EAA Groundwater Conservation PlanOctober 23, 2012

By Javier Hernandez

Conservation Supervisor

A Mission of

Management ,

Protection, &

Stewardship

The EAA’s GCP

The Edwards Aquifer Authority’s Groundwater Conservation Plan (GCP) serves as a management and guidance document to assist permit holders in the preparation and implementation of individual GCPs

A Mission of

Management ,

Protection, &

Stewardship

Groundwater Conservation Rule Requirements

715 Subchaper C, Groundwater Conservation and Reuse Rules requires individual Groundwater Conservation Plans (GCPs) and triennial status reports to be submitted by permit holders authorized to withdraw more than 3 acre-ft.

• Municipal • Industrial• Irrigators with irrigation efficiency less than 60%

GCPs must utilize approved Best Management Practices (BMPs) as specified under the EAA’s GCP.

A Mission of

Management ,

Protection, &

Stewardship

GCP Status Reports

Status Report Due Dates Permitted Purpose of Use

March 31, 2012 Municipal

June 30, 2013 Industrial

September 30, 2014 Irrigation

A Mission of

Management ,

Protection, &

Stewardship

Irrigation Conservation BMP Implementation

• 646 permits/entities• 246 have no wells or not using• 394 irrigation assessments received meeting 60% efficiency standard

• In 2011 58 Irrigation GCP Status Reports mailed• 32 No longer irrigating• 18 Installed Center Pivots • 6 remain less than 60% efficient

A Mission of

Management ,

Protection, &

Stewardship

Industrial Conservation BMP Implementation

Best Management Practices EntitiesInd-1 System Water Audits, Leak Detection and Repair 120Ind-2 Water Waste Prohibition 120

Ind-3 Sub-Metering 6

Ind-4 Landscape Conservation Programs 44Ind-5 Golf Course Conservation 12

Ind-6 Athletic Field Conservation 11

Ind-7 Nursery Conservation 7

Ind-8 Cooling Tower Conservation 8

Ind-9 Conservation Programs for Industrial Applicants 64

• 185 permits/entities subject to rules• 65 No well or not in use

A Mission of

Management ,

Protection, &

Stewardship

Industrial Conservation BMP Compliance

Best Management Practices NODs

Ind-1 System Water Audits, Leak Detection and Repair 0

Ind-2 Water Waste Prohibition 3

Ind-3 Sub-Metering 2

Ind-4 Landscape Conservation Programs 0

Ind-5 Golf Course Conservation 0

Ind-6 Athletic Field Conservation 3

Ind-7 Nursery Conservation 0

Ind-8 Cooling Tower Conservation 0

Ind-9 Conservation Programs for Industrial Applicants 0

A Mission of

Management ,

Protection, &

Stewardship

Municipal Conservation BMP ImplementationBest Management Practices Entities

Muni-1 System Water Audits, Leak Detection and Repair 80

Muni-2 Metering of All New Connections and Retrofit of Existing Connections 80

Muni-3 Water Waste Prohibition 80

Muni-4 Conservation Pricing (for Purveyors) 46

Muni-5 Public Information and School Education Programs 24

Muni-6 Landscape Conservation Programs 24

Muni-7 Conservation Coordinator 24

Muni-8 Water Use Survey Programs 5

Muni-9 Residential Plumbing Retrofit and Rebate Programs 1

Muni-10 Reuse of Treated Effluent 1

• 99 permits/entities subject to rules. • 19 have no wells or not in use.• 47 are listed as purveyors and 33 non-purveyors

A Mission of

Management ,

Protection, &

Stewardship

Municipal Conservation BMP Compliance

Best Management Practices NODs

Muni-1 System Water Audits, Leak Detection and Repair 8

Muni-2 Metering of All New Connections and Retrofit of Existing Connections 4

Muni-3 Water Waste Prohibition 34

Muni-4 Conservation Pricing (for Purveyors) 36

Muni-5 Public Information and School Education Programs 12

Muni-6 Landscape Conservation Programs 23

Muni-7 Conservation Coordinator 3

Muni-8 Water Use Survey Programs 2

Muni-9 Residential Plumbing Retrofit and Rebate Programs 0

Muni-10 Reuse of Treated Effluent 0

A Mission of

Management ,

Protection, &

Stewardship

GCP Compliance

• Submission of GCPs and Status Reports (on going)

• Technical Review of municipal status reports

• Notice of Deficiencies (NODs)Industrial UsersAthletic Field Conservation (CCIS)Sub-meteringMunicipal Users

Water waste ProhibitionConservation Pricing Public and School Education

ProgramsLandscape Conservation Programs

(surveys)

A Mission of

Management ,

Protection, &

Stewardship

Ind-3: Sub-metering

REQUIREMENTS

1. Permit holders with greater than 5 connections must perform a feasibility study to determine the benefits of installing submeters on facilities that comprise of at least 20% of the applicants total use.

2. Feasibility study to determine the benefits of installing dedicated landscape sub-meters.

ISSUES

A Mission of

Management ,

Protection, &

Stewardship

Ind-6: Athletic Field Conservation

REQUIREMENTS

1. Must establish a water regimen that uses only the amount of water necessary to maintain turf in safe condition.

2. Perform landscape survey and develop a ET based irrigation schedule equal to no more than 80% of reference ET.

3. Install a dedicated landscape meter if landscape use is determined to exceed 20% of total use.

4. If cost effective install and operate a Computer Controlled Irrigation System (CCIS) to achieve enhanced conservation.

ISSUES

A Mission of

Management ,

Protection, &

Stewardship

Muni-3: Water Waste Prohibition

REQUIREMENTS

Must enact & enforce ordinances, policies or tariffs to prohibitwasteful activities including:

1. Run off from property

2. Landscape watering between 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.

3. Single pass cooling systems in new connections

4. Non-recirculating systems in new conveyor car washes

5. Non-recirculating, systems in new commercial laundry systems

6. Non-recycling decorative water fountains

ISSUES

A Mission of

Management ,

Protection, &

Stewardship

Muni-4: Conservation Pricing

REQUIREMENTS

1. Must establish and maintain a year-round increasing block ratepricing structure.

2. Should also impose seasonal or excess-use surcharges to reducedemand during summer months.

ISSUES

A Mission of

Management ,

Protection, &

Stewardship

Muni-5: Public Information and School Education Programs

REQUIREMENTS

1. Must establish and maintain an active public information program to promote and educate customers about water conservation.

a. Should provide speakers, paid and public advertising, bill inserts

showing trend comparisons information, conservation pamphlets, flyers, manuals etc.

2. Must establish and maintain an active school education program to inform and educate students.a. Should provide classroom presentations, instructional assistance,

and distribution of educational materials.

ISSUES

A Mission of

Management ,

Protection, &

Stewardship

Muni-6: Landscape Conservation Programs

REQUIREMENTS

1. Must market water-use surveys to non-residential and residential customers and provide methods and support for improving landscape water use efficiency.

2. Offer a customer incentive program for converting landscape material to xeriscape.

3. Develop ETo-based water-use schedules for accounts with dedicated irrigation meters.

ISSUES

A Mission of

Management ,

Protection, &

Stewardship

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