Backup_Large Water Users Open House Boards — original pdf

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Large Water User Policy Open House Austin Water is preparing for the future by strengthening our policies for responsible water use. 17 Austin Water is Working Today to Prepare for Tomorrow. Water Forward Austin Water’s 100-year water resource plan,  Water Forward, is approved by Council and protects our water supply with strategies that respond to growth, drought and climate change. Reclaimed (Recycled) Water Since 1974, Austin Water has expanded our reclaimed (recycled) water system to deliver highly treated wastewater through purple pipes for uses like irrigation and industrial cooling. Conservation Austin Water delivers year-round initiatives to reduce customer demand and improve efficiency across our water system, including: public education, incentives, water use compliance, regulatory inspections and water loss management. COLORADO RIVERUllrichWater Treatment PlantDavis Water Treatment PlantHandcox Water Treatment PlantLAKE AUSTINLAKE BUCHANANLADY BIRD LAKETom Miller DamLonghorn DamMansfield DamLAKE TRAVISWalnut CreekWastewater Treatment PlantSouth Austin RegionalWastewater Treatment PlantLower Colorado River& Highland LakesCentralized Reclaimed SystemAustin’s drinking water comes from the Colorado River and Highland Lakes. This supply totals about 325,000 acre-feet a year, or 106 billion gallons. Annual water use is currently about 175,000 acre-feet. Austin’s Drinking Water Supply2025 Total Water Use in Austin 2025 Reclaimed (Recycled) and Potable (Drinking) Combined Water Use City of Austin • 1.4% High Impact • City of Austin • 2.2% Wholesale • 5.8% Residential • 60.1% High Impact • Commercial • 10.2% Commercial • 20.3% 1 DRAFT Definition of High Impact Water Users Austin Water has developed this draft definition of high impact water users: “High impact water user” means one or more commercial buildings* on one or more parcels in accordance with a phased plan or approved site plan, with historical or projected water use above 85 million gallons per year**, including potable and non-potable water. *Including industrial and manufacturing facilities **Aligns with current large volume water use threshhold High Impact Water Users would be subject to new requirements, including: Separate Application process for new developments Water Budgeting requirements for new and existing high impact water users Water Conservation Plan requirements for new and existing high impact water users Annual Reporting requirements for new and existing high impact water users 2 Give us your feedback! Definition of High Impact Water Users 1 2 3 Does the proposed volume threshold of 85 million gallons per year seem appropriate? Should both potable (drinking) water and reclaimed (recycled) water use be considered to determine if a customer is a high impact water customer? Should both historic (past) and projected (future) water use be considered to determine if a customer is a high impact water customer? 3 4Current New Customer Application ProcessService Extension Request (SER)Tailored Plan: Austin Water checks applicants’ estimated water use to determine how they can connect to our system, then creates a utility plan for each site.Land Development ReviewAustin Water completes a Water Benchmarking Application Review alongside a City of Austin Site Plan Review and Subdivision review.Building ReviewThe City of Austin completes a final building scale review, including inspections of onsite water reuse systems, dual plumbing and cross-connection protections.When the Developer Pays: If a plan shows more infrastructure is needed, the developer must design and pay for those improvements.When the City Contributes: If a plan aligns with Austin Water’s existing plans, the City can contribute to a larger project.123Current Water Benchmarking and Reuse Requirements Water Benchmarking: Before a site plan is approved, applicants complete a Water Benchmarking Application showing how water will be used, reused and conserved. After completing the application, Austin Water sends applicants tailored recommendations for water savings and incentives that help protect our community’s drinking water supply.DEVELOPMENT SIZEREQUIREMENTSmallLESS THAN 250,000 SF• Connect to reclaimed water within 250 feet OR • Collect and reuse condensate for makeup water in evaporative cooling towers LargeWITHOUT MULTIFAMILY 250,000 SF OR MORE• Connect to reclaimed water within 500 feet OR  • Install an onsite water reuse systemLarge Multifamily250,000 SF OR MORE • Connect to reclaimed water within 500 ft. OR  • Install an onsite water reuse system OR  • If further than 500 ft. from reclaimed water: Install dual plumbing, make ready to connect to reclaimed water, pay a fee to support reclaimed system expansionWater Reuse: Austin Water’s GoPurple program requires new developments to integrate different water reuse strategies depending on the size of the building, such as capturing rainwater, reusing air conditioning condensate or connecting to our reclaimed water system.5DRAFT High Impact Water User Customer Application Process Austin Water is considering the following new requirements for High Impact Water Users: 1 Service Extension Request (SER) • Add “high impact water user” designation • Add estimated average yearly water usage • Note future water conservation and reporting requirements 2 Site Development Permit (SDP) Water Benchmarking Application: • Flag application if demands show a site is above the set water volume threshold • Add code requirements for site approval: New separate application for high impact water users with individual water conservation plans New water reuse code for high impact water users (25-9). 3 Site Plan approval May require Council approval 6 Give us your feedback! High Impact Water User Customer Application Process 1 What parts of the draft application process are most important to confirm if responsible water use is planned by new high impact water users? 2 Are there steps in the process that could be refined to strengthen accountability or transparency? 7 Austin Water Rates Austin Water is a municipally-owned utility that provides water, wastewater and reclaimed water service at cost. Cost-of- Service Study In keeping with industry best practices, costs and rates are evaluated every five to seven years in a Cost-of-Service Study. Impact fees New developments help pay for infrastructure that serves growth by paying these fees, also called Capital Recovery Fees. This helps keep rates lower for customers, and the public can weigh in on updates beginning in 2027. Rates are based on the cost of providing those services, with costs shared across customer classes in a way that supports equity, affordability and reliability. Large water users are included in that process and will continue to be considered thoughtfully when rates are set. Community Benefit Charge All retail customers pay a per thousand-gallon fee for water and wastewater that assists residential customers as part of our Customer Assistance Program (CAP). 8 DRAFT Water Budget Concept Austin Water’s current Water Forward plan includes a strategy to implement water budgeting across all customer sectors by 2030. Data Collection: Austin Water collects data on how customers use water as part of our benchmarking application process and updates these estimates with meter information. Water Budgets: Water budgets would set a reasonable volume of efficient usage for high impact water users. Rate Impact: To encourage conservation, customers would pay higher rates if they exceed their water budget. 9 DRAFT Annual Reporting Concept Austin Water currently reports annually on our largest customers and is considering additional reporting on high impact water users, with the first of these reports in 2027.  The new annual reports could include: 1 General Impact – How much water in Austin Water’s service area is used by high impact water users, and how much it changes each year. 2 Individual Impact – Every high impact water user’s: • Water usage and all sources, reported monthly • Water that leaves the site, as wastewater or other discharge • Water used for cooling • Conservation plan with accomplishments • Compliance with their plan’s requirements 10 Give us your feedback! Water Budget Concept 1 2 3 Would you support Austin Water implementing water budgets for high impact water users on an accelerated timeline? Would you support Austin Water implementing water budgets across all customer sectors (commercial, multifamily and residential) over time? What concerns or suggestions do you have about using water budgeting as a conservation tool? 11 Current Conservation Measures Austin Water has had year-round water conservation requirements and incentives for more than 40 years, even outside drought stages. Citywide Plans Every five years, we update our state-required citywide conservation plans with community input and outreach events. We plan to start gathering feedback for the next plan update in 2027. 1 2 Water Conservation Plan: Programs and requirements to improve water efficiency year- round, in wet and dry periods. Next update: 2029. Drought Contingency Plan: Emergency drought plan with stages and response rules. Next update: 2029. Conservation in Practice Commercial Irrigation facility assessment with inspections every two years for 1-acre or larger properties • 3,000+ facilities Cooling Tower efficiency program with annual inspections • 250+ facilities 12 DRAFT Water Conservation Plans Concept for High Impact Water Users Following Council direction, large water users would create conservation plans for Austin Water review and approval during site plan review. Each plan would show how: 1 2 3 4 Efficiency measures and conservation technology investments lower the project’s water demand, including alternative cooling systems Recycled or onsite water reuse is used to meet non-drinking water needs The development will responsibly manage wastewater discharged from the site If a plan does not meet Austin Water standards, it would require Council Approval 13 DRAFT → Key Elements Water Conservation Plans Concept for High Impact Water Users Water Balance Calculator: Austin Water is considering using a staff-developed water balance calculator to capture much of the information required by the water conservation plan. This calculator tracks where water enters a site, how it is used and where it leaves. Measurable Goals: Austin Water is also considering requiring measurable 5 and 10-year goals in each plan, as either total gallons used or a percentage reduced from a base year. Enforcement: For those out of compliance, Austin Water is considering requiring corrective action plans following a defined timeline. Missed deadlines could trigger fees or other steps. Regular Updates: Austin Water is considering requiring that plans be updated every five years. 14 Give us your feedback! Water Conservation Plans Concept for High Impact Water Users 1 2 3 What concerns or suggestions do you have about setting 5- and 10-year water use goals for high impact water users? Do you support requiring corrective action plans and possibly imposing additional fees when a customer is out of compliance with their water conservation plan? Do you support requiring high impact water users to update their water conservation plans every five years, in alignment with the City-wide water conservation plan? 15 Survey Take our Large Water User Policy Open House Survey at: SpeakUpAustin.org/w01364 Give us your feedback! SpeakUpAustin.org/w01364 16