Title
Update on Proposed Water Conservation Measures for Existing and New Development
Description
This report requests the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee recommend City Council approval on the Sustainable Desert City Development Policy, along with information related to water conservation efforts needed by further shortages on the Colorado River.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
Report
Summary
Water supply conditions on the Colorado River continue to decline. The two major Lower Basin reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, have dropped to storage levels not seen since they were constructed. On Aug. 16, 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (“Reclamation”) announced a Tier 2a shortage condition on the Colorado River for 2023. This means Phoenix supplies will be cut slightly, but not at a level that will impact customer deliveries. Reclamation announced in June 2022 the need to make more significant cuts to deliveries in order to save Lake Mead and Lake Powell; however, no plan has been forthcoming.
To adapt to a challenge of this magnitude, the City will have to embrace its heritage of water-problem solving and continue to increase public education and awareness and adopt institutional water conservation policies to maintain a pattern of sustainable growth and efficient water use.
In response to the Water Services Director's declaration of a Stage 1 Water Alert, on June 1, 2022, the Phoenix Water Services Department has increased public education and outreach, along with water conservation efforts, to help educate customers and City of Phoenix residents on why voluntary water conservation is essential to ensure a sustainable future for everyone. Below is a list of some of the work completed:
Outreach and Education
- Following the Stage 1 Alert declaration, a news release was issued which resulted in extensive coverage by local media;
- On June 6, 2022, Water Conservation Media Day was held in which reporters were invited to meet with the City’s subject matter experts in a model home to see simple conservation tools that help the average person use less water;
- In July and August of 2022 hosted the second cohort of Water Wranglers volunteers, resulting in more than 150 man-hours of water conservation and resources training for the community;
- In October 2022 the Water Services Department sent personalized mailers to over 350,000 single family homes, comparing water use at their home to other homes in the City and providing actionable conservation tips;
- Between Oct. 20 and Nov. 16, 2022, the City Manager’s Office and Water Services Department hosted Colorado River Shortage Town Halls in each Council District, with an additional town hall delivered virtually and to the media;
- Media campaigns were implemented throughout the fall using print, digital, radio, outdoor and Grocery TV; and,
- The City's Green Team and Water Services Department are in the process of presenting a series that focuses on outdoor water use and conservation for City of Phoenix employees, with hundreds of employees in attendance thus far.
- On Dec. 5, 2022 the Water Services Department hosted a Water Forum to discuss water conservation measures with a panel of water experts from outside of the City.
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- Conservation Efforts
- Since January 2022 more than 100,000,000 gallons of potential annual water savings have been identified through the HOA Efficiency Checkup Program;
- In spring 2022 the Cooling Tower Revolving Fund was launched;
- In spring 2022 Water Waste Door Hangers were developed and piloted;
- Over summer 2022 the Business Water Efficiency Checkup program was revamped and piloted to increase program efficiency;
- Landscape watering guidelines have been added as an enforceable standard in City-wide landscaping contract; and,
- A water conservation memorandum of understanding with cities from across the Southwest was agreed to, increasing coordination on water conservation.
As part of the conservation initiative, and by City Council direction, the Water Services and Planning and Development departments are working to develop a guide for future City Code updates applicable for new development to ensure that newly built projects use water in a sustainable manner.
In summer 2022 the Water Services Department developed and piloted a revamped Business Water Efficiency Checkup program. This program is designed to connect businesses to resources to support water saving retrofits, including the Cooling Tower Revolving Fund. The result of a Business Water Efficiency Checkup is a report that is equivalent to the “Conservation Plan” described in the Sustainable Desert Development Policy. Program outreach to existing “Large Water Users” (those utilizing more than 250,000 gallons per day) is already well under way, in particular in the healthcare, education, and government sectors.
The proposed “Sustainable Desert Development Policy- Water” would include the following:
1) Water conservation measures for new development to be used first as stipulations in rezoning cases and later as best practices to guide updates to the Zoning Ordinance, Building Code, and the Drainage Design Manual, and related processes; also, exploration of requirement for separate water meters for indoor and outdoor areas and enhanced requirements for swimming pools; and
2) Restrictions on new large water users and restrictions on annexations outside the current Water Services Department service area.
Phoenix has taken significant action to prepare the City for drought, including supporting construction of Gatewater and New Conservation Space resources on the Salt and Verde rivers, authorizing the Colorado River Resiliency Fund, funding “system conservation” to stabilize Lake Mead, participating in the “500+ Plan,” and constructing the “Drought Pipeline.”
Phoenix will continue to plan, invest, and conserve to ensure a sustainable future while providing safe, clean, and reliable water to its customers without interruption. Additionally, the City will continue to take proactive actions to prepare for even deeper shortages on the Colorado River as we strive to be the most sustainable desert city in the world.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
- The Water Conservation Ad Hoc Committee was established on Feb. 28, 2019, and presented to City Council in the March 14, 2019, General Information Packet; and
- The Water Conservation Ad Hoc Committee Report was reviewed and approved at the Dec. 10, 2019, City Council Policy Session.
- The Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee received Drought Management and Water Conservation Ad Hoc Committee updates on June 1, 2022.
- The Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee received an Update on Supply Shortages in the Colorado River on June 15, 2022.
- The Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee received an Update on Proposed Water Conservation Measures for New Development on Nov. 16, 2022.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Managers Karen Peters and Alan Stephenson and the Water Services and Planning and Development departments.