WATER SUPPLY AND DROUGHT RESPONSE MANAGEMENT IN THE COG REGION

1. WATER SUPPLY AND DROUGHT RESPONSE MANAGEMENT IN THE COG REGION Presentation to National Research Council’s Division on Earth and Life Studies Advisory Committee by Steve Bieber Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

2. Overview • Our Regional Water Systems • COG's Water Supply and Drought Plan • Role of Drought Coordination Committee Great Falls on April 29, 2012

3. DRINKING WATER Service Areas for Washington Metropolitan Region Water Suppliers & Distributors • 13 suppliers • 27 distributors • Mix of local governments, authorities, federal govt., & private firms • Water Sources: Potomac River, Patuxent River, Occoquan and other reservoirs , and groundwater • Based on available data. • Areas should be interpreted with these caveats: • May be people living in the colored distribution areas who derive water from ground water wells. • People living in the non-colored areas outside of the distribution regions may derive water from groundwater wells or small community systems • Boundaries last updated in ICPRB in 2000 Supply/Demand study • Map should not be used to establish what treatment agency actually provides water.

4. Water Supply - Potomac “CO-OP” System *Note: The CO-OP System is coordinated by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin under 1982 Agreement • Three major water suppliers in the CO-OP* provide 90%+ of region’s treated water • Fairfax Water • Provides water to Fairfax County, Loudoun Water, Prince William County Service Authority, Vienna DPW, Virginia-American Water Company • Washington Aqueduct Division • Provides water to Arlington Department of Public Works, DC Water, Falls Church Dept. of Environmental Services • Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission • Provides water to most of Prince George’s and Montgomery County • Additional water supply sources in Potomac River System • Patuxent Reservoir, Occoquan Reservoir • Backup storage – Jennings Randolph Reservoir, Little Seneca Reservoir

5. Water Supply in the NCR Region • Potomac River - 90 to 95 % of the region • Note that COG’s Water Supply and Drought Plan is primarily designed for those customers who use the Potomac River for water supply • Remaining supply is from groundwater, lakes, rivers, streams • Loudoun County • Loudoun Water • Goose Creek, Beaverdam Reservoir, Potomac • Lovettsville VA, Poolesville MD, Bowie MD groundwater • Purcellville VA - ground water/reservoir • Leesburg VA/Brunswick MD - ground water/Potomac • Middleburg VA -groundwater • Frederick MD - Potomac/reservoirs/groundwater

6. Jurisdictions with their own water supply systems • Bowie -groundwater • Fairfax City • Also supplies LW and small part of Fairfax Co. • Can obtain water from FW • Loudoun Co. Towns Leesburg, Purcellville, Hamilton, Hillsboro, Lovettsville, Middleburg, Round Hill • Manassas • Also supplies water to part of Prince William Co. • Poolesville - ground water • Rockville - Potomac • Charles County - groundwater, Potomac • Note: Loudoun Water is in the process of constructing its own treatment plant.

7. Major Water Supply Storage Reservoirs –Washington Region Little Seneca (4 bg) Jennings Randolph (13 bg) Point of Rocks Gage Patuxent (10.2 bg) Little Falls Gage Occoquan (8.1 bg) Back-up Reservoir Daily Use Reservoir Adapted from ICPRB

8. Regional Drought Timeline

9. Creation of the Water Supply and Drought Plan • COG Board created the Water Supply Task Force (WSTF) in the summer of 1999 • Response to one of the most severe droughts of the 20th century - region did not have a common voice about drought conditions – conflicting messages to the public • Primary Focus of the WSTF • Initial Focus – water supply and current drought conditions • Long-Term Goals -January 2000 Board asked the Task Force to develop “common language” for region in the event of another serious drought • COG Board unanimously adopted the Metropolitan Washington Water Supply and Drought Awareness Response Plan (prepared by the WSTF) on June 7, 2000 – two main components • A year-round plan emphasizing wise water use and conservation; and a water supply and drought awareness and response plan

10. Components of the Plan – Two Parts • 1st Part - Wise Water Use Campaign • A Public Outreach Campaign with Indoor and Outdoor Conservation Messages – year-round focus • Part of a Regional Outreach Effort – Community Engagement Campaign • Lawn and Garden Blog that focuses on outdoor wise water use • Web site developed with useful tools • Landscape guide, seasonal water conservation tips Wayne the Water Drop

11. 2nd Part - Drought Triggers and Actions Normal Note that the Plan consists of four stages and is primarily designed for those customers who use the Potomac River for water supply. Watch Warning Emergency

12. Watch Warning Emergency Normal Water supply adequate to meet demands Year-round wise water use program conducted Routine reporting Monthly water supply and drought outlooks -May-OctoberEmail and Web Site Updates Trigger: NOAA “D1” drought level for Potomac River Basin (Drought Monitor) Drought coordination committee meets Note: CAO Chair is on this committee Regional media briefing Voluntary Water Conservation recommendations issued Additional media notification at first reservoir release -75% full reservoirs Trigger: Jennings Randolph and Little Seneca combined storage below 60% for 5 consecutive days OR 5% probability of not meeting unrestricted water supply demands over next 1-2 months Drought Coordination Committee meets Voluntary water restrictions announced Regional media briefings begun on weekly basis Trigger: 50% probability of not being able to meet demands over next month Drought Coordination Committee meets Mandatory Water Restrictions announced Regional Press Conference on daily basis

13. COG’s Roles Per the Plan Guidance • Communication and Coordination • Monitor and Report on Water Supply and Drought Conditions • Monthly from April – October - more as needed depending on Drought stage • Convene the DCC and Drought Coordination Technical Committee (DCTC) as needed • Issue Press Releases regarding Drought Stages (WATCH, WARNING, EMERGENCY), Interact with Media as needed, Internal and External Meetings • Outreach • Wise Water Use Events, Community Engagement Campaign (Blogs), Website updates

14. History of Use – Drought Declarations • COG’s DCC issued the last Drought WATCH - Sept. 9, 2010 • Press Release urged residents and businesses to conserve water – use water wisely • Emphasized - water supply reservoirs that were constructed in the early 1980s to provide water during droughts were full but would be utilized if needed • Ended with Tropical Storm Lee • Since the Drought Awareness Response Plan was adopted in 2000 • Declared a drought WATCH in 2002, 2007, 2010 • Never issued a WARNING or EMERGENCY for the Potomac system Great Falls – Sept. 2010

15. Looking Forward – Drought Related Needs • Drought Watch Trigger of NOAA ‘D1’ in the Potomac River Basin is effective but we need to clarify the steps that lead up to declaring a Watch, and look at other possible indicators of drought. • Decision making – improve data and messaging used to communicate with regional decision makers on drought status. • Better projections of climate change impacts on regional water supplies. • Scientific assessments of options to improve water availability in the region: • Use of estuaries for water supply. • Improvements in regional system efficiency. • Improvements in regional operational flexibility. • Scientific assessment of drought planning assumptions – is the 1930 drought of record the best benchmark?

16. Questions or Comments? • Steve Bieber – 202.962.3219sbieber@mwcog.org • COG’s Drought and Water Supply Website:http://www.mwcog.org/environment/water/watersupply/current_conditions.asp