HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 5 WTR CONSERVATION 10-3-88- . ' , ~. NO'. 5
.JATE: SEPTEMBER 24, 1988 ~ I
TO: WILLIAM HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, ENGINEERING DIVISION
SUBJECT: WATER CONSERVATION RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Tustin City Council at their meeting of October~ 3, 1988 adopt
the attached resolution adopting a voluntary water conservation
program reducing water conservation by ten percent.
BACKGROUND:
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan)
has requested support from all southern California water entities in
adopting a voluntary conservation resolution which encourages consumer
reduction in water use by ten percent. Additionally, the Municipal
Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) Board of Directors has also
adopted a. similar type Resolution (No.1352) supporting consumer
conservation. The MWDOC Board has also formed a Drought Management
Steering Committee to:
1. Respond to the short term conservation needs of retail water
agencies within MWDOC'S service area; and,
2. Develop a long-range drought plan should there be a third dry
year in 1989 and other future consecutive dry years.
It has been widely publicized recently that California is in the
middle of the second year of a serious drought. Voluntary water
conservation at this time may offset the need to implement future
rationing programs.
DISCUSSION:
Attached is a resolution which provides the vehicle for the adoption
of a voluntary water conservation program to reduce water consumption
by ten percent. On page 2 of the resolution there are several
measures outlined that will help achieve this ten percent conservation
goal. With the adoption of the attached resolution staff will pursue
various means of making these voluntary conservation measures known
to the consumer through newspaper articles, The Tustin Today
publication, letters to homeowners associations, notices printed on
the bi-monthly water billing statements and cable television.
WATER CONSERVATION RESOLUTION
September 24, 1988
Page 2
Also attached is a draft copy of a press release which staff will send
to all three newspapers serving our community to initiate the
distribution of water conservation information to the consumers within
our area.
Bob Ledendecker
Director of Public Works/City Engineer
BL-bf.
Attachment
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RESOLUTION NO. 88-109
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN,
CALIFORNIA, TO ADOPT A VOLUNTARY WATER CONSERVATION
PROGRAM REDUCING WATER CONSUMPTION BY TEN (10) PERCENT
WHEREAS, periodic droughts are a historic fact in
the State of California; and
WHEREAS, because precipitation for the current
water year has been substantially below normal particularly
in the watersheds of the imported water supplies serving
Southern California, the California Department of Water
Resources has declared 1988 to be a critically dry year, and
many communities in the State will suffer water shortages;
and
WHEREAS, a drought management program is essential
to reduce the risk and severity of water shortages should the
drought continue into 1989; and
WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of California
has asked all Californians to conserve water on a voluntary
basis; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Water District of
Southern California (Metropolitan), in recognition of the
critical water conditions existing in the State, has notified
~he agricultural industry within its service area of possible
curtailment of agricultural water deliveries in 1989 should
dry weather patterns continue; and
WHEREAS, The Municipal Water District of Orange
County's (MWDOC) fundamental responsibilities are to obtain
water from Metropolitan and other sources, to distribute
adequate supplies of high quality imported water to the
public at the lowest feasible cost, and to conserve such
supplies in times of shortages; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the critical water
conditions existing in California, the MWDOC Board of
Directors approved Resolution No. 1352 on the California
Drought on June 1, 1988; and
WHEREAS, the Resolution request every water
supplier within MWDOC's service area to alert its customers
to the necessity and means of saving water and to carefully
monitor water uses to prevent waste and request every water
supplier within MWDOC's service area to develop and implement
specific water conservation measures with a goal of reducing
water use by 10 percent; and
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WHEREAS, the City of Tustin is a water supplier
within MWDOC's service area and has' the power and authority
to adopt water conservation measures as appropriate within
its boundaries;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Manager is
authorized to implement a voluntary drought management
program, with a goal of reducing water use by 10 percent, to
reduce the risk and severity of water shortages should the
drought continue in 1989, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Tustin
urges all consumers to:
Adjust sprinklers and irrigation systems to
avoid over-spray, run-off and waste;
Avoid watering in the hot part of the day and
during morning and evening peak hours (6 a.m.
9 a.m. and 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.), and avoid
watering on windy days;
Install low-watering landscaping and energy
efficient irrigation systems.where
appropriate;
Shut off decorative fountains unless a water
recycling system-is used;
Not hose down driveways, sidewalks and other
paved surfaces, except for health or sanitary
reasons;
Install pool and spa covers to minimize
water loss due to evaporation;
Not waste water while washing cars, or other
vehicles and to use a bucket or a hose with
an automatic cutoff valve;
Retrofit indoor plumbing fixtures with
low-flow devices;
Check faucets, toilets, and pipes (both
indoor and outdoor) for leaks and repair
immediately;
Reduce other interior or exterior uses of
water to eliminate excessive waste.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City o~ Tustin
will encourage restaurants within its jurisdiction not to
serve drinking water to any customer except upon request and
to notify customers through appropriate written notification
in all serving areas; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Tustin
finds that a phased program beginning with voluntary measures
to reduce consumption will best achieve the goal of
conserving the water supply without causing unnecessary
adverse economic consequences.
PASSED AND ADOPTED, at a regular meeting of
The City Council, held on the 3rd day of October, 1988.
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ATTEST:
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Department of Public Works/Engineering
SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE
The Tustin City Council supported measures to help California's
current drought situation by adopting a Drought Resolution at its
regular meeting on October 3, 1988.
The City Council urges its water users to set a goal of reducing
water use by ten (10) percent. The resolution requires that every
water user in the City of Tustin's service area be alerted to the
necessity and means of saving water, and to carefully monitor water
uses to prevent waste. Water conserved through this effort may help
forestall future rationing programs.
Orange County---as well as the rest of Southern California---is a
semi-arid environment. Annual rainfall in Orange. County averages
thirteen' inches per year. Every 7 to 10 years or so, California
experiences extremely dry weather patterns---as was the case in
1976-1977 and, again in 1987-1988. About one-third of this years
water supply for Southern California comes from the Sierras in
Northern California. The rain and snowfall in the Sierras last~
winter was far below normal. Consequently, the pair of years, 1987
and .1988, is the third driest pair of years during this century in
the Sierras. Because of the water shortage last year, water reserves
stored in many reservoirs at the end of the 1987 irrigation season
were small. These run-off and storage conditions constitute a
drought.
Southern .California will be heading into its second successive
"critically dry year" as a result of below normal precipitation.
Although Orange County is in good shape for the time being, the
possibility of implementing mandatory conservation in 1989 is quite
real-- assuminq present dry weather patterns continue. The City of
Tustin, in cooperation with the Municipal Water District of Orange
County, is developing plans to deal with current and future shortage
conditions.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: MONDA BUCKLEY at the CITY OF TUSTIN,
telephone 544-8890.
300 Centennial Way · Tustin, California 92680 · (714) 544-8890