Marion County Office of the County Engineer Water Resources. Water Use Efficiency Plan FY 2016/17

Transcription

1 Marion County Office of the County Engineer Water Resources Water Use Efficiency Plan FY 2016/17

2 Contents Water Use Efficiency Plan Overview 3 Public Education Initiatives 5 Incentive Based Programs 7 Funding Sources 10 Water Use Efficiency Plan FY 2016/17 2

3 Water Use Efficiency Plan Overview Mission: The Marion County Water Use Efficiency Program aims to inform, educate, and increase water use efficiency among residents of the county. The Water Resources Coordinator (Office of the County Engineer) will facilitate the program. Background: A Water Conservation Plan is required as a condition of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners (MCBCC) Water Use Permits issued to its Utility by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD). The MCBCC further acknowledges that all citizens are equally accountable for using water efficiently. The Water Use Efficiency Plan provides a comprehensive, goal-based water use efficiency program county-wide that also meets the Water Management District requirements. While the program is facilitated by the Office of the County Engineer (Water Resources Coordinator), some initiatives are specific to Marion County Utilities (MCU) customers. It is commonly understood that conservation is the most cost effective method to prolong groundwater supplies and delay the need for significantly more expensive alternative water sources such as surface water or desalination. FY 2016/17 Water Use Efficiency Initiatives: The Marion County Water Use Efficiency Program utilizes a combination of public education and incentive based programs to accomplish its mission. These initiatives are continually reevaluated to determine their effectiveness and the need for changes or additional programs. The following are the water use efficiency initiatives proposed for FY 2016/17. Items that are blue are new and proposed programs for this fiscal year. Public Education Initiatives Targeted Messaging to MCU Customers o MCU Website o Billing Inserts o Billing Message o Billing Statements Show Consumptive History Participation in Community Events and Workshops Smart-Irrigation Billboard Campaign Rain Sensor Check-up Campaign Educational Print Media Social Media Incentive Based Programs Tiered Rate Structure Toilet Rebate Program Water Conservation Kits Enhanced Irrigation System Evaluations Landscape and Irrigation System Retrofits Water Use Efficiency Plan FY 2016/17 3

4 Audiences: General population; MCU customers; other county departments and staff; irrigation and landscape contractors. Total Budget for Fiscal Year 2016/17: Utilities: $35,245 Water Resources: $32,100 Withlacoochee Regional Water Supply Authority (WRWSA): up to $44,245 SJRWMD: up to $9,000 SWFWMD: up to $16,000 Total: $136,590 (A detailed breakdown of funding can be found on page 10.) Water Use Efficiency Plan FY 2016/17 4

5 Public Education Initiatives Targeted Messaging to MCU Customers: Information on water use efficiency and the County s incentive based programs are provided to MCU customers through the MCU website, billing inserts, billing messages and by showing consumptive history on bills. MCU Website: The water efficiency section of the MCU website contains information on both indoor and outdoor water efficiency. The site can be used to obtain information on everything from how to check fixtures for leaks to water-wise landscaping. The website is also utilized to inform citizens about and promote the County s incentive based programs. Billing Inserts: Billing inserts are distributed on a bimonthly basis. These inserts are used to educate citizens on water use efficiency and to promote the County s incentive based programs. Message topics in FY 2016/17 will include: informing citizens of the change back to the once a week watering schedule at the end of Daylight Savings Time, how to conduct a routine check on an irrigation system, how to identify common household leaks, and other topics related to water use. Billing Messages: MCU utilizes a Special Messages section on each utility bill to promote efficient water use and the County s incentive based programs. Such messages will include: promotion of the Toilet Rebate Program, changes in watering schedule, promotion of the Enhanced Irrigation System Evaluation Program, and promotion of the water use efficiency section of the MCU website. Billing Statements Show Consumptive History: MCU provides customers with a chart that displays their water use for the last 12 months. This visual representation of their water use helps them to make informed choices about how they manage water use and implement conservation measures. Participation in Community Events and Workshops: The Water Resources Coordinator, often with other County staff, participates in community events and workshops throughout the year. These events are used to educate citizens and pass out literature related to water use efficiency and resource protection. In FY 2015/16, Water Resources participated in 7 community events and conducted 3 workshops for county residents that had a combined attendance of approximately 10,000. The goal in FY 2016/17 is to conduct 4 workshops for HOAs and civic groups. Water Use Efficiency Plan FY 2016/17 5

6 Smart-Irrigation Billboard Campaign: A billboard campaign is utilized each year to promote smart irrigation practices. Billboards run through the months of November and July as part of a Stormwater Section/Clear Channel negotiated billboard contract. These billboards promote the use of rain sensors, discourage overwatering of lawns and inform citizens of the shift to once a week watering. Billboards in FY 2015/16 achieved just over an estimated 1 million eyes on impressions at a cost per impression of less than $0.01. Water Resources is scheduled to run billboards advertising once a week watering throughout November Dates for the rest of FY 2016/17 have yet to be determined. Rain Sensor Check-up Campaign: A rain sensor is a device designed to shut-off or inhibit lawn irrigation when a certain amount of rainfall has accumulated. Studies have shown that in Florida, properly functioning rain sensor saves an average of 3,000 gallons of water a month. Florida Statute requires that any person who purchases and installs an automatic landscape irrigation system must properly install, maintain, and operate technology that inhibits or interrupts operation of the system during periods of sufficient moisture. While this requirement has been in effect since 1991, there are many homes that either have no rain sensor, or have one that does not work. 73% of the participants in the Irrigation Evaluation Program have been found to not have a functioning rain sensor. The Rain Sensor Check-up Campaign will be a three month effort (April-June) that focuses on getting residents out to check on the operation of their rain sensor or install one. The campaign will utilize pamphlets, bill inserts, web materials, community newsletters, media releases and presentations to educate residents. Depending on billboard availability, this resource may be utilized as well. In order to help residents with repairs, Water Resources will order repair kits for the two most prominent rain sensor brands to hand out at the MCU office and the Office of the County Engineer. The estimated cost for this effort is $1,000 for the purchase of 200 repair kits. The estimated cost per thousand gallons saved is $0.28. Educational Print Media: Brochures on water use efficiency and resource protection are made available at 3 County libraries and the MCU lobby. Over the last year, more than 1,200 brochures and tip cards related to water use efficiency were distributed. Water Resources partners with the Stormwater Section for the production of the Newspapers in Education (NIE) tabloid, which contains water efficiency education. In FY 2015/16, 8,280 copies of the NIE tab were distributed to 4 th and 5 th grade students in 35 public elementary schools and 9 private schools throughout the county. Water Resources also partners with the Stormwater Section for the production of the annual Stormwater Calendar, which contains water use efficiency tips. It is anticipated that Water Use Efficiency Plan FY 2016/17 6

7 6,000 copies of the calendar will be distributed in FY 2016/17 with the theme of Discovering our Water Resources. Incentive Based Programs Incentive based programs are those that utilize some type of financial incentive to encourage the efficient use of water. Some of the available programs only offer enough water savings to offset the program costs if the participant has high outdoor water use. Because of this, and the need to utilize county resources wisely, some programs are only offered to residents who are designated as high water users. High water users are those that typically use 25,000 gallons of water a month or greater, as verified by MCU water use information. For non-mcu residents, the Water Resources Coordinator, Marion County Extension Florida-Friendly Landscape Agent or a Marion County Master Gardener makes a determination based off of various indicators. Tiered Rate Structure: MCU utilizes a tiered rate to encourage the efficient use of water. The County s water rate structure contains 4 tiers for residential service accounts. The tiers are set up in such a way that the price of water more than doubles after 12,000 gallons of use per month, and quadruples after 20,000 gallons of use. Toilet Rebate Program: The toilet rebate program offers MCU customers up to $100 (or $180 if two toilets are replaced) to replace a conventional high-volume toilet with a dual flush or highefficiency toilet. Installing high-efficiency toilets in a house reduces indoor water use by an average of 10,000 gallons of water per year and has an average lifespan of 20 years. A total of 1,844 toilets in 1,138 homes have been replaced since the program s inception in October This equates to a savings of over 11.4 million gallons of water a year and a total water savings of million gallons when multiplied out over the lifespan of the toilets. The cost per thousand gallons saved is estimated to be $1.52, well below the cost of developing alternative water supplies. The program is marketed through the MCU website, bill inserts and billing messages. Since October 1, 2015, 292 toilet rebates have been issued, and an additional 375 rebates will be available in FY 2016/17. Water Conservation Kits: Water conservation kits are distributed for free to MCU customers at the MCU office and to other county residents at public education events. Kits contain 1 shower heads, 3 faucet aerators, a hose nozzle, toilet leak detection dye tabs, and an adjustable toilet flapper valve. Each kit costs $9.90 and has the potential to save 25,000 gallons of water a year when fully installed. Since 2010, 1,380 water conservation kits have been distributed. When fully installed, this equates to a possible water savings of up to 34.4 million gallons per year. Since October 2015, Water Use Efficiency Plan FY 2016/17 7

8 235 kits have been distributed. The goal in FY 2016/17 is to distribute 300 kits to MCU customers and county residents. Enhanced Irrigation System Evaluations: Studies have shown that over half of the water used for residential landscape irrigation in Central Florida is wasted due to inefficiencies. The goal of the Enhanced Irrigation System Evaluation Program is to assist homeowners in identifying and correcting inefficiencies to reduce outdoor water use. Water Resources has managed an Irrigation System Evaluation Program since September This program uses an irrigation contractor to evaluate irrigation systems of high water users to identify and correct inefficiencies. A total of 242 evaluations have been conducted for MCU customers since the program s inception. A review of consumption data indicates that the average overall home water savings has been 25%, or 78,000 gallons of water a year. At a 5 year lifespan, the cost per thousand gallons saved through this program is estimated to be $1.12, well below the cost of developing alternative water supplies. In FY 2015/16, the program was enhanced to provide for additional services at the approval of the homeowner and the County. These services include capping unnecessary irrigation heads, replacing broken/missing/incorrect irrigation heads, raising low irrigation heads and adjusting heads to avoid impervious surfaces. These additional services will not only enhance customer service, they will maximize the amount of water saved by correcting some of the most common inefficiencies. In FY 2016/17, approximately 105 evaluations will be available to MCU customers and county residents on a private well who are high water users. Landscape and Irrigation System Retrofits: The purpose of this program is to encourage residents to make changes to their landscape and irrigation system to increase water use efficiency. Since FY 2012/13, the County has had in place a program that offers up to $5,000 for residents to make substantial changes to their landscape and irrigation system to meet Florida Water Star Silver Level criteria. For many residents, completing a full retrofit to their landscape and irrigation system to meet these criteria is expensive and does not result in a significant financial return on investment. There are, however, many changes that residents can often make to use water more efficiently that require less time, money and effort to install. For FY 2016/17, Water Resources is proposing four retrofit packages that residents can take advantage of individually or in combination with each other. The maximum rebate offered per parcel is $5,000 over a five year period. Residents who receive more than $2,000 in rebates must agree to promote efficient irrigation practices in their development/neighborhood and allow at Water Use Efficiency Plan FY 2016/17 8

9 least one scheduled tour of their property should the opportunity arise. In all cases, the rebate offered will not exceed the actual price paid for the purchase and installation. Depending on results the first year, the program can be refined in future years to take advantage of what is providing the greatest benefit for the cost. Smart Irrigation Controller and Sensor Package: Smart irrigation controllers utilize local weather and landscape conditions to tailor watering schedules to actual conditions on site. Studies have found that these devices reduce outdoor water use by an average of 15-30%. When used in conjunction with a soil moisture sensor (SMS) or evapotranspiration (ET) based sensor, the potential savings is as high as 90% during the rainy season. The Smart Controller and Sensor Package will offer residents a rebate of up to $500 towards the purchase and installation of a smart irrigation controller and a SMS or ET based sensor. This package may only be applied for once every five years at a residence. Efficient Irrigation Package: The sprinkler heads typically used on irrigations systems (rotors and sprays) have an efficiency of only 60-75%. This means that 25-40% of the water being applied is wasted. High efficiency sprinkler nozzles (rotating nozzles) save water by applying it more uniformly and efficiently (90-95%) than traditional sprinklers. Rotating nozzles typically cost between $2 and $10 each, and result in an average water savings of 1,000 gallons per nozzle per year. Because rotating nozzles apply water at a slower rate than traditional nozzles, it is necessary to ensure that entire irrigation zones are retrofitted to prevent too much or too little water from being applied in areas of the zone. The Efficient Irrigation Package will offer residents a rebate of up to $200 per zone converted to rotating nozzles. Micro-Irrigation Package: Micro-irrigation, sometimes referred to as drip or low volume irrigation, improves irrigation efficiency through the precise application of water to the root area of the plant. Micro-irrigation reduces the amount of water lost to wind, evaporation and runoff, and minimizes the growth of weeds. An added benefit is that it is highly customizable for oddly shaped areas and those with a variety of different plant types. Depending on a number of different factors, water savings from converting a single landscape zone to micro-irrigation can range from 5-20% or more. The Micro-Irrigation Package will offer residents a rebate of up to $200 per high-volume irrigation zone converted to micro-irrigation. Florida-Friendly Landscape Package: Landscape plant selection and water efficiency go hand in hand. Installing drought tolerant plants can greatly reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental irrigation. The Florida-Friendly Landscape Package will incentivize the installation of drought tolerant plants in a previously high-volume irrigation zone. In order to take advantage Water Use Efficiency Plan FY 2016/17 9

10 of this package, the zone where plants are being installed must concurrently be converted to lowvolume or micro-irrigation, or irrigation must be removed. This package will offer residents a rebate of up to $200 per zone and can be used in conjunction with the Efficient Irrigation Package or Micro-Irrigation Package. Marion County FY 2016/17 Water Use Efficiency Program Funding Sources Project Enhanced Irrigation System Evaluation Program Landscape and Irrigation System Retrofits Total Program Amount Marion County Utilities Program Funding FY 2016/17 Water Resources $36,000 $18,000 Grant (Source) $9,000 (SJRWMD) $9,000 (WRWSA) $25,000 $12,500 $12,500 (WRWSA) Toilet Rebate Program $53,500 $25,000 $12,500 (WRWSA) $16,000 (SWFWMD) Water Conservation Kits $15,000 $7,500 $7,500 (WRWSA) Rain Sensor Repair Kits $1,000 $1,000 Educational Print Media (rack cards, tear sheets, etc.) $600 Bi-monthly Utilities Bill Inserts $5,490 $2,745 $2,745 (WRWSA) Conservation Workshops/Outreach Staff time only Total $136,590 $35,245 $32,100 $44,245 (WRWSA) $9,000 (SJRWMD) $16,000 (SWFWMD) Water Use Efficiency Plan FY 2016/17 10