Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-104-09/16/2003-ADOPTING A WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND MANAGEMENT POLICY RESOLUTION 2003-104 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS ADOPTING A WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND MANAGEMENT POLICY WHEREAS,a Water Supply Policy was adopted by the City Council in December 1988 to help direct the acquisition, development, and management of the City's water supplies since that time; and WHEREAS, a Water Demand Management Policy was adopted by the City Council in April 1992, which set water use goals and provided for measures to help meet those goals; and WHEREAS, there is a need to update the water supply and demand management policies to provide guidance regarding the future development and use of the City's water supplies; and WHEREAS,the Council has requested that staff develop an integrated water supply and demand management policy; and WHEREAS, the Fort Collins Water Supply and Demand Management Policy attached hereto as Exhibit"A"and incorporated herein by this reference has been developed over the last several years through discussions with interested citizens, groups, the Water Board and City Council. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS that the City Council hereby adopts the Fort Collins Water Supply and Demand Management Policy attached hereto, to provide general criteria for City decision making regarding water supply projects, acquisition of water rights, and demand management measures. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins held this 16th day of September, A.D. 2003. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk EXHIBIT "A" Fort Collins Water Supply and Demand Management Policy September 16, 2003 Policy Objective: To provide a sustainable and integrated approach to (1) providing an adequate and reliable supply of water for the beneficial use by customers and the community and (2) managing the level of demand and the efficient use of a scarce and valuable resource. 1. Demand Management a. Water Use Goals. The City will implement the necessary water conservation practices and programs to reduce its water use to an average of 185 gallons per capita per day (gpcd) by the year 2010. In addition, the per capita peak daily demand will be reduced to 475 gpcd by the year 2010. These calculations are based on the total treated water produced for use by City customers (adjusted for large contractual customers and other sales or exchange arrangements) divided by the estimated population of the City's water service area. b. Educational Programs. The City will have a continuous, comprehensive and visible public education program that helps citizens and businesses use water appropriately and efficiently. Examples of such programs include (1) working with the schools to provide water conservation education, (2)promoting the use of xeriscape landscaping for public facilities, businesses, homeowners, and others, (3) helping the public to understand and utilize evapo-transpiration information in determining their irrigation applications, and (4) educating water users on the operation of sprinkler system controllers. C. Rate Structures. The City will have water rate structures for all classes of customers that provide an economic incentive to use water efficiently. Examples of structures that may be utilized include (1) tiered structures with increasing prices as water use increases, (2) seasonal blocks with higher rates during the irrigation season, (3) water budget approaches based on appropriate targets for individual customers, and (4) flat rate structures. d. Incentive Programs. When determined to be cost effective, the City will implement incentive programs that will assist customers in replacing outdated plumbing fixtures or landscape features that use excessive amounts of water. Examples for reducing indoor use are rebates for replacing showerheads, toilets and clothes washers with water conserving models. Examples for reducing outdoor use include rebates for expenses related to irrigation scheduling equipment and converting landscape to xeriscape. e. Regulatory Measures. The City will maintain and/or adopt regulations that promote water efficiency and reduction of water waste while recognizing the benefits of adequate water to maintain an attractive and pleasant environment in the City. Examples include regulations that require the amendment of soils with organic materials and prohibition of homeowner associations banning the use of xeriscape. The City will also review its Land Use Code for potential revisions which would limit bluegrass turf on new landscapes and prohibit landscaping that requires irrigation in certain areas such as medians, thin strips, and other small areas. f. Operational Measures. The City will establish practices and procedures to deliver and use water in its facilities without excessive losses. Examples of such practices are the leak detection program to reduce losses through the Utility's water distribution system and the recycling of backwash water at the Water Treatment Facility. 2. Water Supply for Municipal Use a. Drought Criteria. The reliability of the Fort Collins water supply should be maintained to meet at least the 1-in-50 year drought event in the Cache la Poudre River Basin. Water rights and storage capacity should be acquired ahead of the time it is needed to meet at least the 1-in-50 year drought criteria, so as to provide enough time to seek and obtain water court decrees and diversion or storage facilities, if needed, to use such water. b. Raw Water Requirements (RWR). The City shall require developers to turn over water rights, or cash in-lieu-of water rights, such that the total water supply available for municipal purposes is adequate to meet or exceed a 1-in-50 year drought over the long term. Cash collected shall be used to purchase additional water rights, acquire or develop additional storage capacity, or enter into other arrangements that will increase the long-term reliability of the City's supply system. C. Storage Canacitk The City will pursue the acquisition or development of storage capacity which is needed to manage the City's water rights in an efficient and effective manner and which will enhance the City's ability to get through at least a 1-in-50 year drought. New storage capacity in the range of 12,500 to 14,000 acre- feet shall be pursued to (1) help meet return flow obligations incurred from transfers of water rights from agricultural use to municipal use, (2) provide carryover water from wet years to dry years, and (3) provide operational flexibility, some redundancy and reliability. Storage options include the enlargement of Halligan Reservoir, the development of local gravel pits into storage ponds, the acquisition of storage capacity in new or existing reservoirs, or some combination of the above. d. Use of Existing Supplies. The City will use its existing supplies to meet municipal obligations with the following priorities: (1) to meet water demands by the City's treated water customers, and (2) to meet raw water needs in the City and to meet other obligations of the City. Raw water needs include use for such purposes as irrigation of City parks, golf courses, cemeteries, and other greenbelt areas. Other raw water obligations include primarily water transfers to other entities because of agreements or exchanges made to manage the water supply system more effectively. Water not needed for the above purposes is referred to as surplus water and may be made available to others in accordance with decrees and other policies that may apply. 3. Water Supply Shortage Response Plan The City will maintain a plan for responding to situations where there are projected water supply shortages, either because of severe drought conditions or because of disruptions in the raw water delivery system. This plan may include measures to temporarily reduce water use through media campaigns, various regulations, restrictions, rate adjustments and others. The plan may also include provisions to temporarily supplement the supply through interruptible water supply contracts, leases, exchanges and operational measures. 4. Use of Surplus Raw Water To the extent the City has surplus raw water available after meeting the needs of its treated water customers and meeting other raw water obligations, it will make water available to entities or individuals at a fair rental market price that helps offset the City's cost of owning such supplies. Other objectives or uses of the surplus water include, in no particular order, providing irrigation water to farmers to provide for the continued production of agricultural crops in the Cache la Poudre River Basin and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, helping maintain open space and natural areas supported by Fort Collins, and providing for other uses as opportunities arise. 5. Regional Cooperation a. Working with Other Municipal Providers. The City will continue to work with the water suppliers throughout the Northern Colorado Front Range to assure that adequate supplies are maintained in the region. When benefits are identified, the City will cooperate with area entities in studying, building, and sharing capacity of water transmission lines, distribution systems, and storage reservoirs. Entities in this area that have many common interests with the City and which the City has the potential to cooperate with include the Soldier Canyon Filter Plant and the associated water districts, the City of Greeley and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. In particular, the City should work closely with water districts that serve Fort Collins residents to encourage similar policies regarding drought protection and to provide mutual assistance during emergency situations. b. Working with Local Irrigation Companies. The City will continue to cooperate with local irrigation companies regarding the transfer, exchange and use of water in the Cache la Poudre River Basin. As a major shareholder in many of the local irrigation companies, it is necessary and desirable that the City work closely with these companies. C. Transferring Water Rights from Agricultural to Municipal Use The City will periodically transfer its water rights from agricultural use to municipal use on those shares that come from areas upon which the City is growing, or from shares where the irrigation of such lands has ceased. For water rights that were derived from irrigated agricultural lands that remain in viable agricultural areas, the City may transfer these water rights to municipal use when a need is identified or other factors make it prudent to do so. To the extent that this water remains surplus to the City's need, the City will continue to support the local agricultural economy by renting this surplus agricultural water back to irrigators under the respective irrigation companies. 6. Raw Water Quality The City will take a proactive role in protecting the quality of water in the various watersheds from which the City's raw water is derived. The acquisition, development, and management of the City's raw water will be consistent with the City's Drinking Water Quality Policy and other applicable policies related to watershed protection. 7. Stream Flow and Ecosystem Protection To the extent the City's use of its water rights and water resources are not adversely affected, the City will cooperate with other local groups or agencies to encourage flows in local streams to protect the ecosystem, in accordance with Colorado water law and the administration of water rights in Colorado. 8. Recreational/Aesthetic Flows To the extent the City's use of its water rights and water resources are not adversely affected, the City will cooperate with other local groups or agencies to explore projects or measures that would provide flows in streams and water in reservoirs for recreational and aesthetic purposes, in accordance with Colorado water law and the administration of water rights in Colorado.