Water Supply & ConservationWater Supply & Conservation

City of Palo Alto UtilitiesCity of Palo Alto Utilities

Josh Wallace & Nico ProcosJosh Wallace & Nico Procos

June 11th, 2009June 11th, 2009

Providing water to Palo Alto since 1896Providing water to Palo Alto since 1896

Water Supply & ConservationWater Supply & Conservation

Presentation Overview:Presentation Overview:

I. Supply Status and ChallengesI. Supply Status and Challenges

II. Conservation: Your Part of the II. Conservation: Your Part of the SolutionSolution

California Water PictureCalifornia Water Picture

California Hydrologic ConditionsCalifornia Hydrologic Conditions

Environmental restrictions affecting Environmental restrictions affecting already reduced water deliveriesalready reduced water deliveries

State and Federal Water Project State and Federal Water Project DeliveriesDeliveries

Where does Palo Alto’s water come from?Where does Palo Alto’s water come from?

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission

Hetch Hetchy Water System located in Yosemite National Park

Built in the early to mid-1900s

Today, it serves 2.5 million people

Cleanest and purest water in the country

Water Supply SystemWater Supply System First water served in 1934First water served in 1934 Now serves 2.4 million Now serves 2.4 million

peoplepeople

280 miles of pipeline280 miles of pipeline 60 miles of tunnels60 miles of tunnels 11 reservoirs11 reservoirs

Water System Improvement ProgramWater System Improvement Program Parts of Hetch Hetchy

water system nearing end of working life.

Critical areas near three major earthquake faults - Calaveras, Hayward and San Andreas.

A significant earthquake could cause a catastrophic system failure and lead to 30 days of no water service.

$4.4 billion improvement project in process to upgrade pipelines, pumps, tunnels, tanks, dams, facilities.

Wholesale Water Cost Wholesale Water Cost One CCF equals 748 One CCF equals 748

gallons. gallons. Cost of purchasing Cost of purchasing

SFPUC water will SFPUC water will increase 2-3 times up to increase 2-3 times up to 2018 when the full cost 2018 when the full cost of the system of the system improvement kicks inimprovement kicks in

While costly, the costs of While costly, the costs of an earthquake range an earthquake range from $17-$30 billion!!from $17-$30 billion!!

How is it made safe to drink? How is it made safe to drink?

Two water treatment plants along the 160 mile stretch of Two water treatment plants along the 160 mile stretch of the Hetch Hetchy water system clean water for human the Hetch Hetchy water system clean water for human uses. uses.

Chloramine is added to “disinfect” water. Similar to Chloramine is added to “disinfect” water. Similar to chlorine which is used in pools.chlorine which is used in pools.

Fluoride is also added to the water for healthy teeth.Fluoride is also added to the water for healthy teeth.

How does water get to our How does water get to our homes and buildings? homes and buildings?

Water is moved around Palo Alto by a series of pumps Water is moved around Palo Alto by a series of pumps and pipes. and pipes.

217 miles of water pipeline. 217 miles of water pipeline. 202 miles of sewer pipeline.202 miles of sewer pipeline. Each home and business has a water meter to track Each home and business has a water meter to track

water consumption, which is billed in CCF, or hundred water consumption, which is billed in CCF, or hundred cubic feet. 1 CCF = 748 gallons. cubic feet. 1 CCF = 748 gallons.

Water Consumption in Palo AltoWater Consumption in Palo Alto

Future water useFuture water use

How much energy is used to pump, How much energy is used to pump, purify and heat water? purify and heat water?

Because the Hetch Hetchy system is gravity fed from the Sierra’s down to the Bay Area, energy consumption to move water is considerably lower than other water systems.

Water-related energy use in CA 19 percent of the state’s electricity 30 percent of its natural gas 88 billion gallons of diesel

It takes energy to… Pump water around CA and around our own towns Treat water to make it safe for drinking Heat water for showers, baths, washing

Water Related Electric ConsumptionWater Related Electric Consumption

Water Related Natural Gas ConsumptionWater Related Natural Gas Consumption

Water Energy LifecycleWater Energy Lifecycle

Water/Energy Use ComparisonWater/Energy Use Comparison

Impact of climate change Impact of climate change on water supply/qualityon water supply/quality

Water ConservationWater Conservation

The The StrategicStrategic Big Picture Big Picture::-Change Your Behavior, Tell Your Change Your Behavior, Tell Your

Community!Community!-Plan For The Future!Plan For The Future!

Water ConservationWater Conservation

The The TacticalTactical Big Picture Big Picture::-So Many Resources!So Many Resources!

-So Little Effort!So Little Effort!

Water ConservationWater Conservation

Ground ZeroGround Zero::

www.cityofpaloalto.orgwww.cityofpaloalto.org

Search: water tips, water rebatesSearch: water tips, water rebates

What can you do to conserve water What can you do to conserve water and reduce Greenhouse Gasesand reduce Greenhouse Gases

ACTION Run your dishwasher only when

full.

Turn off water when brushing teeth or rinsing dishes.

Shorten showers.

Fill the bathtub only half full.

Wash only full loads of clothes.

For even more savings purchase a high-efficiency clothes washer.

While working in your yard, do not use water as a broom or leave the hose unattended.

Repair broken or leaky sprinkler heads and adjust sprinklers to prevent overspray and run-off.

SAVINGS 2 to 4 gallons each load

2 to 2.5 gallons every minute

2.5 gallons per minute

15 to 25 gallons each bath

15 to 50 gallons per load

35 gallons per load

10–25 gallons per minute

15 to 25 gallons per day per leak or overspray

How can the City of Palo Alto help you How can the City of Palo Alto help you conserve water and reduce conserve water and reduce

Greenhouse gasesGreenhouse gases

Water-Wise House CallWater-Wise House Call Free showerheads, advice, leak checkFree showerheads, advice, leak check

$$$ for efficient appliances$$$ for efficient appliances Toilets, clothes washers, dishwashersToilets, clothes washers, dishwashers

$$$ for landscape and irrigation$$$ for landscape and irrigation $1,000 for irrigation, $2,000 for lawn removal$1,000 for irrigation, $2,000 for lawn removal

What is the City of Palo Alto doing to What is the City of Palo Alto doing to investigate alternative supplies?investigate alternative supplies?

RWQCP

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 1

Potential Palo Alto Recycled Water Project

What can you do to conserve energy at homeWhat can you do to conserve energy at home

Turn off the lights!Turn off the lights! Switch to compact Switch to compact

fluorescent lights (CFLs).fluorescent lights (CFLs). Use a power strip.Use a power strip. Look for Look for Energy StarEnergy Star on on

TVs, computers, DVD TVs, computers, DVD players, refrigerators, and players, refrigerators, and freezers.freezers.

Run the dishwasher and Run the dishwasher and clothes washer with only full clothes washer with only full loads.loads.

Take shorter showers.Take shorter showers. Put on a sweatshirt!Put on a sweatshirt!

Bottled vs. Tap Water Bottled vs. Tap Water  Over 900,000 tons of plastic per year are

used to create bottles in the US.

Producing plastic water bottles takes 17 million barrels of oil.

It takes 1 gallon of water to produce a 32-ounce bottle of water.

86% of plastic water bottles used in the US become garbage or litter.

Only 23% of plastic bottles actually get recycled.

Buried water bottles can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade.

Bottling water produces more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide per year.

How many gallons of water does it How many gallons of water does it take to produce…take to produce…

1 tablespoon of white sugar? 1 tablespoon of white sugar? 7 gallons7 gallons 1 slice of white bread?1 slice of white bread? 11 gallons11 gallons 1 glass of milk? 1 glass of milk? 48 gallons48 gallons 1 egg 1 egg 63 gallons63 gallons 1 piece of chicken 1 piece of chicken 330 gallons330 gallons 1 hamburger1 hamburger 616 gallons616 gallons 1 steak 1 steak 1,232 gallons1,232 gallons

Questions??Questions??