Mike Dexel Water Resources Policy Lead

1
Washingtons Water Use Efficiency RuleThe Wonder
YearsLessons Learned

• Mike DexelWater Resources Policy Lead

2
Mission

• To protect the health of the people of Washington
  Stateby ensuring safeand reliabledrinking
  water.

3
Getting Started (2007-08)

• WUE Guidebook
• Over 30 statewidetrainings
• AWWA presentations

4
National Spotlight

• Washington State continues to be a leader in
  water efficiency.
• Water conservation is a community partnership at
  its best and you are leading the country.
  Saving Water Partnership
• The Department of Health (DOH) is more than a
  regulatory agencyits also a partner.

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New Publications in 2008

• Reduce Leaks Using water audits and leak
  detection surveys
• Ideas on how to comply with leakage standard
• Setting Goals to Use Water Efficiently
• Ideas on how to set goals

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WUE Web Site

• You can post your goal setting meeting at this
  site
• Meets requirement for public notice
• Costs nothing
• Reaches entire state
• http//www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw/programs/wue.htm

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Public Participation

• Low attendance
• Comments made a difference
• Anticipate more involvement
• Annual reminders/education about WUE programs
• Public can monitor progress
• Green movement

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Promoting WaterSense

• Outreach to all Group A water systems (4,200
  total)
• Help educate your customers
• Water Tap
• Water efficient single-family home
• July 2 Informational Web conference call

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Original Goal Language

• Set goals for customers and/or water system
• Tanglewilde 600 Goal (Thurston PUD)
• Reduce unaccounted for water to 10 over next
  six years
• Currently at 44.5 LEAKAGE
• Would result in savings of 85 million gallons per
  year

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Irvin Water District 6

• Maintain 9 or less leakage for six-year water
  plan (2007-13)
• Only goal
• Reduced leakage from 29 in 1999

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Rule Change to Goal Setting

• Consistent with authorizing statute
• WAC 246-290-830(2)
• Water use efficiency goals must be designed to
  enhance the efficient use of water by the water
  systems consumers.
• Clarified the customers role of using water
  efficiently

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Common Misunderstandings

• -830(7) reestablish goals every six years and as
  part of a WSP or SWSMP approval.
• -830(3) justify that further reductions over
  current consumption levels are not reasonably
  achievable

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Annual Performance Report

• 228 systems reporting this year
• 49 received so far
• Two reports due July 1
• Send our form to WUE Program
• Report to your customers (most use CCR)

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The Numbers Leakage Standard

• Median 6.3
• Average 9.0
• Total Volume Water Loss 5.2 billion
• Highest 44.5
• Lowest -2

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The Numbers Goal Setting

• Supply Only 3
• Supply and Demand 24
• Demand Only 14
• No Goal or Inconsistent with WUE Rule (waiting
  until plan update) 6

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More on Goals

• Conservativenot aggressive
• Leakage and meters focused
• ADD or per capita based goals
• Lakehaven Utility District
• Ten-year goal reduce 261 to 235 g/ERU/d
• City of West Richland
• Six-year goal reduce 495 to 455 g/ERU/d

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Redefining Unaccounted for Water (UAFW)

• Leakage isnt UAFW
• Never standardized
• Defined differently
• ALL WATER IS ACCOUNTED FOR
• To understand water loss use
• Distribution system leakage
• Authorized consumption

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Coming to Terms with Leakage

• City of Kennewick
• Thats how DOH wants us to say it
• Orchard Ave Irrigation District
• 20 leakage should read 11, but not allowable

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Authorized Consumption Includes

• Sales to customers
• Maintenance flushing
• Fire fighting
• Cleaning tanks or reservoirs
• Street cleaning
• Unmetered uses MUST BE tracked and estimated

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Where are Those Leaks?

• Majority annual volume of leaks occur on customer
  service piping
• Filter backwash at treatment plant
• Tank overflows
• Meter inaccuracies
• Unmetered facilities (parks, city hall)
• Data transfer, math errors
• Old infrastructure

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What About Volume?

• Percentage isnt the whole story
• Leakage fluctuates with population, water
  efficiency savings
• Reducing water loss is the goaloften better told
  through volume

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Water Loss Control Action Plan

• Documented effort to reduce leakage by
  implementing water loss control methods
• Technical or economical concerns that prevent
  compliance
• Reducing the volume of leaks is more important
  than 10 standard

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Compliance With Leakage Standard

• Four ways to be in compliance
• 10 or less
• Develop and implement a water loss control action
  plan
• 20 or less for 500 connections or less

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General Compliance Strategy

• Ranking criteria to target serious violators
• Focus on impact to water resource
• Water supply characteristics
• Size of system
• Severity of violation
• Directors discretion to issue an Order for WUE
  violation

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Next Steps for DOH

• Database for 2009 WUE reports
• Online reporting only
• Reminder letters for 2009
• Combine with CCR reminders
• Update WUE guidebook
• Example of WUE program for small/medium size
  systems
• Seek out WUE success stories

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What Can We Do Better?

• More guidance?
• Training event?
• On-demand training?
• Better clarification on specific topics?
• Other ideas and suggestions?

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For More Information

• Mike Dexel(360) 236-3154michael.dexel_at_doh.wa.gov
  
• http//www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw/ programs/wue.htm

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• Questions?