(a) 
The purpose of a water conservation plan is to ensure water use efficiency within your operation. It contains best management practice measures to try to meet the targets and goals identified within the plan. The effectiveness of your water conservation plan is in the implementation of your water conservation program. Reviewing your program annually will help to evaluate program successes and needs. The water conservation plan, including targets and goals, must be revised every 5 years.
(b) 
Water supply has always been a key issue in the development of the state. In recent years, the growing population and economic development of North Central Texas has led to increasing demands for water supplies. At the same time, local and less expensive sources of water supply are largely developed. Additional supplies to meet higher demands will be expensive and difficult to develop. It is therefore important that the city make the most efficient use of existing supplies. This will delay the need for new supplies, minimize the environmental impacts associated with developing new supplies, and delay the high cost of additional water supply development. The city is a wholesale customer of the City of Lancaster, and the City of Lancaster is a wholesale customer of the City of Dallas which is subject to the rules and restrictions of the City of Dallas Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan.
(c) 
Recognizing the need for efficient use of existing water supplies, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has developed guidelines and requirements governing the development of water conservation and drought contingency plans for public water suppliers. The best management practices established by the water conservation implementation task force 5, established pursuant to SB1094 by the 78th legislature, were also considered in the development of the water conservation measures. The city has developed this water conservation and drought contingency and water emergency response plan following TCEQ guidelines and requirements and considering the City of Dallas Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan. The plan replaces Wilmer's previous drought contingency plan.
(d) 
The water conservation sections of this plan include measures that are intended to result in ongoing, long-term water savings. The drought contingency and water emergency response sections of this plan address strategies designed to temporarily reduce water use in response to specific conditions.
(e) 
The objectives of this water conservation plan are as follows:
(1) 
To reduce water consumption from the levels that would prevail without conservation efforts.
(2) 
To reduce the loss and waste of water.
(3) 
To improve efficiency in the use of water.
(4) 
To extend the life of current water supplies by reducing the rate of growth in demand.
(5) 
To satisfy the requirements set forth by TCEQ and other agencies.
(6) 
This plan includes all of the elements required by TCEQ. Some elements of this plan go beyond TCEQ requirements.
(Ordinance 2022-1201D adopted 12/1/2022)
The City of Wilmer occupies 11.6 square miles of land within its corporate limits along Interstate Highway 45 in southeast Dallas County, Texas, and is home to approximately 6,690 residents (NCTCOG, 2022). The primary water use sector for the city is single-family residential. The remainder of water consumption is comprised of commercial (institutional), wholesale, multifamily, and industrial usage. Currently, the City of Wilmer's water demands are met through a purchase agreement with the City of Lancaster and Dallas Water Utilities (DWU). Lancaster buys water from DWU and sells it to the City of Wilmer. The city has a contract with the City of Lancaster for 2 MGD peak day of treated water. The City of Wilmer total gallons per day is 673,016 and the total gallons per capita per day (GPCD) is 140 gallons and the residential daily use is 301,872 gallons a day and residential GPCD is 63 gallons per customer. The cities ground and elevated capacities total 2.25 million gallons respectively. All of the city's wastewater is treated by the City of Dallas wastewater treatment plant.
(Ordinance 2022-1201D adopted 12/1/2022)
(a) 
Per capita water use is generally expressed in gallons per customer per day (GPCD) and is the average amount of water used by each person in the population served by a water utility. Variable factors that can influence GPCD include the relative amount of nonresidential water uses, the rate and type of growth, economics, climatic conditions, and demographics. Residential GPCD is a superior metric for understanding how much water each customer is actually using and does not include commercial, industrial, and institutional uses.
(b) 
For the previous 5 years, the average number of gallons per person per day for the City of Wilmer ranged between approximately 108–140 total GPCD. Currently, the GPCD is 130, the state goal for maximum conservation is 140. The City of Wilmer's 5-year water conservation goals are based upon the state's water conservation implementation task force's recommendation of a reduction in per capita water use by 1% per year.
Five-Year and Ten-Year Municipal Per Capita Water Use Goals
Description
Current Average
(gpcd)
5-year goal
(gpcd)
10-year goal
(gpcd)
Current 5-year average per capita municipal use
140
122
122
Projected reduction due to elements in this plan
2
3
5
Water conservation goals
122
120
118
Water loss goals
48
15
5
1.
Total GPCD = (Total Gallons in System ÷ Permanent Population) ÷ 365
2.
Residential GPCD = (Gallons Used for Residential Use ÷ Residential Population) ÷ 365
3.
Water Loss GPCD = (Total Water Loss ÷ Permanent Population) ÷ 365
4.
Water Loss Percentage = (Total Water Loss ÷ Total Gallons in System) x 100; or (Water Loss GPCD ÷ Total GPCD) x 100
(Ordinance 2022-1201D adopted 12/1/2022)
Water deliveries from the City of Lancaster are metered by the City of Lancaster with an accuracy of ±5%. The recorded delivery amount is provided to the City of Wilmer by the City of Lancaster.
(Ordinance 2022-1201D adopted 12/1/2022)
The City of Wilmer meters all water customers. The city is in the process of replacing all the meters. At this time, we have replaced 984 out of 1,336 active meters.
(Ordinance 2022-1201D adopted 12/1/2022)
(a) 
Unaccounted water is the difference between water delivered to the City of Wilmer from the City of Lancaster and metered water sales to customers plus authorized but unmetered uses. (Authorized but unmetered uses would include use for firefighting, releases for flushing of lines, etc.) Unaccounted water can be caused by the following:
(1) 
Inaccuracies in customer meters. (Customer meters tend to run more slowly as they age and under-report actual use.)
(2) 
Accounts which are being used but have not yet been added to the billing system.
(3) 
Losses due to water main breaks and leaks in the water distribution system.
(4) 
Losses due to illegal connections and theft.
(b) 
Measures to control unaccounted water are part of the routine operations of the city. Meter readers watch for and report signs of illegal connections, so they can be quickly addressed.
(c) 
Unaccounted water should be calculated in accordance with the provisions of the water utility profile. The City of Wilmer should maintain unaccounted water below 12%. If unaccounted water exceeds this goal, the City of Wilmer will implement a more intensive audit to determine the sources(s) of unaccounted water and take measures to reduce unaccounted water.
(Ordinance 2022-1201D adopted 12/1/2022)
Currently, city staff targets areas known to have leaks by visual inspections to locate potential leaks. Water lines with known leakage and breakage problems are replaced as budget allows.
(Ordinance 2022-1201D adopted 12/1/2022)
As required by TAC title 30, part I, chapter 288, subchapter A, rule 288.2(a)(2)(B), a record management system should allow for the separation or water sales and uses into residential, commercial, public/institutional, and industrial categories. The city has a record management system in place that separates water sales into the categories listed below:
(1) 
Residential.
(A) 
Single-family.
(B) 
Multifamily.
(2) 
Commercial.
(3) 
Institutional.
(Ordinance 2022-1201D adopted 12/1/2022)
(a) 
The City of Wilmer will periodically provide the public with bilingual information about the plan, including information about the conditions under which each stage of the plan is to be initiated or terminated and the drought response measures to be implemented in each stage. This information will be provided by means of, but not limited to, an appropriate combination of the following items:
(1) 
Public service announcements on City of Wilmer city site.
(2) 
General circulation in local newspapers.
(3) 
Press releases, media alerts and social media.
(4) 
Mailed water bill inserts.
(5) 
Distribution of fact sheets, brochures, and pamphlets.
(6) 
Post notices of drought contingency plan and water conservation tips at city hall.
(7) 
Public meetings and hearings.
(8) 
Commercial, industrial, and institutional employee handouts (upon request).
(b) 
Effective communication will be maintained with all wholesale water customers or entities through semi-annual wholesale water customer meetings and mailings.
(Ordinance 2022-1201D adopted 12/1/2022)
The city has an increasing block rate structure for residential customers to discourage excessive use. Current rates as of October 2022 are given below:
(1) 
Residential rates.
(A) 
Monthly minimum charge of $12.00.
(B) 
1st tier up 2,001–5,000 gallons, $7.06 per 1,000 gallons.
(C) 
2nd tier 5,001–10,000 gallons, $7.76 per 1,000 gallons.
(D) 
3rd tier 10,001–100,000 gallons, $8.13 per 1,000 gallons.
(E) 
4th tier over 100,000 gallons, $8.79 per 1,000 gallons.
(2) 
Commercial/industrial rates.
(A) 
Monthly minimum charge of $17.00.
(B) 
1st tier up 2,001–5,000 gallons: $7.76 per 1,000 gallons.
(C) 
2nd tier 5,001–10,000 gallons: $8.79 per 1,000 gallons.
(D) 
3rd tier 10,001–100,000 gallons: $9.15 per 1,000 gallons.
(E) 
4th tier over 100,000 gallons: $9.84 per 1,000 gallons.
(3) 
Wholesale/customer rates
The City of Wilmer does not have any wholesale customers.
(Ordinance 2022-1201D adopted 12/1/2022)
(a) 
City of Dallas system operation plan.
Since Wilmer purchases treated water from the City of Lancaster and the City of Lancaster purchases water from the City of Dallas, the city does not have its own surface water supplies for which to implement a system operation plan. Dallas operates its water supply reservoirs as a system to achieve the most economical operation consistent with assuring adequate supply for future years, maintenance of water rights, and maintenance requirements of the supply and transmission facilities.
(b) 
Reuse and recycling of wastewater.
The City of Wilmer does not own or operate a wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater from the City of Wilmer is treated by the City of Dallas Wastewater Treatment Plant.
(c) 
Ordinances, plumbing codes or rules on water-conserving fixtures.
The state has required water-conserving fixtures in new construction and renovation since 1992. The state standards call for flows of no more than 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) for faucets, 3.0 gpm for showerheads, and 1.6 gallons per flush for toilets. Similar standards are now required nationally under federal law. These stale and federal standards assure that all new construction and renovations will use water-conserving fixtures. The City of Wilmer adopted the International Plumbing Code, 2015 edition in 2019 incorporating these standards.
(d) 
Landscape water management measures.
(1) 
The following landscape water management measures are enforced by the City of Dallas for retail customers in the City of Dallas. Wilmer has adopted these measures to match the City of Dallas measures.
(A) 
Time of day restrictions prohibiting lawn irrigation watering from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. watering with a handheld hose or soaker hose may be conducted at any time.
(B) 
Prohibition of watering of impervious surfaces. (Wind driven water drift will be taken into consideration.)
(C) 
Prohibition of over-watering lawn or landscape, such that a constant stream of water overflows from the lawn or landscape onto a street or other drainage area.
(D) 
Prohibition of outdoor watering during precipitation or freeze events.
(E) 
Prohibition of outdoor watering with misdirected or broken sprinkler heads.
(F) 
Rain and freeze sensors required on all new irrigation systems. Rain and freeze sensors must be maintained to function properly.
(2) 
In addition, the City of Wilmer adopted Ordinance 19-0620A in 2019 to address the requirements of Texas House Bill 1656 regarding installation of new irrigation systems.
(A) 
Requirement for water conservation plans by wholesale customers.
The City of Wilmer currently has no wholesale customer, every contract for the wholesale sale of water by the City of Wilmer that is entered into, renewed, or extended after the adoption of this water conservation plan will include a requirement that the wholesale customer and any wholesale customers of that wholesale customer develop and implement a water conservation plan. These plans must meet the requirements of title 30, part I, chapter 288, subchapter A, and rule 288.2 of the Texas Administrative Code. The requirement will also extend to each successive wholesale customer in the resale of the water.
(B) 
Coordination.
A copy of this water conservation and drought contingency and water emergency response plan will be provided to the City of Lancaster and the Region C Water Planning Group. A copy of the cover letter to be sent with those plans.
(C) 
Water conservation implementation report.
Includes the TCEQ-required water conservation implementation report. This report lists the various writer conservation strategies that have been implemented, including the date the strategy was implemented. The report also calls for the five-year and ten-year per capita water use goals from the previous water conservation plan. The amount of water saved is also requested.
(Ordinance 2022-1201D adopted 12/1/2022)
(a) 
Texas Water Code § 13.146. water conservation plan.
The commission shall require a retail public utility that provides potable water service to 3,300 or more connections to submit to the executive administrator of the board a water conservation plan based on specific targets and goals developed by the retail public utility and using appropriate best management practices, as defined by section 11.002, or other water conservation strategies.
(b) 
Title 30 Texas Administrative Code, chapter 288.30(10)(A).
Water conservation plans for retail public water suppliers. For retail public water suppliers providing water service to 3,300 or more connections, a water conservation plan meeting the minimum requirements of subchapter A of chapter and using appropriate best management practices must be developed, implemented, and submitted to the executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board not later than May 1, 2009, and every five years after that date to coincide with the regional water planning group.
(Ordinance 2022-1201D adopted 12/1/2022)