Many communities have utilized a water conservation program
to address water supply or distribution problems. Normal range of
reduction is from 5 to 15 percent of water production, while results
as high as 25 percent have been achieved. The benefits of conservation
measures include:
(1)
Reducing capital and operating costs of water and wastewater systems;
(2)
Prolonging the life of existing facilities;
(3)
Reducing the potential for water rationing associated with drought;
(4)
Reduced wastewater flows and needless use of limited treatment plant
capacity;
(5)
Savings in pumping cost associated with distribution and collection
of potable water and wastewater, respectively.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. II, sec. A)
(a)
Of the variety of water conservation methods available to the city,
elements considered to be most critical in development of this plan
include indoor water conservation practices, outdoor water conservation
practices, water-conserving landscaping practices, and plumbing fixture
retrofit.
(b)
The main categories of water conservation methods are:
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. II, sec. B)
(a)
Generally.
(1)
The city will promote water conservation through a public information
program. The program will be based on literature available through:
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Texas Water Development Board
P.O. Box 13231, Capitol Station
Austin, TX 78711
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(b)
Initial year.
(1)
The first year of the program shall include four activities, which
include two newspaper articles. The initial newspaper article will
explain the water conservation program, including goals and benefits
of a successful program. This will be followed by two mail-outs of
brochures from the state water development board literature providing
examples of water conservation methods. The final newspaper article
will summarize the impact of the initial year of conservation measures
and reinforce the benefits associated with the program.
(2)
The educational material and articles will promote water conservation
by informing water customers of methods to reduce water consumption
indoors and outdoors.
(4)
The plan materials will be distributed to metered connection users
with billing notices providing hints as outlined in attachment E to
the plan.
(c)
Subsequent years.
(1)
After the initial year program, public education will continue twice
annually with one newspaper article and one mail-out. Distribution
of these materials will correspond to peak summer usage periods.
(2)
In addition, water conservation literature will be made available
at city hall and the West Community Center for persons desiring to
learn more about water saving methods.
(d)
New customers.
New customers to the city’s distribution
or collection system will receive initial conservation educational
material that describes the program. Also, these customers will be
made a part of the general conservation program as appropriate.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. II, sec. C)
As part of its conservation effort, the city amended its plumbing
code by ordinance to include water savings requirements consistent
with the state water development board guidelines. The ordinance is
included as attachment B to the plan. The code shall be enforced on
all new construction and replacement of existing fixtures.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. II, sec. D)
Water customers of structures which do not have water conserving
plumbing devices will be encouraged, through the education program,
to voluntarily install water saving fixtures and devices as specified
in the plumbing code. Availability of the devices, at a reasonable
cost, will be provided to the customers.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. II, sec. E)
The city has changed its method of charging for sewer service
from a flat monthly fee, regardless of usage, to a fee based on usage
of water. The effect of the new rate is to encourage water conservation
in order to reduce the total monthly bill. Since both the water and
sewer bills are now based on consumption, water savings measures practiced
by the customers will provide savings in both the water and sewer
bills. The new rate system was adopted by the city council at their
April 20, 1993, meeting and went into effect in May 1993.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. II, sec. F)
(a)
The city currently has universal metering with the exception of uses
through fire hydrants for line flushing and firefighting purposes.
At the present time, it is not practical to measure these losses.
(b)
In addition, a meter testing program will be implemented to test
and replace meters which are not registering correctly. A recommended
schedule for meter testing and replacement is as follows:
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. II, sec. G)
The public education program will include brochures obtained
from the state water development board which provide suggestions on
water saving landscaping, irrigation procedures, and soil modifications.
These suggestions provide a wide range of water saving plants and
maintenance procedures which have a major effect on the water use
outside the home. While there are no nurseries in the city, this will
be provided through newspaper articles on sources of materials and
plants requiring minimal watering.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. II, sec. H)
(a)
The city pursues an active program of locating and repairing leaks.
Currently, the program consists of leak location through visual detection.
However, the city is investigating the use of a sonic detection device
which will assist in locating leaks.
(b)
The meter replacement program should have a significant impact on
the water loss. Many system meters are over 20 years in age. Finally,
assistance in training and equipment can be obtained through the TWDB,
such as aquascopes and leak detection surveys.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. II, sec. I)
The city has no source of water recycle or reuse at the current
time. There are no golf courses, large parks, or industries which
utilize sufficient quantities of water to make reuse practical. The
only potential source of use for treated effluent is irrigation of
fields adjacent to the plant site. Local farmers currently employ
dry land farming practices and have not indicated a willingness to
change. Reuse will be considered if the proper situation arises.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. II, sec. J)
(a)
The city secretary or its duly appointed representative will act
as administrator of the water conservation plan. The administrator
will oversee the execution and implementation of the elements associated
with the plan. The administrator will also be responsible to oversee
the maintenance of the records for program verification.
(b)
As a means of implementation of the water conservation program, the
city has added the following ordinances:
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. II, sec. K)
In addition to the responsibilities described above, the administrator
will be responsible for submission of an annual report to the executive
director of the state water development board within 60 days of the
anniversary date of the loan closing, throughout the life of the loan
(20 years). The report will include the following elements:
(1)
Progress made in the implementation of the program.
(2)
Response to the program by the public.
(3)
Quantitative effectiveness of the program.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. II, sec. L)
The city currently has no contracts (either for water purchase
or sales) to other political subdivisions or water entities. The city
will, as a part of any future contract for sale of water to an entity,
require addition of applicable provisions of the city’s water
conservation and drought contingency plan in effect. These requirements
include those political subdivisions that contract wholesale water
service.
(Ordinance adopted 4/20/1993,
ex. A, art. II, sec. M)
