Drought highlights need for conservation

By Teresa Pione Friday, 27 March 2009

As drought conditions continue across Central Texas, restrictions and fines on Edwards Aquifer water use have some area residents switching to city water. In mid-March, water in the aquifer dipped into critically low levels, forcing customers of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District to cut back water usage by significant proportions.

San Leanna water

San Leanna Village Administrator Kathleen Lessing said such restrictions prompted the village to sign up for City of Austin water.

“After a lot of thought and deliberation [the village council] said yes, so it’s all set up to begin the first of April,” Lessing said.

Using city water comes at a higher cost: Aquifer water is sold at $0.17/1,000 gallons compared to $3.04/1,000 gallons for Austin water. However, the village will only rely on Austin for 30 percent of its water needs, while still tapping into the aquifer district for 70 percent.

Because of the aquifer’s fragility, the district allots a certain amount to each customer and imposes fines for exceeding those limits. San Leanna villagers saw an extra $100 tacked on to their monthly water bill when a dry spell hit Austin in 2006. Though only imposed for a few months, the fine sparked heated debates in the village, Lessing said.

“During the drought, we had to start implementing restrictions. [This change] will enable us to relax our restrictions and enable people to fill up their pools and water their lawns,” Lessing said.

Sunset Valley follows suit

Recent drought conditions also prompted modifications in Sunset Valley, where about half of the residents depend on aquifer water. The rest of the residents, along with city offices and commercial properties, use City of Austin water.

Katie Phillips, director of Public Works and Environmental Studies for the City of Sunset Valley, said the decision to put everyone on Austin water was the only logical response to the aquifer district’s water-use restrictions.

“When we go to critical-stage drought, the aquifer requires 20 percent reduction. We would not be able to meet that pumpage goal,” Phillips said.

Historic permit holders are required to cut usage by 30 percent.

District encourages move

Gary Franklin, Precinct 2 board director for the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, said to relieve strain on the aquifer, he hopes more people will consider switching water sources.

“It is a precious, limited resource,” Franklin said. “We only give out conditional permits. In order to get water from the Barton Springs for a typical developer, you have to have an alternate source to go to.”

In an attempt to wean subdivisions off the aquifer water, Franklin said the district reviews permits to see if some can access City of Austin water.

“We don’t want to take something from someone, making their property worth less, but we still want to reduce the quantity of water being used,” Franklin said. “We try to reduce, reduce, reduce — basically to ensure that the level and flows that we are exhibiting now are maintained.”

Yet even those levels are drastically low. In December, the district declared a critical stage drought status, measuring water levels to be about 40 feet below normal.

Brian Hunt, senior hydrologist at BS/EACD, said two to three months of creek flow is necessary to recharge the aquifer.

“We really need a sustained period of above-average rainfall,” Hunt said. “It can’t just happen at once; we need sustained rain. Eventually, what fills up the aquifer is when the creeks are flowing.”

Through new techniques and outreach programs, including a summer workshop for science teachers, Hunt said the district is working toward maximizing rainfall and reducing consumption.

Water, water, anywhere?

Meanwhile, the City of Austin is looking for ways to reduce, reuse and recycle water.

When the Green Water Treatment Plant closed in September, the city ceased using Barton Springs as a source of drinking water.

“This is our second year of a real big push to intensify some of these programs,” said Daryl Slusher, assistant director for Environmental Affairs and Conservation at the City of Austin Water Utility Department.

In 1998, the city signed a contract with the Lower Colorado River Authority and prepaid for water up to a certain amount, of which the city is currently using about three-fourths, Slusher said.

“When we hit that level of use for two years in a row, then we have to start paying the market rate,” Slusher said. “So that’s just another reason for citizens to conserve.”

Conservation programs including watering restrictions, rainfall catchments and low-flow toilet rebates have helped to create the optimism in the department, even in the face of population growth and aging infrastructures.

“Thousands of our citizens have responded very positively to the new water ordinance last year,” Slusher said. “I’ve been very pleased with the Austin community.”

Last year, the city sent out letters to the top 5,000 consumers notifying them of programs available, such as a free irrigation consultation aimed at reducing wasteful systems and practices. Slusher said this resulted in much lower water usage on peak days than previously projected.

Reclaimed water

The city is also developing the means necessary to use reclamation water.

“Right now, we’re building a reclaimed water tank and a line down Red River Street that will take reclaimed water to UT. They’re ready for it,” Slusher said.

Suitable for use in cooling towers, air conditioning and irrigation systems, the reclaimed water will be pumped through purple pipes to ensure utility workers do not confuse it with potable water.

The city will target large, high-tech corporations and commercial developments in the area, but residences will not be offered reclaimed water anytime soon, Slusher said.

“That’s going to be a very significant water savings,” he said. “It’s fast developing; within two years we’ll have it at UT.”

Still, officials agree that conservation efforts must continue to be at the forefront of any water issue.

“Water can be taken for granted,” Slusher said. “You just turn on the faucet and it comes out.”