Cooling Tower RCA — original pdf

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Recommendation for Resource Management Commission Commission Meeting Date: Council Meeting Date: Department: November 17, 2020 December 10, 2020 Austin Water SUBJECT Approve amendments to city ordinances contained in Chapter 6-4 Water Conservation and 15-9-24 Utility Regulations to: assess administrative penalties for failure to submit cooling tower water efficiency registration and inspection reports required by 1126.1 of the city’s Mechanical Code; add efficiency performance standards for cooling tower drift eliminators; require the use of biocides in cooling tower recirculating water to increase water efficiency and protect public health by preventing airborne bacteria; and make ineligible for the evaporative loss credit on wastewater charges towers for which registration and inspection reports are not submitted. AMOUNT AND SOURCE OF FUNDING There is no unanticipated financial impact. The program would be administered under current funding and staffing. N/A N/A Purchasing Language: Prior Council Action: For More Information: Boards and Commission Action: MBE/WBE: Kevin Crittendon, 512-972-0191; Mark Jordan, 512-974-3901; Denise Avery, 512-972-0104 November 17, 2020 - To be reviewed and Resource Management Commission November 18, 2020 – To be reviewed by Water and Wastewater Commission N/A  The 2018 Austin Integrated Water Resources Plan – Water Forward – recommended the adoption of ordinances that would increase water use efficiency by the commercial, industrial and institutional (CII) water use sectors, specifically including cooling towers. The proposed ordinances would amend Chapter 6-4 Water Conservation by imposing administrative penalties of up to $500 for failure to submit required cooling tower registration and annual inspection reports to ensure towers are meeting all water efficiency standards and equipment requirements. Assessment of administrative penalties for this program would be consistent with the current assessment of penalties under the Commercial Irrigation System Evaluation and Commercial Car Wash Certification programs. The proposed ordinances would also amend the inspection report to include whether the tower is meeting additional water efficiency standards for drift eliminators and the addition of biocides to cooling tower recirculating water to prevent algae growth, thereby increasing water efficiency as well as protecting public health by preventing airborne bacteria. These measures are consistent with 1126.1 and E 403.5.2, respectively, of the 2015 Uniform Mechanical Code, International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAMPO), and Standard 189.1, International Green Construction Code, of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Finally, the proposed CII ordinances would amend 15-9-24 Utility Regulations by providing that those who do not submit required registration and inspection reports would be ineligible to receive the evaporative loss credit on their wastewater bills. COST DATA: 1. Drift eliminators are usually incorporated into the tower design and do not impose an additional cost. Drift can also be affected by fill design, air and water patterns, excessive water flow, excessive air flow, and water bypassing the drift eliminators. 2. Both chemical and non-chemical biocides may be used, and the costs are variable depending on the size of the tower and what method is used. 3. The submission of the one-time registration and annual inspection reports are pre-existing requirements, and the penalties would not impose any additional cost for towers that are in compliance.