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Water Conservation Technical Paper

Water Conservation Technical Paper. Water and Wastewater Study Oversight Committee May 21, 2009. Scope Question. How can the City and County implement consistent water conservation standards and ordinances to help sustain long-term water supplies?

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Water Conservation Technical Paper

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  1. Water Conservation Technical Paper Water and Wastewater Study Oversight Committee May 21, 2009

  2. Scope Question How can the City and County implement consistent water conservation standards and ordinances to help sustain long-term water supplies? How can the City and County work together to ensure that water conservation protects future water supply, to simply makes more population growth possible?

  3. Current Conditions: The Drivers • Comply with Regulatory Requirements • Manage Operational Constraints Associated with Seasonal Demand • Preserve and enhance Quality of Life • Protect the Environment • Foster an Ethic of Stewardship and Sustainability • Be Fiscally Responsible • Conserve Natural Resources Through Planning

  4. Current Approaches • Changing Customer Water Use Behaviors (Modify through Education and Price Signals) • Modifying Existing Construction: Remodeling and Retrofitting • Building in Water Conserving Features in New Construction: Efficiency measures through land use regulation and construction standards

  5. Paper Development Process: Interdisciplinary Team Karen LaMartina-TW Fernando Molina-TW Chris Avery-TW Tom Arnold-TW Ries Lindley-TW Sandy Elder-TW Ilene Grossman-TW Linda Smith-TW Irene Ogata-COT Planning Leslie Liberti-COT Sustainability Ann Audrey-COT Sustainability Ernie Duarte-COT DSD Nicole Ewing-Gavin- COT Project Coordinator Kathy Chavez-PC RWRD Lilian Von Rago-PC RWRD Greg Hitt-PC RWRD Suzanne Shields-PC FCD Evan Canfield-PC FCD Carla Blackwell-PC DSD Arlan Colton-PC DSD Richard Franz-Undar-PC DSD Yves Khawam-PC DSD Tedra Fox-PC Sustainability Nicole Fyffe-PC Admin. Melaney Seacat-PC Project Coordinator

  6. Areas of Difference • Authorities and Mandates • Performance-Based vs. Prescriptive Approaches • Ability to Enforce

  7. Areas of Similarity • Sustainability Policies and Goals • Water Conservation in City / County Land Use Plans • Water Conservation Requirements in Zoning and Building codes • Green Building Programs • Landscaping Codes

  8. Opportunities for Consistency • Reduce Future Water Demand In New Construction at the Rezoning, Development Plan and Building Permit Stages of Development • In the Rezoning and Development Stages, Adopt Consistent, Performance-Based Approaches • In the Permitting Stages, Adopt Common Standards and Evaluate Use of Consistent Ordinances • For the Existing Built Environment, Conduct Joint education efforts to Increase the Consistency of Water Conservation Messages

  9. How Does Water Conservation Protect Future Supplies? • Shore Up Current Conditions • Preserve Options for the Future • Water Use Efficiency: Quality of Life

  10. Recommendation #1: Establish Common Water Efficiency Goals • Evaluate the feasibility of establishing a common, measurable water conservation goal or water use efficiency goal. (Community wide) • Identify common water use efficiency goals at the neighborhood scale. • Integrate the shared goals into the land use plans of the City and County. • Engage stakeholders in Phases III and Beyond.

  11. Recommendation #2:Improve Consistency in Water Conservation Standards • For new construction at the building or individual lot scale, implement common baseline standards for interior and exterior water use reductions • When completed, Pima County should evaluate integrating the City of Tucson’s Rainwater and Greywater Harvesting Codes and Standards as appropriate into its development codes, standards and guidelines. • When Completed, City of Tucson should evaluate Integrating Pima County’s performance-based approach to achieving water conservation at the subdivision and development plan stage (i.e. adopt a consistent menu of conservation measures.

  12. Recommendation #3 Develop Joint Education Programs Build upon existing education programs, develop a common vocabulary and develop new programs to: • Communicate water conservation and water efficiency goals • Raise awareness of progress in achieving water conservation goals • Explain the link between water consumption and energy use • Promote consistent messages about the reasons for water conservation

  13. Recommendation #4Enhance Planning and Evaluation • Evaluate Trends • Develop new or enhance existing measurement and reporting systems • Build upon previous advancements in water conservation program evaluation

  14. Recommendation # 5: Link Water Conservation to Protecting Future Supplies • Develop voluntary ways for customers to earmark water savings to specific projects that preserve options for the future and improve current conditions. Example projects: • Aquifer augmentation efforts, • Expanding green spaces (more ballparks and parks), • Allocating water to sustain or restore riparian areas. • Develop a voluntary green building standard that incentivizes energy and water resource efficiency practices at the building scale, in both the City and County.

  15. Questions?

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