MEMORANDUM

To:	Debbie Van Saun, ACM, Community Development Services
From:	Michael Tubbs, Management Analyst
Re:	Department of Utilities - Conservation Programs
Date:	September 7, 2004

City of Lawrence Department of Utilities Conservation Programs

I.       COMMITMENT TO CONSERVATION

The City of Lawrence department of Utilities recognizes water conservation as a priority in our water resource strategy.  The long-term goal of the department’s water conservation program is to continue to place our treatment capacity and water supplies at their highest and best use.   The Department of Utilities has demonstrated its commitment to conservation with effort to educate users regarding water conservation best management practices (BMP’s) through press releases, interviews, bill inserts, our website conservation page and brochures.   The department is committed to use good faith efforts to develop new cost-effective practices, and to initiate these practices as they become feasible.  For us -“water conservation is the efficient use of water”.

The City of Lawrence Department of Utilities does not currently operate a formal conservation program.  We do have a statutorily mandated Conservation Plan pursuit to the state of Kansas 1990 Conservation Guidelines.  Our emphasis has been on customer education regarding water conservation.  Customers may receive educational materials on demand as well as through bill inserts, brochures and our website conservation page.  We hope to transition to a more comprehensive conservation program in the future, as outlined on the attached matrix.

II.      EXISTING AND FUTURE CONSERVATION MEASURES

The attached conservation matrix is a work plan showing how, what, when and where future conservation measures may be implemented.  Additionally, the matrix shows existing conservation measures used by the City of Lawrence Department of Utilities.

Program Areas	Program Levels	Program Strategies	Program Tactics	Scheduling Horizon	Resources Required	Performance Measures/ Impact	(e) Existing Conservation Measures	City Cost
PUBLIC AWARENESS, EDUCATION/ ACTIONS		American Water Works Association Training	Certification in water resources/conservation	TBD	Literature, multimedia, reading, certification of city staff for teaching via AWWA , Water Conservation Coordinator	Course evaluation by participants and follow up surveys	(e) conservation seminar attendance by staff	Various accordingly to type of training
		Public Water Conservation Campaign or develop in-house effort if not using WUIW campaign	Newspaper Ads, Brochures, Transit Shelter/Bus Ads, posters, Theatre Slide, Landscape watering guide Radio Spot, TV PSA, KU Sports Arena Ads, Speaker/presentations, K-12 program, website, WUIW ID system on internal material.	2005-2015	One-time License Fee of $5k or fee for item.  Funding approx $15-25 K annually, Coordination with USD 497, KWO, and AWWA for K-12 program.	Follow up questions in KU MPA Citizen Survey on awareness	(e) – brochures, Ads, Landscape watering guide and Press Releases Conservation Tips; Web-page.; Plant tours	Various - currently less than $5,000 yearly average
	Residential Sector: Single –family Multi-family	Homeowners irrigation classes; rain harvesting; water audits of domestic use	Teach efficient irrigation methods to homeowners; both sprinkler and drip system	2-4 workshops per year  through 2015  20-25 attendees per class	UT staff scheduling/reservations; P&R staff teach or contract out; literature, AV equipment, demonstration equipment; City facilities as classrooms	1Class Evaluations 2 Number of attendees 3 Track water use		Est. $500 per workshop
		Homeowner landscape (Xeriscape) workshop	2-hour residential workshop (develop demonstration garden)	2-4 workshops per year  through 2015 20-40 residents per class	UT staff scheduling/reservations; P&R staff for teaching; Xeriscape literature, AV equipment, demonstration equipment; use of city facilities as classrooms	Follow-up survey of attendees to assess implementation of Xeriscape information learned	(e) Low Maintenance Landscape Utility Bill Inserts	Est. $500 per workshop Demonstration Garden $2,000
		Public Events	Conservation Displays	6 Public Events per year	Staff in cooperation with other departments, display materials, conservation literature	Public Comment books at event		Initial cost for display $500; $50 per event
PUBLIC AWARENESS, EDUCATION/ ACTIONS	Non Residential Sector: Commercial Industrial Other (RWD)	Workshops –Top 25 Large water users	Workshop on conservation plan development/other topics	1 workshop per year 2005 - 2015	Video training program, city facilities training/classrooms	1 number of plans developed 2 number of attendees 3 workshop evaluation forms		$200
		Internal city facility management	Workshops/ continuing education for managers of city facilities	2005 – 2015 on-going	Staff time, consultant time, literature; waterless urinals in all city facilities. Demonstration gardens/landscaping	Monitor/ CMO oversight	(e)  low maintenance landscaping at Kaw Plant/ reuse irrigation at WWTP	$100
		Internal city facility/staff  water efficiency training	P&R/PW department water management training	4 classes/ year	Staff time; literature; AV equipment, demo equipment	Track P&R / PW water use over time		$100 per class
			New employee orientation	Immediate	Develop module for personnel use employee orientation; literature	TBD		$0.00

Program Areas	Program Levels	Program Strategies	Program Tactics	Scheduling Horizon	Resources Required	Performance Measures/ Impact	(e) Existing Conservation Measures	City Cost
Regulation	Large Turf-related facility ordinance	Mandatory conservation at facilities of 10 acres or larger	Advise users, check on compliance, and offer technical help to facilitate compliance	TBD -         recommended schedule 2005-2025	Staff time; Water conservation technician; Water conservation coordinator	Level of compliance		$0.00
	Water/Wastewater  rate structures	2004 Rate Study	Inverted block rate for residential ratepayers to reduce average or peak use	2004-2009	Staff time; consultant time	Level of use and impact on demand; impact on demand capacity at existing WWTP	Pending consideration by CC	$60,000 cost of study (approx.)
	Water waste ordinance	Enforced by Water Conservation Coordinator. Mandatory guideline for daily outdoor water use	Advise users, check on compliance, and offer technical help to facilitate compliance	TBD	Staff time; Water conservation technician;  Water conservation coordinator	Level of compliance		$0.00
	Incentives to implement water use efficiency techniques	Rebates/ tap fee reduction for reduced tap size/peak demand /retrofit kits	Advise users of use via audit; target high bills users for audit;	2006-2009 review every 3 years	Staff time, funding to set up incentive program	Follow-up survey; number of customers served		Est. $10,000 annually
	Distribution System leak detection/repair/rehab program	Annual waterline repair/replacement	Current unaccounted for water loss is 6%. Monitor sales & compare to master meter readings; repair leaks within 24 hour of detection.	On-going	Staff time, consultants, funding	Percent of unaccounted for water greater than 10% Level of compliance(Leaks repaired within 24 hours)	(e) Water line Rehab/repair program	1M per Year
	(e)  Water conservation plumbing requirements	Enforced by NR New construction and permitted reconstruction	Advise users, check on compliance, and offer technical help to facilitate compliance	On-going	Staff time	Level of compliance Uniform Plumbing Code 2000 Edition	(e) water-efficient fixtures new construction	$0.00
Planning/ Research	Recycled Wastewater and Rain Harvesting Program	Develop recycled water option for any new wastewater plants to serve outdoor water needs to the south and west growth zones of the city Lawrence	Recycled water used for new development irrigation system that can be served by a wastewater plant on the Wakarusa River.  All large turf related irrigation can be served with recycled water	TBD	Staff time; consultant time; Option needs to be considered during current master plan development	Implementation; level of use and impact on demand	Design needs to be incorporated in new WWTP design	$10,000 consultant fee; minimal cost since new WWTP on Master Plan list 2011.
Post-Implementation Evaluation	Citizen Surveys/ consultant  studies	Coordinated by CMO/ KU MPA	Track/monitor demand model	TBD	Staff time; consultant time	Level of use and impact on demand	(e) water demand model  -  B&V	$2,500 – 5,000 per  consultant study/survey