Regular Meeting of the Water and Wastewater Commission February 19, 2025 — 4:00 pm Austin Water Headquarters Waller Creek Center 625 East 10th Street, Austin Texas Some members 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: http://www.austintexas.gov/wwc 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. To register, call or email the board liaison Heather Cooke at 512-972-0083 or Heather.Cooke@austintexas.gov . To register to speak in person, people must sign up at least ten minutes before the meeting is called to order. Mike Reyes, (District 4) Vacant (District 5) Shwetha Pandurangi (District 6) Judy Musgrove (District 7) Christopher Maxwell-Gaines, Vice Chair (District 8) Marcela Tuñón Sion (District 9) Susan Turrieta, Chair (District 10) Commissioners: William Moriarty (Mayor) Jesse Penn (District 1) Alex Navarro (District 2) Amanda Marzullo (District 3) CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES DISCUSSION AND ACTION 1. Approval of minutes from the January 15, 2025 regular meeting of the Water and Wastewater Commission. 2. Recommend approval to authorize a contract for construction services for the 2020 Bond Substandard Streets Ross Road North with DeNucci Constructors, LLC, in the amount of $29,650,594.00 plus a $2,965,059.40 contingency for a total contract amount not to exceed $32,615,653.40. Funding in the amount of $29,669,890.33 is available in the Capital Budget of the Transportation and Public Works Department and Funding in the amount of $2,945,763.07 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water. 3. Recommend approval of an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 15-9 (Utility Service Regulations) to authorize wastewater billing methodology for customers with onsite water reuse systems and customers with evaporative loss from cooling towers. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. 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 Heather Cooke at Austin Water, 512-972-0083 for additional information; TTY users’ route through Relay Texas at 711. …
WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, January 15, 2025 The Water and Wastewater Commission convened in a regular called meeting on January 15, 2025 at Waller Creek Center, 625 E 10th Street, Austin, Texas. Chair Turrieta called the Water and Wastewater Commission to order at 4:06 p.m. Commission Members in Attendance: Chair Susan Turrieta, Vice Chair Christopher Maxwell-Gaines, Judy Musgrove, Shwetha Pandurangi, Mike Reyes, Marcela Tunon Sion (Remote), Amanda Marzullo, Alex Navarro, William Moriarty, Jesse Penn PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL There were no registered public speakers APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of minutes from the December 4, 2024, regular meeting of the Water and Wastewater Commission. The minutes were approved on Commissioner Pandurangi’s motion and Commissioner Maxwell- Gaines’ second on a 10-0 vote DISCUSSION AND ACTION 2. Recommend approval to authorize negotiation and execution of a collection agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, for the purpose of re- evaluating fuels in closed canopy Ashe Juniper-oak woodlands, for a term of three years, in an amount not to exceed $198,467. Funding is available in the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan Fund and the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Water. Funding for the remaining term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Recommended on Commissioner Marzullo’s motion and Commissioner Penn’s second on a 10-0 vote 3. Recommend approval to authorize a contract for cold-water meters for Austin Water with Thirkettle Corporation d/b/a Aqua-Metric Sales Company, for an initial term of one year with up to two one-year extension options for a total contract amount not to exceed $6,000,000. Funding: $900,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Water. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Recommended on Commissioner Marzullo’s motion and Commissioner Penn’s second on a 10-0 vote 4. Recommend approval to authorize execution of a contract for liquid polymer for thickening and dewatering sludge for Austin Water with Polydyne Inc., for an initial term of three years with up to two one-year extension options, for a total contract amount not to exceed $6,000,000. Funding: $900,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Operating Budget of Austin Water. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Recommended on Commissioner Marzullo’s motion and Commissioner Penn’s second on a 10-0 vote 5. Recommend approval …
..Body Item 2 Water & Wastewater Commission: February 19, 2025 Council: February 27, 2025 Posting Language ..Title Recommend approval to authorize execution of a contract for construction services for the 2020 Bond Substandard Streets Ross Road North project, for the Transportation and Public Works Department and Austin Water and to be managed by Capital Delivery Services, with DeNucci Constructors, LLC, in the amount of $29,650,594.00 plus a $2,965,059.40 contingency for a total contract amount not to exceed $32,615,653.40. Funding: $29,669,890.33 is available in the Capital Budget of the Transportation and Public Works Department and Funding in the amount of $2,945,763.07 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water. Lead Department Financial Services Department. Managing Department Capital Delivery Services. Purchasing Language: The Financial Services Department issued an Invitation for Bids IFB 6100 CLMC1068 for these services. The solicitation was issued on October 7, 2024, and closed on January 9, 2025. Of the six bids received, the recommended contractor submitted the lowest responsive bid. A complete solicitation package, including a tabulation of the bids received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=141362. MBE / WBE: This contract will be awarded in compliance with City Code Chapter 2-9A (Minority-Owned and Women- Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program) by meeting the goals with 5.81% MBE and 1.51% WBE participation. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: February 19, 2025 – To be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission. Additional Backup Information: The City evaluated Ross Road, in a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) as part of the 2016 Mobility Bond to develop recommendations to improve mobility and safety along the project area. The project area in the PER includes Ross Road between State Highway 71 and Pearce Lane (referred in the report as “Ross Road North”) and between Pearce Lane and Heine Farm Road (referred to as “Ross Road South”). This project scope is for the construction of Ross Road North only. Ross Road South is being designed under the jurisdiction of Travis County. The proposed improvements are focused on reducing congestion and enhancing safety by improving vehicular traffic flow, reducing delays at intersection points, providing alternative modes of transportation, and reducing the number of collision points. The proposed improvements include: • Expansion of Ross Road North to include two lanes in each direction; addition of left turn pockets at key intersections; addition of curb and …
..De Item 3 Water & Wastewater Commission: February 19, 2025 Council: February 27, 2025 Posting Language ..Title Recommend approval of an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 15-9 (Utility Service Regulations) to authorize wastewater billing methodology for customers with onsite water reuse systems and customers with evaporative loss from cooling towers. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. Lead Department Austin Water. Prior Council Action: December 11, 2019 – City Council voted to approve the Land Development Code Revision directing Austin Water to establish a regulatory program and an incentive program for Onsite Water Reuse Systems on first reading, on a 7-4 vote. February 13, 2020 – City Council voted to approve the Land Development Code Revision directing Austin Water to establish a regulatory program and an incentive program for Onsite Water Reuse Systems on second reading, on a 7-4 vote. December 10, 2020 - City Council approved an ordinance establishing City Code Chapter 15-13 relating to treatment, monitoring and reporting regulations for Onsite Water Reuse Systems, on a 10-0 vote. April 22, 2021 – City Council voted to approve an initial Pilot Incentive Program for Onsite Water Reuse Systems for the voluntary installation of alternative Onsite Water Reuse Systems, on a 10-1 vote. May 20, 2021 – City Council adopted a resolution directing staff to prepare an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 25-9 (Water and Wastewater) establishing water benchmarking, expanding Reclaimed Water Connection requirements, and adding Onsite Water Reuse requirements, on an 11-0 vote. June 10, 2021 – City Council adopted an ordinance waiving Planning Commission review of Land Development Code amendments in order to expedite implementation of water conservation strategies in the Water Forward Plan, on an 11-0 vote. September 30, 2021 – City Council adopted an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 25-9 (Water and Wastewater) relating to establishing new requirements for water conservation in the implementation of the Water Forward Plan, including expansion of the Reclaimed Water Connection requirement, water benchmarking, and mandatory Onsite Water Reuse for certain new developments and requiring an affordability report, on a 10-1 vote. November 9, 2023 – City Council adopted an ordinance to amend Ordinance #20210930-117 to defer the effective date for Onsite Water Reuse requirements for large development projects, on a 7-1 vote. March 7, 2024 – City Council adopted an ordinance amending City Code Chapter 25-9 (Water and Wastewater) relating to clarifying requirements for water conservation in the implementation of …
Wastewater Billing Ordinance for Onsite Water Reuse Systems Katherine Jashinski, P.E. Supervising Engineer February 19th, 2025 Water & Wastewater Commission Agenda Intro to GoPurple and Onsite Water Reuse Options for Billing for Wastewater Wastewater Flow Factor Billing Proposed Ordinance Q&A 2 Intro to GoPurple and Onsite Water Reuse GoPurple Austin City Council Adoption on March 7th 2024 Code Changes for Onsite Water Reuse and Reclaimed Water Connections Affordability Strategies for Reuse Projects New community Benefit Charge increase ($0.15 per thousand gallons) to fund Reclaimed Water System expansion and Onsite Reuse programs Go Purple | AustinTexas.gov 4 Requirements for Onsite Water Reuse Systems Project Size Other Project Characteristics Required Sources 250,000 sf or greater of GFA Project has one or more commercial, multifamily or mixed use buildings Combined AC condensate and Rainwater Exception: project has four or more multifamily buildings with a FAR <1 Combined AC condensate and Rainwater Required End Uses Irrigation Toilet/urinal Cooling Tower Irrigation AC condensate Cooling Tower Less than 250,000 sf of GFA Project has a cooling tower of 100 tons or greater capacity GFA = Gross Floor Area FAR = Floor to Area Ration 5 Accounting for Wastewater Contributions from Onsite Water Reuse Systems 6 Austin Central Library: Lessons Learned 7 Considerations for Private Meters for Wastewater Billing 8 Cost to add additional metering reduces the affordability of the systems Location of private meters within buildings requires self-reporting Maintenance and calibration of meters increases workload for facility managers Manual Billing to get meter reads into Austin's billing system adds substantial workload and increases staffing needs at AW Options for Billing for Wastewater 1. Wastewater averaging 2. Gallon for gallon 3. Wastewater billing adjustments for evaporative cooling towers 4. Metered wastewater billing City Code Chapter 15-9 (Utility Regulations) City Code Specifies Current Options for Wastewater Billing 10 Metering and Billing for Existing Customers Residential Commercial ~ 95% of AW customers ~5% of AW customers Wastewater Averaging Water = Domestic meter consumption WW = Average meter consumption Nov-March Gallon for Gallon Water = Domestic + Irrigation meter consumption WW = Domestic meter consumption 11 Evaporative Loss Adjustment Program for Cooling Towers Private meter IN Approximately 120 AW customers participate These customers: • reapply every 5 years • are responsible for the ownership and maintenance of their private meters which support the cooling tower system • self …
MY ATX WATER Austin’s Smart Metering System Randi Jenkins, Assistant Director Water & Wastewater Commission February 19, 2025 AGENDA Overview Citywide Implementation Substantial Completion & System Performance Communications, Customer Interactions & Benefits Testimonials Next Steps 2 My ATX Water OVERVIEW Network Configuration My ATX Water Customer Portal Data Collection Unit Secure Wireless Network Billing and Data Analytics 3 Citywide Implementation • Pre-planning & Pilots • Exchanging 250,000+ analog meters • Customer portal for real-time water metrics, alerts, tips, and customization • What made this project different? • Reaching Customers • Interactive Map • Quality Assurance & Meter to Bill Processes 4 Reaching Customers Customer mailer (4 weeks prior to install) Email (~1 week prior to install) Neighborhood yard signs Virtual community information meetings HOA/Neighborhood Association notifications Social Media center 5 Post install welcome & available call Quality Assurance & Meter to Bill Process Quality control has been integral to success • Each My ATX Water meter is tested by manufacturer for accuracy • AW conducts additional tests on a representative sample of meters to validate accurate Each My ATX Water meter undergoes 10-step certification process after registered readings installation After installation, manual and electronic reads are conducted simultaneously through two billing cycles before switching to fully electronic reads 6 SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION & SYSTEM PERFORMANCE 7 Substantial Completion & System Performance 100% Data Collection Units operating Averaging 99.96% billable reads each month 98.86% of 258,957 meters exchanged What is left? • 623 large meters to be converted by contractor • 429 1-inch, 1.5-inch, and 2-inch Turbine meters are on back order from Badger • 585 small meters require a maintenance task to complete AMI compatibility • 94 fire demand meters - hiring engineering firm to survey sites and bid a contract 8 COMMUNICATIONS, CUSTOMER INTERACTIONS AND BENEFITS 9 Communications AW has sent 5M portal communications • drought and water conservation education, water quality report, emergency and planned events, customer surveys, and more. Weekly install and portal recruitment email open rate at ~70% (above industry average). Continued communications on the horizon are the Water Quality Report, water conservation including encouragement to customize their home water profile, budget, and rates. 10 As of 9/27, 98 open issues currently being worked As of 9/27, 4,242 issues resolved Customer Interactions 499,005 Leak & Bill Forecast Notifications since 2021 Leak Notifications in 2024 • 148,134 detected • 65% …
