Item 10 - 2025 Q4 Report - Water Management Strategy Implementation — original pdf

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Water Management Strategy Implementation REPORT Fourth Quarter 2025, October - December February 2026 Contents  Fourth Quarter Summary  Water Conservation Updates  Water Loss Reduction Updates  Reclaimed Water and Onsite Reuse Updates  Conservation Outreach Updates  Water Supply Project Updates  Water Use and GPCD  Notes Regarding Data 2 Fourth Quarter Summary The Water Management Strategy Implementation Report is intended to provide transparency and accountability regarding the execution of strategies from the 2024 Water Conservation Plan and the 2024 Water Forward Plan. The plans include proactive and substantial demand management strategies and innovative local supply strategies, but the hard work necessary to complete the strategies and meet the goals are illustrated in the implementation reports. While the combined water storage in Lakes Buchanan and Travis stayed about 80 percent full throughout the fourth quarter of 2025, Central Texas entered moderate and severe levels of hydrologic drought and remained throughout the quarter. These dry conditions resulted in summer-like water use levels in October before lessening in November. 3 Water Conservation Updates  Annual WaterWise Irrigation Program seminar was held on November 6, 2025. Over 130 irrigators and landscapers attended the seminar to learn about landscaping and irrigation.  Irrigation inspection anniversary – since October 2024, 1,600 new residential automatic irrigation systems have been inspected to meet State and Austin regulations, providing more efficient and effective landscape irrigation.  In 2025, customers saved over 30 million gallons from rebate programs, the highest in 5 years. 4 Water Conservation Metrics Residential Rebate Programs Approved Rebates 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Drought Survival Tools Irrigation Upgrades Rainwater Harvesting Rebates WaterWise Landscape WaterWise Rainscape Other Residential Programs Q4 2024-Q3 2025 Q4 2025 5 Water Conservation Metrics Commercial Rebate Programs Approved Rebates 5 4 3 2 1 0 4 4 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Bucks for Business Other Commercial Programs Q4 2024-Q3 2025 Q4 2025 6 Water Conservation Metrics Compliance Assessments Number of Compliant Commercial Facilities 86% 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 Number of Compliant Commercial Facilities 85% 96% 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Landscape Irrigation Assessment Cooling Tower Assessment Vehicle Wash Assessment Q4 2024-Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Q4 2024-Q3 2025 Q4 2025 7 Water Conservation Strategy Milestones (Water Conservation Plan, p. 35-36, Water Forward Plan, p. 34, 36) 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 Austin Development Services 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. Not Started Planning In Progress Completed 8 Water Loss Reduction Updates  Water service replacement program utilizing $45 million low-interest loan from TWDB is proceeding forward into design phase.  Four employees attended and one presented at the North American Water Loss Conference.  AMI Operations is posting for an Engineer C to cover AMI 2.0 tasks. 9 Water Loss Reduction Metrics Number of water main leaks detected and repaired 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 181 164 140 116 76 Q4 2024 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 Q4 2025 10 Water Loss Reduction Metrics Linear feet of leak detection and repair performed on small diameter water distribution Linear feet of leak detection and repair performed on large diameter water transmission lines 32,000 The scheduled 32,000 linear feet of transmission line condition assessment in December 2025 was cancelled due to the discovery of stuck 36-inch inline valve. The assessment will be rescheduled after the replacement of the valve. A large diameter leak detections inspection is scheduled for February 2026. 0 0 0 0 35000 30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 Q4 2024 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Thousand Feet Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Q4 2024 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Million Feet Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Contracted Austin Water Staff 11 Water Loss Reduction Strategy Milestones (Water Conservation Plan, p. 33-34, Water Forward Plan, p. 33) 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. Create dashboards to integrate SCADA, AMI, pressure monitoring and leak detection data. Not Started Planning In Progress Completed 12 Reclaimed Water & Onsite Water Reuse Updates  Construction contract for the West Riverside Reclaimed Water Main project was advertised.  Held webinar for newly published Onsite Water Reuse System Operator Training Manual and certificate program. 13 Reclaimed Water Metrics Total number of reclaimed water meters 220 222 225 226 226 250 200 150 100 50 0 Volume of centralized reclaimed water used 639 441 487 341 355 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Q4 2024 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Q4 2024 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Million Gallons Q3 2025 Q4 14 Current Reclaimed CIP Projects Projects Phase Oltorf Reclaimed Water Main Phase 2 (7,000 linear feet, Q1 2026) ABIA North Reclaimed Loop Main (4,100 linear feet, Q4 2026) Fallwell Lane Capital Renewal Project (6,400 linear feet, Q4 2027) Travis Heights Reclaimed Water Main (6,200 linear feet, Q4 2027) Krieg Fields Reclaimed Water Line Restoration (1,150 l.f., Q2 2027) West Riverside Reclaimed Water Main (2,900 linear feet, Q4 2027) South 1st Reclaimed Water Main (5,500 linear feet, Q3 2028) Toomey Road Reclaimed Water Main (3,300 linear feet, Q3 2028) Travis Co. Courts Reclaimed Water Main Ext. (3,600 l.f., Q3 2028) Montopolis Reclaimed Elevated Storage Tank (Q1 2030) Downtown Reclaimed Water Transmission Main (5,500 l.f., Q1 2033) Preliminary Design Advertisement Constructio n 15 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  2 reclaimed-ready project(s) approved for fee in lieu 4 3 2 1 0 Onsite water reuse system construction permits approved 3 3 3 1 1 Q4 2024 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 Q4 16 Reclaimed and Onsite Water Reuse Milestones (Water Conservation Plan, p. 38-39, Water Forward Plan, p. 38-39) 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. Not Started Planning In Progress Completed 17 Reclaimed and Onsite Water Reuse Milestones (Water Conservation Plan, p. 39, Water Forward Plan, p. 40) 2025 Milestones Onsite Water Reuse Progress Adopt wastewater billing ordinance for onsite water reuse systems. Develop an operator training certificate 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. Not Started Planning In Progress Completed 18 Conservation Outreach Updates  Campaign impressions typically go down during the fall and winter with reduced ad buys (we invest more during spring rebate season and hot summer months).  Seasonal messaging shifts to Wastewater Averaging and Winter Prep Tips.  Home Water Reports were sent to ~175K residential accounts each month with an average open rate of 68% and a click-thru rate of 3% (industry averages are 25% and 3% respectively).  Web pages focused on conservation had some of the highest numbers of visits and interactions (Find Your Watering Day, My ATX Water, Wastewater Averaging). 19 Conservation Outreach Metrics Total audience reached with conservation messaging 17,900,000 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 33 25 25 28 28 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 269 211 218 179 158 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Q4 2024 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Thousand Alerts Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Q4 2024 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Million Gallons Q3 2025 Q4 2025 21 Conservation Outreach Milestones (Water Conservation Plan, p. 37, Water Forward Plan, p. 34, 36) 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) Not Started Planning In Progress Completed 22 Water Supply Updates  AW chose to pivot Aquifer Storage and Recovery and Brackish Groundwater Desalination field testing to the Trinity Aquifer in Eastern Travis County.  Three consultant reports regarding Indirect Potable Reuse emergency and non-emergency implementation pathways continued development.  AW secured water rights amendment to use Lake Walter E. Long as a water supply reservoir. 23 Progress Water Supply Strategies (Water Forward Plan, p. 43, 43, 45, 46) 2025 Milestones 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. Not Started Planning In Progress Completed 24 Water Use and Gallons Per Capita Daily (GPCD)  In the 4th quarter (Oct – Dec), Austin used 126 gallons per person per day.  Less than the 3rd quarter - 141  Less than the 4th quarter 2024 – 134  October’s water use was similar to September, with drops in November and December.  Based on the 4th quarter GPCD, the 2025 annual GPCD is 128. 25 Water Use and GPCD (Gallons Per Capita Daily) 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 ) 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 GPCD by Calendar Year and Quarter 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 CY 2025 128 GPCD 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 21 7 10 24 28 17 5 9 19 24 55 36 28 34 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 55 30 37 33 23 8 11 27 23 8 9 24 31 31 21 6 10 23 29 22 5 9 18 28 21 8 11 26 20 7 10 23 33 30 23 7 10 22 31 22 5 9 18 28 44 38 29 35 30 37 40 33 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 Calendar Year (CY) & Quarter 2023 2024 2025 Non-Revenue Water City of Austin Wholesale Industrial Commercial Multi-family Residential Single-family Residential CY GPCD 26 Residential Water Use Highest use with greatest variation D C P G 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 27 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 Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Total Commercial City of Austin Single-family Residential Multi-family Residential Industrial Wholesale Non-revenue Water GPCD STAGE 1 STAGE 2 27 Moving Forward The first quarter of the year is always unpredictable in terms of weather. Overall water use in the quarter is typically the lowest of the year, barring significant freeze events. Anticipated first quarter achievements include:  Outreach efforts will focus on customer winter preparedness and wastewater averaging, transitioning to landscape conservation in March.  Completion of 7,000 feet of reclaimed water main along Oltorf Street.  New water loss reduction efforts to be implemented. 28 Notes Regarding Data Quarterly reporting of strategy implementation is a groundbreaking effort undertaken by Austin Water. Readers should note several points of information regarding the metric data. Additional metrics may 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 in the metrics charts, the four previous quarterly metrics are included for reference. Not all metrics may historical data. 29 Building Austin’s water future, together. Austin Water