Item 24 - 2026 Q3 Report on Water Management Strategy Implementation — original pdf

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November 9, 2026 Water Management Strategy Implementation REPORT Third Quarter 2026, July - September November 9, 2026 1 2 Contents  Third 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 Austin Water Third Quarter 2026 Report 1 November 9, 2026 Third Quarter Introduction 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.  2024 Water Loss Report recommendations response is complete – 32 of the 32 recommendations have been addressed.  New Online Water Conservation Hub launched - Provides customers better information regarding applications, report submittals, and water waste enforcement.  Expanded water conservation outreach – 28 million conservation-related media impressions and 327,000 Home Water Use Reports emailed with a 66% open rate. Water Conservation Updates  Landscape Transformation Strategy  50% irrigation limit for new homes - Rule posted to Building Criteria Manual; applies to new home building permits after Oct. 1  New water conservation hub – improved application and communication for rebates, water waste enforcement, and commercial conservation  Meter Hero Program – contracted program for AP Environmental Science students to utilize water use data in class projects  Community Outreach Grants – Completed 1st year of grants; estimated 380 community members reached 3 4 3 4 Austin Water Third Quarter 2026 Report 2 Water Conservation Metrics Residential Rebate Programs Approved Rebates 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Drought Survival Tools Irrigation Upgrades Rainwater Harvesting Rebates WaterWise Landscape WaterWise Rainscape Other Residential Programs Q3 2025-Q2 2026 Q3 2026 5 6 Water Conservation Metrics Commercial Rebate Programs Approved Rebates 5 4 3 2 1 0 4 3 2 2 1 Bucks for Business Q3 2025-Q2 2026 Q3 2026 November 9, 2026 5 6 Austin Water Third Quarter 2026 Report 3 November 9, 2026 Water Conservation Metrics Compliance Assessments Number of Compliant Commercial Facilities Number of Compliant Commercial Facilities 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Landscape Irrigation Assessment Cooling Tower Assessment Vehicle Wash Assessment Q3 2025-Q2 2026 Q3 2026 Q3 2025-Q2 2026 Q3 2026 7 8 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 7 8 Austin Water Third Quarter 2026 Report 4 Water Loss Reduction Updates  2024 Water Loss Report recommendations response is complete – 32 of the 32 recommendations have been addressed.  Leak Detection (small diameter) contract:  Solicitation phase started 10/05/2026  Work will begin in early 2027 9 10 Water Loss Reduction Metrics Number of water main leaks detected and repaired 142 143 117 126 65 Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Q1 2026 Q2 2026 Q3 2026 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 November 9, 2026 9 10 Austin Water Third Quarter 2026 Report 5 November 9, 2026 Water Loss Reduction Metrics Linear feet of leak detection performed on large diameter transmission lines 51,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 0 0 Q3 2025 Q4 2025 17,000 Q1 2026 Feet Linear feet of leak detection performed on small diameter distribution lines 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 0 Q2 2026 Q3 2026 Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Q1 2026 Million Feet Q2 2026 Q3 2026 Contracted Austin Water Staff 11 12 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 11 12 Austin Water Third Quarter 2026 Report 6 November 9, 2026 Reclaimed Water & Onsite Water Reuse Updates  Received Council Reauthorization for GoPurple Pilot Incentive Program for FY2026-2027 13 14 Reclaimed Water Metrics Total number of reclaimed water meters 226 226 228 229 229 250 200 150 100 50 0 Volume of centralized reclaimed water used 639 682 355 326 396 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Q1 2026 Q2 2026 Q3 2026 Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Q1 2026 Million Gallons Q2 2026 Q3 2026 13 14 Austin Water Third Quarter 2026 Report 7 November 9, 2026 Current Reclaimed CIP Projects Projects Phase Oltorf Reclaimed Water Main Phase 2 (7,000 linear feet, Q4 2026) ABIA North Reclaimed Loop Main (4,100 linear feet, Q4 2026) Fallwell Lane Capital Renewal Project (6,400 linear feet, Q1 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 Onsite Water Reuse and GoPurple Metrics GoPurple Program Activity in Previous Quarter  No new GoPurple incentive applications received  No projects approved for a fee in lieu of installing and onsite water reuse system Onsite water reuse system construction permits approved 3 3 3 3 1 Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Q1 2026 Q2 2026 Q3 2026 4 3 2 1 0 15 16 15 16 Austin Water Third Quarter 2026 Report 8 November 9, 2026 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 18 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 17 18 Austin Water Third Quarter 2026 Report 9 November 9, 2026 Conservation Outreach Updates  March – September conservation campaigns with TV outlets achieved 16.5 million impressions.  327,000 Home Water Reports focused on irrigation and “Know Your Watering Day” were distributed via the My ATX Water portal. Monthly open rates averaged 66%.  Find Your Watering Day web page visits increased 121%. This indicates high engagement with advertising, Home Water Report and social media content. 19 20 Conservation Outreach Metrics Total audience reached with conservation messaging 28,459,000 Impressions Social post with high engagement score Ads to reinforce Conservation Stage watering We Are Austin appearance on CBS Austin 19 20 Austin Water Third Quarter 2026 Report 10 November 9, 2026 Conservation Outreach Metrics My ATX Water Portal Leak Alerts 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 My ATX Water continuous use (leak) alerts sent to customers 28 28 29 31 23 Q3 2025 Q4 2025 Q1 2026 Thousand Alerts Q2 2026 Q3 2026 21 22 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 21 22 Austin Water Third Quarter 2026 Report 11 November 9, 2026 Water Supply Strategy Updates  Contracting and planning continued for Phase 1B Aquifer Storage and Recovery and Brackish Groundwater Desalination Field Testing.  Consultant studies on Indirect Potable Reuse project components and configuration continued. 23 24 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 23 24 Austin Water Third Quarter 2026 Report 12 Water Use and Gallons Per Capita Daily (GPCD)  Q3 GPCD = 147  Q3 2025 = 142  Q3 2024 = 147  August, September, and October are the highest use months  Greatest increase from Q2 in Single Family Residential category, then Commercial and Multi-Family Residential 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 YTD 126 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 33 17 8 11 25 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 33 30 23 7 10 22 31 22 5 9 18 28 24 8 11 27 33 19 6 10 22 23 5 9 18 29 30 45 52 35 55 30 37 33 44 38 29 35 30 37 40 33 41 27 29 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 25 26 November 9, 2026 25 Non-Revenue Water City of Austin Wholesale Industrial Commercial Multi-family Residential Single-family Residential CY GPCD 26 Austin Water Third Quarter 2026 Report 13 November 9, 2026 Lower residential peak water use in Q3 than in previous years GPCD by Calendar Year and Quarter STAGE 1 STAGE 2 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 Q2 2026 Q3 2026 Total Commercial City of Austin Single-family Residential Multi-family Residential Industrial Wholesale Non-revenue Water GPCD STAGE 1 STAGE 2 27 D C P G 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 27 Moving Forward  The fourth quarter of the year (October, November, December) will see a decrease in temperatures and water use. A strong El Nino climatic effect may bring coolers weather and additional rainfall to Central Texas.  Landscape Transformation Strategy - Austin Development Services Department will begin to inspect for required Laundry to Landscape plumbing in new homes.  Austin Water and other City departments are developing responses to Council resolutions regarding high impact water users.  Report to the City Council’s Climate, Water, Environment, and Parks Committee on December 9. Find Fall Austin Pic 28 28 Austin Water Third Quarter 2026 Report 14 November 9, 2026 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 30 Building Austin’s water future, together. 29 Water Austin Water Third Quarter 2026 Report 15