Title
Approval of Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Interim Reallocation of Reclaimed Water Supply From City of Olympia to City of Tumwater
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a Memorandum of Understanding allocating some of Olympia's reclaimed water to the City of Tumwater
Staff Contact:
Donna Buxton, Reclaimed Water Senior Program Specialist, Public Works/Water Resources, 360.753.8793
Andy Haub, Water Resources Director, 360.570.3795
Presenter(s):
None
Background and Analysis:
Under current agreements, LOTT Clean Water Alliance (LOTT) provides 100% of its available reclaimed water from the Budd Inlet Wastewater Treatment/Reclaimed Water Plant to the City of Olympia. The reason Olympia was given 100% of the water was because the reclaimed water line ended in Olympia at the time the agreements were established. Since then, LOTT has increased the amount of reclaimed water generated at the Plant. LOTT also recently extended the pipeline and service to Tumwater and built a storage tank there. However, Tumwater does not yet have an agreement with LOTT to receive reclaimed water from the Budd Inlet Plant.
LOTT and the City of Tumwater are actively working on an agreement that will allocate some of the Plant's increased capacity to Tumwater. The agreement is anticipated to be in place by the time LOTT completes a new supply and demand study and Tumwater adopts a reclaimed water ordinance. In the meantime, Olympia is not using its full allocation of reclaimed water and can help Tumwater, through the MOU, to use some of Olympia's reclaimed water on a temporary basis.
Olympia currently has four customers that use about 10 million gallons of reclaimed water per year primarily for irrigation between the spring and fall months. One of these customers also uses it year-round to flush toilets. The City has agreements with its customers that ensure a specific amount of reclaimed water will be provided by the City from the Budd Inlet Plant.
The MOU specifies the amount of reclaimed water reserved by Olympia for Olympia's customers and the amount of reclaimed water available to Tumwater. The MOU ensures Olympia will have enough reclaimed water for their current customers, and allows Olympia to retain more in case current customers need more or if new customers come on line.
The MOU is a short-term solution until LOTT and the partner jurisdictions (of Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Thurston County) can update the umbrella General Interlocal and Supply Agreements. In the meantime, through the MOU, Tumwater will be able to provide reclaimed water to the Tumwater Valley Golf Course during the 2015 summer season. This significantly increases the beneficial use of this valuable resource and it reduces the amount of treated wastewater being released into Budd Inlet.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
N/A
Options:
· Approve the MOU, thereby providing reclaimed water to the City of Tumwater.
· Decline or modify the MOU to better meet City of Olympia needs.
Financial Impact:
None. City revenue from reclaimed water sales will not be affected.
Attachment:
MOU regarding interim reallocation of reclaimed water supply from City of Olympia to City of Tumwater