Water Supply Reliability and Urban Growth. Jeff Loux, Director, Land Use and Natural Resources, U.C. Davis Extension

Transcription

1 Water Supply Reliability and Urban Growth Jeff Loux, Director, Land Use and Natural Resources, U.C. Davis Extension

2 Adam Smith The Wealth of Nations How is it that water, which is so very useful that life is impossible without it, has such a low price-while diamonds, which are quite unnecessary, have such a high price?

3 Where are we in terms of water supply and demand and where are we headed What does the law say about reliable water supply and urban growth What are some likely trends and opportunities Topics

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5 California has developed upside down and backwards; William Kahrl W

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7 The conflict and competition is always about geographic distribution and dry year availability; water supply reliability is the key

8 Future Water Supplies and Demands 36 million to 50 million Californian s s by 2030 (40% increase) 2-66 million acre feet annual increase in urban demand (assuming conservation) Where: Inland Empire, San Joaquin Valley, Sacramento Region (hotter, drier, less dense) Agricultural demand may decrease (5-10%), but not everywhere; regional increases And, to make matters more challenging

9 Further Complications Groundwater contamination and overdraft impacts Increased environmental regulation and environmental water use Flood and seismic risks threaten supply Higher drinking water standards Hardening of supplies because of laudable conservation efforts; there is no fudge factor in the next drought Loss of 800,000 AFY from Colorado River Global warming

10 California s s Water Use (million-acre feet) Average Drought Average Drought Water Use Urban Agricultural Environmental TOTAL Supplies Surface Water Groundwater Recycled & Desalted TOTAL Shortage

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14 Zero-scape or xeriscape?

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17 What are some of the laws that affect water use for new development (or redevelopment)?

18 Convergence of Legislation, Court Decisions and Programs Focused on Linking Water and Land Use SB 610, Land use plans and water supply SB 221, Subdivision and water supply State Water Plan 2005 Urban Water Management Plans 2000, 2005 LAFCO requirements 2001 OPR 2002 General Plan Guidelines: Water Element Series of court cases including the Newhall Ranch/Castaic Lake Water District SunRidge, Sunrise/Douglas Specific Plan Supreme Court Prop 50/84: integrated regional water resources plans, grant requirements Council (CUWCC) progress and new BMPs

19 Figure 3-1: A General Comparison of Land Use Planning and Water Use Planning in California Land Use Agency General Plan Specific Plan SB 610 Assessment (or (or Proposed Development) SB 610 Assessment Water Purveyor Integrated Resource Plan Urban Water Management Plan Water Supply Assessment Zoning Action Detailed Water System Master Plan Tentative Subdivision Map Final Subdivision Map SB 221 Finding Building Permits Engineering Plan, Contracts, Permits Can and will serve notice Water Hook-up

20 SB 610: Planning/CEQA-Related Provisions Water supply assessment is required for large projects requiring a Negative Declaration or EIR 500 units or equivalent: retail 500,000 sf, office 250,000 sf, 5005 room hotel, 40 acres or 650,000 sf industrial, mixed use of same sizes, 10% of total existing service connections for small (5,000 connections or less) City or county identifies water supplier; requests UWMP and includes water supply assessment if it accounted for If not accounted for (or if there is no UWMP), city or county requests a water supply assessment Assessment to include 20 year projection for normal, dry and multiple dry years to meet existing and planned demands for all uses Assessment must show entitlements with contracts, capital outlay, permits and regulatory approvals (no paper water) Assessment considers existing+planned+project over 20 years for wet, normal, dry and multiple dry years

21 Senate Bill 221: General Provisions Prohibit approval of tentative subdivision map or parcel map or development agreement for subdivision for a residential project of more than 500 units (or an increase in 10% of connections for a system under 5,000 connections) unless there is a Sufficient Water Supply Urban infill projects and affordable housing are exempted Must have written verification from the water supplier or the city/county makes specified findings based on its own water supply assessment

22 Vineyard Area Citizens for Responsible Growth v. Rancho Cordova: California Supreme Court Feb ,000 unit Sunrise Douglas community plan 9,886 unit SunRidge Specific Plan Plaintiff challenged all aspects of the water supply analysis and the EIR Court made three rulings: general discussion of certainty of water supplies for CEQA; analysis of well field; analysis of Zone 40 conjunctive use program Most significant CEQA case in 10 years First time Supreme Court has ruled on a substantive CEQA case since 1988 Clearly, the issue of adequate water supply resonated with the court

23 Some Lessons Learned CEQA can not ignore water supply Adequate environmental analysis for large phased project can not be limited to first phase or first few years Future identified water supplies must bear a likelihood of being available; no paper water When there is uncertainty, CEQA requires a discussion of alternative or contingent sources and their impacts Burden of identifying likely water sources goes up as you get closer to building permits and is on city/county as much as water agency Cities and counties may rely on Urban Water Management Plans Consistency and clarity in water planning are essential!

24 What can we do to link reliable water supply with sustainable land use choices?

25 1. First, move to more sustainable water sources

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28 Agriculture to Urban Water Transfers How should we assess so-called third party impacts? Do we have adequate tools to do this? How about environmental effects? Is CEQA the right tool to use? What are the long term land use implications of these transfers?

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30 Desalination Plant in Santa Barbara

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32 Desalinated Water Issues Brine discharge Energy consumption Siting in coastal areas Perception as unlimited supply New infrastructure required to connect new source

33 Nontraditional off stream, off peak surface water reservoirs

34 Conjunctive Use of Surface and Groundwater WATER DEMANDS Safe Yield Groundwater Surface Supply Increased Pumping Wet Above Normal Below Normal YEAR TYPE Dry Critical Dry following Critical

35 Ground water Recharge & Conjunctive Use

36 Complex and Integrated Portfolio Water Management

37 2: Plan future land uses within the capacity of sustainable water supplies (regionally)

38 DWR s Pyramid of a Successful Water Future: Integrated Regional Water Management Plans

39 Integrated Regional Water Management Plans Analyze all water sources and demands together for year horizon with 5 year increments; develop land use based, precise water demands Match the source to the need quality, timing, reliability Examine conservation, recycling/wastewater, conjunctive use, storm water management, water quality protection and enhancement and regional and mutual aid options at the same time Integrate environmental issues up front Involve stakeholders and their interests up front

40 Conflict and Competition: The typical way water rights are assigned in the western U.S.! Water wars

41 Alternative Approach: Regional Collaborations Getting people and organizations that are nothing alike and do not share any interests to work together Inclusive, avoid protracted litigation Creative synthesis leads to unexpected solutions Regional, interdependent solutions add to political and legal clout New funding and solution partners Examples: Calfed, Water Forum, Napa River, Truckee River, Yuba River Accord, etc.

42 Potential Role of Smart Growth and New Urbanism in addressing water issues

43 What does this have to do with water? Compact urban form means a smaller footprint for population and in theory more protected watershed lands, recharge areas, natural drainages and less impervious surface Higher density (especially residential use) means less landscaping per capita and therefore significantly less water use (and pollutants) per capita Public open spaces, parks and plazas means opportunities for large landscape water conserving design and space for innovative surface runoff management Narrower streets and less surface parking lots means less impervious cover per capita; less vehicle miles travelled should result in less pollutants per capita

44 Water Demand Analysis: SACOG Blueprint Base Case Preferred Scenario % Difference Region (acre-feet/year) (acre-feet/year) Residential Employment Incremental Demand 661, ,362-38% Demand Per Unit % Incremental Demand 199, ,611-9% Demand Per Employee % Total Total Incremental Demand 860, ,973-31%

45 3: Create a water element for your general plan Combine all of the hydrologic cycle into one element Incorporate new water supply requirements by including local water purveyors plans Incorporate wastewater and recycling plans to locate demand sites Incorporate stream and wetland protection, as well as retention drainage policies to address water quality and recharge issues Sonoma County example

46 Benefits of a Water Element Accessible information for the public in one readable document Use same data base, assumptions and projections for all water infrastructure Useful for 221 and 610 reviews Find linkages between water use, conservation, recycling, wastewater, and drainage Assist in storm water and related quality permits Promote watershed management approach

47 4: Get precise about how much water we need, when, where and what quality GIS offers a useful set of tools Precise water demands by land use Easily updated Easily understood Results linked directly to hydraulic models

48 GIS Layers Needed for Demand Estimating Hydraulic Model Pipe Nodes Selected Demand Nodes Redevelopment Infill Mixed Uses TODs Nodal Polygons Increased Densities Planned Land Use Designations Phase in 5 Year Increments General Plan Land Uses Existing Land Uses Boundaries Actual Residential Densities Irrigated Park Industrial Grouped by Water Use Base Map Streets Parcels Pipes City Limits or Service Area Sphere of Influence Study Area Pressure Zones

49 Develop well-documented, accurate, supportable Urban Water Management Plans

50 5: Reuse and recycle where you can and always plan for it in the future: toilets to tap becomes showers to flowers) Showers to Flowers

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52 Recycled Water Issues Public perception If water supply has high salts (TDS), then wastewater effluent will also Availability of supply versus seasonal demands

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55 Median Strip

56 Serrano Community in El Dorado County

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59 6: Maximize water use efficiency (aka. conservation)

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61 Conservation Effects on System Planning

62 Urban Applied Water Use by Sector Unaccounted 10% Public Uses 10% Industrial 9% Residential 54% Commercial 17%

63 Typical Water Usage Single-Family Residential Commercial Industrial

64 Best Management Practices: California Urban Water Conservation Council BMP #1 BMP #2 BMP #3 BMP #4 BMP #5 BMP #6 BMP #7 BMP #8 BMP #9 BMP #10 BMP #11 BMP #12 BMP #13 BMP #14 Water Audits Program for single-family and multi-family residential customers Residential plumbing retrofit Distribution system water audits, leak detection, repair Metering with commodity rates Large landscape conservation programs/incentives High-efficiency washing machine rebate programs Public information programs School education programs Commercial/industrial/institutional conservation programs Wholesale agency assistance programs Conservation pricing Conservation coordinator Water waste prohibition Residential ULFT replacement programs

65 CUWCC Since 1991 Over 300 water purveyors as well as environmental and business Signatories sign the MOU On line reporting and monitoring of progress BMP s evolve over time with input from all members Off-ramps exist for BMPs based on legal constraints or lack of cost-effectiveness Provides a consistent and credible way of measuring conservation progress Compliance is mixed Emerging laws are using the CUWCC

66 New Conservation Measures Must Go Above & Beyond Artificial turf Moisture sensitive irrigation sensors Water-less urinals in commercial uses Rain water and gray water capture and use Recycled water for private as well as public spaces and indoor uses Aggressive conservation pricing Retro-fit on resale Conservation off-set programs

67 Definitions Water reuse/recycling treated wastewater (gray or black); purple pipe system Water reclamation treated ground water or other contaminated source Rain water capture or harvest individual building or site runoff from rooftops (and maybe other surfaces?) and storage for use Gray Water Reuse shower, sink, washing machine, tub, not toilet - Storm water capture large scale runoff from impervious urban (or rural) surfaces used for infiltration and recharge or?

68 7: Water Storage and Harvesting Cisterns CBF Merrill Environmental Center, Annapolis, MD Collect rainwater from roof and store it for irrigation, toilets, cooling and other nonpotable uses Attenuate peak runoff flows Conserve potable water resources

69 Source Control Seattle Rain Barrel Program

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72 What are the Issues with Rain Water Harvesting and Gray Water? Rain water - Storage esthetics and cost effectiveness Rain water - Rainfall timing and storage amount, 7-87 month irrigation needs (not true for toilet uses) Rain water - Quality of stored water Gray water County Health Department review and concern over water quality Gray Water storage issues, treatment issues, dual plumbing within structure Gray Water - Soil infiltration rates, residence time, build up of contaminants; not likely to see widespread use

73 8: Focus on landscape demand management (water conservation) Water Use Summer Peak (Outdoor) Base Demand (Indoor) Jan May Sept Dec Month

74 Landscape Water Conservation 1.4 million acres of urban irrigated landscape in California AB 325 of 1990 required local land use agencies to adopt the State s s model ordinance or a comparable ordinance by 1993 Two major Statewide surveys and various local surveys have been conducted (including one in Sacramento region) Statewide revision process with an Advisory Committee resulting in new State law to be implemented by 2010

75 Landscape Water Conservation General conclusion: most cities and counties have decent ordinances, but are not implementing them consistently Most ordinances include appropriate plant selection, hydrozone grouping of plants and mulch requirements Most ordinances include dedicated landscape meters, automatic controllers, no runoff or overspray and rain or soil moisture sensors Many ordinances encourage recycled water and require monthly and annual irrigation schedules, audits, maintenance schedules and demonstration model homes Reference ETs are too high; new law reduces them

76 Why are the Ordinances Not implemented? Inadequate staffing; inadequate training of staff No field checking, auditing or enforcement Lack of outreach and education about the requirements for designers, contractors and developers Inconsistent application e.g. developer installed front yards for residential landscaping Homeowners change out landscaping and do not maintain it; commercial retrofits may not be checked Low political priority

77 Top Recommendations (out of 43) Water conservation rate structure Reduce the ET Factor and adjust every 10 years Enforce and monitor compliance Require dedicated landscape meters Promote recycled water Increase public awareness Require smart controllers Adopt statewide prohibition on overspray and runoff Provide training and certification procedure for irrigation professionals Support upgrading the CMIS system for urban use Adopt performance standards for irrigation equipment POTENTIAL SAVINGS: 600,000-1 million AFY at a cost of $ /AF 500/AF

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80 retired lawn

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84 Nice, France Median Strip

85 Concord, CA Median Strip

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