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Assisting Water Suppliers In Dealing With The Drought June 3, 2008

Assisting Water Suppliers In Dealing With The Drought June 3, 2008. Lee Keck, Environmental Manager Tennessee Division of Water Supply. Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. The 2007 Drought . Reflects The State’s Broader Perspective on the Drought. Source related emphasis

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Assisting Water Suppliers In Dealing With The Drought June 3, 2008

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  1. Assisting Water Suppliers In Dealing With The DroughtJune 3, 2008 Lee Keck, Environmental Manager Tennessee Division of Water Supply Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

  2. The 2007 Drought

  3. Reflects The State’s Broader Perspective on the Drought • Source related emphasis • Includes agriculture, PWSs, industry, the environment and their interrelationships • Coordination of agencies • Assisting users within each user group in dealing with drought

  4. Droughts In Tennessee’s Past • 1940-41 Drought – Impacted Agricultural and Self-Supplied Users • 1952-54 Drought – Impacted Agricultural and Self-Supplied Users and Smaller Water Systems • 1984-88 Drought – Smaller Water Systems on Less Reliable Sources (Springs, Small Streams)

  5. Responses • Creation of Utility Districts • Farm pond assistance • Interconnections among water systems • Reliance on larger, more reliable sources • Development of Drought Management Plans • The Future: Regional Planning

  6. Interim State Drought Management Plan In January 1987 the Office of Water Management released an Interim Plan which delimited the basic roles of State, Federal and local agencies in dealing with drought. The State is using that document to guide responses to the current drought. It is available at URL: http://state.tn.us/environment/dws/DWprogram.shtml

  7. TVA-USGS-USWS-NC-VAGA-AL-TN Drought Management Team • TDEC participates in this on-going team effort to monitor stream flows, reservoir levels, well-spring yields and demand-side information for the multi-state Tennessee Valley area.

  8. TEMA Drought Task Force A weekly meeting with: National Weather Service Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) – Divisions of Water Supply and Water Pollution Control Tennessee Department of Agriculture (DOA) – Division of Forestry, Market Development and Regulatory Services Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) Tennessee Association of Utility Districts (TAUD)

  9. Interim State Drought Management Plan

  10. Drought Responses The State Drought Task Force updates others regarding drought impacts: • Public Water Systems • Navigation and Power Production • Wildfires • Agricultural Impacts (livestock, hay, etc.) • In-stream flow requirements - aquatic habitat and waste assimilation • Weather Forecasts

  11. DROUGHT 2007 TASK FORCE SITUATION REPORThttp://www.tnema.org/

  12. Dealing With The Media Issues DWS and PWSs addressed in 2007: • Systems with Pressure, Taste and Odor Issues • Systems Impacted by Drought and their Status • Vulnerable Systems – Sources and Inadequate Infrastructure • Systems Requiring Water Conservation or Restrictions • PWS Authority to Require Conservation • Areas with Private Wells and Springs Impacted by Drought • Line Extension Requests • Impacts to Aquatic Life due to PWS withdrawals • Livestock watering from PWSs

  13. PWS Intake Problems Systems have called the DWS due to problems with intake structure designs and locations • Declining Impoundment levels • Flows (away from structures) • Conflicts with up-stream users

  14. Unpermitted Withdrawals and Large Withdrawals Affecting PWSs • Golf Courses • Nurseries • Athletic Fields • Farmers There are State Rules designed to protect Public Water Systems • 1200-5-1-.34 (5) – Source Water Protection (i.e. Heavy Pumping) • 1200-5-8-.05 - Water Withdrawal Registration Requirement • 1200-4-7-.01-.10 - ARAP (Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit) Notify the DWS of any source conflicts

  15. Assistance to Industry Fearing cutbacks by municipal and utility districts • Industries have requested assistance in finding alternative and supplemental sources • Re-schedule production or cut-back production

  16. Customer Moratoriumsand Service Discontinuation • T.C.A. 68-221-711(9) prohibits terminating customers without 60 days notice • PWSs should implement moratoriums on new connections and impose mandatory restrictions first

  17. Livestock Watering Their problems can become your problems Many Chicken Operations, Cattle Farmers and Dairies whose springs, streams and wells have gone dry (or rely on limited sources) and are also customers of a PWS… • Accounting for increased water use demand • Often despite public conservation demands Alternatives?

  18. Cont. • Work with local and state officials to assist livestock owners with finding alternative sources. Involve County Agriculture programs. • Encourage owners to market livestock and/or alter production (i.e. bird rotations and animal density) • Terminate service and Contractual Agreements (non-potable uses)

  19. Diminishing Supplies • Monitor Sources • Manage Reservoirs & Stream Flows (where possible. Modify Operating Guidelines.) • Implement Management Plans 1200-5-1-.18(2) requires systems to report the failure to comply, failure of equipment, loss of service or any other situation which presents an endangerment

  20. Systems without Water • Mutual Aid • Tanker Trucks (not a good solution) • Interconnection – Emergency Contracts • Local Emergency Management Agency Assistance • Backup Sources • Bottled Water

  21. Adding a Supplyor Providing Additional Treatment • Water Wells • Springs • Lakes • Streams 1200-5-1-.05 – Requires plans to be submitted and approved by the DWS.

  22. Line Breaks and Meter Replacement • Old Meters are often inaccurate. PWSs are actively replacing them. • Leaks – 2007 “Leak Bill” focuses on this issue from a financial perspective • Line Breaks – a 12-inch main can result in millions of gallons loss – Replace vulnerable areas of pipe.

  23. Private Wells and Springs Fish Springs & Little Milligan , Sunbright area Plateau & Middle TN – isolated farms and families • Line extensions • Licensed Well Drillers • Refer to LEMAs for assistance

  24. Water Conservation Plans • DWS is providing considerable technical assistance to PWSs in developing Drought and Water Conservation Plans • Local Drought Management Guide for Public Water Systems • http://state.tn.us/environment/dws/DWprogram.shtml

  25. Local Drought Management Guide A PWS’ Checklist: 1. Drought Management Planning Process (Process, Goals, Adoption, Pre-Event Actions) 2. Assess vulnerability and risks (Source, Storage, Infrastructure, Uses, Priorities, Other Risks) 3. Public Involvement (Expectations and “buy-in”) 4. Establish Management Phases and Trigger Points

  26. Local Drought Management Guide (continued) 5. Work with others (TEMA, neighboring systems) 6. Implement Plan (adopt Rates, Ordinance, etc.) 7. Be prepared to respond to the media Use the media to communicate with customers Deal clearly and fairly with issues 8. Monitor Situation (Revise –Update Plan)

  27. Don’t Be Caught Living In The Past

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