1. State of Oregon Water Efficiency Standards
PNWS-AWWA Conference
Eugene, Oregon
May 2014
Introduction…
We’re going to be looking at…
Oregon’s water use efficiency standards
and…
Things that some Oregon cities are doing to meet those standards.
State of Oregon Water Efficiency Standards
Lisa Jaramillo
Water Right Services Division
Oregon Water Resources Department

2. Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD):
Who we are…
Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD):
State agency
Administer laws governing surface and ground water resources throughout the state
First, though, I want to tell you a little bit about our Department.
OWRD, is the state agency responsible for administering Oregon’s water laws.
We’ve been around, in one form or another,
since Oregon’s Water Code went into place in 1909.
The Director’s Office carries out the water management policies and rules set by the Water Resources Commission, which consists of 7 members representing different areas of the state.
We also have 4 other Divisions. Those are…
Field Services: Regulatory arm – Watermasters, etc.
Technical Services: The science of water – streamflow measurement data, water availability and GW hydrogeologists
Water Right Services: Permitting, Transfers & Certificates
and Administrative Services: The division that pays the bills
Evans Reservoir near The Dalles, Oregon

3. OWRD’s core functions:
What we do…
OWRD’s core functions:
Protect existing water rights
Facilitate voluntary streamflow restoration
Increase the understanding of demands on the state’s water resources
Provide accurate & accessible water resource data
Facilitate water supply solutions
The Department’s primary functions are:
-To protect existing water rights;
-Restore streamflow through instream lease and transfer applications;
-Gain a better understanding of the demands being placed on the state’s water;
-Gather water resource data and make it available to the public and other agencies at all levels (local, state & federal); and
-To facilitate water supply solutions………
For the last several years, OWRD – together with other state natural resource agencies, has been working to establish Oregon’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy.
The Strategy contemplates future demands and pressures on Oregon’s water sources, and...
Highlights potential supply solutions such as:
New or expanded storage (above & below ground);
Conservation;
ACW; and
Reuse.

4. Beneficial use of water
Water must be used for a beneficial purpose
Cannot waste water
In Oregon, water must be used beneficially…
Examples of Beneficial Use include:
Domestic uses and Municipal type uses;
Irrigation of pastures –OR- other crops; and
Industrial and commercial uses of water.
AND… we also consider
Instream uses for fish an recreational purposes to be Beneficial Use.
So, these are just a few examples of water being beneficially use…. There are many more.
The main point, though…. Is that water cannot be wasted.
, it cannot be wasted.

5. What is “waste” of water?
In Oregon, “waste” is defined as:
“…the continued use of more water than is needed to satisfy the specific beneficial uses for which a right was granted”
OAR (16)
Oregon defines “waste” as the continued use of more water than is necessary to satisfy the authorized use allowed by a water right.
So, it’s got to be a beneficial use of water…
…You can’t be diverting more water than you need.

6. Regulation of wasteful practices
OWRD has the authority to enforce against, and to prevent, wasteful uses of water
OAR Chapter 690, Division 400
OAR Chapter 690, Division 410
OAR (Oregon Administrative Rule)
One of the ways that we prevent waste and protect existing water rights is through the regulation of water users that are wasting water.
We have authority under OAR Chapter 690, Div. 400 & 410 to enforce against, and prevent, wasteful water use practices.

7. Oregon’s Efficiency standards
Water use efficiency standards in Oregon:
Set in OAR Chapter 690, Division 86
Work to achieve 15% water loss
Then, reduce to no more than 10% water loss
Actions to achieve these standards are:
Prescribed in OAR
Implemented under a Division 86 Water Management and Conservation Plan (WMCP)
We also have some authority in OAR Chap. 690, Div. 86
as it relates to water use efficiency standards.
Generally, it prescribes that suppliers need to work to reduce water losses to below 15%…
…Then, once that is achieved, we want them to work on reducing that figure to no more than 10%.
Conservation actions to achieve these standards are:
Prescribed in Division 86; and
Implemented under a Division 86 WMCP.

8. Water Management and Conservation Plans (WMCP)
A WMCP is a tool to help water suppliers:
So, requiring WMCPs is another way that we work to improve water use efficiency and prevent waste.
A WMCP is a tool to help water suppliers:
-Evaluate their current water use (including losses) and their future water demands;
And
-Manage their existing water sources in the most efficient and logical manner possible.
We also want suppliers to consider alternative water sources, including conservation, to help meet their needs;
We want them to be prepared for water supply shortages and emergencies.
NOTE: I would like to point out, though, that…
Regardless of whether a water supplier has an approved WMCP, OWRD can invoke its authority under OAR Chapter 690, Divisions 400 & 410 to enforce against (and prevent) wasteful uses of water.
Evaluate water demands
Manage existing water sources
Consider alternative water sources, including conservation, for future supply
Prepare for water supply shortages or emergencies

9. When is a WMCP required? OWRD Actions Other Agency Actions
New Water Use Permit issued
Water Use Permit Extension of Time Approved
WMCP Update
Schedule specified in previously approved WMCP
Other Agency Actions
Condition of Loan (Infrastructure Finance Authority)
Capacity Analysis (Oregon Health Authority)
Generally, OWRD requires a WMCP to be submitted:
As a condition of a new water use permit;
As a condition of approval for a Permit Extension of Time; or
As an Update to a previously approved Water Management and Conservation Plan.
But, submittal of a WMCP to our Department can also be triggered by actions of other State Agencies.
For example, submittal of a WMCP may be required:
As a condition of a Loan from the Infrastructure Finance Authority; Or
As part of a Capacity Analysis for the Oregon Health Authority.

10. WMCP Conservation Requirements
All municipal water suppliers that submit a WMCP must have:
Fully metered system
Annual water audits
Meter testing and maintenance program
Rate structure based, in part, on the quantity of water metered at the service connection
Leak detection program, if total water losses exceed 10%
All municipal water suppliers that submit a WMCP must have…
-A fully metered system;
-Perform annual water audits;
-Have a meter testing and maintenance program;
-Have a rate structure based, at least in part, on the amount of water used;
and
-if their total water losses exceed 10%, they must have a regularly scheduled leak detection program,

11. WMCP Conservation Requirements
Additionally, suppliers that:
Serve more than 7,500 people
-OR-
Need to initiate/expand diversion of water under an extended permit with environmental resource issues…
Must implement:
System-wide leak repair or line replacement program, if total water losses exceed 15%
Additionally,
Suppliers that serve more than 7,500 people
-OR-
Need to further develop the use of water under an extended water use permit with environmental resource issues (ST&E, Quality, CGWA)
…Must implement a system-wide leak repair and line replacement program….
…if their total water losses exceed 15%.
Here again… once they’ve achieved 15% water loss, we then want them to work toward 10% loss.
So, now, that we’ve talked about the efficiency standards,
I want to highlight a few cities that have been working to achieve better tracking and more efficient water use in their systems.

12. Oregon success stories - city of gresham -
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
Replaced all small residential and commercial meters (1-inch & smaller)
~16,000 AMI meters installed over
a 7-month period in 2011
Began replacing large meters (industrial/commercial) in 2012
Installed 535 AMI meters (last fall, 15 to go)
Benefits:
Faster response time to leaks
Anticipate 2%-5% accuracy improvement
The City of Gresham undertook a project to replace its meters with AMI or Advanced Metering Infrastructure technology.
After much planning and preparation, in 2011 over the course of about 7 months, the City replaced all of its small residential and commercial meters to AMI. This was about 16,000 meters that were replaced.
Gresham also began replacing all of its large industrial and commercial meters with AMI last year. As of last fall, 535 of these meters have been replaced and they only had 15 to go.
The City indicates that this has improved their ability to identify and respond to leaks in a much faster timeframe.
The City anticipates a 2 to 5 percent improvement in accuracy with the new meters.

13. Oregon success stories - City of corvallis -
2003/2004 leak detection survey
80 miles of pipeline / 53 leaks
Leak repairs saved the City an
estimated 30.5 MG of water per
year and $43,000
2009 leak detection survey
129 miles of pipeline / 44 leaks
Process modifications at water treatment plant
Saves an estimated 8 MG gallons of water per year
The City of Corvallis has put a lot of effort into leak detection surveys.
In 2003/2004, surveyed 80 miles of pipeline and discovered 53 leaks.
Repair of those leaks saved Corvallis an estimated 30.5 million gallons per year and about $43,000 in lost revenue.
Their 2009 survey covered 129 miles of pipeline and revealed 44 leaks.
40 of which were at fire hydrants & required only routine maintenance.
They also made some process modifications at their water treatment plant.
At the end of a backwash, they used to run the filter water to waste and let it rest in a sludge pond.
Now, they’ve eliminated running the filter water to waste,
and just let it sit until the water quality improves to an acceptable level to move it through the system.
This modification saves Corvallis about 8 MG of water per year…
which is about 1 day’s worth of their production during the winter time.

14. Oregon success stories - city of bend -
Prior to 1998, 51% of Bend’s 12,300+ service connections were unmetered
Bend is now a fully metered system (since December 2004)
Recently upgraded to AMI technology
All fire hydrant use within Bend’s service area requires metering
Better tracking of non-fire-related hydrant water use
Prior to 1998, over 6,300 of Bend’s 12,300+ service connections were unmetered. That’s about 51% of their connections.
Over a period of six years, Bend diligently worked to meter all of its service connections,
…and has been fully metered since December 2004.
… Recently upgraded their meters to AMI technology.
They also implemented a program to equip all fire hydrants within the Bend service area with permanent water fill stations and portable “card lock” accessed units for use by contractors for construction purposes and water hauling.
So now, not only does Bend have better tracking of water use at its service connections, but also of water used for non-fire-related hydrant use.

15. Oregon success stories - city of hillsboro -
Water audits between 2002 and 2008 showed an average system gain of 10% (or -10% loss)
Began troubleshooting to determine cause of system gain
Eventually traced to 12 sonic master meters
Over 10 years old
Could not be calibrated
Replaced with magnetic meters
Now in range of 3% water loss
Hillsboro is a fully metered system with more than 24,000 service connections.)
They test meters greater than 3 inches each year,
And test meters less than 3 inches every two years.
They use an increasing block rate structure for most customer categories…
And … now have meters for tracking bulk water.
But, even with all of this, the water audit was showing an average system gain of 10%. Basically, it was indicating that they were making water.
Of course, they knew this was not accurate.
So, they did some trouble shooting to try and find the cause, and…
Eventually, they traced it to their Master Meters.
Of their 23 Master Meters…
12 were Sonic.
They were over 10 years old, and
They could NOT be calibrated.
They replaced the sonic Master Meters with New Magnetic Meters…
…which resulted in reversing this 9-year system gain of 10%...
to a 3% loss.

16. Oregon Success stories - City of Columbia City -
In early 2002, Columbia City’s water losses had reached 35%
By 2010, the City had reduced its water losses down to 10% through:
Water audits performed on a monthly basis
Leak detection practices
Giving high priority to repair those leaks
Also recently received funding to undertake a new project to control system pressure
80% of the City’s system currently exceeds 80 psi
In early 2002, Columbia City’s water losses were at 35%.
During this time, Columbia City was obtaining a large portion of its water supply through wholesale purchases from the City of St. Helens.
… So this 35% water loss was becoming very expensive for Columbia City.
So, they implemented monthly water audits, an aggressive leak detection and made the repair of any identified leaks a high priority…
And……by 2010, they had reduced their water losses down to 10%.
The City is also planning to reduce water loss with a recently funded project to control pressure within its system.
80% of their system currently exceeds 80 psi.
They plan to improve existing pressure reducing valves and add some new ones; and
They’ll go from 3 pressure zones to 5 pressures zones.

17. Oregon Success stories - Eugene Water & Electric Board -
Toilet rebate program
About 1,600 inefficient toilets were replaced between 1995 and 2008
Saves an estimated 34 MG of water per year
Sustainable Landscape Program workshop
EWEB assisted Lane County Extension Service with development of program
Promotes efficient landscape irrigation
In 2012, residents within EWEB’s service area reduced outdoor water use by 205,000 gallons
The Eugene Water & Electric Board uses a wide variety of water conservation related tools and programs to promote more efficient use of water.
Examples of this include…
Implementation of a toilet rebate program.
Between 1995 and 2008, 1,600 toilets were replaced with more efficient models…
…resulting in an estimate 34 MG of water savings each year.
EWEB also assisted the Lane County Extension Service in developing the Sustainable Landscape Program workshop.
The content developed by EWEB is now taught by Master Gardeners to residents within EWEB’s service area
and includes guidance on efficient landscape irrigation methods.
In 2012, residents within EWEB’s service area reduced their outdoor water use by 205,000 gallons.

18. Oregon success stories - Medford water commission -
Launched a website to promote efficient water use for landscaping
Medford Water Commission is another supplier that focused on efficient landscape irrigation.
They had a need to trim their peak day water use in order to defer construction of a new water treatment plant.
So, they launched a website to promote efficient water use for landscaping tailored to their climate.
It’s pretty cool…….you can access the website at…
They also worked with the City of Medford to revise its landscape ordinance.
It was developed under a City-appointed Committee which included…
Landscape architects and contractors,
A vendor from the irrigation equipment community,
An environmental representative; and
An Engineer representing the City’s governmental review and permitting bodies.
It concentrates on reducing “high water use landscapes”
By establishing landscape design standards that focus on:
-Lawn configuration
-Soil composition; and
-Irrigation methods.
It just went into effect. So, it will be interesting over the next few years to see how these tools affect MWC’s peak water demands.
Assisted City of Medford in recent revision of its Landscape Ordinance
Focused on reduction of high water use landscapes
Established landscape design standards
Lawn configuration
Soil composition
Irrigation method

19. Links and Resources OWRD Website: Oregon Water Law:
Oregon Water Law:
Municipal Water Management:
OWRD Conservation Share-House webpage:
Here are some links to resources that can be found on OWRD’s website…

20. Questions ? Lisa Jaramillo General OWRD Phone: 503-986-0900
Water Management & Conservation
OWRD Water Right Services Division
Phone:
General OWRD Phone:
OWRD Website:
Here is my contact information….
At this point, if anyone has any questions, I’d be happy to answer them.