03/03/2008 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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WS — Item 1. WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item 1. Date: March 3, 2008 To: City Council From: James E. Studenski, City Engineer Re: Water Emergency and Conservation Plan Background Public water suppliers that service more than 1,000 people are required to have a Water Emergency and Conservation Plan approved by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) (Minnesota Statutes 103G.291). The most recent Water Emergency and Conservation Plan update was adopted at the September 24, 2007 City Council Meeting. The Water Emergency and Conservation Plan adopted established conservation goals for the benchmarks listed below. The Department on Natural Resources (DNR) permit approvals will be based on meeting the specified benchmarks listed below. If water demands exceed Benchmarks for unaccounted water, residential per capita, and peak demands then permit approval will be contingent on implementation of one or more of the listed Conservation Goals until the benchmark is achieved. The City exceeds the DNR benchmarks for water use in three categories; (1) Residential Gallons Per Capita Demand (GPCD), (2) Total Per Capita Demand, and (3) Peak Demands. Below is phase one of the two phases of conservation goals established in the Water Emergency and Conservation Plan: 1. Residential Gallons Per Capita Demand (GPCD) a. Prepare an ordinance requiring rain sensors to be installed with all new automatic sprinkler systems. The cost for a typical rain sensor is usually $40 to $120 plus costs for professional installation. The savings in water charges from the use of a rain sensor could pay for the rain sensor in the first season. It estimated that a rain sensor will save 1,225 gallons of water per household on every rainy day. b. Rain sensor retro -fit program: The Toro Company offers a program where cities can purchase rain sensors at a reduce rate of approximately 50% of the listed price. As an example of this program in May 2007 the City of 1