water conservation and drought planning jennifer allis texas commission on environmental quality...
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Water Conservation and Drought Planning
Jennifer Allis
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Water Availability Division
Resource Protection Team
A strategy or combination of strategies for temporary and potentially recurring water supply shortages and other water supply emergencies.
Drought Contingency Plans (DCP)
Retail Public Water SuppliersWholesale Public Water Suppliers Irrigation Districts
Rules and requirements for Drought Contingency Plans are governed by 30 TAC Chapter 288.20, 288.21 and 288.22
Who is required to have a DCP?
DCP Plan ElementsPublic InvolvementOngoing EducationNotification ProceduresTriggering CriteriaResponse StagesQuantified targetsManagement measuresVariancesEnforcement & Adoption of
the DCP
Communication with Customers
Public InvolvementOngoing EducationCoordination with your Regional
Water Planning Group (RWPG)
Examples of Public Education
Radio and television public service announcements
Newspaper articles and announcementsPress releases and media alertsBill inserts or notification lettersDrought Website Distribution of fact sheets, brochures, and
pamphletsPublic meetings and hearings
Triggering Criteria
Description of the information to be monitored by the water supplier
Specific criteria for the initiation and termination of drought response stages
Explanation of the rationale or basis
Examples of Triggers
Supply Trigger for Surface Water - may be based on lake level or percent of storage capacity or streamflow level
Supply Trigger for Groundwater - may be based on aquifer level
Demand Trigger may be based on demand during specific time period or inability to recover/maintain water storage supply for time period.
Emergency Trigger would be a system outage, equipment failure, contamination, or other emergency.
Response Stages
The DCP shall include emergency responses for each drought stage
Water Supply Reductions- Water Systems
Water Demand Reductions- Water customers
Specific, Quantified Targets
The drought contingency plan must include specific, quantified targets for water use reductions to be achieved during periods of water shortage and drought.
Management Measures
The Drought Contingency Plan must include the specific water supply or water demand management measures to be implemented during each stage of the plan including, but not limited to, the following:
1. Curtailment of non-essential water use
2. Utilization of alternative water sources and/or alternative delivery
mechanisms
Examples of Measures for Irrigation
Limitations on watering with an irrigation system, sprinkler or soaker hose
Restrictions on hand watering with a hand-held hose, drip irrigation, bucket or watering can
Use of variances or restrictions on watering new landscapes
Prohibition of all outdoor irrigation of vegetation including lawns
Enforcement & Adoption
The drought contingency plan must include procedures for the enforcement of mandatory water use restrictions, including specification of penalties (e.g., fines, water rate surcharges, discontinuation of service) for violations of such restrictions.
Pro rata curtailment of water deliveries and water contract extensions must comply with Texas Water Code §11.039
Additional requirements for Wholesale DCPs
Allocation and Surcharges
In the event that water shortage conditions exist, may establish water allocation plan, with limitations based on persons per household.
During period when pro rata allocation is in effect, may establish surcharges for excess water diversion and/or delivery.
Water Conservation Plans (WCP)
Water Conservation - everyday practices or techniques intended to reduce water consumption, reduce loss or waste of water, improve the efficiency in the use of water and increase recycling & reuse so that a water supply is available for future use.
Who is required to have a WCP?
Non-irrigation (municipal and industrial) water rights holders of 1,000 acre-feet or more and
Irrigation water rights holders of 10,000 acre-feet or more
Implementation reports are required to be submitted with a WCP
30 TAC Chapter 288
Rules and requirements for Water Conservation Plans are governed by 30 TAC Chapter 288.2, 288.3, 288.4 and 288.5
Municipal WCP Elements
Utility Profile Record Management (Retail use only)5 & 10 year goals for water savingsMeter calibration and replacementWater loss accountingPublic education programNon-promotional water rates Implementation and EnforcementCoordination with your RWPG
Utility Profile
population and customer data water use data in gallons per
capita per day (GPCD)water supply system data wastewater system data
Retail: Record Management Sector based reporting
Residential includes: single & multi -family units
Commercial Institutional Industrial Agricultural Wholesale
Specific, quantified five-year and ten-year targets
Retail • goals for water loss programs • goals for municipal use (GPCD)
Wholesale• target goals for municipal use (GCPD)• maximum acceptable unaccounted-for
water • the basis for the development of these
goals
Deliveries of Water
Retail• program for universal metering of both
customer and public uses of water, for meter testing and repair, and for periodic meter replacement
• measures to determine and control unaccounted-for uses of water
Deliveries of Water
Wholesale• a monitoring and record management
program for determining water deliveries, sales, and losses
• a program of metering, leak detection and repair for the wholesaler's water storage, delivery, and distribution system
Additional Retail Requirements
a program of continuing public education and information regarding water conservation
a water rate structure which is not "promotional"
Additional Wholesale Requirement
Every water supply contract entered into or renewed as well as contract extensions must include that each successive wholesaler implement a water conservation plan or water conservation measures
Means for implementation and enforcement
The means of implementation and enforcement of the plan shall be evidenced by:A copy of the ordinance, resolution, or
tariff indicating the official adoption
Coordination with RWPG
Documentation of coordination with the regional water planning groups for the service area of the Retail or Wholesale water supplier in order to ensure consistency with the appropriate approved regional water plans.
Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Water Conservation BMP Guide
Voluntary list of management practices that water users may implement in addition to the required components of TCEQ Rules in Chapter 288.
Broken out by sector, including Agriculture, Commercial and Institutional, Industrial, Municipal and Wholesale.
BMP Examples - Municipal
System Water Audit and Water LossWater Conservation PricingProhibition on Wasting WaterResidential Toilet Replacement
Programs, Rebates for Water-Efficient Wash Machines and Fixtures
School Education and Public Information
Examples of Measures
Home water audit to identify leaksRebate to install low-water landscape plants Requirement for residential and commercial
builders to install drought-tolerant turf grass for newly constructed homes or businesses
Free Irrigation Consultation for residential and/or Irrigation Design Rebate for commercial entities
Cooling tower water audit program
BMP Examples - Wholesale
Customer Contract Requirements to Develop and Implement Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plans
Technical Assistance and Outreach
Water Conservation = all the time
Drought Contingency = when necessary
Drought Contingency vs.Water Conservation
Reminders
DCPs should be revised as often as necessary especially as your triggers change over time.
Reminder: May 1, 2019 is the deadline to submit DCPs, WCPs & implementation reports to TCEQ.
Contact & Website
Jennifer Allis
Water Availability Division
(512) 239-0027
http://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/water_rights/conserve.html