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Water Conservation

Water Conservation. Deatre N. Denion Program Coordinator Office of Planning and Environmental Management Georgia Dept of Community Affairs 912-704-4136 deatre.denion@dca.ga.gov. Do You Have A Water Conservation Program?. Why Water Conservation?.

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Water Conservation

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  1. Water Conservation Deatre N. Denion Program Coordinator Office of Planning and Environmental Management Georgia Dept of Community Affairs 912-704-4136 deatre.denion@dca.ga.gov

  2. Do You Have A Water Conservation Program?

  3. Why Water Conservation? • The State of Georgia has been battling drought. The coast is addressing salt water intrusion and growth is still coming. • Reduce personal water costs • Minimize the need for local governments to fund expensive reservoir, water treatment plant and pipeline projects • Help maintain sufficient water in streams, rivers and lakes for fishing, boating, swimming, protection of aquatic life and downstream users

  4. Why Water Conservation? • 24 Coastal Counties Drinking Water Permit Requirements • Metro Atlanta Requirements • Water Stewardship Act

  5. What Makes Up A Conservation Program? • Educational Outreach Materials • Water Conservation Devices • Leak Detection Program • Meter Replacement Program • Enforcement of Water Restriction Ordinance • Reuse/Rain Barrels • Water Wise Landscaping

  6. What Is The Water Stewardship Act 2010?

  7. Purpose To create a culture of conservation to address long-term water needs of its citizens. Provide the framework for Conservation, Capture and Control of our precious resource.

  8. Water Stewardship State Agencies • Georgia Department of Natural Resources • Environmental Protection Division • Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites Division • Sustainability Division • Georgia Environmental Finance Authority • Georgia Department of Community Affairs • Georgia Forestry Commission • Georgia Department of Community Health • Division of Public Health • Georgia Department of Agriculture • Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission

  9. What the Law Requires of State Agencies? • Agencies were directed to examine their practices, programs, policies, rules and regulations to facilitate implementation of these initiatives. • 1st Report was completed August 1, 2010 – to be the baseline • Annually after 2010

  10. Baseline Report • What funding is available? • GEFA Loans • CDBG Funding - DCA • GSWCC Funding • What technical assistance is available? • DCA – Quality Growth Readiness, WaterFirst, Resource Teams. • DNR/EPD – waterSmart Program, Conserve GA • What rules have to be changed? • DCA – plumbing • DNR – outdoor watering, permit changes • Which agency is creating guidelines need to implement bill. • EPD – water loss

  11. State Agency Directive • Local Comprehensive Planning • Water Loss Abatement • State-wide Water Campaigns and Public Outreach Programs • Water Efficient Fixtures and Equipment • Water Efficient Landscaping and Irrigation • Rain Water and Gray Water Use • Sub-metering • Conservation Pricing • Permitting • Public Water Systems: Financial Management

  12. Local Planning Requirements • Revision to guidance for local planning requirements. • Reports on water conservation measures as part of implementation reporting under the Rules for Environmental Planning Criteria (DCA Rules 110-12-1-.07(1)(d)). • Reviewing water conservation measures as local plans are submitted for review under the regular recertification schedule maintained by DCA • Include local reporting on water conservations measures in the technical rule corrections to the Local Planning Requirements to be presented to the Board of Community Affairs by November 2011

  13. Water Efficiency • DNR will set minimum standards and best management practices for monitoring and improving water efficiency and effectiveness of water use by public water systems to improve water conservation. • Establish infrastructure leakage index • Phase in approach requiring annual water audits based on IWA standards • Phased in approach to implement water loss detection programs.

  14. Water Efficient Fixtures and Equipment • Plumbing code will be revised to meet new requirements by July 1, 2012. • Require high efficiency cooling towers by July 1, 2012

  15. Water Efficiency Landscaping and Irrigation • DNR is to amend their outdoor water use for landscaping. • No watering between 10 AM – 4 PM. • Note: there can be variations in the rules depending on location and EPD approval.

  16. Rain Water and Gray Water Use • Amend the Georgia Plumbing Code, 2006 International Plumbing Code, to allow non-potable gray and rainwater to be used for toilets • 24 Coastal Communities require reuse lines for new development. • Coastal Stormwater Supplement – storing water onsite.

  17. Sub-metering • All new multi units are to be sub-metered. • By property owner • Local government • Water provider

  18. Farm Use • Create three types of permits • Active • Inactive • Unused

  19. Regional Water Plans • Each plan has utilized the Water Conservation Implementation Plan to decide which best management practices are best for their water basin. • The Water Conservation Implementation Plan is made up of best management plans for seven water using sectors: agriculture, golf courses, electric, domestic/public, industrial/commercial, landscaping irrigation, state agencies. • Four tiers were created. All plans have tiers 1 & 2.

  20. A Community Based Water Initiative Georgia Department of Community Affairs

  21. What is the WaterFirst Community Program? • Voluntary partnership between local governments, state agencies working together to increase the quality of life in communities through the wise management and protection of water resources; • Proactive approach to water resources connecting land use and water quality and quantity; • Pursuing and rewarding environmental excellence beyond what is required by law;

  22. What is the WaterFirst Community Program? • Establishing a network of water professionals and leaders in the industry; • Protecting valuable water resources for both environmental and economic benefits today and for future generations.

  23. Why would a community want to participate in the WaterFirst Program? And it provides: • Resources: to help guide the integration of the management and protection of water resources into daily operations and comprehensive land use plans; • Incentives: participating in the WaterFirst program, and committing to the community’s goals for improved water quality, bring with it real economic benefits; and • Recognition: WaterFirst designation will demonstrate a community’s commitment to environmental excellence.

  24. Components of WaterFirst 1. Watershed Assessment 2. Stormwater Master Planning 3. Water Supply Planning 4. Water Supply Protection 5. Water Conservation 6. Wastewater Master Planning 7. Water Reclamation and Reuse

  25. Participating Communities receive: Benefits offered through the WaterFirst Program • Resources, tools and support to help meet water management goals. • State-wide recognition for being environmental stewards. • Access to WaterFirst peer network and resources. • Invitation to special “issue retreats/workshops” addressing critical water stewardship issues.

  26. Benefits offered through the WaterFirst Program Designation Benefits: • A 1% interest rate reduction for Georgia Environmental Finance Authority state revolving water related loans. • Annual eligibility for DCA Community Block Development Grants for water related projects. • Priority for EPD 319 Grant funding. • State-wide recognition, including road signage, and authorization to use the WaterFirst trademarked logo.

  27. DESIGNATED WATERFIRST COMMUNITIESSince 2003Gwinnett CountyCity of SavannahSince2004Columbus Consolidated Gov’t and Columbus Water WorksCity of HartwellSince 2005Cobb CountyCobb/Marietta Water AuthorityCity of Tybee IslandSince2006Town of BraseltonSince2007City of GriffinCity of RomeTifton/ Tift County

  28. Designated WaterFirst Communities Since 2008 Oconee County City of Gainesville Douglasville/Douglas County/WSA Since 2009 City of Hinesville City of Roswell Since 2010 Forsyth County City of Winder Henry County/Henry County Water & Sewerage Authority Coweta County City of Cornelia Since 2011 Garden City

  29. WaterFirst Class City of Austell City of Fairburn City of Jefferson City of Monroe City of Pooler City of Richmond Hill City of Valdosta City of Waycross Floyd County Walker County

  30. Community Water Assessment

  31. Purpose • It is a simple checklist in Excel. • To allow communities the opportunities to see where they are in the basics of water resources. • Allows DCA the opportunity to target with a resource team to assist a community in addressing water resources.

  32. Questions??? Deatre N. Denion Program Coordinator Office of Planning and Environment Georgia Dept of Community Affairs 60 Executive Park South, N.E. Atlanta, GA 30329 912-704-4136 deatre.denion@dca.ga.gov

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