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Water Use Efficiency

Water Use Efficiency Program

January 16, 2008

Background.

In 2003, the Washington State Legislature passed the Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1338, commonly known as the Municipal Water Law to address the increasing demand on our state’s water resources. The law established that all water suppliers must use water more efficiently in exchange for water right assurances and flexibility to help them meet future demands. The State Department of Health has been directed to adopt an enforceable Water Use Efficiency (WUE) program intended to achieve a high level of stewardship among all water suppliers, contribute to long-term supply reliability and public health concerns, and ensure efficient operation and management of water systems.

The Water Use Efficiency program became effective on January 22, 2007 and in addition to improving water use efficiency, the program requires annual “Performance Reports” to DOH by water purveyors not later than July 1, and future DOH “Operating Permits” are expected to be affected by the progress (or lack thereof) in achieving efficient water usage according to the reporting data.

Water is a public resource we all share.  As new water sources diminish, the WUE requirements are intended to support through efficient use a common goal of ensuring water for drinking and fire protection to meet future needs.  Benefits of the WUE program include promoting good stewardship of the state’s water resources, and ensuring efficient operation and management of water systems.

MTVE’s Water Use Efficiency Program.

There are a number of key elements needed to establish Mt. View-Edgewood Water Company’s (MTVE’s) individual WUE program. These elements include planning requirements such as establishing long-term forecast demands and data collection, meeting a Distribution System Leakage Standard, and setting goals and reporting performance. We are proud to report we have already met or exceeded all of the required measures in our existing WUE program.  All of our sources of water supply are metered, and every customer connection is metered (including our emergency intertie with the City of Milton).  We also established a bulk water fill point (for commercial water use like Hydroseed Trucks, Street Sweepers, etc.) that is metered, and a water tanker fill point that is also metered.  MTVE exceeds the metering standard with the addition of intermediary distribution system meters which allow precise volume calculations in specific zones (such as in our upper pressure zone).

All municipal water suppliers in Washington are required under the Water Efficiency Ruling to develop a program which will allow them to achieve the goal of attaining a 10% leakage standard.  For the past 6 years MTVE’s policies and procedures have resulted in achieving an 8% leakage standard.

Public Meeting Purpose.

As publicized in the Puyallup Herald newspaper (December 27, 2007) and on our web site, MTVE conducted a public meeting at Fire District #8 on January 16, 2008 at 7 p.m.  This meeting’s purpose was to invite public participation in establishing future goals aimed at ensuring the Water Company’s efficient use of its water resources.

MTVE’s WUE Goals.

MTVE’s current water use efficiency goal is to maintain a 10% or less leakage standard, and to decrease average customer consumption at a rate of 0.25% per year over the next six years. No specific goals are set related to reducing peak day demand. This decision was made due to the volatility of peak day demand as a result of rainfall and temperature conditions. However, efforts directed at larger summer water users should assist in the Company’s efforts to reduce both peak day and average day demand.

Supply Side (MTVE) Water Conservation Measures.

1.  Scheduled Leak detection.  MTVE is proactive in the detection of leaks in our distribution mains and all attached facilities (reservoirs, valves, hydrants, etc.).  We contract professional leak detection services on a scheduled basis.

2.  Purchase and use of leak detection monitors.  MTVE has collaborated with 8 neighboring water companies to purchase a pool of leak detector monitors that we can employ throughout our system to show us the presence of distribution pipe leakage.  When these monitors hear a leak, we hire leak detection professionals to pinpoint the exact location.  These monitors allow early detection of leaks, which prevents very large losses (and small) from distribution mains and is a significant water conservation measure.

3.  We have instituted a policy of Zero Use of hydrants by anyone other than a fire truck.  This has allowed citizens and law enforcement to know when they see someone hooked onto one of our hydrants that the use constitutes theft of water, and law enforcement can stop the perpetrator.  This conserves water that would otherwise be unaccounted.

4.  MTVE Water meter readers use a handheld computer to monitor meter recordings and detect customer leaks in most cases before the homeowner notices.  Our handheld computer detects high readings as soon as the meter reading is entered, and flags the meter as having a possible leak.  Our meter reader then observes the leak detector indicator on the meter to see if it is spinning, and if so we contact the member on the spot and let them know.  This results in rapid correction and saving of water.

5.  MTVE has an active meter replacement program which involves testing of meters, and replacement of aging meters that (due to wear in the measuring chamber) allow passage of water without recording the correct quantity.

6.  MTVE has begun replacement of all manual meters with Automatic Meter Read (AMR) meters.  These conserve water from multiple aspects.  Our AMRs have a leak detection capability that flags the reading and lets us know there is a leak.  By replacing all meters we will be sure to have accurate meters due to the lack of wear.  Most importantly, once all meters are converted we will have the capability to accurately read water consumption system-wide in less than one day, so we can accurately correlate our consumption data to our pumping data.  Discrepancies will be more visible, and discovery of leaks will occur sooner.  Then by deploying leak detection we can locate and correct the leaks more rapidly, resulting in water conservation (and reduced lost revenue).

7.  MTVE takes an aggressive approach to fixing distribution system leaks as quickly as possible to minimize the loss of water.

8.  MTVE has adopted stringent standards that focus on prevention of possible contamination of the distribution system.  This reduces the need for wasting of water to disinfect and flush in excessive quantities.  Examples of our stringent standards include the implementation of a Premises Isolation program which involves installing backflow prevention valves at every service connection; elimination of dead-end mains where possible; shortening of fire hydrant spool lengths; requirement for developers to use pipe with end caps in place from the factory to prevent contamination; and the requirement for stringent purity testing (additional requirement for Heterotrophic Plate Count samples) prior to putting new mains into service.

Demand Side (Customer) Water Conservation Measures.

DOH Publication #331-375 delineates that (based upon our number of connections) we must evaluate or implement 6 Water Use Efficiency Measures that improve customer demand efficiency.  We have long ago implemented more than our required number of measures.  These measures include the following.

1.  Consumption history graph on customer bills for Single Family Residences.

2.  Consumption history graph on customer bills for Multiple Family Residences.

3.  Consumption history graph on customer bills for Commercial Property.

4.  Conservation rates (inclining block rate structure) for Single Family Residences.

5.  Conservation rates (inclining block rate structure) for Multiple Family Residences.

6.  Conservation rates (inclining block rate structure) for Commercial Property.

7.  Customer leak detection education.

8.  Leak repair incentives (we offer leak adjustments upon proof of fixing customer leaks).  This incentive applies to SFR, MFR, and Commercial classes of customers.

9.  Meter replacements.  This includes changing to new meters and to changing meter sizes to more accurately match fixture counts and demand.

10.  Installation of customer side shutoff ball valves.  This allows customer to shutoff water for plumbing repairs without using our angle stop valves (unauthorized customer use of angle stop valves without the proper wrench greatly increases leakage).

Natural Yard Care Workshops - Cities of Edgewood, Milton, and Fife to Sponsor Natural Yard Care workshops in the fall (POSTED 8/1/08)Would you like to learn about environmentally friendly yard and garden maintenance practices to help you have a beautiful and healthy lawn and landscape? This fall, the cities of Edgewood, Milton and Fife, in conjunction with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department are presenting fun and informative “Natural Yard Care” workshops. Learn how yard care practices can impact storm water and what we can do to protect our water quality. The workshops are presented as a series and  will address yard maintenance issues including natural lawn care, smart watering techniques, garden design and selecting the right plant for the right place, growing healthy soil, pest management practices and backyard composting.Come hear advice from local experts, access useful information and resources, and enter to win great door prizes. Workshops will be presented as a series with different topics and speakers each evening on Wednesdays, September 17, October 1 and October 15. The workshops are free, but space is limited! To register for the workshops and reserve your space, please contact Geoff Rinehart at 798-4587 or grinehart@tpchd.org.