1. Orange County Board of County Commissioners
Orange County Utilities Water Conservation Program Saving Water for the Future
Good Afternoon Mayor Crotty, Commissioners, Comptroller Hainey, and County Administrator Lalchandani.
Today I’m here to discuss with you water conservation and the programs we have instituted in Orange County that help us
Presented to:
Orange County Board of County Commissioners
April 1, 2008

2. Water Conservation Background Customer Water Usage Profiles
Program Overview
Conservation Ordinance
Landscape Ordinance
New Programs and Projects
Water Rates
Summary

3. Background Water Resources Program
Surface Water Supply
Reclaimed Water
Stormwater
Groundwater Supply
Aquifer Recharge
Conservation 3

4. Background Water Conservation Program
Water conservation program since late 1980s
Both breadth and budget of program steadily grown over time
Originally rate-based
Passed Ordinance in 1993
Now, incentive, education, and regulation based with multiple initiatives
4 full-time staff
FY 08 Budget - $1.6 million 4

5. Background Water Conservation Program
Water Management District requirements for Public Water Supply
System Audit
Meter Survey
Leak Detection Audit if >10% UAW
Meter Replacement Program
Education Program
Rate Structure promoting conservation
Orange County Utilities program goes beyond the minimum requirements set by the Water Management Districts 5

6. Background Program Objectives
Modify behaviors and practices to lead to more efficient water use
Improve and/or take advantage of new technologies to reduce water consumption
Three components
Education programs
Incentive programs
Regulatory programs
Education
Incentive
Regulatory 6

7. Water Conservation Background Customer Water Usage Profiles
Program Overview
Conservation Ordinance
Landscape Ordinance
New Programs and Projects
Commercial Water Rates
Summary

8. Water Use Profile Connections by Classification
Over 140,000 water connections
96% of connections are residential
4% of connections are commercial 8

9. Water Use Profile Water Use by Classification
Customer Water Use by Classification
Residential water use is 80%
Commercial water use is 20% 9

10. Water Use Profile Comparison of Accounts and Use
Comparison of connections versus water use by service area
East
West
South
Southwest
Water Use
by Service Area
Connections by Service Area 10

11. Water Use Profile By Lot Size11

12. Water Use Profile Per Capita Water Usage
130 GPD/capita

13. Water Use Profile Multi-Year Comparison

14. Water Use Profile Per Capita Comparison14

15. Summary Water Use Profiles
Largest customer classification and water usage is residential customers
More than 50% of residential water use is for irrigation
Newer construction typically uses more water than older construction
Water use increases with lot size
The West and South Service areas have 41% of the accounts but represent 57% of the water demand 15

16. Water Conservation Background Customer Water Usage Profiles
Program Overview
Conservation Ordinance
Landscape Ordinance
New Programs and Projects
Commercial Water Rates
Summary

17. Program Overview Education Programs
Orange County has a long history of water conservation through educational programs and community events. 17

18. Program Overview Education Programs
School Programs
Blue Thumb Junior Detective Program for elementary school students since 1993
Touring the Water Facts Program for middle school students since 2003
Partnership with the Orlando Science Center
The Wonder of Water Program for high school students 2007 18

19. Program Overview Education Programs
School Programs
Waterwise Resource Action Program
Uses a school-based method that builds
student knowledge
provides high efficiency devices to families
serves as an effective community outreach program 19

20. Program Overview Education Programs
School Program
Water Color Project
Partnership with Orlando Utilities Commission
Water conservation art-themed program
High School Students (Barrels)
Elementary Students (Calendars) 20

21. Program Overview Education Programs
Millions of residents reached through media partnerships
Orange TV programming
SJRWMD “Florida’s Water - It’s Worth Saving” campaign
Radio Disney campaign
Florida’s Water Wealth for Our Future 21

23. Program Overview Education Programs
Thousands of residents reached through local outreach programs
Homeowners Associations and civic group presentations
Florida Friendly landscaping seminars
‘How-To-Clinics’ at home improvement centers
Displays and presentations at local libraries 23

24. Program Overview Education Programs
Other Information Sites
Conservation Hot Line
Web Site Information
Messages on water bills
Inserts in water bills 24

25. Program Overview Education Programs
Florida Friendly Landscape Gardens
West Orange Trail Butterfly garden
Elementary and middle school demonstration gardens
Orange County Administration Building Florida Friendly garden 25

26. Program Overview Incentive Programs
Toilet retrofit programs
Replacement of high-flow toilets (typically 5 to 7 gal/flush)
Installation of low-flow toilets
Over 2,200 toilets since 2003
Estimated water savings
19 million gallons
Savings based on average 4 gpf, 5 flush per day per person, and 2.5 people per account 26

28. Program Overview Incentive Programs
Pre-rinse Spray Valve Program
Replacement of valves using 5 to 7 gallons/minute
Installation of 1.6 gallons/minute valves
285 valves since 2007
Estimated water savings
48 million gallons
Average 3 gpm for 155 min/day 28

29. Program Overview Incentive Programs
Mobile Irrigation Laboratory
Evaluation of customer irrigation systems
Over 600 audits since 2000
Recommendations for improving system efficiency
Estimated water savings
31 million gallons
Savings based on 168 gpd/acct from Water Conservation Report Part 2 29

30. Program Overview Incentive Programs
Low-flow fixture Program
Replacement of high-flow fixtures
Low-flow fixture kit with showerhead, aerators and toilet tank displacement bag
Over 2700 kits since 2003
Estimated water savings
19 million gallons
Savings based on 20 gpd/acct from WC Evaluation Part 2 30

31. Program Overview Regulatory Programs
Mandatory irrigation restrictions currently:
2 days per week
Citizen chooses the days
No watering between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm
Operable rain sensor 31

32. Program Overview Regulatory Programs
Water Watch Enforcement Program
Door hangers and written notifications to customers violating the ordinance
5 dedicated Water Watch officers
Over 43,000 violations since 2001
Cases to Code Enforcement and Special Master Hearing 32

33. Program Overview Reclaimed Water
100% beneficial reuse since 1985 for irrigation, industrial, wetlands and recharge
51 mgd in 2006
Largest reuse program in Florida
Reclaimed water used for irrigation is a direct off-set of potable water use
18 mgd for public and agricultural irrigation 33

34. Water Conservation Background Customer Water Usage Profiles
Program Overview
Conservation Ordinance
Landscape Ordinance
New Programs and Projects
Commercial Water Rates
Summary

35. Program Improvements Conservation Ordinances
1993 Orange County ordinance is dated
Outdoor water use in Orange County
New conservation measures offer increased savings
Conflicting district rules
SJRWMD March 2006 “U-pick” 2-days/week rule
SFWMD proposed 3-days/week rule 35

36. Program Improvements Conservation Ordinance
Year-round, maximum two-day-per-week irrigation schedule:
Odd (Wednesday and Saturday)
Even and common areas (Thursday and Sunday)
Irrigation by spray, rotor or sprinkler limited to max 30 minutes per zone, max 1-inch/week
Only one form of irrigation allowed per area
Rain sensors as required by Florida law (1991) must be working 36

37. Program Improvements Conservation Ordinance
Over watering is common–and bad for lawn and landscape health. Most turf and plant diseases are from root rot and fungus
Many Florida lawns and landscapes would thrive better on less than 2 days/week watering
Voluntary irrigation schedules don’t save water
Mandatory outdoor restrictions achieve reliable and permanent water savings 37

38. Water Conservation Background Customer Water Usage Profiles
Program Overview
Conservation Ordinance
Landscape Ordinance
New Programs and Projects
Commercial Water Rates
Summary

39. Program Improvements Landscape Ordinance
To promote the values and benefits of water efficient landscaping
Seven areas need to be addressed
Planning and Design
Soil Analysis
Appropriate Plant Selection
Practical Turf Areas, restriction in size of turf areas
Efficient Irrigation
Use of Mulches
Appropriate Maintenance
Will ensure more efficient water use 39

40. Potential 30% Water Savings
Program Improvements Landscape Ordinance
Potential 30% Water Savings

41. Water Conservation Background Customer Water Usage Profiles
Program Overview
Conservation Ordinance
Landscape Ordinance
New Programs and Projects
Commercial Water Rates
Summary

42. New Programs and Projects
Blue Ribbon Neighborhood Program
Kickoff in 2008
Study on use of evapo-transpiration systems and moisture sensors
Working with University of Florida
Stakeholder Group Projects
Large Property Irrigation Focus Group
Home Builders Association
Florida Irrigation Society
OC Homeowners Association 42

43. New Programs and Projects
Opportunities to use reclaimed water for commercial toilets
Toilet flushing estimated to be 80% of water use in commercial buildings
Processing plans for new commercial building with estimated potable water savings of 10 million gallons per year
Will require special provisions to ensure backflow prevention and signage to meet FDEP 43

44. Water Conservation Background Customer Water Usage Profiles
Program Overview
Conservation Ordinance
Landscape Ordinance
New Programs and Projects
Water Rates
Summary

45. Water Rates Water Rates and Conservation
Increased conservation is a cornerstone of the Water Resources Program
Water conserving rate structures and higher prices signals are components of the Conservation Program
Use
Price

46. Water Rates Recent focus has been on residential water rates
Apply to 96% of our customers
These customers use 80% of water
Increasing block rate structure
Promotes conservation

47. Water Rates Commercial Water Rates Apply to 4% of our customers
These customers use 20% of water
Uniform base rate for all water used
Does not promote conservation

48. Water Rates Residential Rates Commercial Rates Volume Charge
0 – 3,000 gallons $0.95 per 1,000
4,000 – 10,000 gallons $1.27 per 1,000
11,000 – 20,000 gallons $2.52 per 1,000
21,000 – 30,000 gallons $4.26 per 1,000
Above 30,000 gallons $7.21 per 1,000
Commercial Rates
0 – 3,000 gallons $0.95 per 1,000
4,000 +gallons $1.27 per 1,000

49. Water Rates Commercial Rate Challenges
Commercial customers have a wide range of consumption patterns depending on the nature of their business
Difficult to determine how much of their indoor usage is discretionary
Irrigation is discretionary

50. Water Rates
Focus on implementation of a conservation rate structure for commercial irrigation meters
Introduces conservation rates to commercial customers
Targets discretionary use of water
Does not adversely impact the non-discretionary water use
Consider applying similar concept to residential irrigation meters

51. Water Rates Remove lifeline rate for commercial customers
Develop a new structure and pricing for irrigation meter customers for FY 09
Review all other water rate structures and pricing and consider adjustments for FY 09
Work session prior to July

52. Water Conservation Background Customer Water Usage Profiles
Program Overview
Conservation Ordinance
Landscape Ordinance
New Programs and Projects
Commercial Water Rates
Summary

53. Summary
We have done much to promote water conservation and reduce per capita consumption
Education
Incentives
Regulatory
Reclaimed Water
Increasing investment in conservation
FY 07 $1.1 million
FY 08 $1.6 million
FY 09 $2.0 million
We are effecting change in water use

54. Summary We need to do more Ordinances Policies
Water Management Districts
Analyze existing programs
Best Practices
Staff
Budget
Water Rates

55. Summary Water Conservation Master Plan
Conservation Ordinance
Landscape Ordinance
Water Rates
Reclaimed Water
Water Resources
Marketing Plan
We will continue to effect change in water use

56. Orange County Board of County Commissioners
Orange County Utilities Water Conservation Program Saving Water for the Future
Good Afternoon Mayor Crotty, Commissioners, Comptroller Hainey, and County Administrator Lalchandani.
Today I’m here to discuss with you water conservation and the programs we have instituted in Orange County that help us
Presented to:
Orange County Board of County Commissioners
April 1, 2008