October 23, 1998

To:Works and Utilities Committee

From:Michael A. Price, General Manager, Water and Wastewater Services

Subject:Water Efficiency Program - Water Efficiency Kits

Purpose:

To harmonize the distribution of water efficiency kits throughout the new City.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The 1999 Capital Works Budget will request funding to purchase and distribute approximately 20,000 water efficiency kits at no cost to participants in the proposed Universal Metering Program and approximately 5,000 water efficiency kits to contribute at no cost to the students completing the Water Efficiency Curriculum at Toronto Public and Separate Schools throughout the new City. The cost of this program will be approximately $500,000.00. The total expenditure in 1997 was $100,000.00 for free water efficiency kits.

The 1999 Capital Works Budget will also request funding for the purchase of approximately 5,000 water efficiency kits for the subsequent resale at a subsidized price of $15.00 per kit to homeowners throughout the new City. The net cost to the City for this program will be approximately $25,000.00.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

1.commencing in 1999 and continuing to the end of the Universal Metering Program (Year 2003), one Indoor or Outdoor Water Efficiency Kit be provided at no cost to homeowners who receive a meter. Further, homeowners will be required to purchase additional Indoor and/or Outdoor kits for their home at a reduced price of $15.00 per kit;

2.all students who complete the Water Efficiency Curriculum Program in the Public and Separate Schools throughout the new City will receive a water efficiency kit at no cost; and

3.all other homeowners throughout the new City will be required to purchase Indoor and Outdoor Water Efficiency kits at a reduced price of $15.00 per kit.

Council Reference/Background/History:

On August 10, 1994, the former Metro Council approved a Water Efficiency Implementation Strategy which identified a broad range of Water Conservation Initiatives including the sale and delivery of water conservation kits to homeowners. Similarly the former City of Scarborough and former City of Toronto approved water efficiency programs in 1992 and 1994, respectively, which included among other initiatives, the distribution of water efficiency kits.

Comments and/or Discussion and /or Justification:

Currently, the former Metro and the Cities of Scarborough and Toronto each purchase water efficiency kits and distribute them to residents within their former municipalities.

The former Metro purchases and sells two types of water efficiency kits for indoor and outdoor use. Both kits are sold at a cost of $20.00. Indoor kits are delivered by courier to all residents of the former Metro Toronto. The former Metro Indoor Water Efficiency Kit includes a hand-held massage showerhead, a kitchen aerator, two bathroom aerators, two toilet tank displacement bags, leak detection tablets, teflon tape, and installation instructions. The Outdoor Water Efficiency Kit includes a plastic pail, a trigger hose nozzle, a mechanical timer, a set of hose washers and a sponge, along with installation instructions. These outdoor kits are purchased in person at Metro Hall, Environment Days and special events such as home shows and the CNE. Approximately 29,000 of both kits have been distributed since the beginning of the program.

The former City of Scarborough purchases and sells water efficiency kits at a cost of $11.00. The former City of Scarborough kit includes a wall-mount massage showerhead, a kitchen aerator, two bathroom aerators, two toilet tank displacement bags, leak detection tablets, teflon tape, two toilet fill cycle diverters and installation instructions. Kits must be picked up by the customer. Approximately 4,000 kits have been distributed under this program since 1994.

The former City of Toronto provides water efficiency kits at no cost to homeowners as an incentive for customers to convert to a water metered account. Further, water efficiency kits are also provided, free of charge, to owners of multi-residential buildings and to the Public and Separate School students that participate in the "Every Drop Counts" School Curriculum Program. The kit includes a wall-mounted showerhead, a kitchen aerator, a bathroom aerator, 2 toilet tank dams, a toilet tank bag, leak detection tablets, teflon tape, toilet bowl fill-cycle diverter, a showerhead flow measuring bag, and installation instructions. Approximately 50,000 kits have been distributed under this program since 1992. The purchase cost of the kit is approximately $9.00. Kits are distributed by the meter installation contractor when installing a water meter and by staff at classroom demonstrations and Council Environment Days.

The other municipalities have not included water efficiency kits in their Water Conservation Programs.

Conclusions:

Water efficiency kits are an essential tool in any water efficiency program. They not only help residents to conserve water and save money in their homes but the kits help in educating the public on why it is important to use water efficiently.

It is recommended that the composition of the Water Efficiency kits for the new City should be similar to that provided under the former Metro program and include kits for Indoor and Outdoor Water Conservation.

The Indoor and Outdoor Water Efficiency kits should generally include the following items, however, the exact composition of the kit should be reviewed annually to determine the homeowners needs and the satisfactory performance of the retrofit materials contained in the kit:

Indoor Water Efficiency Retrofit Kit:

1 Showerhead (handheld optional)

2Bathroom Aerators

2Toilet Tank Displacement Bags

1Kitchen Deluxe Swivel Spray Aerator

1 Package of Leak Detection Tablets (2/Pkg)

1Roll of Teflon Tape

Instructions

Outdoor Water Efficiency Retrofit Kit:

Peak Pail (Outdoor Kit)

1Plastic Pail

2Trigger Hose Nozzle

1Mechanical Timer

1Set of Hose Washers

1Sponge

Instructions

It is recommended that these kits, which cost approximately $20.00 to purchase, be sold and distributed to homeowners throughout the new City at a subsidized price of $15.00. It should be noted that the materials, which make up these kits may cost up to three times more at retail outlets. Consequently, the savings in purchasing these kits from the City are significant and are intended to provide an incentive for homeowners to retrofit all of their plumbing fixtures with water efficient fixtures.

It is recommended that one Indoor or Outdoor Water Efficiency kit be provided free of charge to homeowners who receive a meter under the proposed Universal Metering Program. The free kit be installed at the time of the water meter installation to provide homeowners with an incentive to conserve water use and minimize their metered water consumption. It is proposed that approximately 20,000 kits will be distributed in this manner in each year of the proposed four-year Universal Metering Program.

It is also recommended that one free Indoor or Outdoor Water Efficiency kit be provided to School Children who complete the "Every Drop Counts" School Curriculum Program. The composition of the School Kit will be modified in consultation with the teachers involved in the Program to reflect an appropriate kit for use in the home and to complement the classroom program. This Program is now included in the Elementary Grades in both Public and Separate School Systems throughout the former City of Toronto. It is proposed that this Program be offered to the Public and Separate School Boards throughout the new City School Systems.

Contact Name:

Wayne Green

Director, Quality Control and System Planning

Water and Wastewater Services Division

Phone: (416) 392-8256

Fax: (416) 392-4594

E-Mail: wgreen@city.toronto.on.ca

Michael A. Price, P.Eng., FICE

General Manager

Water and Wastewater Services

RMK/WG/ea