Consumer Magazine - Fall 2018

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Legislative Hot Topics That Utility Customers Should Know

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Also Inside:

Simple Ways to Protect Your Public Water Supply

Your Smart Watering Guide: Tips and Technology

Your Texas Rural Water News Source Texas Rural Water Association | www.trwa.org | (512) 472-8591

Legislative Hot Topics That Utility Customers Should Know

By Trent Hightower, Assistant General Counsel, Texas Rural Water Association

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he 86th Session of the Texas Legislature begins January 8, 2019, and there are two issues water utility customers should know about. While these issues have the potential to have a major impact on water rates and the ability of rural utilities to serve their customers in the future, many consumers are unaware of how these issues may affect them.

The first issue involves “CCN Decertification.” A Certificate of Convenience and Necessity or “CCN” is how the state defines the geographic area in which a utility has the exclusive right and legal obligation to supply water to customers. As Texas has grown, conflicts have arisen between cities, land developers and rural water systems as to who should provide water service to newly developing areas.

In 2005, in response to developer and city complaints, the legislature made changes to the law to make it easier for landowners/developers to get out of a utility’s CCN (“decertify”) to instead receive service from a city or other provider. The 2005 law balanced the utilities’ interests with the developers’ interests by considering a utility’s ability to serve the area. For developers, the law didn’t go far enough so in 2011, they were able to get another law passed allowing a landowner with at least 25 acres to obtain an automatic decertification without considering the water utility’s investment and capability to serve the area. The law contemplated that a decertified utility would be “made whole” through compensation for their lost investment, but the way the law is being implemented by the Public Utility Commission, utilities are not receiving any compensation.

These laws have put water utilities in a tough position because they’re required by the state to invest and plan for future growth in their service area, but those investments are often being taken away, especially in high-growth areas, just as systems are about to realize their investment.

How does this affect current customers? Current customers have been partially, or in some cases fully, funding the necessary investments to accommodate future growth through their water rates. New customers, when they materialize, share in the utility’s fixed costs and help offset future cost increases. As a result, everyone benefits from economies of scale.

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However, when the new customers connect to someone else’s utility instead because of decertification and the utility isn’t compensated for these lost customers, water rates may need to increase to existing customers.

The second issue pertains to the permitting of groundwater.

Most rural utilities provide water to their customers by drilling a well and utilizing the local groundwater resource.

In many areas of the state, Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCDs) regulate the amount of groundwater that can be pumped by issuing permits. While many GCDs issue permits to water systems based on the amount of water they need to serve households and businesses in their communities, others have begun issuing permits to all applicants, including water utilities, based upon the amount of land an applicant owns.

This type of permitting doesn’t make sense for water utilities because they often only own the land around their wellsite.

In these GCDs, utilities are required to purchase large amounts of land or interest in groundwater rights. Some GCDs additionally require that utilities purchase land or rights touching their well site. If these aren’t available for purchase, the utility cannot fully utilize their investment.

How does this affect customers? Many utility customers are also landowners who have an ownership interest in the groundwater and rely on their utility to pump, treat and deliver the resource through pipes to them. If utilities are required to purchase large amounts of land or groundwater rights, rates will increase to cover these additional costs.

If landowners in an area sell all their water to the highest bidder and no credit is reserved for the local utility, the utility will not be able to utilize this local resource to serve their community in the future.

If the Texas legislature requires GCDs, when issuing permits, to consider a utility’s service area needs or a portion of the ownership interest of the utility’s customers in their local water resource, this will ensure a sustainable and affordable water supply into the future.

If you would like to obtain more information on these issues, please contact your utility office. To find out which state lawmakers represent you, visit https://fyi. capitol.texas.gov.

Simple Ways to Protect Your Public Water Supply

By Quentin Turrner, FMT Assistance Specialist, Texas Rural Water Association

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s utility customers, most of us don’t realize how often we cause our water system difficulties when we use one of the simplest of devices at our disposal—the dreaded “garden hose.”

The garden hose has probably been responsible for more problems related to water systems than any other single piece of equipment in the world. The garden hose can create so much trouble because it is so user friendly and easy to connect, but it’s also so easy to forget! Regardless of whether it is connected, it looks so innocent just sitting there.

However, there are multiple misuses of the garden hose.

Have you ever left the garden hose in the dog’s watering bowl, a horse trough, AG spray tank, hooked to a one-quart garden sprayer or soap dispenser for washing your car/ truck? In the event of a backflow event (the water system has a leak and enough water reverses flow toward the leak to create an area of low pressure), a vacuum can occur and will suck the water, along with whatever is in it, back through the garden hose, into your plumbing, into the water system, then to your neighbor, and so on and so on. Imagine the possibilities.

Now think about the individual that tries to unstop a clogged drain, or heaven forbid, the sewer line with a garden hose. What happens when the system has that same leak a mile down the road? It doesn’t matter if you live on the other side of the road or next door, because it’s usually the same water main feeding everyone. Now my hope and prayer is that the individual trying to clean the sewer line with the garden hose doesn’t decide to take a drink from that hose anytime in the future.

One of the lessons I learned long ago was reinforced in the lines of a Spiderman movie I watched: “With great power comes great responsibility.” We as customers of a water system have some power—we get to vote on the individuals that represent our interests, in most cases. So therefore, we also have a responsibility to help ensure the integrity of our water system.

There are several ways that we as customers can help.

Don’t leave the hose in the bucket, trough, tank or pool.

Another way is to see if your plumbing contains a simple $5-$10 device known as a “hose bibb vacuum breaker.”

If you don’t have those, you can purchase them at most

hardware stores. It’s a pretty cheap way to help protect an entire water system. You can also contact your water system and ask them for information or an inspection. All water systems are required to provide a Cross Connection Control Program.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) monitors this when they perform a system inspection and most all water systems have an on-staff or contracted certified Customer Service Inspector to do individual home/business inspections. They may also use a Licensed Plumber. Most water systems would be glad to do an inspection even if they have done one for you in the past.

Things change and need to be looked at again and updated.

The garden hose is not the only problem, but it is one of the most common. As a homeowner you may install and maintain your own irrigation system. It’s still important to have a suitable backflow prevention assembly in place and to be sure that it works properly. TCEQ requires you to have a licensed backflow tester check the assembly when it is installed and annually thereafter. Always check with your water provider for specific regulations. Your water system is also trained to deal with contamination issues at hospitals, mortuaries, vet clinics, chemical plants—the list goes on with anything that could cause health or contamination problems by passing through the water system's distribution piping. Water system operators are trained to monitor the system, identify potential hazards, and help determine the appropriate means to offset the dangers.

I’ll leave you with one last example. Have you ever heard of “Blue Ice Cubes”? Several things need to happen at the same time to create this issue, but they did on at least one occasion that I’m aware of. Many years ago, maybe still in some areas, folks were fond of the “Tidy Bowl Man” blue liquid placed in the toilet tank to help clean and disinfect the toilet bowl. There was an unapproved fill valve (ball cock) in place and when the toilet was flushed, a new stream of blue filled the tank. At the same time there was a water leak down the road causing backflow and the refrigerator ice maker valve opened to fill the ice tray. The next day, Blue Ice Cubes! Y’all get the picture. This could have been prevented if the customer had requested the water system’s CSI Inspector or a Plumber do a home inspection because they would have identified the fill valve that needed to be replaced in the toilet to prevent the cross-connection.

Texas on Tap — Fall 2018 3

Your Smart Watering Guide: Tips and Technology

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ith today’s common watering practices, up to 50% of the water applied to lawns and gardens is not absorbed by the plants. It is lost through evaporation, runoff, or being pushed beyond the root zone because it is applied too quickly or in excess of the plants’ needs.

The goal of efficient irrigation is to reduce these losses by applying only as much water as is needed to keep your plants healthy, whether you have a water-smart or a conventional landscape.

Evaporation: Watering in the middle of the day or using a sprinkler that sprays a fine mist causes much of the water you apply to be lost through evaporation. Plants don’t have enough time to absorb the water before it is evaporated by the sun.

To promote the strong root growth that supports a plant during drought, water deeply and water only when the plant needs it. For clay soils, it is recommended to water less deeply, and in multiple cycles. Irrigating with consideration to soil type, the condition of your plants, the season, and weather conditions— rather than on a fixed schedule— significantly improves your watering efficiency and results in healthier plants. Grouping plants according to similar water needs also makes watering easier and more efficient.

Overwatering: Applying too much or too often causes the greatest waste of water. In addition to overwatering the plant, excessive irrigation can leach nutrients deep into the soil away from plant roots, which increases the chances of runoff pollution.

Lawns, gardens, and landscapes can be irrigated manually or with an automatic irrigation system. Manual watering with a handheld hose tends to be the most water efficient method. According to the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Research Foundation’s Residential End Uses of Water study, households that manually water with a hose typically use 33% less water outdoors than the average household. The study also showed that households with in-ground sprinkler systems used 35% more water; those with automatic timers used 47% more water; and those with drip irrigation systems used 16% more water than households without these types of systems. These results show that in-ground sprinkler and drip irrigation systems must be operated properly to be water-efficient.

Watering Mistakes

Much of the water applied to lawns and gardens never gets absorbed by the plants. Common ways that water is wasted include: Runoff: Applying water too rapidly causes runoff, because grass and plants can only absorb so much water at a time.

When runoff occurs, soil, fertilizers, and pesticides can be carried to nearby streams.

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Underwatering: Watering too little is wasteful because it does little to alleviate any drought stress that the plants may have.

Good Watering Techniques

The key to watering lawns is to apply water infrequently, yet thoroughly. This creates a deep, well-rooted lawn that efficiently uses the water that is stored in the soil. To know when to water your lawn, simply observe the grass. Wilting and discoloration are signs of water stress. At the first sign of wilting, you have 24 to 48 hours before damage occurs.

To water properly, apply 1 inch of water to the lawn as rapidly as possible without runoff. An easy way to measure your application of water is to place a 6-ounce tuna can on your lawn. When the can is full, you have applied enough water.

If you start to notice runoff before the can is full, turn off the water. Then, wait for approximately one hour to allow the grass to absorb the water, turn the water on again, and wait for the tuna can to fill.

Water early in the morning, before 10 a.m. Avoid watering from mid-morning to late afternoon, when you can lose one-third of your water to evaporation. Also avoid watering in the evening, because lawns and plants that are left wet overnight are more prone to disease.

Different areas of your yard may have different watering requirements. Some plants and trees may require less water than grass does. You can reduce the sprinkler run time for

these areas. A licensed irrigator can advise you on irrigation WaterSense Labeled Irrigation Controllers – To make application rates for your geographic area, topography, soil automatic irrigation systems more efficient, consider conditions, and other factors. upgrading your standard clock timer to a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller. These irrigation controllers For “hose-end” sprinklers, make sure the sprinkler heads are a type of “smart” irrigation control technology that are adjusted to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways uses local weather data to determine when and how much or other hard surfaces. A hose-end sprinkler head should to water. With proper installation, programming, and spray large droplets of water instead of a fog of fine mist, adjustments, these smart controllers can help consumers which may be affected by wind drift. Set a timer, so that you save water, time, and money when compared to use of a remember to turn off the hose-end sprinkler. All this in conventional controller. mind, please remember to always comply with your water system’s water use restrictions.

WaterSense Labeled Spray Sprinkler Bodies – WaterSense labeled spray sprinkler bodies, which feature integral pressure regulation, can help decrease the outdoor water Maintenance waste associated with irrigation systems that receive water When it comes to a home’s irrigation system, a little maintenance goes a long way. Permanent sprinkler systems under higher pressure. require regular maintenance and adjustments. This can Microirrigation – Microirrigation can reduce the be done by you, a licensed irrigator, or licensed master likelihood of overwatering a landscape by delivering water plumber. directly to where it is needed most, the root zone of plants, preventing runoff and reducing evaporation.

Check your settings at least quarterly to make sure that Soil Moisture Sensors – Soil moisture-based control water is being applied properly and make adjustments technologies water plants based on their needs by as needed. It is important to ensure you are providing measuring the amount of moisture in the soil and tailoring adequate water but are not overwatering. Depending on the irrigation schedule accordingly. This will prevent waste where you live, you may need to winterize your system in by ensuring that the sprinkler does not turn on during and the late fall to prevent freezing of system components. immediately after rainfall or when soil moisture levels are above pre-programmed levels.

Check your sprinkler heads regularly. Remove any dirt or debris that may be clogging the nozzle and make sure that Rainfall Shutoff Devices – Rainfall shutoff devices turn water is flowing at the proper pressure.

Examine points where the sprinkler heads connect to pipes off your system in rainy weather and help compensate for or hoses. If water pools in your landscape or you have large natural rainfall. This inexpensive device can be retrofitted to almost any system. wet areas, you could have a leak in your system. A leak about as small as the tip of a ballpoint pen (or 1/32nd of an Rain Sensors – Rain sensors can help decrease water wasted inch) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month, so in the landscape by turning off the irrigation system when it is raining. if you find a leak, repair it promptly!

Smart Watering Technology

With automatic systems, overwatering is most common during the fall when summer irrigation schedules have not been adjusted to the cooler temperatures.

Sources:

EPA WaterSense, Landscaping Tips: www.epa.gov/watersense/landscaping-tips.

EPA WaterSense, Watering Tips: www.epa.gov/watersense/ Irrigation system schedules should always be adjusted down watering-tips. in the fall to prevent overwatering in the colder months.

Landscape Irrigation, A “Take Care of Texas” Guide.

Using water-efficient technologies can make a big difference Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Take Care of Texas: www.takecareoftexas.org. in keeping your residential or light commercial irrigation system running efficiently without a lot of effort on your part.

Texas on Tap — Fall 2018 5

10 Things Most People Don't Know About Being a Water Utility Operator

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ou may not realize it, but water utility operators play an important role in our society. Every day, certified water operators are ensuring we have safe drinking water by maintaining equipment and processes to monitor and affect water as it moves through the treatment and distribution cycles. The following are 10 things most people don’t know about the occupation that helps ensure our public health, making such a large impact on our lives on a daily basis.

1. Drinking water operator certification is managed on a state-by-state basis. In Texas, licensing requirements are managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Operators can be licensed in a variety of areas, including water, wastewater, distribution and reuse.

2. Texas has required all public water systems to have a licensed operator since the 1950s, though the EPA did not require licensed operators for public water systems until 2001.

3. Public water system operators must have at least a high school diploma or a GED, as well have required training courses and experience to test for their license. They then must renew their license every three years, requiring continuing education hours to do so.

4. There are several levels of licensure for being a water operator. As an operator advances from a “D” to an “A” license level, their expertise expands, including a strong working knowledge of math and chemistry necessary to ensure proper chemical dosages.

5. One major task of water operators is to disinfect our drinking water and maintain a disinfection residual, usually a form of chlorine, in the distribution system. A residual is a low level of the disinfectant that remains in the water after its initial application to protect against waterborne contaminants.

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6. To ensure the water is properly safeguarded, the water operator conducts daily tests to measure the disinfectant residual in the water distribution system.

7. Water operators must flush all dead-end mains, and also must flush water distribution lines when they receive customer complaints. Once flushing starts, the operator cannot stop flushing until the water is clear and the desired chlorine residual is reached.

8. Fire hydrants and flush valves are designed to catch “trash” in the water and provide a place to remove this “trash” from the distribution system. This is why fire hydrants and flush valves usually flow “dirty” water when they are first opened.

9. On a monthly basis, water operators are required to take bacteriological samples from the water distribution system and have these samples tested by a state-approved laboratory.

10. Operators are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to make repairs and respond to emergencies on the water system.

The Texas Rural Water Association works hard every day to protect rural Texas’ drinking water. We have resources and expert staff that help rural and small systems with a wide-range of issues, including compliance and legal challenges. TRWA provides classroom and online training courses to help Texas water and wastewater operators get the training they need. We are here to help ensure rural Texans have access to efficient service and clean, quality drinking water. We represent over 750 small and rural utilities that serve communities that enjoy #qualityontap and #drinklocalwater.

Test Your Knowledge!

Water IQ Quiz 1. What is the process of a gas or vapor changing to a liquid form?

2. What is an underground layer of rock and sand that contains water called?

3. What is the removal of dissolved salts from seawater?

4. What do you call the series of processes that physically removes particles from water?

5. Water naturally stored below the surface of the earth that supplies wells and springs is called...?

How many gallons of water does each activity use on average?

1. A 10 minute shower 2. Washing one load of clothes 3. Flushing a toilet 4. Applying 1 inch of water across a 1,000 square foot lawn 5. Running a dishwasher 6. Brushing your teeth with the water running for 2 minutes 7. Playing with the garden hose for 15 minutes 8. Allowing a faucet to drip for one day

Name: _________________________________________________

Word Search Word Search

Find the following water-related words in the puzzle: Conservation Contaminant Drought

Gallon Liquid Potable

Purification Runoff Saline

Tap Water Well

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Know Your Usage: 1. 50 2. 43 3. 3 4. 2500 5. 10 6. 4 7. 75 8. 25

Answers:

Find the following words in the puzzle.

Words are hidden and .

Water IQ Quiz: 1. Condensation 2. Aquifer 3. Desalination 4. Filtration 5. Groundwater Texas on Tap — Fall 2018 7

Texas Rural Water Association

1616 Rio Grande | Austin, Texas 78701

Texas on Tap Published by Texas Rural Water Association 1616 Rio Grande, Austin, TX 78701 www.trwa.org

TRWA Editorial Staff Lara Zent, Editor in Chief Allison Kaminsky, Managing Editor Kelsey Copeland, Art Director

Questions?

General correspondences should be directed to your utility office.

Editorial inquiries may be directed TRWA Communications Staff at (512) 472-8591 or editor@trwa.org On the cover: Kingsland WSC Water Tower; Photo credit: Allison Kaminsky

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