HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnvironmental Quality Committee Packet 09-11-2019
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
AGENDA
Environmental Quality Committee
September 11, 2019, 7:00 PM
Plymouth City Hall – Medicine Lake Room
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PUBLIC FORUM – Individuals may address the Committee about any item not contained
on the regular agenda. A maximum of 15 minutes is allotted for the Forum. If the full 15
minutes are not needed for the Forum, the Committee will continue with the agenda. The
Commission will take no official action on items discussed at the Forum, with the exception
of referral to staff for future report.
3. APPROVE AGENDA – Environmental Quality Committee members may add items to the
agenda for discussion purposes or staff direction only. The Environmental Quality
Committee will not normally take official action on items added to the agenda.
4. CONSENT AGENDA – These items are considered to be routine and will be enacted by
one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Committee member
or citizen so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda
and placed elsewhere on the agenda.
There are no items on the Consent Agenda.
5. GENERAL BUSINESS
5.1
5.2
5.3
Metropolitan Council Water Efficiency Grant Program Application (Scharenbroich)
Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) City of Plymouth Water Audit
(Scharenbroich)
Approve Adopt-a-Street Collection Day (Scharenbroich)
6. REPORTS AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
6.1 Water Efficiency Rebate Program Update (Scharenbroich)
7. FUTURE MEETINGS
7.1 October 9, 2019
8. ADJOURNMENT
O:\Utilities\Storm Sewer and Water Resources\Environmental Quality Committee\Packets\2019\Sep Packet EQC 2019\2019-2022 Water Efficiency Grant
Program.docx
Agenda Number 5.1
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: September 6, 2019
TO: Environmental Quality Committee (EQC)
FROM: Ben Scharenbroich, Interim Water Resources Manager
SUBJECT: METROPOLITAN COUNCIL WATER EFFICIENCY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION
ACTION REQUESTED: Review and approve the submittal of the Metropolitan Council Water
Efficiency Grant Application Form
BACKGROUND: The Metropolitan Council was directed in 2019 by the Minnesota Legislator to
implement a water demand reduction grant program that encourages municipalities in the
metropolitan area to implement measures to reduce water demand to ensure the reliability and
protection of drinking water supplies. The Metropolitan Council was allocated a total of $750,000
to implement this directive and has developed the Water Efficiency Grant Program.
Municipal water suppliers that desire to provide their residents an incentive to use water more
efficiently may apply through September 30, 2019 for grant funds from the Council. Applicants
will be notified of any award by December 2, 2019. The grant program allows communities to use
funds to lower the purchase cost of products that reduce water use, such as low-flow toilets,
Energy Star-rated washing machines and more efficient irrigation systems. Grants will provide
75% of the program cost with the municipality required to provide the remaining 25% plus in-
kind services such as staff time. Grants are available in amounts from $2,000 to $50,000.
The City of Plymouth has successfully implemented the Water Efficiency Rebate Program from
2016-2019 and has assisted in funding 694 water saving devices. Staff proposes to request
$50,000 from the Metropolitan Council, requiring a $12,500 match from the City therefore
creating a total incentive program of $62,500 for 2020-2022. Staff proposes to draft the details
of the City’s program with review by the EQC in early 2020.
BUDGET IMPACT: The grant requires the municipality to provide a 25% grant match for the
program. The grant match would be funded through the Water Resources Division budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
Metropolitan Council Water Efficiency Grant Program Information
City of Plymouth Draft Metropolitan Council Water Efficiency Grant Application Form
O:\Utilities\Storm Sewer and Water Resources\Environmental Quality Committee\Packets\2019\Sep Packet EQC 2019\Water Audit 2019.docx
Agenda Number 5.2
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: September 6, 2019
TO: Environmental Quality Committee (EQC)
FROM: Ben Scharenbroich, Interim Water Resources Manager
SUBJECT: MINNESOTA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MnTAP) CITY OF PLYMOUTH
WATER AUDIT
ACTION REQUESTED: Review results from the water audit, city owned irrigation optimization,
water efficiency study and discuss findings.
BACKGROUND: Throughout the summer of 2019, a water audit was conducted by MnTAP
Intern Sam Mader for the City of Plymouth’s water use in 2018.
A water audit is a tool used to quantify consumption and losses occurring in the
distribution system and management processes of a water utility. Water auditing can
provide a multitude of benefits including but not limited to: reduced water losses,
improved data integrity needed for effective long term planning, and improved public
relations due to reduced disruptions. The audit requires 21 inputs that stem from five basic
categories: water supplied, authorized consumption, water losses, system data, and cost
data.
A key performance indicator for evaluating the results of a water audit is the Infrastructure
Leakage Index (ILI). The ILI is calculated from the ratio of Current Annual Real Losses
(CARL) to the Unavoidable Annual Real Losses (UARL). Results from the 2018 water audit
report an ILI of 0.58 for the City of Plymouth. According to the AWWA’s general guidelines
an ILI of less than 1.0 indicates a portion of the data is likely non-conforming.
The water audit highlights three priority areas based on performance indicators and data
validity scoring. The overall data validity score of the audit was 77 out of 100, placing the
audit in Level IV for water audit data validity level. According to the AWWA, the goal for all
water utilities should be to achieve Level V, which has a data validity score of 91-100. The
three priority areas of attention prescribed by the audit software are customer metering
inaccuracies, volume from own sources, and billed consumption. Based on the data
validity scores and performance indicators, three primary recommendations are:
1. Conduct the water audit annually to establish benchmarking to track
loss control. In the next audit period, investigate raw billing data such as
O:\Utilities\Storm Sewer and Water Resources\Environmental Quality Committee\Packets\2019\Sep Packet EQC 2019\Water Audit 2019.docx
meter ID, sizes, locations, etc. to look for inaccuracies among high
volume consumers that would contribute to an ILI below 1.0.
2. Calibrate and volumetrically test all source meters to better quantify
inaccuracies and establish if meter maintenance or replacement is
necessary. The results from volumetric testing can and should be used
to better reflect the volume supplied as part of the Master Meter and
Supply Error Adjustment entry.
3. Establish a policy to test a sample of customer meters annually to better
estimate the customer metering inaccuracies (CMI) input of the audit
and determine if meters need replacement. Without meter testing, the
data validity score of the CMI input can only reach a maximum of 5,
limiting the overall data validity of score of the audit.
In addition to the water audit, MnTAP Intern Mader worked with Parks and Recreation &
Housing and Redevelopment Authority staff to optimize irrigation usage at Zachary
Playfield and assess indoor water use at the HRA Senior Facilities. The four primary
recommendations are:
1. Install soil moisture sensors at all playfields. Moisture sensors were
installed at Zachary Playfield and tested for one month. Water
consumption during this time period was reduced by 44%. If
implemented at all playfields, this practice is estimated to save nearly
4,000,000 gallons of water annually while still maintaining safe playing
conditions.
2. Optimize zone run times of non-playfield spaces with evapotranspiration
calculator. A Microsoft Excel calculator was developed for the city’s
irrigation maintenance workers to find the optimal run time of irrigation
zones based on evapotranspiration. It is recommended that the run
times be followed on all irrigation zones not using soil moisture sensors.
3. Install WaterSense Certified showerheads & bathroom faucets in HRA
and other city buildings as part of routine maintenance activities. Flow
aerators and high efficiency shower heads are relatively inexpensive
ways to save water without changing usage habits.
4. Replace the coin-operated commercial washing machines at the
Plymouth Towne Square building with Energy Star certified washers. The
Energy Star certified washing machines use 40% less water and 25% less
energy than standard washing machines.
At this time, the MnTAP report for this project is not finalized. Once complete, the report
will be available through MnTAP and the City of Plymouth.
BUDGET IMPACT: The budget impact of specific improvements will be identified at the time of
implementation
O:\Utilities\Storm Sewer and Water Resources\Environmental Quality Committee\Packets\2019\Sep Packet EQC 2019\Adopt-a-Street
October.docx
Agenda Number 5.3
CITY OF PLYMOUTH
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: September 6, 2019
TO: Environmental Quality Committee (EQC)
FROM: Ben Scharenbroich, Interim Water Resources Manager
SUBJECT: ADOPT-A-STREET DAY
SATURDAY OCTOBER 12, 2019
BACKGROUND: The Adopt-a-Street program is a vehicle for local groups, organizations and
individuals to adopt a city street in Plymouth. The Environmental Quality Committee (EQC) had
pledged to clean up the area along Dunkirk Lane between County Road 6 and County Road 24.
This includes picking up cans, bottles and other litter as well as cleaning off storm sewer grates
and reporting graffiti or hazardous items. Litter and recyclable materials are placed in bags for
collection by City of Plymouth crews. Applicants assume all liability for volunteers participating
in the cleanup events.
The City of Plymouth provides safety vests, trash bags, bags for recyclables, bag pickup and
disposal. The City of Plymouth has installed a sign in a safe location with the EQC’s name as
recognition of participation in the program.
The EQC’s second Adopt-A-Street event for 2019 has been scheduled for Saturday October 12,
2019 at 9:00am. Volunteers will meet at Fire Station #3 located at 3300 Dunkirk Lane North.
BUDGET IMPACT: There is no budget impact for setting the first Adopt-a-Street pick-up day in
2019.