Water Conservation In Citrus County Florida

Water Management in Citrus County

Environmental Research

Interdisciplinary

Colloquium

Brent White

SWFWMDSeptember 29, 2010

University of South Florida

Tampa Campus

5/17/2011 2

SWFWMD Background

5/17/2011 3

Counties & WSAs

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Basins & Watersheds

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Regional Planning Areas

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Areas of Responsibility

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Water Quality Functions

Protect and improve the water

quality to sustain the environment,

economy and quality of life. Strategic initiatives include: Water quality monitoring

Water quality maintenance

and improvement

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Natural System Functions

Protect and restore systems to their

natural hydrologic and ecologic

functions. Strategic initiatives: Establishing MFL’s

Recovery to MFL’s

Natural systems: Identification

Monitoring

Conservation

Restoration

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Flood Protection Functions

Minimize flood damage to protect

people, property, infrastructure and

investment. Strategic initiatives: Floodplain

management

Emergency

flood response

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Water Supply Functions

Ensure an adequate supply of water for

all existing and future reasonable and

beneficial uses while maintaining the

resources and related natural systems. Strategic initiatives include: Regional Water Supply Planning

Alternative Water Supplies

Reclaimed Water

Conservation

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Northern Counties historically were: Rural

Slow-growing

Had enough groundwater

Since the early 1990’s: Northern Counties had higher growth

Residential areas that have more turf

Deed restrictions that conflict with BMPs

Conservation ethic was not strong

What are the Issues?

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GPCD by Region

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GPCD by Northern County

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To address these issues: Governing Board extended

Water Use Caution Area public

supply permittee per capita

water use requirements

to Northern portion of District

Previously only applied to: NTBWUCA

SWUCA

Set a unified standard of

efficiency for all areas

Enhanced Water Conservation

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Requirements include: Per Capita calculations including

population estimation methodology

Submission of annual per capita

water use report & associated data

Refined service area delineation

Inclining block rate structure

150 gpcd phase-in

Calculation of reuse/stormwater credits

Expanded Per Capita Requirements

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Governing Board authorized rules include: Water conserving rate structures

Supply-side water audits

Adoption and enforcement of

landscape ordinances

Specific percentages for components

of unaccounted-for water loss

Specific water conservation requirements

by use type (PS, I/C, AG, Rec/Aes, M/D)

Enhanced Water Conservation

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All water conservation plans for public

Supply WUPs must include options for:Water conserving rate strucutre (ordinance)

Informative billing practices

Florida-friendly™ landscaping BMPs

Rain / Soil moisture sensor (ordinance)

Sub metering for irrigation

Deed restriction limitations

A plan to investigate AWS for irrigation

Public Supply Conservation

Plan Requirements

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Per Capita Calculations

Compliance Per Capita Rate:(1) (2) (3)

(WD + IM – EX –TL) – (SU + GC) – (EM + ST + RW)

FP

WD: Withdrawals GC: Golf Courses

IM: Imports EM: Enviro mitigation

EX: Exports ST: Stormwater

TL: Treatment Losses RW: Reclaimed water

SU: Significant Users FP: Functional Pop.

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National Domestic

Water Use Per Capita

Source: USGS, Estimated

Use of Water in the United

States, 2000

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Provide high-quality drinking water to: Residential population on public supply is 87,779

County area is 90% residential - 10% ICI

Crystal River ~ 67% residential - 31% ICI - 2% Rec/Aes

Residential water use for 2009 includes*: Citrus County 8.871 mgd Florida City Water 0.335 mgd

Rolling Oaks Utilities 1.716 mgd Walden Woods 0.120 mgd

City of Inverness 1.146 mgd Gulf Highway Corp 0.068 mgd

Homosassa SWD 0.785 mgd

City of Crystal River 0.750 mgd

Total Residential use of 13.791 mgd*2009 SWFWMD Estimated Water Use Report

Utilities in Citrus County

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Citrus County Per Capitas

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Conservation Background

Water Conservation Programs

were initiated to: Respond to rapid growth, record

drought conditions and projected

future water supply concerns by

incorporating cost-effective measures.

To reduce per capita water consumption,

leadership positions recognized the potential

benefits of increased water use efficiency

practices and looked to alternative sources,

including water conservation.

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Water Conservation Programs are composed of: Alternative resources

Codes of Ordinances

Enforcing watering restrictions

Water conserving rate structures

Supply-side / Distribution system audits

Demand-side / Efficiency evaluations

Dedicated staff

Communications efforts

Education programs

Retrofit / Rebate programs

Water Conservation

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Citrus County Reclaimed Water

Transmission System – Phase I Will supply public access quality

reclaimed water from the

Meadowcrest WWTP to Black

Diamond Ranch for golf course irrigation

Will offset 187,500 gpd of potable water

Project cost of $1,200,000 / $1.54 per Kgal $510,000 from the Coastal Rivers BB

$90,000 from the Withlacoochee River BB

Went online in February 2010

Alternative Resources

http://www.blackdiamondgolfcourse.com/

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Citrus County Reclaimed Water

Transmission System – Phase II Will supply public access quality

reclaimed water from the Meadowcrest

WWTP to the back 9 at Black Diamond Ranch Will offset 390,000 gpd of potable water

Project cost of $300,000 / $0.19 per Kgal

$150,000 from the Withlacoochee

River Basin Board

Applied for FY2011 Cooperative Funding


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Citrus County Homosassa Regional Wastewater and Reuse Project Installed sewer mains from the Meadowcrest

WWTP to the Riverhaven and Chassahowitzka residential areas

Will eventually eliminate approximately 1,000 septic tanks / Meadowcrest WWTP

Important to the health of the Halls, Homosassa and Chassahowitzka Rivers

Will offset 2 mgd of potable water Project cost of $16.66 million – 4 phases


5/17/2011 27

Point of Woods Utilities Supplies a flow of 0.04 mgd

of public access quality

reclaimed water to the Point

of Woods Country Club for

golf course irrigation

Offsets 0.03 mgd of groundwater use

75% use efficiency

Not expected to have any additional flows

available until 2025.


5/17/2011 28

Progress Energy Scrubber Offset – FY12 City of Crystal River is projected

to provide ~.784 MGD of

reclaimed water @ 2010 Will be used to offset groundwater use

in Flue Gas Desulfurization System

Offset is 100% of flow (industrial project)

Projected additional flow of

.723 MGD in the future (2030)

Will conclude City of Crystal River

wastewater disposal needs


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Landscape Codes – Ord.# 2008 – A24 Florida Friendly Landscaping (Sec 102-138) All vegetative plantings must strictly adhere to the

guidelines for "Florida-friendly™ Landscaping" as

promulgated by the University of Florida Institute for

Food and Agricultural Sciences

Rain Sensor Ordinance (Sec 102-138) If irrigation is to be accomplished by an automatic

irrigation system, such system shall at all times have

an operating rain sensing device or ground moisture

detector.

Codes of Ordinances

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Article 2; Sec 66-36 / 66-40: Water

Restrictions and Enforcement Adopts water use restrictions on lawn and

landscape watering, as imposed by the

Southwest Florida Water Management

District pursuant to F.A.C. 21.031(6)

Provides a duty to enforce the restrictions

Determines penalties for water restriction

violations

Sets administrative procedure for citations

Creates a uniform ordinance applicable in

all unincorporated areas of the county

Codes of Ordinances

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Water Shortage Orders

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During 2009, 808 Watering Restrictions

Citations were written in Citrus County

Restrictions Enforcement

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The restrictions are usually enforced by

Code Enforcement officers. Uses existing full-time officers on staff

Training is required

Schedule is commonly once per week,

over five days, based upon the last digit

of your address. Fees may include: $100 – First offense

$250 – Second offense

$500 – Third & subsequent offense

Restrictions Enforcement

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Uses economic incentives as a

key conservation motivator. Uses an inclining block rate structure

Fixed charges do not encourage

conservation

Studies show demand decreases with

increases in price.

Lowers water use without decreasing revenues

Prices in lower blocks can usually be reduced

and prices in higher blocks are increased.

Water Conserving Rates

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Utilities can actively perform

preventative maintenance on their

potable water distribution system. These supply-side efforts include: Pressure monitoring

Meter replacement program

Meters replaced every 8 – 10 years

Many utilities using AMR/AMI

Reducing non-accounted for water use

District requirement is < 10 percent

If higher, then must produce plan to reduce

Distribution System Audits

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Utilities can provide efficiency

evaluations for their customers. These demand-side efforts include:

Irrigation system evaluations System engineering

Application improvements

Florida-friendly landscaping™

High water use alert systems AMR/AMI metering

Non-residential facility water auditsPayback periods for recommendations

Demand-Side Efficiency Evaluations

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Regional Irrigation

Evaluation Program

(WRWSA) 250 site-specific single family

residential irrigation system evaluations Incorporation of Florida-friendly™ landscaping

Performed by EPA certified irrigation auditors

Soil moisture / Rain sensors included

Projected to save 60,000 gpd or 21.9 mgy

Total project cost of $200,000

$2.22 per 1,000 gallons saved

Demand-Side Efficiency Evaluations

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Utility staff members that are

dedicated to water conservation Many hire a water conservation and outreach

coordinators to manage projects

Uses code enforcement officers for watering

restrictions enforcement

Many in the region also participates in the

Withlacoochee River Water Supply Authority The purpose is to evaluate the potable water needs of the

Withlacoochee Region, prepare plans that would provide for

those needs and help the local governments in the region

provide for future water supply through regional cooperation.

Dedicated Staff

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Watering restrictions schedule published

Bill stuffers to communicate timely messages

If an account spikes, utilities can notify the

customer depending on meter reading schedule.

Frequently updated Web sites

Water Conservation Month Proclamation

30-minute does and don’ts presentation on local

government television

In 2008, District staff reached 2,400 Citrus County

citizens and distributed over 1,200 pieces of info

conservation items.

Communications Efforts

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Community Education Grants – $5,000Water Conservation Month Celebration Six conservation outreach programs

Provides hands-on education on the local

watershed and the effect of human impact

Our Changing Nature Coast Workshops Sponsored by the Gulf Archeology Research

Institute

Two workshops in Crystal River and Yankeetown

Educated the community on how to identify

healthy and stressed ecosystems in a coastal

community.

Conservation Education

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Crystal River/King’s Bay and Rainbow River

Watershed Education The goal is to minimize further water quality impacts

that result from landscaping, specifically fertilizer

Project includes training and workshops for

residents and landscape professionals.

Florida-friendly™ landscaping Demo Garden Located at the Dunnellon library

A resource for residents seeking information

about incorporating Florida-friendly landscaping

in their own yards


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Mini-Grants for Schools - $12,520 Academy of Environmental Science Students will create a K-5 book

describing the need to protect

the environment.

Water conservation posters

describing ways to conserve water

to be posted throughout the County.

Citrus Springs Elementary Students “create” their own cities and

learn about water conservation, flood

protection and natural systems.

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Citrus Springs Middle School Students refurbish the existing land lab with new

Florida-friendly™ plants and chart the water use.

Students will learn about the importance of the

Floridan aquifer system and visit Rainbow Springs

to see the aquifer as it appears near the surface.

Forest Ridge Elementary School Students will learn about efficient

irrigation using rain barrels.

Inverness Primary School Students will use native plants to learn about life

cycles, the water cycle and water conservation.


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Citrus County School District Partnership For K-12 students/educators to implement a

water resources education program Envirothon – Provided funding for classroom supplies,

registration fees, subs and transportation for high

school students to participate in local, regional and

state Envirothon competitions.

Summer Camp Program – Provided funding for 75

students to attend a one-week session at the Marine

Science Station in Citrus County. Consists of hands-

on study of water resources and its concepts.


5/17/2011 45

Toilet Rebate Programs – Citrus

County Utilities First phase 190 toilets through utility credits

Estimated savings is 4,344 gpd

$1.13 per Kgal saved

Second Phase Rebated 243 toilets to date.


$1.25 per Kgal saved

Retrofit / Rebate Programs

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Plumbing retrofit kits Funded by the WRWSA

Distributed at county events,

Extension Service classes and

by requesting from utility offices.


Cost Efficiency is $0.27 per Kgal

Efficient Washing Machines Up to a $100 rebate offered

Must be a Water-Sense rated

Savings is 16.3 gpd per washer

Retrofit / Rebate Programs

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District Utility Outreach

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Regional assistance effort Provides utilities expert technical and

regulatory support in preparing for future

demands, impacts and planning needs

Specific issues may include: Per capita reduction

Water supply planning / AWS

Demographic specific programs

Rate structure analysis

Ordinance language assistance

Project funding opportunities


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Rain Barrel Workshops Workshop teaches residents how to

construct and use a rain barrel

Available to all Citrus County residents

$5.00 fee to attend/

Receive free barrel at end

Rain Sensor Giveaways Available to all Citrus County Residents

Homeowner installs

Inspected after installation

Can save up to 100 gpd

Additional Conservation

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Water C.H.A.M.P. A free program promoting water conservation

in hotels and motels through a towel and linen

reuse program

26 properties within Citrus County

Water PRO A free program for restaurants to educate

staff and patrons on the need to conserve

water.

Conduct a self-audit to receive a free

high-efficiency spray valve

15 participants in Citrus County

Additional Conservation

http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/waterchamp/images/waterpro.gif

Thank You!

For more info:

[email protected]

1-800-423-1476 ext. 4214

Water Conservation In Citrus County Florida

Technology

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