HomeMy WebLinkAbout000 SP1 WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS MODIFICATIONS TO THE WATER MGMT PLANAGENDA REPORT Reveweldm
Agenda
SP1
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City Manager
Finance DirectorN A
MEETING DATE: MAY 5, 2015
TO: JEFFREY C. PARKER, CITY MANAGER
FROM: DOUGLAS S. STACK, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY ENGINEER
SUBJECT: WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS MODIFICATIONS TO THE WATER
MANAGEMENT PLAN TO MEET THE STATE WATER RESOURCES
CONTROL BOARD REGULATIONS
SUMMARY
On April 1, 2015, Governor Brown directed the State Water Resources Control Board (Water
Board) to impose restrictions to achieve an aggregate statewide 25% reduction in potable urban
water use through February 2016. The specific restrictions and prohibitions on water use in the
Executive Order (EOrder) apply to all Californians. The EOrder stipulates the 25% reduction in
water use as compared to 2013, but proposes flexibility in how to achieve this reduction in
recognition of the level of conservation already achieved by different communities around the
state. The Water Board has reviewed previous conservation amounts for each Water Supplier
in the state and has determined that Tustin Water Services must reduce potable water
consumption by 28% through February 2016.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff is recommending the City Council discuss various options to achieve a 28% Tustin Water
Services State Mandatory Conservation Target in potable water use reduction and provide
direction to staff regarding revising the Water Management Plan to assist in meeting this target
and the State of Emergency regarding the drought.
FISCAL IMPACT
N/A
CORRELATION TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN
This item contributes to the fulfillment of the City's Strategic Plan Goal D: Strong Community
and Regional Relationships. Specifically, by implementing Strategy 2, which is to work
collaboratively with agencies within and outside of Tustin on issues of mutual interest and
concern.
DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
With California facing one of the most severe droughts on record, Governor Brown declared a
drought State of Emergency in January 2014. Since that time, the Governor has issued three
additional Executive Orders directing actions to prepare for water shortages. For the first time in
state history, the Governor, in his April 1, 2015 Executive Order, directed the State Water Board
to implement mandatory water reductions in cities and towns across California to reduce potable
urban water usage by 25% statewide.
Since the Governor's April 1, 2015 Executive Order, Water Board staff has solicited public input
on various conservation frameworks. Based on feedback received, Water Board staff has
Proposed City Council Workshop — Updating Water Management Plan
May 5, 2015
Page 2
published a final regulatory framework that will be considered by the Board of Directors on May
5 and May 6. The major items for consideration include:
1. Requiring all water suppliers to institute mandatory irrigation days for consumers;
2. Requiring all water suppliers to report monthly consumption data for the Commercial,
Industrial, and Institutional (CII) sectors, and
3. Eliminating use of potable water to irrigate ornamental turf on public street medians.
The Executive Order also announced initiatives to replace turf with drought tolerant landscape
options, support rebate programs for water efficient devices, and ensure water suppliers
develop rate structures and pricing mechanisms to maximize water conservation. As a Water
Supplier, Tustin Water Services must implement the items listed above, as well as any others to
achieve the 28% reduction in total water use as determined by the Water Board.
A related, but separate issue exists with recent decisions made by the Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California (Metropolitan) and the Municipal Water District of Orange County
(MWDOC). After evaluating water storage levels, Metropolitan's Board of Directors voted to
reduce allocations to its member agencies by 15%. Metropolitan uses an established formula to
determine where allocations should be set. Storage levels will continue to be monitored and
if/when deemed necessary, Metropolitan will consider further reductions.
MWDOC serves as the Metropolitan member agency that represents 28 cities and water
agencies in Orange County, including Tustin Water Services. Staff has been advised that the
MWDOC Board of Directors voted to activate its Water Supply Allocation Plan (Plan) at Level 3.
At this level, MWDOC seeks to achieve a 15% reduction in imported water use. The Plan will
go into effect July 1, 2015 and continue through June 30, 2016.
As a result of the proposed Water Board regulations and the allocation reductions approved by
Metropolitan and MWDOC, staff believes modifications to the Water Management Plan are
necessary to ensure Tustin Water Services remains in compliance. Fines for non-compliance
can be levied against water suppliers in an amount up to $10,000 per day for each violation.
A PowerPoint presentation will be given during the workshop and will be made available to the
public at the meeting and via the City's website after the meeting.
A second Water Symposium and Open House will be organized following the update to the
City's Water Management Plan and drought response. Building on the previous format, staff will
expand the participation to our local home improvement retailers and business that customers
can avail themselves to for water saving tips and ideas, taking full advantage of available
rebates and incentives, to improve water efficiency in and around the home.
P. E.
Works/City Engineer
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