WaterWise Commercial News | Fall 2018

Emergency Water Use Restrictions Lifted

On October 29, 2018, Austin Water lifted the week-long boil water notice. Emergency water use restrictions were also lifted; affecting commercial water use.  The remaining restrictions were lifted on November 13, 2018 when the utility’s water treatment systems had sufficiently recovered from the water treatment issues relating to high turbidity and other water quality issues resulting from the recent flooding and upstream floodgate operations.  With the lakes full and treatment system problems resolved, Austin Water is now in Conservation Stage for normal conditions.  For more information, go to: http://www.austintexas.gov/department/watering-restrictions.

Breweries to the Rescue

When the boil water notice was issued, Austin breweries stepped up to offer free boiled water to their neighbors.  Boiled water and kegs to hold it were donated to animal shelters, hospices and anyone who walked in looking for water.

Breweries also offered boiled water to coffee shops, juice bars and other breweries so that they could remain open.  At least one brewery curbed production to save water in response to the city’s request to conserve water. 
According to news reports, among the breweries that helped out included:

• Black Star Co-Op Pub and Brewery
• Hold Out
• the Brewers Table
• Blue Owl Brewery
• North by Northwest Brewery
• Jester King Brewery
• Brewtorium Brewery and Kitchen
• St. Elmo Brewing Company
• Oasis Texas Brewing
• Pinthouse Pizza
• Hops& Grain
• Zilker Brewing Company
• Live Oak Brewing
• Uncle Billy's Brewery and
• Whitestone Brewery

“Austin’s craft beer community has always shown a strong commitment to water conservation and sustainability practices,” said Mark Jordan, Environmental Conservation Program Manager with Austin Water.  We appreciate very much their tremendous efforts to help the city through this emergency situation.”

Council to Take Action November 29, 2018 on Water Forward - Austin's Integrated Water Resource Plan

The Austin City Council is scheduled to take action on Austin’s integrated water resources plan at its November 29, 2018 regular meeting at Austin City Hall, 301 W 2nd St. The meeting begins at 10:00 am. The plan, known as Water Forward, identifies future water needs and strategies to meet those needs such as conservation, technological innovation, and additional supply options. Many of the strategies include requirements for new commercial development and incentives to retrofit existing facilities.
Proposed strategies include:
 

• Dual plumbing required for all new development to facilitate reclaimed and auxiliary water use
• Landscape ordinances that include limitations on all new development for turf grass areas, irrigated areas and/or areas where an automatic irrigation system may be used; 
• Required submission of estimated water use for new commercial development and the use of water budgets based on building water use benchmarking and efficiency standards
• Required use of alternative onsite water sources (e.g., rainwater, storm water, gray water) for new development
• Enhancement/expansion of AW’s landscape transformation incentives
• Enhancement of irrigation system efficiency ordinances and AW’s incentive programs
• Implementation of an automated meter infrastructure and reporting system (“smart” meters)
• Expansion of AW’s reclaimed water (treated wastewater) storage and distribution system
• Enhancement of AW’s system water loss prevention and reduction program
• Aquifer storage and recovery (Carrizo Wilcox)
• Indirect reuse of reclaimed water
• Off-channel reservoir to capture and use unallocated water
• Brackish groundwater desalination

 
Prior to taking action, the council will be briefed on the plan at its November 13, 2018 work session.  A second briefing, if needed, has been tentatively scheduled for the council’s November 27 work session.
 
For more information about Water Forward or to sign up for e-newsletter, please visit austintexas.gov/waterforward.

New Annual Cooling Tower Inspection Forms Make Reporting Easier for 2019

Those with cooling towers installed prior to 2008, have previously registered their tower with the city, and submitted an inspection in 2018 will find it much easier to submit their annual reports in 2019.

Owners of properties with cooling towers are required to submit an annual inspection form by March 1 each year.  Inspections must be performed by an independent, third-party, Texas licensed, mechanical or chemical engineer or a person holding a TDLR Texas Air Conditioning and Refrigeration License (Class A) with a combined endorsement for process cooling and refrigeration. All properties with cooling towers must also register them with Austin Water. Registration information helps identify potential water-saving upgrades and available rebates.

However, if a cooling tower was installed prior to January 1, 2008, is registered with Austin Water, and has been previously inspected under the program, then the tower will not need another full inspection. Rather, these owners will only be required to fill out the much shorter Part A of the inspection form.  However, if the tower is subsequently replaced, or a new one is installed, then the new tower will need to be registered and inspected.

Over 300 towers were registered last year, with a median capacity of 442 tons and running at an average of five cycles of concentration.  Most of the towers were installed prior to 2008, before water efficiency requirements took effect.  One tower was almost 50 years old. Nevertheless, most towers were meeting the 2008 water efficiency and equipment requirements; including meeting at least five cycles of concentration, having makeup and blowdown submeters, a conductivity controller, overflow alarm, and drift eliminators.  The most common missing piece of equipment was the overflow alarm.  

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) was the first to take advantage of the cooling tower assessment program and apply for water efficiency upgrades under Austin Water’s Bucks for Business rebate program. Over 40 rebate applications were submitted by AISD ranging from water treatment systems to increase cycles to remote conductivity monitoring to detect leaks and overflows. 

An assessment was conducted for Akins High School whose water treatment system normally uses 2 million gallons per year in makeup water. The results estimated that a new water treatment system will increase cycles of concentration from six to 12 cycles, resulting in a 10% water savings, or about 200,000 gallons a year. AISD also plans on installing conductivity controllers at all 40 of its sites with towers that include remote monitoring and alarm features. This is estimated to save 19,180 gallons per day at each school, or an estimated savings of 7 million gallons per year.

The Austin City Council approved the mandatory registration and annual inspection requirements on June 8, 2017 as part of the adoption of local amendments to the 2015 Uniform Mechanical Code §1126.0(5) and 1226.0.1 effective September 6, 2017.  Registration and inspection forms can be found at Austin Water’s COOLING TOWER EFFICIENCY PROGRAM.