Ithaca Area Intermunicipal Cooperation NYAWWA Conference Chris Bordlemay Padilla Cornell University Water Manager 4/27/17
Three Water Purveyors in Ithaca Area Cornell University City of Ithaca Bolton Point Water System
Existing Cooperation AWQR done jointly for many years
Mutual Aid Agreement
How do we determine when there is a drought in NYS? --While most of us know that a drought is a prolonged period of dryness, the definition and information used to formally declare a drought is more complex. Meteorologists and hydrologists have their own precise definitions of drought. When meteorologists talk about drought they are comparing precipitation shortfalls to normal levels. Hydrologists consider stream flow and water levels in aquifers, lakes, and reservoirs along with precipitation. New York uses elements of both to determine when there is a drought. --The State Drought Index compares four parameters to historic or "normal" values to evaluate drought conditions: stream flows, precipitation, lake and reservoir storage levels, and groundwater levels. New York's Drought Management Task Force uses those factors as well as water use, duration of the dry period, and season to assess drought in different parts of the state. --New York also uses the Palmer Drought Index, a measure of soil moisture calculated by the National Weather Service. The two indices show us different things about drought. The Palmer Index, with its emphasis on soil moisture, helps us understand agricultural impacts. The State Index helps assess the impact on human welfare and the regional economy. http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5011.html
Below average snowfall 15/16, and NO snowpack Month Avg Temp Snowfall Normal Dec 40.5 0.8 12.6 Jan 24.2 7.6 17.6 Feb 27.4 9.5 14.2 Mar 38.4 0.2 11.7 Apr 40.7 5.4 3.4 Total = 23.5 59.5 Snowpack from Feb 21 st onward = 0 (except for a few days in early April)
U.S. Drought Monitor at the beginning of Summer -period of extreme lack of rainfall beginning, following an unusually warm and snow-free winter - https://i.imgflip.com/17qnmf.gif
Status of Three Systems Mid Summer 2016 Bolton Point - Capacity of 4.5 MGD (Treatment and delivery) - Serving the City of Ithaca with 0.4 MGD - Demand of ~4.0 MGD City of Ithaca - New membrane filtration plant under construction - Limited to 2.5 MGD during construction - Demand of 2.9 3.0 MGD - Receiving 0.4 MGD from Bolton Point - Reservoir levels dropping Manganese issues, discoloration occuring Cornell University - Capacity to treat 3.6 MGD - Source dwindling with little to spare (2.4 MGD by gravity) - Demand of ~1.5-1.8 MGD - Other purveyors not able to help with supply Students return AUGUST 19 th! Demands will increase! Population swells!
September 20, 2016 (Released Thursday September 22, 2016) Valid 8 a.m. EDT
Ithaca Water Sources- Fall Creek, Sixmile Creek Watersheds, Cayuga Lake Fall Creek ~120 mi 2 Cornell University source Intake is run of river with no raw water storage Well-positioned watershed to harvest rain Withdrawal demand 2-6 cfs Sixmile Creek ~36 mi 2 City of Ithaca source Raw water storage behind dams, ~30-60 days depending on streamflow Rain can more easily miss the watershed Withdrawal demand 3-8 cfs Cayuga Lake Bolton Point source Production limited, delivery limited to 4.5 MGD
Cornell s Response - Restrictions Limited Water Advisory July 7 th voluntary restrictions Drought Emergency Planning Team (DEPT) formed Little reduction in demand measured Water Use Restrictions July 28 th mandatory restrictions Essential uses only Irrigation restricted Research facilities limited to essential uses only Incident Management Team (IMT) formed reps of all Cornell departments Aiming for 30% reduction in anticipation of student return August 19 th Achieved 20% reduction (BP and City report decreased usage too!)
Cornell Water Supply Water Use Restrictions issued July 28th Limited Water Advisory issued July 7th
DEPT Actions Daily, weekly meetings evaluation of restriction level Installed temporary tanks at strategic locations on campus Contracted with trucking company to haul water from Cayuga Lake (LSC wetwell) to deliver to temporary tanks Re-plumbed irrigation systems to pump from temp tanks Athletics, Plantations, Grounds Captured condensate waste stream at CEP (9000 gpd) in tanker truck for irrigation of trees on campus Outreach to faculty, staff, and facilities to reduce water use 1 on 1 meetings Outreach to students Every Drop Counts campaign started 9/19 through the sustainability office Communications to customers, incoming students, staff, etc. Media outreach TV, radio, newspapers, email blasts Confer with applicable professors on stream ecology, hydrologic predictions, forecast Daily meter reading for ~200 meters gives better visualization of where/when water is used
City of Ithaca, Bolton Point, Cornell, DOH Many meetings of the three systems and the Department of Health with O Brien and Gere Engineers Several emergency meetings with county emergency management, fire, police, communications, politicians and administrations Evaluated status of systems, supplies and demands Evaluated interconnectivity locations, quantities, limitations Coordinated plans to assist one another in case of severe water shortage O Brien and Gere contracted to evaluate options of interconnectivity and alternative supplies in advance of student population return Mobile treatment units evaluated Optimization of City system and new water treatment facility Modification of Bolton Point Plant and distribution system to deliver more than 4.5 MGD Verify interconnection capabilities of three systems
City of Ithaca, Bolton Point, Cornell, DOH City of Ithaca Limited Water Advisory on July 28 th Discoloration due to low DO in reservoir, oxidation post treatment in the distribution system. Flushing exacerbated low supply issues. Potassium permanganate fed at reservoir to pre-oxidize manganese, eventually solved issue. Lab feedback slow so dosage difficult Plant to full capacity late September/early October
City of Ithaca, Bolton Point, Cornell, DOH Bolton Point Advised customers regarding conservation of water because neighboring purveyors were short on supply and they were the back up if possible Worked with OB&G and Cornell to determine if additional capacity was possible, and to troubleshoot distribution/delivery limitations Cost prohibitive to immediately fix
Purpose of Evaluation Two of the area s water supplies (Fall Creek and Six Mile Creek) low water levels due to drought condition, stressing the supply of water available for treatment and distribution. Cornell considering options to supplement its current system with additional capacity of at least 0.5 MGD to meet water demand. Options needed to prevent water shortages for campus if drought conditions persist and precipitation events unable to restore needed levels to provide adequate water supply; and measures could also have broad benefits to the interconnected community. 19
Work to Date Information gathering Site visits to each WTP Conference calls / meetings with Stakeholders Cornell, City of Ithaca, Southern Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Water Commission (Bolton Point) TCDOH, NYSDOH, NYSDEC 7 options identified and evaluated Feasibility level scope analysis and cost estimates Implementation schedule identified Other factors considered (approvals, benefits, limitations, O&M, etc.) 20
Options Cayuga Lake Source with Mobile Treatment Units Increase Bolton Point WTP Production Capacity Increase Bolton Point Transmission Capacity Optimize City of Ithaca WTP Production Capacity Accelerate Start-up of Membrane Skids at City of Ithaca WTP Modify existing Membrane Skids at City of Ithaca WTP Access Sixty Foot Reservoir Supply at City of Ithaca 21
Feasibility Evaluation of Alternatives for Additional Water Supply -------- Matrix 22
October brought much needed rain and returned stream levels to normal! They have maintained normal to above normal since.
Long Range Forecast Drought possibilities? Mixed messages from National Weather Service Drought of 2016 was nothing compared to drought in mid 60s Predictability relatively accurate out one month Many factors: El Niño, La Niña, Ocean signals, atmospheric signals, winter snowfall Ex. Winter snowfalls with 35%-130% of normal had subsequent droughts 2017 trending toward El Niño by most models 3 month outlook warmer than normal, with normal precip Wet pattern June-September More research needed; tracking patterns difficult and complex Climate Prediction Center states, likely improvements in next 3 months and continuing onward. Cornell and neighboring purveyors are monitoring as usual and ready to respond if conditions warrant restrictions or action!
-12.15 as of 4/4/17 and still rising
Average snowfall 16/17 Month Avg Temp Snowfall Normal Dec 28.6 16.2 12.6 Jan 28.9 8.9 17.6 Feb 32.6 11.0 14.2 Mar 28.0 20.4 11.7 Total = 56.5 56.1 Ground is saturated.
Summary Three water systems will continue to discuss options for cooperation during times of emergency, maintenance, and lacking source water supply. Draft new agreements and cooperate on projects if possible. Intermunicipal cooperation occurred at operational levels, at administrative levels, and at political levels to get through the drought of 2016
Questions or comments?