Orange County Utilities Water Conservation Program Saving Water

Orange County Utilities Water Conservation Program Saving Water for the Future Presented to: Orange County Board of County Commissioners April 1, 2008

Water Conservation § Background § Customer Water Usage Profiles § Program Overview § Conservation Ordinance § Landscape Ordinance § New Programs and Projects § Water Rates § Summary

Background Water Resources Program Reclaimed Water Groundwater Supply Conservation Surface Water Supply Stormwater Aquifer Recharge

Background Water Conservation Program § Water conservation program since late 1980 s § Both breadth and budget of program steadily grown over time – – – Originally rate-based Passed Ordinance in 1993 Now, incentive, education, and regulation based with multiple initiatives § 4 full-time staff § FY 08 Budget - $1. 6 million

Background Water Conservation Program § Water Management District requirements for Public Water Supply – – – System Audit Meter Survey Leak Detection Audit if >10% UAW Meter Replacement Program Education Program Rate Structure promoting conservation § Orange County Utilities program goes beyond the minimum requirements set by the Water Management Districts

Background Program Objectives § Modify behaviors and practices to lead to more efficient water use § Improve and/or take advantage of new technologies to reduce water consumption § Three components – – – Education programs Incentive programs Regulatory programs Education Incentive Regulatory

Water Conservation § Background § Customer Water Usage Profiles § Program Overview § Conservation Ordinance § Landscape Ordinance § New Programs and Projects § Commercial Water Rates § Summary

Water Use Profile Connections by Classification § Over 140, 000 water connections – – 96% of connections are residential 4% of connections are commercial

Water Use Profile Water Use by Classification § Customer Water Use by Classification – – Residential water use is 80% Commercial water use is 20%

Water Use Profile Comparison of Accounts and Use § Comparison of connections versus water use by service area – – Water Use by Service Area East West Southwest Connections by Service Area

Water Use Profile By Lot Size

Water Use Profile Per Capita Water Usage 130 GPD/capita

Water Use Profile Multi-Year Comparison

Water Use Profile Per Capita Comparison

Summary Water Use Profiles § Largest customer classification and water usage is residential customers § More than 50% of residential water use is for irrigation § Newer construction typically uses more water than older construction § Water use increases with lot size § The West and South Service areas have 41% of the accounts but represent 57% of the water demand

Water Conservation § Background § Customer Water Usage Profiles § Program Overview § Conservation Ordinance § Landscape Ordinance § New Programs and Projects § Commercial Water Rates § Summary

Program Overview Education Programs

Program Overview Education Programs School Programs § Blue Thumb Junior Detective Program for elementary school students since 1993 § Touring the Water Facts Program for middle school students since 2003 – Partnership with the Orlando Science Center § The Wonder of Water Program for high school students 2007

Program Overview Education Programs School Programs § Waterwise Resource Action Program – Uses a school-based method that builds • student knowledge • provides high efficiency devices to families • serves as an effective community outreach program

Program Overview Education Programs School Program § Water Color Project – – Partnership with Orlando Utilities Commission Water conservation art-themed program • High School Students (Barrels) • Elementary Students (Calendars)

Program Overview Education Programs § Millions of residents reached through media partnerships – – Orange TV programming SJRWMD “Florida’s Water - It’s Worth Saving” campaign Radio Disney campaign Florida’s Water Wealth for Our Future

Program Overview Education Programs § Thousands of residents reached through local outreach programs – – Homeowners Associations and civic group presentations Florida Friendly landscaping seminars ‘How-To-Clinics’ at home improvement centers Displays and presentations at local libraries

Program Overview Education Programs § Other Information Sites – – Conservation Hot Line Web Site Information Messages on water bills Inserts in water bills

Program Overview Education Programs § Florida Friendly Landscape Gardens – – – West Orange Trail Butterfly garden Elementary and middle school demonstration gardens Orange County Administration Building Florida Friendly garden

Program Overview Incentive Programs § Toilet retrofit programs – – Replacement of high-flow toilets (typically 5 to 7 gal/flush) Installation of low-flow toilets Over 2, 200 toilets since 2003 Estimated water savings 19 million gallons

Program Overview Incentive Programs § Pre-rinse Spray Valve Program – – Replacement of valves using 5 to 7 gallons/minute Installation of 1. 6 gallons/minute valves 285 valves since 2007 Estimated water savings 48 million gallons

Program Overview Incentive Programs § Mobile Irrigation Laboratory – – Evaluation of customer irrigation systems Over 600 audits since 2000 Recommendations for improving system efficiency Estimated water savings 31 million gallons

Program Overview Incentive Programs § Low-flow fixture Program – – Replacement of high-flow fixtures Low-flow fixture kit with showerhead, aerators and toilet tank displacement bag Over 2700 kits since 2003 Estimated water savings 19 million gallons

Program Overview Regulatory Programs § Mandatory irrigation restrictions currently: – 2 days per week • Citizen chooses the days – – No watering between 10: 00 am and 4: 00 pm Operable rain sensor

Program Overview Regulatory Programs § Water Watch Enforcement Program – – Door hangers and written notifications to customers violating the ordinance 5 dedicated Water Watch officers Over 43, 000 violations since 2001 Cases to Code Enforcement and Special Master Hearing

Program Overview Reclaimed Water • 100% beneficial reuse since 1985 for irrigation, industrial, wetlands and recharge • 51 mgd in 2006 • Largest reuse program in Florida • Reclaimed water used for irrigation is a direct off-set of potable water use • 18 mgd for public and agricultural irrigation

Water Conservation § Background § Customer Water Usage Profiles § Program Overview § Conservation Ordinance § Landscape Ordinance § New Programs and Projects § Commercial Water Rates § Summary

Program Improvements Conservation Ordinances § Conservation Ordinance – – 1993 Orange County ordinance is dated Outdoor water use in Orange County • New conservation measures offer increased savings – Conflicting district rules • SJRWMD March 2006 “U-pick” 2 days/week rule • SFWMD proposed 3 -days/week rule

Program Improvements Conservation Ordinance § Year-round, maximum two-day-per-week irrigation schedule: – Odd (Wednesday and Saturday) – Even and common areas (Thursday and Sunday) § Irrigation by spray, rotor or sprinkler limited to max 30 minutes per zone, max 1 -inch/week § Only one form of irrigation allowed per area § Rain sensors as required by Florida law (1991) must be working

Program Improvements Conservation Ordinance § Over watering is common–and bad for lawn and landscape health. Most turf and plant diseases are from root rot and fungus § Many Florida lawns and landscapes would thrive better on less than 2 days/week watering § Voluntary irrigation schedules don’t save water § Mandatory outdoor restrictions achieve reliable and permanent water savings

Water Conservation § Background § Customer Water Usage Profiles § Program Overview § Conservation Ordinance § Landscape Ordinance § New Programs and Projects § Commercial Water Rates § Summary

Program Improvements Landscape Ordinance § To promote the values and benefits of water efficient landscaping § Seven areas need to be addressed – – – – Planning and Design Soil Analysis Appropriate Plant Selection Practical Turf Areas, restriction in size of turf areas Efficient Irrigation Use of Mulches Appropriate Maintenance § Will ensure more efficient water use

Program Improvements Landscape Ordinance Potential 30% Water Savings

Water Conservation § Background § Customer Water Usage Profiles § Program Overview § Conservation Ordinance § Landscape Ordinance § New Programs and Projects § Commercial Water Rates § Summary

New Programs and Projects § Blue Ribbon Neighborhood Program – Kickoff in 2008 § Study on use of evapo-transpiration systems and moisture sensors – Working with University of Florida § Stakeholder Group Projects – – Large Property Irrigation Focus Group Home Builders Association Florida Irrigation Society OC Homeowners Association

New Programs and Projects § Opportunities to use reclaimed water for commercial toilets Toilet flushing estimated to be 80% of water use in commercial buildings – Processing plans for new commercial building with estimated potable water savings of 10 million gallons per year – Will require special provisions to ensure backflow prevention and signage to meet FDEP –

Water Conservation § Background § Customer Water Usage Profiles § Program Overview § Conservation Ordinance § Landscape Ordinance § New Programs and Projects § Water Rates § Summary

Water Rates § Water Rates and Conservation – Increased conservation is a cornerstone of the Water Resources Program Use – Water conserving rate structures and higher prices signals are components of the Conservation Program Price

Water Rates § Recent focus has been on residential water rates Apply to 96% of our customers – These customers use 80% of water – Increasing block rate structure – • Promotes conservation

Water Rates § Commercial Water Rates Apply to 4% of our customers – These customers use 20% of water – Uniform base rate for all water used – • Does not promote conservation

Water Rates § Residential Rates – Volume Charge 0 – 3, 000 gallons 4, 000 – 10, 000 gallons 11, 000 – 20, 000 gallons 21, 000 – 30, 000 gallons Above 30, 000 gallons $0. 95 per 1, 000 $1. 27 per 1, 000 $2. 52 per 1, 000 $4. 26 per 1, 000 $7. 21 per 1, 000 § Commercial Rates – Volume Charge 0 – 3, 000 gallons 4, 000 +gallons $0. 95 per 1, 000 $1. 27 per 1, 000

Water Rates § Commercial Rate Challenges – Commercial customers have a wide range of consumption patterns depending on the nature of their business – Difficult to determine how much of their indoor usage is discretionary – Irrigation is discretionary

Water Rates § Focus on implementation of a conservation rate structure for commercial irrigation meters – Introduces conservation rates to commercial customers – Targets discretionary use of water – Does not adversely impact the non-discretionary water use § Consider applying similar concept to residential irrigation meters

Water Rates § Remove lifeline rate for commercial customers § Develop a new structure and pricing for irrigation meter customers for FY 09 § Review all other water rate structures and pricing and consider adjustments for FY 09 § Work session prior to July

Water Conservation § Background § Customer Water Usage Profiles § Program Overview § Conservation Ordinance § Landscape Ordinance § New Programs and Projects § Commercial Water Rates § Summary

Summary § We have done much to promote water conservation and reduce per capita consumption – – Education Incentives Regulatory Reclaimed Water § Increasing investment in conservation – – – FY 07 $1. 1 million FY 08 $1. 6 million FY 09 $2. 0 million § We are effecting change in water use

Summary § We need to do more – – – – Ordinances Policies Water Management Districts Analyze existing programs Best Practices Staff Budget Water Rates

Summary § Water Conservation Master Plan – – – Conservation Ordinance Landscape Ordinance Water Rates Reclaimed Water Resources Marketing Plan § We will continue to effect change in water use

Orange County Utilities Water Conservation Program Saving Water for the Future Presented to: Orange County Board of County Commissioners April 1, 2008