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WATER FORWARD R E U S E S T R AT E G I E S One City, One Water: A plan for the next 100 years Water and Wastewater Commission - February 14, 2024 Agenda  Water Forward Overview  Reuse Strategies  Addressing Affordability  Key 2024 Activities to Advance Reuse 2 Water Forward Water Forward is Austin’s 100-year integrated water resource plan, unanimously adopted by Council in November 2018. Water Forward identifies 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. 3 Austin’s Water Supply: 325,000 Acre Feet Per Year 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 4 Water Forward Guiding Principles Water Forward is updated on a 5-year cycle. The updated plan will be submitted for Council Approval in November 2024. Resiliency Inclusive approach + Community values Diverse strategies Equity + Affordability Protect the Colorado River Reduce operational risks Focus on local supplies 5 WATER FORWARD One City One Water One Approach  Environmental Sustainability & Climate Equity  Affordability  Reliability & Resiliency 6 Climate Change Planning for Uncertainty Population Growth 7 Combined Storage Lakes Buchanan and Travis 8 Water Forward Strategies Reuse Conservation Supply Partnerships 9 Why Now? Why Reuse? 1999 2024 10 Value of Reuse  Affordability • $10M+ Annual Cost Savings to Customers  Reliability & Resiliency  Environmental Sustainability Centralized Reclaimed System 11 AW & COA Leading the Way Advancing Reuse  Central Library  Permitting & Development Center  Austin Energy Headquarters  Other Developments • Austin Peace Academy • Waterloo Park Restrooms • Mueller Visitor Center • Travis County Community Center 12 Reuse Strategies Water Forward WF18 Implementation Progress Reuse & Conservation Implementation Highlights Reuse Onsite Water Reuse System (OWRS) regulatory framework and incentive approved by Council New Voluntary Reclaimed Water Connection incentive developed 14 Conservation Water benchmarking, onsite water reuse, and extension of reclaimed water connection requirements approved by Council Investments to Advance Reuse Walnut Creek WWTP Reclaimed Water Initiative Phase 1A&B Central Zone Projects 51st Street Tank Bulk Fill Stations Montopolis Tank & Pump Station Planning and Development Center On-Site Reclamation Facility South Austin Regional WWTP Pump Station Walnut Creek WWTP Metering Indirect Potable Reuse Planning Decentralized WWTPs Design Criteria Surge Analysis Montopolis Elevated Storage Tank 1995 2005 $100 million 2015 $94 million 2025 2035 $203 million Reclaimed Water Mains Montopolis Downtown Capital Complex Red River University of Texas Austin-Bergstrom Airport Reclaimed Water Mains Decker Lane Onion Creek District Park Krieg Fields Seaholm Street Reclaimed Water Mains Onion Creek Oltorf Street South 1st Street West Riverside ABIA North Loop 3rd St: Guadalupe to Nueces Reclaimed Water Mains Travis County Courthouse SAR WWTP to SH71 8th St: Congress to West Lake and Rattan Area Planning Reclaimed Water Mains SH71 to US183 SH71 to Lady Bird Lake Downtown Toomey Road Advancing Reuse across Austin 16 Reuse Strategies New Affordability Incentives Incentives to support expansion and adoption of reuse strategies Reclaimed Water System Expanding AW’s centralized reclaimed water system Community-scale Reclaimed Water Localized treatment facilities and distribution systems Onsite Water Capture and Reuse Commercial and multifamily rainwater, stormwater, graywater, and air conditioning condensate 17 Addressing Affordability Advancing Reuse  Incentives and grants for reuse and conservation  Reduced monthly fixed charges  Expedited building permit review process  Low interest loan program  Cost sharing  Travis County PACE Loan Program 18 Funding Strategies Advancing Reuse  Community Benefit Charge (CBC) and onsite reuse programs  Purple Choice and Purple Choice Plus • Add an extra $0.15 per thousand gallons to AW’s CBC to fund reclaimed water system expansion • Voluntary rate program for AW residential and commercial customers to fund reclaimed system • Fees applied when potable water allotments from Water Benchmarking are exceeded expansion and programs  Excess Usage Fees 19 Development Requirements Development Size Current Requirements Effective 12/1/2021 Small <250,000 square feet • Water Benchmarking • Connect to centralized reclaimed water within 250 feet Proposed Requirements Effective 4/1/2024 • No change Large ≥250,000 square feet without multifamily • Water Benchmarking • Connect to centralized reclaimed water within 500 feet • Connect to centralized reclaimed water within 500 feet; OR Install an onsite water reuse system Large ≥250,000 square feet with multifamily • Water Benchmarking • Connect to centralized reclaimed water within 250 feet • Connect to centralized reclaimed water within 500 feet; OR Install an onsite water reuse system Exclude projects accredited for Affordability Unlocked or State Low Income Housing Tax Credit • • Key 2024 Activities Advancing Reuse March 7: PURPLE PIPE DAY!  Council considers Code changes for Onsite Water Reuse Systems and Reclaimed Water System Connections  Council considers reauthorizing existing incentive program  Council considers Community Benefit Charge increase ($0.15 per thousand gallons) to fund Reclaimed Water System expansion and Onsite Reuse programs  Council considers reclaimed water Interlocal Agreement with Travis County August  Budget adoption, including new rates and incentives for reclaimed water system expansion 21 Questions?