(a) The city is a municipality operating as a municipal corporation.
The city council has the managing control and operation of the city’s
water system. The council is elected by the qualified voters residing
within the city. The city serves an area of approximately 10 square
miles to local residents.
(b) The population of the city has increased approximately 33% in the
last 10 years. The city obtains groundwater from 21 wells located
in the Trinity and Paluxy formations. The city’s goal is to
enact this plan to achieve approximately 10% reduction in water consumption
per person.
(Ordinance 684-14, ex. A, sec. I,
adopted 6/10/14)
(a) Water supply and distribution system information.
(1) Population of service area (estimated): 4,700.
(2) Area of service area: 10 square miles.
(3) Water production and sales information:
(A) Water supplied during the last year: 185,966,503 gallons.
(B) Monthly water use (2013):
RAW WATER PUMPED
(1,000 gallons)
|
---|
Month
|
Total
|
---|
January
|
12,932
|
February
|
9,019
|
March
|
14,283
|
April
|
11,069
|
May
|
17,357
|
June
|
18,674
|
July
|
19,078
|
August
|
21,956
|
September
|
16,908
|
October
|
17,590
|
November
|
13,074
|
December
|
14,033
|
TOTAL
|
185,967
|
(C) Highest daily water use on record for system: 1,147,905 (gpd).
(D) Peak daily use for the last year: 1,147,905 (gpd).
(E) Unaccounted-for water (2013): 8%.
(4) Number and type of meter connections in service area: 1760.
(5) Net gain of new connections per year: 30 (est).
(6) Source of water: Groundwater.
(7) Maximum diversion rate: 1.3 MGD.
(8) Design capacity of water system: 1,300,000 (GPD).
(9) Major high volume customers: Lockheed Rec.
(10) Per capita water use: 108 gpcd.
(11) Population and water use projections:
Year
|
Number of Connections
|
Daily Avg. MGD
|
Daily Max. MGD
|
---|
2030
|
3191
|
1.4
|
2.8
|
(b) Utility financial operation information.
(1) Water rate structure:
(A) Existing rates structure: See appendix C [on file at the city offices].
(2) Sources of revenue for the utility:
(A) Percent of annual revenues from water rates: 90%.
(B) Percent of annual revenues from all other sources: 10%.
(3) Approximate annual operating costs (2011): $1,305,000.00.
(4) Projected annual operating costs: $1,305,000.00.
(c) Other applicable information.
(1) Copies of applicable local regulations relating to water conservation
and emergency water demand management planning: See appendix D [on
file at the city offices].
(2) Other applicable documents: None available.
(3) Information on civic groups, organizations and entities: None available.
(Ordinance 684-14, ex. A, sec. II,
adopted 6/10/14)
The city holds regular council meetings once each month. Councilmen
meet the second Tuesday of each month. These meetings are open to
the public and anyone is free to speak to the city council. At these
meetings, they hear the concerns of the members which assist them
in making decisions.
(Ordinance 684-14, ex. A, sec. III,
adopted 6/10/14)
(a) Water conservation goals.
(1) Over the past three years, the water users served by the city have
used approximately 108 gpcd. The 5-year goal for water use reduction
is to reduce per capita use by 4 gallons per day per user to 104 gpcd
by the end of 2019. The 10-year goal for the city is to reduce per
capita use by 11 gallons per day per user to 97 gpcd. These 5-and
10-year goals are in line with the overall water conservation goals
outlined by both the state and the Region C Planning Group.
(2) In addition, the city over the past seven years has experienced on
average approximately 17% water loss through the water system, which,
based on non-rationing water usage, equates to a water loss of approximately
21 gpcd. The city’s 5-year goal is to reduce water loss below
20 gpcd by the end of 2019. The 10-year goal is to reduce water loss
below 18 gpcd. The 5-and 10-year goals will be met through replacement
of the old and deteriorated distribution lines and through more accurate
recording of unaccounted-for water.
(b) Education and information.
(1) The city will promote water conservation by informing the public
of ways to conserve water. The following methods will be used to inform
water users:
(A) Distribution of educational materials to all customers will be made
four times during the first year of the program and twice per year
thereafter. The semi-annual distribution will be timed to correspond
with the peak summer and winter demand periods.
(B) Regular articles will be published in the local paper at times corresponding
to the distribution mentioned above and more often if conditions warrant.
(C) New customers will receive general conservation information when
applying for service.
(2) Information as presented in appendix A [on file at the city offices]
will be the basis for public education as well as pre-printed brochures
available from:
Texas Water Development Board
P.O. Box 13231, Capital Station
Austin, Texas 78711-3231
|
(c) Retrofit program.
Customers in existing buildings which
do not have water-saving devices will be encouraged to replace their
old plumbing fixtures. The advertising program will help inform them
of the advantages of installing water-saving devices. The enacted
excess water rate structure mentioned below should encourage them
to be conservative in their water use. Customers will be informed
of water-saving kits available to aid in their water conservation
efforts.
(d) Water rate structure.
(1) A water rate structure has been implemented which encourages water
conservation; see appendix C [on file at the city offices].
(2) When a customer applies for a tap, the water rate is identified based
on the guidelines set forth in the plan.
(e) Metering.
(1) The city currently meters 100% of the water sold. The city repairs
or replaces meters which appear to have high or low water usage. Incorporated
into the water conservation plan, the city will set up the following
meter testing schedule:
(A) Production meters: Test once a year.
(B) Meters larger than 1-1/2": Test once a year minimum.
(C) Meters 1-1/2" and smaller: Meters are monitored and tested when unusual
flows are observed.
(2) The city has implemented a computer billing system which handles
all of the billing. The system will compare meter readings monthly
and note dramatic changes.
(f) Water conservation landscaping.
The advertising program
will include suggestions on landscaping and irrigation procedures
which will save water usage and money.
(g) Leak detection and repair.
The city’s leak detection
program will be enhanced and will include:
(1) Perform an annual water audit to determine water loss quantity and
to identify unmetered use.
(2) Leak detection and location program. Visual inspection by meter readers
and city employees will keep a constant watch out for abnormal conditions
indicating leaks (i.e., defective fire hydrants and flush valves,
unauthorized use of fire hydrants and water main leaks).
(3) Maintain an adequate and qualified maintenance staff which is available
to repair leaks as they are located or perform corrective measures.
(4) Monthly water use accounting by the billing computer system which
will identify high water use for service meters indicating possible
leaks or malfunction.
(h) Recycling and reuse.
The city has no means to recycle
or reuse water. There are no customers at this time that would be
able to recycle water.
(i) Schedule for implementing plan to achieve targets and goals.
The city will adhere to the following schedule to achieve the
targets and goals for water conservation:
(1) Calibration of the wellhead meters to be conducted annually.
(2) The city meter replacement program is as follows:
(A) Meters will continue to be monitored annually for accuracy and replaced
on a fifteen-year cycle or as needed.
(3) Water audits shall be conducted annually.
(A) Real water losses shall be identified and corrected.
(B) Real water losses shall be minimized by replacement of deteriorated
water mains and appurtenances, as is conducted by the city staff on
an ongoing basis.
(4) The city shall mail out material developed by the staff and materials
obtained from the state water development board, the state commission
on environmental quality or other sources semi-annually (once in the
spring and once in the summer) to all customers and provide additional
information for viewing at city hall.
(5) A leak detection program shall be implemented by the city which reduces
real water losses.
(6) The city adopted the 2000 International Plumbing Code, and all new
construction or renovations in the city use water-conserving fixtures.
(j) Tracking targets and goals.
The city staff shall track
targets and goals by utilizing the following procedures:
(1) Logs shall be maintained for meter calibration, meter testing, and
meter replacement programs.
(2) Annual water audits shall be documented and kept in the utility department
files.
(3) Staff shall keep a record of the number of mail-outs distributed
semi-annually.
(4) Rates shall be tracked by means of ordinances adopted.
(5) Logs shall be maintained for the utility’s leak detection program.
(k) Distribution system and residential pressure controls.
The city currently maintains one mainline pressure reducing valve
to minimize high pressure.
(Ordinance 684-14, ex. A, sec. IV,
adopted 6/10/14)
The city has adopted an emergency water rationing plan which
identifies triggering criteria, curtailment measures, penalties and
procedures for each stage of the plan. See article 13.11, division
3.
(Ordinance 684-14, ex. A, sec. V,
adopted 6/10/14)