APPENDIX 1
A Summary of Water Conservation Requirements 30 TAC 288, Part I, Subchapter A The following is a summary of the required contents for Water Conservation Plans (WCP) as defined in 30 TAC 288, Part I, Subchapter A. The information summarized below pertains to municipalities, irrigation systems and wholesales water suppliers. Water Conservation Plans for Municipal Uses by Public Water Suppliers At a minimum, the following information must be included in the WCP for all municipalities. A utility profile should be developed that includes population and customer data, water use data, water supply system data and wastewater system data. Conservation goals for the WCP should clearly define the municipal per capita water goals, the principle on which they were based, and a timeframe in which they will be accomplished. Metering devices with 5% accuracy should be installed to measure the amount of water diverted from the source supply. A program for metering water uses and maintaining or replacing meters should be implemented. Inspections of the water distribution system for leaks, illegal connections and abandonment should be conducted on a regular basis. Programs should be initiated to educate the public on water conservation practices and water rates structured to discourage excessive use. A Reservoir Systems Operation Plan should be established to coordinate water management between reservoirs in a common watershed to achieve optimal use of the water supply. The municipality should officially adopt the WCP and incorporate it into official policy and identify the enforcement authority for the plan. All coordination between regional water planning groups should be documented to ensure consistency. Requirements for municipalities having or anticipating populations over 5,000 Municipalities having or anticipating populations over 5,000 are required to include the following information in addition to the minimum requirements previously discussed in their WCP. Monitoring programs should be implemented for leak detection repair and water loss to reduce unaccounted for water use. A records management system should be used to document the amount of water pumped, delivered, sold or lost. The system should divide water sales and uses into the following user classes: Residential, Commercial, Public/Institutional and Industrial. All customers entering into wholesale contracts after the implementation of the WCP, must develop and implement water conservation measures consistent with the 30 TAC 288. Additional Conservation Strategies Additional strategies may be required if the Water Supplier or the Commission determine it is necessary to achieve the goals of the WCP. For instance, water rates could be structured to encourage conservation or plumbing codes established that require the installation of water-conserving fixtures in all new or renovated structures. Wastewater and greywater should be recycled whenever possible. A method for monitoring the WCP should also be established to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan. Any other
appropriate water conservation strategies developed by the Water Supplier may be implemented to facilitate the achievement of the WCP goals. The following programs can be implemented if deemed necessary by the Water Supplier or the Commission. They include programs to assist with the replace and/or retrofit existing structures with water-conserving fixtures, the development of landscape water management strategies and the control of distribution system pressure. Any WCP plan developed in accordance with Texas Water Development Board requirements is acceptable to the TNRCC pursuant a memorandum of understanding between the two agencies. Water Conservation Plans for Industrial or Mining Use Information in the WCP pertaining to industrial and mining purposes should adhere to the following requirements. A description of how water is diverted from the source and transported to the facility should be given in the plan. This should include a detailed description of the amount and use of water and how it is discharged, reused or disposed. Methods used to measure the amount of water diverted from the source should also be included in the plan. Information on leak detection and water loss should be given, as well as information on efficiency improvements to be gained through equipment upgrades. Any other measures, which the user believes will facilitate the achievement of the WCP goals, can be implemented if deemed appropriate by the commission. Water Conservation Plans for Irrigation Use Irrigation system providers as well as individuals are required to comply with the goals of the WCP. The following is a description of these requirements. WCPs prepared in accordance with requirements of the Soil Conservation Service, the State Soil and Water Conservation Board or any other federal or state agency are acceptable for submission pursuant to a memorandum of understanding between the Commission and the agency. Systems providing water to more than one user should maintain an inventory of the supplier’s water storage, conveyance and delivery structures. This should include documentation of the supplier’s operating rules, pricing policy and water delivery practices. A user profile should be developed and include the size of the service area, the number of customers and type of crops being irrigated. Information must be included about the type of irrigation and drainage system and the historical and project acreage served. Specific water conservation goals should be established that define the maximum allowable losses for storage and distribution systems. Methods used to divert water from the source supply should be description in the WCP. Likewise, water deliveries, sales and losses, leak detection and water loss should be monitored through management programs. Assistance programs should also be created to aid in the development of onfarm water conservation and pollution prevention. Any wholesale contract entered into after the implementation of the WCP must require the customer to comply with the water conservation requirements defined in 30 TAC 288. If the customer intends to resell the water, the contract for resale must also require compliance. Adoption of the WCP should be indicated in the official policy of the supplier.
The suppliers may implement any additional practices deemed appropriate for achieving the goals of the WCP pending approval by the Commission. Coordination with regional water planning groups should be documented to ensure consistency with the WCP. Information about individual water use for agricultural purposes should also be included in the WCP. A description of the production process and irrigation method should be given and include the type of crop being irrigated, acreage and soil type of the area, monthly irrigation diversions and crop rotation schedules. The amount of water diverted from the source and the specific conservation and pollution prevention goals should be clearly defined in the WCP. Information on water conserving equipment, leak detection and water loss control methods should also be included in the WCP. The implementation of watering schedules and erosion control measures should be done to reduce runoff and increase infiltration. Tail water reuse and any other appropriate methods that reduce waste and assist in achieving WCP goals may also be implemented. Water Conservation Plans for Wholesale Water Suppliers Information about wholesaler's service area, population, customer data, water use, water supply and wastewater data should be provided in the WCP. Specific conservation goals should be defined and include target per capita water use goals for the service area and maximum acceptable unaccounted-for water loss. The basis for these goals and a timeframe for their achievement should be defined. A description of how water will be diverted from source supply should also be given. Monitoring and management programs for determining water deliveries, sales and loses, metering, leak detection and repair of the water distribution and storage system should be established. Any wholesale contracts must require compliance with the WCP on the part of the customer after the plan has been implemented. A Reservoir Systems Operation Plan should be created to coordinate reservoir operations within the same watershed and optimize the available water supplies. The WCP should be officially adopted and means of enforcement clearly defined. All coordination with the Regional Water Planning Group should be documented to ensure consistency with the WCP. If necessary the wholesaler may structure customer rates to encourage conservation. Programs designed to assist customers with conservation and pollution prevention may also accompany the restructuring of water rates. Any other appropriate means may also be employed to achieve the goals of the WCP. Water Conservation Plans Submitted with a Water Right Application for New or Additional State Water Any WCP that proposes additional appropriation of water should be submitted with consideration of water conservation and pollution prevention. Applicants should evaluate all feasible alternatives, including increased conservation, as opposed to the appropriation of additional water. It shall be the burden of proof of the applicant to demonstrate that no feasible alternative to the proposed appropriation exists and that the requested amount of water is necessary and reasonable.