Agenda Packets - 1996/09/30 - Laserfiche WebLink

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cm,a_n REQUEST FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION Agenda Section STAFF REPORT r_+j$ten�� MOS Report Number: �lh �''/ WORKSESSION MEETING DATE P ,��ly Report Date: 9/25/96 le September 30, 1996 r [`-enes,-Partne0 Item Description: Consideration of Water Conservation Measures Administrator's Review/Recommendation: -No Comments to supplement this report -Comments attached. X Explanation/Summary(attach supplement sheets as necessary) Summary: The City was mandated by the Met Council to develop a Water Emergency and Conservation Plan in 1995. This plan is currently in the review stages at Met Council. One comment from Met Council was, that the City should introduce and proceed with additional conservation measures. The only measure currently in place is the seasonal watering ban. The State Plumbing Code requires low flow faucet aerators and low flow toilets. Staff attended sessions at the Water Conference this year where conservation measures and retrofits were highly valued. Staff received information from vendors to provide both low flow faucet aerators and toilet tank dams as part of a possible start to the City's conservation plan. An analysis based on water pumped and wastewater treatment measured by Met Council show a steady or'ncrease in the amount of wastewater produced, and some peaks in an otherwise average amount of water oduction. By initiating these two conservation measures, the residents could reduce the amount of water consumed and decrease the wastewater produced. Revenues would be slightly reduces from water sales, and expenses related to wastewater treatment would also be reduced. The following is the results of the analysis. It is based on the usage of an average family of four. The toilet tank dams could reduce the usage from 5 gallons per flush to 3.0 gallons per flush. This could result in a reduction of wastewater treatment expenses by approximately $29,000.00 or a 60 % savings. Resulting wastewater produced would be approximately 22.9 million gallons per year. Water production could be reduced by 22.9 million gallons per year with the toilet dams alone. Water revenue is anticipated to be reduced by$29,900. Treatment and pumping expenses would be reduced by approximately $3,140 for a net loss in water revenue of$26,760. It is unknown the amount of water conservation that would be achieved through the low flow aerators. The average residential customer utilizes approximately 18,000 gallons of water per year. Based on the calculated reduction in wastewater production, the residents should realize a reduction in their water utility bill of$14.00 per year. These calculation were based upon an average on 2.7 persons per household ( latest census data) multiplied by 3 facility uses per person per day multiplied by 5 gallons per flush times 300 days usage per year multiplied by 4716 residential units. Toilet dams may not be utilized by residents who live in homes built after 1994. These homes were required to install low flow fixtures at the time they were built to comply with updated State building and plumbing codes.