Water Supply & Demand Management Policy Update. Website Presentation December 12, 2011

Transcription

1 Water Supply & Demand Management Policy Update Website Presentation December 12,

2 Purpose Make you aware of policy update and the process Highlight potential changes to policy Provide supporting information about water use and water supply planning 2

3 Water Resources Division What we do (primary functions) Manage the City s raw water supplies Plan for future water supplies and demands Promote an appropriate level of conservation Why we do it (important uses of water) Health & public safety: drinking, washing, fire fighting, etc. Supply: homes, schools, businesses, industries, etc. Landscaping: trees, plants, lawns, gardens, etc. 3

4 Current Water Supply & Demand Management Policy Adopted in 2003 (Resolution ) Guides the Utilities in balancing future water supplies and demands Policy Objectives Provide a safe, adequate and reliable supply of water for the beneficial use by customers and the community Manage the level of demand and the efficient use of a scarce and valuable resource 4

5 Current Water Supply & Demand Management Policy (Key Elements) Demand Management Set water conservation goal Water Supply Maintain reliable supply through 1-in-50 year drought Acquire additional storage Other policy elements regarding supply shortage plan, use of surplus supplies, regional cooperation, water quality, river flow enhancement 5

6 Why Update the Policy? Typical City Council policy review and update Significant reductions in water use since 2002 Continued need to provide reliable water supply Prepare for potential effects of climate change Desire to right size amount of storage needed Increased focus on the use of surplus raw water Supporting local agriculture Providing instream flows Importance of fostering regional cooperation Align with Plan Fort Collins and incorporate sustainability efforts 6

7 Policy Update Process Community Working Group (CWG) 19 representatives of agriculture, environmental protection, civic, business, homeowners, university and state backgrounds Six meetings with extensive education and discussion of policy issues Helped draft policy update CWG Memo documents their input and discussions ( 7

8 Policy Update Process Water Board consideration Outreach to boards & commissions and other interested organizations Conduct landscape preference survey City Council Work Session on January 10, 2012 Policy adoption in Spring

9 Policy Update Changes Align with Plan Fort Collins and embed sustainability Refer to related Plan Fort Collins policies Consider economic, environmental and social aspects Demand Management Reduce water conservation goal to 140 gpcd* per the 2009 Water Conservation Plan (WCP) Compares to current use level of about 153 gpcd (conservation goal will be ~10% reduction) Link to WCP for measures and future goals * Gallons per capita per day (gpcd) calculations are based on the City s total treated water use (minus large contractual users) divided by its service area population 9

10 Policy Update Changes Water Supply Reliability Continue 1-in-50 drought criterion and Water Supply Shortage Response Plan Include other criteria used by Utility (15% storage reserve factor and 162 gpcd planning demand level) for greater transparency Consider potential effects of climate change Additional Supplies and Facilities Consider alternatives that best fit supply system Explore long-term rental/sharing arrangements with agriculture Not specific about storage amounts needed 10

11 Policy Update Changes Water Quality Protect watershed and maintain taste and quality Surplus Raw Water Commitment to use surplus supplies for other beneficial purposes Support/preserve local agriculture Work with other City departments and groups to enhance flows in the Poudre River Regional Cooperation Maintain good relationships with others 11

12 CWG and Water Board Input Community Working Group (CWG) High level of agreement with most policy elements Divergent views from several members on the planning criteria numbers Setting numbers aside, full support on policy update (except one with some reservations) Water Board Supportive of revised policy Planning criteria should remain the same to avoid potential delay of permitting process for Halligan Reservoir enlargement 12

13 Water Demand (Use) Present Demands Currently deliver about 26,000 acre-feet*/year treated and 4,000 acre-feet/year of raw water Demand levels have declined significantly ~230 gpcd early 1990s ~200 gpcd before 2002 ~153 gpcd since 2003 * An acre-foot is a quantity of water that equates to about 326,000 gallons. One acre-foot is enough water for about three single family homes per year in Fort Collins. 13

14 250 Fort Collins Utilities - Per Capita Water Use Use (gallons per capita per day - GPCD) Year Actual Use Normalized Use

15 Water Use Reductions per Account by Customer Category Reductions are calculated for the period averages of (pre-drought) and (postdrought) Customer % Reduction % Reduction % Reduction Category in Indoor Use in Outdoor Use in Total Use Single Family 22% 49% 37% Duplex 25% 59% 38% Multi-Family 18% 42% 24% Commercial 19% 17% 18% 15

16 Water Conservation Continued measures to reduce demands every year Water Supply Shortage Response Plan used to achieve temporary reductions On-going conservation efforts All customers metered in 2003 Tiered rate structures Educational programs Rebates, sprinkler audits, etc. Water Conservation Plan (2009) Revised conservation goal of 140 gpcd by

17 City of Fort Collins Water Supply - Sources Poudre River 17 CBT Project

18 Water Supplies On average, about 50/50 split between Poudre River and CBT supplies used Poudre River Several senior direct flow rights Many converted agricultural rights Michigan Ditch/Joe Wright Reservoir Colorado-Big Thompson Project (CBT) City owns ~18,850 units Administered by the NCWCD Delivery of units from Horsetooth Reservoir (which has limited carryover capacity) 18

19 19 Highly variable annual flows affect City water right yields

20 1,800 Average Poudre River Flows Flow (cfs) 1,600 1,400 1,200 1, Highly variable flows month-to-month 2/3 rds of runoff occurs in 2 months Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 20 Date Source: Cache la Poudre River at the Mouth of the Canyon Gage (USGS )

21 21 CBT project yields also subject to variability

22 Water Supply Present Supply Adequate supplies in most years Based on 1-in-50 year drought criteria 31,000 acre-feet/year treated water firm yield (demands that can be met) through a 1-in-50 year drought 22

23 Future Water Demands Depends largely on population and commercial growth Water Utility has limited growth potential due to surrounding water districts Total projected need ~39,700 acre-feet/year by 2050 Anticipated population served by Utility is ~165,100 by 2050 (~129,900 in 2010) Large contractual use increase of 3,000 acrefeet/year by 2050 Existing firm yield of ~31,000 acre-feet/year 23

24 Future Supply Plans Acquire additional water rights and/or cash through Raw Water Requirements Development must pay for water needs Acquire storage capacity to help manage current and future water rights Operational storage (gravel pits or similar) Carryover storage (Halligan Res. or similar) Reductions in water use have decreased the amount of storage required 24

25 Halligan Reservoir Project to enlarge existing reservoir on North Fork of Poudre River Working through NEPA permitting process with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers since 2005 Teaming with Greeley and NPIC on permitting (Halligan Seaman Water Management Project) Size required by Utility is around 9,000 to 10,000 acre-feet (permit modeling still in progress) Draft Environmental Impact Statement due in early

26 180 Water Supplies and Demands for Fort Collins Utilities Flow (cfs) % of Average Poudre River Flows (1986) Storage required to meet demands (i.e., CBT). Direct flow rights in excess of demands Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Date Direct Direct Flow Rights Flow RightsWater Direct from Flow Storage Rights2008 Actual 2008 Actual Demands Demands Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

27 180 Water Supplies and Demands for Fort Collins Utilities Flow (cfs) % of Average Poudre River Flows (2002) Much more storage required. Significant variation in water right yields. Some excess even in dry year Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Date Direct Flow Rights Water from Storage 2008 Actual Demands

28 Surplus Raw Water Surplus water typically rented to agricultural users Reduces customer rates Currently on year-to-year basis Recognize interest in long-term arrangements Unused or unrented surplus water left in river Distributed to next senior water right Difficult to use for instream flows under current Colorado water law Utilities staff working with other City departments on initiatives to improve Poudre River flows 28

29 Environmental Considerations Fort Collins water use reduces flows in the Poudre River and other watersheds (Colorado and Michigan River basins) Poudre River flows are reduced mostly by local irrigation diversions Additional diversions for the City s future use will mostly occur above downtown Fort Collins 29

30 30 Flow reductions between Canyon Mouth and Lincoln Street mostly due to agricultural diversions. Red line at bottom is City s treated water diversions off the Poudre River.

31 Policy Update Summary Policy update provides additional guidance for water supply and demand planning Community Working Group input helped update policy to address many issues Key changes: Revised 140 gpcd water conservation goal Acknowledge water supply planning criteria Consider potential effects of climate change Stronger commitment to using surplus supplies Align with Plan Fort Collins and sustainability efforts City Council Work Session on January 10,

32 Questions, Comments, Suggestions? 32