Top water users seek ways to conserve

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Whether it's a puddle by an apartment or a sprinkler spouting off on the wrong day, wasted water is quickly becoming a top target of Midlanders doing their own part to conserve.

With citations likely to begin for those not complying with restrictions and tougher rationing on the horizon, the scrutiny of residents, businesses and public entities may only heighten in the weeks to come, city officials and water users say.

"There's no doubt we'll probably have to have folks out there assessing fines," said Scott Dufford, at-large city councilman. "Right now, it's serious."

Still, those who are among the biggest consumers say while they're receiving citizen complaints, they are doing their part to comply. If more restrictions come, which council members say is likely, then everyone will have to be ready to work with them.

"We've got to participate just like everybody else," said Scott Swigert, parks and recreation manager for the city. "Having water to survive is more important than water for grass and trees."

Top users

Between May 31, 2010, and June 1, the city of Midland was the largest consumer of water, according to data provided by the city.

Behind the city, Midland Independent School District, Midland College, Midland Memorial Hospital and the Northridge Court Apartments were among the top users.

Several energy-related companies, including Chesapeake and Patriot Resources, made the top 10 list. Director of Utilities Stuart Purvis said they're sold water brought in from the Paul David Well Fields and do not impact the city's allotment from the Colorado River Municipal Water District (CRMWD). Because of its high fluoride content, only so much of the groundwater can be blended into the surface water purchased from the CRMWD, so the city sells a limited amount before it's ever mixed in, Purvis said.

"We can't use that water in any case, so at least we can sell it to them," he said, adding companies could purchase it directly from University Lands if not sold the water by the city. "We sell it to them as non-potable water. We may be changing that policy in the near-term."

Officials with MISD, Midland Memorial Hospital, the city's Parks and Recreation Department and Midland College all acknowledge they've received their share of phone calls from residents who've caught them breaking the irrigation restrictions.

Each has its own method of fixing the situation, but all said they address problems as quickly as they become aware of them. Typically, water hitting the street or spraying on the wrong day is the result of a broken sprinkler head, stuck valve or glitch in an automated irrigation system. Sometimes they don't know a problem exists until someone alerts them to it, so they say they're glad the public is watching.

"We're very pleased with the citizens that have called us," said James Riggen, executive director of School Plant and Construction Services at MISD. "We don't want to be watering on the street."

The city's Parks and Recreation Department has dedicated one staff member to testing the outdoor watering system and checking sprinkler heads to prevent waste, Swigert said. In the past, the checks were done but not on a full-time basis.

"That's all he does, all day long," Swigert said. "We're trying to stay on top of it."

Terry Kirkland, grounds supervisor at Midland College, said its use is down 45 percent from last summer. He conceded they and others in town have trouble not letting the resource fall on concrete at times because of wind. He said they sometimes will test systems during the day to ensure they're working properly, which is why Midlanders may see water going off during a non-permitted time.

The Northridge Court Apartments actually irrigates from a well system, Manager Alex Garcia said.

"We're probably one of the biggest users because we're (one of) the biggest apartment complexes," he said.

At Hunters Glen, which fell just outside the top 10, outdoor watering also is done through wells. Doug Graham, vice president of SunRidge Management Group, said they replaced an old boiler part-way through the year, which is what kept use higher. Otherwise, he said their facilities are simply old and therefore prone to leaks.

"We're very sensitive to the fact that we need to conserve water. When we replace shower heads, toilets, they're low flow," he said. "Every time we're in a unit to do a work order, we do a standard check list and looking for leaks is one of them."

Irrigation impacts

Purvis said outdoor watering pushed Midland over CRMWD's 24.71 million gallons per day limit. Indoor use, car washes and water required to keep dirt down at construction sites are part of winter sales, which fall well below the limits, he said.

Purvis said this month the city is on track to sell 900 million to 1 billion gallons of water. Of that, he estimates about 500 million gallons is used for irrigation.

"The big one is the irrigation," he said. "That's the biggie, that's the one that's getting us."

If the City Council implements the Drought Contingency Plan during its Tuesday meeting -- which it has indicated it will -- city staff will have the ability to pass out fines of up to $500 to residents, businesses, schools and the hospital if they don't comply with the restrictions. The council and city also are looking at cutting use further, whether that be through dropping irrigation allowances down to two days per week or limiting hours more.

"I would much rather know that my yard is dry and brown (and) to know the water will be there when I take a shower," said Vicky Hailey, councilwoman for District 2. "We're just taking every precaution we can to make sure we take care of the needs before the wants."

Michael Trost, councilman for District 4, said he wants to ensure the council's actions will cut usage and doesn't give people the ability to water for hours on end two days a week instead of for a smaller length of time three days a week.

Conservation tools

Major water consumers said they're also trying to implement conservation tools.

Cory Edmondson, vice president for support services at the hospital, said they're installing rain water harvesting tanks that will take care of about four months of irrigation each year in the future. The central utility plant also has received new equipment and their sterilizing equipment has changed to reduce usage.

"We are acutely aware of the water and conservation," he said.

Because hospital visits are up in the winter and irrigation up in the summer, he said the hospital's water use stays about even through the year.

MISD has dropped irrigation to one day a week at its elementary campuses and some of its athletic fields. Secondary athletic campuses are being watered twice weekly and certain football fields being used by students are watered three times per week plus one additional day they received permission to use from the city, Riggen said. If those uses have to be cut back, he said they will.

"We would like to see that they're playing on good turf because that prevents injuries," he said, of athletes. "But, we understand with these water restrictions our supplies are limited."

The city and school district are entering the final stages of installing a centralized control system for MISD's irrigation, which should help control usage, officials said.

Midland College also is working with the city, and in the future, it will see a water reuse plant installed that would tie into a sewer line and allow the college to irrigate with non-potable water. At this point, Kirkland said they're holding off on landscaping the new PE building and following restrictions.

Edmondson said they also may approach the city about delaying some required landscaping on its new construction because they don't want to invest in something that will require more water.

Swigert said a few of the parks use well water. If water availability becomes too tight, he said they could shut down the pools.

For now, several said, they're praying for rain.

Top water users for May 31, 2010- June 1, 2011

City of Midland Midland Independent School District Chesapeake Operating Midland College* Midland Memorial Hospital Reliance Energy Patriot Resources Inc. American Opportunity Northridge Court Apartments LP

*Midland College is charged through two accounts that rank eighth and tenth. Between its cumulative usage, the college ranks fourth.

Note: Energy companies purchase groundwater and do not account for usage from the city's CRMWD allotment.