Water Conservation: In Plain Sight Central Texas Water Conservation 2014 Symposium San Marcos, Texas Austin Water, Water Conservation

Texas Drought % of the state in the exceptional level of drought Expecting continued dry conditions and a possible Stage 3 declaration Using a Water Conservation Code that was written for short term conditions 2007 Stage 3 Code requirements would have a huge economic and environmental impact on the City.

2007 Water Conservation Code Stage 3 Regulations:  No outdoor irrigation (except hand-held, one day/week, limited time)  No tree watering  No car washing  No swimming pool filling  No building or sidewalk washing  No variances 3

Public Input Strategy Hire a moderator Invite the public Don’t have a pre-determined result in mind Set the stage o Why o What are your goals o Topics for discussion o Topics not for discussion o Process Mix it up Ask them their goals and listen to the response Ask for feedback and MAKE ADJUSTMENTS! Meetings with key stakeholders Progress reports Opportunity for review

Stronger conservation measures in earliest stages of drought Year round watering maximum 2/week, Water waste prohibited Commercial irrigation evaluations Universal vehicle wash standards Community support Industry and business support City Council Support Our results:

This is the Way we Wash our Cars …Our Story

Actions: 1.Contacted the Southwest Car Wash Association and the Association of New Car Dealerships 2.Contacted washing equipment specialists. 3.Made an appointment to visit a car wash. 4.Realized that we had a lot to learn about car washing At the Carwash

Rising Questions Who washes cars? Other vehicles? What are we going to regulate? Is car washing in drought necessary? How much water does a car wash use? How do we communicate a need for change to those industries that wash vehicles? How do we encourage that industry to cooperate? How do we communicate our decisions to the public? 8

Who Washes Cars Vehicles? Car washes Car dealerships Car rentals Businesses/governments that manage vehicle fleets (construction service) Power washers

Made a distinction to target the equipment rather than the facility. Allowed us to broaden the scope of our regulation Gave latitude to the operators Equipment or Facility What to Regulate?

IS CAR WASHING NECESSARY? New Car Dealerships Single New Car Lot can have a $20,000,000 inventory at any given time A Customer Satisfaction Survey is built into the receipt of their inventory. Big question: Was the car clean when received? Bonuses to the dealership and the employee are based on customer response Studies show that customers expect clean shiny cars Contracts with car washing facilities Construction Operations Mechanical issues Safety issues Public health issue Fire trucks Food Trucks Garbage Trucks

What We Learned Water efficiency standards are set by the car wash associations Car washes operate on very little profit Water is their biggest expense: and therefore their biggest motivation to reduce Most car washes recycle their water Home car wash uses gallons of water per car. Commercial carwash on the highest setting will use about 45. Water is collected for stormwater treatment or reuse.

MAKING IT HAPPEN 1.Identified our Stakeholders 2.Brought them in as a collective group 3.Explained our goal 4.Requested their input 5.Drafted language for Their review 6.Held Public meeting

14 VEHICLE WASH REGULATIONS Definitions Vehicle Wash Facility: A permanently-located business that washes vehicles or other mobile equipment with water or water-based products, including but not limited to self-service car washes, full service car washes, roll-over/inbay style car washes, and facilities managing vehicle fleets or vehicle inventory Determined the required efficiency standards Spray wands at 3.5 gallons per minute for cars /10 gallons per minute for commercial equipment Drive through friction or touchless -35 gallons/vehicle In-bay automatic rollover- 45 gallons /vehicle Reuse of RO reject

Plumbing Inspection Created an annual efficiency reporting program Requires a licensed plumber to perform the efficiency evaluation Identified every vehicle washing facility Separated them by zip code Properties that fail must turn off the offending part of their system until a new evaluation can be performed Those facilities that maintain a passing efficiency evaluation may continue to operate during drought. Enforcement for noncompliance

Jadell Hines Environmental Conservation Program Manager Water Conservation Division Austin Water (512) “It is vain to talk of the interest of the community, without understanding what is the interest of the individual.” Jeremy Bentham