Water Supply & ConservationWater Supply & Conservation
City of Palo Alto UtilitiesCity of Palo Alto Utilities
Josh Wallace & Nico ProcosJosh Wallace & Nico Procos
June 11th, 2009June 11th, 2009
Providing water to Palo Alto since 1896Providing water to Palo Alto since 1896
Water Supply & ConservationWater Supply & Conservation
Presentation Overview:Presentation Overview:
I. Supply Status and ChallengesI. Supply Status and Challenges
II. Conservation: Your Part of the II. Conservation: Your Part of the SolutionSolution
California Water PictureCalifornia Water Picture
California Hydrologic ConditionsCalifornia Hydrologic Conditions
Environmental restrictions affecting Environmental restrictions affecting already reduced water deliveriesalready reduced water deliveries
State and Federal Water Project State and Federal Water Project DeliveriesDeliveries
Where does Palo Alto’s water come from?Where does Palo Alto’s water come from?
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Hetch Hetchy Water System located in Yosemite National Park
Built in the early to mid-1900s
Today, it serves 2.5 million people
Cleanest and purest water in the country
Water Supply SystemWater Supply System First water served in 1934First water served in 1934 Now serves 2.4 million Now serves 2.4 million
peoplepeople
280 miles of pipeline280 miles of pipeline 60 miles of tunnels60 miles of tunnels 11 reservoirs11 reservoirs
Water System Improvement ProgramWater System Improvement Program Parts of Hetch Hetchy
water system nearing end of working life.
Critical areas near three major earthquake faults - Calaveras, Hayward and San Andreas.
A significant earthquake could cause a catastrophic system failure and lead to 30 days of no water service.
$4.4 billion improvement project in process to upgrade pipelines, pumps, tunnels, tanks, dams, facilities.
Wholesale Water Cost Wholesale Water Cost One CCF equals 748 One CCF equals 748
gallons. gallons. Cost of purchasing Cost of purchasing
SFPUC water will SFPUC water will increase 2-3 times up to increase 2-3 times up to 2018 when the full cost 2018 when the full cost of the system of the system improvement kicks inimprovement kicks in
While costly, the costs of While costly, the costs of an earthquake range an earthquake range from $17-$30 billion!!from $17-$30 billion!!
How is it made safe to drink? How is it made safe to drink?
Two water treatment plants along the 160 mile stretch of Two water treatment plants along the 160 mile stretch of the Hetch Hetchy water system clean water for human the Hetch Hetchy water system clean water for human uses. uses.
Chloramine is added to “disinfect” water. Similar to Chloramine is added to “disinfect” water. Similar to chlorine which is used in pools.chlorine which is used in pools.
Fluoride is also added to the water for healthy teeth.Fluoride is also added to the water for healthy teeth.
How does water get to our How does water get to our homes and buildings? homes and buildings?
Water is moved around Palo Alto by a series of pumps Water is moved around Palo Alto by a series of pumps and pipes. and pipes.
217 miles of water pipeline. 217 miles of water pipeline. 202 miles of sewer pipeline.202 miles of sewer pipeline. Each home and business has a water meter to track Each home and business has a water meter to track
water consumption, which is billed in CCF, or hundred water consumption, which is billed in CCF, or hundred cubic feet. 1 CCF = 748 gallons. cubic feet. 1 CCF = 748 gallons.
Water Consumption in Palo AltoWater Consumption in Palo Alto
Future water useFuture water use
How much energy is used to pump, How much energy is used to pump, purify and heat water? purify and heat water?
Because the Hetch Hetchy system is gravity fed from the Sierra’s down to the Bay Area, energy consumption to move water is considerably lower than other water systems.
Water-related energy use in CA 19 percent of the state’s electricity 30 percent of its natural gas 88 billion gallons of diesel
It takes energy to… Pump water around CA and around our own towns Treat water to make it safe for drinking Heat water for showers, baths, washing
Water Related Electric ConsumptionWater Related Electric Consumption
Water Related Natural Gas ConsumptionWater Related Natural Gas Consumption
Water Energy LifecycleWater Energy Lifecycle
Water/Energy Use ComparisonWater/Energy Use Comparison
Impact of climate change Impact of climate change on water supply/qualityon water supply/quality
Water ConservationWater Conservation
The The StrategicStrategic Big Picture Big Picture::-Change Your Behavior, Tell Your Change Your Behavior, Tell Your
Community!Community!-Plan For The Future!Plan For The Future!
Water ConservationWater Conservation
The The TacticalTactical Big Picture Big Picture::-So Many Resources!So Many Resources!
-So Little Effort!So Little Effort!
Water ConservationWater Conservation
Ground ZeroGround Zero::
www.cityofpaloalto.orgwww.cityofpaloalto.org
Search: water tips, water rebatesSearch: water tips, water rebates
What can you do to conserve water What can you do to conserve water and reduce Greenhouse Gasesand reduce Greenhouse Gases
ACTION Run your dishwasher only when
full.
Turn off water when brushing teeth or rinsing dishes.
Shorten showers.
Fill the bathtub only half full.
Wash only full loads of clothes.
For even more savings purchase a high-efficiency clothes washer.
While working in your yard, do not use water as a broom or leave the hose unattended.
Repair broken or leaky sprinkler heads and adjust sprinklers to prevent overspray and run-off.
SAVINGS 2 to 4 gallons each load
2 to 2.5 gallons every minute
2.5 gallons per minute
15 to 25 gallons each bath
15 to 50 gallons per load
35 gallons per load
10–25 gallons per minute
15 to 25 gallons per day per leak or overspray
How can the City of Palo Alto help you How can the City of Palo Alto help you conserve water and reduce conserve water and reduce
Greenhouse gasesGreenhouse gases
Water-Wise House CallWater-Wise House Call Free showerheads, advice, leak checkFree showerheads, advice, leak check
$$$ for efficient appliances$$$ for efficient appliances Toilets, clothes washers, dishwashersToilets, clothes washers, dishwashers
$$$ for landscape and irrigation$$$ for landscape and irrigation $1,000 for irrigation, $2,000 for lawn removal$1,000 for irrigation, $2,000 for lawn removal
What is the City of Palo Alto doing to What is the City of Palo Alto doing to investigate alternative supplies?investigate alternative supplies?
RWQCP
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 1
Potential Palo Alto Recycled Water Project
What can you do to conserve energy at homeWhat can you do to conserve energy at home
Turn off the lights!Turn off the lights! Switch to compact Switch to compact
fluorescent lights (CFLs).fluorescent lights (CFLs). Use a power strip.Use a power strip. Look for Look for Energy StarEnergy Star on on
TVs, computers, DVD TVs, computers, DVD players, refrigerators, and players, refrigerators, and freezers.freezers.
Run the dishwasher and Run the dishwasher and clothes washer with only full clothes washer with only full loads.loads.
Take shorter showers.Take shorter showers. Put on a sweatshirt!Put on a sweatshirt!
Bottled vs. Tap Water Bottled vs. Tap Water Over 900,000 tons of plastic per year are
used to create bottles in the US.
Producing plastic water bottles takes 17 million barrels of oil.
It takes 1 gallon of water to produce a 32-ounce bottle of water.
86% of plastic water bottles used in the US become garbage or litter.
Only 23% of plastic bottles actually get recycled.
Buried water bottles can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade.
Bottling water produces more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide per year.
How many gallons of water does it How many gallons of water does it take to produce…take to produce…
1 tablespoon of white sugar? 1 tablespoon of white sugar? 7 gallons7 gallons 1 slice of white bread?1 slice of white bread? 11 gallons11 gallons 1 glass of milk? 1 glass of milk? 48 gallons48 gallons 1 egg 1 egg 63 gallons63 gallons 1 piece of chicken 1 piece of chicken 330 gallons330 gallons 1 hamburger1 hamburger 616 gallons616 gallons 1 steak 1 steak 1,232 gallons1,232 gallons
Questions??Questions??