 13, 2024 The Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force convened in a Regular Called Meeting on August 13, 2024, with Social Distancing Modifications. Chair WALKER called the meeting to order at 12:05 pm. Members in Attendance: Jennifer Walker, Chair Paul DiFiore Madelline Mathis Ex-Officio Members in Attendance: Kevin Critendon Kathleen Garrett Chase Bryan Ramesh Swaminathan Members in Attendance Remotely: Sarah Faust Bill Moriarty Vanessa Puig Williams Robert Mace, Vice Chair Austin Water Staff: Shay Ralls Roalson Teresa Lutes Kevin Kluge Marisa Flores Gonzalez Helen Gerlach Emily Rafferty Fatima Wahid Richard Hoffpauir Young-Hoon Jin Heather Cooke Joseph Gonzales 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: Brigit Buff, Plummer Qiwen Zhang, Plummer Cody McCann, Plummer Robert Lempert, RAND Bill Bunch, Save Our Springs Alliance Tanzia Karim, Save Our Springs Alliance Roy Waley, Sierra Club Austin PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 1. Bill Bunch gave a public comment in-person. 2. Tanzia Karim gave a public comment in-person. 3. Roy Waley gave a public comment in-person. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of the meeting minutes from the regular called July 15, 2024, Task Force meeting. The minutes from the July 15th, meeting were approved on Member DIFIORE’S motion and Member MATHIS’ second on an 6-0 vote. STAFF BRIEFINGS, PRESENTATIONS, AND/OR REPORTS 2. Update on Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan – Water Forward Revisions The presentation was made by Kevin Kluge, Division Manager, Water Conservation, Austin Water. 3. Presentation of Water Forward 2024 Preliminary Portfolio Evaluation Results The presentation was made by Marisa Flores Gonzalez, Program Manager III, Austin Water. VOTING ITEMS None Chair WALKER adjourned the meeting at 2:17pm. The minutes were approved at the August 29th, 2024, meeting on Madelline Mathis’ motion, Sarah Faust’s second on a 6-0 vote with one vacancy. Task Force Members Perry Lorenz, Todd Bartee, Vanessa Puig-Williams, and Hani Michel absent. The City …
