TEXASH2O
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011
The Official Newsletter of the Texas Section AWWA • THE Water Professionals
Texas Water 2011
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Pooling resources No matter what water issue captures your fancy, you’re sure to find it talked about at Texas Water 2011SM. From asset management to xeriscaping, from conservation to distribution, from regulations to reuse, there’ll be someone else there that you can talk to and learn from. The Texas Water community flows into Fort Worth on April 5 and churns up downtown until April 8. In between, here are some highlights: TUESDAY, APRIL 5 The day begins at 7:30 a.m. as players gather at the Golf Club at Fossil Creek for the annual Texas Water golf tournament. The tournament raises money for scholarships for TAWWA and for the Water Environment Association of Texas, the two organizations that put on Texas Water conferences. At 2 p.m. Texas Section’s Board of Trustees will hold its meeting at the Sheraton Fort Worth, the host hotel. After exhibitors put their booths in order, the Texas Water Exhibit Hall will open at 5 p.m. for a Meet-and-Greet reception for all attendees. Texas Water 2011SM has begun. PLEASE SEE TW11, PAGE 23
The Fort Worth Water Gardens offers a “cultural oasis” in the midst of downtown Fort Worth. The gardens are on the path from the Sheraton Fort Worth, the host hotel, and the Fort Worth Convention Center, site of most of the TW11 activities.
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Letter from the Texas Section Chair
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Welcome to Fort Worth!
2 By Richard Talley
Texas Section American Water Works Association P.O. Box 80150 Austin, Texas 78708 http://www.tawwa.org RICHARD TALLEY, CHAIR 817-392-8203 DAVE SCHOLLER, CHAIR-ELECT 281-558-8700 BRENT LOCKE, VICE-CHAIR 254-562-5992 MARI GARZA-BIRD, IMM. PAST CHAIR 210-826-3200 MIKE HOWE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ SECRETARY-TREASURER 512-238-9292 FAX: 512-238-0496 E-MAIL: mikehowe@tawwa.org This publication is distributed monthly to the more than 3,500 members and friends of the Texas Section American Water Works Association. Contributing writers can contact the editor: Cliff Avery Gilleland Creek Press PO Box 676 Pflugerville, TX 78691 512-251-8101 FAX: 512-251-8152 e-mail: cavery@texas.net The publication name, TexasH2O: © 1996-2011 Texas Section - American Water Works Association, Inc. © 2011, Texas Section - American Water Works Association, Inc.
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t’s time again for the Largest Regional Water Conference in the U.S., Texas Water 2011. In a few days, I will be welcoming you to Fort Worth, the city of cowboys and culture. You will enjoy visiting our wonderful city and generous hospitality. With heartfelt gratitude, I would like to acknowledge all the Fort Worth local host committee volunteers who have been at work since last year’s event to prepare for our conference. Charly Angadicheril and Buster Fichera, Local Arrangements chairs, have planned a great time for us. They have been at work on a new feature this year at the conference, “Texas Rocks! A Water Celebration,” which is a Thursday evening reception that celebrates the state’s water community. I would also like to acknowledge with appreciation the exhibitors and vendors who continually support the Texas Water conference. Their support helps Texas Water to be the largest regional water conference. As I reflect back on the past year, I am amazed at how quickly the time has passed. Serving as the Texas Section chair has been both a pleasure and a privilege. To the Board of Trustees, thank you for your time, your efforts, your support, and most of all your friendship. This year has been a pleasure to work with such a passionate group of water professionals. Thank you with appreciation to the division and committee chairs and members for your time and dedicated work. I want to give a special “thank you” to Mike Howe, our executive director, who keeps our Section on solid ground. I would like to especially give my appreciation to the officers and members of the local chapters throughout Texas for your dedication and energy in promoting the Texas Section AWWA and increasing the networking opportunities to share timely information with our members. Just in case you haven’t heard or read, the Texas Section has a strong presence on the national AWWA scene. History repeated itself this year as the AWWA board of directors selected former Texas Section Chair Charlie Anderson as president-elect, and Section member Alyssa Lockett of San Antonio Water System as director-at-large. Charlie Maddox, our water utility council vice chair, will serve as the incoming Section’s director on the AWWA board. Also, there are many of our Section members who serve on the councils and committees in AWWA. The spotlight is on the Texas Section; our members represent us well on the national scene. Thank you for your hard work. I am proud of what the Texas Section has accomplished this year and excited about the future of our organization as our new officers take over leadership. Thanks once again to our members in Texas Section AWWA for the privilege of serving you as your Section chair.
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Rain harvesting collects pennies from heaven
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By Liz Davidson TEXASH2O
Rainwater harvesting is an important tool to slow the depletion of our current water supplies. Dr. Hari Krishna, founder of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA), took that message to a suburban audience when he spoke to residents in the Wells Branch Municipal Utility District, located north of Austin, about rainwater harvesting on Feb. 5. Besides being free water, Krishna pointed out that collecting rainfall has numerous other advantages. Rainwater is superior in quality for landscape irrigation because of its lack of chemicals; it’s soft water, which is beneficial in places where groundwater is not of good quality; capturing rainwater can help reduce runoff and erosion; and it can decrease stress on municipal systems in peak water demand months. He added that municipalities can also delay the expansion of water treatment plants by encouraging residents to collect rainwater. “The benefits of rainwater harvesting are not only seen by the consumer,” Krishna said, “but also by the water authorities, especially larger systems.” According to Krishna, there are at least half a dozen cities in the U.S. that will face water shortages in the next 20 years, including San Antonio and Fort Worth. With the state’s population increasing half a million every year, Texas will need at least 23 million acre-feet of water to serve its population in 2060. However, studies estimate that only 15 million acre feet will be available at that time due to reasons such as aquifer depletion. “The population is increasing and water supplies are going down,” Krishna said. “Which also means that water rates will be going up, because there’s only so much water.” One study found that if just ten PLEASE SEE RAIN, PAGE 24
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Dr. Hari Krishna, founder of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association, said that if only ten percent of the roof area in Texas was used for rainwater harvesting, the state could collect about 38 billion gallons of water every year. This map, which can be found on the Texas Water Development Board’s website, depicts about how much rainfall could be collected in different regions of the state, based on an average 2,000 sq. ft. roof.
Japanese quake shakes Texas water (Editor’s Note: The article appeared in the March 17 Austin AmericanStatesman and is reprinted with permission. For an online version of the story, including graphic information about the effect, click to: http://www.statesman.com/news/local/japan-earthquake-displaced-water-inedwards-aquifer-1326387.html)
By David Doolittle American-Statesman Staff
The water level of Texas' Edwards Aquifer was displaced about a foot Friday (March 11) after energy released from a massive earthquake near Japan put the squeeze on the underground rock formation that supplies drinking water for much of Central Texas. The 9.0-magnitude quake caused its walls to contract and expand, officials with the Edwards Aquifer Authority said Wednesday. A monitor in a Bexar County well that continuously records the aquifer's water level noted the oscillations, which lasted about two hours from late Thursday to early Friday morning, said Geary Schindel, the PLEASE SEE QUAKE, PAGE 20
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Executive Director Report
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Nothing minute about Chapters By Mike Howe TAWWA Executive Director
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s with every Texas Section Board meeting, as with any other public meeting of a public or nonprofit board, minutes are made to memorialize the discussion and actions of the Board. We record these meetings and before the next Board meeting, I listen to the recording and transcribe the essentials of the meeting. I have just spent the last fifteen minutes listening to the recording of the Oct. 29, 2010 meeting that was held in Wells Branch MUD, near Austin. The entirety of the discussion was a review by all of the Chapters around the state of their recent activities. When transcribing minutes, I normally skip through the discussion and capture the essence of the conversation. While some would like every word to be captured, meeting minutes by their very nature are supposed to be an official record of the meeting, designed to capture the essence of discussion, capture actual votes, and provide readers in the future an accurate reflection of the meeting without being a verbatim transcript of the whole meeting. Following that mandate, what transpires over
three hours is usually condensed to four pages. Normally, this is a real plus, giving a snapshot of a meeting in an easy-to-read-andunderstand format. But, I must tell you: The minutes of this last Board meeting will never do justice to the absolutely amazing and exciting activities going on in our Chapters. We are fortunate to have a large group of dedicated volunteers all over the State who are active, involved and committed to the Texas AWWA, the water industry and the public served by our member utilities. From the fundraising activities for local students, scholarship or Water For People, our members – working through their Chapters – are fully engaged. In addition, many of the Chapters are hosting one-day workshops in their areas, providing excellent training and providing excellent opportunities for members to engage with their colleagues. And, through our Chapters, the growth, value and ability of the Texas Section is leveraged tenfold. With the development of Student Chapters, we are involving more and more students and Young Professionals in our industry. Chapters also give our members an opportunity for leadership roles locally, on the State level and nationally. In this economic climate when travel budgets have been cut, providing local networking and training opportunities in a State PLEASE SEE HOWE, PAGE 18
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Drought spurs regional conservation network
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Editors Note: This paper is one of the many presentations at Texas Water 2011SM. By Lorrie Reeves WENNT Coordinator Texas AgriLife Research The fall of 2005 was one of the warmest on record for North Texas. At the same time, rainfall for the region was virtually nonexistent. Little did we know at the time, these were subtle indicators that North Texas was ripe for a significant drought cycle. Not since the 1950s had it been so dry in the region. Compounding the problem was the growing population figures that had swollen to nearly 1.5 million, with millions more on their way in the next few decades. As a result of state-mandated drought contingency requirements, many municipalities brought on dedicated staff to manage emergency water conservation efforts. For many, developing a brand new water conservation program right in the middle of a drought proved to be a daunting challenge. As cities scrambled to get programs up-and-running it became very apparent to those already in the water conservation game that cooperation and coordination would be beneficial to all. In June of 2006, initiated by Lorrie Reeves, the Water Conservation and Services Supervisor for the City of Plano, the Water Efficiency Network of North
Texas (WENNT) was born. STRATEGY Monthly meetings were held to discuss water use restrictions set forth by the local water district. Attendance was very small at first, maybe 5 to 6 municipalities sitting around the table with a brown bag lunch. But as word got out about the group, attendance numbers began to soar. In an amazing show of solidarity, each participating city brought ideas, information, techniques and communication pieces to share at the monthly meetings. Water conservation specialists were charged by regional water providers to convey a very real sense of urgency to the citizens of North Texas regarding the serious implications of a quickly dwindling water supply. Education usually takes time to permeate a community. That was a luxury we didn’t have. Lake levels were dropping at an alarming rate and outdoor water use had to be substantially curbed. The group worked cooperatively and unselfishly to identify programs and communication techniques that would be most effective in their outreach activities. Sharing electronic media such as PDF files of brochures, JPG picture files for presentations and written communication pieces all helped alleviate the feeling that one was alone in his or her struggle to reach their community. In addition, sharing information saved countless budget dollars and drastically reduced PLEASE SEE NETWORK, PAGE 16
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Texas Water Day April 27 at Capitol
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TO ADVERTISE: 512-251-8101
Texas Section will be a cosponsor of Texas Water Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, April 27. The event, presented by the Texas Water Foundation, runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Capitol Auditorium in the Extension. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. After a welcome by TWF Chairman John Howard, the tentative schedule includes a speech by House Natural Resource Committee Chair Allan Ritter at 9:15 a.m. and a presentation at 11 a.m. by TCEQ Commissioner Carlos Rubenstein. Other presenters include Dr. Robert Mace, deputy executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board, and Dr. Michael Webber, associate director of the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy. Keynote speaker is James Workman, author of Heart of Dryness: How the Last Bushmen Can Help Us Endure the Coming Age of Permanent Drought. TAWWA Executive Director Mike Howe will wrap up the day’s presentations with his talk, “Putting It All in Perspective. Lunch will be provided, and water informational exhibits will be on display. For registration information, consult the Texas Section website, www.tawwa.org.
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West Texas cities may join in water search
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TO ADVERTISE: 512-251-8101
The mayors of Midland, Abilene and San Angelo have pledged to work together to secure long-term water supplies for their cities, The Midland Reporter-Telegram reports. If their respective city councils concur, the cities will explore joint development of water resources for the future. “San Antonio is out looking for water, Austin is out looking for water, everyone downstream from us is out looking for water,” San Angelo Mayor Alvin New said, “All of them have much larger populations and much larger economic purses. This just allows us to come together.” Midland Mayor Wes Perry said that the cities would hire engineers to assess present water resources and determine methods of transport for water among the cities. Abilene is pursuing development of its Cedar Ridge reservoir, estimated to cost more than $200 million. Midland is developing groundwater supplies, estimated to cost $140 million, and San Angelo, currently relying on surface water, is exploring groundwater options in the Hickory Aquifer. Abilene Mayor Norm Archibald said that the agreement between the cities could eventually lead to Midland and San Angelo participating in the Cedar Ridge project. “We don’t know where this interlocal agreement will take us,” he said, “but we do know that until we sit down at the table and start looking seriously, all we will be doing is talking about things.”
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Forests are good. But not in your water. Decaying cyanobacteria (“algae”) blooms in your source water can produce MIB, geosmin, and other taste & odor -causing compounds that lead to earthy, musty, grassy, fishy and other tastes and odors in your drinking water.
THE TROJAN UV SOLUTION The TrojanUVSwift™ECT simply and quickly eliminates T&O and algal toxins on demand using a powerful oxidation reaction initiated by the combination of UV light and hydrogen peroxide. Trojan’s innovative two-mode operation minimizes operation and maintenance costs while delivering superior flexibility. For more information, call 1.888.220.6118 and ask for one of
our Taste and Odor Specialists, or visit www.trojanuv.com. BE SURE TO DROP BY OUR BOOTH (416) AT TEXAS WATER 2011.
Represented by:
Newman Regency Group Tel. 281.980.7448 nrg@newmanregency.com
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‘Call before you dig’: 8-1-1 is the number By Doug Meeks, CHST Damage Prevention Manager, Texas811.org
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In May 2007, the federally mandated “Call Before You Dig” telephone number “8-1-1” was activated. With more than 62 “One Call” numbers across the country, the passage of 8-1-1 sought to eliminate confusion by providing one national number you can call to request utility locates. When you dial 8-1-1 before digging in Texas, your call will be routed to a One Call center specifically taking requests for utility locates in the Lone Star State. This transfer is immediate and not apparent to the caller. The One Call center that receives the locate request will notify affected stakeholders that operate underground facilities in your work area, with the exception of some water and wastewater system operators. Texas state law does not require water and wastewater system operators to participate in the One Call process, however many realize that it is simply good business and do so voluntarily. If you are wondering exactly who is behind the national 8-1-1 campaign, the answer is the Common Ground Alliance (CGA). CGA was created specifically to work with industry stakeholders in an effort to prevent damage to underground utility infrastructure and ensure public safety and environmental protection. PLEASE SEE 8-1-1, PAGE 19
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NEWS AND NOTES from Texas Water 2011 T E X A SH2O
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Friday workshop prepares for disasters
All aboard for TW11 SM
A Friday morning track at Texas Water 2011 will present information your utility needs to prepare for and recover from disasters — natural or man-made. Organized by Tony Alotto of the TEEX Public Works Response Team, this series of workshops will includes presenters from state agencies and response groups, including TXWARN, the Texas Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network. TXWARN, spearheaded by the Texas Section, provides utility-to-utility response to emergencies.
New Thursday night event Texas Water 2011SM introduces a new feature this year — a Thursday evening reception that celebrates the state’s water community. TEXAS ROCKS! A WATER CELEBRATION brings attendees together from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the Fort Worth Convention Center for beverages and heavy hors d’oeuvres. The event gives attendees more free time Thursday night to get together with other Texas Water colleagues and enjoy the many attractions that Fort Worth has to offer. Tickets for the Water Celebration Reception are $60 if purchased by March 11. Tickets are included with full registration and guest program registration. Texas Rocks! A Water Celebration replaces the Annual Conference Dinner in previous conferences.
To get to TW11 from the Mid-Cities/Dallas County area, consider taking the Trinity Railway Express into downtown Fort Worth. You won’t have to deal with rush hour traffic. The T&P Station is only a healthy two-block walk from the Fort Worth Convention Center. Trains depart from Union Station in Dallas every 20 to 30 minutes beginning at 6 a.m. There are eight convenient locations along the route where you can park-and-ride. A day pass ticket to reach the Fort Worth station costs $7.00 in Tarrant County. In Dallas County, it’s $10. Click to www.trinityrailwayexpress.org for more information.
Water For People Silent Auction You can help raise money for the good work of Water For People by donating items to the Silent Auction held during Texas Water 2011SM. Silent Auction items can include tickets to sporting events, art, wine, clothing, professional memberships, electronics, gift card — anything that may entice bidders. Monetary donations are also welcome. Donations are tax-deductible up to the value of the item. To arrange your donation, contact Meera Victor at MVictor@carollo.com.
TEXAS WATER 2011 REGISTRATION EARLY REGISTRATION DEADLINE MARCH 11, 2011
PAYMENT MUST ACCOMPANY THIS FORM OR REGISTRATION CANNOT BE PROCESSED REGISTER ONLINE: www.texas-water.com. PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE
FIRST NAME ______________________________________ LAST NAME _____________________________________ COMPANY ________________________________________ TITLE ___________________________________________ NAME FOR BADGE _________________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS _________________________________________ MEMBER # ______________________________________ CITY/STATE/ZIP ___________________________________________________________________________________ PHONE __________________________________________ FAX ____________________________________________ E-MAIL* __________________________________________ * Note: E-mail required for processing Received Received on or before 3/11/11 after 3/11/11
o Full Registration - MEMBER
$295
o Full Registration - NON MEMBER
$445
$345 $495
________ ________
NEW MEMBERS ONLY. Full registration at the non-member rate includes a free oneyear membership to either AWWA or WEF. With full, non-member registration, please indicate which organization you wish to join: o AWWA o WEF
o Student - (no meals)
$40
$50
________
THE EASIEST WAY TO REGISTER IS ONLINE: www.texas-water.com
PAYMENT METHOD: o Check Payable to “Texas Water 2011”
BILL MY: o AMEX o VISA o MasterCard o Discover
Card # _________________________________________ Expiration _____________________________________ Cardholder Name: ______________________________ Signature ______________________________________ Credit Card Billing Address:_____________________
o Wednesday Only (breakfast and conference lunch) - MEMBER
$165
$195
________
o Wednesday Only (breakfast and conference lunch) - NON MEMBER
$215
$245
________
o Thursday Only (includes Box Lunch) - MEMBER
$130
$160
________
o Thursday Only (includes Box Lunch) - NON MEMBER
$180
$210
________
_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________
o Friday Only - MEMBER
$80
$90
________
Security Code: _________________________________
o Add’l Conference Proceedings USB Drive 1 included with all Full Registrations
$25
$25
________
o Friday Only - NON MEMBER
$90
$100
________
$125
$135
________
$55
$55
________
___ x $30 Select tour: o Tour 1: Westside Water Treatment Plant
$35
________
$65
________
o Guest Program
Guest Name for Badge ________________________________________
o * Exhibit Hall Only- (4/6, 4/7) (Sorry: No one-day passes available) FRIDAY FACILITY TOURS
QUANTITY
o Tour 2: Village Creek Water Reclamation Center o Tour 3: Botanical Research Institute of Texas
EXTRA TICKET o * Conference Luncheon - WED. o * Awards Breakfast - THURS.
QUANTITY ___ x $60
$35
________
o * NEW! Reception - THURS. Texas Rocks: A Water Celebration o Gloyna Breakfast - FRI.
For more information, contact:
Cliff Avery GCP Association Services 512-251-8101 Fax: 512-251-8152 e-mail: texwater@texas.net
Register on-line at www.texas-water.com or mail form with payment to:
Texas Water 2011 Registration c/o GCP Association Services P.O. Box 676 Pflugerville, TX 78691 or fax to 512-251-8152
x $35
___
x $30
$35
________
___
x $60
$65
________
No refunds will be granted after March 11, 2011. A $60 cancellation fee will be assessed to all refund requests made prior to March 12, 2011. Substitutions allowed. Substitutions may incur a $25 processing fee. All refunds must be requested in writing. Fax refund requests to Cliff Avery at 512-251-8152.
________
o Other __________________________________________________
___
x $35
$35
o Donation “Water for People” - Optional Enter amount of donation:
TOTAL PAYMENT (add right column)
* included with Full Registration
(Visa/MC/Discover: Last three digits in the signature panel on back of card; AMEX: Four-digit number on the right front above imprinted card number.)
___
o I plan to attend the Women Of Water Lunch (Box lunch ticket required; included in Full Registration or Thursday Only. Or purchase ticket below.) o * Box Lunch - THURS.
Put “Same” if same as above, necessary to process)
________
______
Physical:
200 W. Main, Ste. 200B Pflugerville, TX 78660
I have special dietary needs: o Vegetarian
Pre-registration deadline March 11, 2011
After March 27, registration only available on-site
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production time for public outreach messages. A sense of urgency was critical to our very survival of an unrelenting drought. In the spring of 2007, the much needed rains returned to North Texas but it had been a long and gut-wrenching
from Page 6 18 months for everyone involved. Water conservation programming, for many municipalities, was here to stay. Based on population estimates and projected water supplies, the water efficient practices of all community members will play a huge part in the economic growth (and survival) of North Texas.
RESULTS The group has cooperatively produced and funded two projects. The first was a 6 panel full color brochure that was adapted from a Texas A&M publication. Group members customized the material to specifically and strategically focus on outdoor water use in North Texas. While the group as a whole recognizes the limited benefit of educational brochures, this publication has been very well received by the general public. It is colorful, easy to understand, and speaks directly to the region’s soil type, plant materials and irrigation challenges. Our second project was a video series that highlights six major cornerstones of water efficiency. The subjects are 1) General Conservation Indoor/Outdoor, 2) Efficient Irrigation Techniques for Texas soils, 3) Basic Maintenance Elements of an Irrigation System, 4) Seasonal Adjustments for Irrigation Controllers, 5) Smart (ET) Controllers and 6) Smart Technologies (drip, MP Rotators, etc). Through a grant process, four out of the six videos were cooperatively produced and were distributed throughout the membership and beyond in September 2009. As of this writing, WENNT has been meeting every month for nearly five years. So far, we have not run out of things to do or share. The group consists of roughly 70 members representing 41 organizations throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth region. It is a mix of municipalities, water suppliers, industry specialists, regional partners and government representatives. The agenda always starts with “show and tell” where we invite a guest speaker to present their water conservation product or service. Though these guest speakers are limited to
Continued on the following page
20-25 minutes for their presentation, they have the undivided attention of several potential customers all in one place. Additional agenda items include water conservation legislation, new technologies, successful (and not-so-successful) events and programs, rebate program experiences, purchasing and vendor information, ‘A sense of urgency consumption and data management, state and local was critical reporting requirements, etc. The meetings are always to our very survival.’ held the second Friday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon. Meeting locations are hosted by a different city each month and lunch afterwards (usually at a restaurant unique to that community) is always a favorite part of the day. It’s almost a competition to see who can come up with the most original or quirky place to eat. This is also where much of the camaraderie and relationship building happens. In summary, we openly share information with each other, we learn something new (products, services, programs, etc.) each month, and we cooperatively produce and/or buy what we need to be successful in our conservation efforts. And most importantly, we have developed significant and long-lasting relationships that inspire and encourage us to be bigger than the sum of our parts.
Blowers Blower Packages Overhauls Digester Aeration Filter Backwash
www.airmac.com
866-424-7622
7557 Rambler Road Suite 440 Dallas, Texas 75231 214.360.9929
BUILDING A BETTER WORLD
www.mwhglobal.com
Austin Dallas Fort Worth Houston San Antonio
NOTICE
Texas WaterSM is a registered servicemark of Texas AWWA for the exclusive use in conjunction with the joint conference with the Water Environment Association of Texas. Any other use without the express written permission of Texas AWWA is prohibited. All rights reserved.
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as large as Texas is one more plus. There is no force like joining forces, and I am so pleased that our Texas Section Chapters have also been reaching out to other groups in their communities. I invite you to look at our website Chapter page, www.tawwa.org/chapters to learn more about where we have a Chapter. If you are not already participating with the Chapter in your area, then show up at the next meeting and be welcomed. If you would like to start a Chapter in your area, then contact me and I can show you just how easy it is to start a Chapter. And if I get a few minutes, I’ll upload the audio of the meeting to our website so you can hear the success stories of our Chapters. It is worth a listen.
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TO ADVERTISE: 512-251-8101
from Page 12
Officially formed in 2000, CGA represents a continuation of the United States Department of Transportation’s Common Ground Study – a study that highlighted the need for one organization to continuously update best practices for the growing underground utility industry. Along with the official 8-1-1 number, CGA has launched a national Call Before You Dig campaign to increase public awareness about the importance of calling 8-1-1, having utility lines marked before digging, and protecting America’s vast underground infrastructure of pipelines, conduits, wires and cables. Additional information about 8-1-1 and how to request free utility damage prevention awareness training for your employees or trade association is available at www.texas811.org.
Classified advertising Attn: Sales Reps. Seeking aggressive sales representatives within rural water distribution. We are expanding our company and offering excellent commissions to the right candidates that are interested in selling a proven product line exclusively offered by our company and unique to the industry. Tube Pumps, Inc. 800-654-7482
TEXASH2O One of your
customers could be
reading your ad here. 512-251-8101
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8-1-1
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Quake
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Built Fast....Built To Last
www.columbiantectank.com
from Page 3
authority's chief technical officer. The force from the quake took about 15 minutes to reach the aquifer, he said. “When a wave from an earthquake passes, it slightly compresses and dilates the aquifer, and the water will shoot up and down,” Schindel said. “Any time we see a major earthquake, it's commonly recorded in that well. They act as seismographs.” The oscillations during high-energy earthquakes are common in artesian aquifers, or confined aquifers, where the water is pressurized, including the Edwards Aquifer, Schindel said. “We saw Haiti, we saw Sumatra, Japan, a couple in Mexico and Alaska,” he said of recent earthquakes. The well, named J-17, has been monitoring the aquifer's water level in Bexar County since the 1950s, Schindel said. A float that rests on the water surface hundreds of feet underground is connected to a wire and a wheel that records the level on pen and paper, he said. Water restrictions are tied to readings, Schindel said. The sprawling aquifer cuts underground through Central Texas and provides drinking water for about 1.7 million people, including most of San Antonio, said Roland Ruiz, spokesman for the regulatory agency that manages and protects the aquifer's San Antonio segment.
TO ADVERTISE: 512-251-8101
Texas AWWA wants to give you the option: Receive your TEXASH2O newsletter via the Internet or continue to receive your hard-copy newsletter through the U.S. mail. Should you choose to receive the on-line version only, you will receive TEXASH2O in a highly readable format with additional features to enhance your reading experience. Simply e-mail TAWWA (gogreen@tawwa.org) and put "Take me off the mailing list" in your subject line. You'll continue to receive all other AWWA communication as usual, but you won't receive a hard-copy TEXASH2O . That will save paper, ink and postal costs for your Association, but assure you receive the same great information you're used to from the leading water newsletter in Texas. TEXASH2O remains committed to providing you with news and information about the world of Texas water. Whether electronic or paper-and-ink, you can be sure you'll stay connected to the preeminent water organization in the state.
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Get your Texas Section newsletter on-line
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Pair named to fill TWDB positions Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Billy R. Bradford Jr. of Brownsville and Monte Cluck of Gruver to the Texas Water Development Board for terms to expire Dec. 31, 2015. Bradford is a certified public accountant and partner of Hales-Bradford, LLP. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, Texas Society of CPAs, the Valley Regional Medical Center Board of Governors, and a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Brownsville. He is also past president of the Rio Grande Valley Chapter of the Texas Society of CPAs, past chair of the Southmost Regional Water Authority and a past board member and chair of the Brownsville Public Utilities Board. Bradford received a bachelor’s degree from Abilene Christian University. Cluck is owner and CEO of Dean Cluck Feedyard, Inc. He is also a board member of Ratliff Ready-Mix, LLP, and general partner of Dean Cluck Cattle Company, Ltd. He is also a board member of the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, the Amarillo Area Foundation, and is an executive committee member and immediate past chairman of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association. Cluck attended West Texas A&M University. The appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.
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THURSDAY, APRIL 7 Doors open at 7:30 a.m. for the popular Awards Breakfast, including recognition of Watermark and of Conservation and Reuse Division winners. Competitions – including the quizshow style Top Ops, the hurly-burly Pipe Tapping and the Best Tasting Drinking Water contest — put a fun spin on the day. After the Exhibit Hall closes — precisely — at 4 p.m., it’s time to get ready for the first-ever “Texas Rocks! A Water Celebration” reception at 5:30 p.m. It leaves the evening free to enjoy the many attractions that Fort Worth has to offer. FRIDAY, APRIL 8 Tours depart the Convention Center at 8:30 a.m. Back at the conference, the morning is spent in high-intensity technical sessions. The conference adjourns at noon. For a full schedule, turn to Page 25 or check texas-water.com.
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6 At 10 a.m. Allison Watanabe addresses the Opening Session. She is an Environmental Protection Specialist with USEPA. The Conference Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. spotlights TAWWA members who have made special contributions. Technical Sessions begin their three-day run that afternoon, with more than 120 topics to choose from. Wednesday is also the first day for competitions in the jam-packed Exhibit Hall, with Meter Madness and, new this year, Junior Meter Madness featuring two high school teams.
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percent of the roof area in Texas was used for rainwater harvesting, the state could collect about 38 billion gallons of water every year. Krishna broke this down further with a map that shows approximately how much rainwater could be collected from a 2,000 square foot roof in different regions in Texas, based on rainfall. The largest rainwater harvesting system in the world, in terms of capacity, is in Austin. The Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Lone Star campus has an underground storage tank that can hold about one million gallons of rainwater, and its system is designed to collect 100 percent of the rainfall from the facility’s roofs and parking garages to use for irrigation and the buildings’ cooling towers. Although Texas was the first state to encourage residents and businesses to use collected rainwater, it’s not the only one now. According to Krishna, there are at least 20 states in the U.S. that are promoting rainwater harvesting in one way or another. Tucson, for example, adopted an ordinance in 2008 that
requires all new commercial construction in the city to meet 50 percent of their landscape demand using rainwater harvesting. Worldwide, Krishna said that at least a dozen countries practice rainwater harvesting. Germany is one country promoting this type of conservation, implementing initiatives such as using collected rainwater for all car washes in the country. Krishna was inspired by the idea of rainwater harvesting from his time spent in the Virgin Islands, where he said everyone collects rainwater, out of necessity. He saw a potential for this type of conservation in Texas. “Everywhere, everyone collects rainwater,” Krishna said. “So I thought to myself, why can’t we do it in Texas?” When he returned to the U.S. in 1993, he started the discussion on rainwater harvesting in Texas, and founded the ARCSA a year later. “I started talking, and people slowly started getting convinced,” Krishna said. He founded the ARCSA in 1994, and it has grown into an international organization with over 700 members from 45 states and several countries. Krishna also authored the Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting, the first manual of its kind in the U.S.
7:30am 8:00am–3:00pm 2:00–5:00pm 4:30–7:00pm 5:00–7:00pm 6:30am 7:30am–5:00pm 8:00am–5:00pm 8:00–9:00am 8:30am–3:30pm 9:00–10:00am 9:00am–11:30am 10:00–10:30am 10:00–11:00am 10:00–11:00am 10:00am–5:00pm 10:00am–5:00pm 10:30–11:30am 10:30–11:30am 11:00am–1:00pm 11:30am–1:00pm 1:00–1:30pm 1:00–3:00pm 1:30–5:00pm 1:30–5:00pm 1:30–5:00pm 1:30–2:30pm 1:30–3:00pm 1:30–4:30pm 2:00–5:00pm 3:00–3:30pm 3:00–4:00pm 5:00pm 5:00–6:00pm 7:00am–5:00pm 7:30–9:30am 8:30am–3:30pm 9:00–9:30am 9:00–9:30am 9:00am–2:00pm 9:00am–4:00pm 9:00am–5:00pm 9:00am–1:15pm 9:30am–Noon 9:30am–1:30pm 10:00–11:00am 10:00–11:00am 9:30am–3:00pm Noon–1:00pm Noon–1:00pm 1:15–5:00pm 1:30–2:30pm 1:30–2:30pm 1:30–2:30pm 1:30–2:30pm 1:45–3:30pm 2:00–3:00pm 2:00pm 3:15–4:00pm 3:15–4:00pm 3:15–3:45pm 4:00pm 4:15–5:00pm 5:00–6:00pm 5:30–7:30pm 7:00–8:30am 8:00–9:00am 8:00–10:00am 8:00am–5:00pm 8:30am–Noon 9:00–Noon Noon
TUESDAY, APRIL 5 Golf Tournament Exhibitor Move-In TAWWA Annual Board Meeting Registration Meet & Greet
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6 Running Water 5K Registration Speaker Ready Room WEAT Biosolids Committee Guest Program/TT I C K E T Opening Session WEAT Student Design Competition TAWWA Business Meeting WEAT Ops Challenge Pre-Comp. Meeting Beverage Break Exhibits Open Water For People Silent Auction Workforce Project TAWWA Distribution Division WEAT Process Control Event Conference Luncheon/TT I C K E T Meter Madness Pre-Competition Meeting WEAT Laboratory Event Technical Sessions University Forum Young Professionals Session TAWWA Diversity Committee TAWWA Water Conservation/Reuse Division Meter Madness TAWWA Management Division Networking Break in Exhibit Hall WEAT Exhibition Event Exhibit Hall Closes for day Young Professionals & Student Reception
THURSDAY, APRIL 15 Registration Awards Breakfast/TT I C K E T Guest Program TAWWA TOP OPS, Pre-Competition Meeting TAWWA Pipe Tapping, Pre-Comp, Meeting WEAT Operations Challenge Exhibits Open Speaker Ready Room Water for People Silent Auction Technical Sessions TAWWA TOP OPS Competition TAWWA Regional Activities Committee WEAT Water Reuse Committee TAWWA Pipe Tapping Competition Box Lunch/TT I C K E T Women of Texas Water Lunch/TT I C K E T Technical Sessions TAWWA Water Utility Council WEAT Asset Management Commitee TAWWA Rates and Charges Committee Watershed Management Committee Best Tasting Drinking Water Event Texas Shoot Out WFP Silent Auction Ends Break/Exhibit Hall Open Time Door Prize Drawings WEAT Ops Challenge Ceremony Exhibit Hall Closes/Breakdown TW 2012 (San Antonio) Exhibitor Pre-Sales Texas Water Reuse Assn. Board Mtg. Texas Rocks! Reception/TT I C K E T FRIDAY, APRIL 16 Gloyna Breakfast/TT I C K E T Continental Breakfast Registration Speaker Ready Room Facility Tours/TT I C K E T Technical Sessions Conference Adjourns
The Golf Club at Fossil Creek Convention Center Exhibit Hall Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel Convention Center Lobby Convention Center Exhibit Hall Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel Lobby Convention Center Lobby 204B 204A Sheraton Fort Worth Ballroom C 201A Ballroom C 203A Exhibit Hall Exhibit Hall Convention Center Lobby 203C 204A 203A Ballroom A/B Exhibit Hall Exhibit Hall 201, 202, 204 201B 201A 203C 204A Exhibit Hall 203B Exhibit Hall Exhibit Hall Exhibit Hall Ballroom Pre-Function Convention Center Lobby Ballroom B Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel Exhibit Hall Exhibit Hall Exhibit Hall Exhibit Hall 204B Convention Center Lobby 201, 202 Exhibit Hall 203B 203C Exhibit Hall Exhibit Hall Room 100 201, 202 203A 203B 203C 225E Exhibit Hall, Top Ops area Exhibit Hall Convention Center Lobby Exhibit Hall Exhibit Hall Exhibit Hall Exhibit Hall Convention Center Lobby 203A Ballroom B 203A Meeting Room Walkway Convention Center Lobby 204B Depart from Convention Center 201, 202
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Texas Water 2011 Schedule
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Want to share your event with the Texas water community? Contact Mike Howe, 512-238-9292; fax 512-238-0496. Check the Section’s website — www.tawwa.org — for the latest information on Section activities.
DATE
ACTIVITY
April 5-8
Texas Water 2011SM
April 14
AWWA/WEF Young Professionals Summit
April 16
TIME
LOCATION
INFORMATION
Fort Worth Convention Center
www.texas-water.com
Seelbach Hilton, Louisville, KY
Sam Harrison, sharrison@ssr-inc.com
Water For People Charity Volleyball Tournament 9am
Aussie’s Grill and Beach Bar 306 Barton Springs Rd., Austin
Gopal Guthikonda Guthikondag@gmail.com
April 27
Texas Water Day at the Capitol (See Story, Page 8)
9am-2pm
Capitol Extension Auditorium, Austin www.tawwa.org
April 28
Southeast Texas Chapter Luncheon Meeting
11:30am
H.E.S.S., 5430 Westheimer, Houston www.setawwa.org
June 12-16
AWWA Annual Conference & Exhibition (ACE)
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9am-5pm
Washington, D.C.
www.awwa.org
TEXAS AWWA c/o Gilleland Creek Press PO Box 676 Pflugerville, TX 78691
PRESORTED FIRST CLASS U.S POSTAGE PAID AUSTIN, TEXAS PERMIT NO. 1