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Home My WebLink AboutMemo - Mail Packet - 8/16/2016 - Memorandum From Lisa Rosintoski, Liesel Hans Re: Water Conservation Annual Report 2015Utilities electric · stormwater · wastewater · water 700 Wood Street PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221.6700 970.221.6619 – fax 970.224.6003 – TDD utilities@fcgov.com fcgov.com/utilities M E M O R A N D U M DATE: July 28, 2016 TO: Mayor Troxell and City Councilmembers THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager Kevin R. Gertig, Utilities Executive Director FROM: Lisa Rosintoski, Customer Connections Manager Liesel Hans, Water Conservation Manager RE: Water Conservation Annual Report 2015 The City’s Water Conservation Plan guides the water conservation program with measures for public education, incentives, assessments and regulations. The 2010 plan set a water use goal to reduce Utilities’ water service area use to 140 gallons per capita per day (gpcd) by 2020. The newly adopted Water Efficiency Plan, approved by Council on March 1, 2016, set a new goal of 130 gpcd by 2030. This 2015 Annual Report provides an update on the provisions of the water conservation planning efforts, including a review of accomplishments, activities and water use. In 2015, the water use in the Utilities’ water service area was estimated to be 141 gpcd, which was slightly higher than 139 gpcd in 2014. The 5-year average from 2010 to 2014, however, was about 147 gpcd. Total water savings from water conservation programs were estimated to be about 50 million gallons in 2015. This update, along with a new infographic illustrating information from the Annual Report, was shared with the Water Board at their July 21 st meeting. For more information, please contact Liesel Hans, Water Conservation Program Manager, at 221-6877 or lhans@fcgov.com. DocuSign Envelope ID: 8C32883E-11DB-4A9F-9B8C-DF8E49C21487 DocuSign Envelope ID: 8C32883E-11DB-4A9F-9B8C-DF8E49C21487 2015 Water Conservation Annual Report | 1 Meet the Water Conservation Team Laurie D’Audney former Water Conservation Manager (retired June 2015) Liesel Hans Water Conservation Manager (started August 2015) Renee Davis Water Conservation Specialist Eric Olson Water Conservation Coordinator Cindy Burge Horticulturalist Seasonal Sprinkler Auditors Lea Pace Matt Weyer Evan Flemming Allison Wickham Caleb Harrison Raquel Fuentes Cover photos (top to bottom, left to right): The Xeriscape Garden Party, a sprinkler gauge, water-wise Pink Ice flowers and the 2015 Watershed Tour Introduction The 24th Water Conservation Annual Report is prepared for the Fort Collins City Council and the Fort Collins Utilities water service area. This report includes accomplishments, information on water use in the Utilities service area and an update on the provisions of Utilities’ Water Conservation Plan. Utilities’ Water Conservation Program is a proactive response to the increasing demands for water, the natural variability of water supplies and the projected impacts of climate change on the water supply. The Water Conservation Team offers a comprehensive portfolio of programs that provides resources and education for the community to achieve sustained reductions in water use. Programs include incentives for efficient landscapes, technology, appliances and fixtures, leak detection and reduction efforts, education and outreach, as well as foundational activities like building and land use codes and other regulations. Water efficiency means doing more with less – not without. Utilities strives to ensure that water resources are used for beneficial purposes and not wasted. These efforts help reduce the long-term costs of water supply and meet the demands of current and future customers. The Water Conservation Team learning about turf. DocuSign Envelope ID: 8C32883E-11DB-4A9F-9B8C-DF8E49C21487 2015 Water Conservation Annual Report | 2 What Do We Do? Educate and Inform Education, information and outreach are the foundation of Utilities’ Water Conservation programs. Events and programs raise awareness for residents, businesses and children about how and why to be water-efficient. Staff provide in person guidance, including facility assessments for commercial and residential programs, as well as Utilities’ popular free sprinkler audit program. In addition to the communitywide campaigns, customized information is provided through the leak detection program, Home Water Reports and Utilities’ online Monitor My Use tool. Incentivize and Motivate Utilities offers rebates for installing water efficient fixtures, appliances and irrigation equipment. This motivates customers to choose the most efficient options and replace old, inefficient models sooner than they might have otherwise. Staff continually evaluate these efforts and create new opportunities. For example, the newly revamped Xeriscape Incentive Program provides guidance and rebates for installing a water-efficient landscape at residential sites. Develop and Support Regulations and Codes Regulations ensure a minimum level of efficiency for both indoor and outdoor water use. Water Conservation staff review and inspect irrigation plans and sites, ensuring that new developments meet the water efficiency standards set out in the Land Use code. This includes keeping an eye on upcoming regulations, like graywater and rain barrels. Participate in Communitywide Partnerships Coordination and partnering with other City departments and community organizations maximizes the effectiveness and reach of Water Conservation programs. For example, Utilities partners with the Gardens on Spring Creek to develop and support their spring education series. Participate at State and Federal Level The Water Conservation Team participates in state and federal organizations focused on water efficiency, including Colorado WaterWise, the Alliance for Water Efficiency, the Irrigation Association and more. Did you know? Water efficiency is cheaper than buying new supplies. Efficiency programs cost less than a penny per gallon saved annually (even less over the lifetime of action), while new water supplies can cost up to 15 cents per gallon. DocuSign Envelope ID: 8C32883E-11DB-4A9F-9B8C-DF8E49C21487 2015 Water Conservation Annual Report | 3 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030 Water use in gallons per capita per day (GPCD) Water Conservation Milestones and Goals 2010 Goal: 140 GPCD by 2020 2015 Goal: 130 GPCD by 2030 Surge of conservation activities in reaction to the 2001-03 Drought Water Conservation Planning The 2010 Water Conservation Plan was approved by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) in compliance with the state’s Water Conservation Act of 2004, which requires all water providers that deliver over 2,000 acre-feet of water to submit a plan outlining conservation goals and the specific measures to achieve those goals at least every seven years. The 2010 plan set a goal to reduce community water use to 140 gallons per capita per day (GPCD) by 2020. Water use in 2015 was 141 GPCD. In early 2015, the Water Conservation Team began developing an updated plan that the CWCB now refers to as a Water Efficiency Plan. Water Conservation staff recruited cross-departmental City staff along with members of the City Water Board to create a 2015 Water Conservation Annual Report | 4 Water Use Total treated water use was about 7.6 billion gallons, which was only 97 percent of the projected demand. This was, in part, due to a very wet spring. Nearly 8 inches of precipitation fell in May and June. As a result, water use in these months was 26 percent lower than projected demand and 27 percent less than water use in May and June 2014. Fort Collins experienced a warmer, drier September resulting in the water use being 19 percent higher than expected and 33 percent higher than during September 2014. The average maximum temperature for September was 83 degrees in 2015 while it was only 78 degrees in 2014. The highest daily water demand occurred July 29 with over 40 million gallons used. As a comparison, the average demand is just less than 21 million gallons per day. Did you know? It is illegal to waste water in Fort Collins. Water Conservation staff followed up and resolved 43 instances of reported water wasting. Sprinkler Auditors assess homeowners’ sprinkler systems and advise clients on how to address issues that result in wasting water. DocuSign Envelope ID: 8C32883E-11DB-4A9F-9B8C-DF8E49C21487 2015 Water Conservation Annual Report | 5 How Are We Doing? The 2010 goal to reduce Utilities’ water service area use to 140 GPCD is well within reach. For the past five years, water use has been very close to the goal. In 2014, Fort Collins surpassed the goal, but in 2012, the year of the High Park fire, water use was much higher. Water Savings from Water Conservation Programs: Total water savings from water conservation programs was estimated at about 50 million gallons. As a comparison, total water savings in 2014 was only 27.2 million gallons. The additional savings are due to:  Improved tracking and evaluation of conservation efforts  Commercial customers taking on more efficiency projects  More direct installs (rather than only recommendations) during home efficiency audits  New programs and projects o Home Water Reports o Continuous Consumption Program (leak detection and outreach)  Peak Partners showerhead replacement efforts, a Water-Energy Nexus initiative 146 141 166 142 139 141 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Fort Collins Utilities Service Area Water Use Gallons per Capital per Day (GPCD) 2010 Water Conservation Goal of 140 GPCD by 2020 Did you know? Water use in 2015 was 141 GPCD for Utilities’ water service area, down over 33 percent from the 2000 GPCD of 212. Water-Energy Nexus Many water efficiency efforts also reduce the City’s electricity use by decreasing use of heated water. In 2015, the community avoided over 933 Megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity use – the annual electricity use of over 99 homes. This equates to 700 metric tons of avoided carbon emissions. DocuSign Envelope ID: 8C32883E-11DB-4A9F-9B8C-DF8E49C21487 2015 Water Conservation Annual Report | 6 Did you know? Over 15,000 Fort Collins residents received Home Water Reports that provide engaging, customized information about their water use. These customers reduced their use by an average of 2.2 percent. This resulted in 65 acre-feet of savings in 2015, or about 20 million gallons of water and the average annual use of 240 single-family homes. 27,486 2,272 2,251 1,242 214 2015 Accounts Served Single Family Commercial Multi Family Duplex City Government Water Use by Sector Utilities also provides treated water to West Fort Collins Water District and about 1,000 residential customers outside of Fort Collins city limits. 3,128.8 2,252.1 1,000.5 125.2 119.6 2015 Water Use (million gallons) Commercial Single Family Duplex Multi Family City Government DocuSign Envelope ID: 8C32883E-11DB-4A9F-9B8C-DF8E49C21487 2015 Water Conservation Annual Report | 7 Before and after photos of a Xeriscape project – Xeriscape reduces yard maintenance and lowers outdoor water use 30 to 50 percent. Did you know? Residential water use in Utilities’ service area was estimated at 73 GPCD in 2015, down 42 percent from 2000. Water Use: Indoor vs. Outdoor Using average winter water use levels as an estimate for average indoor use, we can estimate how much water is applied outdoors. In the hottest and driest months of the summer, Fort Collins uses around 60 percent of all treated water outdoors. Average daily water use in the summer is about 30 million gallons each day; by comparison, only 14 million gallons are typically used on an average day in December. 6% 18% 18% 43% 58% 63% 59% 34% 6% Estimated Indoor vs. Outdoor Water Use Indoor Outdoor DocuSign Envelope ID: 8C32883E-11DB-4A9F-9B8C-DF8E49C21487 2015 Water Conservation Annual Report | 8 Did you know? The savings from water conservation programs (about 50 million gallons in 2015) is enough to provide water for 610 homes in Fort Collins. How Did the Community Save in 2015?  More than 400 homeowners volunteered for free sprinkler system audits, reducing outdoor water waste while keeping Fort Collins beautiful.  45 ClimateWise partners earned a water badge, by implementing 71 water-saving strategies. The most popular strategy was a simple one: ensuring that hand-washing sinks have an efficient aerator installed, reducing flow to only 0.5 gallons per minute.  28 customers installed water-wise landscapes, which provide year-round interest and require less water.  More than 1,000 customers were contacted via the Continuous Consumption program. This new service helps customers track down leaks, reduce water waste, save money and fix issues that would otherwise go unnoticed or cause significant property damage.  Water Conservation staff reviewed 84 new construction landscape plans and 78 irrigation plans and inspected 82 sites. This helps outdoor water use be efficient on new properties from the start.  About 2,030 customers signed up for Monitor My Use, an online tool to help understand utility bills, use patterns and how to save water and money. More than 300 of these customers are taking advantage of the alert features to warn them about exceeding their budget or an unusual spike in usage.  The City replaced all the Northside Aztlan Recreation Center toilets and urinals with high-efficiency fixtures in early 2015, which reduced water use by 122,400 gallons as compared to 2014.  More than 3,000 people attended a variety of classes and events, and the community completed about 4,500 efficiency projects. o This includes installation of: 1,047 aerators, 1,023 toilets/urinals, 1,688 showerheads, 1,385 clothes washers/dishwashers and 498 pieces of irrigation equipment.  More than 100 customers asked for help and were provided technical assistance on a variety of outdoor equipment issues. Fort Collins residents learn about water-wise landscapes. Did you know? Water efficiency programs generate $3.5 million in local economic benefits 2015 Water Conservation Annual Report | 9 Where Did You See Us?  Poudre Runs Through It  High Plains Landscape Workshop  Fix-a-Leak Week  CityWorks  Residential Environmental Program Series  City Contractor Training Series  Gardens on Spring Creek Classes  Earth Day  Northern Water Conservation Fair  Children’s Water Festival  EnviroVation – a celebration of ClimateWise partners’ achievements  Big Splash – a celebration of history at the old Fort Collins Water Works  Watershed Bus Tours  National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation  Xeriscape Demonstration Garden Party  Sustainable Living Fair  Colorado WaterWise Conservation Summit  WaterSmart Innovations Conference  Irrigation Association Annual Show and Conference Did you know? The Xeriscape Demonstration Garden at City Hall, the second ever in the world, was built in 1986 after Denver Water's first demonstration garden. The garden is open to the public and demonstrates attractive, water-saving landscapes. Water Efficiency Saves Money Water conservation is the most cost-effective water resource. Sustained water savings allows Utilities to avoid or delay long-term capital expenses; e.g., sustained conservation means that treatment facilities and other infrastructure do not need to be as large and will cost less. As a result:  The Halligan Water Supply Storage project does not need to be as big as originally thought, which results in $6 million in avoided costs.  The Water Treatment facility was built for a larger average demand; the excess capacity now is rented to other water providers, which results in millions of dollars of revenue each year. The Water Conservation Team hosts several events and booths throughout the year, like this one at the Poudre Runs Through It. DocuSign Envelope ID: 8C32883E-11DB-4A9F-9B8C-DF8E49C21487 2015 Water Conservation Annual Report | 10 Community Partnership Highlights Net Zero Water The Water Conservation Team sponsored research related to a new concept called “Net Zero Water” (NZW). NZW is a concept that aims to change the way water resources are managed; it focuses on making water resource planning decisions based on local conditions rather than targeting historical demand and allowing water quality impacts to flow downstream. The NZW concept helps individuals and organizations become water neutral – using only as much water as falls on a site and eliminating all water quality impacts from the site. Water Conservation’s sponsorship helped with the development of a free NZW Building-Scale Toolkit. It is a user-friendly, Microsoft Excel®-based analysis tool and companion guidebook designed to help users identify their water quality impact and evaluate opportunities to reduce water consumption. The toolkit is available for free download at: BrendleGroup.com/Water/NetZeroWater/BuildingToolkit. Toilet Recycling In 2015, 986 toilets were recycled, diverting tons of porcelain from the landfill. The program is a partnership between the Utilities, Environmental Services and Streets departments. Customers dropped off their high water-using toilets at the City’s Hoffman Mill facility and the Streets Department crushed them into road base. Customers who replaced their toilets with qualifying models were eligible to receive a $50 to $75 rebate. Xeriscape The Water Conservation Team partnered with United Way of Larimer County to renovate a portion of their outdoor space to reduce water use. Over 1,900 square-feet around the building was designed with low water using plants and creative use of mulch and river rocks. The area also helps to manage stormwater run-off from the building. The renovated area faces the bike trail, helping to create a beautiful landscape for people to enjoy. Finished Xeriscape project at United Way of Larimer County. Toilet Recycling Bin at the City Streets Facility. DocuSign Envelope ID: 8C32883E-11DB-4A9F-9B8C-DF8E49C21487 2015 Water Conservation Annual Report | 11 Learn more at: fcgov.com/conserve fcgov.com/water-efficiency-plan Auxiliary aids and services are available for persons with disabilities. V/TDD 711 DocuSign Envelope ID: 8C32883E-11DB-4A9F-9B8C-DF8E49C21487 WATER 2015 CONSERVATION REPORT Cultivate a water efﬁcient, adaptive, and knowledgeable customer base through education and cost-effective water efﬁciency programs while supporting the City’s Strategic Plan and its social, environmental and economic health. The City of Fort Collins Utilities has a strong commitment to ensure the efﬁcient use of its natural resources. The Utilities’ Water Conservation Program is nearly 40 years in the making and has resulted in lower per capita water use, even as population has grown signiﬁcantly. These programs have beneﬁted customers and Utilities by delaying or avoiding signiﬁcant capital costs through reduced water bills. Find out more at fcgov.com/water-efﬁciency-plan fcgov.com/conserve Residential customers used 73 GALLONS PER PERSON PER DAY, on average Water conservation programs saved about which is equal to water use of 610 single-family homes in Fort Collins. engaged customers thousands of times throughout the year, with over people attending a variety of classes and events and about 4,500 EFFICIENCY PROJECTS COMPLETED. Efﬁciency programs cost LESS THAN A PENNY PER GALLON saved annually (even less over the lifetime of the action!) NEW WATER SUPPLIES CAN COST UP TO 15 CENTS PER GALLON. means that treatment facilities and other infrastructure don’t need to be as large and will cost less. The water treatment plant was built for a larger average demand. We now rent the excess capacity to other water providers, which THE COMMUNITY AVOIDED OVER 933 MWh OF ELECTRICITY USE - THE ANNUAL ELECTRICITY USE OF OVER 99 HOMES. in local economic beneﬁts from lowered utility bills and direct rebates. OUR GOAL Our Mission CHEAPER THAN BUYING NEW 50 MILLION 15,000 FORT COLLINS RESIDENTS RECEIVE THE HOME WATER REPORTS, which provide engaging customized information to households. We audited THIS IS ABOUT 20 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER, AND THE AVERAGE ANNUAL USE OF 240 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. Does not include wholesale, customers outside of City limits or system losses. It is illegal to waste water in Fort Collins. Fortunately we have a city full of caring citizens who can be our eyes around town. WE FOLLOWED UP AND RESOLVED 43 INSTANCES OF WASTING WATER. reducing outdoor water waste while keeping Fort Collins beautiful. by millions of gallons by millions of gallons SPRINKLER SYSTEMS REDUCING AN AVERAGE OF 2.2% REBATED & INSTALLED: 1,047 AERATORS 1,023 TOILETS/URINALS 1,688 SHOWERHEADS 1,385 WASHERS/DISHWASHERS 498 IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT GOOD TO KNOW: Auxiliary aids and services are available for persons with disabilities. V/TDD: 711 To read the 2015 Update, visit: fcgov.com/residential-water-efﬁciency LEARN MORE WHERE DOES THE WATER GO? GALLONS PER CAPITA PER DAY 2015 SAVINGS BY PROGRAM AREA TOTAL: 50 MILLION GALLONS 2,252.1 1,000.5 125.2 119.6 3,128.8 GPCD - Gallons per capita per day MWh - Megawatt hours 15K 429 Commercial Single-Family Duplex Multi-Family City Government 0 50 100 150 200 2000 2005 2010 2015 We reached out to over 1,000 RESIDENTS, helping them track down leaks. This new service helps customers REDUCE WASTE, SAVE MONEY AND FIX LEAKS that would have otherwise gone unnoticed or caused signiﬁcant property damage. CONTINUOUS CONSUMPTION Informational Reports 21 12 6 5 3 2 Residential Rebates Commercial Rebates Direct Install Continuous Consumption Audits & Assessments 212 33% SINCE 2000 141 16-1727 DocuSign Envelope ID: 8C32883E-11DB-4A9F-9B8C-DF8E49C21487 SUSTAINED CONSERVATION 42% DOWN SINCE 2000 WATER EFFICIENCY is doing MORE WITH LESS – not doing without WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS GALLONS OF WATER IN 2015 x 610 SAVING EVEN MORE... EXAMPLE: WATER TREATMENT PLANT The Halligan Water Supply Storage project did not need to be as big, which led to $6 MILLION IN AVOIDED COSTS. EXAMPLE: HALLIGAN WATER SUPPLY STORAGE THE XERISCAPE DEMONSTRATION GARDEN EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS GENERATE MILLION $3.5 WATER EFFICIENCY EFFORTS CAN REDUCE ELECTRICITY USE X 3,000 The updated Water Efﬁciency Plan has a goal to reduce use to 130 GALLONS PER CAPITA PER DAY 2030 BY THE YEAR at City Hall was built in 1986 and is the 2nd oldest in the world. 126 GAL 42% METRIC TONS 700 of avoided carbon emissions. This equates to WATER AT WORK ENERGY NEXUS RESULTS IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF REVENUE EACH YEAR. DEMONSTRATES ATTRACTIVE LANDSCAPES THAT SAVE WATER EFFICIENCY IS DocuSign Envelope ID: 8C32883E-11DB-4A9F-9B8C-DF8E49C21487 from lowered utility bills and rebates. DocuSign Envelope ID: 8C32883E-11DB-4A9F-9B8C-DF8E49C21487 technical advisory group that met throughout the summer to discuss key issues, set goals and priorities and review content and materials. Staff presented a draft of the new plan to City Council at the Oct. 13 work session; Council was supportive and indicated they would be ready and willing to approve the plan at an upcoming regular meeting. Following this, staff conducted a public comment period that lasted into early 2016. After incorporating public comment, staff brought the final plan before Council in early 2016 for approval and adoption. Learn more: fcgov.com/water-efficiency-plan. Did you know? The updated Water Efficiency Plan has a goal to reduce water use to 130 GPCD by 2030. The previous 2010 plan set a goal of reducing use to 140 GPCD by 2020, an easily achievable goal. DocuSign Envelope ID: 8C32883E-11DB-4A9F-9B8C-DF8E49C21487