(a) The city owns and operates a TCEQ rated capacity of 2.66 million
gallons of water a day surface water treatment plant located at 1900
Nancy Lane in River Oaks, Texas. The water system serves 7,724 people
with approximately 2,900 water connections. The water treatment plant
is located 1/2 mile from Lake Worth on the far northwestern corner
of the city. The plant is computerized and is equipped with a SCADA
alarm system. The raw water is purchased under contract with Tarrant
Regional Water District. Raw water is delivered through two (2) 16-inch
raw water transmission mains that are located within a dedicated easement
across the City of Fort Worth west of Inspiration Point. Raw water
flow from the lake is activated through vacuum when the pressure in
the prime line drops below 5 p.s.i. opening the prime valve forcing
water pressure through the prime line until it reaches 14 p.s.i. at
which time the prime valve closes creating suction from the intake
valves in the lake that ultimately flows raw water back through the
two 16-inch water transmission mains to the raw water pump house located
at 1900 Nancy Lane. There are two raw water pumps in the raw water
pump house rated to pump 2.66 million gallons a day.
(b) This water conservation plan identifies water conservation goals
and identifies and explains conservation practices that will help
protect long-term water supplies for the city and its customers. This
plan includes information required by the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality (TCEQ) for water conservation plans as well as information
specific to the city water supply and treatment system.
(Ordinance 1311-2021 adopted 5/11/21)
The city conservation plan recognizes that the city is under
a contract with Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) for the purchase
of raw water and the quality of that water is monitored and controlled
according to said contract. The city conservation plan recognizes
the emphasis that is placed on the cooperation with said water district
in order to maintain the level of quality and quantity as required.
Furthermore, this plan recognizes that, under the terms of the contract
with the City of Fort Worth for an emergency connection, any emergency
that arises in the Fort Worth water system will cause the same rationing
and conservation methods as stated in that contract to be placed upon
the residents of the city unless the city is not connected to and
using water supplied from Fort Worth at the time the emergency is
proclaimed.
(Ordinance 1311-2021 adopted 5/11/21)
(a) Water customers requested to voluntarily reduce water use, to practice
water conservation and to minimize water use for nonessential purposes.
Voluntary measures will remain in effect continually as follows:
(1) Water customers are requested to voluntarily reduce water use, to
practice water conservation and to minimize water use for nonessential
purposes.
(2) Request voluntary reduction in city government use of water for street
washing, vehicle washing, operation of ornamental fountains and all
other nonessential use.
(3) Request voluntary reduction in landscape watering by city government.
(4) Request voluntary limitation in landscape watering between 10:00
a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
(5) Request customer service addresses to practice a voluntary reduction
in landscape water to every other day based on the last digit of the
address per the schedule below:
(A) Odd-numbered service addresses water on odd-numbered days; and
(B) Even-numbered service addresses water on even-numbered days.
(C) Avoid over watering. Do not water yard so much that it runs over
into the street. The lawn is not a lake.
(D) Set lawn irrigation system controls to water at night or early in
the morning. Encourage customers not to operate during the day between
10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and above all limit the time and don’t
over water.
(b) The conservation goals for the city are as follows:
(1) Continue waterline and meter change out programs.
(2) Continue meter calibration programs at the water plant.
(Ordinance 1311-2021 adopted 5/11/21)
(a) The city water conservation plan includes the following water conservation
methods:
(1) Public information and education on conserving water use inside and
outside the home.
(2) Plumbing code enforcement.
(3) Meter testing and upgrades.
(4) Old and deteriorated waterline replacement.
(5) Leak detection and repair.
(6) Water conserving landscaping.
(8) Certificate of occupancy inspections.
(b) Each method is presented and described in the following subsections.
(1) Public information and education.
The most important
part of the city’s conservation program is public education.
The city staff will present information upon request to the public.
(A)
Presentations at community meetings.
The staff
will present conservation updates in order to educate the public.
(B)
Website page.
The city webpage can be accessed
at
http://www.riveroakstx.com with any updated conservation information including but not limited
to rationing and conservation procedures.
(C)
Code red emergency alert notification.
Quick notifications
of time-sensitive information, emergencies and day-to-day operational
updates. Sends targeted emergency and community notifications to mobile
subscribers located in specific geographic areas within our jurisdiction.
(D)
School programs.
The city staff will make presentations
on water conservation to the schools upon request.
(E)
Water plant tours.
The water department will offer
tours of the plant in order to educate the citizens of the city upon
request.
(2) Plumbing code.
The city has adopted the 2015 International
Plumbing Code and the city has on staff 3 state-licensed plumbing
inspectors who will see that the provisions of this code are enforced.
(3) Meter testing and upgrades.
The meters at the plant
are calibrated now semiannually and the city will continue to replace
any dead meters in the system. Water meters register the amount of
water that a customer uses. Meters have a leak indicator on it to
verify if the customer has a leak. Customers are encouraged to call
the city if they think they may have a leak and the city will check
the meter at no additional charge.
(4) Waterline replacement program.
The city has implemented
a program of replacing old and deteriorated water mains and the program
will continue until all the old mains have been replaced.
(5) Leak detection and repair.
All water main leaks are
monitored closely and repaired as soon as possible. The city representatives
will notify the residents of any possible leak that they have on their
side through the use of leak detection indicators installed on most
meters upon request. A drip can amount to 2,700 gallons in a day.
(6) Water conserving landscaping.
(A) The water department encourages the planting of smart-scape plants
that are conducive to this environment and requires limited amounts
of water to maintain. The city staff will be happy to assist any resident
with questions on this type of program.
(B) Bushes and shrubs usually don’t require a lot of water to keep
them alive. You do not have to flood them. If necessary the staff
will direct the resident to a local nursery where they can find more
information. Texas Smartscape CD available for contractors, visitors,
landscape consultants at the city hall.
(7) Water use auditing.
The utility billing manager will
monitor the bills on a monthly basis and report any abnormalities
to the distribution department for further investigation. The city
annually compares water purchased against water sold and reports this
information to the state water development board.
(8) Certificate of occupancy inspections.
All vacant housing
must make application and obtain a certificate of occupancy prior
to occupying the house. During this inspection it will be required
that plumbing fixtures will have to comply with the state code for
the installation of water saving fixtures as follows:
(A) When purchasing fixtures verify what the manufacturer rates the water
flow at. Check to make sure the fixtures are code approved. Reference
standards include ASSE, ASTM, or ICC approved.
(B) Replace old conventional toilets with a new 1.2 gallon flush that
can save the customer in some cases up to as much as 5 gallons per
flush.
(9) Other programs; landscape watering schedule.
It is recommended
that residents abstain from watering during peak water demand times
and to control the length of watering to no more than 30 minutes or
to the point of runoff in any one area. For example: Place a small
sized tuna can in the area that is being watered; when the can fills
up with water, the area is adequately watered.
(10) Carwashing; outdoor recreational use.
When washing vehicles
don’t just leave the hose on the ground and let it run. Turn
the water off when you are not actually rinsing the car off. Water
flows out of the outside hose bibb at approximately 25 gallons per
minute and in one hour that equals 1,500 gallons of water. Leaving
the water hose running continuously can add up to 36,000 gallons in
a day.
(11) Rainwater harvesting.
Rainwater can be caught and used
for watering plants and other nonessential uses but not to drink.
For more information on rainfall harvesting and other drought information
go to the TCEQ website at
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us.
(Ordinance 1311-2021 adopted 5/11/21)
This plan will be presented to the region C water planning group
and also the Tarrant Regional Water District
(Ordinance 1311-2021 adopted 5/11/21)
Tarrant Regional Water District as the city’s raw water
supplier is responsible for operations of the reservoir system as
described in the summary section of this plan. Tarrant Regional Water
District coordinates this operation plan with all of its water customers
and provides recommendations for the operation of regional water systems
as well.
(Ordinance 1311-2021 adopted 5/11/21)
The utility profile of the city is incorporated as exhibit A
“Utility Profile, TWDB Form 1965R” that incorporates water
production data known for 2016 through 2020 and projects population
growth, water production, capacity and consumption through 2025. The
historical averages along with a 1/2 of 1% population growth anticipates
a gallon per person per day to be from the 2015 gallons per person
per day of 88 with water conserving plans to reduce down to 86 gallons
per person per day.
(Ordinance 1311-2021 adopted 5/11/21)