Item 14 - Q1 2026 Report Water Management Strategy Implementation — original pdf

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Water Management Strategy Implementation REPORT First Quarter 2026, January - March May 14, 2026 Contents  First 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. Austin’s first quarter water use was similar to previous years. Water loss mitigation activities and the development of the reclaimed system continued. While water conservation rebates are generally modest during the first three months of the year, the utility was putting down roots through:  Customer outreach,  Community events,  Pilots of water loss-mitigation equipment, and  Progressing with reclaimed water system projects. 3 Water Conservation Updates  New water conservation community outreach grant (up to $3,000) was awarded to 5 organizations  Shoal Creek Conservancy, 2026 Waterwise Landscapes Tour, March 21  Spring community events focusing on landscaping  Landscape transformation limit on irrigation systems for new homes will be clarified as a Rule in late 2026 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 Q1 2025-Q4 2025 Q1 2026 5 Water Conservation Metrics Commercial Rebate Programs 5 4 3 2 1 0 Approved Rebates 4 4 3 1 1 Bucks for Business Q1 2025-Q4 2025 Q1 2026 6 Water Conservation Metrics Compliance Assessments Number of Compliant Commercial Facilities Number of Compliant Commercial Facilities 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Landscape Irrigation Assessment Cooling Tower Assessment Vehicle Wash Assessment Q1 2025-Q4 2025 Q1 2026 Q1 2025-Q4 2025 Q1 2026 7 Water Conservation Strategy Milestones (Water Conservation Plan, p. 35-36, Water Forward Plan, p. 34, 36) 2026 Milestones Commercial Incentives Progress 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). Not Started Planning In Progress Completed 8 Water Loss Reduction Updates  Austin Water Operations have prioritized full replacement of leaking water lines rather than repair whenever possible. Recent internal study determined that service lines are more vulnerable to subsequent failure after a repair.  Addition My ATX Water system-related activities to identify leaks:  Zonescan AMI-enabled leak detection undergoing trials  Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) metering for District Metered Areas undergoing trials  Austin Water’s Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI) improved to 5.16 in 2025, down from 5.44 the previous year. This represents a 5% improvement in system efficiency. 9 Water Loss Reduction Metrics Number of water main leaks detected and repaired 140 128 116 181 76 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Q1 2026 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 17,000 0 0 0 0 18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 Feet Q4 2025 Q1 2026 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 Million Feet Q4 2025 Q1 2026 Contracted Austin Water Staff 11 Water Loss Reduction Strategy Milestones (Water Conservation Plan, p. 33-34, Water Forward Plan, p. 33) 2026 Milestones Progress 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. Develop an AW Data Handling Errors Mitigation SOP. Create dashboards to integrate SCADA, AMI, pressure monitoring and leak detection data. Expand the use of District Management Areas across the city and consider partial conversion to Pressure Management Areas (PMAs). Not Started Planning In Progress Completed 12 Reclaimed Water & Onsite Water Reuse Updates  West Riverside Reclaimed Water Main and Krieg Fields Reclaimed Water Line Permanent Restoration projects were advertised and opened bids.  Presented Reclaimed Water and Onsite Water Reuse System site plan requirements to the City of Austin Land Development Academy 13 Reclaimed Water Metrics Total number of reclaimed water meters 222 225 226 226 228 250 200 150 100 50 0 Volume of centralized reclaimed water used 639 487 341 355 326 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Q1 2026 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 Million Gallons Q4 2025 Q1 2026 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 Construction 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 3 1 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Q1 2026 16 Reclaimed and Onsite Water Reuse Milestones (Water Conservation Plan, p. 38-39, Water Forward Plan, p. 38-39) 2026 Milestones Centralized Reclaimed Progress 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. Develop infrastructure planning and design guidance. (2028) (2027) Not Started Planning In Progress Completed 17 Reclaimed and Onsite Water Reuse Milestones (Water Conservation Plan, p. 39, Water Forward Plan, p. 40) 2026 Milestones Onsite Water Reuse Progress Develop an operator training certificate program for onsite reuse systems. 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. Design and install an onsite water reuse system and dual plumbing for an AW building remodel. Not Started Planning In Progress Completed 18 Conservation Outreach Updates  449,607 Home Water Reports were emailed from the My ATX Water portal with an average open rate of 62%  A “No Need to Water” message was sent to customers with automatic irrigation systems after a rain event in March with a 56% open rate  Web page for Rebates, Tools & Programs grew 62.9% in users (885 → 1,442) and 82.2% in events (3,634 → 6,622), signaling possible increased interest in conservation programs heading into spring 19 Conservation Outreach Metrics Total audience reached with conservation messaging 17,019,056 Impressions Promos for WaterWise webinars had high engagement rates (based on reactions and shares) CBS Austin March Campaign 20 Conservation Outreach Metrics My ATX Water Portal Leak Alerts My ATX Water continuous use (leak) alerts sent to customers 33 35 25 28 28 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Q1 2025 Q2 2025 Q3 2025 Thousand Alerts Q4 2025 Q1 2026 21 Conservation Outreach Milestones (Water Conservation Plan, p. 37, Water Forward Plan, p. 34, 36) 2026 Milestones My ATX Water Progress 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 set and strive towards voluntary water budgets. Not Started Planning In Progress Completed 22 Water Supply Updates  AW completed scope of work for 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 developed conceptual Lake Walter E. Long configurations for further evaluation 23 Progress Water Supply Strategies (Water Forward Plan, p. 43, 43, 45, 46) 2026 Milestones Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) 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)  The first quarter of the year – Jan., Feb., and March - is typically the lowest water- using time of the year with reduced landscape irrigation, wastewater averaging, and a limited number of days below freezing which might cause pipe bursts.  Total GPCD for the first quarter was 113 gallons, equal to what it was in 2025. 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 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 CY 2026 113 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 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 17 5 9 17 27 31 22 9 12 30 17 8 11 25 33 30 19 6 10 22 30 22 10 12 31 21 6 10 22 33 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 21 8 11 26 20 7 10 23 23 7 10 22 33 30 31 22 5 9 18 28 45 52 35 55 30 37 33 44 38 29 35 30 37 40 33 23 5 9 18 29 27 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 1 2 3 4 . 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Calendar Year (CY) & Quarter 2023 2024 2025 2026 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 GPCD by Calendar Year and Quarter STAGE 1 STAGE 2 D C P G 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 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 Q1 2026 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 second quarter of the year (April, May, June) is the prime part of the year to engage with customers regarding water- saving options for their landscapes in the summer. Staff will be attending numerous Earth Day and landscape activities in the community. Water loss reduction activities and trials will continue. 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 Austin Water