AUSTIN INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE PLANNING COMMUNITY TASK FORCE September 10, 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 1. Review and approve the meeting minutes from the Special Called Task Force meeting on AGENDA CALL TO ORDER – PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES August 29, 2024. DISCUSSION ITEMS FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 2. Presentation of Draft Revised Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan 3. Presentation of Draft Water Forward 2024 Plan Report 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.
CITY OF AUSTIN DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN Developed to Meet Requirements Outlined in 30 TAC § 288.20 and § 288.22 Water Conservation Division City of Austin, Texas PWS # 2270001 DRAFT - November 7, 2024 - DRAFT City of Austin Drought Contingency Plan Table of Contents SECTION I: DECLARATION OF POLICY, PURPOSE, AND INTENT ..................................................................... 2 SECTION II: BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................... 2 SECTION III: TRIGGER CONDITIONS AND GOALS ............................................................................................... 7 SECTION IV: DROUGHT RESPONSE MEASURES .............................................................................................. 10 SECTION V: WHOLESALE CONTRACT PROVISIONS ........................................................................................ 21 SECTION VI: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT................................................................................................................... 21 SECTION VII: PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND EDUCATION................................................................................... 22 SECTION VIII: COORDINATION WITH REGIONAL PLANNING GROUPS (RPG)............................................... 22 SECTION IX: TCEQ NOTIFICATION ...................................................................................................................... 22 SECTION X: PLAN REVIEW AND UPDATES ........................................................................................................ 23 APPENDIX A: WATER CONSERVATION CODE ................................................................................................... 24 APPENDIX B: WATER CONSERVATION PENALTY CODE ................................................................................. 25 APPENDIX C: RESOLUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF ADOPTION OF THE DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN ...... 26 APPENDIX D: RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2024 DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN .................................. 27 APPENDIX E: TRANSMITTAL LETTER TO REGIONAL PLANNING GROUP ..................................................... 28 APPENDIX F: PUBLIC RESPONSE TO NOVEMBER 2023 SURVEY .................................................................. 29 1 City of Austin Drought Contingency Plan Section I: Declaration of Policy, Purpose, and Intent The City of Austin (the City) maintains a decades-long commitment to ensuring a sustainable water supply through demand management measures. The latest update to Austin’s Drought Contingency Plan (the Plan) builds upon this legacy. This iteration of the Plan retains all measures from previous versions while incorporating new strategies to better address droughts in the future. Designed as a comprehensive strategy, the Plan focuses on addressing water shortages and emergencies, with specific attention to domestic water use, sanitation, fire protection, and public well- being. In accordance with Section 11.1272 of the Texas Water Code and Chapter 288 of Title 30 of the Texas Administrative Code, the City regularly updates this plan, underscoring the importance of adaptability to evolving water supply dynamics. This document outlines the City's strategic response to challenges posed by demand surges, infrastructure constraints, and droughts, including historical critical droughts. Through coordination with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), the Drought Contingency Plans of both the LCRA and the City are consistent in terms of targets and goals. The City’s plan is more proactive, including the implementation activities necessary to conserve water. Detailed within the regulatory framework of the City of Austin’s Municipal Code, the Water Conservation Code (updated in conjunction with this plan in May …
Water Conservation Plan and Utility Profile CITY OF AUSTIN WATER CONSERVATION PLAN Developed to Meet Requirements Outlined in 30 TAC §288.2 and §288.5 DRAFT - November 7, 2024 - DRAFT Page 1 of 58 Water Conservation Plan and Utility Profile Page 2 of 58 Water Conservation Plan and Utility Profile Message from the Director Thank you for your interest in Austin’s most precious natural resource: water. The city was founded in the mid-1800s on the banks of the Colorado River to take advantage of that abundant water resource. Our water supply is just as critical today, but now we face unprecedented challenges: record high temperatures, record low flows into the Highland Lakes, water quality concerns, and continued rapid population growth. Together, we can meet these challenges. The City of Austin’s 100-year Water Forward Integrated Water Resources Plan is focused on water conservation and water use efficiency, as well as strategies to strengthen the diversity of Austin’s water supply. Austin has come a long way over the last decade – in 2023, we used essentially the same amount of water as we did in 2011, despite having 140,000 more residents. But the impacts from climate change require us to become even more water-wise and water-efficient. The update of this Water Conservation Plan is required by the State of Texas every five years to provide short-term strategies to address changing conditions. Even more importantly, the update is a necessary part of the city’s future sustainability. This document describes Austin Water’s conservation initiatives, programs, and projects to help residents and businesses increase their water use efficiency. In addition, it describes how Austin Water is maximizing our water supply from the Highland Lakes through conservation and water reuse. Learn more about what you can do to conserve our most precious resource at AustinWater.org. Shay Ralls Roalson, P.E. Austin Water Director Page 3 of 58 Water Conservation Plan and Utility Profile Table of Contents Message from the Director ...................................................................................................... 3 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................. 5 Conservation Program History ................................................................................................ 7 Public Education and Information ........................................................................................... 9 Residential Customer Programs ........................................................................................... 11 Regulatory Programs ............................................................................................................. 18 Metering and Water Loss ....................................................................................................... 21 Water Reuse............................................................................................................................ 24 Water Rates ............................................................................................................................ 27 Goals for Water Use and Water Loss .................................................................................... 29 Future Water Use and Loss Activities ............................................................................... 31 Utility Profile ........................................................................................................................... 38 System Data ............................................................................................................................ 43 Appendix A. Water Conservation Plan Requirement Checklist .......................................... 50 Appendix B. Drought Contingency …
Water Forward 2024 Plan Report DRAFT – September 3, 2024 Report Cover Page This page intentionally left blank. i | WATER FORWARD 2024 - DRAFT Director’s Message Austin Water is doing important work to make sure Austin has a strong and reliable water supply, even as our city faces the challenges of growth, drought, and a changing climate. Over the past few years, Austin Water has put in place smart strategies that have already made a big difference. We've focused on conservation, encouraging our customers to use water wisely through recent hot and dry years. We've also launched GoPurple, a program that includes requirements and incentives for new and existing developments to reuse water onsite. We are pursuing water storage strategies to stretch our existing supplies. And working closely with our regional partners, we've strengthened Austin's ability to bridge droughts and provide a sustainable water supply to meet all our community’s water needs. Our work doesn't stop here. Climate science tells us that we must do even more to protect our future. The challenges we face are real, and we need to stay ahead of them. That's why we're committed to learning from our past efforts and adjusting as we go. We've been using an adaptive management approach, which means we closely monitor how our plans are working and make changes as needed. This is a key part of Water Forward 2024, which provides a roadmap for Austin's water future. We've been working hand in hand with the Water Forward Task Force, a group of dedicated community members who help inform our efforts. Together, we've updated the plan, adjusted our strategies, and responded to the needs we've identified along the way. This collaborative approach means we're not only thinking about today's needs but also preparing for tomorrow's challenges. At Austin Water, work is already underway to carry out this updated plan. We're focused on staying transparent and accountable to you, our community, as we move forward. We know that water is essential to our quality of life, and we're determined to protect this precious resource. As we look to the future, we at Austin Water hold a hopeful vision. Austin is a leader in water conservation and sustainability and we see a future where our city continues to thrive, and where every resident has access to clean and reliable water, no matter what challenges come our way. Together, we can …
Draft Revised Water Conservation Plan & Drought Contingency Plan Kevin Kluge, Water Conservation Manager September 10, 2024 The Basics Water Conservation Plan (WCP) Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) Plan for all weather conditions Focuses on drought conditions Describes • Utility and water use information • Conservation (rebates, education, enforcement) • Water loss reduction • Reuse activities Describes • Drought Stages • Drought Triggers (demand and supply) • Drought Actions & Restrictions Must be consistent with the LCRA DCP Includes water consumption and water loss Requires Chapter 6-4 changes goals 2 Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) – Fall 2024 Changes Clarification of Stage 4 Drought Functional and Nonfunctional Turf Regulating the use of drip irrigation 3 Regulating the use of drip irrigation Why regulate drip? • No current restrictions • LCRA restricts drip in Stage 4; recommends in other stages • Saves water from overrun and poorly maintained drip systems with limited visibility • Proactively lessens incentive to side-step any watering restrictions Proposed: restrict drip like automatic irrigation, 1 day per week, all stages Stakeholder discussions ongoing • Large property variance • Tree establishment & maintenance 4 Water Conservation Plan (WCP) – Fall 2024 Changes Additional information regarding GoPurple and water loss Discuss historical goals Water-saving activities with yields and milestones (in progress) Revised 2029 and 2034 goals Enhanced reporting activities 5 Discuss historical goals 2019 WCP Goals Factors contributing to not meeting goals: • Under-projected demands • Pandemic impacts • Extreme weather • Over-projected strategy savings 6 Activities with yields and milestones (in progress) Water loss reduction Landscape transformation Commercial incentives Reclaimed and reuse My ATX Water Water use benchmarking and budgeting Public outreach and marketing 7 Water loss reduction Continue existing water loss mitigation activities, such as leak detection, water line repair and replacement, and meter testing, as well as additional activities: • Production meter precision • improvement Increased meter testing for large customers • Enhanced leak detection activities • Implementation of District Meter Areas (DMAs) • Cross-functional utility team to implement recommendation from contracted report 8 Implementation Activity Milestone Continue improving water audit data and processes Launch a cross-functional AW Water Loss Team to implement the recommendations of the water loss report Begin initiative to improve production meter precision Pilot two District Metered Areas …
Presentation of Draft Water Forward 2024 Plan Report September 10, 2024 2 Agenda Orientation to Plan Report • Report Layout • Water Forward Strategies • Implementation Plan Next Steps Questions and Discussion Draft Water Forward 2024 Plan Report 3 Table of Contents • Executive Summary • Introduction • Collaborative Plan Update • Current Water Resources • Planning for Uncertainty • Future Water Strategies • Plan Implementation Appendices Ch. 5 - Future Water Strategies 4 Each strategy includes: • Description • Annual yield targets per decade • Total capital cost and annual cost include O&M and debt service • Five-year implementation actions 5 Total Annual Community Cost ($ per acre foot per year)* Summary of Water Forward 2024 Strategies Water Forward Strategies Water Conservation Strategies Utility-Side Water Loss Control Customer-Side Water Use Management Native & Efficient Landscaping Water Conservation Strategies Sub-Total Non-Potable Water Reuse Strategies Centralized Reclaimed Decentralized Reclaimed Onsite Reuse Non-Potable Reuse Strategies Sub-Total Potable Water Supply Strategies Aquifer Storage and Recovery Lake Walter E. Long (Decker) Off Channel Reservoir Indirect Potable Reuse Brackish Groundwater Desalination Water Supply Strategies Sub-Total Current Supplies Colorado River and Highland Lakes Supply Centralized and Decentralized Reclaimed Water System * Community cost = Utility cost + Customer cost ** May be implemented earlier in severe drought conditions Average/ Drought Both Both Both - Both Both Both - Both Both Drought Both - Both Both Estimated Yield (Acre Feet per Year) 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 2080 2,800 200 600 3,600 1,100 0 1,100 2,200 0 0 ** 0 0 7,500 2,100 1,800 11,400 8,200 200 4,000 12,400 44,500 18,300 ** 0 62,800 86,600 9,400 3,800 2,900 16,100 12,900 500 5,700 19,100 44,500 18,300 22,400 0 85,200 11,300 5,500 3,900 20,700 17,600 800 7,300 25,700 44,500 18,300 22,400 0 85,200 325,000 5,000 13,200 7,200 5,000 25,400 22,300 1,100 9,000 32,400 44,500 18,300 22,400 20,000 105,200 163,000 15,000 8,800 6,100 29,900 26,900 1,300 10,600 38,800 44,500 18,300 22,400 40,000 125,200 193,900 $267 $52 $5,112 $2,243 $5,158 $8,957 $2,003 $3,033 $880 $2,688 Water Forward Strategies Overall Total 5,800 120,400 131,600 Water Forward: 2018 compared to 2024 6 Estimated Yield (Acre Feet per Year) Water Forward 2018 2070 2040 10,900 9,300 18,500 10,900 8,500 3,600 37,900 23,800 Water Forward 2024 2040 2070 13,200 7,500 7,200 2,100 5,000 1,800 25,400 11,400 12,000 3,200 7,600 22,800 Water Conservation Strategies Utility-Side Water Loss Control Customer-Side Water …
AUSTIN INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE PLANNING COMMUNITY TASK FORCE REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, September 10, 2024 The Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force convened in a Regular Called Meeting on September 10, 2024, with Social Distancing Modifications. Chair WALKER called the meeting to order at 12:01 pm. Members in Attendance: Jennifer Walker, Chair Sarah Faust Madelline Mathis Ex-Officio Members in Attendance: Chase Bryan Kevin Critendon Members in Attendance Remotely: Bill Moriarty Paul DiFiore Todd Bartee Perry Lorenz Hani Michel Austin Water Staff: Shay Ralls Roalson Teresa Lutes Kevin Kluge Marisa Flores Gonzalez Emily Rafferty Fatima Wahid Young-Hoon Jin Joseph Gonzales Sherri Kuhl Daria Deeds Richard Hoffpauir Others in Attendance: Qiwen Zhang, Plummer 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 Tanzia Karim, Save Our Springs Alliance Bill Bunch, Save Our Springs Alliance Roy Waley, Sierra Club Bobby Levinski, Save Our Springs Alliance 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. 4. Bobby Levinski gave a public comment remotely. APPROVAL OF MINUTES meeting. 1. Approval of the meeting minutes from the special called August 29, 2024, Task Force The minutes from the August 13th, meeting were approved on Member MATHIS’ motion and Member FAUST’s second on an 7-0 vote. Todd Bartee abstained. STAFF BRIEFINGS, PRESENTATIONS, AND/OR REPORTS 2. Presentation of Draft Revised Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan 3. Presentation of Draft Water Forward 2024 Plan Report VOTING ITEMS None Chair WALKER adjourned the meeting at 2:03pm. The minutes were approved at the September 19th, 2024, meeting on Madelline Mathis’ motion, Hani Michel’s second on an 7-0 vote with one vacancy. Task Force Members Vanessa Puig- Williams, Todd Bartee, and Robert Mace absent. 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 …
