Why Efficiency Planning Update from the State · Establish Water Loss Control Program Water loss auditing assistance for providers –DNR/EPD will develop BMPs manual for water loss

Why Efficiency Planning Update from the State

Alice Miller Keyes

GA Environmental Protection Division

Watershed Protection Branch

The ultimate goal of water conservation is not to

prevent water use, but to maximize each gallon

of water used (WCIP 2010)

Extreme Drought

Lake Lanier Ruling

Judge Magnuson’s ruling

– Water supply was not originally authorized purpose of Lanier

– Current supply use exceeds Army Corps authority

– Restricts future water use (2012)

New Statewide and Regional Conservation Requirements

Water Stewardship Act of 2010

Statewide Water Management Plan - conservation priority

Regional water planning

Water Stewardship Act of 2010

WSA was enacted by 2010 General Assembly

Recognizes imminent needs:

– to create a culture of water conservation in the State of Georgia

– to plan for water supply enhancement during future extreme drought conditions and water emergencies

Signing Ceremony, June 1, 2010, Lake Lanier

State Agency Requirements

GA DNR (including EPD), GEFA, DCA, GFC, DCH (including Division of Public Health), GDA, GSWCC are to begin reporting:

• Opportunities to provide enhanced programming and incentives for voluntary water conservation in 14 specific areas

• Opportunities to enhance the state’s water supply

• Establish programs and report progress annually for the next five years

Report available online : www.gaepd.org - What’s New

SB 370 Water Stewardship Act

Best Practice Requirements

• Public Water Systems must conduct a water loss audit annually

o Those serving >10,000 individuals by January 1, 2012

o Those serving serving 3,300 to 10,000 individuals by January 1, 2013

• Outdoor irrigation restricted to 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. (exceptions specified)

Public water systems and political subdivisions must to improve water conservation by :

SB 370 Water Stewardship Act

Agricultural Permitting

Farm Use surface water and ground water withdrawals to be classified as:

• Active

• Inactive

• Unused

Unused permits will expire after two years

SB 370 Water Stewardship Act

Water Conserving Fixtures

Requires high-efficiency plumbing fixtures in all new construction permitted on or after July 1, 2012:

• 1.28 gallon per flush toilets

• 2.5 gpm at 60 psi shower heads

• 0.5 gallon per flush urinals

• 1.5 gpm at 60 psi lavatory faucets

• 2.0 gpm kitchen faucets

SB 370 Water Stewardship Act

New Construction Requirements

Submetering •Submetering is specifically allowed •All new multiunit residential and industrial buildings permitted on or after July 1, 2012 shall be submetered

Building Heat Removal

•High-efficiency cooling towers required in new construction permitted on or after July 1, 2012

SB 370 Water Stewardship Act

Joint Committee on Water Supply

Committee of Ten Members: • 4 members at-large by the Governor

• 4 members of the House of Representatives

• 4 members of the Senate

• House and Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee chairpersons to serve as co-chairpersons

Committee required to study and analyze the state’s reservoir system and strategic needs for additional water supply

SB 370 Water Stewardship Act

• Comprehensive Water Planning Act directed development of State Plan in 2004

• State Water Plan approved by General Assembly and signed by Governor Perdue in 2008

• Plan identifies Policies and Implementation Actions

Regional Plan Development

• Water Resource Assessment technical tools developed for:

• Surface Water Availability

• Groundwater Availability

• Surface Water Quality

• Water needs through 2050

• 10 Regional Water Planning Councils selecting management practices to meet future water needs

Statewide Water Management Plan

Water conservation is … not expected to fully meet all water needs … an effective and efficient practice for all water users (Policy 1 – Sec. 8) … a priority water quantity management practice (Policy 3 – Sec. 7)

Each Regional Water Planning Council is expected to include demand management in their regional water plan

Statewide Water Management Plan

Regional Planning & Conservation Assessment

• Guidance issued to Councils to: • Establish a common starting

point for considering demand management practices

• Ensure practices reflect current rules as well as amended rules expected following the SWP and the WSA, and

• Provide flexibility to Councils to adapt practices to the specifics of each region

Tier 1: Basic Practices, required of all

Tier 2: Basic Practices, required of some

Tier 3 :

Basic Practices, not required

Tier 4 : Beyond Basic

– to close resource

gaps

Regional Planning – A Tiered Structure

Regional Conservation Assessment Process

Guidance, not a prescriptive methodology

– Councils and their Contractors should use tools available

– Final process, inputs, outputs and results will be documented in a technical memorandum that supplements the regional plans

Demand management practices will be included in regional plans

Available online www.GeorgiaWaterPlanning.org under Technical Guidance/Regional Planning Guidance

State Implementation - 2011 and beyond

Amend conservation rules

Establish water loss control program

Enhance conservation assessment capacity

Amend Conservation Rules

Per the WSA and the SWP, DNR is to amend rules related to conservation and water loss.

Amended rules will likely be coordinated and include:

Progress toward water efficiency for water withdrawal permits (SWP)

Annually report information on water efficiency (SWP)

Annually submit water system audits (WSA)

Likely to occur this Spring

Establish Water Loss Control Program

Water loss auditing assistance for providers

– DNR/EPD will develop BMPs manual for water loss control (per WSA)

– Targeted training opportunities for providers 10,000+ individuals served - Jan 2012

3,300-9,999 individuals served - Jan 2013

GAWP will coordinate technical input and info sessions

– Technical input for manual

– Outreach and information sessions

Enhance Conservation Capacity

Develop a water conservation planning and tracking tool to support EPD water planning and permitting programs

– Adjusted from the Alliance for Water Efficiency conservation tracking model

– Provide consistency and ease in reporting

– Assistance to permittees

Tools for Implementation

Water Conservation Implementation Plan

Regional water planning guidance

Rainwater harvesting guidelines

WaterSmart education and outreach tools

Trainings and workshop

Water Conservation Implementation Plan

The WCIP – creates a common vision for water

conservation

– is not regulation

Resource with sector-specific goals, benchmarks, practices, and implementation actions for:

– Agricultural Water Use,

– Electric Generation,

– Golf Course Water Use,

– Industrial and Commercial,

– Landscape,

– Public water providers, and

– State agencies

WCIP

The WCIP can be found through :

www.ConserveWaterGeorgia.net or

www.GeorgiaWaterPlanning.org

Rainwater Harvesting Guidelines

Rainwater is free, and not subject to drought restrictions

You can collect 68,200 gal of rainwater from a 2200-sq ft roof if you receive 50 in of rain during a year

Using rainwater in place of potable water for applications that don't require potable water quality saves energy, as well as collection, treatment and operating expense

Rainwater harvesting can reduce runoff and thereby improve water quality

http://www.conservewatergeorgia.net/GrayWaterGuidelinesandRainwaterGuidelines.htm

Brochures and flyers

Video public service announcements

Homeowner workshop

Media Relations/Landscape Challenge

Drought in Georgia – a unit for 6th grade teachers

Upcoming “YardStick” for certifying waterSmart landscapes - Grant supported (hopefully…)

WaterSmart Tools

Trainings and Workshops

Water loss control training workshops (Fall, 2011) – IWA/AWWA methodology

– Best practices

Water conservation planning and tracking workshops – May 9 – Metro Atlanta, EPD Tradeport Training Center

– May 11 – Coastal GA, EPD Coastal District Office

Conservation sessions at association meetings – GAWP - GA WaterWise Council sessions

– GA Rural Water

– GA Water Resources Conference

Concluding thoughts

Conservation is not free, but practices are cost effective for managing water supplies

The role of water utilities and local governments is increasing

– Public expectations

– Regional planning and reporting

State and/or federal funds can off set cost of diverse water management practices

Tools discussed today can only help

Alice Miller Keyes

Georgia EPD

Watershed Protection

Branch

912-262-3185

[email protected]

www.ConserveWaterGeorgia.net