how to develop an effective outdoor water use management program

1

Outdoor Water Use Management Strategy

2012

Steve McKinnonHalton Region

2

Purpose

Provide a brief overview of the development and implementation of Halton Region’s Outdoor Water Use Management Strategy and to discuss communication and technical challenges

3

Halton Region

• Located on the shores of Lake Ontario

• Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton

Hills

• Over 475,000 people

4

Halton’s Water Treatment Facilities

• Three Well based systems

• Three lake based systems

5

2007- A dry year

• One of the driest years in recent memory• Halton imposes water restrictions• Communication difficulties• Monitoring of Drinking Water Systems limited

Need for structured Outdoor Water Use Management Program

realization

6

Goal

The Outdoor Water Use Management Strategy provides a structured approach for the promotion and implementation of outdoor water use conservation measures with a goal of ensuring a reliable supply of potable water to Halton residents for emergency and essential needs.

7

Consideration

• 4 local Municipalities

• 1 Regional Municipality

• 6 Separate drinking water systems• Lake and ground water based

8

Considerations

• Each system has different limitations due to size and either lake or ground water based

• 5 major communities

• Geographic size

• Communication limitations

9

Consult and Analyze

• Consult with operational staff

• Consult with Management

• Consult with Councilors

10

Tactics

The strategy incorporates a number of tactics to manage peak summer water demand:

1. Outdoor Water Restrictions

2. Water Use Education/Communication

3. Water Restriction Enforcement

11

Outdoor Water RestrictionsSystem by System Monitoring Triggers

• Operational Status - System specific consumption, plant production, pumping rates and reservoir levels

• Aquifer levels – individual wells (under review)

• Ontario Low Water Response status

• Weather Forecast

12

Outdoor Water RestrictionsSystem by System

• Triggers developed

• Fire protection• Sustained levels of production, storage• Weather forecast• Storage and production capabilities of each system• Similar thought process for ending a restriction• Advance warning

• One comprehensive report

• Calculated and sent daily by e.SCADA.r

• Weekly report sent to management

13

Daily TrendsGeorgetown Production

02,0004,0006,0008,000

10,00012,00014,00016,00018,00020,00022,00024,00026,00028,00030,00032,000

Date

Pro

duct

ion

in M

3/ D

ay

Production in M3/Day

70% of Production

85% of Production

Annual RunningAverage Maximum

14

Daily TrendsGeorgetown Storage

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

4/2/2011

4/9/2011

4/16/2011

4/23/2011

4/30/2011

5/7/2011

5/14/2011

5/21/2011

5/28/2011

6/4/2011

6/11/2011

6/18/2011

6/25/2011

7/2/2011

7/9/2011

7/16/2011

7/23/2011

7/30/2011

8/6/2011

8/13/2011

8/20/2011

8/27/2011

9/3/2011

9/10/2011

9/17/2011

9/24/2011

10/1/2011

Date

% o

f A

vail

able

Sto

rag

e

Max Storage

Min Storage

75% Storage

65% Storage

15

Outdoor Water Use Activity Levels

• Colour coded outdoor water use levels

• Stoplight methodology

• Ease of communication

• Similar to other Municipalities

16

ActivityBlue Level 1 Careful Use

Yellow Level 2Limited Use

RedLevel 3Reduce and Stop

Lawn Watering

Voluntary Odd\Even Watering:Odd House Number:Water on odd calendar days between 6-

9 am & 6-9pmEven House Number:Water on even calendar days between

6-9 am & 6- 9 pm

Mandatory Odd\Even Watering:Odd House Number:Water only on odd calendar days between

6-9am &6-9pmEven House Number:Water only on even calendar days

between 6-9 am & 6-9 pm

Not Allowed

Watering newly planted sod or seed

Allowed as needed until sod has been established.

Regular lawn watering rules apply thereafter

Allowed as needed until sod has been established.

Regular lawn watering rules apply thereafter

Allowed as needed until sod has been established.

Regular lawn watering rules apply thereafter

Watering Trees, Shrubs, Flowers or Gardens

AllowedBy hand held watering device only (i.e.

watering can, bucket)

By hand held watering device only:

Odd House Number:Water only on odd calendar days

between 6-9am & 6-9 pmEven House Number:Water only on even calendar

days between 6-9 am & 6- 9 pm

Recreational Sprinklers and Splash Pads for Children

Allowed Allowed Allowed

Recreational Sports Fields Allowed Allowed Not Allowed

Filling Residential Swimming and Wading Pools, Hot Tubs, Garden ponds or Fountains

Allowed Allowed

Odd\Even filling onlyOdd House Number:Fill only on odd calendar days

between 6-9 am & 6-9 pmEven House Number:Fill only on even calendar days

between 6-9 am & 6-9 pm

Decorative fountains Must recirculate water Must recirculate water Must recirculate water

Washing Cars (residential) or exterior of Building (i.e. home, shed)

Allowed

Odd House Number: Wash only on odd calendar days between

6-9 am & 6-9 pm Even House Number: Wash only on even calendar days

between 6-9 am & 6-9 pm

Not Allowed

17

Water Use Education/Communication

• Education\Awareness of program• Compliance in early stages may minimize chance of full

restrictions

• Comprehensive communication plan • Communication plan outlines tools and tactics

• Promotional partnerships• Effective partnering will help convey message to

residents

18

Communication Limitation• Web Page\Access Halton

• Radio/Television • Media Releases and newspaper advertisements

• Direct Mail Flyer

• Outdoor portable and permanent signage

• E-mail alerts

• Community Emergency Notification Service

• Partnership Opportunities

19

When time is a factor

Immediate Response Seven days or more

Mobile Signs Newspapers

CENS Billboards

Web Page Direct Mail Flyer

E-Mail Alerts Partnership Opportunities

Radio/Television

20

Mobile Signs

21

Web Page

www.halton.ca

22

Direct Mail/Flyer

• Effective in communicating overall message and as a reminder

• Effective in communicating to a target audience, i.e. Georgetown

• Can be used both as an insert or handout

23

Direct Mail Flyer\Handout

24

Advertisement• Newspaper• Brochure• Billboards

25

Advertisement• Newspaper• Brochure• Billboards

26

Partnership Opportunities

• Water Efficiency programs

• Community events

• Industry

27

Contest

• 2010 Partnered with Sheridan Nurseries

• Prizing directed toward water efficient gardens

• Over 1500 entries – 2011

• Converge in local papers

28

29

Irrigation Sector

• Very little information on the irrigation industry in Ontario: number of systems, average size

• Research has shown that many systems are not optimized for water efficiency

• Over water

• Currently finishing pilot study quantifying potential water savings and market penetration through irrigation system optimization

30

Enforcement Practices

• Discretionary approach

• Education and outreach are primary focus

• Review of fines• Comprehensive

• Dedicated staff – Summer Students

31

AssessmentCommunications

• Website analysis

• Monitoring of non-compliance – Increase in phone calls to Access Halton – 311

• Over 300 inquires in 2011 compared to half that in 2010

• Spike during dry periods

32

AssessmentSummer Peak Demand vs Total

Production• 2011 - Driest July in years

• Did not require water restriction

• Summer Peak Demand was paired back

• Total summer production still high

• Quantitative study• Base flow• Yearly average• Weather

33

AssessmentResidential Survey

• Over 600 participants• All sectors of Halton• Results

The Good– Over half have heard about our program– 6 out of 10 report the program has had a “very” to

“somewhat” significant effect on household water use

– Over all support for the program is very good

34

AssessmentResidential Survey

The Not So Good– Water Conservation is only a medium –

level priority– Costs associated with water conservation

and effect on one’s way of life are still a hindrance to change

– Few residents can recall specifics such as animals or slogan

35

Outcome

• One formal strategy• Council Approved• Living document• System by system or entire municipality restrictions

• One concentrated effort

• One communication plan• Developed yearly

• Assessment program

36

Work in Progress

• Halton is growing

• Demand on drinking water system is growing

• Conservation movement growing

37

What lies ahead

• Program will explore new modes of communication – Social Media

• Work more closely with community groups

• Use results of survey in development of 2012 ad campaign

• Work more closely with industry

• Continue to listen, ask and learn

38

Thank You

Steve McKinnonWater Compliance Coordinator

Halton Region(905) 825-6000 Ext. 7150

steve.mckinnon@halton.ca