Title
Water Utility Conservation Plan Presentation by Water Utility Staff
Gawenda noted that the Water Utility Conservation Plan is still a draft plan. That a committee was set-up to work on this and that they worked for about one year. She introduced other staff including Robin Piper, Ken Keys and Larry Nelson from the Water Utility and that they would help to answer questions.
Gawenda began Power Point Presentation
Right now Madison residents use 73 gallons of water/capita/day. As the city grows, the city needs to sustain our water resource over time.
Goal of the plan is to reduce residential consumption by 20% by 2020. The city grows at a rate of over 1.2% per year, so this goal will be tough.
Vickermann and Keys discussed what exactly does this mean and Keys noted that a 20% reduction would be lowering residential use to 58 gallons of water/capita/day.
There was more discussion between Vickermann, Host-Jablonski and Keys regarding whether this is a goal or objective.
Nelson and Host-Jablonski discussed that as the Water Utility pumps water, the aquifer lowers about 50 feet. If all the pumps were turned off, the aquifer would go up. Nelson indicated that currently the City’s water use is sustainable.
Host-Jablonski suggested that the goal would help keep us sustainable.
Gawenda then discussed the idea of a toilet rebate program where the Water Utility would provide a rebate to residential customers who install a toilet that meets new plumbing codes (this program would be for existing homes). So toilets would go from using 1.6 gallons to 1.2 or .8 gallons/flush. This could potentially
save 10.3 gal/day per person and account for two thirds of the 20% per capita goal.
Keys indicated that a rate case was before the PSC on this program.
Nelson indicated that the rebate would be around $100 per dwelling unit or ~1/3 of cost.
Gruder wanted to confirm that this would take into account the new plumbing code. (Which it will.)
Muench indicated that there are some problems with low-flow toilets and that people end up flushing twice.
Gawenda indicated that the technology for low-flow toilets has gotten a lot better.
Drummond and Host-Jablonski indicated that the testing is better and that the UW has been installing these across campus and has seen a decrease in water use.
Keys indicated that this is being worked on right now. Keys also explained that there are two parts to the Water Utility bill - a charge based on the meter (water use) and another charge based on infrastructure.
Gruder mentioned the Mpowering Madison campaign and how one of the savings people can pick is to reduce water usage.
Compton asked if the Water Utility considered programs like they have in Los Angeles where you can get new appliances by paying for using the energy savings? The Water Utility needs to provide incentives to get customers to conserve water. She also suggested tenants be responsible for the cost of water.
Host-Jablonski, Schroeder, Gawenda - There is a general discussion about the Water Utility calling telling customers they are using too little water.
Keys indicated that the Water Utility wants to make sure that there is no malfunctioning equipment.
Gawenda also indicated that the Water Utility is considering increasing the frequency of billing so that customers can see current consumption data and the results of conservation efforts quicker.
Gawenda also noted that the Water Utility is looking at changing the water rates for residential customers to a flat fee with a commodity fee where if you used more water, you pay more. Keys confirmed that now it is the opposite, however, very few residential customers use enough water to get a price break.
Gawenda also mentioned that the Water Utility is looking into water use restrictions and providing water audits pro-actively to customers. Right now the Water Utility is only able to do audits where they think there is a problem.
Keys noted that last year the Water Utility saved 30 million gallons of water because the Water Utility determined there was malfunctioning toilets.
Gawenda indicated that for commercial customers the plan for the Water Utility is to visit their operations and provide them with a plan to reduce water.
Gawenda indicated that the City of Madison’s need to also use water wisely in their operations.
Keys, Nelson and Gruder discussed the idea of using the water from the flushing operations. Water Utility staff indicated that this is difficult because of the force of the water coming out of the system so that the pipes are clean.
Compton mentioned the idea of replacing faucets in City buildings and Host-Jablonski indicated that we should look at a list of projects by priority.
Drummond indicated that the Water Utility should move toward more treatment of water so that there is less frequent need for flushing of city systems.
Nelson indicated that the Water Utility has plans for filters at Well #29 in 2008 and Well #8 in 2009 and Well #7 in 2010, but that there will always be a need to flush the system because the Iron and Manganese is in the system.
Host-Jablonski indicated that the filters could lower the need for flushing because as the water is filtered there will be less Iron and Mn in the water.
Nelson indicated that there are some pipes in the system that are very old and will need to be flushed.
Gruder asked the Water Utility what is the timeline for the plan.
Piper indicated that on July 22nd that the Water Utility Board will review and perhaps approve the plan and from there it will probably go to the Common Council.
Host-Jablonski asked about cistern systems, rain barrels, rain gardens and how does the Water Utility work with the Storm and Sanitary Utilities.
Nelson indicated that the Sanitary and Storm Utilities have been very supportive of rain barrels by supporting Sustain Dane. The Water Utility is also supportive of grey water systems, however, they are very cautious about cross-contamination.
Nelson further indicated that right now we have too much water and if we are looking for places to invest with our scarce financial resources, he suggests PV is where the investment should go.
Gruder commented that with commercial buildings, if, very early in the design phase a grey water system is designed, there is no worry about cross-contamination.
Nelson indicated that is true and that the Water Utility does support that type of grey water system and indicated that the Water Utility building has a grey water system.