Item 10 - Water Management Strategy Implementation Q2 Report — original pdf

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Water Management Strategy Implementation REPORT Water & Wastewater Commission August 20, 2025 Second Quarter 2025, April - June August 2025 Contents 2  First Quarter Summary  Notes Regarding Data  Water Conservation Updates  Water Loss Reduction Updates  Reclaimed Water and Onsite Reuse Updates  Conservation Outreach Updates  Water Supply Project Updates  Water Use and GPCD Second Quarter Summary The second quarter of the year (April – June) transitions from the drier winter to one of the wettest months of the year in May. Implementation efforts also transition to meet changing conditions and environments.  Landscape water conservation expands for existing and new homes.  Increased leak detection for small-diameter pipes.  Additional reclaimed customers and usage, while approving onsite reuse permits for future development.  Expanded public outreach with springtime messaging.  Planning for the aquifer storage and recovery project continued, as well as an emergency implementation plan for indirect potable reuse. Water Conservation Updates  Council approved Uniform Plumbing Code with 3 local amendments that implement the Water Forward 2018 Landscape Transformation strategy: • Irrigation pressure reduction components • Limitation of the size of automatic irrigation systems • Requirement of laundry to landscape plumbing  Residential landscape rebates – 140% increase over 2024 year to date  Staff completed water efficiency audits on 6 City of Austin facilities; immediate action at one facility lowered irrigation consumption by 88% and total use by 21% 4 Water Conservation Metrics Residential Rebate Programs Approved Rebates 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5 Drought Survival Tools Irrigation Upgrades Rainwater Harvesting Rebates WaterWise Landscape WaterWise Rainscape Other Residential Programs Q2 2024-Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Water Conservation Metrics Commercial Rebate Programs Approved Rebates 5 4 3 2 1 0 6 Bucks for Business Other Commercial Programs Q2 2024-Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Water Conservation Metrics Compliance Assessments Number of Compliant Commercial Facilities Number of Compliant Commercial Facilities 3,200 3,180 3,160 3,140 3,120 3,100 3,080 3,060 3,040 3,020 7 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Landscape Irrigation Assessment Cooling Tower Assessment Vehicle Wash Assessment Q2 2024-Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q2 2024-Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Water Conservation Strategy Milestones 2025 Milestones Commercial Incentives Progress Pilot an increased rebate for commercial water use audits. Identify opportunities for CII facility owners/managers to benefit from the My ATX Water alerts and information. Landscape transformation Coordinate with COA Development Services Department to increase inspections of new-development soil inspections. Council adoption and implementation of local amendments to the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code (pressure-reduction devices, irrigation area, laundry to landscape). Austin Water inspection of all new residential irrigation systems and offering new homeowners follow-up checkups. 8 Not Started Planning In Progress Completed Water Loss Reduction Updates  AW's Effective Utility Management Water Loss Team meets regularly to implement recommendations from the Black & Veatch Water Loss Report  AW's proposed FY26-30 budget includes $18 million for service line replacements, up from $8 million in the previous budget. Currently working on plan to accelerate replacement schedule.  The 2024 infrastructure leakage index has been calculated as 5.4, an increase over 4.2 in 2023. This increase can be attributed to: improved water plant metering, updated reporting of municipal water use, and an increase in real losses. 9 Water Loss Reduction Metrics Number of water main leaks 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 10 181 164 95 72 76 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Water Loss Reduction Metrics Linear feet of leak detection performed on large diameter water transmission lines Linear feet of leak detection performed on small diameter water distribution 3 This work is completed in large projects. New contract will complete first survey(s) this Fall. 0 0 0 0 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 2.41 1.7 1.8 1.26 1.24 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 Thousand Feet Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 Million Feet Q1 2025 Q2 2025 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 11 Water Loss Reduction Strategy Milestones 2025 Milestones Progress Launch a cross-functional AW Water Loss Team to implement the recommendations of the water loss report. Develop an AW Leak Detection Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for leak detection practices, data management, and continuous training requirements. Develop an AW Production Meter SOP which includes production meter measurement improvement recommendations. Update AW Meter Testing SOPs for meter testing, sizing, and replacement. Develop an AW Unauthorized Consumption Mitigation SOP. Develop an AW Data Handling Errors Mitigation SOP. Pilot the implementation of two District Metering Areas (DMAs) to reduce water loss through pressure management. Create dashboards to integrate SCADA, AMI, pressure monitoring and leak detection data. 12 Not Started Planning In Progress Completed Reclaimed Water & Onsite Water Reuse Updates  Amended GoPurple resolution with incentives to fully subsidize reclaimed water, dual plumbing, and onsite reuse for deeply affordable housing projects.  Reclaimed Long Range Plan update has started with a consultant 13 Reclaimed Water Metrics Total number of reclaimed water meters Volume of centralized reclaimed water used 225 222 220 219 216 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 473.39 441.4 427.15 486.78 340.52 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 Million Gallons Q1 2025 Q2 2025 226 224 222 220 218 216 214 212 210 14 Current Reclaimed CIP Projects Projects Phase Oltorf Reclaimed Water Main Phase 2 Fallwell Lane Capital Renewal Project ABIA North Reclaimed Loop Main Travis Heights Reclaimed Water Main West Riverside Reclaimed Water Main South 1st Reclaimed Water Main Toomey Road Reclaimed Water Main Travis County Courts Reclaimed Water Main Extensions Montopolis Reclaimed Elevated Storage Tank Downtown Reclaimed Water Transmission Mains 15 Preliminary Design Design Advertisement Construction Onsite Water Reuse and GoPurple Metrics GoPurple Program Activity in Previous Quarter  Onsite Water Reuse System Incentives 0 project(s), 0 in funding, 0 MGY estimated water savings  Reclaimed Main Extension Rebates 0 project(s), $0 in funding, 0 MGY estimated water savings, 0 LF of main extension  Fee in Lieu of Onsite Water Reuse Systems 0 reclaimed-ready project(s) approved for fee in lieu 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 16 Onsite water reuse system construction permits approved 3 3 2 1 1 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Reclaimed and Onsite Water Reuse Milestones 2025 Milestones Centralized Reclaimed Progress Implement new projects to increase supply and extend the centralized service area. Conduct water benchmarking to identify uses appropriate for reclaimed water and required connections. Implement projects to Complete the Core. Complete Reclaimed Water Long Range Plan update Decentralized Reclaimed Collaborate with new developments to identify opportunities for decentralized reclaimed. Complete Wastewater Collection System Long Range Plan. 17 Not Started Planning In Progress Completed Reclaimed and Onsite Water Reuse Milestones 2025 Milestones Onsite Water Reuse Progress Adopt wastewater billing ordinance for onsite water reuse systems. Develop an operator training certification program for onsite reuse systems. Amend GoPurple resolution with incentives for deeply affordable housing projects. Update utility billing and permitting systems with new metering and billing methodologies for onsite water reuse systems. Program new software to track onsite reuse system permit compliance. 18 Not Started Planning In Progress Completed Conservation Outreach Updates  Spring campaigns emphasizing watering schedule, drought awareness and conservation rebates saw a 50% increase in audience reach over Q1  Web page traffic increases from Q1: Watering Schedule page – 250% Drought Response page – 177% AW Conservation Rebates page – 92% 19 Conservation Outreach Metrics Total audience reached with conservation messaging 22,878,000 Impressions 20 Conservation Outreach Metrics My ATX Water Portal Leak Alerts My ATX Water continuous use (leak) alerts sent to customers Estimated water savings from My ATX Water continuous use alerts 32.5 28.33 25.14 25.22 222.16 210.71 179.36 157.82 250 200 150 100 50 0 109.5 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 Thousand Alerts Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 Million Gallons Q1 2025 Q2 2025 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 21 20.49 Q2 2024 Conservation Outreach Milestones 2025 Milestones My ATX Water Progress Develop data regarding CII customer categorization to assist in benchmarking and the identification of facilities for water conservation outreach. Expand My ATX Water reporting to better understand customer engagement through the portal. Investigate additional methods to encourage residential customers to use the My ATX Water portal and water-saving alerts. Conduct pilot outreach activities to learn the best ways to encourage customers to save water. Austin Water will work with the My ATX Water software vendor to develop reporting to identify customers with My ATX Water meters installed who are irrigating outside of the mandatory watering schedule and deliver courtesy notices to those customers. (Council Amendment) 22 Not Started Planning In Progress Completed Water Supply Updates  Austin Water and the Bastrop Stakeholder Working Group continued to develop a draft Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) collaboration agreement for Phase 1B field testing. Austin Water will conduct community engagement in Bastrop beginning August 2025. Results of community engagement and the draft agreement will go to entities' governing bodies in Fall 2025.  Austin Water and consultants are developing the Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR) Emergency Implementation Plan, now expected in early 2026.  Austin Water and consultants are performing preliminary planning for use of Lake Long as a supply reservoir, brackish groundwater desalination, and emergency direct potable reuse. 23 Water Supply Strategies 2025 Milestones Progress Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Complete Phase 1A desktop analysis to identify favorable ASR locations Conduct Phase 1B field testing and make recommendations for ASR pilot project Lake Walter E. Long Water Supply Reservoir Complete feasibility report to evaluate off-channel reservoir configurations and recommend a preferred configuration Begin water quality sampling of Lake Walter E. Long Indirect Potable Reuse and Capture Local Inflows to Lady Bird Lake Develop IPR schematic design, design criteria, technical specifications, to include development of project configuration and sizing components Begin design-build procurement process and, pending Council approval, issue design-build contract The first Brackish Groundwater Desalination milestone is planned for 2028. 24 Not Started Planning In Progress Completed Water Use and Gallons Per Capita Daily (GPCD)  2nd Quarter GPCD (129) increased over Q1 (winter) GPCD (113) and over Q2 2024 (127) due to slight increases in the residential sectors.  2025 Q1 and Q2 GPCD (average 121) is comparable to the 2024 Q1 and Q2 GPCD (average 120). 25 Water Use and GPCD (Gallons Per Capita Daily) ) D C P G ( y a D r e p a t i p a C r e p s n o l l a G 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 26 CY 2018 121 GPCD CY 2019 128 GPCD CY 2020 131 GPCD CY 2021 125 GPCD CY 2022 133 GPCD CY 2023 130 GPCD CY 2024 130 GPCD GPCD by Calendar Year and Quarter 15 9 11 29 17 5 9 29 19 17 8 10 26 27 24 28 42 48 19 5 9 20 24 30 21 10 11 32 17 6 10 23 31 26 17 5 9 19 24 55 28 34 21 7 10 24 28 36 22 9 11 25 32 23 7 10 19 28 21 7 9 20 29 52 42 39 22 5 10 19 25 30 19 8 10 25 31 18 6 10 21 29 24 6 10 20 24 5 8 17 28 27 33 36 46 34 22 9 12 30 33 17 8 11 25 30 45 52 19 6 10 22 30 35 17 5 9 17 27 31 22 10 12 31 21 6 10 33 22 29 16 6 11 22 29 17 5 10 18 27 23 8 11 27 23 8 9 24 31 31 21 6 10 23 29 22 5 9 18 28 55 30 37 33 44 38 29 35 20 7 10 23 30 22 5 9 18 28 30 37 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 . 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Calendar Year (CY) & Quarter STAGE 1 STAGE 2 Non-Revenue Water City of Austin Wholesale Industrial Commercial Multi-family Residential Single-family Residential CY GPCD Residential Water Use Highest use with greatest variation GPCD by Calendar Year and Quarter STAGE 1 STAGE 2 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 Q1 2019 Q2 2019 Q3 2019 Q4 2019 Q1 2020 Q2 2020 Q3 2020 Q4 2020 Q1 2021 Q2 2021 Q3 2021 Q4 2021 Q1 2022 Q2 2022 Q3 2022 Q4 2022 Q1 2023 Q2 2023 Q3 2023 Q4 2023 Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Total Commercial City of Austin Single-family Residential Multi-family Residential Industrial Wholesale Non-revenue Water GPCD D C P G 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 27 Moving Forward The third quarter of the year is when Austin really begins to heat up, literally. This will also be a time when the utility anticipates several important efforts bear fruit:  Austin Water will launch a new incentive for affordable housing dual-use plumbing to fulfill Goal 1 of the City Manager’s Top 25 Goals.  Austin Water will begin community engagement with Bastrop County regarding aquifer storage and recovery.  On July 24, 2025, the TWDB approved AW’s SWIFT loan applications, with anticipated loan closings in November 2025. • $45 million – Polybutylene Pipe Replacement • $10 million - Travis Heights Reclaimed Water Main Notes Regarding Data Quarterly reporting of strategy implementation is a groundbreaking effort undertaken by Austin Water. Several important metrics require both explanation and development. Some metrics will be available in future quarterly reports.  Quarterly Data – All quarterly data should be considered preliminary and draft, subject to adjustment and revision at the end of the year and included in the annual report.  Historical Data – Where possible, 2024 quarterly metrics are included for reference with the 2025 first quarter metrics. Not all metrics have historical data.  Yield of Strategies – Estimated volumetric yields from strategies are included in the Water Conservation Plan (2029 and 2034) and the Water Forward Plan (2030). Austin Water is working to identify the volumetric yields of strategies as they are being implemented and report them in future reporting. 29 Questions