Loading...
R96-36 06-24-96RESOLUTION NO. R96-36 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, ADOPTING A WATER CONSERVATION PLAN AND AN EMERGENCY WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT PLAN. WHEREAS, the City of Pearland believes it is in the best interest of the community to conserve potable water and use its water supply resources more efficiently; and WHEREAS, the City of Pearland is undertaking planning efforts to meet the demands of its present and future water customers; and WHEREAS, the City of Pearland has developed a Improvements Program to expand and upgrade its wastewater Utility System Capital capacity and its wastewater collection system; and WHEREAS, the objective of the Water Conservation Plan and the Emergency Water Demand Management Plan is to reduce the quantity required for water-use activities through efficient water-use practices; and WHEREAS, the Texas Water Development Board has reviewed the City's Water Conservation Plan and Emergency Water Demand Management Plan; and WHEREAS, the Texas Water Development Board loan requirements stipulate that a city that uses these funds must adopt these plans; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS: Section 1. That the Pearland City Council approves the Water Conservation Plan and the Emergency Water Demand Management Plan (attached hereto as Exhibits "A" and "B", respectively, and incorporated herein for all purposes), so that funds may be released for wastewater planning. treatment plant RESOLUTION NO. R96-36 PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this~~day A.D., 1996. of TOM REID MAYOR ATTEST: ~'O/I_A N DA BENITEZ CITY SECRETARY AP~VED AS TO FORM: 2 Exhibit "A" WATER CONSERVATION PLAN and Exhibit "B" EMERGENCY WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT PLAN Introduction The City of Pearland, as required by the Texas Water Development Board, has developed a Water Conservation Plan and Emergency Water Demand Management Plan. The plans have been prepared in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). The City of Pearland (City) owns and-operates the water distribution system and wastewater collection system for Pearland. Drinking water is obtained from ground water wells located in the City. The City of Pearland is located just to the southeast of Houston in the Gulf Coast region. With a continued growth in population, the City has been required to expand its wastewater treatment capacity. A new wastewater treatment facility will handle a portion of the existing service area presently handled by the Barry Rose Waste Water Treatment Plant and incorporate possible expansion areas for future use. Exhibit "A" WATER CONSERVATION PLAN Overview A variety of elements are incorporated into developing a water conservation plan. The City will use the categories listed by the TWDB in their Guidelines for Municipal Water Conservation and Emergency Water Demand Management. The following water conservation methods were considered in preparing the plan: Public Education and Information Program Water Conservation Rate Structure Universal Metering and Meter Maintenance Program Leak Detection and Repair Program Water Conserving Landscaping Water Conservation Plumbing Codes Water Conservation Retrofit Program Water Recycling and Reuse Plan Implementation and Enforcement Page 1 of 7 Public Education and Information The City will promote water conservation by informing the public of methods to conserve water. The education of the residents, as to water conservation practices and methods, will be accomplished through a program of direct mailings or distributions, utility bill stuffers, and local newspaper articles. First Year The first year program will consist of the distribution of educational materials including brochures, flyers, and/or newsletters to all customers every three (3) months. The initial distribution of information will explain the water conservation program. This first notice will be accompanied by an article in the local newspaper. Notices will continue as scheduled unless other circumstances warrant additional information. The notices for water conservation will be distributed to customers via mail in the billing notices and newspaper and newsletter articles. Other forms of advertisement such as billboards, radio messages and posters will be considered as the need is required. Under the first year plan guidelines, all new customers will receive the initial conservation education material that describes the water conservation plan and other general conservation information when service is initiated. Lon.q Term As part of the long term conservation plan, educational material will be distributed concerning water usage during peak periods of summer months and winter months. Summer peak information will be sent out at the beginning of June and will cover such items as preferred lawn watering times. Winter information material will be distributed at the beginning of November and will include such tips as insulating water pipes instead of dripping during periods of freezing temperatures. Water Conservation Rate Structure The City currently uses a rate structure which does not promote excessive water waste. However, for the future, the City may investigate different rate structure to increase water conservation. Universal Metering and Meter Maintenance Program The City is approximately 100 percent metered at the present time. Some areas do exist that are not metered such as city parks. The City will implement a policy to help gain control of unmetered areas to help improve the accuracy of water usage as well as having better leak detection system. Currently, the City has an accounting system that tracks water consumption for each meter. Should an individual meter register an unusual reading for a period, either an increase or decrease from the norm, the meter is tested and appropriate action taken. Page 2 of 7 Besides the monitoring of meters, the City will implement the following testing schedule for all meters: Meter Type Production Meters Meters larger than I 1/2" Meters 1 1/2" or smaller Testing Frequency once a year once a year every ten (10) years Metering and meter maintenance along with accounting information, shall help identify and quickly control leaks in the water distribution system and thereby help with water conservation. Leak Detection and Repair Program The City currently uses visual inspection and citizen reports to help detect and control leaks. However, the City is trying to implement a better detection system. Some possible improvements include annual water audits and sonic leak detection devices. A better leak detection program will help the City' find damaged lines or illegal hookups more quickly and allow for appropriate actions to be taken. Areas prone to failures shall be scheduled for replacement as soon as possible. A good quality leak detection program will pay for itself if operated properly. Water Conserving Landscaping Through the public education and information program, suggestions on landscaping and irrigation practices that promote water conservation will be distributed to the customers. These notices will show how better conservation ideas can reduce water consumption and therefore reduce water bill, a definite incentive to the customer. During the summer months, it is not uncommon for fifty (50) percent of the water used in urban areas to be applied to lawns and gardens. Nurseries and other businesses that sell outdoo¢ plants and irrigation systems, will be encouraged to make readily available to the public products that conserve water. Water Conservation Plumbing Codes Texas State law mandates water conservation by establishing water saving performance standards as follows: Shower Heads Fixture Standard No more than 2.75 gallons per minute at 80 pounds per square inch (psi) Lavatory and Sinks Faucets and Aerators No more than 2.2 gallons per minute at 60 pounds psi Wall-mounted, Flushometer Toilets No more than 2.0 gallons per flush All other Toilets No more than 1.6 gallons per flush Page 3 of 7 Urinals No more than 1.0 gallons per flush Drinking Water Fountains Must be se!f-closing Water Conservation Retrofit Program Customers and owners of buildings and businesses that do not have water conserving plumbing devices will be encouraged to retrofit their old fixtures. Along with the public education and information program, citizens will be informed of the advantages of installing water saving devices as well as the availability of these items. The City will inform customers of inexpensive water conservation kits available to them. Local plumbers will be encouraged to install water conserving equipment as well. Water Recycling and Reuse At this time, there are no major forms of water recycling and reuse available to the City. Plan Implementation and Enforcement The City Manager of Pearland or their duly appointed representative will act as the Administrator of the water conservation plan. The Administrator will oversee the execution and implementation of the plan as well as all record keeping for program verification. To initiate the water conservation plan, the City will implement the following documents: · A resolution by the City stating its water conservation goal and adoption of the water conservation plan. · An ordinance by the City to implement the legal documents necessary to enforce this water conservation plan. The Administrator will be responsible for the submission of an annual report to the executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board on the implementation and status of required water conservation programs for three years after the date of loan closing. If the executive administrator determines that the water conservation program is not in compliance with the approved water conservation plan, the City of Pearland shall continue to supply annual reports beyound the three years until the executive administrator determines that deficiencies in the plan have been resolved. Annual reports prepared for the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission providing the information may be provided to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to fulfill the TWDB's reporting requirements. The report will include the following items: · Progress made in the implementation of the water conservation program · Public response to the water conservation program · Actual quantitative effectiveness of the water conservation program Page 4 of 7 Exhibit "B" Emergency Water Demand Management Plan Overview A drought or other emergency conditions can disrupt the normal workings of the City's water supply system. As part of the overall conservation program, a Emergency Water Demand Management Plan should be prepared for such times. The Emergency Water Demand Management Plan deals with temporary methods to control the emergency situation as it unfolds. The City's Emergency Water Demand Management Plan will include the following items as outlined by the TWDB: · Trigger conditions signaling the onset of an emergency, and the basis for setting various levels of severity. o' Emergency water demand management measures associated with respective trigger conditions · Information and education · Initiation procedures · Termination procedures · Means of implementation Trigger Conditions Mild Conditions The City demand reaches eighty-five (85) percent of the capacity of the water distribution system. The water supply is still adequate, but the water levels are low enough that there is a possibility,that the supply situation may become critical if the drought or emergency continues. Moderate Conditions The City demand reaches ninety-five (95) percent of the capacity of the water distribution system. Failure of a pump or some other piece of equipment could cause a serious disruption of service to all or part of the system. Severe Conditions The City demand reaches one hundred (100) percent or greater of the capacity of the water distribution system. The imminent or actual failure of a major component of'the system has occurred which will cause an immediate health or safety hazard. Page 5 of 7 Emergency Water Demand Management Measures Mild Conditions · Inform the public through the news media that trigger conditions have been reached and that they should look for ways to voluntarily reduce water use. Specific recommendations shall be provided through the news media. · Advertise a voluntary lawn watering schedule and reduce the watering at public parks to a minimum level. Moderate Conditions · Continue implementation of all relevant actions in preceding phase. · Institute a mandatory lawn watering schedule as follows: Customers with even numbered street addresses may water' on even days of the month. Customers with odd numbered street addresses may water on odd days of the month. Watering shall occur only between the hours of 6 am to 10 am and 8 pm to 10 pm. · Public water uses, not essential to the health or safety of the community, shall be prohibited such as hydrant flushing, filling of pools, and park watering. Severe Conditions · Continue implementation of all relevant actions in the preceding phase. · All outdoor water use will be prohibited which is not required for health and safety such as lawn watering and car washing. The Administrator shall have the authority to grant a variance to businesses such as nurseries for limited outdoor watering. · Consider adoption of an emergency ordinance to implement water rationing or surcharges for excessive water use. Page 6 of 7 Information and Education Mild Conditions · Article in local newspaper informing the public of the need to conserve water and that a trigger condition has been reached. Inform the public of future possible actions if the condition continues to get worse. Moderate Conditions Advise the public that the next trigger condition has been reached. Inform the public of future possible actions if the condition continues to get worse. Public notice of mandatory watering schedule and enforcement measures in the local newspaper. Update the Severe Conditions · Advise the public that the next trigger condition has been reached. public daily on the situation through local news media. Initiation Procedures The Administrator shall monitor the water usage of the distribution system. When a trigger condition is reached, the Administrator will notify the proper authority to begin the implementation of the appropriate step in the Emergency Water Demand Management Plan. Termination Procedures When the emergency situation has passed for at least five consecutive days, then the Administrator shall notify the publ!c of the downgrade in trigger conditions or the removal of the Emergency Water Demand Management Plan completely. The notification shall be made through the local news media. Means of Implementation The Emergency Water Demand Management Plan shall be implemented through an appropriate resolution passed by the City Council and the passage of an ordinance establishing the excess water use rate, the lawn watering schedule, the prohibition against all outside water use, the conditions under which each can be initiated by the Administrator and the enforcement of penalties and fines for violations. Page 7 of 7