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Winter is coming to an end and the peak season for outdoor water use is on the horizon. Are you prepared? Join Steve McKinnon, Water Compliance Coordinator at the Region of Halton, where you will learn: • The importance of having an outdoor water use management program • Best practices to ensure the implementation of an effective outdoor water use management program • Progressive tactics to manage peak summer water demand
Citation preview
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Outdoor Water Use Management Strategy
2012
Steve McKinnonHalton Region
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Purpose
Provide a brief overview of the development and implementation of Halton Region’s Outdoor Water Use Management Strategy and to discuss communication and technical challenges
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Halton Region
• Located on the shores of Lake Ontario
• Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton
Hills
• Over 475,000 people
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Halton’s Water Treatment Facilities
• Three Well based systems
• Three lake based systems
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2007- A dry year
• One of the driest years in recent memory• Halton imposes water restrictions• Communication difficulties• Monitoring of Drinking Water Systems limited
Need for structured Outdoor Water Use Management Program
realization
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Goal
The Outdoor Water Use Management Strategy provides a structured approach for the promotion and implementation of outdoor water use conservation measures with a goal of ensuring a reliable supply of potable water to Halton residents for emergency and essential needs.
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Consideration
• 4 local Municipalities
• 1 Regional Municipality
• 6 Separate drinking water systems• Lake and ground water based
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Considerations
• Each system has different limitations due to size and either lake or ground water based
• 5 major communities
• Geographic size
• Communication limitations
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Consult and Analyze
• Consult with operational staff
• Consult with Management
• Consult with Councilors
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Tactics
The strategy incorporates a number of tactics to manage peak summer water demand:
1. Outdoor Water Restrictions
2. Water Use Education/Communication
3. Water Restriction Enforcement
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Outdoor Water RestrictionsSystem by System Monitoring Triggers
• Operational Status - System specific consumption, plant production, pumping rates and reservoir levels
• Aquifer levels – individual wells (under review)
• Ontario Low Water Response status
• Weather Forecast
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Outdoor Water RestrictionsSystem by System
• Triggers developed
• Fire protection• Sustained levels of production, storage• Weather forecast• Storage and production capabilities of each system• Similar thought process for ending a restriction• Advance warning
• One comprehensive report
• Calculated and sent daily by e.SCADA.r
• Weekly report sent to management
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Daily TrendsGeorgetown Production
02,0004,0006,0008,000
10,00012,00014,00016,00018,00020,00022,00024,00026,00028,00030,00032,000
Date
Pro
duct
ion
in M
3/ D
ay
Production in M3/Day
70% of Production
85% of Production
Annual RunningAverage Maximum
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Daily TrendsGeorgetown Storage
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
4/2/2011
4/9/2011
4/16/2011
4/23/2011
4/30/2011
5/7/2011
5/14/2011
5/21/2011
5/28/2011
6/4/2011
6/11/2011
6/18/2011
6/25/2011
7/2/2011
7/9/2011
7/16/2011
7/23/2011
7/30/2011
8/6/2011
8/13/2011
8/20/2011
8/27/2011
9/3/2011
9/10/2011
9/17/2011
9/24/2011
10/1/2011
Date
% o
f A
vail
able
Sto
rag
e
Max Storage
Min Storage
75% Storage
65% Storage
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Outdoor Water Use Activity Levels
• Colour coded outdoor water use levels
• Stoplight methodology
• Ease of communication
• Similar to other Municipalities
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ActivityBlue Level 1 Careful Use
Yellow Level 2Limited Use
RedLevel 3Reduce and Stop
Lawn Watering
Voluntary Odd\Even Watering:Odd House Number:Water on odd calendar days between 6-
9 am & 6-9pmEven House Number:Water on even calendar days between
6-9 am & 6- 9 pm
Mandatory Odd\Even Watering:Odd House Number:Water only on odd calendar days between
6-9am &6-9pmEven House Number:Water only on even calendar days
between 6-9 am & 6-9 pm
Not Allowed
Watering newly planted sod or seed
Allowed as needed until sod has been established.
Regular lawn watering rules apply thereafter
Allowed as needed until sod has been established.
Regular lawn watering rules apply thereafter
Allowed as needed until sod has been established.
Regular lawn watering rules apply thereafter
Watering Trees, Shrubs, Flowers or Gardens
AllowedBy hand held watering device only (i.e.
watering can, bucket)
By hand held watering device only:
Odd House Number:Water only on odd calendar days
between 6-9am & 6-9 pmEven House Number:Water only on even calendar
days between 6-9 am & 6- 9 pm
Recreational Sprinklers and Splash Pads for Children
Allowed Allowed Allowed
Recreational Sports Fields Allowed Allowed Not Allowed
Filling Residential Swimming and Wading Pools, Hot Tubs, Garden ponds or Fountains
Allowed Allowed
Odd\Even filling onlyOdd House Number:Fill only on odd calendar days
between 6-9 am & 6-9 pmEven House Number:Fill only on even calendar days
between 6-9 am & 6-9 pm
Decorative fountains Must recirculate water Must recirculate water Must recirculate water
Washing Cars (residential) or exterior of Building (i.e. home, shed)
Allowed
Odd House Number: Wash only on odd calendar days between
6-9 am & 6-9 pm Even House Number: Wash only on even calendar days
between 6-9 am & 6-9 pm
Not Allowed
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Water Use Education/Communication
• Education\Awareness of program• Compliance in early stages may minimize chance of full
restrictions
• Comprehensive communication plan • Communication plan outlines tools and tactics
• Promotional partnerships• Effective partnering will help convey message to
residents
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Communication Limitation• Web Page\Access Halton
• Radio/Television • Media Releases and newspaper advertisements
• Direct Mail Flyer
• Outdoor portable and permanent signage
• E-mail alerts
• Community Emergency Notification Service
• Partnership Opportunities
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When time is a factor
Immediate Response Seven days or more
Mobile Signs Newspapers
CENS Billboards
Web Page Direct Mail Flyer
E-Mail Alerts Partnership Opportunities
Radio/Television
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Mobile Signs
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Direct Mail/Flyer
• Effective in communicating overall message and as a reminder
• Effective in communicating to a target audience, i.e. Georgetown
• Can be used both as an insert or handout
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Direct Mail Flyer\Handout
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Advertisement• Newspaper• Brochure• Billboards
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Advertisement• Newspaper• Brochure• Billboards
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Partnership Opportunities
• Water Efficiency programs
• Community events
• Industry
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Contest
• 2010 Partnered with Sheridan Nurseries
• Prizing directed toward water efficient gardens
• Over 1500 entries – 2011
• Converge in local papers
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Irrigation Sector
• Very little information on the irrigation industry in Ontario: number of systems, average size
• Research has shown that many systems are not optimized for water efficiency
• Over water
• Currently finishing pilot study quantifying potential water savings and market penetration through irrigation system optimization
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Enforcement Practices
• Discretionary approach
• Education and outreach are primary focus
• Review of fines• Comprehensive
• Dedicated staff – Summer Students
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AssessmentCommunications
• Website analysis
• Monitoring of non-compliance – Increase in phone calls to Access Halton – 311
• Over 300 inquires in 2011 compared to half that in 2010
• Spike during dry periods
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AssessmentSummer Peak Demand vs Total
Production• 2011 - Driest July in years
• Did not require water restriction
• Summer Peak Demand was paired back
• Total summer production still high
• Quantitative study• Base flow• Yearly average• Weather
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AssessmentResidential Survey
• Over 600 participants• All sectors of Halton• Results
The Good– Over half have heard about our program– 6 out of 10 report the program has had a “very” to
“somewhat” significant effect on household water use
– Over all support for the program is very good
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AssessmentResidential Survey
The Not So Good– Water Conservation is only a medium –
level priority– Costs associated with water conservation
and effect on one’s way of life are still a hindrance to change
– Few residents can recall specifics such as animals or slogan
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Outcome
• One formal strategy• Council Approved• Living document• System by system or entire municipality restrictions
• One concentrated effort
• One communication plan• Developed yearly
• Assessment program
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Work in Progress
• Halton is growing
• Demand on drinking water system is growing
• Conservation movement growing
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What lies ahead
• Program will explore new modes of communication – Social Media
• Work more closely with community groups
• Use results of survey in development of 2012 ad campaign
• Work more closely with industry
• Continue to listen, ask and learn
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Thank You
Steve McKinnonWater Compliance Coordinator
Halton Region(905) 825-6000 Ext. 7150
