The city records water sales through the water customer service group which uses CentralSquare Technologies. The software separates water sales into different classes including residential, multifamily, commercial, industrial, and agricultural (irrigation). Water billing and water utilities also maintains records of the wholesale customers. Citywork's is the record management system the city uses to track work orders, maintenance requests, permits, and flushing records.
(Resolution 24-152 adopted 6/18/2024)
(a) 
For this water conservation plan, the city chose to use the historical averages from the previous 5 years as the baseline. The historic average for the total gallons per capita per day (GPCD), water loss CPCD, and water loss percentage encompasses water usage from CY 2019 through CY 2023. The historic average for the residential GPCD encompasses water usage noted on the water use survey from CY 2019 through CY 2023.
(b) 
The goal set in this conservation plan reflect reducing the total water use, measured in gallons per capita per day (GPCD), by 1.5% annually.
(c) 
The city plans to further implement leak detection and improve leak repairs in order to reduce water loss by 2.00% annually to reach the goals set below.
(d) 
The city's goal for reducing water loss GPCD was based on the water loss percentage and total GPCD goals.
Historic 5-year average
Baseline
5-year goal for year 2029
10-year goal for year 2034
Total GPCD
183
184
170
158
Residential GPCD
65
65
65
65
Water loss GPCD
56
57
49
42
Water loss percentage
31%
31%
29%
27%
(Resolution 24-152 adopted 6/18/2024)
The city meters the raw water intake to the surface water treatment plant (SWTP), treated water leaving the SWTP, each of the three ground water wells, and the high service pumps from the groundwater storage facility. Each meter is annually calibrated and remains within specification for accuracy.
(Resolution 24-152 adopted 6/18/2024)
The city's water utilities department maintains the water meters throughout the distribution system. The city currently has a contract for Neptune water meters (see attached product information to Resolution 24-152). Customer water meters are tested based on requests from the customer for accuracy. Meters that fail to meet 90% accuracy during the test shall be replaced/repaired. Contractors in need of water for construction or other projects within city limits are required to use a cage meter to monitor water usage, it may be used to connect to any city-owned fire hydrant. Contractors may also purchase bulk water from the city at a designated location where a cage meter is set up to monitor the amount they acquire.
(Resolution 24-152 adopted 6/18/2024)
(a) 
Water loss has occurred from several sources:
(1) 
Inaccuracies in customer meters.
(2) 
Errors in customer meter data.
(3) 
Miscellaneous usage from firefighting.
(4) 
Error in flushing estimates.
(5) 
Water main breaks and leaks in the distribution system.
(6) 
Illegal connections and theft of water.
(b) 
Maintenance and operation crews along with other city employees should report any evidence of leaks in the distribution system. Meter readers and maintenance crews should look for signs of illegal connections and report them immediately to their supervisors, so they can be investigated. Leaks can also be reported by citizens through the city's 311 call system or the 311 applications.
(Resolution 24-152 adopted 6/18/2024)
The city includes water conservation information with the annual water quality report. The city plans to make information on water conservation available on its website and include links to TCEQ, TWDB, and EPA sites as resources.
(Resolution 24-152 adopted 6/18/2024)
The city uses a nonpromotional rate structure based on meter size. Refer to Resolution 24-152 the attachment document for a comprehensive breakdown of the city's water rates this information can also be found in the city code.
(Resolution 24-152 adopted 6/18/2024)
The city does not own or operate a reservoir system.
(Resolution 24-152 adopted 6/18/2024)
The 2024 Water Conservation Plan is expected to be reviewed by city council on June 18, 2024. Once approved, a copy of the resolution granting approval will be included under division 3.
(Resolution 24-152 adopted 6/18/2024)
The city is located within Region I - East Texas Planning Group. The city will provide a copy of this conservation plan to the Regional I - East Texas Planning Group once it has been approved.
(Resolution 24-152 adopted 6/18/2024)
The city reviews its conservation programs and goals on an annual basis and submits an annual conservation report to update regulatory agencies. The water conservation plan and water conservation improvement report is reviewed and updated as necessary every 5 years in accordance with TCEQ requirements under title 30 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) § 288.30. The next water conservation plan is expected by May 1, 2029.
(Resolution 24-152 adopted 6/18/2024)
Required of suppliers serving population of 5,000 or more or a projected population of 5,000 or more within the next ten years:
(1) 
Leak detection and repair.
The city has invested in leak detection software and the maintenance and customer service division are able to use this technology to track down leaks. Maintenance and operations crews are to report the type of material used to make repairs.
(2) 
Contract requirements.
Each wholesale water supply contract entered into or renewed after the adoption of this plan will require wholesale customers to develop and implement a water conservation plan or water conservation measures using the applicable elements from the TECQ. If the customer intends to resell the water, the contract between the initial supplier and customer must provide that each successive customer in the resale of the water will be required to implement water conservation measures in accordance with the previsions of the chapter.
(Resolution 24-152 adopted 6/18/2024)
Any combination of the following strategies shall be selected by the water supplier, in addition to the minimum requirements of 30 TAC § 288.2(1), if they are necessary in order to achieve the stated water conservation goals of the plan. The commission may require by commission order that any of the following strategies be implemented by the water supplier if the commission determines that the strategies are necessary in order for the conservation plan to be achieved:
(1) 
The city strives to increase its water line replacement program to lower the number of aging water lines that are the cause of leaks and discolored water calls. With this the city hopes to reduce the number of dirty water calls, lowering the amount of flushing that is needed throughout the system.
(Resolution 24-152 adopted 6/18/2024)