Integrated Water Management Strategies for the City of El Paso, Texas

1. Integrated Water
Management Strategies
Hector Gonzalez
Government Affairs Manager

2. El Paso Water Utilities
Public Service Board
Created in 1952 by City ordinance
 The PSB increased from 5 to 7 members with approval of
HB 4004 in May of 2009
 The PSB sets policy, adopts fiscal budgets, rates and fees,
and approves an annual strategic plan for 4 utilities:
Water, Wastewater, Stormwater and Reclaimed Water
 EPWU provides water service to 95 percent of El Paso
County (800,000+ residents)
 EPWU’s capital improvement needs over the next 10 years
are projected to be over $800 million


3. Land Management
PSB owns the following for water rights:
• 25,000 acres in El Paso County
• 75,000 acres outside El Paso County 880
acres in New Mexico

5. Water Resources

6. Regional Water Resources
Elephant Butte Dam
UNITED STATES
NEW MEXICO
Hueco Bolson
Mesilla Bolson
EL PASO
Ciudad Juárez
MEXICO
TEXAS
West Texas
Aquifers

7. Diversified Resources
50-Year Water Resource Management Plan adopted in 1991
Surface
Water
Reclaimed
Water
Conservation
Groundwater
Desalination
Importation

8. Ground and Surface Water Treatment Plants
NEW MEXICO
Upper Valley Water
Treatment Plant
Franklin
Mountains
EL PASO, TEXAS
Military
Reservation
j
Airport
Fort Bliss
Kay Bailey Hutchison
Desalination Plant
Robertson & Umbenhauer
Water Treatment Plant
Ciudad Juárez
Jonathan Rogers
Water Treatment Plant
Surface Water Plants
MEXICO
Groundwater Plants

9. Wastewater Treatment Plants
NEW MEXICO
Fred Hervey Water
Reclamation Plant
Franklin
Mountains
EL PASO, TEXAS
Military
Reservation
Northwest Wastewater
Treatment Plant
j
Airport
Fort Bliss
Haskell Street
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Ciudad Juárez
MEXICO
Wastewater Plants
Roberto R. Bustamante
Wastewater Treatment Plant

10. Challenges
• Drought
• Growth
• Rehabilitation of Infrastructure
• Financial Obligations
• Energy
• Personnel

11. Rio Grande Runs Dry

12. 2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2007
2008
2005
2006
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
Only 3 of the past 17
years has runoff
into Elephant Butte
been above average
1998
1997
Drought History

13. Recent Drought Situation
 EPWU received reduced river water allocation
- 6,500 AF compared to usual 70,000 AF
 River release started in early June and ended in
mid July
 The lowest release since the inception of the
project in 1906

14. Million Gallons
150
Calendar Year
2012
173
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
170
1992
1991
Peak Water Demand
200
190
180
163
160

15. 2013-2014 Projects
 Water main projects to carry groundwater to
central and downtown areas that heavily rely on
river water
 NE/Central Drought Project
 Paisano Project




North Central Reclaimed water project
New Wells
Potable Reuse
Other Water Supply Projects

16. Conservation

17. Conservation Rate Structure
 Average Winter Consumption (AWC) is the average
amount of water used during the most recent three winter
months
 Inverted Block Structure
• Minimum Charge $5.18
• Water Supply Replacement Charge $6.39
• Block 1 $1.56 Indoor Use
• Block 2 $3.68 Outdoor Use and Cooling
• Block 3 $5.27 Excessive Use
Block 3 (XS) 5%
Block 2 (peak) 9%
Block 1 (base use) 70%
Minimum 16%

18. Water/Wastewater Ten Largest Cities in Texas Survey
September 2012
TOTAL
Austin
$41.18
$56.47
Corpus Christi
$97.65
$44.83
$46.74
Houston
$91.57
$48.06
$48.33
Dallas
$96.39
$38.92
$36.52
Plano
$75.44
$27.98
$36.65
Fort Worth
$64.63
$37.26
$23.65
Arlington
$27.02
$60.91
$30.47
San Antonio
$33.91
$57.49
$23.61
Laredo
$22.58
$22.51
$57.52
$17.81
El Paso
$45.09
$25.61
$0
$20
$40
Water
* 13 CCF for Water, 9 CCF AWC and 9 CCF for Sewer
$43.42
$60
Sewer
$80
$100

19. Educational Facilities
TecH2O Learning Center




Field trips
Workshops and events
External meetings and
conferences
Public tours
Discovery Center at
El Paso Zoo


Field trips
Workshops and events
Keystone Botanical Gardens

Workshops and events

20. Per Capita Consumption
GPCD
230
220
210
200
190
180
170
160
150
140
130
120
Water Conservation
Ordinance Adopted
2012 – 134 gpcd
Year 2000 Goal – 160 gpcd
Year 2010 Goal – 140 gpcd
Calendar Year
2012
2010
2008
2006
2004
2002
2000
1998
1996
1994
1992
1990
1988
1986
1984
1982
1980
1978
1976
1974
1972
Goal for 2020 – 130 gpcd

21. Stormwater
Utility

22. Capital Program vs.
Flood Risk Improvement
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
11 - 30 years
6-10 years
4-5 years
3 years
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Capital Funding
Public Safety

23. Government Affairs

24. Government/Legislative
Agendas to include:
 Federal
 State
 County
 Mexico/Binational

25. Water
Historic and Long Overdue Action to Fund State Water
Plan
• Legislature created a water infrastructure bank to fund
priority water management strategies at regional and
state level
• $2 billion appropriated from the Economic Stabilization
Fund

26. Interim Issues
1. Coordinate support for SJR 1
2. Transformation of the TWDB as well as Rule
Development for implementation of HB 4 and SJR 1
3. Desalinization Policy both Brackish Groundwater
and Coastal
4. Role of Groundwater Conservation Districts

27. Research

28. CHIWAWA
Consortium for Hi-Technology Investigations in Water and Wastewater
• EPWU, UTEP, Texas A&M AgriLife Research
Center, NMSU, City of Alamogordo
• Promote research and training programs in salinity
management, inland desalination
technology, concentrate disposal, and water resources
management
• Goal: development of new technologies and processes
to develop reliable and sustainable sources of water

29. Questions?