Water Conservation Planning

June 3, 2008

Lee KeckDivision of Water Supply

Why discuss Water Conservation?

• Conservation appears inevitable• Informed and knowlegable of the subject• Framework for discussion, consensus and action

• Why do we need a Water Conservation Plan?

• What is Water Conservation?

• Do all plans look the same?

• How is a plan developed?

Objectives of this presentation

Basis for Needing a Water Conservation Plan

68-221-702. Declaration of policy and purpose. — Recognizing that the waters of the state are the property of the state and are held in public trust for the benefit of its citizens, it is declared that the people of the state are beneficiaries of this trust and have a right to both an adequate quantity and quality of drinking water.

Tennessee Safe Drinking Water Act

Inter-basin Water Transfer ActT.C.A. 69-7-201 et Seq.

Requires that the transfer of water from one basin to another be

permitted

Water Resources Information Act of 2002

T.C.A. 69-8-301 et seq.

Requires theRegistration of Water Withdrawals

Other mandates related to conservation and water supply:

• Soda-Straw Amendment (heavy pumping that interferes)

• ARAP (Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit)• Source Adequacy Requirement (Design Criteria)• NPDES (Waste Assimilation)

1200-5-1-.05(9) – Where feasible require PWSs to interconnect

1200-5-1-.05(10) – Water Systems must plan for expansion when they reach 80% of design capacity

1200-5-1-.17(7) – CWSs must have an EOP (Emergency Operations Plan) – Many CWSs had Drought Management Plans. Some were reluctant to implement them.

1200-5-1-.17(9) - Minimum positive pressure of 20 psi throughout distribution system

1200-5-1-.17(14) – 24 hours of distribution storage based on average daily demand (or meet other requirements)

1200-5-1-.17(37) – Demonstrate viability (CD Rule)

SDWA Rules Related to Water Supply and Conservation

Legislative Mandates focusing on

drought management, water conservation and

regional water development include:HB 2669SB 3613HB 4209

Drought Management Planning, Water Conservation and Regional Water Development are inter-related.

Each plan depends on the other, or is a contingency of another.

What is Water Conservation?

Water conservation is an attempt to reduce the amount of water lost, wasted or used (not just during an emergency or water shortage caused by drought but at all times) moving forward. The goal is to allow water purveyors and users to make the most efficient use of a seemingly diminishing and valuable resource.

Issues To be Addressed

The benefits of Water Conservation may have unintended consequences. Benefits depend on the source and the receiving source.

• Unused treatment plant capacity could require higher rates. Water Systems need to sell water (up to their capacity). It pays the

bills.

• Water Quality problems may result from lower demand, storage tank turnover, etc.

requiring increased flushing

Issues To be AddressedCont.

The Benefits of Water Conservation vary: • A greater beneficial impact on aquifers (such as the sands in West Tennessee) than on stream sources where water is returned to the source.

• Conservation benefits are greater when derived from lawn irrigation, agricultural irrigation, sod and nursery production and recreational uses (these include irrigation of golf course fairways, greens and athletic fields).

• Conservation can also conserve energy as well as reduce water treatment costs (plant size and chemical use)

Conservation must address

Local conditions. Every community has unique water, economic, and social needs. These include:

• Industrial needs

• Recreational opportunities and needs

• Population and groups served

• Critical Uses – hospitals, elderly, etc.

Specific Needs and Concerns

• Livestock (Non-potable uses, sometimes resulting in additional demands on Public Water Suppliers)• Nursery Industry, Landscaping (Also non-potable)• Golf Courses, (Greens and Fairways) Athletic

Fields, Institutional Landscaping• Water quality issues – temperature, disinfection

byproducts, etc.• Conflicts between uses (livestock, recreation,

drinking water, etc.)• Cross-connections• Concern for aquatic life

9 Steps in Developing a Water Conservation Plan

Step 1

Develop a Water System Profile.

Consider:sourcescustomer groupsseasonal useshydraulic limitationscritical water needswater loss area growth

9 Steps in Developing a Water Conservation Plan

Step 2

Prepare a Demand Forecast.

Consider:Population projectionsNon-residential demand (industries,

commercial, etc.)Un-accounted for water (without

conservation)

9 Steps in Developing a Water Conservation Plan

Step 3Describe Planned Facilities.

Project the facilities the system would need to construct in order to meet future demands.

Water TreatmentTransmission LinesWater StorageSources

9 Steps in Developing a Water Conservation Plan

Step 4Identify Water Conservation Goals.

Goals of communities will not be the same. Expectations differ with regard to per capita water use, landscaping, initial costs associated with conservation, level of efficiency, etc.

9 Steps in Developing a Water Conservation Plan

Step 5Identify Water Conservation Measures.

Meter replacementSeparation of irrigation systemsService connection meteringAutomated sensors/telemetryRebatesLandscape efficiency programsPricing schedules

9 Steps in Developing a Water Conservation Plan

Step 6Analyze Benefits and Costs.

Marketing, public information and technical assistance

Program Administrative costsAdditional infrastructure costsPost-phoned infrastructure costsRebate programs (replacement of

fixtures, etc.)

9 Steps in Developing a Water Conservation Plan

Step 7Select Conservation Measures.Factors influencing selection will include:

Overall program costsRate structures that favor use of

recycled water for some usesStaff requirements and other resourcesRegulatory issues and legal constraints

(e.g. cross connection potential)Environmental Impacts

9 Steps in Developing a Water Conservation Plan

Step 8Integrate Resources and Modify Forecasts.Once water conservation measures have been evaluated and selected, the supply and demand forecasts should be revised.

9 Steps in Developing a Water Conservation Plan

Step 9Implementation and Evaluation Strategy. The final step in a plan is to determine what actions and resources are need to implement the plan.

Staff requiredOrdinances (new and/or changed)Training of staffPublic Information, Technical AssistanceMonitoring, Evaluation and UpdatingTimeframes for implementation

Currently Missing?

• State Mandates• Rules• Policy and Guidance• Evaluative Tools

Questions?Questions?Comments?Comments?Omissions?Omissions?

Lee KeckEnvironmental Manager 2Division of Water Supply

E-mail Address:Lee.keck@state.tn.us