(a) 
The city water department served approximately 4000 residents in 1999 and is expecting no major increase in population over the next 5 years. The water department served approximately 1600 connections in 1999. The service area is currently served by a 1.5 million gallons per day city-owned well system. The water department also has an emergency water connection with the City of Fort Worth in case of an emergency. However, it is the responsibility of the water department to examine and control our main source of supply so as to avoid any necessity to obtain water from an emergency source. Therefore, it is necessary to examine water use practices and educate the public about ways in which to reduce overall water use. It is also necessary to set goals and outline methodologies in which to achieve these goals.
(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 state commission on environmental quality (TCEQ) for water conservation plans as well as information specific to the city water supply and treatment system.
(Ordinance 370, att. B, sec. I, adopted 2/15/01)
The city conservation plan recognizes that the city is under a contract with the City of Fort Worth for an emergency connection, and that in case of 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 Sansom Park.
(Ordinance 370, att. B, sec. 2, adopted 2/15/01)
(a) 
The average purchased water supply for the year 1999 was 145 million gallons and the amount of water sold was 144 million gallons, which means that the city had approximately 1 million gallons or 1 percent of unaccounted water loss for that year. The water department serviced 1,469 connections for that period for an average consumption of 99,214 gallons per connection per year or 8,268 gallons per connection per month. Since the city has begun a water line replacement program and a meter change-out program, the unaccounted water loss has greatly improved over the last 10 years. Also, the city has begun enforcing the International Plumbing Code, which requires water-saving fixtures. Future goals will center around public awareness on the conservative use of water. Emphasis will be placed on the control of outside watering, especially during the hotter months. More conservation steps will be directed toward the conservation of water usage because during drought times the level of water in the lake drops dramatically and will eventually lead to more stringent control in order to maintain enough water to meet the water system’s demand. Public awareness will include information contained on the web page, brochures, and periodic presentations by staff representatives at local meeting places within the city.
(b) 
The new goals for the city are as follows:
(1) 
Continue water line and meter change-out programs.
(2) 
Continue meter calibration programs at the water plant.
(3) 
Public education.
(4) 
Reduce peak demands.
(Ordinance 370, att. B, sec. 3, adopted 2/15/01)
(a) 
The city water conservation plan includes the following water conservation methods:
(1) 
Public information and education.
(2) 
Plumbing code.
(3) 
Meter testing and upgrades.
(4) 
Old and deteriorated water line replacement.
(5) 
Leak detection and repair.
(6) 
Water conserving landscaping.
(7) 
Water use auditing.
(8) 
Certificate of occupancy inspections.
Each method is presented and described in the following subsections.
(b) 
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.
(1) 
Presentations at community meetings.
The staff will present conservation updates in order to educate the public.
(2) 
Cable access notifications.
The water department uses the public access channel (channel 3) when possible to notify the public of any special meeting or event in the area of water conservation.
(3) 
School programs.
The city staff will make presentations on water conservation to the schools upon request.
(c) 
Plumbing code.
The city will adopt the 1997 International Plumbing Code.
(d) 
Meter testing and upgrades.
The meters at the plant are calibrated now semi-annually and the city will continue to replace any dead meters in the system.
(e) 
Water line 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.
(f) 
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 systems installed on most meters upon request.
(g) 
Water-conserving landscaping.
The water department encourages the planting of water efficient ideas [species]. The city staff will be happy to assist any resident with questions on this type of program. If necessary the staff will direct the resident to a local nursery where they can find more information.
(h) 
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.
(i) 
Certificate of occupancy inspections.
All vacant housing must make application and obtain a certificate of occupancy certificate prior to occupying the house. During this inspection it will be required that any plumbing fixtures will have to comply with the state code for the installation of water-saving fixtures.
(j) 
Landscape watering schedule.
Though not required on a daily basis, a 5-day watering schedule will be available upon request at the city hall. 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.
(Ordinance 370, att. B, sec. 4, adopted 2/15/01)
Tarrant Regional Water District No. 1 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 370, att. B, sec. 6, adopted 2/15/01)