[00:00:05]
AND WE WILL START THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE WATER
[CALL TO ORDER]
AND THE WASTEWATER COMMISSION, SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2022.AND WE HAVE COMMISSION PAN MICHELLE LEE, CASTLEBERRY, MA GROVE AND OFFICIAL PRESENT.
AND, UH, COMMISSIONER IS NOT TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE AND THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ITEM.NUMBER ONE, APPROVE OF MINUTES FROM THE AUGUST 10TH, 2022 REGULAR MEETING OF THE WATER IN THE WASTEWATER COMMISSION.
IS THERE A MOTION OR ANY COMMENTS I'LL MOVE TO HERE? MOTION MADE BY VICE CHAIR, CASTLEBERRY AND I WILL SECOND IT, OH, IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
SHOWING, SHOWING O APPROVE AN MSK.
[DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL]
MOVE TO MOVE TWO DISCUSSION AND A POSSIBLE ACTION ITEMS. AND WE WILL GO AROUND THE TABLE AND ASK A COMMISSIONER, GOT ANY QUESTIONS OR RECUSAL.AND IF THERE IS ANY RECUSAL, PLEASE STATE THE REASON THAT YOU ARE RECUSING.
AND WE START WITH COMMISSIONER MOTI, NO QUESTIONS, NO REFUSAL.
COMMISSIONER PEN, NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER AMRO, NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER MICHELLE, NO QUESTIONS.
AND I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTION OR RECUSAL.
NO RECUSALS COMMISSION OFFICIAL, NO QUESTIONS.
SO THE CONSENT ITEMS ARE ITEM TWO THROUGH SIX.
IS THERE MOTION? JRA MOVED TO APPROVE MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER MONTI AND THE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MICHELLE O IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SHOWING APPROVE AND RELEASE.
[REPORTS BY COMMISSION SUBCOMMITTEES]
ITEM SEVEN, UPDATE FROM THE AUSTIN INTEGRATE WATER TASK FORCE COMMISSION ITY.UM, THE WATER FORWARD TASK FORCE HAS NOT MET SINCE WE LAST MET, BUT, UH, THERE WAS A SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING RELATED TO THE AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY FACILITY THAT UNFORTUNATELY I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND.
SO I CAN'T TELL YOU A WHOLE LOT ABOUT THAT, BUT WE ARE MEETING NEXT WEEK AND, UH, MARISA WAS KIND ENOUGH TO SEND ME SOME BULLET POINTS.
THESE ARE THE SAME ONES THAT I GAVE YOU BEFORE, UH, TO GIVE YOU, UH, A LITTLE STATUS UPDATE AND I, I COULD TELL YOU THAT I'M PERSONALLY VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WATER FORWARD, UH, PROJECT, UH, AS TOOK PLACE LAST JULY, WE HAD A WATER SUPPLY UP UPDATE, WHICH OF COURSE AT THAT TIME, WASN'T, WASN'T VERY GOOD.
IT'S GOTTEN A LITTLE BETTER WITH SOME OF OUR RAINS, BUT NOT GREAT.
AND THEN WE CERTAINLY, UH, TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, WE'RE PREPARING WHEN I SAY WE, THE CITY
AND AT THAT MEETING, WE PR THE STAFF PROVIDED AN OVERVIEW OF THE ONSITE WATER REUSE SYSTEM AND BENCHMARKING PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE DOING WITH PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.
AND, UH, THERE ALSO DOING SOME COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
I KNOW I'M SCHEDULING TIME TO, UH, HAVE EQUITY TRAINING AND, UH, THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
AND THEN, UM, THEY ALSO PROVIDED SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CLIMATE AND THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP.
SO I'D SAY THINGS ARE, UH, MOVING ALONG WELL.
I'M, UH, BEEN, BEEN IMPRESSED FROM THE BEGINNING WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS PROJECT.
I THINK THAT'S AUSTIN, WATER'S DONE A VERY GOOD JOB AND, UM, BUT WE'LL MEET NEXT WEEK AND WE'LL HAVE A MORE ROBUST REPORT FOR THIS COMMISSION, UH, IN OCTOBER.
THAT CONCLUDES MY BRIEFINGS CHAIR.
[00:05:01]
YOU FOR YOUR UPDATE.GOT ANY QUESTION OR COMMISSIONER MONTI.
[8. Staff briefing on lead services strategies]
EIGHT STAFF BRIEFING AND LEAD SERVICES STRATEGIES.UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
I'M THE DIVISION MANAGER OF PIPELINE ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS SUPPORT AT THE UTILITY.
AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU UPDATE TONIGHT ON WHERE AUSTIN WATER IS WITH RESPECT TO LEAD STRATEGIES.
THAT'S, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, PART OF THAT'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISION AND OTHER ITEMS THAT, UH, I'LL MENTION HERE.
WHERE DO I SIGNAL FOR ADVANCING THE SLIDE? JUST, JUST SAY NEXT SLIDE.
SO, UM, GONNA START OFF TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, BACKGROUND RELATED TO THIS AND, AND AUSTIN'S HISTORY.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE ALL KNOW, NO LEVEL OF LEAD IN WATER IS, UH, IS OKAY.
UM, A LEVEL LEAD IS, UH, ACCEPTABLE AND THERE'S BEEN INCREASED ATTENTION ON LEAD AND WATER, UH, AFTER, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED IN FLINT A FEW YEARS BACK, AS WELL AS LIKE NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY AND, AND WASHINGTON DC.
UH, I'M, I'M MUCH PREFER TO BE, UH, HANDLING THIS ISSUE FOR AUSTIN THAN
SO IT'S NOT AN AGGRESSIVE WATER, SO IT'S NOT LEECHING THE LEAD, UM, FROM THE PIPES.
UM, AND IT'S ALSO CUZ WE HAVE VERY FEW LEAD SERVICE LINES, UH, IN OUR SYSTEM.
UM, WE STOPPED USING LEAD SERVICES, UH, ACCORDING TO THE PLUMBING CODE IN AUSTIN, THEY WEREN'T DISALLOWED IN, UH, 1954 ON THE PUBLIC SIDE IN 1967, UH, ON THE PRIVATE SIDE.
UH, AND JUST A REMINDER THERE, THE PUBLIC SIDE AND AUSTIN IS FROM THE MAIN TO THE PROPERTY LINE.
PRIVATE SIDE IS FROM THE PROPERTY LINE, EXCUSE ME TO THE HOUSE.
UM, AND UH, ALSO STRONG INDICATIONS THAT THE UTILITY HAD A PROGRAM IN THE SIXTIES FOR REMOVING LEAD SERVICES.
I, I DON'T HAVE THE DOCUMENT THAT SAYS THAT, BUT I HAVE DOCUMENTS KIND OF INDICATING THAT.
AND UH, SO, UM, THAT, THAT PUTS US IN A GOOD PLACE AND KIND OF THE EVIDENCE THAT WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE IS THE ORIGINAL LEAD AND COPPER RULE, UH, WAS PUT IN PLACE IN 92.
UH, AND IT HAS, UH, ROUTINE TESTING REQUIREMENTS.
UM, NOWADAYS WE TEST EVERY THREE YEARS AND, AND ALL OF THE TESTING THAT WE'VE DONE SINCE THEN, UH, WE HAVEN'T COME CLOSE, UH, TO HAVING ANY LEVELS UP NEAR EITHER THE, UM, THE ACTION LEVEL, WHICH IS 15 PARTS PER BILLION, UH, OR IN THE NEW RULE, THERE'S A TRIGGER LEVEL OF 10 PARTS PER BILLION.
AND, UH, WE'VE NEVER BEEN AT RISK OF, OF COMING ANYWHERE NEAR THAT.
UM, AND IN ANY INSTANCES WHERE THERE'S ACTUALLY BEEN A DETECTION OF LEAD, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TRIED THAT BACK TO PRIVATE PLUMBING.
IT IT'S, IT HASN'T BEEN SOMETHING COMING FROM OUR SYSTEM.
UM, SO THAT'S KIND OF THE BACKGROUND AND THE HISTORY OF, OF WHERE WE'RE AT.
UM, SO I'M GONNA GO OVER, UH, THE LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS.
UM, TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE ON OUR LEAD SERVICE LINE INVENTORY.
UH, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, THE FEDERAL FUNDING RELATED TO THIS WORK.
UM, AND THEN A, A BIG ITEM IN THE RULE IS TESTING ITS SCHOOL AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES.
SO THE EPAS LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISION, UH, OF COURSE THEIR GOAL IS TO MINIMIZE LEAD EXPOSURE FROM, FROM DRINKING WATER.
AND AGAIN, A BIG PUSH FOR THAT WAS WHAT HAPPENED IN, IN FLINT.
UH, IT WAS ISSUED IN JANUARY OF 2021, EXCUSE ME.
UH, BUT THEN, UH, THE, UH, BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WANTED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT IT.
UH, AND SO THEY REISSUED IT IF YOU WILL PUT IT IN THE FEDERAL REVIEW IN DECEMBER OF 2021, UM, THOSE DATES AREN'T REALLY IMPORTANT.
THE REAL IMPORTANT DATE IS OCTOBER OF 20, 24 IS, UH, THE COMPLIANCE DATE.
UM, AND FOR US IN MOST UTILITIES, WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU GOTTA COMPLETE YOUR LEAD SERVICE LINE INVENTORY, UH, AND BEGIN THIS PUBLIC EDUCATION AND SAMPLING AT THE, UH, SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES.
UM, SO THE LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISION IS, IS FINAL.
UM, OF COURSE T CQ IS THE PRIMACY AGENCY FOR US, AND THEY'RE STILL DEVELOPING SOME OF HOW THEY'RE GONNA IMPLEMENT THE RULE.
AND, AND WE'RE, WE'RE INSERTING OURSELVES INTO THAT.
WE'RE BEING PART OF THEIR DRINKING WATER ADVISORY WORK GROUP
[00:10:01]
AND, AND TRACKING WHAT THEY'RE DOING AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROCESS.UM, EPA DID INDICATE THAT, UH, THEY'RE WORKING ON A LEAD AND COPPER RULE IMPROVEMENT LCR.
I, UM, THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO RELEASE PRIOR TO THAT OCTOBER, UH, 20, 24, UH, COMPLIANCE DATE.
BUT THEY DID SAY THAT, THAT THERE IS NO INTENT FOR THAT, UH, TO AFFECT THE INVENTORY REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE IN THE LED COPPER RULE REVISION, UM, AND ALL LIKELIHOOD.
IT MAY JUST CHANGE SOME DATES, UH, UH, AND REQUIREMENTS, BUT DON'T EXPECT IT TO HAVE MUCH IMPACT ON US HERE AT AUSTIN WATER.
SO LEMME TALK ABOUT OUR LEAD SERVICE LINE INVENTORY, UM, AND, AND THE REQUIREMENT AND THE RULES IS TO, UH, IDENTIFY THE MATERIAL OF SERVICE LINES ON BOTH SIDES, THE, THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE AND THE RULE ALLOWS FOR BASICALLY FOUR CATEGORIES, UH, NON LED, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, YOUR COPPERS AND YOUR HDPE, THINGS LIKE THAT LEAD, WHICH IS JUST YOUR LEAD PIPES, LEAD STATUS UNKNOWN, WHICH MEANS YOU HAVEN'T RESEARCHED IT YET, OR YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT.
AND THEN YOUR GALVANIZED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT.
SO A GALVANIZED SERVICE CAN FALL IN THE NON LED CATEGORY.
UM, BUT IF A GALVANIZED SERVICE IS OR EVER WAS DOWNSTREAM OF A LEAD SERVICE LINE, IT ESSENTIALLY IN THE RULE GETS TREATED AS A LEAD SERVICE.
AND, AND THE SCIENCE BEHIND THAT IS THAT THE GALVANIZED COAT CAN ABSORB PARTICULATES FROM THE LEAD, UH, THAT WAS UPSTREAM FROM IT.
AND THEN THROUGH DISTURBANCE OR WHATEVER ELSE IT COULD BE RELEASED AGAIN.
UM, SO WE, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SOME GALVANIZED, UH, LINES IN OUR SYSTEM, WHETHER OR NOT THOSE ARE GONNA BE GALVANIZED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, UH, DEPENDS ON, YOU KNOW, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WE CAN GATHER AND, AND HOW THAT IS, IS REGULATED, UH, ANTICIPATING AT THIS POINT THAT WE WILL DO SOME GALVANIZED REPLACEMENT, UH, BUT THE DETAILS OF THAT ARE, ARE STILL BEING WORKED OUT.
UH, AGAIN, AS I NOTED BEFORE THAT INVENTORY IS DUE, UH, TO BE TURNED IN IN OCTOBER OF 2024, UM, WE'RE ON, ON TRACK TO FINISH LATE 23, EARLY 20, 24.
UH, AND REALLY OUR INTENT IS TO HAVE ALL OF OUR SERVICES IN THE NON LED CATEGORY.
UM, I COULD SEE, WE MIGHT END UP WITH SOME STILL IN THE GALVANIZED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT CATEGORY, UH, BUT WE SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY IN THE LEAD OR THE LEAD STATUS, UNKNOWN WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA INVESTIGATE ALL OF THEM.
SO WE WON'T HAVE ANY LEAD STATUS UNKNOWN.
AND WE HAVE SO FEW LEAD THAT IF, AND WHEN WE FIND ONE, WE COORDINATE WITH THE, THE HOMEOWNER OR THE BUSINESS OWNER, THE CUSTOMER, UH, AND WE REPLACE IT ESSENTIALLY IMMEDIATELY, YOU KNOW, TAKE A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF COORDINATION AND GET THAT THAT DONE.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, PART OF OUR GOAL, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S THE GOAL OF EVERYTHING BEING IN THE NON LED, CUZ THAT'S, THAT'S THE SAFEST, MOST, MOST HEALTHY APPROACH, RIGHT? UH, BUT ADDITIONALLY, THE RULE HAS REQUIREMENTS.
YOU, YOU COULD, UH, TURN IN A, AN INVENTORY THAT SAID ALL OF ALL OF YOUR SERVICES ARE LEAD STATUS UNKNOWN.
UM, OF COURSE WE DON'T WANNA DO THAT FOR A LOT OF REASONS, BUT THE RULE ALSO REQUIRES ANY LEAD LEAD STATUS, UNKNOWN OR GALVANIZED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT.
THERE'S ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR NOTIFYING THOSE CUSTOMERS ON A YEARLY BASIS AND, AND WORKING WITH THEM TO, TO IF IT IS A LEAD SERVICE OR GALVANIZED REQUIRING REPLACEMENT TO GET THAT DONE.
UM, SO I JUST THINK IT SERVES ALL THE BEST PURPOSES TO, UM, HAVE EVERYTHING IN THE NON LED CATEGORY WHEN WE'RE FINISHED WITH, UH, WITH OUR INVENTORY AND TURN IT IN IN OCTOBER 20, 24.
SO HERE ARE SOME OF THE NUMBERS, UH, OF WHERE WE'RE AT.
SO OF 250, 2000, ROUGHLY METERS IN OUR SYSTEM, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY ABOUT 196,000 OF THOSE ARE IN AREAS BUILT 1968 OR LATER.
UM, AND SO, UM, BASED ON OUR PLUMBING CODE, DISALLOWING, THE USE OF LEAD ON EITHER SIDE IN 67, WE'RE ABLE TO INDICATE THAT THOSE ARE NON LED AND, AND THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH EPA RECENTLY PUT OUT, UM, A, UH, LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISION GUIDANCE, UH, AND KIND OF ALL ALONG THAT, THAT USING PLUMBING CODES AND, AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS IS, IS ONE OF THE APPROACHES.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT SOMETHING BUILT IN 1970 JUST DOESN'T HAVE, UH, A LEAD SERVICE.
AND SO THAT'S THAT BIG CHUNK THERE.
UM, WE'VE GOT CREWS OUT IN THE FIELD INVESTIGATING, LOOKING AT EACH METER, UM, AND IDENTIFYING THE MATERIAL AND TAKING PICTURES, UH, OF, OF WHAT THEY FIND.
AND SO LITTLE OVER 17,000 OF THOSE THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT, UM, UH, THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS NON LED BY LOOKING AT IN THE FIELD.
UM, AND THEN AROUND 1,350, THAT I'VE, THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AS BEING GALVANIZED SO FAR.
[00:15:01]
SO THAT LEAVES US AROUND 37,000 MORE TO BE LOOKED AT.AND AGAIN, WE'VE GOT OUR, OUR METER SHOP CREWS OUT IN THE FIELD DOING THIS, OR USING A MOBILE APP COLLECTOR APP TO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, GO TO EACH ONE OF THE ADDRESSES, TAKE THE PICTURES OF THE SERVICES AND, AND, AND, UH, UPLOAD THAT INTO OUR SYSTEM.
UM, SO AS I INDICATED, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON TRACK TO BE COMPLETE BY LATE 23 OR EARLY 20, 24.
SO FEDERAL FUNDING, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR A LOT OF CITIES, UH, YOU TAKE, UH, TALKED ABOUT, UH, EARLIER WITH SOME OTHERS, UH, CHICAGO HAS 300, 400,000 LED SERVICES.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN'T DO THAT WITH THE FUNDS THAT THEY'VE GOT.
AND SO THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF, UH, DIFFERENT EFFORTS, UH, BY CONGRESS TO, UH, ALLOCATE FUNDING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BI BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW PUT SOME MONEY FORWARD, UH, AND THAT'S BEING PUT OUT THROUGH THE DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND.
UM, WE DID SUBMIT, WE, WE MONITOR, UM, UH, WHAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE AND WE SUBMITTED A PROJECT INFORMATION FORM FOR OUR GALVANIZED SERVICE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.
AGAIN, WE'RE ANTICIPATING WE'RE GONNA NEED TO REPLACE SOME OF THOSE.
UH, IT'S STILL, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF YEARS OUT BEFORE WE GET TO WORK ON THAT, BUT WE SUBMITTED THAT, BUT IT WAS NOT SELECTED, UH, BY THE DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO MOVE FORWARD FOR, UH, FOR FUNDING.
UM, BUT AT THE UTILITY, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAY, WE CONTINUOUSLY, UH, KEEP OUR EYES OUT FOR WHERE THAT FEDERAL FUNDING IS AVAILABLE.
UH, BILL EARLIER GAVE ME INSIDE OF A MEETING ON OCTOBER 11TH WHERE, UM, WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND T CQ MAY BE SPEAKING ABOUT, UM, HOW THEY MIGHT BE PUTTING OUT SOME OF THE FUNDS RELATED TO, TO LEAD.
AND SO WE'LL, WE'LL KEEP OUR EYES ON THAT.
UM, IN THE MEANTIME WE'RE TRACKING, UH, OUR COSTS.
UH, SO WE'VE GOT A, A TASK ORDER IN PLACE FOR TRACKING OUR INVENTORY WORK.
UM, I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT IN A MINUTE, WHAT'S GOING TO BE DONE RELATED TO THE SCHOOL AND CHILDCARE SAMPLING, AND WE'LL BE TRACKING THAT AS WE GO.
AND OF COURSE, WHATEVER WE SPEND ON REPLACING SERVICES, UH, YOU KNOW, THE GALVANIZED SERVICES WILL TRACK THAT AS WELL, SO THAT IF FUNDING DOES COME AVAILABLE, WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THE BACKUP TO BE ABLE TO REQUEST, UH, FUNDS FOR THAT NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO THE SCHOOL AND CHILDCARE FACILITY, UM, TESTING AND SAMPLING AND EDUCATION, UM, AS FAR AS WHAT'S IN THE RULE, UH, IT, UM, MITIGATING LED AT SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES IS, IS NOT, YOU KNOW, GONNA BE THE UTILITIES RESPONSIBILITY AS PART OF THE RULE, BUT EDUCATION, UM, AND BEING A, A RESOURCE FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND FOR THE CHILDCARE FACILITIES IS, UH, PART OF WHAT'S IN THE RULE.
UM, EPAS GIVEN US A GOOD START.
THEY'VE GOT THIS DOCUMENT, THE THREE TS FOR REDUCING LEAD AND DRINKING WATER IN SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES.
AND BY THE WAY, THE THREE TS ARE TRAINING TESTING AND TAKING ACTION.
IT'S A VERY GOOD DOCUMENT, UM, COVERS A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
UM, AND SO, UH, PART OF THE RULE REQUIREMENTS ARE THAT UTILITIES WILL BE THERE FOR THESE ENTITIES, THESE FACILITIES, UH, TO HELP THEM AND TO EDUCATE THEM.
AND THEN THERE'S THE SAMPLING REQUIREMENTS.
AND SO OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD, STARTING IN OCTOBER OF 20, 24, EACH UTILITY WILL BE REQUIRED TO SAMPLE, UH, AT EVERY SCHOOL THAT THEY SERVE.
AND EVERY LICENSED CHILDCARE FACILITY, THEY SERVE TAKING FIVE SAMPLES FROM EACH SCHOOL TO, FROM EACH EXCUSE ME, CHILDCARE FACILITY.
UM, AND SO WE'LL COORDINATE WITH THEM AGAIN, DO THIS EDUCATING, WE'LL PROVIDE 'EM THE SAMPLING INSTRUCTIONS AND THE BOTTLES WE'LL DO THE TESTING, UH, TO GET THE RESULTS, AND THEN WE'LL PROVIDE 'EM THOSE RESULTS.
UM, AND THAT'S, WHAT'S, UM, WHAT THE RULE IS REQUIRING IN RELATION TO THAT NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
AND SO WHAT ARE WE DOING? YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT TESTING REQUIREMENT KICKS IN OCTOBER OF 2024.
UH, ONE THING I'LL SAY THAT THAT WAS DONE PROACTIVELY IS, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL YEARS BACK, WE WERE BEGINNING OUR INVENTORY PROCESS.
AND ONE OF, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID BECAUSE LEAD IS IMPACTS, YOU KNOW, THE YOUNG, THE DEVELOPING NERVOUS SYSTEMS, THE, THE UNBORN BABIES, THE TODDLERS, THE, UH, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL, AGE CHILDREN, UH, WE DECIDED TO FOCUS ON AND, AND LOOK AT THOSE AND MAKE SURE THEY DIDN'T HAVE LEAD SERVICES, UH, PARTICULARLY ON THE PUBLIC SIDE.
AND SO WE DID THAT, AND THAT WAS A, THAT WAS A NUMBER OF YEARS BACK.
UM, WE'RE AVAILABLE AS A RESOURCE TO SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES.
UM, WE'LL BE MEETING WITH A I S D UH, IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO THEY'VE, THEY'VE BEEN PROACTIVE IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE PREVIOUSLY, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL BE MEETING WITH THEM AGAIN.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD CHILDCARE FACILITIES REACH OUT TO US, UH, AND, AND WE'VE HELPED THEM, UM, THROUGH THE PROCESS.
IN THE MEANTIME, AS WE'RE PREPARING FOR OCTOBER 20, 24,
[00:20:01]
WE'LL BE COMPILING THAT LIST OF SCHOOLS AND DAYCARE FACILITIES, UH, PUTTING TOGETHER OUR COMMUNICATION PLAN.AS I SAY, I THINK THIS THREE TS FROM EPA IT'LL BE A BACKBONE OF, AND BE A STRONG PART OF IT.
UM, AND OF COURSE WE'RE PLANNING FOR STAFFING.
UM, THIS, THERE IS GONNA BE A BIG ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN RELATED TO THIS.
UM, AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE PLANNING FOR THE STAFFING FOR THAT, SO THAT WE'RE READY, UH, WHEN THE TIME COMES.
UM, AND OF COURSE IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE REMAINING IN COMPLIANCE, UH, THE LEAD AND COPPER RULE, UH, SAMPLING THAT WE HAVE TO DO ON A ROUTINE BASIS.
OUR LAST SAMPLING WAS IN 2021 AND OUR 90TH PERCENTILE, WHICH IS THE, THE PERCENTILE YOU GET MEASURED ON, WAS IT NON-DETECT.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THE TREATMENT WHERE WE'RE AT AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING TO, TO STAY IN THAT SPACE.
AND THEN T CQ AGAIN, IN DEVELOPING THINGS, UH, THEY'RE LAUNCHING A PROGRAM RIGHT NOW FOR TESTING AT SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES, AND IT'S A NEW PROGRAM.
WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT IT, EXACTLY HOW THAT'S GONNA WORK, BUT WE ARE, UM, COLLABORATING WITH THEM.
AND, UM, WE'LL USE THAT WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING, UH, TO, UM, YOU KNOW, ASSIST THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE, THAT ARE LOOKING FOR HELP OR LOOKING FOR, UH, SAMPLING ASSISTANCE.
UM, AND JUST A, A FOLLOW UP, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF, OF WHAT THE UTILITY IS, IS DOING.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS A ROBUST LEAD INFORMATION PAGE.
UM, IT'S GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION ON IT, WAYS TO MITIGATE, UH, UH, LEAD EXPOSURE AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND ALSO HAS CONTACT INFORMATION TO REQUEST TESTING CUZ UM, YOU KNOW, BY FEDERAL RULE, WE'RE NOT REQUIRED TO CONDUCT TESTING NECESSARILY FOR, UH, CITIZENS THAT ASK IT.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE DOING THAT.
UH, IF SOMEBODY CALLS IN AND EITHER THEY LIVE IN AN OLD HOUSE OR SOMEONE'S EXPECTING A CHILD OR, OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, UH, IF THEY REQUEST TESTING, WE'LL DO THAT.
AND AGAIN, UH, ALL THE ONES WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST YEAR TURNED UP AS, AS NON-DETECT, BUT UM, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS WEBSITE, IT, IT GETS SOME TRAFFIC CUZ WE GET THOSE REQUESTS, UH, IT CONTAINS SOME GOOD INFORMATION AND WE'LL BE UTILIZING IT, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD WHEN, WHEN YOU KNOW, WE POST THE INVENTORY TO THE PUBLIC AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO JUST TO SUMMARIZE, UM, AUSTIN CUSTOMERS ARE AT VERY LOW RISK FOR EXPOSURE TO LEAD THROUGH WATER.
UM, YOU KNOW, FOR THE REASONS I MENTIONED OUR, OUR TREATMENT PROCESSES, OUR, OUR WATER BEING SCALE FORM, AS OPPOSED TO BEING IN AGGRESSIVE WATER AND THE FACT THAT THERE'S SO FEW LEAD SERVICES, UH, IN OUR SYSTEM AND WE'RE WELL POSITIONED TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISION, YOU KNOW, WELL AHEAD OF THE SCHEDULE, LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CURRENTLY PROVIDING, UH, TESTING AS REQUESTED, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIRED ROUTINE TESTING, UM, WE'RE DEEPLY WORKING ON OUR INVENTORY.
UH, WE'RE DEEP INTO THAT, GOT THE PROCESS GOING AND WE'LL BE DONE AHEAD OF TIME.
UH, WE DON'T NEED PART OF THE RULE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR A LEAD SERVICE, UH, LINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, UH, FOR CITIES THAT HAVE LEAD SERVICES.
BUT THAT'S REALLY MORE ABOUT, AGAIN, THE CITIES WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS THAT CAN'T JUST GO DO 'EM ALL AT ONCE.
THEY GOTTA FIGURE OUT HOW TO FUND IT, HOW TO SPACE 'EM OUT OR WHATEVER AUSTIN WATERS LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM IS.
AS SOON AS WE FIND IT, WE START THE PROCESS OF REPLACING IT.
UH, AND WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN ESSENTIALLY IMMEDIATELY.
AND AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE PREPARING FOR THE SCHOOL AND CHILDCARE FACILITY SAMPLING PROGRAM, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, PUTTING OUR DOCUMENTS TOGETHER, DOING OUR RESEARCH AND, AND, AND GETTING OUR STAFF STAFFING LEVEL WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT TO SHARE WITH YOU.
I WOULD LOVE TO FIELD ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE COMMISSION O SCOTT, ANY QUESTION FOR MR. COHEN, COMMISSIONER OF MON.
UM, I'M SO PLEASED THAT AUSTIN WATER HAS TAKEN SUCH AN AGGRESSIVE APPROACH AND NOT JUST BECAUSE THE REGULATIONS WERE PUBLISHED, BUT YOU WERE DOING THIS YEARS AGO, OBVIOUSLY.
UM, MY INTEREST OF COURSE, AS A WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSIONER IS TO MAKE SURE, UH, IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OTHER PEOPLE, TO PAY THE BILL FOR THESE THINGS OUTSIDE OF OUR RATE PAYERS, THAT'S WHAT I'M ALL ABOUT.
AND, UH, AS YOU MENTIONED ON OCTOBER 11TH, TCQ WILL BE HOSTING A MEETING, A VIRTUAL MEETING WHERE THEY'RE GONNA DO TWO THINGS.
THEY'RE GOING TO SUPPLY THEIR STATE GUIDANCE, WHICH WILL SUPPLEMENT THE FEDERAL GUIDANCE THAT EPA ISSUED LAST MONTH.
[00:25:01]
AND SECONDLY, TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD IS GOING TO DESCRIBE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DISPERSE THE LEAD MONEY AS IT'S CALLED.AND, UH, PEOPLE WERE UNCERTAIN.
AND, AND OF COURSE THE REASON AUSTIN WATER SUBMITTED A PROJECT INFORMATION FORM UNDER THE DWS RF WAS IT WAS UNCERTAIN WHETHER THAT MIGHT BE A FUNDING AVENUE, BUT AS OF AN EMAIL THAT WE ALL RECEIVED TWO DAYS AGO, T W DB HAS SAID FORMALLY THAT THEY WILL BE A SPECIAL SOLICITATION FOR LEAD MONEY.
SO YOU'LL HAVE TWO DRAWS AT THE BARREL THERE'S MONEY TO BE THERE, TO PAY FOR YOUR INVENTORY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE MONEY WILL PLAY PAY AT RETROACTIVELY FOR INVENTORY, BUT YOU WERE SMART ENOUGH TO SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS
SO YOU'LL GET A SPECIAL SOLICITATION, BUT IT WON'T BE A COMPETITIVE THING.
EVERYBODY GETS MONEY THEY'LL FUND EVERYBODY.
SO THE TRICK WILL BE, OF COURSE THEY WILL FUND UNTIL THE FUNDS ARE EXHAUSTED.
SO THERE MAY BE A STRATEGY CUZ A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL WAIT TILL OCTOBER 16TH, 2024 TO FINALIZE THEIR INVENTORY AND THEN KNOW HOW MUCH CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS.
AND I THINK YOU VERY WISELY DECIDED TO BE A LITTLE BIT EARLY ON THAT AND SEE IF YOU CAN GET IN THE DOOR BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU HAVE A THOUSAND GALVANIZED SERVICES THAT YOU, YOU HAVE TO RIP OUT, IT'S A 10 MILLION TICKET.
SO WE COULD GET $5 MILLION OUT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD, GOOD DAY'S WORK FOR YOU.
MISS SHE, MATT, UH, GREAT PRESENTATION, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE AMI TEAM, REPLACING METERS ALL OVER THE CITY.
IS THERE ANY COORDINATION BETWEEN THAT TEAM AND YOUR TEAM AND ANY INFORMATION GLEANED FROM WHAT THEY'RE SEEING? UH, IF THEY'VE BEEN TO PLACES Y'ALL, HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO YET OR VICE VERSA, IF YOU'RE THERE BEFORE THAT TEAM, IS THERE REPLACING METERS, IS THERE ANY COORDINATION HAPPENING BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS? SO THE MAIN COORDINATION RIGHT NOW IS, UM, THEY'RE MAKING SURE THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT SWITCHING OUT METERS WHERE THERE MIGHT BE A LEAD SERVICE WHERE, WHERE WE HAVE AN UNKNOWN, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S THE, UH, THE ISSUE OF, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY DISTURBING, UH, A LEAD SERVICE.
UM, WE CONSIDERED HAVING THEM DOING THE INVESTIGATIONS, UH, FOR US, UH, BUT DECIDED ON UTILIZING OUR OWN STAFF FOR, FOR THE PURPOSE OF, YOU KNOW, KEEPING THAT, UM, IN HOUSE.
BUT WE ARE COORDINATING WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE CUSTOMERS, UH, WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, METER REPLACEMENTS WHERE THERE MIGHT BE A LEAD SERVICE.
MM-HMM
I WAS JUST, UH, CURIOUS ON THE FUNDING.
WOULD ANY OF THAT FUNDING POTENTIALLY SUPPORT THE PRIVATE SIDE OR IS THIS ALL PUBLIC SIDE FUNDING? UM, I, I THINK I'D SAY TBD AT THIS AT THIS POINT.
UM, NO, IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT.
I DEFER TO THE, TO THE MEMBER FROM, UH, THAT END OF THE TABLE.
SO FOR, UM, VOLUNTEERING THE SCHOOLS IN CHILDCARE FACILITIES, HOW IS THAT COMMUNICATION GOING TO THE COMMUNITY? AND WHAT'S THE PROCESS INVOLVED WITH THAT? UM, SO WE HAVEN'T REALLY KICKED THAT OFF.
I MEAN, WE'VE HAD, AS I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A PARTICULAR CHILDCARE THAT REACHED OUT TO THE CITY CUZ THEY HAD HAD A WATER QUALITY ISSUE AND WE WORKED WITH THEM.
UM, BUT THERE HASN'T REALLY BEEN AN OUT OUTREACH AS OF YET.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'D PROBABLY LIKE TO START THAT TESTING BEFORE 20, 24, BUT LIKE T TCEQ IS STILL WORKING THROUGH THEIR PROCESS.
IF WE DID 'EM ALL, NOW THEY MIGHT COME BACK AND SAY, NO, YOU GOTTA RESTART IN 20, 24.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH EXACTLY WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE, MAKE SURE IT'S, IT'S DONE WELL, BUT, UM, WE HAVEN'T KICKED THAT OFF, UH, AS OF YET.
ANY MORE QUESTION? I GOT ONE CURIOUS QUESTION.
UH, ONE OF THE BULLETS SAY THE FACILITY CAN DECLINE SAMPLING ACTIVITY.
WHAT'S THE JUSTIFICATION BEHIND THAT? CAN WE GO BACK?
[00:30:01]
UH, IT'S GONNA BE A SLIDER TWO.SEE IF I CAN CHILD CARE IF IT'S STILL IN THE CHILD FACILITY.
THE WHAT? THE, THE SECOND GOAL.
THE SECOND PUT A SECOND FROM THE BOTTOM UP.
SO, UM, ADMITTEDLY, UM, THE WORK AT THE UTILITY HAS REALLY BEEN, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED, BUT UH, LION SHARE SHARED BETWEEN MYSELF AND GARY CHAUVIN.
AND SO THIS IS YOUR INVITATION GARY, UH, TO COME ON UP AND, AND SEE IF YOU'VE GOT AN ANSWER FOR THAT ONE.
I'M GARY SHOPPING WITH AUSTIN WATER, WATER REGULATORY MANAGER.
AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SIR, UH, SO BASED ON THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE RULE, IT'S OUR JOB TO MATT, EXPLAIN, REACH OUT, TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO SAMPLE, PROVIDE EDUCATION.
UM, BUT THEY DO HAVE THE OPTION TO SAY, UH, AND I THINK THIS WOULD FALL MORE, UH, MORE REALISTICALLY WITH THE CHILDCARE FACILITIES.
THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO SAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BUT WE, WE DON'T, WE DON'T WANNA PARTICIPATE IN, IN YOUR, UH, EFFORT.
AND SO WHAT, UH, THE BURDEN WE WILL HAVE IS TOO, IF THERE IS AN ENTITY LIKE THAT, WE WILL HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE REACHED OUT TO THEM, PROVIDED MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO PROVIDE THE SAMPLING COORDINATE WITH THEM, BUT THEY CAN ULTIMATELY DECLINE.
SO ON, ON THAT, UM, WHAT IF, WHAT IF A FACILITY'S NOMINATED AND THEY, THEY EXERCISE THE RIGHT TO DECLINE? IS THAT CORRECT? WHEN YOU SAY, WHEN YOU SAY NOMINATED, SO, UH, SO LET'S SAY A CHILDCARE FACILITY IS NOMINATED FOR LEAD TESTING.
DO THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO, TO REFUSE? UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS YES, THEY, THEY DO.
SO I THINK WHAT'LL BE A GOOD, UM, UH, JUDGE OF THAT IS UNDER THE STATE PROGRAM THAT MATT DESCRIBED.
IT'S JUST LAUNCHING THIS MONTH.
UM, IF YOU GO TO THEIR WEBPAGE RIGHT NOW, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A SCHOOL OR A CHILDCARE FACILITY TO, UH, OF THEMSELVES, UH, BEGIN THAT PROCESS THAT APPLY.
BUT THERE'S ANOTHER OPTION, UM, WHERE A PARENT OR A COMMUNITY MEMBER CAN NOMINATE A FACILITY.
UM, AND SO WHAT, WHAT WILL HAPPEN THERE IS THERE WILL BE THAT, UH, LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION TO SAY, OKAY, UH, A PARENT OR COMMUNITY MEMBER HAS NOMINATED.
WE'RE GONNA, THE STATE'S GONNA REACH OUT.
WE WOULD DO SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR, I THINK, UM, AND TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM, PROVIDE EDUCATION, GUIDANCE, UNDERSTAND, UM, HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAMPLE, BUT ULTIMATELY THEY CAN DECLINE.
NOW OUR JOB UNDER THE, WHEN COPPER RULE, WHEN IT, WHEN OCTOBER 16, 20, 24 KICKS OFF, WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO, WE WILL HAVE TO DELIVER EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO ALL SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES.
AND IN THE, IN THAT PACKET OF INFORMATION WILL BE A OPPORTUNITY TO ENLIST THEM FOR SCHEDULING FOR THE SAMPLING, BUT THEY DO ULTIMATELY HAVE THE OPP OR THE, UH, OPTION TO DECLINE.
SO I THINK I, I GUESS WHERE THAT'S AT IS AS THE LAW IS WRITTEN NOW OR WHATEVER, WE DON'T, AREN'T IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SOMEONE, UH, UH, SAMPLE.
UM, I WOULD HOPE ANNE KIND OF EXPECT THAT THERE WOULDN'T BE MUCH OF THAT, BUT, UH, IF I WOULD EXPECT, IF IT, IF THAT BECAME A BIG ISSUE THAT THEN T CQ AND OR EPA MAY STEP IN AND, AND TAKE SOME ACTIONS, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
AND I'M HOPING, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A LOT OF WORK, I'M, I'M HOPING EVERYBODY WANTS TO OPT IN.
ANY MORE QUESTION, IF NOT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN.
[9. Discussion of future agenda items.]
NUMBER NINE.DISCUSSION OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEM AS COMMISSIONER GOT ANY ITEMS THAT OKAY.
COMMISSIONER FUTURE, I'D LIKE TO SEE AN AMI UPDATE LIKE LESSONS LEARNED LIKE AFTER A YEAR OR SO.
WHAT'S WORKED WHAT HASN'T WORKED AND WHAT THE NEXT YEAR LOOKS LIKE.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN
AND SO LIKE, ARE THE BATTERIES DYING EARLY? THE SPARK METER WHAT'S WORKED.
SO ARE THE BATTERIES DYING EARLY? ARE THEY EVERYTHING WORKING? DO THEY ADD NEW COLLECTORS? WHAT ARE WE FINDING OUT ABOUT OUR CITY THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHEN WE SCOPE THE PROJECT OUT? SO, UH, MY TRUE, UM, THIS IS PROBABLY ALREADY ON THE SCHEDULE, BUT LIKE AN UPDATE FOR THE ZEBRA MUSCLES, EITHER BOTH THE WATERSHEDS PILOT PROJECT.
[00:35:01]
HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT THAT IN A WHILE.I'VE BEEN WONDERING HOW SUCCESSFUL IT'S BEEN AND THEN ALSO OUR OWN, UH, UTILITY WORK, UH, AT THE PLANTS.
WE DISCUSS, WE'RE DISCUSSING DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE TESLA AND WATER REUSE AND ALL THAT.
I, MY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT COUNCIL WAS WORKING ON SOME OTHER SIMILAR ISSUES.
SO WE WILL NOT WANT TO DO IT CONCURRENTLY.
WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THE RESULT FROM THE COUNCIL STUDY OR DEVALUATION, WHATEVER PRESENTATION.
SO WE JUST KIND OF SIT TIGHT, WAITING FOR THE RESULT, COME UP AND THEN WE CAN, THE STAFF CAN MAKE A PRESENTATION AND THEN WE, THEN WE CAN HAVE OUR INPUT.
MAYBE JUST USE THE SAME PRESENTATION.
SO, SO WHAT, WE GOT TWO ITEMS FOR THE FUTURE, FOR THE FUTURE AGENDAS.
ANYTHING ELSE? ANY HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS? IF NOT THE MEETING IS JOURN AT 6 37.