WATER CONSERVATION PLAN

FOR THE

Canadian River Municipal Water Authority

July 14, 1999

Section I: Description of Service Area
The Canadian River Municipal Water Authority (CRMWA) supplies raw water to eleven Member Cities (nearly 1/2 million people) in the Texas Panhandle & South Plains via a 322 mile aqueduct system. The CRMWA's current source of water is Lake Meredith in the Texas Panhandle. The CRMWA was created by the Texas Legislature to provide a source of municipal and industrial water for its eleven member cities, which are Amarillo, Borger, Brownfield, Lamesa, Levelland, Lubbock, O'Donnell, Pampa, Plainview, Slaton, and Tahoka.

Section II: Conservation Goals
In order to conserve the total available water supply, the CRMWA would make every effort to supply its Member Cities with as much surface water (renewable resource) as reasonably possible in order to conserve their groundwater reserves (essentially non-renewable). This, coupled with the Cities' Conservation Plans, will insure continued water availability to CRMWA Member Cities.

A goal for maximum acceptable unaccounted-for water system wide is 7% or less. CRMWA has had unaccounted water losses as high as 7% in the past. Through a regular program of meter calibration and careful watch of meter comparisons, CRMWA has been able to lower this loss percentage for the past three years. CRMWA will make every effort to achieve this goal in the current and future calendar year.

Section III: Measurement of Diverted Water
To quantify the amount of water diverted from Lake Meredith (CRMWA's current sole source), weekly readings are taken from multiple locations throughout the aqueduct system. Larger meters are typically venturi tube flow measurement devices, but sonic meters are also used in some locations. Smaller meters are typically propeller, turbine, or magnetic. CRMWA reads all meters on the last Monday of each month. All large meters are read each Monday.

Section IV: Record Management
Weekly readings are entered into meter reading books that are kept for each calendar year. These readings are entered into an Excel worksheet and compared with previous month readings to get monthly and annual to date usage. These totals are saved to two hard disks and hard copies are printed monthly. Additionally, all records such as these will be archived on CD.

Section V: Leak and Loss Control and Repair
The Excel worksheet referenced above includes a sheet called Loss Analysis. This section compares each main meter with all delivery meters downstream. Percentage and gallon loss or gain is calculated at multiple locations in this manner.

The Northern System is monitored 24 hours by personnel in the headquarters control room. Lubbock Treatment Plant personnel monitor the Southern System 24 hours. Any unusual tank level changes are reported immediately and appropriate action is taken.

Leaks that are found through the above methods or reported are repaired immediately by CRMWA crews, unless the leak is small and the interruption of deliveries during peak demand periods dictates delay.

Section VI: Contract Provisions
The following provisions will be included in every wholesale water supply contract entered into or renewed after official adoption of this plan, including any contract extension:

  1. Wholesale customer must develop and implement a water conservation plan or water conservation measures using the applicable elements of Chapter 288 of the Texas Administrative Code.
  2. If wholesale customer intends to resell the water, then the contract between the initial supplier and customer must provide that the contract for the resale of the water must have water conservation requirements so that each successive customer in the resale of the water will be required to implement water conservation measures in accordance with applicable provisions of Chapter 288 of the Texas Administrative Code.

Section VII: Regional Planning Group Coordination
CRMWA operates in two regional planning areas, Region A and Region O. At the time of this writing, CRMWA has staff members setting on each of these planning groups. CRMWA understands and appreciates the work that is being done by these groups and has provided both a draft and the approved plan to each of these planning groups.

Section VIII: Plan Adoption, Implementation and Enforcement
CRMWA plans to adopt this plan on July 14, 1999 at its quarterly Board of Directors meeting. This plan will be supplied to each of CRMWA's Member Cities, TNRCC, TWDB, Region A & O Planning Groups, and will be available on the Internet at www.crmwa.com.

CRMWA will limit each City to its allocated share by controlling quantities with supply valves. If a City exceeds its allocated share, service will be discontinued.

Section IX: Future Supply
CRMWA is currently developing a groundwater well field that will enhance water quality and quantity. This new supply will help CRMWA Member Cities more fully utilize Lake Meredith water thereby conserving their precious groundwater reserves.

The Lake Meredith Salinity Control Project will enhance the water quality available from Lake Meredith. This will further the usefulness of Lake Meredith water and could allow fuller use of the surface water resource thereby conserving groundwater supplies.

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