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Austin Water reports Q2 KPIs: most measures 'green' and work on asset data continues
Summary
Austin Water presented Q2 performance measures showing most high-level KPIs on track (including drinking-water turbidity well below regulatory thresholds) and described work to improve asset-condition data, rate-setting models and water-loss reduction strategies tied to the Water Forward program.
Austin Water presented a Q2 update on Feb. 11 showing that its high-level performance indicators are largely on track and that the department plans a comprehensive KPI review in FY26 to better align measures to Water Forward and other long-term goals.
Allison Orton Sprague, enterprise strategic planning manager, said the department chose a compact set of high-level KPIs aligned with the citywide strategic goal on mobility and critical infrastructure—examples include percent of median household income (MHI) spent on combined water/wastewater bills, percent of water and wastewater assets in fair-or-better condition, vacancy rate, drinking‑water turbidity and priority‑1 leak response time.
Orton Sprague reported targets and current performance: a FY26 vacancy-rate target of 8.5% with a year-to-date rate of 7.6%; a drinking-water turbidity target stricter than the TCEQ minimum (target <0.1 NTU) with year‑to‑date performance at ~0.06 NTU; and a target of 80% of water/wastewater assets in fair or better condition with staff saying they are on track to meet that goal. She also said Austin Water’s percent of capital improvement project funds invested compared to planned spending is near the target range (year-to-date ~87.2%).
Deputy Director Joseph Gonzalez described the department’s annual affordability report and how Austin Water compares to peer utilities; staff said affordability metrics include several measures beyond the percent-of-MHI indicator. Directors also described leak-detection programs, automated-meter data and targeted replacement of aging service lines (including polybutylene service lines), and promised district-level replacement data on request.
Council members asked about the relationship between KPIs and Water Forward milestones and whether Water Forward-specific measures will be folded into the KPI portfolio; staff said Water Forward progress is already reported in quarterly water strategy updates and will be incorporated into KPI review work this year.
On water-loss and service-line replacement, staff said efforts include targeted in-house and contractor replacements, pilot deployment of meter sensors, and programmatic capital projects; they did not provide an immediate percent complete for polybutylene replacements but committed to follow-up data. The department also highlighted proactive programs—reclaimed-water expansions, composting, biogas generation and wildlands stewardship—that contribute to water resilience and environmental outcomes.
