Water Conservation Program. Annual Update. New York City Department ofenvironmental Protection Junction Blvd. Flushing, NY 11373

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1 Water Conservation Program Annual Update New York City Department ofenvironmental Protection Junction Blvd. Flushing, NY June 2008

2 Introduction and Summary This report is an update ofthe Water Conservation Program Plan issued by the New York City Department ofenvironmental Protection ("DEP") in December The original document is available from DEP in paper and PDF format. That original report contains detailed information on the history and operation ofthe water supply and wastewater treatment systems as well as historic information on water conservation efforts. Please request a copy ofthat document for a more complete picture ofdep's efforts. This report provides information on recent activities. With the city's population expected to rise to 9.1 million by 2030, from 8.3 million in 2005, water efficiency will continue to have an important role to play, not just to help assure supply but also to assist in meeting goals to reduce combined sewer overflows, maintain wastewater quality and meet nitrogen removal goals. Abbreviations and Acronyms Used in This Report AMR BMP CIP CSO CY DEC DEP DRBC FY GCPD HCF HPD LF MGD NYCHA RCNY RFEI RFP RWS SCA WPCP Automatic Meter Reading (sometimes referred to as "AMI" for "Advanced Metering Infrastructure") Best Management Practices Capital Improvement Plan Combined Sewer Overflow Calendar Year New York State Department ofenvironmental Conservation New York City Department ofenvironmental Protection Delaware River Basin Commission Fiscal Year (July 1 - June 30) Gallons per Capita per Day Hundred Cubic Feet New York City Department ofhousing Preservation and Development Linear feet Millions ofgallons per Day New York City Housing Authority Rules ofthe City ofnew York Request for Expressions ofinterest Request for Proposals Residential Water Survey School Construction Authority Water Pollution Control Plant (Sewage Treatment Plant) Program and Activity Updates Water Metering The city is now 97%+ metered. The remaining 25,000 unmetered accounts include, approximately: 1

3 1. Properties surcharged for failing or refusing to meter (40%) 2. Unmetered exempt properties (4%) 3. Unmetered city properties (3%) 4. Properties with technical difficulties waiting to be metered (15%) 5. Vacant properties (2%) 6. Others (36%) which include accounts still labeled "unmetered" because they are part of multi-account metered properties on 'frontage transition," properties with meters never set up properly on the account, properties served by adjoining metered properties and other minor categories. These will mostly resolve themselves once all properties are either on metered billing or the Multifamily Conservation Program rate. The number ofproperties is approximately halfthe number ofaccounts since physically metered multi-account properties on "flat rate transition" are composed ofaccounts that are counted as metered or unmetered even though the property is physically metered. DEP is performing the following actions to resolve the last 1%+ ofunmetered properties: 1. Bidding new installation/replacement contracts for Brooklyn/Queens and ManhattanfBronx which will begin work mid-2008 and an outdoor pit contract (2009) to serve both normal replacement needs and installation ofmeters for customers who were not fully contacted and documented during the last contracts, a small number ofcustomers requiring outdoor pits and exempt customers who are not metered. 2. Mailing a solicitation to unmetered exempt customers informing them oftheir obligation to meter and referring them to a DEP Contractor. 3. Mailing "final warning letters" to customers who did not respond to metering attempts during the last contracts but whose notification records were insufficient to support assessing a surcharge for failing to meter. 4. Continuing the metering ofunmetered public schools and other public buildings. 5. Regular review ofproperties originally found to be vacant to ensure they are metered when renovated. 6. DEP has updated reimbursement amounts and made other changes to the Reimbursable Metering Program. A public notice was issued during spring 2007 and the rule changes were finalized at a New York City Water Board meeting in September Advanced Metering Infrastructure This project has moved forward by completion of the following tasks: 1. DEP and the New York City Department ofinformation Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) completed contract negotiations with Aclara RF (formerly Hexagram) and a contract to purchase a citywide AMI system should be registered by June 30, Aclara RF, DoITT, and DEP have begun network design, expected to be completed by July DEP has bid contracts to install the AMI transmitters and to replace approximately 400,000 old meters beginning in March By June 30 the installation contracts for Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan will have been bid and one will have been 2

4 awarded. The others are scheduled for award in July. Staten Island will follow a few months later when funding becomes available. Installation ofthe system will commence during July or August 2008 and be substantially complete in three years. The 400,000 meter replacements represent the oldest meters in the system dating from the early years ofthe Universal Metering Program. The AMI system will read meters at least four times a day resulting in a dramatic expansion ofwater consumption data and providing a low-cost route to monthly billing. Customers will be able to access all oftheir reads online and DEP will move to monthly billing for most customers. Changes in Water Use Rules DEP has completed revisions in RCNY Chapter 20, "Rules Governing the Supply and Use of Water." The proposed revisions were enclosed as an Appendix to last year's report. A final public hearing was held on June 16, 2008 and when the revisions receive final approval from the city's Law Department they will take effect. The proposed changes related to water conservation and quality include the following: 1. Requirement that any lead or galvanized metal service pipe be completely replaced, rather than repaired, ifit leaks. This is aimed at speeding the replacement ofthese types of services both for water quality purposes and to reduce distribution system losses. 2. Requirement that water meters, service pipes and associated vales and fittings be manufactured ofa "no lead" alloy. 3. Requirement, or clarification, that public fountains and sprays must have automatic shutoffs. Upgraded Analysis ofcustomer Demand DEP is in the process ofdeveloping revised water demand projections for New York City. The basis for the projections and analyses will be the existing available metering data for years and onward. DEP is conducting extensive analysis ofthe existing data to identify water usage statistics by building class and land use classifications. Since approximately 97% ofnew York City is metered, the volume ofdata generated in the years 2001 through 2007 is massive. To properly manage and organize the data, Microsoft SQL server software is being used and a staff person partially dedicated to this function has been hired. The statistical analysis portion ofthe study will be performed using SAS software which is designed specifically for analysis oflarge databases. Additionally, geographic and spatial analyses will be performed using ArcGIS software. The addition offar greater amounts ofdata through AMI will add to the depth ofthe analysis. This project began in early 2008 and some analyses will be available by next year's report. Incentive Programs No funding is currently planned for any incentive programs beyond a first phase oftoilet replacements that will be limited to apartment buildings applying for the New York City Water Board's Multifamily Conservation Program. The development ofsoftware for applications processing and analysis will commence in late 2008 and the program itselfin DEP has 3

5 begun bnefing manufacturers on planned details. The program will be amenable to relatively easy expansion iffunds for a larger program are provided in the future. Fixture Replacements in Public Buildings DEP Contractors will be performing design surveys ofrest rooms in public schools in Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn during 2008 to develop data and existing condition observations that will form the basis for a future project with the School Construction Authority and the Department ofeducation to replace toilets, lavatory faucets and urinals in public schools. Conservation Rates, Stormwater Rates and Incentives for Stormwater BMP's The Water Board issued a consultant RFP in June to examine advantages and disadvantages of several conservation rates, examine practical issues that must be addressed to implement a stormwater rate and research possible incentives for stormwater management BMP's. The consultant is expected to begin work in July 2008 and have a draft report/recommendations in one year. RFEI on Performance-Based Efficiency Projects to be Issued Water efficiency opportunities exist well beyond fixture replacements. Replacement ofoncethrough water-cooled equipment, steam condensate reuse, water reuse and irrigation-based. measures are only a few examples. In July 2007 DEP issued a public notice asking for comments on a proposed scoring system to evaluate proposals for performance-based incentives for these water efficiency measures. The Request for Expressions ofinterest also has the goal of encouraging facility managers, the engineering community and others to start thinking about projects that might be the subject ofa proposal. Replies were received from several individuals and organizations, mostly concerning water reuse. Since this concept is not currently funded it is in a "standby" status. New Analysis ofdistribution Losses A review ofsystem distribution losses was conducted during late 2006 as part ofthe department's "Dependability Program" and is under review by the Bureau ofwater and Sewer Operations. The water balance table will be updated once that review is complete. Contact People for Issues in this Report New York City Water Metering Customer-Oriented Water Conservation Programs Requests for the original Water Conservation Plan Warren Liebold, Bureau ofcustomer Services, wliebold@dep.nyc.gov (718) Water Demand Projections, System Auditing, Related Issues Esther Siskind, Assistant Commissioner, Bureau ofenvironmental Planning and Analysis ("BEPA") ESiskind@dep.nyc.gov (718)

6 Distribution System Metering Odd Larsen, Bureau ofwater and Sewer Operations (718) Upstate System and Customer Metering Paul Aggarwal, Bureau ofwater Supply, (914) Educational Programs Kim Estes-Fradis, Bureau ofcommunication (718)