July 5, 1999
To:Works Committee
From:Barry H. Gutteridge, Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services
Subject:Water Efficiency Plan
Purpose:
To obtain the necessary authority for the expenditure of $26,000.00 to complete the development of the Water Efficiency
Plan and investigate more aggressive water reductions as identified in the Main Treatment Plant Mediation Agreement.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Funding in the amount of $26,000.00 has been approved in the 1999 Capital Works Program, Water Supply, under
Engineering Studies, Project No. WS363-T20126, "Water Efficiency Study".
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
- Authority be granted to amend the existing agreement with the firm of Renewable Energy in Canada (Consulting)
Limited (REIC Consulting Limited) from $136,587.00 to $162,587.00 to complete the development of the City's Water
Efficiency Plan as indicated in the revised scope of work and complying with the terms of the Main Treatment Plant
Environmental Assessment Mediation Agreement pertaining to the Water Efficiency Plan which includes public
consultation and the establishment of a Water Efficiency Plan Review Committee; and
- The appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.
Council Reference/Background/History:
In 1996, the former Metropolitan Toronto Council commissioned the development of a new Water Efficiency Plan. The
objective of the plan was to reduce the projected average day water demand by at least 15% by the year 2011, the date
when major capital works would have to be undertaken to meet the demand projections. On December 18, 1996, the
former Metropolitan Toronto Council, by adoption of Clause No. 14 of Report No. 13 of the Environment and Public
Space Committee, approved the engagement of the firm REIC Consulting Limited (Renewable Energy in Canada
Consulting Limited), selected through an open consultant selection process in accordance with corporate policy, to develop
a Metro-wide Water Efficiency Plan. Since the initiation of the Plan development, a number of issues have arisen delaying
the completion of the plan and changing the original scope of work.
These include the following:
- during the development of the plan it was recognized that the original water demand projections would not occur until
approximately 2018 because of lower than expected employment growth;
- as a result of the recent amalgamation of the six area municipalities with Metropolitan Toronto to the new City of
Toronto and through the harmonization of programs and service delivery, the process by which the Water Efficiency
Plan will be developed and implemented has changed;
- the focus on water consumption reduction targets is two-fold and includes reductions in:
-maximum day water demands to provide capital works deferrals in Water Supply, and
-average annual day water demands to provide capital works deferrals in Water Pollution Control;
- the City has undertaken several pilot projects recently to assess the effectiveness and cost of various water efficiency
measures, this new data is available for incorporation into the development of the Plan; and
- the terms of the recent Council approved Main Treatment Plan Environmental Assessment Mediation Report obligate
the City to investigate more aggressive water reduction targets, provide broad public consultation through public and
industry review of the Plan, establishment of a Water Efficiency Plan Review Committee and completion of the Plan for
Council approval by December 1999.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
In the years since the development of the Water Efficiency Plan began, several issues have arisen which have a bearing on
water efficiency planning. As a result, a change in the scope of work is warranted. The intention is to complete the
development of the Water Efficiency Plan in a manner that will address the following:
- incorporate the revised water demand projections,
- incorporate new population and employment projections,
- identify programs/measures that focus on reductions in maximum day demand (to reduce capital costs associated with
water supply),
- identify programs/measures that focus on reductions in average day demand (to reduce capital costs associated with
water pollution control),
- incorporate new information regarding capital works requirements with and without water efficiency measures
implemented,
- provide an analysis for the more aggressive water reduction targets identified in the Main Treatment Plant
Environmental Assessment Mediation Agreement,
- incorporate new information about water efficiency measures that is now available through pilot projects undertaken by
the City and data derived from other jurisdictions,
- provide information on costs and water savings associated with each measure, separated by sector,
- conduct a preliminary cost-benefit analysis for all water efficiency measures, based on available capital works
information,
- provide information to guide the implementation of the Plan, and
- completion of the Plan for submission to City Council for adoption by December 1999.
Consistent with the Main Treatment Plant Environmental Assessment Mediation Agreement, a Water Efficiency Plan
Review Committee will be formed to provide review of the Plan, review public comments, and report to the Commissioner
of Works and the Works Committee regarding revisions that should be made to the draft Plan.
In addition, a public consultation process will be undertaken to provide broader stakeholder input in the identification and
selection of appropriate water efficiency measures and opportunities for review of the draft Water Efficiency Plan.
The firm REIC Consulting Limited (Renewable Energy in Canada Consulting Limited) was originally selected through an
open consultant selection process in accordance with corporate policy, to develop a Metro-wide Water Efficiency Plan. The
firm is recognized as a leader in the field of water efficiency planning and has revised their work plan to accommodate the
above needs and the tight time schedule mandated by the Main Treatment Plant Environmental Assessment Mediation
Agreement.
Conclusions:
The change in scope of work for the development of the City's Water Efficiency Plan is necessary to address several issues
which have arisen since the development of the Plan began. This results in additional expenditure of $26,000.00 which has
been approved in the 1999 Capital Works Program.
The City has an obligation, through the terms of the Main Treatment Plant Environmental Assessment Mediation
Agreement, to complete the development of the Water Efficiency Plan and submit the Plan to Council for adoption by
December 1999. In the interest of maintaining project continuity and to complete the Plan within the time lines identified,
it is recommended that the existing agreement with the firm of Renewable Energy in Canada (Consulting) Limited (REIC
Consulting Limited) be amended from $136,587.00 to $162,587.00.
Contact Name:
Mr. M. D'Andrea, P.Eng.
Manager, Infrastructure Asset Management
Quality Control and System Planning
Telephone: (416) 397-4631
Fax: (416) 392-2974
e-mail: michael_d'andrea@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca
Michael A. Price, P.Eng., FICEBarry H. Gutteridge
General ManagerCommissioner
Water and Wastewater ServicesWorks and Emergency Services
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