TOWN OF ORO VALLEY WATER UTILITY COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT APRIL 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS

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2 TOWN OF ORO VALLEY WATER UTILITY COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT APRIL 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page About the Water Utility Commission... 1 Executive Summary... 4 Water Resources... 6 Regulatory Engineering and Planning Capital Projects Customer Service Water Conservation Operations & Maintenance Water Quality Backflow Prevention Security Financial Highlights Appendices A. Static Groundwater Levels B. Capital Improvement Program C. Utility Statistics D. Asset Inventory E. Acronyms and Glossary

3 TOWN OF ORO VALLEY WATER UTILITY COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT APRIL 2018 ORO VALLEY TOWN COUNCIL Satish I. Hiremath, D.D.S., Mayor Lou Waters, Vice Mayor Joe Hornat, Councilmember Rhonda Piña, Councilmember Bill Rodman, Councilmember Mary Snider, Councilmember Steve Solomon, Councilmember ORO VALLEY WATER UTILITY COMMISSION Anne Campbell, Chair Byron McMillan, Vice Chair Chuck Hollingsworth, Commissioner Thomas Kibler, Commissioner Bill Leedy, Commissioner Robert Milkey, Commissioner Winston Tustison, Commissioner TOWN STAFF Mary Jacobs, Town Manager Peter A. Abraham, P.E., Water Utility Director Lee Jacobs, P.E., Engineering Division Manager Shirley Kiel, Water Utility Administrator Danielle Tanner, Senior Office Specialist Special recognition to Oro Valley Water Utility staff that provided graphics, data, photos and their time to assist in the preparation of this report: Karn Boyce George Kendrick Adam Pence Robert Jacklitch Mary C. Kobida Carolyn Schneider Jeff Kane Mark Moore Louis Valencia

4 ABOUT THE WATER UTILITY COMMISSION The Oro Valley Water Utility Commission is appointed by the Oro Valley Mayor and Council (Mayor and Council). The Mayor and Council have jurisdiction over rates, fees and water management issues. In March of 1996, the Mayor and Council created the Oro Valley Water Utility Commission (commission) to act as their advisory body. Please refer to the Town Water Code, Article 15-4, on the Town website at The commission is composed of seven members that shall serve terms of three years. Commissioners represent residential and commercial/turf interests served by the Utility. The primary responsibility of the commission is to review and make recommendations on Oro Valley Water Utility items that require Mayor and Council action. These items may include water system development, long-term water resource planning, rate adjustments, the capital improvement program with a five-year capital budget, state and federal legislation regarding water related issues, expansion of service areas and water acquisitions. The commission also supports community programs and education related to the Oro Valley Water Utility. The commission welcomes the public to attend its meetings. The commission meets the second Monday of each month. All meetings are noticed on the Town's website. In 2017, the commission held 10 Water Utility Commission meetings. Notable actions taken by the commission in 2017 include: Meeting Date January 9, 2017 March 13, 2017 March 13, 2017 April 10, 2017 July 10, 2017 October 9, 2017 Action Item Appointments to the Water Utility Commission Subcommittees Election of the Commission Chair and Vice Chair Recommendation for acceptance of the Northwest Recharge and Recovery Delivery System Intergovernmental Agreement Approval of and recommendation for acceptance of the Annual Report Combining the Water Resources and Conservation Subcommittees Recommendation for acceptance of water code changes pertaining to conservation and water wasting 1

5 Additional notable items on commission agendas in 2017 include: CAP Water Wheeling Intergovernmental Agreement with City of Tucson Refunding the Series 2007 revenue bonds Lower Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Drought Preparedness Plan Long-term water resource planning Long-term storage credits and groundwater allowance account Water quality Alternative Central Arizona Project water delivery options Annual water level data and aquifer metrics, well analysis and condition Notable issues planned for commission agendas in 2018 include: Water Rates Analysis Potable Water Master Plan Capital Improvement Project five-year budget Water Utility Commission Annual Report Tour of Central Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project 10-Year Water Resource Plan 10-Year CAP Water Wheeling Delivery Plan Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Water Utility code changes CAP Drought Preparedness Plan In addition to the regular commission meetings, there are meetings conducted by standing subcommittees. On July 10, 2017 the commission voted to combine the Conservation Subcommittee and the Water Resources Subcommittee. As of that date, the subcommittee membership is as follows: Finance Subcommittee Winston Tustison, Chair Chuck Hollingsworth Robert Milkey Water Resources and Conservation Subcommittee: Anne Campbell, Chair Bill Leedy Byron McMillan The commission and staff would like to thank and acknowledge Thomas Kibler for his service on the Conservation Subcommittee through July,

6 WATER UTILITY COMMISSION

7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TOWN OF ORO VALLEY WATER UTILITY COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT APRIL 2018 This report provides information to the Mayor and Council and the public on the annual work of the Water Utility Commission and updated information on the Oro Valley Water Utility (Utility). The report outlines how the divisions within the Utility work together to provide the community with a reliable and safe water supply. Through partnerships with other professional water agencies, the Utility maintains water quality standards, protects the groundwater supply and conducts long-term future planning for water resources and capital infrastructure. This report covers information and activities primarily for calendar year 2017 with some information reported for fiscal year ending June 30, WATER RESOURCES The Utility operates two water systems, the Oro Valley Water Service Area and the Countryside Water Service Area. There are three sources of supply: groundwater, Central Arizona Project water and reclaimed water. Groundwater is pumped from the wells in the aquifer below the water service areas, blended with the Central Arizona Project water and then delivered through the potable drinking water distribution system. Reclaimed water is for non-potable uses and is predominantly used for irrigation on golf courses and athletic fields. The potable drinking water system is separate from the reclaimed water system. Groundwater TABLE 1 Total Water Produced in 2017 (Acre Feet) CAP Water Reclaimed Water Total Water Produced 5,573 2,093 2,321 9,987 The Utility uses Central Arizona Project water in the following three ways: 1) Recharge and recover water for delivery to the potable water system 2) Recharge and replace water pumped from the Utility s wells 3) Recharge and store water in recharge facilities for future use As of December 31, 2017, a total of 19,019 acre feet was in the long-term storage credit account and the total in the Groundwater Allowance Account was 19,130 acre feet. 4

8 CUSTOMER SERVICE In 2017, the Utility experienced a one and one half percent growth rate in customer connections. At the end of 2017, the Utility had 19,751 customer connections serving a population of approximately 44,500. Utility revenues totaled $12.4 million for calendar year 2017 with delinquent write-offs of less than one percent. WATER CONSERVATION The Utility encourages water conservation by informing and educating customers. Specifically in 2017, the following conservation efforts were accomplished: 805 students participated in the Conservation Kids program 66 customer water audits were performed to help our customers reduce water use AquaHawk Alerting became available to all customers for early leak detection and water management capabilities Community outreach providing water conservation information in pamphlets and brochures, making presentations at homeowner associations and participating at community events WATER UTILITY OPERATIONS Water operations are a 24 hours per day, seven days per week operation. Staff performed routine maintenance on all production and distribution facilities. The Utility inspected new development projects and the Utility s capital projects. This past year, the Utility updated the security program, Emergency Response Plan and the Business Continuity Plan. WATER QUALITY In 2017, the Utility received 2,603 analytical results for required water sampling and operational data. The water system is in compliance with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the United States Environmental Protection Agency requirements. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS The Utility continues to be fiscally sound. Fitch Ratings affirmed the Utility s AA- rating on the Series 2012 Senior Lien Bonds. Recommendations on water rates included an increase in the monthly base rates. If adopted, the majority of customers will realize an increase of $1.83 per month. The increases in water rates are scheduled to go before Mayor and Council for approval on May 16, In conclusion, the Oro Valley Water Utility Commission is proud to serve the Mayor and Council of the Town of Oro Valley and its residents and customers. Additional information for the Utility can also be found on the Town s website at 5

9 TOWN OF ORO VALLEY WATER UTILITY COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT APRIL 2018 INTRODUCTION This report provides information to the Mayor and Council and the public on the annual work of the Water Utility Commission and updated information on the Oro Valley Water Utility (Utility). The report outlines how the divisions within the Utility work together to provide the community with a reliable and safe water supply. Through partnerships with other professional water agencies, the Utility maintains water quality standards, protects the groundwater supply and conducts long-term future planning for water resources and capital infrastructure. The report details how the Utility maintains financial health through analyzing and initiating responsible water rates and through new development cost recovery. This report covers information and activities primarily for calendar year (CY) 2017 with some information reported for fiscal year (FY) ending June 30, WATER RESOURCES The primary function of the Utility is the production and efficient use of available water resources that meet or exceed water quality standards. To ensure long-term sustainability, the Utility works closely with regional water providers, state agencies and the development community in planning for future water resource requirements. Utility staff closely monitor all water resources in the Utility s water portfolio. The water portfolio includes groundwater, Central Arizona Project (CAP) water entitlement, reclaimed water entitlement, long-term storage credits and groundwater allowance account credits. Current Water Supply includes groundwater, CAP water and reclaimed water. The Utility operates in two separate water service areas: the Oro Valley Water Service Area (OVWSA) and the Countryside Water Service Area (CSWSA). The CSWSA was acquired by the Town with the acquisition of the private water companies in This small satellite service area is located approximately two miles from the western boundary of the Town. All data from these two service areas are combined for regulatory reporting purposes. The following table provides the water production in acre feet (AF) for both service areas in TABLE 2. Total Water Production in 2017 Water Resources OVWSA CSWSA Totals Groundwater 5,069 AF 504 AF 5,573 AF CAP Water 1,905 AF 188 AF 2,093 AF Reclaimed Water 2,321 AF ,321 AF Total 9,295 AF 692 AF 9,987 AF 6

10 Total water production for 2017 was 683 acre feet more than the total water production in This increase is due to customer response to hotter, dryer weather conditions as well as additional consumption resulting from metered connections added in The graph in Figure 1 shows total water production from 2004 through The components of total water production include 1) groundwater production for both service areas, 2) CAP water utilization for both service areas and 3) reclaimed water utilization. The graph depicts an increase in overall water production for 2017 as compared to FIGURE 1 Groundwater target maximums are also illustrated on the graph shown in Figure 1. These target amounts were defined in a study entitled Groundwater Sustainability Evaluation of the Oro Valley Aquifer dated March 14, The study concluded that the annual groundwater production flow rate for wells in the OVWSA should be established at 5,480 acre feet and 880 acre feet for wells in the CSWSA. In 2017, Oro Valley pumped 411 acre feet less than the groundwater target maximum production rate for the OVWSA wells and 376 acre feet less than the target maximum production rate for the CSWSA wells. Groundwater remains the primary potable water resource for the Utility. In 2017, the Utility s 19 groundwater production wells produced 56 percent of the Utility s total water production. 7

11 Table 3 highlights the production capacity in all wells, the storage capacity in all reservoirs and the average rise or decline in static water levels for the wells in both service areas at the end of CY Groundwater Production Capacity TABLE 3 Storage Capacity (Gallons) Average Water Level +Rise/-Decline OVWSA 13.1 MGD 11 Million -4.5 Feet CSWSA 2.2 MGD 1 Million -1.1 Feet On an individual basis, water level changes in 2017 for active wells varied from a rise of 1.7 feet to a decline of 8 feet. Details on static groundwater levels for individual wells may be found in Appendix A. Central Arizona Project (CAP) Water is the Utility s only other potable water resource. In 2017, the Utility s three CAP wheeling locations delivered 21 percent of the Utility s total water production. The Utility delivers its entire annual CAP entitlement of 10,305 acre feet to several recharge facilities in the Tucson Active Management Area. In 2017, the Utility purchased the entire entitlement for use as follows: 1) Recharge and recover water for delivery to the potable water system 2) Recharge and replace water pumped from the Utility s wells 3) Recharge and store water in recharge facilities for future use For example, when Oro Valley s CAP water is recharged and recovered for delivery, it is first delivered to Tucson Water s Central Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project (CAVSARP). The recharged CAP water is then recovered and delivered through the Tucson Water system to various connection points on the Oro Valley system for delivery to Utility customers. The Utility has an IGA with Tucson Water enabling the delivery of CAP water to customers through three connections to the Tucson Water system. There are two CAP water connection points in the OVWSA. One is located on Vista del Sol, north of Naranja Road and the other is on Calle Buena Vista, south of Calle Concordia. CAP water is also delivered to the CSWSA at a connection located on Camino de Oeste, just north of Linda Vista Blvd. The Utility delivered 2,093 acre feet of CAP water in 2017 thus reducing its reliance on groundwater. In calendar year 2018, the Utility will be adding a fourth CAP wheeling location near Oracle and Hardy to deliver up to an additional 480 acre feet of recovered CAP water supply to the OVWSA. CAP water deliveries are shown in Table 4. 8

12 TABLE 4 CAP Water Deliveries in 2017 Locations Delivery Vista Del Sol (OVWSA) 1,626 AF Calle Buena Vista (OVWSA) 279 AF Camino De Oeste (CSWSA) 188 AF Total 2,093 AF In calendar year 2017, the Town of Oro Valley, Metro Water and the Town of Marana collaborated on the development of a unique IGA to construct a future project known as the Northwest Recharge, Recovery and Delivery System (NWRRDS). The IGA was unanimously approved by each governing body in March of This agreement provides another means for the Town to deliver additional CAP water to the Utility s service area. The project is estimated to be completed in FY 2024 and will allow for the annual delivery of an additional 4,000 acre feet of recovered CAP water. The reservoirs on the Colorado River supply water to the CAP and other water projects in the lower basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada. In addition, these reservoirs provide required water deliveries to Mexico. The Colorado River water storage decline is due to the extended drought the basin has experienced for nearly 16 years as a result of decreased precipitation and snowpack. This has decreased flow in the river creating significant water level declines in Lake Mead and Lake Powell resulting in historically low reservoir levels. Water demands have exceeded available inflows for supply driving reservoir levels lower. Reservoir levels determine supply availability in accordance with shortage approved in 2007 by the Secretary of the Interior and accepted by all seven states within the Colorado River basin. Those guidelines specify three different water levels in Lake Mead associated with Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 shortages. In addition, the guidelines specify the shortage sharing and associated reductions of deliveries to each state for each of the tiers. A Tier 1 shortage will not reduce the volume of CAP water delivered to municipal water providers, such as Oro Valley, within the Central Arizona Project. However, CAP water deliveries to agricultural users, the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD) and the Arizona Water Banking Authority (AWBA) will be curtailed. In accordance with the 2007 guidelines, a Tier 1 shortage will be declared when Lake Mead water levels are predicted to be at an elevation of 1,075 feet or less on January 1 of a given year. If the August model prediction projects a shortage for January 1 of the following year, a declaration of shortage would be declared initiating the implementation of the shortage sharing guidelines for that year. As of the end of January 2017, levels in Lake Mead were at 1,086 feet. Based upon recent August, 2017 model projections, the United States Bureau of Reclamation estimates a 15 percent chance of a Tier 1 shortage impacting CAP agricultural water users and excess CAP water users beginning January 1,

13 The 2007 shortage sharing guidelines also outline further reductions in delivery of Colorado River water to the lower basin states if and when higher-tier shortages are declared. Any further reductions of CAP water deliveries that may be curtailed to municipal water users could be replaced with CAP water previously stored underground from various underground storage facilities. The replacement of curtailed CAP water deliveries is available from underground storage facilities until the storage balance is depleted. The AWBA has been storing water underground for municipal and industrial water users to guard against the impacts of drought and shortage. Over 500,000 acre feet of water has been stored underground by the AWBA in the Tucson Active Management Area. This stored water will be made available to municipal water providers to mitigate any curtailments of CAP water deliveries to municipal water users. In addition to the AWBA storing water, the CAGRD has stored water for the future to replenish groundwater. The Utility also continues to store CAP water to increase the balance of long-term storage credits. This water will also be available to mitigate curtailments of CAP water deliveries. The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) and Central Arizona Project staff are currently in discussions with the Colorado River Basin states to develop a Drought Contingency Plan to investigate opportunities to keep water in Lake Mead to prevent a shortage from occurring or reduce the amount of a potential shortage. The above actions combined with a diverse water portfolio can reduce the impacts of drought and shortages. In addition, reducing demands through conservation and an increased focus on the efficient use of water resources will help to preserve water supplies for the future. Reclaimed Water is produced from wastewater effluent from the sanitary sewer system and then treated for irrigation and other non-potable uses. In 2017, the Utility s reclaimed system produced 23 percent of the Utility s total water production. Oro Valley owns all of the effluent produced by its customers. The Utility has an IGA with Tucson Water to deliver reclaimed water to the OVWSA through their facility at Thornydale and Tangerine. From that location, the Utility independently operates the transmission and water distribution system that delivers the reclaimed water to reclaimed water customers in the OVWSA. No reclaimed water is delivered to the CSWSA. The Utility supplies reclaimed water for the irrigation of five golf courses, athletic fields at one elementary school and Naranja Park. In 2017, 2,321 acre feet of reclaimed water was delivered. This is an increase of 210 acre feet over the 2,111 acre feet delivered in The increase in deliveries was possible due to the completion of a capital project in 2017 which added a fourth booster pump at Tucson Water s reclaimed facility. This fourth pump will eliminate the need for the Utility to supplement the reclaimed system with potable water. In the past, the Utility had to supplement the reclaimed system with potable water because of production limitations at Tucson Water s reclaimed facility. 10

14 Reclaimed system expansion is not expected to occur in the near future. Development of additional reclaimed water infrastructure will be based upon need, the availability of wastewater effluent and economic feasibility. The Utility uses all of its currently available reclaimed water. REGULATORY The ADWR requires the replacement of groundwater pumped from wells owned and operated by the Water Utility. To comply with this requirement every acre foot of groundwater pumped is replaced through annual aquifer recharge utilizing CAP water. Long-term storage credits can also be used to replace the groundwater pumped to maintain compliance with ADWR requirements. The Designation of Assured Water Supply (DAWS) issued by the ADWR requires compliance with the Fourth Management Plan in the Tucson Active Management Area. In 2017, the Utility was in compliance with all requirements under the DAWS and fully expects to meet all requirements in The ADWR requires the Utility to submit water system information and water usage data in an annual report. The information provided includes service area boundaries, total water use, population, gallons per capita per day, recharge, recovery and system water loss. Pursuant to the DAWS, the Utility has a right to pump a maximum of 13,384 acre feet per year. However, the 2007 study entitled Groundwater Sustainability Evaluation of the Oro Valley Aquifer determined that the Oro Valley aquifer has a sustainable groundwater production rate of approximately 6,360 acre feet per year (5,480 acre feet for the Oro Valley Service area plus 880 acre feet for the Countryside Service Area). "Sustainable" in this 2007 study refers to the projected volume of water that can be pumped from wells each year as calculated over a 30-year period through The Utility has established a goal that the sustainable value be a groundwater target maximum value by which annual groundwater required beyond this threshold would trigger the utilization of additional renewable water resources. Groundwater levels will be assessed annually to determine the impact on the aquifer and well production. Groundwater levels have shown less decline than projected in the 2007 study. Long-Term Storage Credits are earned when water is recharged and stored underground for more than one year. In 2017, the Utility purchased 10,305 acre feet of CAP water for delivery to recharge facilities. Of that amount, 2,639 acre feet were not used for direct delivery or annual recovery; therefore, increasing the long-term storage credit balance. The water stored will be saved for future use. At the end of 2017, the Utility calculated that it had 19,019 acre feet in long-term storage credits. Table 5 shows the estimated water storage summary for the end of the 2017 calendar year. The ADWR will make adjustments to the storage balance to account for recharge basin evaporation and aquifer losses. The final balance will be provided by ADWR in October of 11

15 2018. The table presents an accounting summary of CAP water storage and long-term storage credits. Groundwater Storage Facility TABLE 5 Water Storage Summary Calendar Year 2017 (Acre Feet) 2017 CAP Delivery to Storage Facility 2017 CAP Recovery from Storage Facility Storage Balance 12/31/17 Kai Farms 4,000 3,573 12,073 Lower Santa Cruz 4,005 1,000 3,293 Pima Mine Road --- 1,000 2,774 Central Avra Valley 2,300 2, Effluent Storage Total 10,305 7,666 19,019 The Groundwater Allowance Account identifies the amount of groundwater that can be pumped, if desired, and still be considered exempt from the state's requirement for replenishment in the Tucson Active Management Area. In general, the balance in the account may be used for any groundwater pumped from a well that has a five-year average annual decline greater than four feet or water pumped from a well that is not permitted as a recovery well. In 2017, the Utility did not use any credits from the Groundwater Allowance Account. All of the Utility s wells are permitted as recovery wells; therefore, long-term storage credits were used to meet the replenishment requirements instead of using credits in the Groundwater Allowance Account. The balance in the Groundwater Allowance Account at the end of 2017 was 19,130 acre feet. ENGINEERING AND PLANNING The Engineering and Planning Division is responsible for planning and managing the design, construction and inspection of all new water infrastructure for the Town of Oro Valley as well as providing engineering support to the Water Operations group. Engineering and Planning is also responsible for managing and maintaining a Geographic Information System (GIS) database on all existing water system infrastructure in coordination with the Information Technology Department. Maps produced by GIS staff facilitate Utility operations, planning and engineering. In 2017, the New Development Section within the Engineering and Planning Division completed the following: Reviewed 15 water improvement plans Approved 16 as-built plans 12

16 CAPITAL PROJECTS The Engineering and Planning Division manages the design and construction of capital projects identified in the Capital Improvement Program and annual operating budget. These projects are designed to improve efficiencies to existing facilities and improve service levels. The capital projects are described below. FY Design Projects and Studies La Cholla Blvd. Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Project: The Utility s water mains will require relocation along La Cholla Blvd. due to the widening of La Cholla Blvd. from two to four lanes from Overton to Tangerine Rd. This design project is complete. Avra Valley Recharge Project Water Quality Evaluation: To ensure the water quality associated with the future Northwest Recharge, Recovery and Delivery System met regulatory water quality standards, a water quality study was performed in and around the area where the Town s CAP water would be recovered. The study is complete. High Mesa G zone booster station 5,000 gallon hydropneumatic tank replacement: This design project was performed to replace a non-asme certified pressure vessel. The replacement of non-asme certified pressure vessels is ongoing work to eventually upgrade all pressure vessels within the Utility to ASME standards. This design project is complete. Well D8 5,000 gallon hydropneumatic tank replacement: This design project was performed to replace a non-asme certified pressure vessel. The replacement of non- ASME certified pressure vessels is ongoing work to eventually upgrade all pressure vessels within the Utility to ASME standards. This design project is complete. Tucson Water CAP Wheeling Station near Oracle Rd. and Hardy: This design project was performed to construct another wheeling location to facilitate the delivery of an additional 480 acre feet per year of the Town s recovered CAP water. Construction is slated to begin in early spring This design project is complete. FY Construction Projects include the following: Pressure sustaining/reduction valve construction: This consists of two construction projects to install pressure sustaining/reduction valves that facilitate the delivery and blending of E zone CAP water into lower system zones. The delivery and blending of CAP water into other pressure zones improves system reliability and balances water 13

17 quality. One project is located at the Glover reservoir and the other is at the Naranja reservoir. Both construction projects are complete. Well E2 re-equipping and piping modifications: This construction project includes a new 5,000 gallon hydropneumatic tank, mechanical equipment, electrical control and demolition of a small storage tank and booster station. The project improves operational efficiency and reduces the Utility s asset inventory therefore reducing maintenance costs. This construction project is 95% complete. Final completion date is March Lambert Lane Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Project: The Utility s water mains required relocation due to the widening of Lambert Lane from two to four lanes west of La Cañada Dr. A new main and two pressure reducing stations were installed. This construction project is complete. Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs) in the Oro Valley Country Club Service Area: Two new above-ground PRVs were constructed in the Oro Valley Country Club service area. The new PRVs replaced existing PRVs located in buried vaults in the middle of the street. These projects improved worker access, safety and system reliability. This construction project is complete. Renovation for new office space at the production facility: This construction project allows for nine new employee work stations and upgrades the SCADA operator work station. The construction project improves operational efficiency and provides the work environment for Utility staff. This construction project is complete. Installation for a new reclaim booster pump at the Tucson Water Thornydale site: This construction project provides a fourth booster pump at Tucson Water s reclaimed water facility. The additional reclaimed capacity provided by this pumping unit reduces the need for the Utility to supplement potable water to the reclaimed system to meet summertime reclaimed water demands. This construction project is complete. Countryside Service area Drain Valve Assembly (DVA) construction: This construction project replaced 30 non-operational DVAs in the Countryside Service Area. Operational DVAs are an important part of a water system for flushing purposes to ensure a high quality water supply. This construction project is complete. Storage tank exterior coating: This consists of two construction projects to provide new exterior coatings on the Water Plant 4 storage tank and the Big Wash storage tank (Marketplace). Having high quality protective coatings on water infrastructure ensures a long service life of our water storage assets. Both construction projects are complete. 14

18 Well E2 re-equipping and piping modifications include a new well pump and motor, 5,000 gallon hydropneumatic tank, piping modifications, instrumentation controls and new telemetry. Project is 95% complete. Well E2 Water Plant 4-600,000 gallon steel storage tank exterior industrial coating. The existing coating showed signs of degradation and base steel was exposed. Steel tanks are recoated every 10 years or as needed. Steel storage tanks are inspected by staff and contractors on a routine maintenance schedule. Water Plant 4 Storage Exterior Coating Future Capital Improvement Projects to be initiated in FY include the drilling of the Steam Pump replacement well, hydropneumatic tank replacements, main valve replacements and relocations. New debt will be incurred to finance these projects. The proposed five-year Capital Improvement Program for FY through FY may be found in Appendix B. CUSTOMER SERVICE Customer service is an integral element of the Utility providing a full range of support to its customers. Staff efficiently manage the Utility s 19,751 metered connections serving a combined population of approximately 44,500 for both water service areas. Customer service responsibilities include preparing the monthly billing, processing cash receipts, preparing daily deposits and processing new meter applications. Staff also manages new and closed accounts as customers move in and out of the water service areas. Customer Service staff produced over 236,000 bills in FY , generating $12,415,903 in water sales revenue. This revenue does not include sales taxes, groundwater preservation fees or any service fees. Water sales revenue billed by user classification is illustrated in Figure 2. 15

19 FIGURE 2 Revenue By User Classification FY $8,358,705 $808,978 $229,416 $108,405 $1,738,815 $1,171,584 Construction - 2% Commercial - 7% Residential - 67% Irrigation - 9% Reclaimed - 14% Potable Turf - 1% The Utility has an IGA with Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department to provide their monthly sewer billing. In addition, the Utility provides monthly and quarterly billing for the Town s Storm Water Utility. In FY , the Utility processed a total of $26,604,615 in payments for the Utility and the other two organizations as follows: Oro Valley Water Utility $ 16,557,892 Pima County Wastewater Reclamation $ 8,769,569 Town of Oro Valley Stormwater Utility $ 1,277,154 It is important to note that the total payments for Oro Valley Water Utility are in excess of the water sales billed because the payments processed include sales taxes, groundwater preservation fees, security deposits and other service fees charged by the Utility. Of the above payments processed, the amount of payments made with credit cards totaled $2,773,426. This is an 18 percent increase over credit card payments made in FY The increase in the use of credit cards for payment of utility bills creates efficiencies for customer service personnel. The vast majority of these credit card payments are made online and are electronically entered into the billing system. This eliminates data entry errors and increases time available for staff to perform other functions. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technology has improved the Utility s customer service capability. The volume of water lost from leaks has been reduced by 72 percent as a result of early leak detection notification made possible with AMI technology. Additionally, staff has the ability to identify the day and time of water use while speaking with the customer which significantly increases their ability to troubleshoot customers water concerns. In the past, Customer Service staff would issue a work order for the field staff to investigate and respond to customers inquiries in the field. AMI technology also created the capacity for the Utility s customer portal known as AquaHawk Alerting. There are over 5,400 customers registered in the portal. AquaHawk 16

20 Alerting provides customers the ability to monitor their own water use on an hourly, daily, weekly or monthly basis. They can also set their individual water use thresholds that will enable the technology to send them high water use alerts. Customer Service staff use the Utility s customer kiosk to assist customers in registering in AquaHawk and to teach them how to establish water use thresholds. In 2017, the Customer Service staff responded to 1,198 inquiries specific to AquaHawk Alerting activities. The major accomplishments by Customer Service staff in 2017 include the following: Produced over 236,000 water bills Responded to 36,647 customer contacts averaging 147 contacts per day Processed 5,483 change of service requests Issued 1,631 work orders to field staff Processed 342 new meter installation applications Utility statistics including the billing collection rate for 2017 may be found in Appendix C. WATER CONSERVATION The Water Conservation Program is an important element of the Utility s overall water resource management efforts. The conservation program serves customers through community outreach and education. It engages the public with self-service tools and information to help improve the understanding of water use on a commercial and residential level. The Utility continually looks for ways to expand opportunities for public education and advocacy regarding water conservation. The AquaHawk Alert notification program allows for direct customer contact to achieve water and cost savings and is typically delivered by door hanger, text, phone and . In 2017: Conservation staff averaged 120 direct contacts per month regarding water use anomalies which may indicate a continuous leak Early leak detection is fundamental to efficiency and a conservative estimate for potential water savings is one million gallons total for those 120 direct contacts Outreach and education are becoming more technical in nature due to the transition in community demographics and the Utility s use of technology. In addition to speaking engagements and training sessions, computer classes were conducted to increase enrollment in AquaHawk and focused on registration and setting water use thresholds so customers receive alert notifications directly. Other outreach opportunities include: 17

21 Social media communication was implemented. Water Wednesdays is found on the Town s Facebook page. Water audits are offered to residential, HOA and commercial customers and evaluate indoor and outdoor water use. AMI has taken audits to a new level and many issues can be identified and solved over the phone. As a result, the number of audits is declining and the registration in AquaHawk is increasing. 66 audits were completed in 2017 and are analyzed the subsequent year For the 56 audits completed in 2016, there was a combined 13 percent decrease in water use Over 5,400 of the Utility s customers (28 percent) have registered in the AquaHawk customer portal The Utility partners with Environmental Education Exchange to provide the Conservation Kids Program. This program meets state educational requirements and has been available to schools in Oro Valley and the CSWSA since This educational program focuses on 1st-3rd grade students and creates an awareness of water conservation. In the school year, 805 students participated in the Conservation Kids Program. OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE All Production, Distribution and Meters operations personnel are certified operators licensed by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). There are two classifications for the Oro Valley Water Utility: the OVWSA distribution system is a Grade 4 and the CSWSA distribution system is a Grade 2. For more information please visit the ADEQ website at or the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) website at All operations personnel work together to address water system problems. On-call staff respond to water system problems 24 hours per day, seven days per week. This on-call staffing utilizes a tiered-level after-hours response protocol in accordance with the existing Emergency Response Plan. Production personnel are responsible for the operation and maintenance of wells, booster pumps and reservoirs on the potable water system. In addition, Production personnel are responsible for the booster pumps, metering stations and the reservoir on the reclaimed water system. These systems are monitored with the use of SCADA technology. Production staff performs routine mechanical and electrical maintenance at 47 production sites. They uphold operational balance for CAP water delivery to the potable systems, maintain 23 disinfection injection pumps and disinfection residuals at injection points on the potable and reclaimed water delivery systems. Production staff also performs an annual groundwater level survey of static water levels in all wells. The following are the major activities and accomplishments of Production personnel in 2017: Responded to after-hours situations which totaled 378 work hours 18

22 Completed 798 assigned work orders including electrical Assisted with six reservoir exterior and interior inspections/cleaning Performed maintenance on 48 Remote Terminal Units, two Master Controllers, two Human Machine Interfaces and one Network Server Performed RSLogix 500 program modifications and FactoryTalk View graphics interface modifications on two HMIs as needed Distribution personnel are responsible for maintenance and replacement of water distribution system components. Components include water mains, valves, fire hydrants, pressure reducing valves, drain valve assemblies, air relief valves and service lines. Staff update system mapping, install new assets, perform erosion repairs, asphalt paving and system flushing. These components are tracked by a database under the Utility s preventive maintenance program. Distribution staff are also responsible for the departmental safety program. Distribution staff have significant direct customer contact and professionally respond to customers regarding water quality and pressure or flow related problems. Distribution staff are responsible for repair of main line and service line breaks. Distribution staff are also responsible for bluestaking underground water mains for all new and existing construction projects throughout the Town s water service area. Arizona law requires that all underground utilities be bluestaked prior to any excavation in order to ensure the safety and welfare of the community by protecting underground facilities from damage. An inventory of all facility assets may be found in Appendix D. The following are the major activities and accomplishments of Distribution staff in 2017: Responded to 151 customer inquiries and 252 after hour call outs Maintained 686 water valves, replaced five valves and performed 48 valve adjustments Maintenance performed on 318 fire hydrants and made 22 repairs to fire hydrants Performed 108 tests, maintenance and/or repairs on 27 pressure reducing valves Performed 12,573 bluestakes for potable and reclaimed pipelines Using Town equipment, the Utility s distribution staff repaired 6 main line breaks and 8 service line repairs. The Utility realized an estimated savings of $150,000 by not having to use an outside contractor to make these repairs. 19

23 Meters Operations AMI is an integral part of the Oro Valley Water system. The advanced metering technology transformed how the Utility gathers water use data, how staff collaborate with customers and improved water data management practices. The AMI system has improved customer service by providing historical, on-site water usage data to the customer to explain a problem such as a water leak. This saves customers water, money and promotes continued water conservation efforts. Utility staff have increased their technical knowledge and skills to provide this improved customer service feature. Staff use analytical and critical thinking skills to analyze and troubleshoot complex metering problems and technical issues within the AMI system. Staff use AMI network software, Meter Data Management software, field collection and meter reading hardware, GIS software and data collection software to manage water usage data and develop solutions to solve complex problems and mitigate water use issues that impact Utility customers. AMI technology also provides an opportunity to increase operational efficiency by eliminating the need for labor intensive manual meter reading and reducing travel time. By increasing operational efficiencies, meter operations staff can focus their time and capabilities on oversight of the AMI system and related software. This includes proactively monitoring and maintaining the AMI system, providing instruction and insight for electronic equipment installations, programming, maintenance and repairs. Meter operations staff focus their efforts on improving operational efficiencies to perform additional water system preventive maintenance and commercial meter testing. WATER QUALITY Water quality sampling and testing is an important priority to provide safe and reliable water. The Town s water system is in full compliance with all state and federal regulations. The Utility is regulated by the ADEQ and provides all required water quality testing results to ADEQ. The Utility works closely with ADEQ to ensure all federal and state standards are met. The website for ADEQ is In 2017, the Utility received 2,603 analytical results for required water sampling and operational data for the potable water system and all ADEQ requirements were met. Each year, the Utility collects hundreds of water samples from 16 point of entry sites. These sites include groundwater wells, reservoirs and pumping stations. The Utility also samples from 58 sampling stations required by ADEQ. These stations are located in neighborhoods throughout the water distribution system and are specifically selected to represent the water quality delivered to the customers. The Utility has an additional 77 sampling stations that can be used during emergencies and to meet future testing requirements. Every three years, water samples are taken from 50 private residences within the water service areas and tested for lead and copper. This sampling was completed in June of 2016 and met the USEPA s rules for lead and copper. The Utility provides all water quality testing results to ADEQ and works closely with that agency to ensure all federal and state standards are met. 20

24 During 2017, the Utility collected 696 samples for analysis of Total Coliform bacteria, all samples were negative for bacteria. This is a direct result of a successful disinfection program through wellhead chlorination, effective system monitoring, proficient sampling methods and routine maintenance. Testing includes water hardness which is a measurement of the concentration of calcium and magnesium. During 2017, the hardness levels in Oro Valley ranged from 2.0 to 14.0 grains per gallon (34 ppm to 240 ppm). The Utility s water hardness ranges from soft to very hard with the majority of the water testing at moderately hard to hard. The water hardness varies depending on the volume of CAP water that is being blended at any given time in a specific pressure zone. Due to proposed regulatory changes and requirements, in 2017 the Utility continued preparation to phase in five proposed and pending USEPA regulations related to monitoring rules: Fourth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule March Revised Long-Term Lead and Copper Rule August 2018 Carcinogenic Volatile Organic Chemicals Rule TBD Strontium TBD Epichlorohydrin and Acrylamide TBD In 2018, the Utility will continue to phase in sampling and monitoring of new contaminants in accordance with regulatory requirements. The Utility produced the 2016 Consumer Confidence Report for both water systems in April of These reports are available electronically. Notices were mailed to customers letting them know the reports could be found on the Town s website under the Utility s main page. The 2017 Consumer Confidence Reports will be completed in March of In addition to sampling the potable water system, water quality samples are routinely taken on the reclaimed water system for chlorine levels and turbidity to assure compliance with regulatory standards. All ADEQ standards and regulations for reclaimed water were met in BACKFLOW PREVENTION Backflow prevention is an important component of water quality designed to protect the public water system. The purpose of this program is to keep the water supply safe from contaminants that could be introduced into the distribution system through backflow, back siphoning or back pressure from customer s plumbing systems or internal processes. The Backflow Prevention Program is administered in accordance with the Town of Oro Valley Ordinance (O) 07-21, ADEQ Administrative Code, section R18-4-B115, the International Plumbing Code and the guidelines of the University of Southern California Foundation for Cross Connection Control and Hydraulic Research. 21

25 There are 1,594 backflow prevention assemblies in the program that are located in the Oro Valley water service areas. The following are some of the major activities and accomplishments performed by the Backflow Prevention Division in 2017: Tested 210 backflow assemblies Repaired 26 in-ground and construction water backflow prevention assemblies Issued 59 permits for new and replacement backflow prevention assemblies Conducted a survey and inspection of 586 backflow assemblies Completion of the backflow assembly survey and inspections revealed that there were a number of fire service lines installed between 1999 and 2004 that did not have backflow assemblies installed. During that time frame, backflow assemblies were not required on fire service lines. Water sits idle in fire lines until the line is flushed for testing or when a fire event occurs. This situation could create a potential hazard to the water system. As such, the Utility has developed a three-year capital program to retrofit backflow assemblies on all fire lines that do not currently have them. SECURITY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE Under current federal guidelines, Water Operations personnel are considered first responders. Though primarily mandated by state rules with public health responsibilities, water operators also have a public safety responsibility relevant to the water systems they operate. Any security situations also directly involve the Oro Valley Police Department as a first response action. In 2017, Utility personnel, with the assistance of a security consultant, reviewed, refined and updated the security program, Emergency Response Plan (ERP) and the Business Continuity Plan (BCP). A series of training classes and exercises were made available to and completed by Utility staff. This training is done on an annual basis in accordance with the guidelines from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the USEPA. The Utility will continue to implement the elements defined in the vulnerability assessment, the ERP and the BCP as well as those identified through the course of business. The hydrant lock program is implemented through the new development process to protect hydrants from illegal entry and unauthorized use. In 2017, the Utility staff installed 56 new hydrant defenders with locks. Security features, which include perimeter fencing, security walls, warning signage, motion sensors and cameras at all active production facilities were inspected to maintain integrity. The Utility is kept abreast of local, regional and national security issues by the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center and is also a member of the Arizona Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network which mutually cooperates with other water and wastewater providers in an emergency within the state. 22

26 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS The Utility is financially sound and continues to manage its revenues, control expenditures and reduce debt. In February 2018, the Utility s bond ratings were reviewed by Fitch Ratings who affirmed its AA- rating with a stable outlook. Ratings criteria include stable economic base, sufficient water supply for current and long-term needs, a manageable capital improvement plan, timely rate increases, maintaining adequate debt service coverage and maintaining an adequate cash reserve balance. Revenues and Expenditures The Utility s revenue consists of potable and reclaimed water sales, groundwater preservation fees, miscellaneous service fees and charges, water development impact fees and interest income. The Utility has three funds: The Operating Fund provides funding for the Utility administration and operations existing system improvements and debt service payments. The sources of revenue for this fund are water sales, service related charges and the Groundwater Preservation Fees (GPF). The GPF funds are dedicated to pay for debt or capital costs related to renewable water resources, renewable water supplies and for costs to wheel CAP water to the Town. The Potable Water System Development Impact Fee Fund (PWSDIF) provides funding for expansion related projects for new growth. The source of revenue for this fund is potable water development impact fees. These fees are paid at the time a meter is purchased. The funds collected ensure that the system expansion is paid for by new development. The Alternative Water Resources Development Impact Fee Fund (AWRDIF) provides funding for the development of renewable sources of water supply and any infrastructure required for delivery of those resources. The source of revenue for this fund is alternative water resources development impact fees. These fees are paid by new development for renewable water supply and infrastructure attributed to new growth. 23

27 Table 6 contains the actual revenue billed compared to the revenue budgeted in FY for all funds within the Utility: Revenue Source Potable Water Sales: Budget FY TABLE 6 Amount Billed FY Over (Under) Budget Over (Under) Budget Residential $ 8,116,483 $ 8,358,705 $ 242,222 3% Commercial $ 828,238 $ 808,978 ( $ 19,260 ) (2%) Irrigation $ 1,103,950 $ 1,171,584 $ 67,634 6% Turf $ 129,967 $ 108,405 ( $ 21,562 ) (17%) Construction $ 211,274 $ 229,416 $ 18,142 9% Reclaimed Water Sales: Turf $ 1,525,356 $ 1,678,711 $ 153,355 10% Construction $ 500 $ 8,734 $ 8, % Irrigation $ 45,627 $ 51,370 $ 5,743 13% Subtotal Water Sales: $11,961,395 $12,415,903 $454,508 38% Misc. Service Fees & Charges $ 697,800 $ 769,638 $ 71,838 10% Groundwater Preservation Fees $ 2,346,000 $ 2,424,466 $ 78,466 3% Total Enterprise Fund $15,005,195 $15,610,007 $ 604,812 4% AWRDIF Impact Fees $ 1,040,089 $ 1,638,792 $ 598,703 57% PWSDIF Impact Fees $ 519,058 $ 816,353 $ 297,295 57% Interest Income All Funds $ 127,200 $ 11,020 ( $ 116,180 ) (91%) Total All Funds for FY $16,691,542 $18,076,172 $1,384,630 8% The budgeted expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) for the Operating Fund are compared to the actual expenses for FY in Table 7: TABLE 7 Budget Actual Spent Over (Under) Over (Under) Expenses FY FY Budget Budget Personnel $ 3,161,854 $ 3,036,446 ( $ 125,408) ( 4%) O&M $ 7,112,994 $ 6,922,368 ( $ 190,626) ( 3%) Capital $ 3,613,765 $ 3,298,306 ( $ 315,459) ( 8%) Total $13,888,613 $13,257,120 ( $ 631,493) ( 5%) The Utility s personnel costs were under budget due to short term vacancies prior to filling vacant positions. The O&M expenses were under budget largely due to CAP water recharge costs coming in less than anticipated. Capital expenses were also less than budgeted due to changes in project schedules and timing. 24

28 Outstanding Debt The Utility has paid down outstanding debt by $27.5 million over the last ten years. Table 8 is a summary of the outstanding debt and the annual debt service payments (principal and interest) for all funds within the Utility: Fund Bond Series Outstanding Debt At 12/31/17 TABLE 8 Debt Service Payments FY Interest Rate % Maturity Operating (WIFA) 2008 $ 2,613,309 $ 311, Operating (WIFA) 2009 $ 1,484,834 $ 149, Operating 2012 $ 3,132,839 $ 589, Operating 2012 $ 5,710,516 $ 1,074, Operating 2013 $ 2,005,000 $ 1,024, Operating (WIFA) 2014 $ 3,592,731 $ 377, Operating 2015 $ 1,100,550 $ 152, Operating 2017 $13,186,444 $ 1,655, PWSDIF 2012 $ 1,761,645 $ 331, Totals $34,587,868 $ 5,666,038 Water Rates The functions and duties of the commission include annually reviewing and developing recommendations for water revenue requirements, water rates and fee structures. The commission evaluates staff recommendations based on an annual water rates analysis to ensure the recommendations meet Town policies and bond covenants. The Utility bases its financial analysis on the American Water Works Association Cash Needs Approach. The financial analysis for FY resulted in a recommendation to increase the base rates for potable water customers while keeping the tiered water use rates the same. These proposed changes will result in a monthly increase of $1.83 for the majority of the Utility s customers. The proposed rates will allow the Utility to recover more of the fixed costs through revenue from base rates. The proposed water rates will be presented to the Town Council in May 2018 and, if adopted, the new rates would become effective July 1, All current water rates, fees and charges including impact fees are available to view on the Town website at 25

29 TOWN OF ORO VALLEY WATER UTILITY COMMISSION 2018 ANNUAL REPORT APPENDIX A STATIC GROUNDWATER LEVELS

30 STATIC GROUNDWATER LEVELS The following table lists all production wells, the amount of groundwater pumped and their water level changes as measured in January of 2017: Well Name Countryside Water Service Area Annual Pumped Acre Feet 1 Year Change Year Change Year Average CS CS Average Well Name Oro Valley Water Service Area Annual Pumped Acre Feet 1 Year Change Year Change Year Average C C C C C D D D D D E-B E E E-5B E-6B E-7B F Average A-1

31 TOWN OF ORO VALLEY WATER UTILITY COMMISSION 2018 ANNUAL REPORT APPENDIX B PROPOSED FIVE - YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

32 B-1

33 B-2

34 B-3

35 TOWN OF ORO VALLEY WATER UTILITY COMMISSION 2018 ANNUAL REPORT APPENDIX C UTILITY STATISTICS

36 FINANCIAL STATISTICS C-1

37 C-2

38 C-3

39 TOWN OF ORO VALLEY WATER UTILITY COMMISSION 2018 ANNUAL REPORT APPENDIX D ASSET INVENTORY

40 ASSET INVENTORY Assets as of December 31, 2017 Potable Assets Quantity Value CAP Water Rights (allotment in acre feet) 10,305 $ 6,172,361 Land --- 2,189,864 Wells (active & inactive) 19 9,682,957 Booster Stations 26 4,945,758 Reservoir Capacity (million gallons) ,509,248 Fire Hydrants 2,291 2,990,043 Meters 19,751 9,179,781 Services --- 4,546,439 Equipment --- 2,037,519 Structures --- 1,824,230 Vehicles 29 1,813,568 Telemetry ,416 Buildings & Improvements ,733 Water Mains (miles) ,733,729 The value of the following appurtenances are included in water mains: Valves 8,190 Pressure Reducing Valves 27 Air Relief Valves 878 Drain Valve Assemblies 924 Subtotal Value of Potable Assets $ 121,435,646 Accumulated Depreciation ( 41,105,617 ) Net Value of Potable Assets $ 80,330,029 Reclaimed Assets Quantity Value Land --- $ 220,796 Telemetry ,088 Booster Stations 2 7,271,902 Reservoir Capacity (million gallons) 1.5 2,294,968 Water Mains (miles) 14 12,013,432 The value of the following appurtenances are included in water mains: Valves 77 Air Relief Valves 51 Fire Hydrants 3 Drain Valve Assemblies 1 Subtotal Value of Reclaimed Assets $ 21,821,186 Accumulated Depreciation ( 4,108,109 ) Net Value of Reclaimed Assets $ 17,713,077 Total Value of all Water Assets Net of Depreciation $ 98,043,106 D-1

41 TOWN OF ORO VALLEY WATER UTILITY COMMISSION 2018 ANNUAL REPORT APPENDIX E ACRONYMS AND GLOSSARY