Integrated Water Management Strategies

Hector GonzalezGovernment Affairs Manager

El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board

Created in 1952 by City ordinance The PSB increased from 5 to 7 members with approval of

HB 4004 in May of 2009 The PSB sets policy, adopts fiscal budgets, rates and fees,

and approves an annual strategic plan for 4 utilities: Water, Wastewater, Stormwater and Reclaimed Water

EPWU provides water service to 95 percent of El Paso County (800,000+ residents)

EPWU’s capital improvement needs over the next 10 years are projected to be over $800 million

Land Management

PSB owns the following for water rights: • 25,000 acres in El Paso County• 75,000 acres outside El Paso County

880 acres in New Mexico

Water Resources

Regional Water Resources

MEXICO

UNITED STATES

Ciudad Juárez

TEXAS

NEW MEXICO

Mesilla Bolson

Hueco Bolson

Rio Grande

Rio Grande

Elephant Butte Dam

West Texas Aquifers

EL PASO

Surface Water

Groundwater

Reclaimed Water

Desalination

Conservation

Diversified Resources

50-Year Water Resource Management Plan adopted in 1991

MEXICO

Ground and Surface Water Treatment Plants

Franklin Mountains

NEW MEXICO

EL PASO, TEXAS

Ciudad Juárez

AirportjFort Bliss

Military Reservation

Rio Grande

Surface Water Plants

Groundwater Plants

Rio Grande

Jonathan Rogers Water Treatment Plant

Robertson & Umbenhauer Water Treatment Plant

Upper Valley Water Treatment Plant

Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant

MEXICO

Wastewater Treatment Plants

Franklin Mountains

NEW MEXICO

EL PASO, TEXAS

Ciudad Juárez

AirportjFort Bliss

Military Reservation

Rio Grande

Wastewater Plants

Rio Grande

Roberto R. Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant

Northwest Wastewater Treatment Plant

Haskell Street Wastewater Treatment Plant

Fred Hervey Water Reclamation Plant

Challenges

• Drought

• Growth

• Rehabilitation of Infrastructure

• Financial Obligations

• Energy

• Personnel

Rio Grande Runs Dry

Drought History19

97

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Only 3 of the past 17 years has runoff into Elephant Butte been above average

2013

Recent Drought Situation

EPWU received reduced river water allocation- 6,500 AF compared to usual 70,000 AF

River release started in early June and ended in mid July

The lowest release since the inception of the project in 1906

Peak Water Demand

173163

150

160

170

180

190

20019

9119

9219

9319

9419

9519

9619

9719

9819

9920

0020

0120

0220

0320

0420

0520

0620

0720

0820

0920

1020

1120

12

Mill

ion

Gal

lons

Calendar Year

2013-2014 Projects

Water main projects to carry groundwater to central and downtown areas that heavily rely on river water NE/Central Drought Project Paisano Project

North Central Reclaimed water project New Wells Potable Reuse Other Water Supply Projects

Conservation

Conservation Rate Structure

Average Winter Consumption (AWC) is the average amount of water used during the most recent three winter months

Inverted Block Structure• Minimum Charge $5.18• Water Supply Replacement Charge $6.39• Block 1 $1.56 Indoor Use• Block 2 $3.68 Outdoor Use and Cooling• Block 3 $5.27 Excessive Use

Minimum 16%

Block 1 (base use) 70%

Block 2 (peak) 9%

Block 3 (XS) 5%

El Paso

Laredo

San Antonio

Arlington

Fort Worth

Plano

Dallas

Houston

Corpus Christi

Austin

$0$20

$40$60

$80$100

$25.61

$22.58

$33.91

$27.02

$37.26

$27.98

$38.92

$48.06

$44.83

$41.18

$17.81

$22.51

$23.61

$30.47

$23.65

$36.65

$36.52

$48.33

$46.74

$56.47

Water Sewer

Water/Wastewater Ten Largest Cities in Texas SurveySeptember 2012

TOTAL

$97.65

$91.57

$96.39

$75.44

$64.63

$60.91

$57.49

$57.52

$45.09

$43.42

* 13 CCF for Water, 9 CCF AWC and 9 CCF for Sewer

Educational Facilities

TecH2O Learning Center Field trips Workshops and events External meetings and

conferences Public tours

Discovery Center at El Paso Zoo

Field trips Workshops and events

Keystone Botanical Gardens Workshops and events

Per Capita ConsumptionGPCD

Goal for 2020 – 130 gpcd

2012 – 134 gpcd

Calendar Year

Year 2010 Goal – 140 gpcd

Year 2000 Goal – 160 gpcd

120130140150160170180190200210220230

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

Water Conservation Ordinance Adopted

Stormwater Utility

Capital Program vs. Flood Risk Improvement

Capital Funding Public Safety 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

11 - 30 years6-10 years4-5 years3 years

Government Affairs

Government/Legislative

Agendas to include: Federal State County Mexico/Binational

Water

Historic and Long Overdue Action to Fund State Water Plan

• Legislature created a water infrastructure bank to fund priority water management strategies at regional and state level

• $2 billion appropriated from the Economic Stabilization Fund

1. Coordinate support for SJR 1

2. Transformation of the TWDB as well as Rule Development for implementation of HB 4 and SJR 1

3. Desalinization Policy both Brackish Groundwater and Coastal

4. Role of Groundwater Conservation Districts

Interim Issues

Research

CHIWAWAConsortium for Hi-Technology Investigations in Water and Wastewater

• EPWU, UTEP, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center, NMSU, City of Alamogordo

• Promote research and training programs in salinity management, inland desalination technology, concentrate disposal, and water resources management

• Goal: development of new technologies and processes to develop reliable and sustainable sources of water

Questions?