Billings Integrated Water Plan Chartering Workshop

May 27, 2010

Key Questions• What is Integrated Water Planning?• Why are we doing Integrated Water

Planning?• How is it different from conventional

planning?• What are the benefits and outcomes

of the Process?• Where are we in the process?• How can you participate?

This is not just another planning document. This represents the

beginning of a fundamental transition of how we manage our water resources in the

Billings area.

What is Integrated Water Planning?

• An approach that balances competing water uses and considers cost effectiveness, environmental, and social values.

Many communities in the South and West have done Integrated Water Planning to balance competing water resource needs.

Why are we doing Integrated Water Planning?

Because it’s all connected…

The City’s wastewater pipe network drains to a central treatment facility that discharges to the Yellowstone River.

Wastewater Challenge

• New river discharge restrictions will require costly improvements

The area of growth is away from the central plant site

Wastewater Management Approaches

Conventional• Total Maximum Daily Load

(TMDL)– Lower Effluent Limits

• NPDES Discharge Permit Renewal

• Capitalize Advanced Treatment Technology– Add Nutrient Removal

• Potential Issues– Expense– Requirements Beyond Limits of

Technology

Integrated Water Plan• Effluent Management

– Reclaimed Water Reuse• Urban Irrigation• Industrial• Other

– Aquifer Recharge– Wetlands Restoration

• Water Quality Offsets and Trading

• Would still require other capital improvements (distribution and/or treatment)

Options to Meet Restrictive TMDLs

Water Reclamation

Facility

Urban Irrigation•Parks, Schools, Fairgrounds

Industrial Reuse•Paper Mill, Rock Crushing, Concrete

Wetlands Restoration•Creation, Restoration, Enhancement

Groundwater Recharge• Surface PercolationO

ptio

ns

Other•Agricultural Land, Poplar Farms

Urban Irrigation

Washington State Capitol Grounds(Olympia, Washington)

Sunken Garden(Olympia, Washington)

Industrial Reuse

Recycled water from the West Basin Recycling Facility in El Segundo; CA is provided to industrial customers

for non-potable uses.

Groundwater Recharge

Riparian Preserve (Gilbert Arizona)

LOTT Hawks Prairie (Lacey, Washington)

Sidestream Nutrient Recovery

• Phosphorus Removal Applications– Anaerobic Digestion– Dewatering

• Struvite (MAP) Reactor– Recycles Nutrients as Fertilizer– Reduces Solids Stream Recycle

Impact– Reduces Chemical Use– Potential Greenhouse Gas

Credit • ~6 to 8 tons CO2 Equivalent per

Ton of Struvite

Clean Water Services of Washington County, OR Durham Plant

Ostara’s Green Crystal Green®

Fertilizer Product

Wetlands Restoration

Oregon Nurseryman’s Garden(Silverton, Oregon)

Other Uses

Reclaimed Water Fire HydrantsTop: (Portland, Oregon)Bottom: (Maui, Hawaii)

Cochrane Park(Yelm, Washington)

Source: Department of Ecology

The City’s central WTP distributes water through its pipe and reservoir network.

Water

Peak day summertime demands drive drinking water treatment capacity decisions.

Irrigation Demand

Drinking Water• Current approach recommends a new West End

WTP at an approximate cost of $60-90M• Summertime irrigation demands drive the need for

that facility• Water rights are in limbo• Best use of resource for all uses (cooling water,

irrigation, etc.) ?

The City’s central WTP is nearing its capacity.

Drinking Water Management Approaches

Conventional• Driver

– New Plant Capacity Needed– Water Rights– SDWA Compliance– Limitations of Existing Distribution

Infrastructure• New West End Plant• Off Stream Storage• Potential Issues

– Expense– Additional Staff

Integrated Water Plan• Alternatives to Treated Water

for Irrigation– Irrigation Canal– Reuse Water

• Use Aquifer for Storage• Conservation• Off Stream Storage• Will require construction of

capital facilities

Irrigation out of canals could save peak treatment capacity

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

All Parcels within LOA Boundary

Irrigation Potential by Water Demand (MGD)

Adjacent to Irrigation SupplyWithin 500' of Irrigation Supply

Would require additional distribution piping

The City’s stormwater pipe network discharges to the Yellowstone River in several locations.

Stormwater• New water quality benchmarks for stormwater

discharges are in place• Monitoring today indicates some water quality

improvements will be needed• The Current Master Plan includes >$40M in high

priority improvements to address flooding issues

Future developments will include provisions to limit runoff to prevent future flooding problems.

We are unique in having a large irrigation system running through the urban area.

Irrigation• Established canal system throughout the service

area• Faces a declining customer base• Funding challenges• Infrastructure improvements are needed to maintain

old facilities

Irrigation will be a critical component to Integrated Water Planning.

Stormwater Management Approaches

Conventional• Stormwater NPDES Discharge

Permits– 6 Minimum Control Measures– Best Management Practices

(BMPs)• Total Maximum Daily Load

(TMDL)– Wasteload Allocations

• Historically Quantity-based• Increasing Regulatory

Emphasis on Water Quality– Add Water Quality BMPs

Integrated Water Plan• Infiltration/Inflow

– Stormwater May Drive Peak Wastewater Flows

• Effluent Management– Links with Canals and Drainage

Systems• Water Quality Offsets and

Trading– Stormwater Reductions to Off-set

Wastewater Discharges

Potential for TMDLs to Drive WasteloadAllocations for Regulated Stormwater

Water Quality Best Management Practices

Billings Floating Islands Pilot Project

• All-Natural System• Provides Nutrient Uptake• Small Footprint

City of Helena Effluent Discharge to Helena Valley Irrigation District Canal

City of Helena WWTP

City of Helena Effluent Ditch

Helena Valley Canal

Opportunities for Collaboration?

West Basin Municipal Water District, El Segundo, CA• Five different qualities of “designer”

or custom-made recycled water 1. Tertiary Water2. Nitrified Water3. Softened Reverse Osmosis Water

Secondary treated wastewater pretreated by either lime clarification or microfiltration, followed by reverse osmosis (RO) and disinfection for ground-water recharge

4. Pure Reverse Osmosis Water5. Ultra-Pure Reverse Osmosis Water

• Injected into South Bay’s groundwater basin to prevent seawater intrusion

Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) –Peroxide and UV

Why are we doing Integrated Water Planning?• Wastewater-Restrictive limits for continued discharge

to the Yellowstone River• Drinking Water—

– Peak irrigation demands lead to new WTP– Water Rights– Best use of resource?

• Stormwater—New permit limits for discharge from MDEQ

• Irrigation—Declining customer base and increasing management costs

• May be opportunities to collaborate

What are the benefits of an Integrated Water Plan?

• Allows time to make incremental changes• Long term cost effective service• Allows time to explore opportunities for more efficient

uses of water resources• Identify Opportunities

What are the outcomes of the Integrated Water Plan?

• Clear definition of problems, goals and objectives• Establish Community Values• Define and evaluate alternative strategies

– Projects/Capital Facilities– Programs and Policies-Nonstructural Management

Measures• Implementation Plan

– Prioritized Actions– Defined Funding– Long Term Management Program

• Adopted plan will serve as a road map for the future

How will we prepare the Integrated Water Plan?

• No preconceived notions about the outcome• No Cookie Cutter Approach• Facilitated Process• Broad stakeholder participation

– Build strong working relationships– Inclusive to build awareness and support

• Coordinate water management

Where are we in the Integrated Water Planning Process?

Project Initiation

Chartering Workshop

Regulatory and

Benchmarking Work Group

Finance and Policy Work

Group

Alternative Analysis

Work Group and

Chartering Workshop

Group

Recommended Plan Work

Group

Chartering Workshop

Group

March NovemberOctoberAugustJuneMay December

How will the Integrated Water Plan be coordinated?

City Council/StaffPublic Works Board

Technical Support PolicyChartering Group

Other InputWork Group

Opportunities for consideration

• Discharge Effluent to a different location-groundwater, irrigation canal, wetland, etc.

• Move to Satellite treatment plants for water and wastewater

• Use Irrigation Canal for lawn irrigation• Use Reuse water for lawn irrigation• Store Finished Water Underground (ASR)• Change Development policies to minimize

stormwater runoff and improve runoff quality (Already required)

Other Ideas?

Next Steps-Where are we going?

• Establish Work Group participation• Define additional projects, policies, technologies to

be considered• Screen and Prioritize Alternatives• Design of Implementation Plan• Produce the IWP by the end of the year

How can you participate?

• Represent your group at work group sessions• Attend Chartering Group Workshops• Provide ideas• Comment on the website

Questions?