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Case Studies in Water Conservation

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…..

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Case Studies in Water Conservation

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  1. Case Studies in Water Conservation Mary Ann Dickinson November 13-14, 2001

  2. 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…..

  3. In Your Backyard…. • City of Atlanta • City of Savannah

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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.

  8. 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

  9. Dwelling Units vs. Pumpage

  10. Beyond the Backyard…. • EPA Case Studies Book • Infrastructure Model Study

  11. 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

  12. Distribution of Responses

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. Water Savings Estimates by Region & System Size

  16. Costs Savings Estimatesby Region & System Size

  17. 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

  18. Beyond the Backyard Examples • Irvine Ranch Water District • City of Albuquerque • City of Cary • Arizona’s Public Awareness Campaign

  19. 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)

  20. 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

  21. 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

  22. 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

  23. 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

  24. 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

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. 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

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