Water Use, Conservation, and Efficiency Rome, Georgia A Report by the Coosa River Basin Initiative July 2014

Transcription

1 Water Use, Conservation, and Efficiency Rome, Georgia A Report by the Coosa River Basin Initiative July Broad Street Rome, GA (706)

2 Table of Contents About the Coosa River Basin Initiative & Acknowledgments 3 Executive Summary....3 Introduction Conservation Audit Water Conservation Practices Checklist... 6 Creating a Water Conserving Community...6 Recommendations for Specific Water Conservation Practices..7 Summary of Water Conservation Practices & Savings Water Efficiency Funding Sources

3 ABOUT THE COOSA RIVER BASIN INITIATIVE The Coosa River Basin Initiative is a 501(c)3 organization with the mission of informing and empowering citizens to protect, preserve and restore North America s most biologically unique river basin. As such, CRBI s staff, board of directors and volunteers work through four program areas (advocacy, education, water monitoring and restoration) to protect the drinking water sources of the approximately one million people that live within the 5,000- square mile river basin and protect habitat for some 30 endemic aquatic species that make this river basin their home. CRBI is a member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, the Georgia Water Coalition and the Alabama Rivers Alliance. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The information contained in the report was compiled by CRBI- University of Georgia Intern, Mac McCord, CRBI Volunteer Erin Coughlin, and CRBI Advocacy & Communication Coordinator, Joe Cook. This project was made possible through funding from CRBI s generous supporters, including the Turner Foundation, and more than 3000 members. CRBI thanks the City of Rome and Water & Sewer Director Leigh Ross for cooperation in obtaining water use data. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The rivers that provide water to the City of Rome are vital economic and environmental assets to the community. The population of Rome and Floyd County are expected to increase greatly. In order to sustain the increased water demand driven by a growing community, Rome should invest in conservation and efficiency measures. These measures will be the most cost effective way to reduce the costs of maintaining water delivery systems and accommodate a growing population. The Oostanaula River in downtown Rome. Withdrawals from the Oostanaula and Etowah serve as Rome s water supplies. This report describes the current water usage ( ) of the City of Rome, provides examples of measures to take to reduce consumption, and gives recommendations for implementing these measures in Rome. If Rome fully adopted the conservation and efficiency measures described in this report, the city could reduce daily water usage by approximately 28 percent. INTRODUCTION Rome, Georgia is settled in an ecologically unique location in terms of the surrounding aquatic systems. Directly adjacent to the historic downtown area, the Oostanaula and the Etowah Rivers meet to form the headwaters of the Coosa River. Not only does this feature of the land contribute to the aesthetic quality of the city, it is also an important economic and ecological 3

4 contributor. First and foremost, the Oostanaula and Etowah Rivers are the primary sources of municipal and industrial water supplies for Rome and Floyd County. Moreover, these rivers generate significant and valuable revenue through recreation and tourism opportunities. Also, the Coosa River Basin supports a great diversity of life from unique and rare species such as the Cherokee darter, to economically important species like crappie and striped bass. Kayakers on the Etowah River Since 1990, the population of Floyd County has increased by nearly 15,000, and it is expected to increase by almost 50,000 in the next 40 years2. With population increase comes an increased demand for water. It is projected that municipal water demand will increase nearly 5 million gallons per day by As the community continues to expand, reducing water consumption will be essential to preserving the integrity of the valuable Coosa River basin while being able to meet increased demands. 1 The most cost effective way to reduce water usage is to invest in conservation and efficiency measures, which include actions such as conservation pricing, retrofitting, and promotion of community awareness. Implementation of conservation and efficiency measures have proven to be highly effective in many major cities around the country, and have saved cities hundreds of millions of dollars in water usage costs. For example, Boston made a commitment to water efficiency, and uses less water today than it did in The city reduced its total water demand by 125 million gallons per day, and avoided $500 million in costs by investing $40 million in reducing its demand for water.4 Currently, Rome obtains about 90 percent of its water from the Oostanaula River and 10 percent from the Etowah River. The Etowah, however, is an equally reliable source, yet its water requires less chemical treatment. Rome Water and Sewer Director Leigh Ross suggests that Rome use more water from the Etowah in order to reduce chemicals required for water treatment and also to reduce the pressures put on the department due to drought. The Oostanaula River in downtown Rome. Rome has already successfully invested in 4

5 certain conservation measures and seen improvements in the efficiency of the system. Five years ago, the Department replaced every water meter with a radio- read meter that has proven to be more accurate and cut back on man- hours required to obtain the meters readings. Due to the improvement in meter accuracy, the Department can now make better calculations of how much water is being leaked or unbilled. Five years ago, the Water Department estimated that more than 30 percent of the water it pumped and treated from our rivers was not billed due to water loss through leakage, inaccurate meters and other unaccounted for water. Today, unbilled, or unaccounted for water rates are down to about 20 percent. Moreover, to address the issue of leaks in Rome s pipelines, the Department reduced the water pressure in the entire system by keeping the water levels in the water tanks at three- quarters capacity. This adjustment slowed the rate of leaks in the system and reduced the potential for new leaks. More remains to be done. The American Water Works Association recommends a non- revenue water rate of 10 percent or under half Rome s current rate of about 22 percent. This report describes many ways in which Rome can decrease its water usage through conservation and efficiency measures in both residential and commercial sectors. Additionally, this report provides information on potential sources of funding for water conservation. CITY OF ROME WATER CONSERVATION AUDIT Population Served (2013) 45,586 WATER USE Primary Water Source Average Use Per Capita Water Use Oostanuala River 6.5 Million Gallons Per Day* 59.1 gallons per person per day** WATER LOSS Current Daily Real Losses 1.6 Million Gallons Per Day PRICING STRUCTURE Residential Commercial Irrigation $2.52 per 100 cubic feet $2.52 per 100 cubic feet $2.90 per 100 cubic feet * Includes non- revenue water ** Average daily residential water use is derived from the total monthly residential water use for the winter months (Dec Mar. 2012); this is then divided by the total number of residential customers and the average number of residents per house ( based on U.S. Census Data). 5

6 WATER CONSERVATION PRACTICES CHECKLIST These practices listed below are part of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District water conservation plan (Metro Atlanta Water Plan) and many are recommended in the Coosa- North Georgia Regional Water Plan. While all are not currently mandatory for Floyd County, implementation of these practices can greatly reduce water use and extend area water supplies. Recommendations follow this checklist. Conservation Pricing PRACTICE Water Bill Provides Water Use Information in Total Gallons Used Water Bill Includes Water Savings Tips Toilet Rebate or Retrofit Program Pre- rinse Retrofit Program for Restaurants Sub- metering for Multi- Family Units Leak Detection Equipment Residential Water Audits Commercial Water Audits Low Flow Retrofit Kits High Efficiency Plumbing in City Buildings Car wash Recycling Ordinance Outdoor Watering Ordinance Education & Outreach STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION IN ROME NO YES NO NO NO YES YES NO NO YES NO NO YES YES CREATING A WATER CONSERVING COMMUNITY What is a water conserving community, and how does Rome compare to other communities in terms of efficiency and conservation? 6

7 According to Amy Vickers The Handbook of Water Conservation, a home in which water conservation practices have been fully implemented should use 45.2 gallons per person per day. 5 Rome s current indoor residential water usage is estimated at 59.1 gallons per person per day. Although Rome uses significantly less water than surrounding communities, it still is far from achieving water conserving community status, as defined by Vickers. However, Rome s relatively low water usage can be attributed in part to the effectiveness of water conservation methods already in practice. By implementing an even more aggressive slate of residential water conservation and efficiency measures, Rome residents could significantly reduce their indoor water use, becoming a water conserving community that would serve as a model for other communities in the Coosa- North Georgia region. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SPECIFIC WATER CONSERVATION PRACTICES The following section provides information on the current state of water conservation practices, and recommendations on how to improve the cost and usage efficiency of current practices. 1. Conservation Pricing The City of Rome implements a uniform rate for its customers, however, the base rates and water use rates differ between zones. Generally, uniform water rates do not promote water conservation as much as increasing block rates. Moving to an increasing block rate structure in which the price per gallon increases as customers consume more water would likely increase revenues while promoting water conservation among all water customers. Increasing base rates should also be considered to ensure that the system is properly maintained regardless of changes in water use as a result of drought- related watering restrictions or other changes in community water use such as the loss of a major water customer. Surplus funds derived from usage fees can be used to maintain and upgrade the system and implement water conservation measures. For residential customers, the size of first block or base rate should be based on an efficient level of monthly indoor use (45 gallons per day per person). Subsequent blocks should have meaningful price differentials (50% increases between blocks). a. Explore increasing block structures for residential and commercial customers b. Increase base rates to eliminate dependence on consumption to meet system- operating expenses. 7

8 Water Savings: Studies suggest that a 10 percent increase in the price of water will result in a 3.5 to 4.5 percent reduction in water demand over time. 6 Thus, implementing the right increasing block pricing structure could yield daily water savings of as much as 220,500 gallons per day in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors an overall reduction in water demand of 4.5 percent. Price Water Right Cost of Implementation: This conservation practice does not require any capital costs and could be implemented with minimal investment. 2. Water Bill Structure & Information Daily Savings: 220,500 gal. Water Demand Reduction: 4.5% The City of Rome addresses customers water consumption in units, however, the Department clearly establishes that 1 unit=750 gallons. Recently improved water bills provide actual water usage in gallons and provide historic usage. This allows the customers to better monitor their water usage, identify trends in their water use and encourages conservation practices. This is an excellent change in the way that the City of Rome communicates with its water customers. a. Include information about reducing the water bill on each statement (water conservation tips, information about rate structures, etc.) Water Savings: Aggressive public education programs have been shown to reduce water use by as much as 20 percent during periods of water crises. 7 Providing important water use information on water bills, in and of itself, will not significantly reduce water use, but it will improve participation in other conservation programs such as water fixture and appliance retrofit or replacement programs. Cost of Implementation: This conservation practice does not require any capital costs and could be implemented with minimal investment. 8

9 3. Retrofitting Water Wasting Plumbing Fixtures Rome does not participate in the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District toilet rebate program, and currently has no plans to implement this program. Some water providers in Metro Atlanta provide rebates of up to $100 to customers who replace old, water- wasting toilets in homes built prior to Other communities in Metro Atlanta require that when a pre home is sold the new owners must replace all old toilets before the property is re- connected for water service. Perhaps the most successful toilet replacement program was undertaken by New York City. Between 1994 and 1997, the city replaced 1.3 million toilets that resulted in a savings of million gallons of water per day. The program saved the city over $200 million by deferring expansion of water supply and wastewater systems. 8 This is an area where Rome could greatly improve its water conservation efforts. If 86 percent of its 16,475 residential customers live in pre constructed homes (14,169 homes with 3.5 gallons per flush toilets), and each of those customers installed one high efficiency toilet (1.28 gallons per flush), the Department could reduce daily water use by at least 6.6 percent (431,440 gallons per day). This percentage was calculated using the average number of people per house (2.54) and the average number of flushes per person per day (5.4). Information on the housing stock in Rome was obtained from the Floyd County Tax Assessor s Office. Due to missing data, some of the houses in Rome could not be accounted for; however, the ratio of pre to post homes was applied to the number of residential customers. a. Initiate toilet rebate or retrofit program. Toilet Retrofits b. Increase water rate structure to cover operational expenses and invest usage fees in water conservation programs. Water Savings: If each customer living in a pre constructed home installed high efficiency toilets (1.28 gallons per flush), residential water usage could be reduced by at least 458,617 gallons per day. Cost of Implementation: Daily Savings: 431,440 gal. Water Demand Reduction: 6.6% Providing $100 rebates to replace 14,169 water- wasting toilets would cost the City of Rome $1,416,900, plus administrative costs to implement this program. 9

10 4. Pre- rinse Spray Valve Retrofit Education Program A pre- rinse spray valve is a handheld device that uses a spray of water to remove food and grease from dishware, utensils and pans before placing them in the dishwasher. A low- flow pre- rinse spray valve uses only 1.6 gallons per minute (gpm) or less. A typical pre- rinse spray valve uses 3 gpm and older spray valves use up to 7 gpm. The dishwashing operations in a typical restaurant consume over two- thirds of all the water used. In some cases, nearly half of the water used in dishwashing is consumed by the pre- rinse spray valve. A low- flow pre- rinse spray valve is one of the easiest and most cost effective water- saving devices available to the food service operator. New efficient low- flow valves can reduce rinse water usage by 30 to 70 percent compared to older spray valves. 9 The City of Rome does not participate in any pre- rinse valve retrofit educational programs for restaurants and other businesses, and the Water Department provides no incentives for businesses to begin using pre- rinse spray valves. Commercial customers enjoy a uniform water rate structure a rate that does not promote water conservation practices. a. Change commercial rate structure to increasing block rate b. Through local ordinances require existing and new businesses to install these devices. 5. Rain Sensors for New Irrigation A moisture sensor shut- off switch is an electric device that detects and measures moisture in the soil and turns off the irrigation system when a predetermined amount of moisture is present. This prevents the irrigation system from watering when the landscape has already received enough water from rainfall. Moisture sensors reduce unnecessary watering during periods of adequate rainfall. State law requires that all new landscape irrigation systems in Metro Atlanta include these rain sensors; however, this is not required outside the Metropolitan Water Planning District. The City of Rome does not require new residential and non- residential irrigation systems to install rain sensors. a. Adopt ordinance requiring that all new landscape irrigation systems include rain sensor shut off switches. 6. Sub- metering of Multi- Family Dwellings The City of Rome requires sub- metering in all new multi- family buildings. 10

11 7. System Water Loss According to the Rome Water Department s 2012 American Water Works Association (AWWA) water audit, the department cannot account for approximately 22 percent of the water it pumps and treats. Repair Leaks Given that the AWWA standard is 10 percent, RCWD could realize significant water savings by repairing leaks in the system. The 2012 audit reveals daily water loss of 1.6 million gallons. Repairing leaks to the reach the AWWA standard would result in saving 864,000 gallons a day and reducing water demand by 13 percent. In its 2012 AWWA audit, the city estimates that it spends $259,622 annually treating water for which it never receives payment because of leaks and other problems in the system. RCWD currently utilizes leak detection devices in an ongoing effort to pinpoint and fix leaks in the system. The Department has a specified leak reduction goal of 10 percent. Daily Savings: 864,000 gal. Water Demand Reduction: 13% Recommendation: a. Increase base rate structure to cover operational expenses and invest in water conservation programs such as system repairs 8. Residential Water Audits Water audits involve trained personnel inspecting homes to identify water waste and assist property owners in eliminating water waste. A typical audit involves evaluating plumbing fixtures and appliances for water efficiency and detecting leaks. The AWWA reports that 13.7 percent of indoor water use results from leaks, mostly related to toilets. 10 Water audits can aid in eliminating this water waste. The City of Rome does not currently conduct residential water audits. Residential Audits a. Identify funding source and hire water auditor to conduct audits in residences. b. Provide information about detecting leaks on water bills. Water Savings: Assuming that 13.7 percent of indoor residential water use could be eliminated through leak detection resulting from a comprehensive water audit program, the City of Rome could realize significant Daily Savings: 133,393 gal. Water Demand Reduction: 2% 11

12 savings through water audits. If water audits were conducted for each of Rome s 16,475 residential customers, the city could realize water savings of 133,393 gallons per day and reduce overall water usage by 2 percent. Cost of Implementation: Trained personnel that are working through the water service provider usually conduct residential water audits. The city could contract trained individuals to conduct these audits or hire an additional staff person to coordinate the city s water conservation program. Estimated annual costs could range between $30,000 and $100,000 to complete audits of all residential customers. 9. Commercial Water Audits Although only about 10 percent of Rome water customers are commercial accounts, almost 26 percent of water is used for commercial purposes. Commercial accounts make up a significant portion of water usage, yet the water department has not conducted commercial water audits on any of these customers. There are significant opportunities to reduce water demands in this sector by working with these accounts to identify practices to use water more efficiently. Commercial Audits The Department s top five customers are: 1) Floyd County (Wholesale) 2) Bekaert Steel Wire 3) Rome Housing Authority Daily Savings: 128,742 gal. Water Demand Reduction: 2% 4) Floyd Medical Center 5) Floyd County Offices (including the jail and prison) a. Conduct commercial/industrial water audits to assist major water customers in conserving water b. Provide incentives for water efficiency projects c. Implement tiered pricing structure for all commercial accounts Water Savings: It is highly likely that water savings could be identified in the commercial sector. Even limited conservation efforts could yield significant savings because so much of the systems total demand comes from this sector. Reducing water demand from 12

13 commercial and industrial accounts by 10 percent could yield 128,742 gallons a day reducing system- wide water demand by 2 percent. Cost of Implementation: The trained personnel or contract employee with responsibility for residential water audits could also be responsible for commercial water audits. Estimated costs: $30,000- $100,000 annually. 10. Low- flow Retrofit Kits RCWD reports that 200 low- flow retrofit kits were distributed to residential customers. However, the Department does not track water savings at individual homes, so there is no way to determine if distribution of these low flow kits impacted residential water use. a. Continue to make low- flow retrofit kits available b. Document customers who accept the retrofit kits and track water use at these residences to determine if this outreach effort is having the desired impact 11. High Efficiency Plumbing in Government Buildings By installing water conserving plumbing fixtures (toilets, faucets, etc.) in government buildings, the City of Rome can save water and promote wise water use by residents in their homes and at minimal costs. Retrofitting government buildings should be viewed as an education and an outreach program as well as a way for city government to do its part in reducing water waste. There are currently water audits being conducted for Rome s government facilities, but there is no dedicated funding source for any potential plumbing fixture retrofitting programs. Recommendation: a. Retrofit all government buildings with water- saving plumbing fixtures, including high- efficiency toilets and urinals. 12. Car wash Recycling It is estimated that car washes in Georgia use 1.7 million gallons of water per day. i The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District which develops water plans for the Metro Atlanta region requires all counties and municipalities to insure that all new car washes include water recycling. Recycling water at car washes is estimated to reduce car wash water usage by 35 percent. There are currently no ordinances requiring new car washes to install water- recycling systems in order to receive connections to Rome s water system. 13

14 Recommendation: a. Adopt ordinance requiring all new car washes to include water recycling Water Savings: Water savings of up to 35 percent could be realized at new facilities. These savings will help the City of Rome reduce future water demands. Cost of Implementation: There would be no significant cost to the city of implementing this conservation measure. 13. Outdoor Watering Ordinance The City of Rome has adopted the outdoor watering ordinance that prohibits outdoor watering between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Any where from 20 to 30 percent of water applied to landscapes between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. is lost to evaporation and never reaches the plants it was intended to nourish.6 The best times to water outdoors are in the early morning, late afternoon and at night. Many water customers, however, may not be fully aware of the ordinance and its benefits. a. Provide information to water customers about the day time outdoors watering ban on water bills, explaining the benefits of watering in the early morning, late afternoon and evening. 14. Education & Outreach The Rome ECO Center for Water Education has numerous educational programs that address water conservation. The ECO Center is also home to interactive indoor and outdoor exhibits that are designed to educate all ages on local biodiversity and conservation. The Coosa River Basin Initiative also offers interactive educational programs upon request for schools, special programs, civic organizations, community groups, religious organizations and other groups. 15. Water Conservation Program ECO Center of Rome, Georgia The water department recently hired Eric Lindberg to coordinate the department s water conservation program. Employing an individual whose 14

15 primary job responsibility is improving the efficiency of the system is a major step in creating a robust water conservation program. Budget & Future Funding The Rome City Water Department has addressed declining revenues as a result of recent drought- related watering restrictions and other conservation measures. Consequently, seventeen positions at the Department remain unfilled, and they have eliminated or postponed capital projects due to a lack of funding. However, it does not plan to apply for Georgia Environmental Facilities grants to fund efficiency and conservation programs. a. Explore increasing block structures for commercial customers b. Increase base rates to eliminate dependence on consumption to meet system- operating expenses. c. Invest in water conservation programs to reduce water use and extend life of infrastructure SUMMARY OF WATER CONSERVATION PRACTICES AND WATER SAVINGS Water Conservation Practice Gallons Saved Daily Percentage of Daily Use Conservation Pricing 220,500 gal. 4.5 % Toilet Retrofits 431,440 gal. 6.6 % Repair Leaks 864,000 gal. 13 % Residential Water Audits 133,393 gal. 2.0 % Commercial Water Audits 128,742 gal. 2.0 % TOTAL SAVINGS 1.77 MILLION GAL % The City of Rome can realize tremendous water savings by implementing the water conservation practices outlined in this report. These practices will enable the City of Rome to increase its revenue from water sales, eliminate the need to invest in costly water infrastructure projects, reduce wear and tear on existing infrastructure including the wastewater treatment facility, eliminate the need to expand capacity at that facility and reduce the amount of treated wastewater discharged to the Coosa River, improving the health of the river for Rome residents and downstream communities. CRBI estimates the cost of implementing all of these programs in Rome at $2.5 to $4 million the majority of which would be dedicated to leak detection and system repair the area where Rome s water system can realize the greatest water savings. While these are significant costs 15

16 for a small community, these investments will ensure a safe and reliable supply of water for this and future generations. WATER EFFICIENCY FUNDING SOURCES The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority administers numerous funding programs to help communities improve the efficiency of their water systems. In 2011, GEFA announced that all water loans for water conservation projects will receive an additional one percent interest rate reduction. Below is a brief synopsis of these programs. Complete information about these programs and loan application processes can be found at Clean Water State Revolving Fund The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) is a federally funded loan program that can provide funding for a wide variety of water quality and non- point source projects. System improvement loans and economic development loans are CWSRF eligible. Drinking Water State Revolving Fund The Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (DWSRF) is a federal loan program for water infrastructure projects. Projects that can be funded through the CWSRF and DWSRF include: o Installing or retrofitting water efficient devises, such as plumbing fixtures and appliances; o Implementing incentive programs to conserve water such as rebates for water efficient fixtures; o Installing water meters in a previously unmetered areas; o Replacing broken/malfunctioning water meters or upgrading existing water meters with Automatic Meter Reading systems (AMR); o Recycling and water reuse projects that replace potable sources with non- potable sources; and o Distribution pipe replacement or rehabilitation to reduce water loss and prevent water main breaks. GEFA also provides small technical assistance grants under this program to aid local water utilities by providing state of the art leak detection devices and assisting with water loss audits. Georgia Fund The Georgia Fund is a state loan program for water, wastewater, and solid waste infrastructure projects. The Georgia Fund loan program has maximum flexibility and accessibility, providing fast loan approvals. Low interest loans from this program range from $20,000 to $3 million. Governor s Water Supply Program Gov. Nathan Deal recently pledged $300 million over four years for water supply projects. In 2012, that funding amounts to $46 million. The funds will be distributed by GEFA and the 16

17 Department of Community Affairs. Unfortunately, water conservation and efficiency projects are not eligible for this funding. In addition, the following programs may be used to fund conservation and efficiency projects: One Georgia Authority Equity Fund This program provides funding for water and sewer infrastructure projects in rural counties with small populations. Loans range from $200,000 to $1 million depending on how many communities a project impacts. More information at Department of Community Affairs Appalachian Regional Commission Area Development Fund This program provides funding matching grants for water and sewer infrastructure projects in 37 counties in North Georgia. Applicants from Chattooga County are eligible for funding for up to 70 percent of the cost of a project. More information at USDA Rural Development Water & Wastewater Loans & Grants This program provides low interest loans of up to $4 million for water and wastewater projects in rural communities and small incorporated towns and cities with populations not greater than 10,000. More information at 1 U.S. Census Bureau (July 2011) 2 Coosa- North Georgia Regional Water Plan (May 2011) 3 Coosa- North Georgia Regional Water Plan (May 2011) 4 Georgia Water Coalition 5 Vickers, Amy; Handbook of Water Use & Conservation (2001) 6 Griffin, Ronald C. Water Resource Economics: The Analysis of Scarcity, Policies, and Projects (2006) 7 Alliance for Water Efficiency cation+programs 8 Georgia Water Coalition 9 Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Water Supply & Water Conservation Management Plan (May 2009) 10 Green, Deborah; Water Conservation for Small & Medium- Sized Utilities (2010) American Water Works Association 17