Case Studies in Water Conservation
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Case Studies in Water Conservation Mary Ann Dickinson November 13-14, 2001 Darwin Advises….. Everything evolves, including water conservation programs Learn from others what works and what no longer does Analyze your situation for the pieces that fit Document….document…..
Case Studies in Water Conservation
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Case Studies in Water Conservation Mary Ann Dickinson November 13-14, 2001
Darwin Advises….. • Everything evolves, including water conservation programs • Learn from others what works and what no longer does • Analyze your situation for the pieces that fit • Document….document…..
In Your Backyard…. • City of Atlanta • City of Savannah
Atlanta Water Department • Low Income “Care and Conserve” Program • Plumbing repairs to reduce water waste • Fixture replacement (w/ ultra low-flow fixtures) • Direct payment assistance when funds are available • Information and instruction on water conservation
Atlanta Water Department • Xeriscape “Water Wise Landscaping” Program Site audits • Evaluate the current landscape for water use needs/patterns. • Deliver water conservation literature & water saving devices for indoor and outdoor use. • Provide one-on-one instruction in the basic principles of Xeriscaping
Savannah’s Savings Strategies • Conduct unaccounted for water audits • Leak repair programs and meter calibrations • Fire protection and looping improvements • Alternate water sources for irrigation – 5 MGD of reclaimed water • Water conservation program • Conversion of light industrial & commercial groundwater use to surface water
Savannah’s Water Conservation Program • Public outreach and education • Mascot, “Less Waters” • Indoor/Outdoor Water Conservation kits • Water Wisdom video • Water Sourcebooks to schools • Plumbing retrofit program for residential homes has saved approximately 1.113 MG/year. • Plumbing retrofit for public housing complexes has saved approximately 3 MG/year.
Savannah’s Bottom Line • Customer base in last 17 years increased by 17% • Total water production from all city wells has remained constant over the last 17 years • Total water leaks reduced by 65% from 3,242 leaks in 1981 to 1,131 leaks in 2000 • Looping lines requires less system flushing • In 1999, 21.8 MG was needed to maintain water quality in 800 miles of distribution system • In 2000, only 15.0 MG was needed
Beyond the Backyard…. • EPA Case Studies Book • Infrastructure Model Study
Infrastructure Study • AWWA Fax to 3700 utilities • 653 responses • 570 with useable data • Data entered into MS Access Database • Matched with EPA Region • Divided into size categories based on persons served: • less than 10,000 • 10,000-100,000 • more than 100,000
Data Collected • Water Use • Average Day, Peak Day, Total Sales, and Lowest Month • Demographics • Population served, number of accounts breakdown in residential and non-residential • Growth and projected growth in accounts • Planned Investments • Water Supply, Treatment (current price on energy & chemicals), SWDA
Benefit Cost Model Analysis • Baseline 1999 water use projected over 30 years for residential and non-residential use. • Employment estimated at 49-52% from Bureau of Labor Statistics • Separated into Indoor and Outdoor Use • AWWARF Residential End Uses Study 1999 • Energy & Chemical Costs • Planned Infrastructure Investments & SDWA
Study Conclusions • Water savings by 2010 estimated at 5% increasing to 8% by 2020 • Savings higher where indoor use is higher (e.g., East Coast) • Infrastructure cost savings average $26/person to utilities and $127/person to communities • $7.5 billion to utilities nationwide • $35 billion to communities nationwide
Beyond the Backyard Examples • Irvine Ranch Water District • City of Albuquerque • City of Cary • Arizona’s Public Awareness Campaign
Irvine Ranch Water District • Connections: 85,000 and Population: 266,000 • Conservation Budget: $700,000 – $2 million (funded through the excessive use penalties) • Conservation Rate Structure • Based on water budgets for all customers • Penalties for excessive use • Landscape water use has decreased approx. 50% (over 650,000 gallons per year)
Irvine Ranch Water District • Other Conservation Programs • Rebates/low interest loans for irrigation system and landscape upgrades • Monthly performance reports for 4,000 dedicated landscape meters • Monthly notification letters to the highest water wasters • Monthly conservation tips and suggested irrigation schedules provided as bill inserts • 80% of landscape accounts are reclaimed water
Irvine Ranch Water District • More Conservation Programs • Water Conservation Demonstration Garden • School education program • Residential garden workshops • Participation in the Orange County Landscape Performance Certification Program • Participate in regional ULFT programs, CII rebate and Landscape Education programs
Irvine Ranch Water District • Conservation Studies • X-Ray Film Processor Study – Initial savings are 98% • Supermarket Cooling Systems Study • Residential Run-off Reduction Study – Testing a real-time water based irrigation controller. Initial data showing a 70% reduction in runoff. • Pressure Optimization Study – Testing pressure levels for reducing “misting” and breaks in irrigation systems • National Sub-metering Study • Strawberry Reclaimed Water Study – Initial savings are nearly 1 MGY
City of Albuquerque • Population Served: 483,000 • Conservation Goals • 30% reduction over 10 years ( 1995 -2005) Reduction in total production from 250 gpcd to 175 gpcd • Achieved 23% savings by 2001 • Gpcd = 205 in 2001, down from 216 in 2000 Residential only per capita for 2001 = 144 gpcd, down 27% from the baseline of 198 gpcd
City of Albuquerque • Conservation Programs • 2000 letters to customers with more than 10% increase in usage since 1994 • Commercial water audit program • Free residential surveys to SF & MF customers • Toilet rebate program – 43,000 replacements to date • Xeriscaping – 286 customers rebated for 383,180 square feet of xeriscape conversions • Water-waste inspectors – visited 3000+ sites and issued more than 400 water-waste violations
City of Albuquerque • More Conservation Programs • “Take the Plunge” media campaign • Outdoor Watering Time of Day restrictions – April to September • Water Recycling – over 3.4 MGY • Audit of unaccounted for water loss • Washing machine rebates -$100 for high efficiency machines
City of Cary • Population has doubled in last 10 years • 75% residential, 21% commercial customers • 1998 average daily retail water demand 8.6MGD • 2028 projected is 26.7
Cary’s Response • Benefit-Cost Analysis Model • Conservation measures chosen with B/C greater than 1.0 • 10 year plan to reduce retail water production by 4.6 MGD (16% by 2028) • Emphasis on measures to reduce peak-day demand during high-volume summer months
Cary’s Program • Water Reclamation Facility for 4.6 MGD • Conservation Rate Structure • New Homes Points Program • Residential Audits • Landscape Water Budgets • Landscape and Irrigation Codes • Toilet Flapper Rebates • Public Education