Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Department of Utilities

TO:	David Corliss, City Manager Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
FROM:	Mike Lawless, Assistant Utilities Director Jeanette Klamm, Utilities Programs Manager
CC:	Dave Wagner, Utilities Director
DATE:	November 29, 2010
RE:	Agenda Item – Adoption of the updated Water Conservation Plan and approval of the ordinance amending Chapter 19, Article 10 of the City Code.

Please include the following item on the City Commission Agenda for consideration at the December 14, 2010 meeting:

Adoption of the updated Water Conservation Plan and approval of Ordinance No. 8492 amending Chapter 19, Article 10 of the City Code.

Project Description/History: As required by the Kansas Water Office, the City of Lawrence must have an approved Water Conservation Plan to outline steps taken by the City to promote water conservation and actions planned in the case of a drought. In addition, this plan must coincide with Chapter 19, Article 10 of the City Code. Department staff have updated the plan and proposed Ordinance No. 8492 amending the City Code to allow enforcement of the updated plan to meet KWO requirements.

 The City of Lawrence depends on three water sources to provide enough potable water and fire protection for its residents. Those include the Clinton Reservoir, the Kansas River, and alluvial wells. At this time, the City is able to treat 37 million gallons per day.

In order to help sustain a long-term water supply, the City has joined the Kansas River Water Assurance District.  The district has contracted for water storage in the reservoirs along the Kansas River.  Membership in the district allows us to buy rights to a portion of the water in these reservoirs for our use in time of drought.

The KWO requires that all wholesale water purchasers and water assurance district members develop a water conservation plan and subsequent ordinance to aide in drought response. Chapter 19, Article 10 of the City Code currently addresses water conservation and the previous water conservation plan. However specific current KWO requirements are not addressed within them. 

As required by the state for water assurance district members (K.S.A. 82a-733a), Lawrence prepared this plan.  The City used the “2007 Kansas Municipal Water Conservation Plan Guidelines” sent out by the Kansas Water Office in August 2007.

The plan includes two sections as required by the Kansas Water Office guidelines:

· Long-Term Conservation Plan

· Drought Contingency Plan

The Water Conservation Plan and ordinance have been reviewed by the department, legal, and management staff. It received preliminary approval from the Kansas Water Office, dependent on Lawrence City Commission adoption.

 Details:  The summary of changes to the plan and City Code are as follows:

· City Code only addresses the City’s authority to take actions in the case of a water emergency. KWO requires a three step action plan to include a water watch, a water warning, and a water emergency. Staff recommends that the ordinance include authority to declare specific actions and requirements in all three drought levels. These changes have been made in the proposed ordinance.

     The summary of changes to the water conservation plan are as follows:

· Simplified the plan by removing unnecessary background information;

· Updated water conservation goals to include more recent water use amounts;

· Updated water conservation practices to include current City activities in the areas of education, management, and regulation.

· Updated amounts that would trigger a water watch, water warning, and water emergency. This is based on recent changes to the treatment capacity and water storage tanks.

· Updated the specific actions to better align with past City responses to drought conditions.

Project Funding:  No funding necessary.

Action Request:  Staff recommends the adoption of the updated Water Conservation Plan and approval of Ordinance No. 8492 amending Chapter 19, Article 10 of the City Code.