(a)
The water treatment and distribution and the wastewater collection
and treatment systems in the city are owned and operated by the city.
The city owns two water wells, the primary well which takes water
from the Edwards-Trinity Plateau aquifer and a secondary well taking
water from the same aquifer. The primary well produces hot water from
a depth of approximately 3500 feet. This well can produce up to 600
gallons per minute/gpm. The second well is for emergency purposes
only, and can produce between 200 and 250 gpm. The city operates a
two hundred and fifty thousand gallon a day reverse osmosis plant.
The city also has an interconnection with Post Oak water supply for
emergency conditions. The city operates an extended aeration wastewater
treatment plant, with a rated capacity of 0.250 mgd.
(b)
This report outlines the city’s water conservation program.
The purpose and goal of this program is to reduce the amount of water
required for each water using activity, inasmuch as possible, through
education and water-saving retrofitting fixtures. The city has a drought
contingency plan in case of severe water shortages or emergency conditions.
The implementation of the water conservation plan is to encourage
water usage reduction through education and will increase the amount
of water available for future use.
(Ordinance 101105-01, ch. 1, adopted 10/11/05)
The city is located in northeast central Texas, in Hill County,
approximately twenty-four miles northeast of Hillsboro. The city water
system serves the city, with a few customers outside the city limits.
There are several commercial accounts but no industrial users of the
city’s water system. The city’s wastewater system serves
only the city.
(Ordinance 101105-01, ch. 1, adopted 10/11/05)
It is the goal of the city to achieve a minimum per capita reduction
of 5 percent water use, which will achieve a 5 percent reduction in
wastewater flows as well. A second goal of this program is to reduce
unaccounted-for water in the city’s water distribution system,
which will increase the service capacity of the distribution system.
(Ordinance 101105-01, ch. 1, adopted 10/11/05)
A summary of utility evaluation data is included in appendix A of Ordinance 101105-01. Though the data shows no real growth in recent history or projected growth, the city still plans to implement a conservation plan to conserve and prolong the amount of water that is available.
(Ordinance 101105-01, ch. 1, adopted 10/11/05)
There were many elements considered in developing this conservation
plan. The elements that will be most beneficial to the city are education,
indoor conservation, outdoor conservation, and retrofitting plumbing
fixtures. The most significant principles of water conservation methods
to be considered in preparing this conservation plan are:
(1)
Public education and information program.
(2)
Water conservation plumbing code.
(3)
Conservation plumbing retrofit kits.
(4)
Universal metering and meter testing/replacement.
(5)
Water audits and leak detection.
(6)
Plan implementation and enforcement.
(Ordinance 101105-01, ch. 1, adopted 10/11/05)
(a)
Generally.
The city will promote water conservation by educating the public on existing and new methods to conserve water. The public education program will be separated into three sections: a first-year program, a continuing education program, and a new customer program. Brochures listed in appendix B of Ordinance 101105-01 can be used as examples of public education. These brochures are available through:
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Texas Water Development Board
P.O. Box 13231, Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711-3231
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Or electronically at www.twdb.state.tx.us
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(b)
First-year program.
The first-year program will consist
of educational material being distributed to all water customers semi-annually.
Along with an explanation of the water conservation plan, the first
distribution will begin to educate the public on conserving water.
The materials will include tips on saving water in the bathroom, kitchen,
and laundry room and outdoor watering. This information will be included
with the customer’s monthly bill, and by other means as necessary.
(c)
New customer program.
All new customers will receive
the initial water-saving information in a packet provided when applying
for new service. These customers will then be included in the continuing
education program.
(d)
Continuing education program.
The continuing education
program will consist of annual distributions of conservation tips
and information. The annual distribution will be between May and July
each year. Along with this annual distribution, periodic brochures
will be distributed as appropriate.
(Ordinance 101105-01, ch. 1, adopted 10/11/05)
Customers and property owners will be encouraged through educational
handouts to install new water-conserving fixtures. These materials
will list advantages of installing these devices and where they can
be purchased.
(Ordinance 101105-01, ch. 1, adopted 10/11/05)
(a)
The city is currently metering all residential, commercial, and wholesale
connections. The city does not meter all water entering into the distribution
system from the water treatment plant. There are some unmetered uses
of water, such as flushing, firefighting, and water production. There
will be a system developed to track all water usage, to more accurately
account for water loss. The city is investigating pricing to install
a meter into the distribution system. There will also be a semi-annual
water audit to help the city review water production, sales, and loss.
(b)
The city will also develop a meter testing and replacement program
to ensure the accurate delivery of water to its customers. The testing
schedule will be:
(d)
With this information along with the water audit information the
city will be able to improve its ability to account for all water
sold. The city will also develop a leak detection program to further
improve the accountably of water loss. The replacement procedures
will include changing meters with high usage, more than ten years
of service, and to repair/replace any meter that does not meet AWWA
test standards.
(Ordinance 101105-01, ch. 1, adopted 10/11/05)
The public education program will include information about
landscaping and irrigation techniques that reduce water consumption
and water bills. The city will implement these techniques in public
applications to encourage public participation. Businesses such as
nurseries and irrigation equipment suppliers will be encouraged to
make these products available to the public.
(Ordinance 101105-01, ch. 2, adopted 10/11/05)
(a)
The city manager or his duly appointed representative will act as
administrator of the water conservation plan. The administrator will
oversee the execution and implementation of each element of the plan.
He will also appoint someone to be responsible to oversee the keeping
of records for program verification.
(Ordinance 101105-01, ch. 2, adopted 10/11/05)
(a)
To ensure the implementation of the water conservation plan, the
city manager or his duly appointed representative will review meter
test reports, water audits, and leak detection reports. To determine
the level of achievement, these reports will be reviewed and compared
to previous years’ reports.
(b)
It is the goal of the city to increase the amount of water available
for future needs, and to allow its customers to notice a reduction
in their water bills. Through the education, proper metering, and
control of water loss the city will have enough water to supply its
customers for many decades to come.
(Ordinance 101105-01, ch. 2, adopted 10/11/05)
