2O15 Urban Water Management Plan

Transcription

1 2O15 Urban Water Management Plan

2 CITY OF SANTA ROSA 2015 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN PREPARED BY: In conjunction with: West Yost Associates & Maddaus Water Management JUNE 2016

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4 City of Santa Rosa City Council: John Sawyer, Mayor Tom Schwedhelm, Vice Mayor Erin Carlstrom Julie Combs Chris Coursey Ernesto Olivares Gary Wysocky Board of Public Utilities: Dan Galvin, Chair Megan Kaun, Vice Chair Bill Arnone Richard Dowd Leonard Holt Jack Tibbetts Mary Watts Santa Rosa Water Department Urban Water Management Plan Team: Linda Reed, Interim Director of Utilities Jennifer Burke, Deputy Director of Water & Engineering Resources Rocky Vogler, Senior Water Resources Planner Teresa Gudino, Sustainability Representative Molly Dillon, Assistant City Attorney Jim Connell, West Yost Associates Elizabeth Drayer, West Yost Associates Contact: Rocky Vogler, ,

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6 CITY OF SANTA ROSA 2015 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES... vi LIST OF FIGURES... vii ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS... viii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... ES-1 1. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW 1.1 Introduction Importance and Extent of City s Water Management Planning Efforts Changes from 2010 UWMP Plan Organization PLAN PREPARATION Basis for Preparing A Plan Regional Planning Individual or Regional Planning and Compliance Fiscal or Calendar Year and Units of Measure Coordination and Outreach Wholesale and Retail Coordination Coordination with Other Agencies and the Community Coordination with Other Agencies Coordination with the Community Notice to Cities and Counties SYSTEM DESCRIPTION General Description Service Area Surface Water System Facilities Groundwater Facilities Agency Groundwater Resources Distribution System Storage Pump Stations i

7 Distribution Pipelines Service Area Climate Climate Change Service Area Population and Demographics SYSTEM WATER USE Recycled Versus Potable and Raw Water Demand Water Uses By Sector Overview Historical Water Use Water Uses Projected Water Uses Through Distribution System Water Losses Estimating Future Water Savings Water Use for Lower Income Households Climate Change Climate Change Impacts on Water Supply and Demand City Responses to Climate Change Impacts on Water Mitigation Adaptation SB X7-7 BASELINES AND TARGETS Updating Calculation from 2010 UWMP Baseline Periods Service Area Population Gross Water Use Baseline Daily Per Capita Water Use And 202 Targets Compliance Daily Per Capita Water Use (gpcd) Regional Alliance SYSTEM SUPPLIES Purchased or Imported Water Agency Water Supply Overview Groundwater Groundwater Basin Description Groundwater Management Overdraft Conditions ii

8 6.2.4 Historical Groundwater Pumping Future Groundwater Pumping Surface Water Stormwater Wastewater and Recycled Water Wastewater System Description Wastewater Disposal and Recycled Water Uses Projected Uses of Recycled Water for Subregional System Current and Projected Recycled Water for City Desalinated Water Opportunities Exchanges or Transfers Future Water Projects Summary of Existing and Planned Sources of Water Climate Change Impacts to Supply WATER SUPPLY RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT Constraints on Water Sources Agency Water Supply Agency Water Rights Restructured Agreement Threatened and Endangered Species Biological Opinion Future Operation of the Potter Valley Project Water Reliability Modeling For 2015 UWMP Constraints on Groundwater Supply Groundwater Quality Groundwater Level Threats Groundwater Storage and Budget Reliability by Type of Year Supply and Demand Assessment Regional Supply Reliability WATER SHORTAGE AND CONTINGENCY PLANNING Stages of Action Prohibitions on End Uses Penalties, Charges, Other Enforcement or Prohibitions Consumption Reduction Methods Determining Water Shortage Reduction Revenue and Expenditure Impacts Drought Rate Structures and Surcharges iii

9 8.6.2 Use of Financial Reserves Other Measures Resolution or Ordinance Catastrophic Supply Interruption No Water Available From the Agency Area-Wide Electrical Power Failure Earthquake Minimum Supply Next Three Years DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES Water Conservation Program Overview Demand Management Measures Water Waste Prevention Ordinances Metering Conservation Pricing Public Education and Outreach Water Conservation Program Coordination and Staffing Support Other Demand Management Measures Implementation Over the Past Five Years Planned Implementation to Achieve Water Use Targets Members of the California Urban Water Conservation Council PLAN ADOPTION, SUBMITTAL AND IMPLEMENTATION Inclusion of All 2015 Data Notice of Public Hearing Public Hearing and Adoption Plan Submittal Public Availability Amending an Adopted UWMP APPENDICES Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F Legislative and Government Requirements Urban Water Management Plan Adoption Resolution Urban Water Management Plan Public Hearing Notice Department of Water Resources Tables Water Demand Analysis American Water Works Association Water Loss Reporting Worksheet iv

10 Appendix G Appendix H Appendix I Appendix J Appendix K Appendix L Appendix M Appendix N Appendix O West Yost Associates Technical Memorandum-Updated Compliance with Water Conservation Act of 2009(Senate Bill X7-7) April 2016 Regional Alliance Letter to Department of Water Resources and Regional Alliance Letter Agreement Sonoma County Water Agency Supply Reliability Tables Urban Water Shortage Contingency Plan California Urban Water Conservation Council Best Management Practices Reporting Forms City of Santa Rosa Water Rate Schedule Department of Water Resources Urban Water Management Plan Checklist Voluntary Reporting of Energy Intensity Santa Rosa Plain Watershed Groundwater Management Plan v

11 LIST OF TABLES Table ES-1: Total Water Demands... ES-2 Table ES-2: Water Supplies - Projected... ES-2 Table ES-3: Baselines, Targets and 2015 Compliance Summary... ES-3 Table ES-4: Location of DWR Tables Table 2-1: Retail Only: Public Water Systems Table 2-2: Plan Identification Table 2-3: Agency Identification Table 2-4: Water Supplier Information Exchange Table 2-5: Coordination and Notification for Plan Preparation Table 3-1: Monthly Average Climate Data Table 3-2: Population - Current and Projected Table 4-1: Historical Deliveries by Water Use Sector, (AF/yr) Table 4-2: 2015 Water Customers Table 4-3: Demands for Potable and Raw Water - Actual Table 4-4: Demands for Potable and Raw Water - Projected Table 4-5: Total Water Demands Table 4-6: 12 Month Water Loss Audit Reporting Table 4-7: Water Demand Program Savings Projections (AF/yr) Table 4-8: Inclusion in Water Use Projections Table 5-1: Baselines and Targets Summary Table 5-2: 2015 Compliance Table 5-3: SBX7-7 RA1- Weighted Baseline Table 5-4: SBX7-7 RA1- Weighted 2020 Target Table 5-5: SBX7-7 RA Target Table 5-6: SBX7-7 RA GPCD (Actual) Table 5-7: SBX7-7 RA1- Compliance Verification Table 6-1: Characteristics of Groundwater Basins/Sub-basins Underlying City of Santa Rosa Urban Growth Boundary Table 6-2: Summary of Geological Units in the Santa Rosa and Rincon Valley Groundwater Sub-basins Table 6-3: City of Santa Rosa Municipal Groundwater Wells Table 6-4: Groundwater Volume Pumped Table 6-5: Agencies Participating in Incremental Recycled Water Program Table 6-6: Wastewater Collected Within Service Area in Table 6-7: Wastewater Treatment and Discharge Within Service Area in Table 6-8: Current and Projected Recycled Water Direct Beneficial Uses Within Service Area Table 6-9: 2010 UWMP Recycled Water Use Projections Compared to Table 6-10: Methods to Expand Future Recycled Water Use Table 6-11: Expected Future Water Supply Projects or Programs Table 6-12: Water Supplies - Actual vi

12 Table 6-13: Water Supplies - Projected Table 7-1: Basis of Water Year Data Table 7-2: Normal Year Supply and Demand Comparison Table 7-3: Single Dry Year Supply and Demand Comparison Table 7-4: Multiple Dry Years Supply and Demand Comparison Table 8-1: Stages of Water Shortage Contingency Plan Table 8-2: Restrictions and Prohibitions on End Uses Table 8-3: Water Shortage Contingency Surcharges and Penalties Table 8-4: Stages of Water Shortage Contingency Plan Consumption Reduction Methods Table 8-5: Water Usage Rates Effective January 5, Table 8-6: Water Shortage Charge (WSC) for All Water Sold-Stages 3 through Table 8-7: Excess Use Penalty (EUP) for Water Used in Excess of Allotment - Stages 5, 6, and Table 8-8: Water Shortage Rate Structure (Jan. 2016) Table 8-9: Minimum Supply Next Three Years Table 10-1: Notification to Cities and Counties Table 10-2: Notification to Additional Stakeholders LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3-1: City of Santa Rosa Existing Water System Figure 3-2: City of Santa Rosa Service Area Associated Sonoma County Water Agency Infrastructure Figure 3-3: City of Santa Rosa Water Pressure Zones Figure 6-1: Santa Rosa Groundwater Basins and Sub-Basins Figure 6-2: Santa Rosa Subregional System Figure 9-1: City of Santa Rosa Water Use Efficiency Participants Figure 9-2: Customer Participation in Rebate Program Figure 9-3: City of Santa Rosa Water Use Efficiency Grass Removal Program vii

13 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AB Assembly Bill AF Acre feet AFY Acre-feet per year Agency Sonoma County Water Agency AWWA American Water Works Association Base GPCD base daily capita water use BMP Best Management Practices BPU Board of Public Utilities CDFW California Department of Fish and Wildlife CDoF - California Department of Finance CEQA California Environmental Quality Act CFR Code of Federal Regulations CFS Cubic Feet per Second CII Commercial, Industrial, Institutional CIMIS California Irrigation Management Information System City City of Santa Rosa COE Corps of Engineers CUWCC California Urban Water Conservation Council DDW Division of Drinking Water DMM Demand Management Measures DOI Department of Interior DPH - Department of Public Health DWR Department of Water Resources EIS Environmental Impact Statement EPA Environmental Protection Agency ESU Evolutionary Significant Unit ETo Reference Evapotranspiration EUP - Excess Use Penalty FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission GHG Green House Gas GIS Geographic Information System GMP - Groundwater Management Plan GPCD Gallons per capita per day GPF Gallons per flush GPM Gallons per minute IRWP Incremental Recycled Water Program LID Low Impact Development MCL Maximum Contaminant Level MG Million gallons MGD Million gallons per day viii MOU Memorandum of Understanding NCRWQCB North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric Company PIT Passive Integrated Transponder PVP Potter Valley Project QWEL- Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Restructured Agreement Restructured Agreement for Water Supply RPA Reasonable and Prudent Alternative RPM Reasonable and Prudent Measures SB Senate Bill SCWA Sonoma County Water Agency Shortage Methodology Water Shortage Allocation Methodology SIC Standard Industrial Classifications SMSWP- Sonoma Marin Saving Water Partnership SRPGMP - Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Management Plan SRW Santa Rosa Water State Water Board State Water Resources Control Board Subregional System Subregional Water Reuse System TAP! Take It From The Tap UFW Unaccounted for Water ULFT Ultra-Low Flow Toilet USFWS United States Fish and Wildlife Service USGS United States Geological Survey UWMP Urban Water Management Plan UWMP Act Urban Water Management Planning Act WAC - Water Advisory Committee Water Shortage Plan Urban Water Shortage Contingency Plan WC Act Water Conservation Act of 2009 WELO Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance WET - Water Education for Trades WSC Water Shortage Charge WF - Water Factor WSA - Water Supply Assessment

14 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Urban Water Management Planning Act (UWMP Act) requires water suppliers that provide over 3,000 acre-feet per year or have over 3,000 connections to prepare and submit to the State Department of Water Resources (DWR) an Urban Water Management Plan every 5 years. The City of Santa Rosa s (City) 2015 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) has been prepared in accordance with the UWMP Act, as defined by the California Water Code, Division 6, Part 2.6, Sections through 10656, and the Water Conservation Act of 2009 (WC Act). The City is a retail water supplier to approximately 53,000 residential and commercial accounts located within Santa Rosa s service area. This 2015 UWMP addresses the City water system and includes a description of the water supply sources, historical and projected water use, and a comparison of water supply to water demands during normal, single-dry, and multiple-dry years. This 2015 UWMP also addresses water use efficiency legislation, including the City s 2015 and 2020 water use targets, as required by the WC Act, and the implementation plan for meeting the City s 2020 water use targets. ES. 1 SERVICE AREA OVERVIEW The City of Santa Rosa is the largest city between Portland, Oregon and San Francisco, California. Within the City s service area, employment is diversified across the public sector and the service and manufacturing industries, with a broad spectrum of commercial services such as technology, engineering, and construction. The City s climate is influenced by the Pacific Ocean and is divided into wet and dry seasons. Approximately 93 percent of the annual precipitation normally falls during the wet season, October to May, with a large percentage of the rainfall typically occurring during three or four major winter storms. The City has received the majority of its potable water supply from the Sonoma County Water Agency (Agency) since the early 1960s. The Agency provides water principally from the Russian River to the majority of the retail water providers in Sonoma County, and to a lesser degree in Marin County. The City also receives water supply from its own groundwater wells and provides recycled water from its own Subregional Water Reuse System (Subregional System) to some Santa Rosa irrigators. The City receives Agency water through a series of turnouts, check valves, and direct connections serving City pump stations along the Agency s Santa Rosa and Sonoma Aqueducts. There are 59 physical connections between the City s distribution system and the Agency s system, including 39 pressure reducing valves, 16 check valves, and 4 pumping stations. The City s major water distribution facilities consist of 25 treated water reservoirs, 20 water pump stations, and 1 well treatment facility. ES.2 DEMAND AND SUPPLY PROJECTIONS To determine projected demands through 2040, the City in conjunction with the other Water Contractors who receive water from the Agency, hired Maddaus Water Management to perform the demand analysis. The projected deliveries are based on the population and employment projections in the City s 2035 General Plan and include implementation of the National Plumbing Code, State Plumbing Code, and water conservation savings from conservation Best Management Practices, as well as unaccounted for water (UFW). Table ES-1 summarizes the total actual water use for the City in 2015 and the total demand projection for the City from 2020 to ES-1

15 Lasting effects of the drought and the State s emergency conservation regulations significantly affected the City s 2015 water use and therefore, the City s 2015 water use is not representative of normal water use characteristics for the City. Potable and Raw Water From Tables 4-1 and 4-2 Recycled Water Demand* From Table 6-4 Table ES-1: Total Water Demands (opt) 16,539 24,149 25,590 26,806 28,103 28, TOTAL WATER DEMAND 16,679 24,289 25,730 26,946 28,243 28,280 NOTES: Units in Acre-Feet. To meet the projected demands, the City currently has three sources of water supply: entitlement from the Agency, groundwater, and recycled water. The City currently receives the majority of its potable water supply from the Agency under the provisions of the Restructured Agreement for Water Supply. In addition to Agency supply, the City also produces water from its two groundwater production wells. This supply source is permitted for regular production and can provide up to 2,300 acre-feet per year (AFY) to the City. The City is also the owner and operator of the Subregional System, which produces recycled water. The City provides an annual average of 140 AFY of recycled water for urban landscape irrigation to offset potable water demands within the City s water service area. In addition, the City has a very aggressive water conservation program which reduces current potable water demand and ensures that future water use is efficient. Table ES-2 details the existing and projected water supplies available to the City. Water Supply Additional Detail on Water Supply Table ES-2: Water Supplies Projected Projected Water Supply 1 Report To the Extent Practicable Purchased or Imported Water From Agency 3 29,100 29,100 29,100 29,100 29,100 Groundwater 2,300 2,300 2,300 2,300 2,300 Recycled Water Total 31,540 31,540 31,540 31,540 31,540 1 Units in Acre-Feet. 2 Water Conservation not included in supply. 3 Sonoma County Water Agency ES-2

16 ES.3 WATER CONSERVATION OVERVIEW The City has been and continues to be a leader in implementing innovative water conservation programs. Water conservation and demand management are an integral part of the City s water management strategy, integrating water conservation into future supply and demand solutions for both the water system and the wastewater treatment/reuse system. In 1998, the City became a signatory to the California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Regarding Urban Water Conservation dated September 1997 and has met or exceeded all of the CUWCC Best Management Practices (BMPs). In addition, the City has received statewide recognition for its robust conservation programs. ES.4 WATER CONSERVATION ACT OF 2009 TARGETS AND COMPLIANCE In 2009, the WC Act was signed into law and set a goal of a 20 percent reduction in statewide urban per capita water use by The WC Act requires urban water retailers that must comply with the UWMP Act to set an interim community urban per capita water use target for 2015 and a final community urban per capita water use target for Due to the City s aggressive water conservation implementation, the City has greatly surpassed its 2015 target, and is on track to meet its 2020 water use target required by the WC Act without the implementation of additional conservation measures. Table ES-3 shows the City s current 2015 target compliance along with the projected compliance daily per capita water use for 2020, compared to the WC Act per capita water use targets. Baseline Period Start Year Table ES-3: Baselines, Targets and 2015 Compliance Summary End Year Average Baseline GPCD* 2015 Interim Target * Confirmed 2020 Target* Actual 2015 GPCD year Year *All values are in Gallons per Capita per Day (GPCD) ES-3

17 ES UWMP ORGANIZATION The City s 2015 UWMP is organized as follows: Chapter 1 provides background information on the UWMP, how the UWMP is organized, and changes that have occurred since adoption of the 2010 UWMP. Chapter 2 provides an overview of UWMP requirements, units of measure, coordination and outreach processes, and public noticing Chapter 3 provides a general description of the City s water system and service area, City and Agency facilities, and general information on climate change Chapter 4 describes historical, current and projected water demands, future conservation savings, and the City s response to climate change Chapter 5 addresses the requirements of the WC Act, year 2015 and 2020 targets and compliance, and the Regional Alliance Chapter 6 discusses water supplies Agency, groundwater, and recycled water, and provides a description of the Subregional System Chapter 7 provides an overview of water supply reliability and potential impacts on various supply sources Chapter 8 provides an overview of the City s Water Shortage Contingency Plan, including conservation stages, prohibitions and enforcement Chapter 9 discusses the City s conservation program which contains demand management measures and implementation Chapter 10 describes the public hearing and adoption process, submittal of the UWMP, and UWMP availability Appendices A through O provide relevant supporting documents ES-4

18 Table ES-4 displays information on where the DWR recommended tables are located within the City s 2015 UWMP. Table ES-4: Location of DWR Tables 2015 UWMP Chapter and Table Number DWR Table Number and Title Table 2-1: Public Water Systems Chapter 2 Table 2-1 Table 2-2: Plan Identification Chapter 2 Table 2-2 Table 2-3: Agency Identification Chapter 2 Table 2-3 Table 2-4: Water Supplier Information Exchange Chapter 2 Table 2-4 Table 3-1: Population - Current and Projected Chapter 3 Table 3-2 Table 4-1: Demands for Potable and Raw Water - Actual Chapter 4 Table 4-3 Table 4-2: Demands for Potable and Raw Water - Projected Chapter 4 Table 4-4 Table 4-3: Total Water Demands Chapter 4 Table 4-5 Table 4-4: 12 Month Water Loss Audit Reporting Chapter 4 Table 4-6 Table 4-5: Inclusion in Water Use Projections Chapter 4 Table 4-8 Table 5-1: Baselines and Targets Summary Chapter 5 Table 5-1 Table 5-2: 2015 Compliance Chapter 5 Table 5-2 Table 6-1: Groundwater Volume Pumped Chapter 6 Table 6-4 Table 6-2: Wastewater Collected Within Service Area in 2015 Chapter 6 Table 6-6 Table 6-3: Wastewater Treatment and Discharge Within Service Area in 2015 Chapter 6 Table 6-7 Table 6-4: Current and Projected Recycled Water Direct Beneficial Uses Within Service Area Chapter 6 Table 6-8 Table 6-5: 2010 UWMP Recycled Water Use Projection Compared to 2015 Actual Chapter 6 Table 6-9 Table 6-6: Methods to Expand Future Recycled Water Use Chapter 6 Table 6-10 Table 6-7: Expected Future Water Supply Projects or Programs Chapter 6 Table 6-11 Table 6-8: Water Supplies Actual Chapter 6 Table 6-12 Table 6-9: Water Supplies Projected Chapter 6 Table 6-13 Table 7-1: Basis of Water Year Data Chapter 7 Table 7-1 Table 7-2: Normal Year Supply and Demand Comparison Chapter 7 Table 7-2 Table 7-3: Single Dry Year Supply and Demand Comparison Chapter 7 Table 7-3 Table 7-4: Multiple Dry Years Supply and Demand Comparison Chapter 7 Table 7-4 Table 8-1: Stages of Water Shortage Contingency Plan Chapter 8 Table 8-1 Table 8-2: Restrictions and Prohibitions on End Uses Chapter 8 Table 8-2 Table 8-3: Stages of Water Shortage Contingency Plan - Consumption Reduction Methods Chapter 8 Table 8-4 Table 8-4: Minimum Supply Next Three Years Chapter 8 Table 8-9 Table 10-1: Notification to Cities and Counties Chapter 10 Table 10-1 ES-5

19 ES.6 PLAN ADOPTION The Santa Rosa City Council adopted this 2015 UWMP on June 14, A copy of the adoption resolution (Resolution No ) is included in Appendix B. Within 30 days following plan adoption, the 2015 UWMP was submitted to the Department of Water Resources, the California State Library and the County of Sonoma. Within 30 days of submitting the adopted 2015 UWMP to DWR, copies of the adopted 2015 UWMP will be made available during normal business hours at the following locations: Local public libraries; Santa Rosa City Manager s Office; and Santa Rosa Municipal Services Center South Building. A copy of the adopted 2015 UWMP will also be available for review and download on the City s website: srcity.org/uwmp. Should this 2015 UWMP be amended or changed, copies of amendments or changes to the plan shall be submitted to DWR, the California State Library, and any city or county within which the City provides water supplies within 30 days after adoption. ES-6

20 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW This chapter provides an introduction and overview of the City of Santa Rosa (City) 2015 Urban Water Management Plan (2015 UWMP) including the importance and extent of the City s water management planning efforts, changes since the preparation of the City s 2010 UWMP, and organization of the City s 2015 UWMP. This 2015 UWMP has been prepared jointly by City staff and West Yost Associates (West Yost). Santa Rosa Water Mission Statement It is our mission to protect public health by sustaining water resources, infrastructure, and the environment. 1.1 INTRODUCTION The Urban Water Management Planning Act (Act) was originally established by Assembly Bill 797 (AB 797) on September 21, Passage of the Act was recognition by state legislators that water is a limited resource and a declaration that efficient water use and conservation would be actively pursued throughout the state. The primary objective of the Act is to direct urban water suppliers to develop an UWMP which provides a framework for long-term water supply planning, and documents how urban water suppliers are carrying out their long-term resource planning responsibilities to ensure adequate water supplies are available to meet existing and future water demands. A copy of the current version of the Act, as incorporated in Sections through of the California Water Code (CWC), is provided in Appendix A of this document. I want to thank the crew and you for your professionalism and hard work to repair our service quickly. The communication and follow up was great and we were kept up to date on progress at all times. So with all this, I want to thank you for your support and the support of the crews that were on site until the problem was resolved. - Santa Rosa Water Customer 1.2 IMPORTANCE AND EXTENT OF CITY'S WATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING EFFORTS The purpose of the 2015 UWMP is to provide a planning tool for the City for developing and delivering municipal water supplies to the City s water service area. 1-1

21 From 1873 until 1947, the City and the privately held Santa Rosa Water Works had been providing clean and reliable water to its residential, commercial, and institutional customers. The earliest water system (Santa Rosa Water Works) was fed from Santa Rosa Creek and from the then newly constructed Lake Ralphine. The City s municipal water system began in 1893 by pumping water out of Santa Rosa Creek at the north end of Farmers Lane. The two systems were combined in 1947 and the City has been the sole water supplier to City customers since that time. Between 1948 and 1958, the City constructed eight groundwater supply wells, and by June 1959, the City s water supply was primarily from groundwater wells, supplemented by surface water supplies from Lake Ralphine. During the 1950 s, the City participated in the financing of the water supply infrastructure of the Sonoma County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, which later became the Sonoma County Water Agency (Agency). In June of 1959, the City connected to the County aqueduct and placed its water supply facilities in stand-by mode. Currently, the City has three sources of water supply: entitlement from the Agency, groundwater, and recycled water. Lake Ralphine is not currently used as a potable water supply source. To continue to meet the water needs of the community, the City carefully manages its available water resources. The City s UWMP is a comprehensive guide for planning for a safe and adequate water supply. 1.3 CHANGES FROM 2010 UWMP The Urban Water Management Planning Act has been modified over the years in response to the State s water shortages, droughts and other factors. A significant amendment was made in 2009, after the 2007 to 2009 drought, and as a result of the Governor s call for a statewide 20 percent reduction in urban water use by the year This was the Water Conservation Act of 2009, also known as SB X7-7. This act required agencies to establish water use targets for 2015 and 2020 that would result in statewide water savings of 20 percent by There have been several additions and changes to the California Water Code since the City s 2010 UWMP was prepared. The City has addressed these new requirements as necessary throughout this 2015 UWMP. These are summarized below: AB 2067 (Weber 2014) - CWC Section (f)(1) and (2): Demand Management Measures Requires water suppliers to provide narratives describing their water demand management measures, as provided. Requires retail water suppliers to address the nature and extent of each water demand management measure implemented over the past 5 years and describe the water demand management measures that the supplier plans to implement to achieve its water use targets. See Chapter 9 of this 2015 UWMP for a description of the City s Demand Management Measures. - CWC Section (d): Submittal Date Requires each urban water supplier to submit its 2015 plan to the Department of Water Resources by July 1, SB 1420 (Wolk 2014) -CWC Section 10644(a)(2): Submittal Format Requires the plan, or amendments to the plan, to be submitted electronically to the department. - CWC Section 10644(a)(2): Standardized Forms 1-2

22 Requires the plan, or amendments to the plan, to include any standardized forms, tables, or displays specified by the department. - CWC (e)(1)(j) and (e)(3)(a) and (B): Water Loss Requires a plan to quantify and report on distribution system water loss. See Chapter 4 of this 2015 UWMP for a description of the City s distribution system water losses. - CWC (e)(4): Voluntary Reporting of Passive Savings Provides for water use projections to display and account for the water savings estimated to result from adopted codes, standards, ordinances, or transportation and land use plans, when that information is available and applicable to an urban water supplier. See Chapter 4 of this 2015 UWMP for a description of the City s passive water savings. SB 1036 (Pavley 2014) - CWC (a) and (b): Voluntary Reporting of Energy Intensity Provides for an urban water supplier to include certain energy-related information, including, but not limited to, an estimate of the amount of the energy used to extract or divert water supplies. See Appendix N of this 2015 UWMP for a description of the City s energy intensity related to water supply. - CWC 10632: Defining Water Features Commencing with the UWMP update due July 1, 2016, for purposes of developing the water shortage contingency analysis, requires urban water suppliers to analyze and define water features that are artificially supplied with water, including ponds, lakes, waterfalls, and fountains, separately from swimming pools and spas. - See Chapter 8 of this 2015 UWMP for a discussion of water features that are artificially supplied with water. 1.4 PLAN ORGANIZATION This 2015 UWMP contains the appropriate sections and tables required per California Water Code Division 6, Part 2.6 (Urban Water Management Planning Act), included in Appendix A of this 2015 UWMP, and has been prepared based on guidance provided by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) in their March 2016 Guidebook for Urban Water Suppliers (DWR 2015 Guidebook). DWR s Urban Water Management Plan Checklist, as provided in the DWR 2015 Guidebook, has been completed by West Yost to demonstrate the plan s compliance with applicable requirements. A copy of the completed checklist is included in Appendix M. This 2015 UWMP is organized into the following chapters: Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview Chapter 2: Plan Preparation Chapter 3: System Description Chapter 4: System Water Use Chapter 5: SB X7-7 Baselines and Targets Chapter 6: System Supplies Chapter 7: Water Supply Reliability Assessment Chapter 8: Water Shortage And Contingency Planning Chapter 9: Demand Management Measures Chapter 10: Plan Adoption, Submittal and Implementation 1-3

23 This 2015 UWMP also contains the following appendices of supplemental information and data related to the City s 2015 UWMP: Appendix A: Legislative and Government Requirements Appendix B: Urban Water Management Plan Adoption Resolution Appendix C: Urban Water Management Plan Public Hearing Notices Appendix D: Department of Water Resources Tables Appendix E: Water Demand Analysis Appendix F: American Water Works Association Water Loss Reporting Worksheet Appendix G: West Yost Associates Technical Memorandum- Updated Compliance with Water Conservation Act of 2009 (SB X7-7) Appendix H: Regional Alliance Letter to Department of Water Resources and Regional Alliance Agreement Appendix I: Sonoma County Water Agency Supply Reliability Tables Appendix J: Urban Water Shortage Contingency Plan Appendix K: California Urban Water Conservation Council Best Management Practices Reporting Forms Appendix L: City of Santa Rosa Water Rate Schedule Appendix M: Department of Water Resources Urban Water Management Plan Checklist Appendix N: Voluntary Reporting of Energy Intensity Appendix O: Santa Rosa Plain Watershed Groundwater Management Plan 1-4

24 CHAPTER 2 PLAN PREPARATION This Chapter describes the preparation of the City s 2015 UWMP, including the basis for the preparation of the plan, individual or regional planning, fiscal or calendar year reporting, units of measure, and plan coordination and outreach. 2.1 BASIS FOR PREPARING A PLAN The Urban Water Management Planning Act requires every urban water supplier to prepare and adopt an UWMP, to periodically review its UWMP at least once every five years and make any amendments or changes which are indicated by the review. An urban water supplier is defined as a supplier, either publicly or privately owned, providing water for municipal purposes either directly or indirectly to more than 3,000 customers or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet of water annually. A public water system (PWS) is a system that provides drinking water for human consumption though pipes or other constructed conveyances. The City manages PWS #CA As shown in Table 2-1, in 2015, the City provided water to 53,193 customers, and supplied 16,539 acre-feet of water. Therefore, the City is required to prepare an UWMP. The City s last UWMP, the 2010 UWMP, was adopted by the City Council in June Table 2-1 Retail Only: Public Water Systems (DWR Table 2-1) Public Water System Number CA Public Water System Name City of Santa Rosa Number of Municipal Connections 2015 Volume of Water Supplied ,193 16,539 TOTAL 53,193 16, REGIONAL PLANNING The CWC provides mechanisms for participating in area-wide, regional, watershed, or basin-wide urban water management planning. Per Department of Water Resources Methodologies for Calculating Baseline and Compliance Urban Per Capita Water Use (DWR Methodologies), water suppliers who receive water from a shared wholesale supplier may form a regional alliance. The Water Contractors of the Agency have formed a regional alliance consisting of the following urban water suppliers: Cities of Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Sonoma, Cotati, and Petaluma, Town of Windsor, and North Marin, Marin Municipal and Valley of the Moon Water Districts. A copy of the letter to DWR regarding the formation of the regional alliance, as well as the letter agreement forming the regional alliance, is included in the City s 2015 UWMP. According to the DWR 2015 Guidebook, each Regional Alliance must develop regional Urban Water Use Targets. Additionally, a regional alliance may either be a part of a Regional UWMP (RUWMP) or may be a group of suppliers that submit a Regional Alliance Report and individual UWMPs. The Regional Alliance s water use targets are discussed in Section 5.8 and the Regional Alliance agreement letter is provided in Appendix H. The City has prepared an individual UWMP and will not adopt an RUWMP. 2-1

25 2.3 INDIVIDUAL OR REGIONAL PLANNING AND COMPLIANCE Water Code (d)(1) An urban water supplier may satisfy the requirements of this part by participation in area-wide, regional, watershed, or basin-wide urban water management planning where those plans will reduce preparation costs and contribute to the achievement of conservation and efficient water use. This 2015 UWMP has been prepared on an Individual Reporting basis, covering only the City s service area (see Table 2-2). As described below in Section 2.5, the City has notified and coordinated with appropriate regional agencies and constituents, including the Agency, other Agency contractors, as well as several local agencies. In addition, the City also participates with the other Water Contractors in the regional alliance for SB X7-7 compliance purposes. Year 2015 water demand and population data was evaluated, concluding that each of the Water Contractors had individually met their interim 2015 SB X7-7 targets; hence, the region has also met its collective 2015 regional target. Additional SB X7-7 information can be found in Chapter 5 and Appendix G. Select Only One Table 2-2: Plan Identification (DWR Table 2-2) Type of Plan Name of RUWMP or Regional Alliance if applicable Individual UWMP Water Supplier is also a member of a RUWMP Water Supplier is also a member of a Regional Alliance North Marin-Sonoma Alliance Regional Urban Water Management Plan (RUWMP) NOTES: Regional Alliance is with other Sonoma County Water Agency Contractors and Marin Municipal Water District. 2.4 FISCAL OR CALENDAR YEAR AND UNITS OF MEASURE The City is a water retailer. The City s 2015 UWMP has been prepared on a calendar year basis, with the calendar year starting on January 1 and ending on December 31 of each year. The City reports water volumes in units of acre-feet (AF). The City s reporting methods for this 2015 UWMP are summarized in Table

26 Table 2-3: Agency Identification (DWR Table 2-3) Type of Agency (select one or both) Agency is a wholesaler Agency is a retailer Fiscal or Calendar Year (select one) UWMP Tables Are in Calendar Years UWMP Tables Are in Fiscal Years If Using Fiscal Years Provide Month and Date that the Fiscal Year Begins (mm/dd) Units of Measure Used in UWMP (select from Drop down) Unit AF 2.5 COORDINATION AND OUTREACH This section includes a discussion of the City s inter-agency coordination and coordination with the general public. The UWMP Act requires the City to coordinate the preparation of its UWMP with other appropriate agencies and all departments within the City, including other water suppliers that share a common source, water management agencies, and relevant public agencies. The City coordinated the preparation of its UWMP with the Agency, eight of its neighboring water providers that also utilize Agency water, the Santa Rosa Subregional System, and the City s Planning and Economic Development Department. These and other agencies, as well as the public, participated in the coordination and preparation of this 2015 UWMP. The City s coordination efforts are summarized below WHOLESALE AND RETAIL COORDINATION Water Code (j) An urban water supplier that relies upon a wholesale agency for a source of water shall provide the wholesale agency with water use projections from that agency for that source of water in five-year increments to 20 years or as far as data is available. The wholesale agency shall provide information to the urban water supplier for inclusion in the urban water supplier s plan that identifies and quantifies, to the extent practicable, the existing and planned sources of water as required by subdivision (b), available from the wholesale agency to the urban water supplier over the same five-year increments, and during various water-year types in accordance with subdivision (c). An urban water supplier may rely upon water supply information provided by the wholesale agency in fulfilling the plan informational requirements of subdivisions (b) and (c). The City receives wholesale water from the Agency. In accordance with CWC 10631, the City has informed the Agency of projected water use from that source, in five-year increments, for the period , as shown in Table 2-4. Table 2-4: Water Supplier Information Exchange (DWR Table 2-4) The retail supplier has informed the following wholesale supplier(s) of projected water use in accordance with CWC Wholesale Water Supplier Name Sonoma County Water Agency 2-3

27 2.5.2 COORDINATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND THE COMMUNITY The City coordinated its UWMP preparation with other local agencies and the community COORDINATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES Water Code (d)(2) Each urban water supplier shall coordinate the preparation of its plan with other appropriate agencies in the area, including other water suppliers that share a common source, water management agencies, and relevant public agencies, to the extent practicable. The City coordinated the preparation of this UWMP with several agencies including the eight neighboring water providers that also utilize Agency water, the Santa Rosa Subregional System (wastewater utility), and the City s Planning and Economic Development Department. These and other agencies, as well as the public, participated in the coordination and preparation of this 2015 UWMP. In addition, the City coordinated the preparation of the water demand projections in this UWMP with the 2035 Santa Rosa General Plan COORDINATION WITH THE COMMUNITY Water Code Each urban water supplier shall encourage the active involvement of diverse social, cultural, and economic elements of the population within the service area prior to and during the preparation of the plan. Prior to adopting a plan, the urban water supplier shall make the plan available for public inspection and shall hold a public hearing thereon. Prior to the hearing, notice of the time and place of hearing shall be published within the jurisdiction of the publicly owned water supplier pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code. The urban water supplier shall provide notice of the time and place of hearing to any city or county within which the supplier provides water supplies. A privately owned water supplier shall provide an equivalent notice within its service area. After the hearing, the plan shall be adopted as prepared or as modified after the hearing. The City encouraged community and public interest involvement in the 2015 UWMP update through outreach in its Utility bills, Santa Rosa Water E-news, outreach on its website, numerous public meetings of the City s Water Conservation Subcommittee of the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), updates on the 2015 UWMP development at the City s Board of Public Utilities and City Council meetings, and through the public hearing for adoption of the 2015 UWMP. Copies of the City s public hearing notices are included in Appendix C. The public hearing provided an opportunity for all City water users and the general public to become familiar with the UWMP and ask questions about its water supply in addition to the City s continuing plans for providing a reliable, safe, high-quality water supply. Copies of the draft UWMP were made available for public inspection at the Santa Rosa City Manager s office, at the Santa Rosa Municipal Services Center South Building, and on the City s website. 2-4

28 The organizations that were notified and solicited for input in Plan preparation are listed in Table 2-5. Table 2-5: Coordination and Notification for Plan Preparation Organization/Agency Name Sonoma County Water Agency Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department Neighboring water providers (a) Santa Rosa Subregional Water Reuse System Participated in developing the plan Commented on the draft Level of Participation Attended public meetings Was contacted for assistance Was sent a copy of the draft plan x x x x x x x x x x x x x x General public x x x x (a) Neighboring water agencies included the cities of, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Cotati and Sonoma; Town of Windsor; and the North Marin, Marin Municipal, and Valley of the Moon Water Districts. x NOTICE TO CITIES AND COUNTIES Water code (b) requires agencies to notify the cities and counties to which they serve water at least 60 days in advance of the public hearing that the plan is being updated and reviewed. In early 2016, a notice of preparation was sent to neighboring cities, the county, and other stakeholders, to inform them of the UWMP update process and schedule and to solicit input for the 2015 UWMP update. The notifications to cities and counties, the public hearing notifications, and the public hearing and adoption are discussed in Chapter

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30 CHAPTER 3 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION This chapter describes the City s water system and service area. This includes information about the water system facilities, climate, population, and housing within the city s service area. Water code (a) Describe the service area of the supplier, including current and projected population, climate, and other demographic factors affecting the supplier's water management planning. The projected population estimates shall be based upon data from the state, regional, or local service agency population projections within the service area of the urban water supplier and shall be in five-year increments to 20 years or as far as data is available. 3.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION Quick Facts about the City of Santa Rosa Santa Rosa is the largest north-bay city between Portland, Oregon and San Francisco, California. As of January 1, 2015, Santa Rosa s population is 173, 071 people. Per the Santa Rosa General Plan, the projected year 2040 population for urban growth boundary is 237,000 people. Santa Rosa has a Mediterranean climate with an average rainfall of inches. Approximately 93% of rainfall occurs in the months of October through May. The City of Santa Rosa is the largest city between Portland, Oregon and San Francisco, California. Santa Rosa is located at the intersection of Highway 101 and Highway 12 and is approximately 50 miles north of San Francisco and 30 miles east of the Pacific Ocean. Santa Rosa serves a four county region as the hub for technology and entrepreneurial businesses, retail, banking and employment. Santa Rosa has a dynamic and well balanced economy, anchored by tourism, high tech manufacturing and retail 1. Santa Rosa is the county seat for Sonoma County and is home to the region s state and federal offices. Within the City, employment is diversified across the public sector and the service and 1 Quick Facts about the Santa Rosa Water System The City receives approximately 90% of its annual water supply from the Sonoma County Water Agency. The City provides water to over 53,000 customers in Santa Rosa; 91% are residential and 9% are commercial customers. The City has 24 water storage tanks, 20 water pump stations and 6 municipal groundwater wells. The City s water system meets or exceeds all federal and state drinking water standards. 3-1

31 manufacturing industries, with a broad spectrum of commercial services such as technology, engineering, and construction. Regionally, employment in the agricultural industry is related to vineyards, livestock, orchards, silage crops, and timber; however, none of these enterprises are served by the City water service. Recreation and tourism are growing industries in the region. Land use within the City is primarily residential, but also includes agricultural, industrial, commercial, and recreational land uses. Santa Rosa Water Supply The City receives 90% of its water supply from the Sonoma County Water Agency. The remaining 10% comes from the City s Farmers Lane wells and from recycled water which is used for non-drinking water purposes, such as landscape irrigation. The map below shows an overview of where the City s drinking water supply comes from. 3.2 SERVICE AREA The City s current water service area is the same as the City s municipal boundary. The City supplies water to residential, industrial, and commercial customers in its service area. No agricultural uses are supplied with City potable water. In the future, the City s water service area may expand to the Urban Growth Boundary, as described in the City s 2035 General Plan, which includes areas outside of the City s current distribution system. While the City s distribution system may expand to serve the urban growth boundary at some point in the future, as noted in the City s 2035 General Plan, it is not possible to predict the specific location or distribution of growth. Market trends and/or environmental constraints will direct this growth over time. The City maintains its own retail distribution system, and Figure 3-1 shows the location of the City s current and projected service area boundaries as well as major infrastructure assets including pump stations, storage tanks and wells, which are further described below. The City s service area and urban growth 3-2

32 boundary relative to the Agency s facilities are shown on Figure 3-2. Additional details regarding the City s water supply sources are included in Chapter SURFACE WATER SYSTEM FACILITIES The City s water supply from the Agency is predominantly surface water, which is diverted from the Russian River. The water supply from the Agency is provided to the City via the Santa Rosa and Sonoma Aqueducts that deliver water to the City through turnouts. In addition to surface water diverted from the Russian River, the Agency s water supply is also supplemented from groundwater wells located in the Santa Rosa Plain sub basin. A description of the Agency s supply quantity and quality are included in Section GROUNDWATER FACILITIES The City is located within the Santa Rosa Plain Sub basin of the Santa Rosa Valley Groundwater Basin, located at the confluence of the Santa Rosa, Bennett, and Rincon Valleys. A detailed description of the City s groundwater supply is included in Chapter 6. Although the City s Urban Growth Boundary overlies portions of the Rincon Valley Sub-basin and the Kenwood Valley Groundwater Basin, the City s groundwater supply is derived exclusively from the Santa Rosa Plain Sub basin of the Santa Rosa Valley Groundwater Basin. The City maintains a total of six municipal groundwater wells within the Santa Rosa Plain Sub basin of the Santa Rosa Valley Groundwater Basin. They are described as follows: of Public Health (DPH), currently permitted by the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Division of Drinking Water (DDW), on July 20, 2005, and can provide up to 2,300 AFY. These are currently the only potable groundwater sources in active use. They have been used to supplement potable water supplies obtained from the Agency, particularly during high demand periods; Carley Well and Peter Springs Well: these two wells are currently operated primarily to provide landscape irrigation to an adjacent park, Lake Ralphine and a school ground area, but these wells are also permitted by DDW to operate and provide potable supply during an emergency outage condition; Farmers Lane Well No. 3: this well is only operated to provide minor amounts of landscape irrigation water supply to areas adjacent to the well; and Leete Well: this well is only used to provide potable water during an emergency outage condition (as permitted by DDW). This well is currently out of service due to a casing separation. The Carley and Peter Springs wells provide the City with approximately 1.2 million gallons per day (mgd) of groundwater capacity on a stand by emergency basis. Since the mid 1990 s, Santa Rosa has had an adopted Capital Improvement Program for the development of the City s groundwater resources to provide an additional 12.0 mgd emergency groundwater supply suitable for potable use by the City AGENCY GROUNDWATER RESOURCES Farmers Lane Wells No. 1 and 2: these two wells were changed from emergency to active status by the former California Department The Agency supplements the Russian River water supply with three deep water wells in the Santa Rosa Plain Sub basin. The Agency s three 3-3

33 groundwater wells are located along the Agency s Cotati Aqueduct at Todd Road (SCWA 04), Sebastopol Road (SCWA 05), and Occidental Road (SCWA 06) on the west side of the Santa Rosa Plain Sub basin. All three wells are drilled to depths greater than 1,000 feet. Because these wells feed into the Agency s Cotati Aqueduct, which provides no supply to the City, little or no Agency groundwater is actually delivered to the City by the Agency to meet the City s 29,100 AFY of contractual supply entitlement under the Restructured Agreement for Water Supply. A full discussion of the Agency s groundwater wells is provided in the Agency s 2015 Urban Water Management Plan DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM The City receives Agency water through a series of turnouts, check valves, and direct connections serving City pump stations along the Agency s Santa Rosa and Sonoma Aqueducts. There are 59 physical connections between the City s distribution system and the Agency s system, including 39 pressure reducing valves, 16 check valves, and 4 pumping stations. The City s major water distribution facilities consist of 24 treated water reservoirs and 20 water pump stations. These facilities and the distribution pipelines are described in this section STORAGE Twenty four water storage tanks are located throughout the City s water distribution system as shown on Figure 3-1. Individual reservoir storage capacities of current and future tanks range from 0.1 to 4.0 million gallons (mg) for a total capacity of 23.1 MG PUMP STATIONS The City maintains and operates 20 water pump stations and 1 well treatment facility for delivery of water and to maintain water system pressure. Pump station capacity ranges from approximately 130 gallons per minute (gpm) to 5,000 gpm DISTRIBUTION PIPELINES The City s existing water distribution system is divided into 18 major pressure zones, and several smaller sub zones, that are served by pipelines ranging in diameter from 4 to 24 inches. The majority of services are provided via 6 inch to 12 inch diameter mains. Pipe materials include asbestos cement, PVC, HDPE, ductile iron, and cement mortar lined and coated steel. The pressure zones are illustrated on Figure

34 Figure 3-1: City of Santa Rosa Existing Water System 3-5

35 3-6 Figure 3-2: City of Santa Rosa Service Area with Associated Sonoma County Water Agency Infrastructure

36 Figure 3-3: City of Santa Rosa Water Pressure Zones 3-7

37 3.3 SERVICE AREA CLIMATE The City s climate is influenced by the Pacific Ocean and is divided into wet and dry seasons. Approximately 93 percent of the annual precipitation normally falls during the wet season, October to May, with a large percentage of the rainfall typically occurring during three or four major winter storms. Winters are cool, and belowfreezing temperatures occasionally occur. Summers are warm and the frost free season is fairly long. Average annual precipitation in the Santa Rosa area is inches. Prevailing winds are from the west and southwest. Water use within the City s service area is dependent on various climate factors such as temperature, precipitation, and evapotranspiration (ET). Climate data, including temperature and precipitation estimates, were obtained from the Western Regional Climate Center for Santa Rosa, California. The period of record was June 6, 1902 to January 31, ET describes the combined water lost through evaporation from the soil and surface-water bodies and plant transpiration. In general, the Reference Evapotranspiration (ETo) is given for turf grass, and then corrected for a specific crop type. Local ETo data was obtained from the California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) Station 83 (Santa Rosa). Table 3-1 includes monthly average reference evapotranspiration (ETo) rates, rainfall, and temperatures for the City of Santa Rosa. These climate characteristics affect water management within the City s service area. Table 3-1: Monthly Average Climate Data Summary Month Standard Monthly Average ETo, inches (a) Average Total Rainfall, inches (b) Average Temperature, degrees Fahrenheit (b) Max Min January February March April May June July August September October November December Totals (a) Source: California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) data for Santa Rosa station 83 (downloaded January 22, 2015) (b) Source: Western Regional Climate Center ( data for Santa Rosa station (period of record: June 1, 1902 to January 31, 2013) Climate Change There are no specific requirements in the UMWP Act or the Water Conservation Act of 2009 that require UWMPs to address climate change. However, within the next 20 years, DWR expects that climate change will impact water demand, water supply and quality, sea level, and the occurrence and severity of natural disasters in the following ways: 3-8

38 Water Demand: Hotter days and nights, as well as a longer irrigation season, will increase landscaping and irrigation water needs, and power plants and industrial processes will have increased cooling water needs. Peak water demands may also be impacted. Water Supply and Quality: Reduced snowpack, shifting spring runoff to earlier in the year, more extreme weather events (including more intense rainfall over shorter periods making it harder to capture and store these supplies, and hotter, longer drought periods), increased potential for algal blooms, and increased potential for seawater intrusion each has the potential to impact water supply, supply reliability and water quality. Sea Level Rise: It is expected that sea level will continue to rise, resulting in near shore ocean changes such as stronger storm surges, more forceful wave energy, and more extreme tides. This will also affect levee stability in low lying areas and increase flooding. Natural Disaster: Natural disasters are expected to become more frequent as climate change brings increased climate variability, resulting in more extreme droughts and floods. This will challenge water supplier operations in several ways as wildfires are expected to become larger and hotter, droughts will become deeper and longer, and floods can become larger and more frequent. Responding to climate change generally takes two forms: mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation is taking steps to reduce the contribution to the causes of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Adaptation is the process of responding to the effects of climate change by modifying systems and behaviors to function in a warmer climate. In the water sector, climate change mitigation is generally achieved by reducing energy use, becoming more efficient with energy use, and/or substituting fossil fuel based energy sources for renewable energy sources. Because water requires energy to move, treat, use, and discharge, water conservation results in energy conservation. As each water supplier implements water conservation Demand Management Measures/Best Management Practices and determines its water conservation targets, it can calculate the conserved energy and the GHGs not emitted as a side benefit. Also, a water supplier can adapt to climate change through the diversification of its water supply portfolio, increased conjunctive use, and introduction or expansion of recycled water use. High Strength Waste Facility at Laguna Treatment Plant is used for energy production for the operation of the Plant. A discussion of potential impacts of climate change to water supply and demand is provided in Section 4.6. Additional discussion of potential impacts of climate change to water supply is provided in Section

39 3.4 Service Area Population and Demographics Estimates of the City s population are derived from United States Census Bureau data. The California Department of Finance (CDoF) uses an analysis of 2010 census data to update City population estimates for Because the City s water service area boundary is the same as the City limits, CDoF population data for the City of Santa Rosa are used as the service area population. Service area population is used to determine per capita water use (Chapter 5). The CDoF estimates the City s 2015 population to be 173,071 residents. Current and projected service area population is summarized in Table 3-2. Projected service area population comes from the City s 2035 General Plan and provides population projections for the City s ultimate Urban Growth Boundary, which includes areas outside of the City s current distribution system. The City s ultimate service area is equivalent to the City s Urban Growth Boundary, and therefore, the City s distribution system will serve the Urban Growth Boundary at some point in the future; however, as noted in the City s 2035 General Plan, it is not possible to predict the specific location or distribution of growth. Market trends and/or environmental constraints will direct this growth over time. Population Served Table 3-2: Population - Current and Projected (DWR Table 3-1) (opt) 173, , , , , ,000 NOTES: 2015 value from Dept of Finance through 2035 (buildout) from 2035 General Plan. The City s water service area population is primarily full-time residents. 3-10

40 CHAPTER 4 SYSTEM WATER USE This chapter describes and quantifies the City s historical, current and projected water uses to the extent that records are available. The terms water use and water demand are used interchangeably and refer to water conveyed by a distribution system and used by the City and its customers for any purpose. A detailed demand analysis was completed by Maddaus Water Management, which was the same firm that performed water use analysis for the 2005 and 2010 UWMPs for the City of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County Water Agency. The analysis is included in Appendix E and summarized below. 4.2 WATER USES BY SECTOR This section describes the water use sectors, the historical water uses, the current water uses, and the projected water uses through RECYCLED VERSUS POTABLE AND RAW WATER DEMAND Where applicable, this 2015 UWMP separately identifies recycled, potable, and raw water demands. Recycled water is municipal wastewater that has been treated to a specified quality to enable it to be used again. Potable water is water that is safe to drink and which typically has had various levels of treatment and disinfection. Raw water is untreated water that is used in its natural state or with minimal treatment. The City does not deliver raw water to any customers in its service area. Recycled and potable water demands are discussed below OVERVIEW This section describes the City s water use by customer type, or sector, through the year The City delivers water to the following sectors: single-family, multi-family, commercial, industrial, institutional, and landscape irrigation customers. The City does not have any agricultural customers. The remaining demand is captured in the distribution system loss sector. As of this 2015 UWMP, the City uses the same definitions for each sector as outlined in the DWR 2015 Guidebook: Single-family residential A single-family dwelling unit. A parcel with a free-standing building containing one dwelling unit that may include a detached secondary dwelling. Also includes domestic fire accounts. Multi-family Multiple dwelling units contained within one building or several buildings within one complex. Commercial A water user that provides or distributes a product or service. CWC (d). 4-1

41 Industrial A water user that is primarily a manufacturer or processor of materials as defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code sectors 31 to 33, inclusive, or an entity that is a water user primarily engaged in research and development. CWC (h) Institutional (and governmental) A water user dedicated to public service. This type of user includes, among other users, higher education institutions, schools, courts, churches, hospitals, government facilities, and nonprofit research institutions. CWC (i). Landscape Water connections supplying water solely for landscape irrigation. Such landscapes may be associated with multi-family, commercial, industrial, or institutional/governmental sites, but are considered a separate water use sector if the connection is solely for landscape irrigation. Distribution System Losses Distribution system water losses (also known as real losses ) are the physical water losses from the water distribution system and the supplier s storage facilities, up to the point of customer consumption. Other Other customers include Fireline (dedicated commercial service line that provides water for a private fire sprinkler system), Construction (permitted water user that purchases water primarily for construction projects, filling swimming pools or other approved uses), and Yard Meter (connection dedicated for the purchase of water for dust control, construction or other approved use. Yard Meter water is available at the City s Utilities Facilities Operation Yard). Note: the City does not provide sales of water to other agencies, nor for saline water intrusion barriers, groundwater recharge, conjunctive use nor for agricultural customers HISTORICAL WATER USE The City s historical water deliveries for 2005 and 2010 are summarized in the following table. Lasting effects of drought, water shortage and economic recession, as well as a cool summer, significantly affected the City s 2010 water use and therefore, the City does not consider 2010 water use to be representative of normal water use characteristics for the City. Table 4-1: Historical Deliveries by Water Use Sector, AF/yr Water Use Sector Single-Family 12,420 9,860 Multi-Family 3,345 3,204 Commercial 2,136 Industrial 356 Institutional/Governmental 221 Landscape 2,553 1,608 Agriculture (a) Other (b) 3,456 Total 21,774 17,385 (a) (b) 4-2 The City does not have any agricultural customers. In 2005, the City Commercial, Industrial and Institutional customers were all included in the same customer category.

42 WATER USES As of December 2015, the City serves approximately 53,193 water customers. Of those customers, 89% serve residential land uses while approximately 5% serve commercial land uses. The City s water customers are segregated into the following large customer classes: single family residential, multi family residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and irrigation. The City does not provide any water for agricultural purposes. The numbers of accounts in each customer category currently served by the City are shown in Table 4-2. Table 4-2: 2015 Water Customers Number of Customer Class Customers in % of Total 2015 Single-family Residential 44, % Multi-Family Residential 3, % Commercial 2, % Industrial % Institutional % Landscape Irrigation 1, % Other (Fireline) 1, % Other (Construction) % Other (Yard Meter) % Agricultural Irrigation 0 0% Total 53, % Actual water demand for the year 2015 is reported in Table 4-3. As shown, all water deliveries were treated to a level of drinking water. The City did not supply wholesale water in The total water production for 2015 was 16,539 acre-feet (AF). Table 4-3: Demands for Potable and Raw Water Actual (DWR Table 4-1) Use Type Additional Description (as needed) 2015 Actual Level of Treatment When Delivered Volume Single Family Drinking Water 8,186 Multi-Family Drinking Water 2,910 Commercial Drinking Water 2,161 Industrial Drinking Water 251 Institutional/ Governmental Drinking Water 346 Landscape Drinking Water 1,593 Other Fire Line Drinking Water 2 Losses Drinking Water 1,090 Total 16, PROJECTED WATER USES THROUGH 2040 Projected water demands by sector in five-year increments through the year 2040 are reported in Table 4-4. Projected water use is summarized from the Water Demand Analysis 1 (Appendix E). The City will use the same sectors and definitions through the year 2040 as outlined in the DWR 2015 Guidebook and above. As described in Appendix E, the water demand analysis began with a water demand projection through 2040 that used the historical water use, population and employment projections, and plumbing code information. Following the water demand projection, an analysis of the potential impact of up to 25 selected water conservation measures was applied. 1 City of Santa Rosa 2015 Urban Water Management Plan Water Demand Analysis and Water Conservation Measures Update, Final, Maddaus Water Management June 30,

43 The water demand projections include new local ordinances, the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, the National Plumbing Code, State Building Code (CALGreen), and State Plumbing Code (Assembly Bill 715 and Senate Bill 407). The selected water conservation measures all had a benefit-to-cost ratio of greater than 1. A detailed description of the methodology used to project water demand is included in Appendix E. The water demand projections shown in Table 4-4 include the plumbing code changes, but do not include the impacts of the twenty-five potential water conservation measures (Program B). Table 4-4: Demands for Potable and Raw Water - Projected (DWR Table 4-2) Use Type Additional Description (as needed) Projected Water Use Report To the Extent that Records are Available Single Family 12,870 13,794 14,552 15,355 15,215 Multi-Family 3,562 3,702 3,800 3,932 3,854 Other Commercial, Industrial, 3,477 3,614 3,752 3,890 4,029 Institutional Landscape 2,291 2,414 2,537 2,659 2,782 Losses 1,949 2,066 2,165 2,267 2,260 TOTAL 24,149 25,590 26,806 28,103 28,140 Source: City of Santa Rosa 2015 Urban Water Management Plan Water Demand Analysis and Water Conservation Measures Update, Maddaus Water Management, June 30, opt The City currently meets some of its demand using recycled water and may increase recycled water delivery in the future on an as-needed basis and if funding becomes available. Total existing and projected water demands (potable plus recycled) are shown in Table 4-5. Current and projected recycled water demand is discussed in Section 6.5. Table 4-5: Total Water Demands (DWR Table 4-3) (opt) Potable and Raw Water Tables 4-1 and 4-2 Recycled Water Demand* Table 6-4 From From 16,539 24,149 25,590 26,806 28,103 28, TOTAL WATER DEMAND 16,679 24,289 25,730 26,946 28,243 28,280 Note: Table references refer to DWR table numbers. See Table ES-4 for location of tables. 4-4

44 4.3 DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WATER LOSSES This section describes the City s distribution system water losses for the most recent 12-month period available. Distribution system water losses are losses from the water distribution system and the City s storage facilities up to the point of customer consumption. Water losses are calculated using the AWWA Water Audit Method (Appendix F). The most recent 12-month period began on January 1, As shown in Table 4-6, the City lost 1,090 AF in A detailed analysis of the 2015 water losses are included in Appendix F. Projected distribution system losses in five-year increments for the years , as documented in the Water Demand Analysis (Appendix E), are listed in Table 3-7 of that document. Table 4-6: 12 Month Water Loss Audit Reporting (DWR Table 4-4) Reporting Period Start Date (mm/yyyy) Volume of Water Loss* 01/2015 1,090 * Taken from the field "Water Losses" (a combination of apparent losses and real losses) from the AWWA worksheet. 4.4 ESTIMATING FUTURE WATER SAVINGS The City has included an estimation of future water savings in its 2015 UWMP. Both passive and active water savings were calculated in the Water Demand Analysis. This section includes a summary of estimated water savings from passive savings such as codes, standards, ordinances and transportation and land use plans. Though future job and population growth would be expected to increase water demand, passive savings are projected to decrease per capita water use for future customers compared to historical customers. In accordance with the National Plumbing Code, the City requires that only fixtures meeting high efficiency standards be installed in new buildings (Appendix A of the Water Demand Analysis). Senate Bill 407 requires high efficiency standards to apply to all new and replacement residential construction as of 2017 and to new and replacement commercial construction as of Passive water savings from these and other codes are incorporated in the Water Demand Analysis. In addition to the Plumbing Code, the City plans to implement a suite of cost-effective conservation programs, known as Program B in the Water Demand Analysis. In 2015, the City s water demand was reduced by an estimated 231 AF due to passive savings (not including a substantial reduction compared to 2013 water use due to implementation of short-term water shortage demand reduction measures). Current and projected water savings in five-year increments for the years are summarized in the following table. As shown in Table 4-7, passive water savings and active conservation program savings (Program B) are expected to increase over the planning horizon of this UWMP. 4-5

45 Table 4-7: Water Demand Program Savings Projections (AF/yr) Plumbing Code Only (passive) ,465 2,042 2,336 Program B with Plumbing Code 231 1,706 2,558 3,333 4,026 4, WATER USE FOR LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS This section includes a discussion of projected water use for low income households in the City s service area. As shown in Table 4-8 the City has included estimation of water demand for low income housing in its 2015 UWMP. Table 4-8 Retail Only: Inclusion in Water Use Projections (DWR Table 4-5) Are Future Water Savings Included in Projections? (Refer to Appendix K of UWMP Guidebook) Yes If "Yes" to above, state the section or page number, in the cell to the right, where citations of the codes, ordinances, etc utilized in demand projections are found. Location in UWMP: Section 4.4 Are Lower Income Residential Demands Included In Projections? Yes The City does not have the ability to track water use by housing type by income and can only roughly estimate the amount of projected water use for low-income units based on assumptions regarding the amount of low-income housing that currently exists in the City. Per the City s 2035 General Plan Housing Element, the City s most current information on affordable housing units, which consists of very low-income and low-income housing units, is from In 2010, the City had a total of 27,200 low and very low income households, out of a total of 62,565 households 2, or approximately 43.5 percent. The City projects that there will be 96,295 total housing units by Assuming lower income households continue to represent 43.5 percent of all households, 41,888 households will be low-income and very lowincome in Projected water use by sector is summarized from the Water Demand Analysis. The Water Demand Analysis approximated water demand (including the Plumbing Code and excluding loss) by sector for fiveyear increments for the years (see Tables 4-3 and 4-4). The water demand of lower income households collectively is assumed to be 43.5 percent of the water demand for all single family and multifamily water use types through the planning horizon of this UWMP. 2 City of Santa Rosa 2035 General Plan Housing Element. 4-6

46 4.6 CLIMATE CHANGE The DWR 2015 Guidebook suggests that urban water suppliers consider the potential effects related to climate change in their 2015 UWMPs, though it should be noted that there are currently no specific requirements related to addressing the potential impacts of climate change. This section includes a discussion of potential climate change impacts on the City s water supply and demand, as well as the City s response to those impacts CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND Climate change impacts in Sonoma County will affect the City s water supply and demand in numerous ways. According to Climate Ready Sonoma County: Climate Hazards and Vulnerabilities, a report prepared by North Bay Climate Adaptation Initiative for the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority, 3 climate change is anticipated to affect Sonoma County in the following ways: Higher average temperatures and more extreme heat events. Sonoma County will experience more very hot days and overall higher temperatures over a longer warm season. This could create a longer irrigation season, increase landscaping and irrigation water needs, increase the soil moisture deficit, and reduce groundwater recharge. Industrial processes will have increased cooling water needs, and peak water demands Take It From the Tap! Hydration Station In March of 2015 Santa Rosa Water added a mobile Hydration Station to Santa Rosa s Take It From the Tap! (Tap!) program which was created to engage our community in a conversation about where our water comes from, water quality, and the environmental, economic and health benefits of drinking tap water, as opposed to bottled water. Santa Rosa Water s Hydration Station is the first of its kind in Sonoma County to provide clean and refreshing tap water on-the-go. The 21-ft. long blue and white water truck, branded with the words Hydration Station, can transport 200 gallons of Santa Rosa tap water or can be connected directly to our municipal water supply to meet additional drinking water demands. The Hydration Station has ten water taps, five on each side, to make water dispensing easy and accessible. The Hydration Station also includes a builtin canopy for shade and cooling system to ensure water on tap is always cold and refreshing at local community events. The new truck will attend City sponsored events and visit Santa Rosa schools. Take it From the TAP! program staff will use these valuable educational opportunities to address water quality and provide tools, such as reusable water bottles, to encourage our community to choose tap water first. The Hydration Station will also join Santa Rosa s emergency water supply fleet, which provides water in the event of an emergency or major disaster. 3 North Bay Climate Adaptation Initiative, Climate Ready Sonoma County: Climate Hazards and Vulnerabilities. Prepared for Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority, December

47 4-8 may be impacted. Water quality may be impaired due to reduced baseflows. More frequent and intense droughts. Whether the North Bay region experiences more or less rainfall overall, the land will likely be drier overall because warmer temperatures increase evapotranspiration (the loss of water from plants and soil into the air). This will result in reduced water availability and quality, failing wells, drying reservoirs, less water available for hydropower or geothermal energy production, and increased subsidence in groundwater basins. More variable rain. Sonoma County will continue to have some years with precipitation similar to historic averages interspersed with more extreme conditions. Whether the North Bay region experiences more or less total rainfall, the land will likely be drier overall because warmer temperatures increase evapotranspiration. More intense rainfall over shorter periods makes it harder to capture and store water supplies. Greater risk of extreme floods. Sonoma County will see increased seasonal variability of precipitation, runoff, and stream flows, along with increased likelihood of extreme precipitation and drought events that were rare or unprecedented in the historic past. Floodwater may contaminate water quality in surface and drinking water, and it will be difficult to capture sufficient water (in reservoirs or groundwater) during a compressed rainy season to supply an extended dry season. More frequent and intense wildfires. Risk of fire is likely to continue to rise due to increased dryness of vegetation, compounded by productivity of plants in the spring (which creates more fuel for dry season wildfires). Water impacts could include the need for water to suppress fires, and loss of infrastructure. Sea level rise. More frequent coastal flooding, increased erosion, and saltwater intrusion all have the potential to impact regional water supplies, supply reliability, and water quality CITY RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON WATER Responding to climate change generally takes two forms: mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation is taking steps to reduce contributions to the causes of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Adaptation is the process of responding to the effects of climate change by modifying systems and behaviors to function in a warmer climate. The City has implemented a suite of plans, programs, and projects pertaining to both. The City s mitigation and adaptation efforts have been consistently funded through its regular budgeting process for comprehensive asset management and capital improvement projects MITIGATION The City has established municipal and community wide GHG reduction targets to help mitigate climate change. Specifically, City Council adopted GHG reduction targets in 2005 that are more aggressive than the State of California s target. To ensure local and state targets are met, Council adopted a Community-wide Climate Action Plan (2012) and a Municipal Climate Action Plan (2013). Both plans were developed with input

48 from the City s water department (Santa Rosa Water or SRW) staff, and include GHG inventories of wastewater and water operations, as well as strategies for reducing GHGs from those operations. The City is achieving water-related climate change mitigation by reducing energy use, replacing fossil fuel based energy sources with renewable energy sources, and implementing aggressive water efficiency and conservation programs that reduce energy associated with the movement, treatment, use, and discharge of water. As one of the largest energy consumers in the region, SRW has actively pursued energy efficiencies as part of its long-standing commitment to energy management and sustainability. Based on studies conducted by outside entities, SRW is at the top-tier nationally in its energy performance and practices. In addition to implementing energy efficiency measures such as upgrades to pumps, lights, buildings, and facilities, SRW has completed comprehensive energy and process efficiency audits for City water facilities. SRW has established a goal of identifying the most costeffective project portfolio for achieving 50% energy independence and meeting or exceeding the City s GHG reduction target of 20% below 2000 levels by To achieve this goal, SRW is preparing Energy Optimization Plans for all operations (water production and delivery, sewer collection and treatment, and water recycling), which will result in implementation of a diverse group of projects that enhance energy efficiency, reduce energy demand, increase renewable energy generation, and improve energy management. In addition, SRW is implementing a five-year strategic plan to help move toward its goal of energy independence, which includes further reducing dependence on fossil fuels and outside power providers (like PG&E). SRW currently meets about 20% of its electricity demand via generating its own energy. At its Laguna Wastewater Treatment Plant (LTP), the City uses 100% of the digester gas produced to generate about 7.8 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year using combined heat and power engines (13% of SRW demand). SRW has also installed solar voltaic arrays on various sites to generate 650,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, which are used to power lighting, pumps, and equipment in its facilities (1% of demand). SRW is in the process of completing a comprehensive solar photovoltaic investigation to prioritize future installations. As described in more detail in Chapter 9, Demand Management Measures, the City has been and continues to be a leader in implementing innovative water conservation programs that reduce potable water demand and ensure that future water use is efficient. Programs are provided for Single-Family Residential, Multi- Family Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Institutional customers. As a result of these efforts, per capita water use in the City decreased 40% between 2000 and 2015, and the City has achieved substantial sustained water savings via: 50,000 toilets upgraded 3 million square feet of high water use landscapes replaced 5,000 indoor and/or outdoor water use surveys between 2011 and million pounds of GHG reduction in SRW s operations (pumping, treatment, etc.) 12 million pounds of customer GHG reduction due to high efficiency plumbing fixtures Successful drought and water shortage response ADAPTATION The City s climate adaptation actions have increased its climate change resilience. The City has implemented regional groundwater 4-9

49 management planning, local emergency ground water infrastructure improvements, drought management planning and implementation, water use efficiency programs, recycled water use for urban and agricultural irrigation and clean energy generation at the Geysers steam fields, the expansion of overflow/wet-weather capacity at its wastewater treatment plant, and storm water and creek enhancements to ensure flood capacity, species buffer zones and natural corridors for biodiversity. The City is also adapting to the impacts of climate change by incorporating climate change into its water supply planning activities, including developing strategies to meet immediate, nearterm and long-term water supply needs. The City is studying localized climate change projections to assess the City s vulnerabilities and identify strategies to cost-effectively ensure SRW is a climate ready water utility. 4-10

50 CHAPTER 5 SB X7-7 BASELINES AND TARGETS In November 2009, Senate Bill X7-7 (SB X7-7), The Water Conservation Act of 2009, was signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as part of a comprehensive water legislation package. The Water Conservation Act addresses both urban and agricultural water conservation. The legislation sets a goal of achieving a 20 percent statewide reduction in urban per capita water use by the year 2020 (i.e., 20 by 2020 ), and directs urban retail water suppliers to establish an interim per capita water use target to be met by 2015 and a final per capita water use target to be met by The City s compliance with SB X7-7 was first addressed in the City s 2010 UWMP. The City s baseline per capita water use was determined, and urban water use targets for 2015 and 2020 were established and adopted. SB X7-7 included a provision that an urban water supplier may update its 2020 urban water use target in its 2015 UWMP, and may use a different target method than was used in Also, the SB X7-7 methodologies developed by DWR in 2011 noted that water suppliers may revise population estimates for baseline years when the 2010 Census information became available (as described below, the 2010 Census data were not finalized until 2012). The DWR 2015 Guidebook indicates that there were significant discrepancies between the California Department of Finance (CDoF) estimated 2010 population (based on 2000 U.S. Census data) and the actual 2010 population (based on 2010 U.S. Census data). Therefore, if a water supplier did not use 2010 Census data for their baseline population calculations in the 2010 UWMP, DWR has determined that these water suppliers must recalculate their baseline population for the 2015 UWMP using 2000 and 2010 Census data, and baseline and 2015 and 2020 urban water use targets must be modified accordingly. This Chapter provides a review and update of the City s baseline per capita water use, 2015 interim per capita water use target, and 2020 final per capita water use target in accordance with the requirements described in the DWR 2015 Guidebook and based on the 2010 Census population data. The City calculated baselines and targets on an individual reporting basis in accordance with SBx7-7 legislation requirements and Methodologies for Calculating Baseline and Compliance Urban Per Capita Water Use (DWR, 2016). The City has achieved compliance with its 2015 interim target, as discussed below, and is well positioned to achieve its 2020 final target. Regional Alliance baselines and targets are discussed in Section 5.8. A more detailed description of the City s baselines, targets, and compliance is provided in Appendix G, which includes a technical memorandum describing the revisions since 2011, the technical memorandum from the 2010 UWMP, and the SB X7-7 Verification Forms. 5.1 UPDATING CALCULATION FROM 2010 UWMP CWC (g) An urban retail water supplier may update its 2020 urban water use target in its 2015 urban water management plan required pursuant to Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 10610). Methodologies DWR 2016, Methodology 2 Service Area Population Page 25 - Water suppliers may revise population estimates for baseline years between 2000 and 2010 when 2010 census information becomes available. DWR will examine discrepancy between the actual population estimate and DOF s projections for 2010; if significant discrepancies are discovered, DWR may require some or all suppliers to update their baseline population estimates. 5-1

51 DWR 2015 Guidebook, Required Use of 2010 U.S. Census Data page 5-5 if an agency did not use 2010 Census data for their baseline population calculations in the 2010 UWMP DWR has determined that these agencies must recalculate their baseline populations for the 2015 UWMPs using 2000 and 2010 Census data. This may affect the baseline and target GPCD values calculated in the 2010 UWMP, which must be modified accordingly in the 2015 UWMP. Population data from the 2010 United States Census were not made available until 2012, after the City submitted its 2010 UWMP. Therefore, the City updated population, baselines, and targets for this 2015 UWMP to reflect 2010 Census data. The following sections describe these updates. 5.2 BASELINE PERIODS SB X7-7 requires each urban water retailer to determine their baseline daily per capita water use, measured in gallons per capita per day (Baseline GPCD), over a 10-year or 15-year baseline period. The 10-year baseline period is defined as a continuous 10 year period ending no earlier than December 31, 2004 and no later than December 31, SB X7-7 also defines that for those urban water retailers that met at least 10 percent of their 2008 water demand using recycled water, the urban water retailer can extend the Baseline GPCD calculation for a maximum of a continuous 15 year baseline period, ending no earlier than December 31, 2004 and no later than December 31, In 2008, the City delivered 189 acre-feet (af) of recycled water, which was approximately 1 percent of the City s total retail water delivery in Therefore, the City s Baseline GPCD has been calculated over a 10 year period. The 10-year baseline period that the City has selected is 1995 through 2004 (see Appendix G). This is the same 10-year baseline period reported in the City s 2010 UWMP. 5-2 SB X7-7 also requires each urban water retailer to determine a 5 year baseline per capita water demand, which DWR calls the Target Confirmation, calculated over a continuous 5 year period ending no earlier than December 31, 2007 and no later than December 31, The City s 5 year Target Confirmation is calculated for the period 2003 through 2007 (see Appendix G). This is the same 5- year period reported in the City s 2010 UWMP. 5.3 SERVICE AREA POPULATION DWR 2015 Guidebook, Required Use of 2010 U.S. Census Data page 5-5 if an agency did not use 2010 Census data for their baseline population calculations in the 2010 UWMP DWR has determined that these agencies must recalculate their baseline populations for the 2015 UWMPs using 2000 and 2010 Census data. This may affect the baseline and target GPCD values calculated in the 2010 UWMP, which must be modified accordingly in the 2015 UWMP. This section includes a discussion of the City s service area population including 2000 and 2010 U.S. Census data. Population reported in the City s 2010 UWMP did not include 2010 U.S. Census data because the full Census data set was not available until The CDoF uses U.S. Census data, combined with changes to the housing stock, estimated occupancy of housing units, and the number of persons per household to estimate annual population within jurisdictional boundaries. Because the City s current water service area is the same as the City limits, CDoF population data for the City of Santa Rosa is valid for use as the service area population. CDoF updated the estimated population from 2001 through 2010 following an analysis of 2010 Census data. Historical service area population during the 10-year and 5-year baseline periods are shown in Appendix G, including a comparison to the population estimates used in the 2010 UWMP. The

52 revised population estimates were consistently greater than the previous population estimates. In 2001, the difference in the two estimates was 724 persons (approximately 0.5 percent), and by 2010, the difference was 4,379 persons (approximately 2.7 percent). 5.4 GROSS WATER USE Annual gross water use is the water that enters the City s distribution system over a 12-month period (calendar year) with certain exclusions. This section discusses the City s annual gross water use for each year in the baseline periods, as well as 2015, in accordance with Methodology 1: Gross Water of DWR s Methodologies document. CWC (g) Gross Water Use means the total volume of water, whether treated or untreated, entering the distribution system of an urban retail water supplier, excluding all of the following: (1) Recycled water that is delivered within the service area of an urban retail water supplier or its urban wholesale water supplier (2) The net volume of water that the urban retail water supplier places into long term storage (3) The volume of water the urban retail water supplier conveys for use by another urban water supplier (4) The volume of water delivered for agricultural use, except as otherwise provided in subdivision (f) of Section California Code of Regulations Title 23 Division 2 Chapter 5.1 Article Section 596 (a) An urban retail water supplier that has a substantial percentage of industrial water use in its service area is eligible to exclude the process water use of existing industrial water customers from the calculation of its gross water use to avoid a disproportionate burden on another customer sector Annual gross water use for the baseline periods and 2015 are summarized in Appendix G. The values reported in Appendix G are the same as documented in the City s 2010 UWMP, except that an incorrect value for the 2002 gross water use has been corrected in this 2015 UWMP. 5.5 BASELINE DAILY PER CAPITA WATER USE As indicated above, daily per capita water use is reported in gallons per capita per day (gpcd). Annual gross water use is divided by annual service area population to calculate the annual per capita water use for each year in the baseline periods. As discussed above, the City has used updated gross water use and population data in this 2015 UWMP. As shown in Appendix G, the City s 10-year base daily per capita water use is 145 gpcd. This value is one (1) gpcd greater than the value calculated in the 2010 UWMP. The City s 5-year base daily per capita water use is 133 gpcd. This value is one (1) gpcd less than the value calculated in the 2010 UWMP AND 2020 TARGETS SB X7-7 requires a state-wide average 20 percent reduction of urban per capita water use by the year Therefore, the City must set an interim (2015) water use target and a final (2020) water use target using one of four methods defined by SB X7-7 and DWR. Three of these methods are defined in Water Code Section (a)(1), and the fourth method was developed by DWR. The 2020 water use target is calculated using one of the following four methods: Method 1: 80 percent of the City s base daily per capita water use Method 2: Per capita daily water use estimated using the sum of performance standards applied to indoor residential use; landscaped area water use; and commercial, industrial, and institutional uses. 5-3

53 Method 3: 95 percent of the applicable State hydrologic region target as stated in the State s x2020 Water Conservation Plan Method 4: An approach that considers the water conservation potential from (1) indoor residential savings, (2) metering savings, (3) commercial, industrial and institutional savings, and (4) landscape and water loss savings. The 2015 interim targets for each of the target methods are calculated based on the midpoint of the City s 10-year Base Daily Per Capita Water Use and the 2020 targets calculated for each of the respective target methods. The interim and final targets are summarized in Table 5-1. A detailed analysis of the four methods is included in Appendix G. Table 5-1: Baselines and Targets Summary (DWR Table 5-1) Baseline Period Start Year End Year Average Baseline GPCD* 2015 Interim Target * Confirmed 2020 Target* year Year *All values are in Gallons per Capita per Day (GPCD) Urban water suppliers must verify that their 2020 final water use targets are at least a 5 percent reduction from the 5-year baseline gpcd. As shown in Appendix G, the City s minimum water use reduction for the 2020 final target is 126 gpcd. As discussed in Appendix G, Target Method 3 was chosen by the City and results in an SB X7-7 final (2020) target of 130 gpcd. However, the minimum water use reduction requirement based on the 5-year Target Confirmation calculation (126 gpcd by 2020) is lower than the Method 3 target. Therefore the City must adopt an SB X7-7 per capita water use 2020 final target of 126 gpcd. The interim 2015 target is the midpoint between the City s 10-Year Base Daily Per Capita Water Use (145 gpcd) and the final 2020 target (126 gpcd). Therefore, the City s interim 2015 target is 136 gpcd. For this 2015 UWMP, the City has selected the same target method as was used in the 2010 UWMP (Method 3 with the required minimum reduction target). The City understands that this target method may not be changed in any amendments to the 2015 UWMP or 2020 UWMP COMPLIANCE DAILY PER CAPITA WATER USE (GPCD) The City has calculated its actual 2015 water use for the 2015 calendar year in accordance with Methodology 4 of DWR s Methodologies document. As shown in Table 5-2, urban per capita water use in 2015 was 85 gpcd, which is well below the 2015 interim water use target of 136 gpcd. Therefore, the City 5-4

54 has met its individual interim 2015 water use target. The complete set of SB X7-7 verification tables used to document this compliance is included in Appendix G. Actual 2015 GPCD* 2015 Interim Target GPCD* Table 5-2: 2015 Compliance (DWR Table 5-2) Optional Adjustments to 2015 GPCD From Methodology 8 Extraordinary Events* Economic Adjustment* Weather Normalization* TOTAL Adjustments* Adjusted 2015 GPCD* 2015 GPCD* (Adjusted if applicable) Did Supplier Achieve Targeted Reduction for 2015? Y/N Yes *All values are in Gallons per Capita per Day (GPCD) As detailed in DWR s Methodologies document, there are allowable adjustments that can be made to an agency s gross water use in 2015 for unusual weather, land use changes, or extraordinary institutional water use. The City has elected not to make the adjustments allowed by Water Code section because these exceptions are not needed to demonstrate compliance with SB X REGIONAL ALLIANCE In 2011, a regional alliance was formed between the cities of Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Sonoma, Cotati, and Petaluma, Town of Windsor, and North Marin, Marin Municipal and Valley of the Moon Water Districts. The Regional Alliance has been formed pursuant to the Department of Water Resources Methodologies for Calculating Baseline and Compliance Urban Per Capita Water Use because the parties receive water from a common water wholesale supplier, the Sonoma County Water Agency. A Regional Alliance Report is submitted annually, and regional compliance with SB X7-7 for years 2015 and 2020 is provided in this section. The Regional Alliance Agreement was included in the 2010 UWMP as Appendix E, and is included in the 2015 UWMP as Appendix H. As part of the Regional Alliance, the City is complying with the requirements of SBx7-7 on a regional basis. If compliance on a regional basis was unsuccessful, then the City would demonstrate compliance on an individual basis. Regional Alliance targets were updated from the 2010 UWMP since revised population data (2010 Census) was made available after the 2010 UWMP was completed. Table 5-3 provides the weighted baseline data which incorporates updated population statistics and baseline gallon per capita metrics for both individual agencies as well as the Regional Alliance. 5-5

55 Participating Member Agency Name Table 5-3: SB X7-7 RA1 - Weighted Baseline year Baseline GPCD* Average Population During Year Baseline Period (Baseline GPCD) X (Population) Regional Alliance Weighted Average Year Baseline GPCD City of Cotati 159 6,559 1,043,146 Marin Municipal Water District ,670 26,690,318 North Marin Water District ,061 9,370,435 City of Petaluma ,622 9,491,997 City of Rohnert Park ,811 6,582,847 City of Santa Rosa ,109 20,806,963 City of Sonoma 225 9,679 2,173,212 Valley of the Moon Water District ,969 3,058,648 Town of Windsor ,572 3,834,809 Regional Alliance Total 1, ,051 83,052, *All participating agencies must submit individual SB X7-7 Tables, as applicable, showing the individual agency's calculations. These tables are: SB X7-7 Tables 0 through 6, Table 7, any required supporting tables (as stated in SB X7-7 Table 7), and SB X7-7 Table 9, as applicable. These individual agency tables will be submitted with the individual or Regional Urban Water Management Plan. Table 5-4 calculates the weighted 2020 target for the individual agencies and the Regional Alliance. Participating Member Agency Name Table 5-4: SB X7-7 RA1 - Weighted 2020 Target 2020 Target GPCD* 2015 Population (Target) X (Population) Regional Alliance Weighted Average 2020 Target City of Cotati 130 7, ,440 Marin Municipal Water District ,000 23,436,000 North Marin Water District ,381 8,531,959 City of Petaluma ,798 8,713,518 City of Rohnert Park ,675 4,959,325 City of Santa Rosa ,071 21,806,946 City of Sonoma ,147 2,006,460 Valley of the Moon Water District ,478 2,911,272 Town of Windsor ,486 3,573,180 Regional Alliance Total 1, ,324 76,886, *All participating agencies must submit individual SB X7-7 Tables, as applicable, showing the individual agency's calculations. These tables are: SB X7-7 Tables 0 through 6, Table 7, any required supporting tables (as stated in SB X7-7 Table 7), and SB X7-7 Table 9, as applicable. These individual agency tables will be submitted with the individual or Regional Urban Water Management Plan. Table 5-5 provides the Regional Alliance 2015 interim target. The interim 2015 target was slightly adjusted from 142 gpcd to 143 gpcd based on updated census information not available during the 2010 Urban Water Management planning process. The 2020 target remains unchanged at 129 gpcd. 5-6

56 Table 5-5: SB X7-7 RA Target Weighted Average year Baseline GPCD Weighted Average 2020 Target Regional Alliance 2015 Interim Target Table 5-6 calculates the 2015 actual gallon per capita day metrics for each of the individual agencies as well as the Regional Alliance. Participating Member Agency Name Table 5-6: SB X7-7 RA GPCD (Actual) 2015 Actual GPCD Population (2015 GPCD) X (2015 Population) Regional Alliance 2015 GPCD (Actual) City of Cotati 93 7, ,016 Marin Municipal Water District ,000 20,715,583 North Marin Water District ,381 6,461,073 City of Petaluma ,798 6,823,500 City of Rohnert Park 91 41,675 3,775,789 City of Santa Rosa ,071 14,765,037 City of Sonoma ,147 1,573,338 Valley of the Moon Water District 90 23,478 2,117,236 Town of Windsor 99 27,486 2,720,608 Regional Alliance Totals ,324 59,631, * All participating agencies must submit individual SB X7-7 Tables, as applicable, showing the individual agency's calculations. These tables are: SB X7-7 Tables 0 through 6, Table 7, any required supporting tables (as stated in SB X7-7 Table 7), and SB X7-7 Table 9, as applicable. These individual agency tables will be submitted with the individual or Regional Urban Water Management Plan. As shown in the Regional Alliance Compliance Verification table (Table 5-7), the Regional Alliance has met its interim 2015 SB X7-7 target GPCD (Actual) 2015 Interim Target GPCD Table 5-7: SB X7-7 RA1 - Compliance Verification Economic Adjustment 1 Enter "0" if no adjustment Adjusted 2015 GPCD (if economic adjustment used) Did Alliance Achieve Targeted Reduction for 2015? YES 1 Adjustments for economic growth can be applied to either the individual supplier's data or to the aggregate regional alliance data (but not both), depending upon availability of suitable data and methods. 5-7

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58 CHAPTER 6 SYSTEM SUPPLIES City water service area for the duration of the planning period of this 2015 UWMP. This section describes the City s water supply portfolio, including surface water supply, groundwater supply, recycled water, and stormwater. This section includes a description of each water source, limitations on each water source, water quality information, and water exchange opportunities. The City has three existing water supplies: entitlement from the Agency, groundwater, and recycled water. The City currently receives the majority of its potable water supply from the Agency under the provisions of the Restructured Agreement for Water Supply (Restructured Agreement), which was executed in June Approximately 95% of water delivered by the Agency is from surface water sources, with the remainder from groundwater. In addition to Agency supply, in July 2005, the City received permission from California DPH (now DDW) to use two of its groundwater wells, formerly permitted as standby emergency wells, for fulltime, active potable water supply. This supply source is permitted for regular production and can provide up to 2,300 AFY to the City. The City is also the owner and operator of the Subregional System, which produces recycled water. The Subregional System has recycled all of its treated wastewater in the past several years, with the vast majority being used for the Geysers Recharge Project. The City has recently used approximately 140 AFY of recycled water for landscape irrigation and is not currently planning to expand the recycled water system within the Place to Play Playground In addition, the City has a very aggressive water conservation program which provides supply through reducing current potable water demand and ensuring that future water use is efficient. The City s water conservation implementation is further described in Chapter 9 and in the Water Demand Analysis (Appendix E). For purposes of this 2015 UWMP, the future water savings resulting from the implementation of future water conservation measures is considered as an additional supply available to the City. 6.1 PURCHASED OR IMPORTED WATER AGENCY WATER SUPPLY This section describes the City s wholesale water supply, which is purchased from the Agency. The City and the Agency water system facilities are described in Chapter 3. The potential constraints to this supply source are described in Chapter

59 6.1.1 OVERVIEW The City receives its primary water supply from the Agency pursuant to the Restructured Agreement. The Agency is authorized to produce and deliver potable water for municipal and industrial purposes; prevent the waste or diminution of water supplies; control and conserve flood and storm waters to reduce potential damage to life and property; provide sanitary sewage services; and provide recreational services in connection with flood control and water conservation activities. The Agency operates under the direction of a Board of Directors that consists of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. The Agency delivers water, on a wholesale basis, to customers through its water transmission system. The primary water customers, collectively known as the water contractors, consist of the cities of Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Cotati, and Sonoma; the Town of Windsor; and the North Marin, and Valley of the Moon Water Districts. The responsibility for supplying water to the water contractors is entrusted to the Agency under the terms of the Restructured Agreement. The Agency also provides water on a wholesale basis to and/or has authorized the exercise of its water rights by additional water purveyors, including but not limited to Marin Municipal Water District; the Forestville Water District; and California- American, Lawndale Mutual, Penngrove, and Kenwood Water Companies. The Agency s primary source of supply is the Russian River. The Agency manages water releases at Coyote Valley Dam, which creates Lake Mendocino on the East Fork of the Russian River, and Warm Springs Dam, which creates Lake Sonoma on Dry Creek (a tributary to the Russian River), to provide water supply and to maintain required minimum flows in the Russian River and Dry Creek. Flood control releases from Coyote Valley Dam and Warm Springs Dam are controlled by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (COE). Flows in the Russian River are augmented by Pacific Gas & Electric Company s (PG&E) Potter Valley Project, which diverts a portion of the Eel River flows to the East Fork of the Russian River. The Agency collects water from the Russian River at two sites, both located near Forestville, through three Ranney collectors at Wohler and three Ranney collectors at Mirabel. The Agency has constructed several infiltration ponds that surround the collectors. An inflatable dam on the Russian River is generally raised during periods of low flow, facilitating diversion of water to infiltration ponds that surround the Mirabel collectors. The backwater created by the inflatable dam also raises the upstream water level, which increases the rate of infiltration to the Wohler collectors. Permanent fish ladders provide fish passage around the inflatable dam when it is raised. The Agency holds appropriative water rights to Russian River and Dry Creek water by virtue of an assignment to the Agency of Sonoma County s portion of the 1949 application to the State of California for the Coyote Valley Dam Project appropriative water rights, and the Agency s 1960 application for the Warm Springs Dam Project appropriative water rights. The combined water supply storage from these two projects exceeds 300,000 AFY. The combined limit on the Agency s annual Russian River diversions under its water rights permits (Permit Nos A, 12949, 12950, and 16596) is currently 75,000 AFY, with a maximum diversion rate of 180 cubic feet per second. 6-2

60 The Agency also has three deep-water wells that provide water supply. They are located near the Laguna de Santa Rosa and feed directly into the Agency s Russian River-Cotati Intertie Pipeline. The Agency estimates the future production capacity of these wells at 2,300 AFY. The Agency is obligated to deliver 29,100 AFY to the City under the Restructured Agreement. 6.2 GROUNDWATER The City is located within the Santa Rosa Plain sub-basin of the Santa Rosa Valley Groundwater Basin, located at the confluence of the Santa Rosa, Bennett, and Rincon Valleys. As indicated in Chapter 1, by the late 1950 s, the City was relying primarily on groundwater from this sub-basin for its water supply, plus a small amount of surface water from Lake Ralphine. In June 1959, the Agency began supplying surface water to the City and other water contractors. By the 1980s and until 2007, the City relied solely on purchased water deliveries from the Agency to meet its water demands. In July 2005, the City received permission from DPH (now DDW) to change the status of two of its groundwater wells, formerly permitted as standby emergency wells, to full-time active status. These wells are now permitted for regular production of up to 2,300 AFY of potable supply, and the City began using them for water supply in Including these two production wells, the City maintains a total of six municipal groundwater wells within the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin. 6-3

61 The City s urban growth boundary overlies portions of two groundwater basins: the Santa Rosa Valley Groundwater Basin (specifically two of its sub-basins: the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin and the Rincon Valley Sub-basin) and the Kenwood Valley Groundwater Basin. Figure 6-1 shows the urban growth boundaries for multiple municipalities in the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin and underlying groundwater basins. Although the City s urban growth boundary overlies portions of the Rincon Valley Sub-basin and the Kenwood Valley Groundwater Basin, the City s groundwater supply is derived exclusively from the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin of the Santa Rosa Valley Groundwater Basin. The City does not currently derive any groundwater supply from the Rincon Valley Sub-basin or the Kenwood Valley Groundwater Basin. Table 6-1 provides an overview of the characteristics of the groundwater basins and sub-basins. Table 6-1: Characteristics of Groundwater Basins/ Sub-basins Underlying City of Santa Rosa Urban Growth Boundary 1 Groundwater Basin Name Sub-basin Name DWR Basin Number Surface Area Santa Rosa Valley Groundwater Basin 2 Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin Rincon Valley Sub-basin ,000 acres (125 square miles) 5,600 acres (9 square miles) Kenwood Valley Groundwater Basin None ,120 acres (8 square miles) 1 Source: Department of Water Resources Bulletin 118, Groundwater Basin Descriptions, updated February 27, Other sub-basins include the Healdsburg Area and Alexander Valley sub-basins, located north of the City of Santa Rosa. However, because the City of Santa Rosa does not overlie any portion of these sub-basins, they are not included here. Although the City s groundwater supply is derived exclusively from the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin of the Santa Rosa Valley Groundwater Basin, since the City s Urban Growth Boundary overlies portions of the Rincon Valley Sub-basin and the Kenwood Valley Groundwater Basin, brief descriptions of the Rincon Valley Sub-basin and the Kenwood Valley Groundwater Basin are provided below. However, the remaining groundwater discussion will be solely on the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin. 6-4

62 Figure 6-1 Santa Rosa Groundwater Basins and Sub-Basins 6-5

63 6.2.1 GROUNDWATER BASIN DESCRIPTION The following groundwater basin descriptions were derived from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Bulletin 118 (last updated in February 2004) 1, with additional information obtained from: Evaluation of Groundwater Resources in Sonoma County Volume 2: Santa Rosa Plain (DWR, 1982) Geologic Map of the Santa Rosa Quadrangle (CGS, 1999) Santa Rosa Valley Groundwater Basin: The Santa Rosa Valley Groundwater Basin is one of the largest groundwater basins in DWR s North Coast Hydrologic Region and occupies a northwesttrending structural depression in the southern part of the Coast Ranges of Northern California in Sonoma County. This depression divides the Mendocino Range on the west from the Mayacamas and Sonoma Mountains on the east. The Santa Rosa Valley Groundwater Basin has three subbasins: the Healdsburg Sub-basin, the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin, and the Rincon Valley Sub-basin. Neither the Santa Rosa Valley Groundwater Basin, nor any of its sub-basins, are adjudicated groundwater basins. The basin and its sub-basins have not been identified as overdrafted basins and are not anticipated to become overdrafted basins. As shown on Figure 6-1, the City overlies a portion of the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin, the Rincon Valley Sub-basin and the Kenwood Valley Basin. The Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin (DWR Groundwater Basin Number ) covers an area of 80,000 acres, or approximately 125 square miles. It is the largest sub-basin of the Santa Rosa Valley Groundwater Basin and is characterized by low relief with an average ground surface elevation of approximately 145 feet above mean sea level. The Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin is approximately 22 miles long and 0.2 miles wide at the northern end; approximately 9 miles wide through the Santa Rosa area; and about 6 miles wide at the south end of the plain near the City of Cotati. The Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin is bounded on the northwest by the Russian River plain approximately one mile south of the City of Healdsburg and the Healdsburg Subbasin. Mountains of the Mendocino Range flank the remaining western boundary. The southern end of the sub-basin is marked by a series of low hills, which form a drainage divide that separates the Santa Rosa Valley from the Petaluma Valley basin south of Cotati. The eastern sub-basin boundary is formed by the Sonoma Mountains south of Santa Rosa and the Mayacamas Mountains north of Santa Rosa. The Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin is drained principally by the Santa Rosa and Mark West Creeks that flow westward into the Laguna de Santa Rosa. The Laguna de Santa Rosa flows northward and discharges into the Russian River. Annual precipitation in the Santa Rosa Plain ranges from approximately 28 inches in the south to about 40 inches in the north. The Rincon Valley Groundwater Sub-basin (DWR Groundwater Basin ) occupies a small north to northwesterly trending structural trough located adjacent to the east side of the Santa Rosa Groundwater Sub-basin. Rincon Valley is approximately seven miles long, and has a width that varies from 0.5 to 2.5 miles. 1 California Department of Water Resources, Bulletin 118 California s Groundwater, Individual Groundwater Basin Description for Santa Rosa Valley, Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin, last update February 27,

64 Rincon Valley encompasses an area of 5,600 acres, (approximately nine square miles) and is bounded by the Sonoma and Mayacamas Mountains, except to the southeast, where it is bounded by the Kenwood Valley Groundwater Basin, and on the southwest, where it is bounded by the Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Sub-basin. Rincon Valley is drained by Brush Creek, a tributary of Santa Rosa Creek. Table 6-2: Summary of Geological Units in the Santa Rosa and Rincon Valley Groundwater Sub-basins 1 Geological Unit Younger Alluvium Older Alluvium (Alluvial Fan Deposits) Glen Ellen and Huichica Formations and related, undifferentiated continental deposits Sonoma Volcanics Wilson Grove (formerly Merced) Formation Petaluma Formation Tolay Volcanics Franciscan Complex Map Symbol 2 Q Qo QT Psv Pwg Pp Ttv KJf Lithology Specific Yield Comments Interbedded layers of sand, silt, clay, and gravel Fine sand, silt, and silty clay, coarse sand and gravel, with gravel more abundant near fan heads Cemented gravel, sand, silt and clay, local interbedded tuff Volcanic flows, agglomerates, and tuffs Mostly marine coarse-to-fine grained sandstone with minor amounts of clay. Sandstone is typically yellow, gray, or buff-white in surface exposures and distinctively blue in subsurface cuttings. Mostly non-marine clay and shale with minor amounts of sandstone Volcanic flows, tuffs, breccias and agglomerates Mélange, including chert, sandstone, shale, greenstone, and serpentinite. Variable (3-15%) Moderate to high (8-17%) Low (3-7%) Highly Variable (0-15%) High (10-20%) Low (3-7%) Unknown Very low (<3%) May contain objectionable levels of iron and manganese above secondary drinking water standards. Lenses of very fine sand. Minor amounts of methane gas. May contain objectionable levels of iron and manganese above secondary drinking water standards. Generally low yields unless a substantial thickness of coarse gravel and sand is penetrated. May contain objectionable levels of iron and manganese above secondary drinking water standards. Variable yields. Some water has high boron content. Some waters thermal. Zones of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). May occasionally exceed secondary drinking water standards for iron and manganese. Lenses of very fine sand. Drillers well logs generally describe this unit as blue sand, blue sandstone, cemented sand, or blue rock with some intervals of blue clay. Zones of high concentration of methane gas. May occasionally exceed secondary drinking water standards for iron and manganese. Water not as hard as other formations. Generally low yields. Yields may be higher for wells penetrating lenses of coarse material. Wilson Grove and Petaluma formations deposited at about the same time driller s logs indicate alternating layers of blue sandstone and blue clay. Zones of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). May contain objectionable levels of iron and manganese. Variable yields. Fair to good water producer regionally. Low yields. Poor quality water in thermal and serpentinite areas. Good quality locally. 1 Based on Table I in DWR Bulletin 118-4, Evaluation of Ground Water Resources Sonoma County, Volume 2: Santa Rosa Plain (September 1982). 2 Geologic Map of the Santa Rosa Quadrangle; 1:250,000, California Geological Survey,

65 Kenwood Valley Groundwater Basin: The Kenwood Valley Groundwater Basin (DWR Basin Number 2-19) is located east of the Santa Rosa Valley and the City of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County and covers an area of approximately 5,120 acres, or approximately 8 square miles. Kenwood Valley occupies a portion of a small north to northwesttrending structural trough located to the southeast of the Rincon Valley Sub-basin. It is not an adjudicated groundwater basin. It has not been identified as an overdrafted basin and is not anticipated to become an overdrafted basin. The Kenwood Valley Groundwater Basin is approximately 4 miles long along its eastern edge and varies in width from about 0.5 miles to 2 miles. The majority of the Kenwood Valley Groundwater Basin is bounded by the Napa-Sonoma Volcanic Highlands, except for the northwest side, where the Kenwood Valley is separated from the Rincon Valley Sub-basin by Santa Rosa Creek. The Kenwood Valley Groundwater Basin is drained by the Santa Rosa and Sonoma Creeks. The principal water-bearing units in this groundwater basin are Alluvium and the Glen Ellen Formation (see descriptions above). This basin is tapped for domestic use by the Kenwood Village Water Company for residents in the Kenwood area GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT Several municipal water purveyors, including the City and private parties, use groundwater within the Santa Rosa Plain sub-basin. These municipal water purveyors and the County are working collectively to better understand and to ultimately try to manage the regional groundwater resources. As part of this joint effort, in 2005, the USGS, in partnership with the Agency, the cities of Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, and Sebastopol, the Town of Windsor, California American Water, and others, began a 5-year cooperative study. The objectives of this study were to: 1) Develop an updated assessment of the geohydrology, geochemistry and geology of the Santa Rosa Plain sub-basin; 2) Develop a groundwater flow model of the Santa Rosa Plain sub-basin; and 3) Evaluate the hydrogeologic impacts of alternative groundwater strategies for the Santa Rosa Plain sub-basin. Final results of the study were released in , followed by the release of the surface water/groundwater model report in A detailed summary of the USGS reports is included in the Agency s 2015 UWMP. The study results were used by the Agency, City and other stakeholders to develop an AB3030 non-regulatory groundwater management plan for the Santa Rosa Plain sub-basin (see below). In September 2013, prior to the release of the final USGS study discussed above, the City adopted a Groundwater Master Plan (GMP). 4 The overall objective of the City s GMP is to provide a strategic road map for the City s Utilities staff, Board of Public Utilities (BPU), and City Council of how available groundwater resources could be most effectively used, in a sustainable manner, to meet the needs of the City s existing and future customers. 2 Hydrologic and Geochemical Characterization of the Santa Rosa Plain Watershed, Sonoma County, California, Scientific Investigations Report , Edited by Tracy Nishikawa, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Simulation of Groundwater and Surface-Water Resources of the Santa Rosa Plain Watershed, Sonoma County, California, Scientific Investigations Report , Edited by Linda R. Woolfenden and Tracy Nishikawa, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, City of Santa Rosa Groundwater Master Plan, Final Report, West Yost Associates, September 2013.

66 The GMP provides background information on the City s historical use of groundwater, descriptions of ongoing studies, recommendations for an emergency groundwater supply plan, development of a key well monitoring network, and a conceptual evaluation of the potential use of aquifer storage and recovery wells. Included in the preparation of the GMP is the development of recommended groundwater policies designed to guide the future role of groundwater and promote balanced use and sustainability for the groundwater resource available to the City. Based on these recommended policies, specific groundwater projects and programs have been identified and prioritized to implement the direction of the BPU. The Santa Rosa Plain Watershed Groundwater Management Plan (SRPGMP) was completed in The overall goal of the SRPGMP is to locally manage and protect groundwater resources by a balanced group of stakeholders through non-regulatory measures to support all beneficial uses, including human, agriculture, and ecosystems, in an environmentally sound, economical, and equitable manner for present and future generations. The SRPGMP laid out eighteen basin objectives that were grouped into the following general focus areas: Stakeholder Involvement and Public Awareness Monitoring and Modeling Groundwater Protection Increase Water Conservation Increase Water Reuse Integrated Groundwater Management subsequently did in fall The City has also served on the SRPGMP Basin Advisory Panel, and participated in the 2014 Cooperative Agreement for Implementation of Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Management Program and provided funding for the first two years of implementation of the SRPGMP OVERDRAFT CONDITIONS As noted above, the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin is not adjudicated nor has it been identified by DWR as overdrafted nor anticipated to become overdrafted HISTORICAL GROUNDWATER PUMPING The City has a total of six municipal groundwater wells within the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin. These six wells are listed in the following table along with their current status. As shown Table 6-3, two of the City s municipal wells (Carley and Peter Springs Wells) are currently operated primarily to provide some landscape irrigation to an adjacent park and school landscaping, but are also available and approved by DDW for emergency potable use, on a standby status, two of the wells (Farmers Lane Wells No. 1 and 2) are on active status, one well is operated to provide minor amounts of landscape irrigation water supply only (Farmers Lane Well No. 3), and one well is used for emergency potable purposes only (Leete Well). In 2014, the Santa Rosa City Council recommended that the Agency s Board of Director s adopt the SRPGMP, which the Agency s Board of Director s 5 Santa Rosa Plain Watershed Groundwater Management Plan, Santa Rosa Plain Advisory Panel and Parker Groundwater, California Department of Water Resources, Evaluation of Ground Water Resources in Sonoma County Volume 2: Santa Rosa Plain, DWR Bulletin 118-4,

67 Leete (W1) Carley (W2-1) Well Name/Number Peter Springs (W2-2) Table 6-3: City of Santa Rosa Municipal Groundwater Wells 1 Farmers Lane (W4-1) Active status 2 Farmers Lane (W4-2) Active status 2 Well Status Standby; used for emergency potable purposes only Standby; used for emergency potable purposes and some landscape irrigation Standby; used for emergency potable purposes and some landscape irrigation Farmers Lane (W4-3) Not connected to City s potable water distribution system; used strictly for minor landscape irrigation purposes 1 The City also has two other municipal wells that are either out of service or inactive: Freeway Well (W3) is out of service due to groundwater contamination caused by others; Sharon Park Well (W6) is inactive due to severe sanding. 2 Change in status approved by California Department of Public Health on July 20, The Farmers Lane wells had contributed a significant portion of the groundwater supplies required to meet the City s demands before the City began obtaining surface water supplies from the Agency in the 1960 s. In 2007, the City began pumping water once again from Farmers Lane Wells No. 1 and 2 into the City s potable water system to supplement supplies obtained from the Agency and to provide supply during high demand periods. Of the City s roughly 2,870 AFY of historical groundwater pumpage, it is estimated that the Farmers Lane Wells supplied about 1,720 AFY. 7 The volume of groundwater pumped from the City s municipal wells in 2011 through 2015 is summarized in Table 6-4. Table 6-4: Groundwater Volume Pumped (DWR Table 6-1) Supplier does not pump groundwater. The supplier will not complete the table below. Groundwater Type Add additional rows as needed Location or Basin Name Alluvial Basin Santa Rosa Valley 1, ,129 1,135 1,198 TOTAL 1, ,129 1,135 1,198 7 Technical Memorandum, Evaluation of Potential Impacts Associated with Increased Groundwater Production from Farmers Lane Wells W4-1 and W4-2, prepared by West Yost & Associates, July 22,

68 6.2.5 FUTURE GROUNDWATER PUMPING In the future, it is anticipated that the Farmers Lane wells may be operated as much as 40 to 60 percent of the time at a pumping rate of about 2,500 gallons per minute (gpm), which would equate to an annual pumpage quantity of approximately 1,600 to 2,400 AFY. This projected pumpage quantity is less than the City s historical groundwater pumpage of 2,870 AFY. There are currently no plans for additional active City production wells within the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin or any new City production wells within the Rincon Valley Sub-basin or Kenwood Valley Groundwater Basin. As described in the GMP, the City does intend to construct emergency groundwater wells throughout the City s water service area, including the Rincon Valley Sub-basin and Kenwood Valley Groundwater Basin. The projected volume of groundwater to be pumped through the planning period is discussed in Section SURFACE WATER The City does not currently have, nor is it currently planning to develop, a source of surface water independent of the purchased water from the Agency, which is described above. 6.4 STORMWATER The City s stormwater requirements prioritize the use of infiltration-based landscape features for stormwater treatment. Low Impact Development (LID) features utilize the natural cleaning properties of soil, plants, and microbial activity to break down pollutants and allow for stormwater to recharge groundwater aquifers and maintain stream flow. These LID features are required on new developments that create 10,000 square feet or more of impervious surface. Any increase in the amount of volume of runoff from a developed site (for a storm up to 0.92 inches) must be infiltrated back into the soil or stored and reused on site. Additionally, runoff from all paved areas and rooftops must be filtered through these landscaped features to remove pollutants. These policies help to hydraulically mimic the undeveloped condition which provides aquifer recharge, preserves stream flow, cleans stormwater, and reduces demand on potable water for irrigation. Other than these LID practices, the City does not divert stormwater for reuse. Example of LID practice 6-11

69 6.5 WASTEWATER AND RECYCLED WATER The City of Santa Rosa Utilities Department is responsible for the operation and management of the Santa Rosa Subregional Water Reclamation System (Subregional System). The Subregional System operates the Laguna Wastewater Treatment Plant, oversees the Industrial Pretreatment Program, and operates and maintains the recycled water system for more than 225,000 residents and 6,500 businesses for the northern California cities of Cotati, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, and Sebastopol; and the South Park Sanitation District and portions of unincorporated Laguna Treatment Plant Ultra Violet Treatment Sonoma County. As managing partner of the Subregional System, it is the City s responsibility to operate the system economically and safely, and to plan for future regulatory changes and growth. Local water, wastewater, and planning agencies were consulted and participated in the development of the Subregional System s Incremental Recycled Water Program (IRWP), which is the planning document developed to continually optimize the use of recycled water and offset demands on the potable water system. The agencies that participated in the development of the IRWP are listed in Table 6-5 Table 6-5: Agencies Participating in Incremental Recycled Water Program Agency Type Agency Name Participated Water Agencies Cities of Cotati, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, and Windsor; Sonoma County Water Agency X Wastewater Agencies Cities of Cotati, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol; South Park Sanitation District X Groundwater Agencies None Planning Agencies County of Sonoma; Cities of Cotati, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, and Sebastopol X WASTEWATER SYSTEM DESCRIPTION The City operates the Laguna and Oakmont Wastewater Treatment Plants for the Subregional System. Figure 6-2 depicts the location of the wastewater treatment facilities and reclamation facilities for all the partners in the Subregional System service area. The Laguna Wastewater Treatment Plant is a tertiarylevel treatment facility that has an average daily dry weather flow of 16.5 million gallons per day and is permitted for mgd average daily dry weather flow. The Laguna Wastewater Treatment Plant takes wastewater from homes, businesses and industry located within the cities of Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol and Cotati and the South Park Sanitation District. Over 500 miles of underground pipes bring wastewater to the treatment plant where water goes through three stages of treatment prior to disinfection, 6-12

70 storage, and reuse. The water is treated to the highest level recognized in State water recycling regulations (Title 22 Tertiary). Figure 6-2: Santa Rosa Subregional System 6-13

71 The Oakmont Treatment Plant is a satellite tertiary-level treatment facility that was operated during summer months to provide recycled water to the Oakmont Golf Course. In 2010, the City determined that it was not economically feasible to continue to operate the Oakmont Treatment Plant and instead all wastewater is now treated at the Laguna Treatment Plant. The current (2015) volume of wastewater collected from the City is shown in Table 6-6. The City contributes approximately 75 percent of the wastewater flow into the Laguna Treatment Plant. Name of Wastewater Collection Agency Table 6-6: Wastewater Collected Within Service Area in 2015 (DWR Table 6-2) Wastewater Collection Wastewater Volume Metered or Estimated? Volume of Wastewater Collected from UWMP Service Area 2015 Add additional rows as needed Santa Rosa Subregional System Estimated 13,119 SRSS Total Wastewater Collected from Service Area in 2015: 13,119 Name of Wastewater Treatment Agency Receiving Collected Wastewater Recipient of Collected Wastewater Treatment Plant Name Laguna WWTP Is WWTP Located Within UWMP Area? NOTES: SRSS = Santa Rosa Subregional System. Volume reported is for City of Santa Rosa only. No Is WWTP Operation Contracted to a Third Party? (optional) No WASTEWATER DISPOSAL AND RECYCLED WATER USES The Subregional System s primary point of discharge is via Delta Pond at the confluence of Santa Rosa Creek and the Laguna de Santa Rosa. The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB) regulates wastewater discharges from the Subregional System. Under the NCRWQCB guidelines, tertiary treated water can be discharged only between October 1 and May 15. Discharge cannot exceed five percent of the Russian River flow. The Subregional System is one of the largest recyclers of water in Northern California. The recycled water that leaves the treatment plant is high-quality, tertiary treated water that is safe for many reuse purposes, including irrigation of landscapes, agricultural crops, vineyards, playgrounds, golf courses, and public parks. Depending upon the amount of rainfall in any given year, approximately 98 percent of the Subregional System s wastewater is recycled for urban and agricultural irrigation and for the Geysers Recharge Project. The Subregional System s existing urban reuse program irrigates many schools, parks and businesses in Rohnert Park, including Sonoma State University. In Santa Rosa, recycled water is used for landscape irrigation at sites including Finley Park and A Place to Play sports complex. Since the treatment plant opened in 1968, its volume of treated effluent water has increased from 2 mgd to an average of 22 mgd. 6-14

72 In 2015, approximately 6,000 acres of farmlands and vineyards were irrigated with recycled water for agricultural purposes. The irrigation system is supported by storage reservoirs that can hold over 1.7 billion gallons of water, which allows the system to meet peak, hot summer day irrigation requirements. The steamfields at the Geyser s Geothermal Plant are recharged with recycled water from the Laguna Treatment Plant to generate electricity for 100,000 households in Sonoma and Northbay Counties 6-15

73 The current (2015) volumes of wastewater treated, discharged, and used as recycled water from the Subregional System are shown in Table 6-7. The Subregional System has not discharged treated wastewater from Delta Pond for several years. It has been able to recycle all of the treated wastewater. Table 6-7: Wastewater Treatment and Discharge Within Service Area in 2015 (DWR Table 6-3) Recycled Outside of Service Area Wastewater Treatment Plant Name Discharge Location Name or Identifier Discharge Location Descriptio n Wastewate r Discharge ID Number (optional) Method of Disposal Does This Plant Treat Wastewater Generated Outside the Service Area? Treatmen t Level Wastewater Treated 2015 Volumes Discharged Treated Wastewater Recycled Within Service Area Add additional rows as needed Laguna Laguna de Santa Rosa Flows to Russian River River or creek outfall Yes Tertiary 17, ,353 Total 17, ,

74 6.5.3 PROJECTED USES OF RECYCLED WATER FOR SUBREGIONAL SYSTEM Water Reuse is an increasingly complex system that must work continuously to balance the wastewater disposal needs of a growing population with new government regulations and the demands of recycled water users. As a result, in March 2004, the City approved the IRWP Master Plan. The IRWP investigated a number of potentially new, and the possible augmentation of existing, recycled water uses, including urban reuse, agriculture, Geysers Recharge Project, and created wetlands. A major factor that determines the use of recycled water and implementation of recycled water projects is the financial feasibility. Recycled water distribution systems require additional pipelines, storage tanks, and pumps. Proximity to the production of the recycled water and the distribution system is a major factor affecting the financial feasibility of recycled water projects CURRENT AND PROJECTED RECYCLED WATER FOR CITY The City s current and historical use of recycled water has been limited to areas within close proximity to the Subregional System s distribution network. In recent years, the City has used approximately 140 AFY of recycled water for urban landscape irrigation within the service area. In 2001, the City undertook the IRWP, which included plans for recycled water urban reuse efforts. The IRWP outlined a water recycling alternative that could replace the City s potable water sources (not including private groundwater supply sources) up to a maximum of 2,200 AFY upon implementation and 4,400 AFY by 2020 depending on wastewater disposal capacity need. In April 2005, the City began work on the City s Urban Reuse Project expansion conceptual plan, which analyzed several alternatives for expanded urban reuse within the City service area. In September 2006, the BPU approved contracts for pre-design of a phased urban reuse project with ultimate service to the majority of the south and west portions of the City, and a total delivery of 3,000 AFY to sites which would otherwise be served by potable water. In December 2007, the City approved the Santa Rosa Urban Reuse Project which could serve up to 3,000 AFY of recycled water to current and future approved water uses, primarily landscape irrigation. The cost of implementing the 3,000 AFY Santa Rosa Urban Reuse Project is estimated to be a total of $119 million, in 2006 dollars. This project would be implemented in phases, as needed for water supply offset and wastewater disposal capacity. The phased nature of the urban reuse alternative allows City policy makers to develop this water supply source incrementally as more supply is needed, while continuing to evaluate other potentially more cost effective water supply sources for future water supply needs. The City selected Phase 1 West as the first phase of the Urban Reuse Project to be implemented. Phase 1 West is designed to provide up to 750 AFY of recycled water and the City initiated a small segment of this project in Based on the projected water supply and wastewater disposal capacity needs, it is anticipated that the City will not need to complete construction of Phase 1 West. Due in part to the City s success in reducing potable water demands and the projected continuation of water conservation practices, the City has determined that it is not cost effective to expand the recycled water distribution system through the UWMP planning period. 6-17

75 The current and projected volume of recycled water to be beneficially used within the City s service area is shown in Table 6-8. Table 6-8: Current and Projected Recycled Water Direct Beneficial Uses Within Service Area (DWR Table 6-4) Projections for total recycled water use for the Subregional System were made in the City s 2010 UWMP. Table 6-9 shows a comparison of the total projected 2015 recycled water use from the City s 2010 UWMP with the Subregional System s actual recycled water use in Name of Agency Producing (Treating) the Recycled Water: City of Santa Rosa Name of Agency Operating the Recycled Water Distribution System: Supplemental Water Added in 2015 Source of 2015 Supplemental Water Beneficial Use Type General Description of 2015 Uses Level of Treatment City of Santa Rosa Agricultural irrigation Landscape irrigation (excludes golf courses) Parks and medians Tertiary Golf course irrigation Commercial use Industrial use Geothermal and other energy production Seawater intrusion barrier Recreational impoundment Wetlands or wildlife habitat Groundwater recharge (IPR)* Surface water augmentation (IPR)* Direct potable reuse Other (Provide General Description) Total: *IPR - Indirect Potable Reuse 2040 (opt) 6-18

76 Table 6-9: 2010 UWMP Recycled Water Use Projection Compared to 2015 Actual (DWR Table 6-5) Use Type Agricultural irrigation Landscape irrigation (excludes golf courses) Golf course irrigation Commercial use Industrial use Geothermal and other energy production Seawater intrusion barrier Recreational impoundment Wetlands or wildlife habitat Groundwater recharge (IPR) Surface water augmentation (IPR) Direct potable reuse Other 2010 Projections for Actual Use Type of Use Total NOTES: Additionally, in 2010, the recycled water use projections included 5,431 AF for Agricultural Irrigation and 17,952 AF for Geothermal and Other Energy Production. In 2015, these quantities were 5,297 AF and 11,981 AF, respectively. These uses are outside of the City's UWMP service area and are not included in this table. As part of the Santa Rosa Urban Reuse Project, the City instituted incentives for retrofitting of existing potable water users to recycled water use. The incentives include a decreased user charge for recycled water customers and currently paying for the cost to retrofit existing potable water irrigation customers to recycled water use. In addition, the City adopted a Recycled Water Ordinance, granting the City the authority to require new connections to the water system to use recycled water for appropriate uses. In addition, the City s wholesaler, the Agency, encourages recycled water use by collecting, as part of its water rates, funds to be held in a special reserve for projects carried out by its water customers. As described above, the City has determined that continued expansion of the Urban Reuse Project is not cost effective at this time, therefore, previous methods to encourage recycled water use that were reported in the 2010 UWMP have been inactivated, Therefore, Table 6-10 is not completed. Table 6-10: Methods to Expand Future Recycled Water Use (DWR Table 6-6) Supplier does not plan to expand recycled water use in the future. Supplier will not complete the table below but will provide narrative explanation. Section Name of Action Provide page location of narrative in UWMP Description Add additional rows as needed Planned Implementation Year Expected Increase in Recycled Water Use Total 0 NOTES: Due in part to the City s success in reducing potable water demands and the projected continuation of water conservation practices, the City has determined that it is not cost effective to expand the recycled water distribution system through the UWMP planning period. 6.6 DESALINATED WATER OPPORTUNITIES The City does not currently have, nor is it currently planning to develop, a desalinated water supply. The service area is too far from saline water sources to make importing seawater for desalination feasible, and the local groundwater supply does not require desalination. 6-19

77 6.7 EXCHANGES OR TRANSFERS Currently, the City does not transfer or exchange water with other entities and does not anticipate that transfers or exchanges will happen in the future. However, water transfers between the Agency s Water Contractors are authorized under the Restructured Agreement. Transfers and exchanges have happened between the Agency s Water Contractors in the past and may be necessary in the future. As described in the Agency s 2015 UWMP, based on the water demand projections of the Agency s customers, additional water supply, additional water supply diversion facilities, and additional water supply transmission capacity will be needed in order to meet the 2040 water demand projections. Detailed descriptions of these projects are included in the Agency s 2015 UWMP. 6.8 FUTURE WATER PROJECTS The City currently holds entitlement to 29,100 AFY from the Agency, can utilize up to 2,300 AFY of groundwater, and can utilize approximately 140 AFY of recycled water. Based on current demand projections and available supplies, it appears that the City will have sufficient supplies to meet the 2040 demand projections of this UWMP. However to ensure supply availability and reliability, the City will continue to evaluate the potential to develop additional supplies including possible further utilization of the City s own groundwater resources. Per the following discussion, plans are in place to evaluate these supply options. "Our Future in Every Drop" In addition to the two production wells (Farmers Lane Wells 1 and 2), described above, the City has approximately 2.1 mgd of groundwater capacity still on a stand-by emergency basis. Since the mid 1990 s, Santa Rosa has had an adopted Capital Improvement Program for the development of the City s groundwater resources to provide an additional 12.0 mgd emergency groundwater supply suitable for potable use by the City. In evaluating sites for new emergency wells, the City is also considering the potential for future additional production wells to meet peak demands. At this time, the City is actively engaged in the siting and development of new emergency wells and additional test wells 6-20

78 Future projects that may contribute to the City s water supply are summarized in Table Section 6.8 Name of Future Projects or Programs Add additional rows as needed Agency Petition to Increase Annual Diversion Amount Agency - Mirabel West Wells Agency - South Transmission Section 1 (Cotati to Ely) Agency - South Transmission Section 2 (Ely to Kastania) Kastania-Ralphine-Sonoma BST Pipeline Table 6-11: Expected Future Water Supply Projects or Programs (DWR Table 6-7) Provide page location of narrative in the UWMP Joint Project with other agencies? Drop Down List (y/n) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes If Yes, Agency Name Sonoma County Water Agency Sonoma County Water Agency Sonoma County Water Agency Sonoma County Water Agency Sonoma County Water Agency Description (if needed) Planned Implementation Year Planned for Use in Year Type Drop Down List All Year Types All Year Types All Year Types All Year Types All Year Types Expected Increase in Water Supply to Agency This may be a range 1,000 7,800 None None None 6.9 SUMMARY OF EXISTING AND PLANNED SOURCES OF WATER A summary of the City s existing sources of water, based on the above description, is provided in Table Water Supply May use each category multiple times. These are the only water supply categories that will be recognized by the WUEdata online submittal tool Add additional rows as needed Purchased or Imported Water Table 6-12: Water Supplies Actual (DWR Table 6-8) Additional Detail on Water Supply Sonoma County Water Agency Actual Volume 2015 Water Quality Total Right or Safe Yield (optional) 15,341 Drinking Water 29,100 Groundwater Local Groundwater 1,198 Drinking Water Recycled Water Subregional System 141 Recycled Water Total 16,680 29,

79 The City s water supply is not vulnerable to climate change impacts based on a review of the topics listed in the Climate Change Handbook for Regional Water Planning: 1. No portion of the City s water supply comes from snowmelt. 2. No portion of the City s water supply comes from the Delta, is imported from the Colorado River, or is imported from other climatesensitive areas. 3. No portion of the City s water supply comes from coastal aquifers, and salt intrusion has not been a problem in the past. 4. The Agency water supply does not have difficulty in storing carry-over water from year to year. The current storage volume is more than several years water demand. 5. The City has not experienced a drought that has caused it to not meet local water demands. 6. The region does not have invasive species management issues at the water supply facilities. The Agency has been funding a series of ongoing USGS studies to evaluate the potential effects of climate change on the Agency s water supply. The results of the USGS studies may allow the Agency to evaluate climate change impacts in future years on the water demands of the City, as well as other water contractors, and in turn provide the basis for future Urban Water Management Plans. For additional information, see the Agency s 2015 UWMP. A summary of the City s planned sources of water, based on the above description, is provided in Table Water Supply Additional Detail on Water Supply Reasonably Available Volume 6.10 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS TO SUPPLY Table 6-13: Water Supplies Projected (DWR Table 6-9) Projected Water Supply (opt) Total Right or Safe Yield (optional) Reasonably Available Volume Total Right or Safe Yield (optional) Reasonably Available Volume Total Right or Safe Yield (optional) Reasonably Available Volume Total Right or Safe Yield (optional) Reasonably Available Volume Total Right or Safe Yield (optional) Purchased or Imported Water From SCWA 29,100 29,100 29,100 29,100 29,100 29,100 29,100 29,100 29,100 29,100 Groundwater 2,300 2,300 2,300 2,300 2,300 2,300 2,300 2,300 2,300 2,300 Recycled Water Total 31,540 31,400 31,540 31,400 31,540 31,400 31,540 31,400 31,540 31,

80 CHAPTER 7 WATER SUPPLY RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT This chapter describes the long-term reliability and vulnerability of the City s water supplies. The City s planned and implemented water management tools for increasing the reliability of water supplies are also addressed. Shorter term reliability planning that may require immediate action, such as drought or a catastrophic supply interruption, is addressed in Chapter CONSTRAINTS ON WATER SOURCES This section addresses potential legal, environmental, water quality, and climatic effects on the reliability of water supply sources through the year 2040, which is the planning horizon of this UWMP. The City does not anticipate legal factors to affect the reliability of groundwater, recycled water, or Agency water supply within the planning horizon of this UWMP. Due to the storage volume available within the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-Basin, and the artesian nature of the Farmers Lane Wells 1 and 2 (Chapter 6), the City does not anticipate environmental factors to affect the reliability of groundwater. Asset Management The Asset Management Division is responsible for long-range planning for the City s infrastructure and natural resources. Staff evaluate information about the status of water, sewer and storm drain pipe, pavement, street lights and natural assets, including trees, creeks and wetlands, and native species. The Asset Management team monitors the condition and performance of City assets to ensure required levels of service in the most costeffective manner. The team uses tools such as Hydraulic Models, Geographical Information System (GIS), Computerized Maintenance Management Systems, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems to analyze and prioritize assets for refurbishment, rehabilitation or replacement. The results of this analysis are used to develop a 5-year prioritized Capital Improvement Program. The City does not anticipate water quality factors to affect the reliability of groundwater, recycled water, or Agency water supply within the planning horizon of this UWMP. If applicable in the future, chemical contamination and the lowering of maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for naturally occurring constituents can be mitigated by constructing new treatment facilities. 7-1

81 Drought conditions could result in a reduction of surface water supply 1. Though the City does not supply surface water directly, it does receive surface water supply from the Agency. The City s surface water supply from the Agency is subject to reductions during dry years (seasonal and climatic shortages) pursuant to State Water Board s Decision When the Lake Sonoma (total volume 381,000 AF; water supply pool 245,000 AF) water volume is less than 100,000 AF prior to July 15th, a 30 percent reduction in diversions is required. Such a reduction in Agency diversions may result in a reduction in deliveries to the City under the Restructured Agreement. An overview of the conditions that could affect the Agency water supply is provided below. Additional information about reliability of the Agency s supply can be found in the Agency s 2015 UWMP, Chapter AGENCY WATER SUPPLY Various conditions may influence the water supply available to the Agency. This section of the UWMP describes the water rights held by the Agency and the City s entitlement to the Agency s water supply. This section also describes the various physical and legal conditions that may influence the water supply availability, including the Biological Opinion and future operation of the Potter Valley Project. Finally, this section describes the process by which the Agency determined how much water may be delivered through the 2040 planning period under normal, multi-dry, and single-dry year hydrologic conditions AGENCY WATER RIGHTS Four State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) permits currently authorize the Agency to store water in Lake Mendocino (up to 122,500 AF) and Lake Sonoma (up to 245,000 AF) and to divert and re-divert 180 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water from the Russian River, up to 75,000 AFY. The permits also establish minimum instream flow requirements for fish and wildlife protection and Russian River recreational considerations. These minimum instream flow requirements vary according to the hydrologic cycle (i.e., dry water years versus normal water years) defined by the State Water Board s Decision The Agency meets the various instream flow requirements set by Decision 1610 by making releases from Coyote Valley Dam and Warm Springs Dam. The Agency has applied to the State Water Board to increase the Agency s Russian River re-diversion right from 75,000 AFY to 101,000 AFY. In addition, as required by the Biological Opinion, the Agency has applied to the State Water Board to make changes to the minimum instream flow requirements of Decision The Biological Opinion requirements are discussed below RESTRUCTURED AGREEMENT The Restructured Agreement was executed in 2006, and generally provides for the finance, construction, and operation of existing and new diversion facilities, transmission lines, storage tanks, booster pumps, conventional wells, and appurtenant facilities. The Restructured Agreement currently provides the contractual relationship between the Agency and the City and includes specific rates of 1 Source: Sonoma County Water Agency 2010 UWMP, Table SWRCB Decision 1610 was adopted in April

82 delivery and maximum amounts of water that the Agency is obligated to supply to the City. The Restructured Agreement defines the City s entitlement as 29,100 AFY and an average of 40.0 million gallons per day (mgd) from Reach 1, 2 and 3a of the Intertie Aqueduct, 40.0 mgd from the Santa Rosa Aqueduct, 4.0 mgd from the Sonoma Aqueduct, or a maximum combined average total of 56.6 mgd for a one-month period from all aqueducts. Though the City s existing supply from the Agency is relatively reliable, Section 3.5 of the Restructured Agreement contains provisions which may be implemented in the event of a supply shortage. The shortage provisions are further defined in the Water Shortage Allocation Methodology (Shortage Methodology), which was adopted by the Agency Board in April The Shortage Methodology was updated in 2014 and adopted on April 7, 2014 by the Water Advisory Committee (WAC) pursuant to Section 3.5(f) of the Restructured Agreement. 3 The Restructured Agreement Section 3.5 provisions, and the Shortage Methodology, are designed to take the demand hardening associated with water conservation into account. The City implemented an aggressive water conservation program over the past 25 years and has one of the lowest per capita water uses among all Agency customers. Under the Shortage Methodology, if the Agency surface water rights and Russian River supply remain limited to 75,000 AFY for some time, and the water contractors total demands reach the Agency s 75,000 AFY available supply, the City s allocation would still be about 29,100 AFY, the City s full entitlement under the Restructured Agreement THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES BIOLOGICAL OPINION On October 31, 1996, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published a final notice of determination listing coho salmon as threatened and under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) within the Central California Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit (ESU), which includes the Russian River. On August 18, 1997, NMFS published a final notice of determination listing steelhead as threatened under the ESA within the Central California Coast ESU, also including the Russian River. On September 16, 1999, NMFS listed the California Coast ESU of Chinook salmon as threatened. In accordance with Section 7(a) (2) of the ESA, federal agencies must consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and/or NMFS (depending on the species) to insure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by such agency is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated critical habitat. (50 CFR 402). The operation of Warm Springs and Coyote Valley dams and the Agency s rubber dam and fish screens all fall within the provisions of Section 7. In December 1997, the COE, as the federal sponsor of the above two flood control and water supply projects, and the Agency, as the local sponsor, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NMFS to begin the Section 7 consultation process. As part of the Section 7 consultation, a Biological Assessment was 3 This updated Shortage Methodology will be in effect until June The Agency and this 2015 UWMP assumes the original Shortage Methodology will be re reinstituted July 1, 2016 unless further action is taken by the WAC. 7-3

83 prepared to study the impact of current and potential future operations of facilities on the listed species in the Russian River. The final Biological Assessment was completed in September As part of the Section 7 consultation process, the NMFS formed Biological Review Teams to conduct a status review of the three listed fish species by assembling the best available information on the condition of the fish species and quantifying risks faced by each ESU. Using the results of the status review, NMFS reevaluated the listing of the three fish species. On June 28, 2005, NMFS issued a final rule confirming the endangered status of the coho salmon and maintaining the threatened status of California Coast Chinook salmon. On January 5, 2006, NMFS issued a final determination listing the steelhead as threatened. On September 24, 2008, NMFS issued the Biological Opinion. The Biological Opinion analyzed the impacts of the current operation of the Warm Springs and Coyote Valley Dams, as well as other facilities operated by the COE, the Agency, and the Russian River Flood Control and Water Conservation Improvement District in the Russian River Watershed for the next fifteen years. The Biological Opinion determined that the continued operation of some aspects of the flood control and water supply operations will have substantial adverse effects on both the coho salmon and steelhead, but are not likely to effect the survival and recovery of the Chinook salmon in the Russian River. The three areas of most concern are the high summertime flows in the Russian River and Dry Creek, the high velocity of water in Dry Creek in the summer, and the current practice of breaching the sandbar at the estuary during the summer months. NMFS collaborated with the COE and the Agency to develop a Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA), including eight Reasonable and Prudent 7-4 Measures (RPMs), to implement over a 15-year timeframe to avoid jeopardy to the coho salmon and steelhead. The RPMs include the following: interim and permanent changes to the summertime flows in the Russian River and Dry Creek; changing the management of the Jenner estuary; restoring fish habitat along Dry Creek; conducting a feasibility study of constructing a pipeline to deliver water from Lake Sonoma to the main stem of the Russian River; strengthening and expansion of the existing coho broodstock program; installation of a new back-up water supply pipeline to the Warm Springs Hatchery and construction of additional rearing facilities for the coho broodstock program; and monitoring of habitat and fish in the Russian River, Dry Creek, and the Jenner estuary. The Biological Opinion also provides an Incidental Take Statement for the taking of the coho, steelhead and Chinook that may occur due to the implementation of the continued operations of the flood control and water supply operations and the associated RPMs. The Biological Opinion requires the following temporary and permanent changes to the minimum instream flows in the Russian River and Dry Creek: During Normal Years: Reduce the minimum flow requirement for the Russian River from the East Fork to Dry Creek from 185 cfs to 125 cfs between June 1 and August 31; and from 150 cfs to 125 cfs between September 1 and October 31. Reduce the minimum flow requirement for the Russian River between the mouth of Dry Creek and the mouth of the Russian River from 125 cfs to 70 cfs. Reduce the minimum flow requirement for Dry Creek from Warm Springs Dam to the Russian River from 80 cfs to 40 cfs from May 1 to October 31.

84 During Dry Years: Reduce the minimum flow requirement for the Russian River between the mouth of Dry Creek and the mouth of the Russian River from 85 cfs to 70 cfs. In September 2009, the Agency filed a petition with the State Water Board to permanently change the minimum instream flow requirements as outlined by the Biological Opinion. The petition is currently pending at the State Water Board and will not be acted on until the Agency has completed the necessary documents to comply with California Environmental Quality Act. Until the petition is acted upon by the State Water Board, the Agency will have to annually file a Temporary Urgency Change petition with the State Water Board to reduce the minimum instream flows during the months of May through October as required by the Biological Opinion. The reduced flows required by the RPMs would provide enough water for the Agency to meet existing water demands. The RPMs provide for restoration of fish habitat in Dry Creek to allow for continued flows to meet the water demands of the Agency. The habitat restoration in Dry Creek will provide for flows of 130 to 175 cfs in Dry Creek. The Agency and NMFS anticipate the Dry Creek habitat restoration work will be successful. However, if it is not as successful as anticipated, the Biological Opinion requires the Agency to explore other alternatives, including a bypass pipeline. The Agency prepared a bypass pipeline feasibility study in September As described in the Agency s 2010 UWMP, the Biological Opinion requires that a determination regarding the effectiveness of the Dry Creek habit restoration be made by If it is determined that a bypass 4 J. Martini-Lamb and Manning, D.J., editors Russian River Biological Opinion Status and Data Report, Year Sonoma County Water Agency, Santa Rosa, CA. pipeline is needed in 2018, it is anticipated that it could be operational by approximately In February 2016, the Agency completed an annual status report on the biological opinion 4. The conclusions and recommendations section of that report is summarized as follows. In 2014, the Agency began settling on methods to determine to what degree the salmon and steelhead populations are affected by Agency actions as compared to natural conditions. The Agency also indicated that continuation of the California Coastal Monitoring Program, which was begun in 2013 by the Agency and the University of California Cooperative Extension, should also assist in making that determination. Finally, the Agency indicates that its passive integrated transponder (PIT) monitoring program is proving to be a more effective method of sampling than other methods such as snorkeling, electrofishing, and adult traps, and intends to continue operation and expansion of the PIT program FUTURE OPERATION OF THE POTTER VALLEY PROJECT Diversions from the Eel River into the Russian River via Pacific Gas & Electric s (PG&E) Potter Valley Project (PVP) are regulated by a number of agencies including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and NMFS. From , an estimated 160,000 AFY was diverted from the Eel River to the Russian River as a result of the operation of the PVP. The Eel River water is diverted through an inter-watershed tunnel to PG&E s hydroelectric facility in Potter Valley. 7-5

85 Thereafter, the water flows down the east fork of the Russian River, is stored in Lake Mendocino, and is released to augment summer flows and maintain minimum instream flow requirements in the Russian River. 7-6 Scotts Dam Release A new license issued by the FERC to PG&E for the PVP in 1983 required PG&E, in cooperation with the now California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), to carry out a 10-year fish monitoring study in cooperation with NMFS. After completion of the study, a proposed flow schedule reducing Eel River diversions to the Russian River by approximately 15 percent (in an effort to improve Eel River fisheries) was submitted to FERC. PG&E had been voluntarily implementing the recommended flow schedule since the summer of An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that presented the impacts of two proposed flow schedules was released in Since that time, other proposals have been submitted for FERC s consideration. In April 1999, as an alternative to the PG&E/FERC proposal, the Department of Interior (DOI)/NMFS jointly submitted a flow proposal which would result in lower PVP imports to the Russian River. In May 2000, FERC issued its final EIS recommending the PG&E flow proposal with PVP Irrigation District modifications. In June 2004, FERC issued its final order on the flow regime based upon a Biological Opinion for the PVP issued by NMFS. The FERC order supported an approximately 15 percent reduction in summer flows, and was close to the voluntary flow schedule that has been in place since the summer of In August 2006, NMFS and CDFW filed complaints with FERC regarding PG&E s compliance with their FERC license. On October 16, 2006, PG&E sent a letter to FERC acknowledging three errors regarding compliance with their FERC license and implementation of the flow requirements of the Biological Opinion RPA. In response, PG&E has adjusted operation of the project. This change has resulted in an approximately 50 percent reduction in annual diversions of water into the Russian River Watershed. PG&E s license to operate the PVP expires in Per the Agency s 2015 Urban Water Management Plan, future Russian River supply availability is based upon the assumption that the PVP diversions permitted under the FERC license will continue WATER RELIABILITY MODELING FOR 2015 UWMP The Agency modeled the reliability of its water supply system for the Water Contractors use in preparing individual 2015 UWMPs. For both the normal (1962) and multiple-dry year (1988 to 1991) scenarios, the modeling results indicated that there would be adequate water supply to meet 100 percent of the projected Agency demands. For the single-dry year (1977) scenario, the modeling results indicated significant impacts to Lake Mendocino. The Agency would need to request reductions in minimum instream flow requirements, coupled with significant demand reductions by water users that divert water from the Upper Russian River, to prevent Lake Mendocino from dropping below 5,000 acre-feet. Required water conservation would range from 15

86 percent in 2020 to 41 percent in These results are different from the 2010 UWMP modeling results and are primarily the result of a refined unimpaired flow data set that is now being used in the Agency model. However, the City is not an Upper Russian River water user; therefore, these results do not directly affect water supply reliability for the City. For the single-dry year scenario, modeling results indicate that Lake Sonoma (from which the City receives its Agency water supply) would drop below 100,000 acre feet before July 15 starting in Per Decision 1610, described above, this water level on July 15 requires a mandatory 30 percent reduction in Russian River diversions. The resulting difference between demand and supply would range from 0 percent in 2020 to 19 percent in 2040 for all of the Agency Water Contractors combined. If this water supply condition were to occur, water would be allocated among the Water Contractors in conformance with the adopted Shortage Methodology in accordance with Section 3.5 of the Restructured Agreement, as described above. Because the Shortage Methodology requires current and projected water demand information from all the Water Contractors, the City is showing the average supply reduction in this UWMP CONSTRAINTS ON GROUNDWATER SUPPLY The City s current groundwater supply from the Farmers Lane wells is constrained by the existing pumping capacity and operations protocol which is based on an assumption that the Farmers Lane wells might be operated as much as 40 to 60 percent of the time at a pumping rate of 2,400 gpm. This estimated annual pumpage quantity is also constrained based on the limited information available regarding annual natural recharge to the area. As mentioned in Chapter 6, in 2014, the USGS completed a study of the Santa Rosa Plain groundwater basin in collaboration with the Agency, the cities of Cotati, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa and Sebastopol, the town of Windsor, the County of Sonoma, and the California American Water Company. Key findings from that study are described below along with other available data with respect to groundwater quality, groundwater level trends, and groundwater storage and budget GROUNDWATER QUALITY The 2014 USGS study found that many wells in the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin produce high quality water, but naturally occurring elements such as iron, manganese, boron, and arsenic are widely variable in groundwater and can pose problems in some areas. Areas in the southern Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin also exhibit increasing chloride concentrations. On the western side of the Santa Rosa Plain Subbasin, sodium and bicarbonate are the dominant cation and anion components in water from all depths. Moving south along the western boundary, the shallow waters have magnesium and calcium as the dominant cation and in the deep zone (below 150 feet) sodium dominates. In the vicinity of Windsor, magnesium chloride water is present in the shallow aquifer to a depth of about 100 feet. In the Santa Rosa area, groundwater at all depths is characterized primarily by sodium and magnesium bicarbonate types. In the Rohnert Park vicinity, groundwater in the deep zone (below 150 feet) is characterized by sodium and calcium bicarbonate type water. 5 5 California Department of Water Resources, Evaluation of Ground Water Resources in Sonoma County Volume 2: Santa Rosa Plain, DWR Bulletin 118-4,

87 According to a DWR study of the basin, few wells tested for water quality contained constituents over the recommended concentration for drinking water. Many wells produced water with aesthetic problems such as elevated concentrations of iron and manganese, or high hardness. Private well owners questioned about groundwater quality reported many complaints about the color and/or taste of the water. Although high iron, manganese, and hardness have been reported in groundwater for some portions of the Santa Rosa Plain Subbasin, the overall quality of groundwater in the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin is good. 6 Groundwater underlying the City s service area generally meets primary and secondary drinking water standards for municipal use. The City s Farmers Lane wells have historically exhibited slightly elevated concentrations of both iron and manganese, exceeding secondary drinking water standards. A treatment system for iron and manganese removal has been constructed at the site of the City s Farmers Lane wells to treat groundwater pumped from Farmers Lane Wells No. 1 and 2 before entering the City s distribution system GROUNDWATER LEVEL TRENDS The DWR Bulletin 118 updated in February 2004 states that the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin as a whole is about in balance, with increased groundwater levels in the northeast contrasting with decreased groundwater levels in the south. The 2014 USGS study also found that groundwater levels in the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin are relatively stable over time, and in the shallow aquifer range from close to ground surface near the Laguna de Santa Rosa to about 15 to 30 feet below ground surface along the eastern basin boundary and 50 feet near southern end of the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin. Groundwater levels in intermediate and deeper wells in southern Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin exhibit seasonal fluctuations and a decline in groundwater levels in the late 1970s and 1980s. The declines reached a maximum in the early 1990s, followed by recovery in the early 2000s. The recovered groundwater levels coincide with increased conservation, reduced groundwater pumping and increased deliveries of Russian River supplies from the Agency to the City of Rohnert Park. Review of spring groundwater levels in wells actively monitored by DWR generally supports these findings, in that a majority of the wells actively monitored by DWR located throughout the sub-basin have demonstrated either increasing or stable groundwater levels, indicating that the subbasin is in balance and is not being overdrafted. An overdrafted groundwater basin would generally be characterized by groundwater levels that decline over a period of years and never fully recover, even in wet years. This is not the case for the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin. Also, all of the actively monitored wells in and around the vicinity of the City have demonstrated either stable or increasing spring groundwater levels. Groundwater trend data from the existing monitoring wells located throughout the sub-basin indicate that water levels within the main portion of the sub-basin have generally remained constant or have slightly increased over time, indicating that the sub-basin is in balance and is not being overdrafted. 7 In addition, groundwater level data 6 California Department of Water Resources, Bulletin 118 California s Groundwater, Individual Groundwater Basin Description for Santa Rosa Valley, Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin, last update February 27, Source: City of Santa Rosa 2035 General Plan Water Supply Assessment, Section

88 for the City s municipal wells was compared to historical data. For the City s Carley Well, Peter Springs Well, and Farmers Lane Wells No. 1, 2 and 3, historical groundwater levels from the 1940 s and 1950 s were compared to current groundwater levels. Although the available data is limited, the data indicate for each of these wells that groundwater levels have increased significantly from 14 to 94 feet below groundwater surface in the 1940 s and 1950 s to essentially artesian conditions (e.g., groundwater level at or above ground surface). Currently, all of the City s municipal wells (except the Carley and Peters Spring Wells) are demonstrating artesian conditions, indicating an abundance of groundwater in the portion of the sub-basin underlying the City (the Carley and Peter Springs wells currently have water levels within a few feet of the ground surface). Review of hydrographs near the City s Farmers Lane wells shows that groundwater elevations have been high (within 10 to 30 feet of the ground surface) and stable since at least 1989, indicating that groundwater recharge is taking place and that additional groundwater yield from this area is possible. Groundwater level data collected from the Farmers Lane Wells after the 2007 to 2010 summer pumpage periods shows that water levels quickly recover to artesian conditions after the wells are turned off. The hydrographs indicate that groundwater elevations to the east of the Farmers Lane wells are significantly higher than the ground surface at the Farmers Lane wells, which provides additional explanation for the artesian conditions at the Farmers Lane wells GROUNDWATER STORAGE AND BUDGET Over the years, several estimates have been made of the groundwater storage capacity of the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin. These estimates range from 948,000 AF to 4,313,000 AF. A brief description of each estimate follows: The USGS estimated the gross groundwater storage capacity for this basin to be about 948,000 AF based on the average specific yield of 7.8 percent for aquifer materials at depths of 10 to 200 feet. 9 The DWR performed a study of the area in 1982 and calculated the groundwater storage capacity for this basin to be 4,313,000 AF. This calculation was made using the TRANSCAP computer program, assuming aquifer thicknesses ranged from 50 to over 1,000 feet with an average thickness of approximately 400 feet. 10 According to the DWR Bulletin 118, a groundwater model for the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin was prepared by DWR in The 15-year period from through was selected as the study period for the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin because it contained a mixture of wet and dry years approximating long-term climatic conditions. Average annual natural recharge for the period 1960 to 1975 was estimated to be about 29,300 AF. Average annual pumping during the same time period was estimated to be approximately 29,700 AF, indicating that the annual natural recharge and the annual pumping within the sub-basin were essentially in balance. 8 Technical Memorandum, Evaluation of Potential Impacts Associated with Increased Groundwater Production from Farmers Lane Wells W4-1 and W4-2, prepared by West Yost & Associates, July 22, Cardwell, G.T., Geology and Ground Water in the Santa Rosa and Petaluma Valley Areas, Sonoma County, California, USGS Water Supply Paper 1427, California Department of Water Resources, Evaluation of Ground Water Resources in Sonoma County Volume 2: Santa Rosa Plain, DWR Bulletin 118-4,

89 With respect to the area in the vicinity of the City s Farmers Lane wells, it has been estimated that the annual groundwater recharge to the area from which the Farmers Lane wells extract groundwater is on the order of 2,500 AFY, using historical rainfall data and an estimate of the potential recharge area. 11 This quantity of recharge is larger than the maximum quantity of groundwater the City plans to pump from the Farmers Lane wells, which is 2,300 AFY. As part of the 2014 USGS Study, the USGS developed a state-of-the-art computer model for the Santa Rosa Plain watershed area that couples surface water with groundwater flows, called GSFLOW. The water budget for the Santa Rosa Plain Sub-basin (amount and sources of water entering versus the amounts and sources of water exiting) has been estimated using a computer model of groundwater flow. The results indicate that over the 35-year period simulated by the model (1975 through 2010) more water exited the basin through a combination of groundwater pumping and natural outflows than entered the basin, resulting in an average annual loss of groundwater storage of approximately 3,300 AFY. Average year: a year, or an averaged range of years, that most closely represents the median water supply available to the agency. For the purposes of this UWMP, the terms normal and average are used interchangeably. Single-dry year: the year that represents the lowest water supply available to the agency. Multiple-dry year period: the period that represents the lowest average water supply availability to the agency for a consecutive multiple year period (three years or more). The City identified base water years for their historical average year, single driest year, and driest multiple-year period in its 2010 UWMP. Base water years were selected based on aggregated information from all water supply sources. Base years and the available water supply during each water year type are summarized in Table 7-1. As shown, the City has been able to reliably supply water throughout historic average year, single-dry year, and multiple-dry year periods. The estimated storage loss is a relatively small percentage of the total inflows estimated for the basin (~80,600 AFY). 7.2 RELIABILITY BY TYPE OF YEAR This section addresses the reliability of the City s water supply in average, single-dry, and multipledry water years. The City uses the following water year definitions from the DWR 2015 Guidebook: 11 Technical Memorandum, Evaluation of Potential Impacts Associated with Increased Groundwater Production from Farmers Lane Wells W4-1 and W4-2, prepared by West Yost & Associates, July 22,

90 Year Type Table 7-1 Retail: Basis of Water Year Data (DWR Table 7-1) Base Year If not using a calendar year, type in the last year of the fiscal, water year, or range of years, for example, water year , use 2000 Available Supplies if Year Type Repeats Quantification of available supplies is not compatible with this table and is provided elsewhere in the UWMP. Location Quantification of available supplies is provided in this table as either volume only, percent only, or both. Volume Available % of Average Supply Average Year , % Single-Dry Year ,142 86% Multiple-Dry Years 1st Year , % Multiple-Dry Years 2nd Year , % Multiple-Dry Years 3rd Year , % Multiple-Dry Years 4th Year Optional , % Multiple-Dry Years 5th Year Optional Multiple-Dry Years 6th Year Optional Agency may use multiple versions of Table 7-1 if different water sources have different base years and the supplier chooses to report the base years for each water source separately. If an agency uses multiple versions of Table 7-1, in the "Note" section of each table, state that multiple versions of Table 7-1 are being used and identify the particular water source that is being reported in each table. NOTES: Volume Available is set to the Agency's modeled results for the year 2040 as a percent of the City's projected demand and includes groundwater, but does not include City's recycled water supply (140 AFY). 7.3 SUPPLY AND DEMAND ASSESMENT This section provides an assessment of the City s expected water supply and demand for average year, single-dry year, and multiple-dry year periods in five year increments through the year A comparison of projected water supply and demand during a normal water year is included in Table 7-2. As shown, there is adequate water supply in normal years to meet demands through Table 7-2: Normal Year Supply and Demand Comparison (DWR Table 7-2) (Opt) Supply totals (autofill from Table 6-9) 31,540 31,540 31,540 31,540 31,540 Demand totals (autofill from Table 4-3) 24,289 25,730 26,946 28,243 28,280 Difference 7,251 5,810 4,594 3,297 3,260 NOTES: Supply and demand totals include 140 AFY recycled water. As described in the Agency s 2015 UWMP, the Agency s model projects a supply shortfall during a singledry year. The single dry year reduction is estimated to be about 19 percent of normal demand by 2040 (See Appendix I and Agency 2015 UWMP). Allocation among the Agency s Water Contractors, including the City, during dry year conditions is governed by the Shortage Methodology described in Section 3.5 of the 7-11

91 Restructured Agreement. Due to the City s extensive water conservation implementation which is recognized by the Shortage Methodology, it is not likely that single dry year conditions would reduce the volume of surface water available to the City to less than the average for all Water Contractors. In addition, due to the short duration of a single dry year and the artesian conditions of the City s Farmers Lane wells, it is not anticipated that groundwater supply would be impacted during a single dry year. If a supply shortfall occurs during a single dry year, the City would enact the appropriate stage of the City s Water Shortage Plan, as described in Chapter 8, to reduce customer demands to match available supplies. This approach was used in 2015, resulting in the City s 2015 water use being 24 percent less than in Because the City s groundwater and recycled water supplies are not impacted by single-dry year hydrologic conditions, even if Agency water supplies were to decrease by 19 percent during a single-dry year under 2040 demand conditions, a City demand reduction of only about 14 percent would be required. A comparison of projected water supply and demand during a single-dry water year is included in Table 7-3. Table 7-3: Single Dry Year Supply and Demand Comparison (DWR Table 7-3) (Opt) Supply totals 24,289 22,948 23,644 24,408 24,282 Demand totals 24,289 22,948 23,644 24,408 24,282 Difference NOTES: Demand totals from 2025 through 2040 reflect implementation of the City's Water Shortage Contingency Plan (see Chapter 8) to achieve demand reductions of up to 14 percent by 2040 to match projected water supply totals. As described in the Agency s 2015 UWMP, the Agency does not project a shortfall during multiple dry year conditions. Drought conditions are not anticipated to reduce the City s groundwater supplies during multiple dry years due to the quantities of groundwater storage available. However, if a supply shortfall should occur during a multiple dry year, the City would enact the appropriate stage of the City s Water Shortage Plan as described in Chapter 8 to reduce customer water demands. A comparison of projected water supply and demand during a multiple-dry water year period is included in Table

92 First year Second year Third year Fourth year (optional) Fifth year (optional) Sixth year (optional) Table 7-4: Multiple Dry Years Supply and Demand Comparison (DWR Table 7-4) (Opt) Supply totals 24,289 25,730 26,946 28,243 28,280 Demand totals 24,289 25,730 26,946 28,243 28,280 Difference Supply totals 24,289 25,730 26,946 28,243 28,280 Demand totals 24,289 25,730 26,946 28,243 28,280 Difference Supply totals 24,289 25,730 26,946 28,243 28,280 Demand totals 24,289 25,730 26,946 28,243 28,280 Difference Supply totals 24,289 25,730 26,946 28,243 28,280 Demand totals 24,289 25,730 26,946 28,243 28,280 Difference Supply totals Demand totals Difference Supply totals Demand totals 7.4 REGIONAL SUPPLY RELIABILITY Difference All water consumed by the City comes from local supply sources. No water is imported from other regions, nor does the City anticipate importing water from other regions throughout the UWMP planning period. 7-13

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94 CHAPTER 8 WATER SHORTAGE AND CONTINGENCY PLANNING The City s Urban Water Shortage Contingency Plan (Water Shortage Plan) provides guidance on demand reduction strategies and implementation of steps to respond to a catastrophic emergency. Summaries of and excerpts from the Water Shortage Plan are included here to describe how the City would respond to a catastrophic interruption of water supplies, including mandatory prohibitions and consumption reduction methods that would be exercised in response to a water shortage, as well as penalties and charges for excess use. The Water Shortage Plan, which fully describes the City s plan for responding to water shortage conditions, including an analysis of impacts to revenues and expenditures and a draft water shortage emergency resolution, is included in Appendix J. 8.1 STAGES OF ACTION Demand reduction strategies will be employed at all stages of a water shortage emergency. The City has determined the rationing stages for response to reduced supply in a water shortage emergency. Table 8-1 details these rationing stages. Each rationing stage will be declared by the Santa Rosa City Council, or in the event of a catastrophic emergency the Director of Water may declare a rationing stage until such time as a quorum of the City Council may be convened. The entire strategy for demand reduction is summarized in Attachment 1 of Appendix J, the City s Water Shortage Action Plan. Table 8-1: Stages of Water Shortage Contingency Plan (DWR Table 8-1) Stage No. Percent Supply Reduction 1 Numerical value as a percent Water Supply Condition Stage 1 10% Up to 10% Reduction in Agency Water Supply Stage 2 15% 11 15% Reduction in Agency Water Supply Stage 3 20% 16 20% Reduction in Agency Water Supply Stage 4 25% 21 25% Reduction in Agency Water Supply Stage 5 30% 26 30% Reduction in Agency Water Supply Stage 6 40% 31 40% Reduction in Agency Water Supply Stage 7 50% %+ Reduction in Agency Water Supply 1 One stage in the Water Shortage Contingency Plan must address a water shortage of 50%. NOTE: Stage 1 and Stage 2 are voluntary stages. 8.2 PROHIBITIONS ON END USES Santa Rosa adopted a Water Waste Ordinance in 1999 which prohibits the following: Irrigation in such a manner that it runs off or over-sprays the irrigated area Leaks that are detected yet un-repaired 8-1

95 The Water Waste Ordinance states that water service will be discontinued for continued violation once notification has been made. In addition to the prohibitions outlined in the Water Waste Ordinance, the following program of mandatory prohibited uses is established for the Water Shortage Emergency condition for each stage and is presented in Table 8-2. Stage Table 8-2: Restrictions and Prohibitions on End Uses (DWR Table 8-2) Restrictions and Prohibitions on End Users Additional Explanation or Reference 1 Other - Prohibit use of potable water for washing hard surfaces Hard surfaces includes sidewalks, patios and other unless required for health and safety needs Penalty, Charge, or Other Enforcement? 1 Other - Require automatic shut of hoses Yes 2 Other - Prohibit use of potable water for washing hard surfaces Hard surfaces includes streets Yes 2 CII - Restaurants may only serve water upon request Yes 3 Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to specific times Irrigation limited to 8:00 pm to 6:00 am 3 Other Power washing prohibited unless variance obtained 4 Water Features - Restrict water use for decorative water features, such as fountains 5 Other New construction must offset new demand 1:1 5 Other water feature or swimming pool restriction Filling new swimming pools is prohibited 5 Other - Prohibit use of potable water for construction and dust control Applies when recycled water is available and project is within 1 mile radius of recycled water filling station 6 Other New construction must offset new demand 2:1 6 Landscape - Other landscape restriction or prohibition No water using landscape installation in new construction 6 Other water feature or swimming pool restriction Filling or topping-off existing swimming pools is prohibited 7 Other New construction must offset new demand 3:1 7 Landscape - Other landscape restriction or prohibition No water using landscape installation NOTES: Water Waste Ordinance Prohibition Regulations are in effect during all water conditions. Each stage of the Water Shortage Plan also includes prohibitions identified in previous stages. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 8-2

96 8.3 PENALTIES, CHARGES, OTHER ENFORCEMENT OF PROHIBITIONS The City employs multiple methodologies in order to enforce the prohibitions listed in Table 8-2. Primarily, the City relies on robust information sharing and the generation of awareness related to water shortage conditions and the attendant prohibitions that exist for the relevant stage. In addition, the City also utilizes water waste notifications in all stages, and has the ability to require a water audit at customer sites, install a flow reducing device at the meter, and disconnect water service for those customers that repeatedly violate prohibitions or routinely exceed allotments. In addition, all customers may be subject to a Water Shortage Charge in Stages 3-7 to help cover water system costs and encourage water conservation by all customers, and in Stages 5-7, the City has the ability to implement Excess Use Penalties for customers that exceed their allotments (Table 8-3). Table 8-3: Water Shortage Contingency Surcharges and Penalties Stage When Penalties or Charges Penalty Takes Effect Water Shortage Charge Increased usage charge to encourage water conservation and help cover 3 costs Excess Use Charge Penalty for excess use above allocation CONSUMPTION REDUCTION METHODS As identified in the Water Shortage Plan, the City has identified seven rationing stages for responding to a reduction in water supply. The seven stages are explicitly identified in Table 8-1. For each stage, the City has determined an overall demand reduction goal for the City s system, which will be achieved with different reduction goals for each customer class. To achieve the overall reduction goal and customer class reduction goals, the City has defined consumption limits for each Stage. Table 8-4 summarizes the consumption reduction methods by Stage. A summary of the consumption reduction methods are included in Table 8-4. Each stage incorporates the consumption reduction methods of the previous stage. The City will initiate its public information campaign in Stage 1 and progressively build the campaign through successive stages. 8-3

97 Table 8-4: Stages of Water Shortage Contingency Plan Consumption Reduction Methods (DWR Table 8-3) Stage Consumption Reduction Methods by Water Supplier Additional Explanation or Reference (optional) 1 Other 2 Other 3 Other 3 Increase Water Waste Patrols Implement or Modify Drought Rate Structure or 3 Surcharge 4 Other Community wide reduction target established, minimization of non-essential uses, public information campaign Community wide reduction target established, minimization of non-essential uses Community wide reduction target established, minimization of non-essential uses Begin implementing Water Shortage Charges Community wide reduction target established, minimization of non-essential uses 5 Moratorium or Net Zero Demand Increase on New Connections New construction offsets new demand 1:1 5 Increase Frequency of Meter Reading The Sonoma County Water Agency will provide weekly metering data 5 Other Begin implementing water usage allocations 6 Moratorium or Net Zero Demand Increase on New Connections New construction offsets new demand 2:1 6 7 Implement or Modify Drought Rate Structure or Surcharge Moratorium or Net Zero Demand Increase on New Connections Implement Excess Use Penalties New construction offsets new demand 3:1 NOTES: Water use surveys, and rebates for plumbing fixtures/devices, landscape irrigation efficiency, turf replacement and sustained reduction are available under all water conditions. In addition to the methods discussed previously in this section, the City may elect to implement other water reducing measures including implementing limitations on water main flushing as well as restricting potable water use for fire department drills. The City is also a member of the Sonoma Marin Saving Water Partnership (see Chapter 9), an eleven-member partnership who have joined together to provide a regional approach in addressing water efficiency. The Partnership identifies and recommends implementation of joint water use efficiency projects, expands public information campaigns and maximizes the costeffectiveness of water use efficiency programs in the region. 8.5 DETERMINING WATER SHORTAGE REDUCTIONS All of the City water accounts are metered. Meters are read monthly and billing invoices are distributed monthly. In addition, water provided to the City by the Sonoma County Water Agency is also metered/billed on a monthly basis. 8-4

98 Stages 1 through 4 Monthly delivery records from the Agency meters and from local groundwater sources, if in use, will be reported to the Director of Water or the Director s designee. If overall reduction goals are not met, the Director may notify the Board of Public Utilities and City Council and more aggressive measures can be implemented. Stages 5 through 7 - Weekly delivery figures from the Agency meters and local groundwater sources, if in use, and monthly consumption data from the City s Utility Billing Division will be reported to the Director of Water or the Director s designee. If reduction goals are not met, the Director will notify the Board of Public Utilities and City Council and more aggressive action will be taken. 8.6 REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE IMPACTS The City s water rate structure consists of a two-tier water rate structure for Single-Family Residential customers, a uniform water usage rate structure for Multi-Family Residential and Commercial, Industrial and Institutional (CII) customers, and a water-budget based two-tier water rate structure for Dedicated Irrigation customers. As of January 5, 2016 the normal water usage rates per 1,000 gallons are listed in Table 8-5. The water rate structure also includes fixed monthly service charges, which vary with the size of the water meter. Table 8-5: Water Usage Rates Effective January 5, 2016 Water Usage Rates (per 1,000 gallons) Single Family Residential Tiered Rate Tier 1 (up to sewer cap) $5.25 Tier 2 (above sewer cap) $6.14 Multi-family Residential $5.59 Commercial, Industrial, & Institutional $5.59 Dedicated Irrigation Water-Budget Based Tiered Rate Tier 1 (up to 125% of water budget) $5.29 Tier 2 (above 125% of water budget) $6.70 Water usage rates during a shortage condition, as defined in the following sections, will be based on modifications to the water rate structure in place at the time of the declared emergency. The City s water rate structure is designed to encourage efficient water use, even during normal water supply conditions. This is achieved through a low fixed service charge and a relatively high usage charge applicable to each unit of water use. This conservation-oriented rate structure introduces some financial risk in that a significant portion of fixed costs is recovered through the usage charge, based on water usage. A reduction in water usage can result in revenues not covering all fixed costs. 8-5

99 8.6.1 DROUGHT RATE STRUCTURES AND SURCHARGES Changes to the water rate structure during each stage of rationing are designed to encourage customers to reduce water use commensurate with water allocations and use reduction goals. In addition, the water rate structure changes are also necessary to help cover water system costs and protect the financial stability of the water system as water demands are reduced. Under normal conditions, and in both Stages 1 and 2 (with voluntary use restrictions), there are no changes to the water rate structure. To compensate for loss of revenue from reduced water sales and increased staffing for the water shortage response effort, the Catastrophic Reserve may be employed in Stages 1 and 2. In the event of a water shortage, adoption of the Water Shortage Resolution (see Section 8.7) by the Santa Rosa City Council will allow the appropriation of funds from the Catastrophic Reserve. In Stages 3 and 4, reduction in net revenue brought on by reduced water sales and increased costs for the water shortage response effort will be mitigated by both the Catastrophic Reserve and the introduction of a Water Shortage Charge (WSC) on each unit of water sold. A 5% WSC will be added to the then-current water usage rates on every unit of water sold for all customer accounts beginning in Stage 3. The WSC will increase to 10% in Stage 4, 15% in Stage 5, 20% in Stage 6, and 30% in Stage 7. Beginning in Stage 5 and continuing through Stage 7, the tiered water usage rates for Single-Family Residential and Dedicated Irrigation accounts are eliminated and the uniform water usage rate applicable to Multi-Family Residential and CII accounts is imposed on all customer accounts. In addition, Excess Use Penalties will be imposed on water usage in excess with water allocations established for each customer. The WSC is designed to recover a portion of the cost of the revenue from the shortfall from the entire community, and is designed such that a typical customer s bill will not change significantly even though the water usage rates are increased (this assumes the typical customer will reduce water usage consistent with use reduction goals). The WSC will increase with each stage according to Table

100 Table 8-6: Water Shortage Charge (WSC) for All Water Sold Stages 3 through 7 Water Shortage Charge - Stage 3 Account Type Water Shortage Charge Stage 3 ($ Per 1,000 Gallons) Example with Jan Water Usage Rates ($ Per 1,000 Gallons) Single Family and Duplex Accounts Tier 1 Rate Plus 5% Tier 1 $5.51 Tier 2 Rate Plus 5% Tier 2 $6.45 Dedicated Irrigation Accounts Tier 1 Rate Plus 5% Tier 1 $5.55 Tier 2 Rate Plus 5% Tier 2 $7.04 Multi-Family Residential Accounts (3 units or more) Uniform Rate Plus 5% $5.87 Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Uniform Rate Plus 5% $5.87 Health Care, Safety WATER SHORTAGE CHARGE - STAGE 4 Account Type Water Shortage Charge Stage 4 ($ Per 1,000 Gallons) Example with Jan Water Usage Rates ($ Per 1,000 Gallons) Single Family and Duplex Accounts Tier 1 Rate Plus 10% Tier 1 $5.78 Dedicated Irrigation Accounts Tier 2 Rate Plus 10% Tier 1 Rate Plus 10% Tier 2 Rate Plus 10% Tier 2 $6.75 Tier 1 $5.82 Tier 2 $7.37 Multi-Family Residential Accounts (3 units or more) Uniform Rate Plus 10% $6.15 Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Health Care, Safety Uniform Rate Plus 10% $6.15 WATER SHORTAGE CHARGE - STAGE 5 Water Shortage Charge Stage 5 Account Type ($ Per 1,000 Gallons) Example with Jan Water Usage Rates ($ Per 1,000 Gallons) Single Family and Duplex Accounts Uniform Rate Plus 15% $6.43 Dedicated Irrigation Accounts Uniform Rate Plus 15% $6.43 Multi-Family Residential Accounts (3 units or more) Uniform Rate Plus 15% $6.43 Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Health Care, Safety Uniform Rate Plus 15% $6.43 WATER SHORTAGE CHARGE - STAGE 6 Account Type Water Shortage Charge Stage 6 ($ Per 1,000 Gallons) Example with Jan Water Usage Rates ($ Per 1,000 Gallons) Single Family and Duplex Accounts Uniform Rate Plus 20% $6.71 Dedicated Irrigation Accounts Uniform Rate Plus 20% $6.71 Multi-Family Residential Accounts (3 units or more) Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Health Care, Safety Uniform Rate Plus 20% $6.71 Uniform Rate Plus 20% $

101 Table 8-6: Water Shortage Charge (WSC) for All Water Sold Stages 3 through 7 (cont d) Account Type WATER SHORTAGE CHARGE - STAGE 7 Water Shortage Charge Stage 7 ($ Per 1,000 Gallons) Example with Jan Water Usage Rates ($ Per 1,000 Gallons) Single Family and Duplex Accounts Uniform Rate Plus 30% $7.27 Dedicated Irrigation Accounts Uniform Rate Plus 30% $7.27 Multi-Family Residential Accounts (3 units or more) Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Health Care, Safety Uniform Rate Plus 30% $7.27 Uniform Rate Plus 30% $7.27 In addition to the WSC, an inclining rate designed to reward customers for staying within their allotment and to assess Excess Use Penalties (EUP) for water use over the allotment will be adopted at Stages 5, 6, and 7. In Stage 5, the EUP consists of a 10% penalty for use from 100% up to 150% of the water allotment and a 20% penalty for use over 150% of the water allotment for all customer accounts. In Stage 6, the EUP consists of a 25% penalty for use from 100% up to 150% above the water allotment and a 50% penalty for use over 150% of the water allotment for all customer accounts. In Stage 7, the EUP consists of a 50% penalty for use from 100% up to 150% above the water allotment and a 100% penalty for use over 150% of the water allotment for all customer accounts. The structure of the EUP is summarized in Table 8-7. Table 8-7: Excess Use Penalty (EUP) for Water Used in Excess of Allotment Stages 5, 6, and 7 Water Use Compared to Allotment Excess Use Penalty (EUP) Water use up to 100% of allotment Water usage rate with WSC per Table 8-6 Water use from 100% up to 150% of allotment Water use over 150% of allotment Stage 5 Water usage rate with WSC plus 10% EUP Stage 6 Water usage rate with WSC plus 25% EUP Stage 7 Water usage rate with WSC plus 50% EUP Stage 5 Water usage rate with WSC plus 20% EUP Stage 6 Water usage rate with WSC plus 50% EUP Stage 7 Water usage rate with WSC plus 100% EUP No EUP revenues are planned for or relied upon, as the EUP is entirely avoidable to all customers. EUP revenues are not intended to be used as general operating revenues during the emergency, but may be used to: (1) offset the extraordinary costs of the water shortage emergency such as additional conservation support; (2) rebuild the Catastrophic Reserve; and/or (3) establish a rate stabilization fund for the postemergency recovery. 8-8

102 Table 8-8 summarizes the water shortage rate structure for each stage of rationing based on the current (effective January 5, 2016) water rates. Normal Supply And Stages 1 & 2 Monthly Service Charge ($/Month) 1 Table 8-8: Water Shortage Rate Structure (Jan. 2016) Stage 3: (16% To 20% Shortage) Stage 4: (21% To 25% Shortage) Stage 5: (26% To 30% Shortage) Stage 6: (31% To 40% Shortage) Stage 7: (41% To 50% Shortage) 5/8" meter $ $ $ $ $ $ " meter $ $ $ $ $ $ /2" meter $ $ $ $ $ $ " meter $ $ $ $ $ $ " meter $ $ $ $ $ $ " meter $ $ $ $ $ $ " meter $ $ $ $ $ $ Water Usage Rates ($/1,000 Gal.) 2 Single Family & Tier 1 $ 5.25 $ 5.51 $ 5.78 Duplexes Tier 2 $ 6.14 $ 6.45 $ 6.75 Dedicated Irrigation Tier 1 $ 5.29 $ 5.55 $ 5.82 Tier 2 $ 6.70 $ 7.04 $ 7.37 Multi-Family Residential $ 5.59 $ 5.87 $ 6.15 Non-Residential $ 5.59 $ 5.87 $ 6.15 All Water Customers 3 WATER SHORTAGE RATE SURCHARGES 3 Tier 1 - Up to 100% of water allotment $ 6.43 $ 6.71 $ 7.27 Tier 2 - Over 100% up to 150% of water allotment $ 7.07 $ 8.39 $ Tier 3 - Over 150% of water allotment $ 7.72 $ $ Water Shortage Charge 5% 10% 15% 20% 30% Tier 2 Excess Use Penalty 10% 25% 50% Tier 3 Excess Use Penalty 20% 50% 100% 1 Monthly water service charges are unaffected by water shortage rate changes. 2 No changes to water usage rates occur during Stage 1 or Stage 2 conditions. Beginning in Stage the water usage rates are increased by the amount of the water shortage charge. The basic water usage structure for each customer class is unchanged through Stage 4. 3 During Stages 5 through 7 the water usage rate structure changes to an allotment for each customer (as described). Water shortage charges apply in these stages, and excess use penalties apply to water usage above the allotment, as specified 8-9

103 8.6.2 USE OF FINANCIAL RESERVES Three lines of defense are incorporated into the City s water shortage financial strategy and rate structure: 1. The catastrophic reserve will be drawn down to absorb part of the financial deficit caused by a reduction in water rate revenues (due to lower water sales) that exceeds the reduction in operating costs. 2. All customers will be subject to an increased water usage charge (Water Shortage Charge) to help cover water system costs, encourage water conservation by all customers, and help protect the financial condition of the water utility. The Water Shortage Charge (described below) is designed such that customers meeting use reduction goals will have lower water bills than they do with normal usage. 3. Water service customers that exceed water allocations and do not meet reduction goals may be subject to additional Excess Use Penalties during Stage 5 through Stage 7 periods. Revenues from Excess Use Penalties will be used only for specified purposes OTHER MEASURES As progressive stages of the Water Shortage Plan are enacted, an additional measure is taken to stabilize the financial picture for the utility. Along with the WSC, reductions in Capital Improvement Program expenditures are implemented in Stage 3, and increase further in Stages 6 and 7. Reduced capital spending will help to offset reduced revenue resulting from decreased water sales. 8-10

104 8.7 RESOLUTION OR ORDINANCE At the time of a water shortage emergency, the Santa Rosa City Council will adopt a Water Shortage Resolution. A draft Water Shortage Emergency Resolution is found in Appendix J, Attachment 2. With Stages 5 through 7, a Water Shortage Emergency Ordinance will also be adopted. In the event that a Water Shortage Emergency occurs and the City Council cannot assemble to adopt a Water Shortage Emergency Resolution or Ordinance, the Director of Water is authorized to implement the appropriate stage, based on the reduction in water supply, of the Water Shortage Plan. The Director of Water s determination to implement the Water Shortage Plan shall remain effective until the City Council meeting immediately following such determination, at which time the Santa Rosa City Council will adopt the Water Shortage Resolution or Ordinance. 8.8 CATASTROPHIC SUPPLY INTERRUPTION In addition to responding to drought conditions, the City s Water Shortage Plan can be used to respond to emergency conditions that interrupt water supplies to the City. Water supplies may be interrupted in the future due to water supply contamination, major transmission pipeline break, regional power outage, or a natural disaster such as an earthquake. In the event of an emergency, the Water Department would respond as outlined in the City s current City of Santa Rosa Utilities Department Water System Emergency Response Plan. Actions that the City would take if these emergencies occurred today are outlined below NO WATER AVAILABLE FROM THE AGENCY In the event that the Agency s Russian River supply becomes contaminated (i.e. due to a chemical spill or other environmental incident), it may be possible that no water would be available from the Agency for a period of time. In such a case, the City would need to rely on water from Agency/City distribution system storage facilities, Farmers Lane wells, and/or emergency wells. If such an event were to occur, the City would need to implement one or more stages of the Water Shortage Plan to notify customers of the need to reduce water use until the Agency water supply could be restored AREA-WIDE ELECTRICAL POWER FAILURE If an area-wide electrical power failure were to occur within the City s water service area, many of the City s pumping facilities could potentially be impacted. The City has stationary standby generators at 18 of its 20 booster pump stations. The other two booster pump stations either have receptacles for use with a portable generator or have outlets for bypass pumping with portable water pumpers. In addition, the City has numerous pumper connectors and pressure regulating valves throughout the water system to move water from different pressure zones during an emergency. The Agency s facilities may also be vulnerable to power outages; however, most of the Agency facilities which serve the City have backup power provisions. 8-11

105 8.8.3 EARTHQUAKE Water system infrastructure, including pump stations, storage tanks, and pipelines, can be damaged during a strong earthquake. The City s facilities have been constructed in accordance with the applicable building codes to minimize potential damage during an earthquake. However, it is expected that some facilities may be damaged as the result of a strong earthquake. The City has planned for this potential outage scenario by constructing system redundancy into its water system. The City has multiple storage facilities, looped distribution pipelines, and a hose reel trailer with over 2,500 lineal feet of potable hose in various sizes with fittings to allow potentially damaged portions of the City s system to be quickly isolated and repaired as well as being able to construct manifolds for temporary emergency water stations. 8.9 MINIMUM SUPPLY NEXT THREE YEARS The estimated minimum water supply for the next three years assumes a multiple dry year condition based on the driest four-year historic sequence (1988 to 1991). As indicated in the Agency s 2015 Urban Water Management Plan, no supply curtailment would result to the City from the Agency if the hydrologic conditions of the driest four-year historic sequence occurred today. Table 8-9 presents the estimated minimum water supply for the next three years. This water supply reflects the combined availability of all water sources and assumes the same hydrology utilized in the multiple-dry year period of (see DWR Table 7-1). Table 8-9: Minimum Supply Next Three Years (DWR Table 8-4) Available Water Supply 31,540 31,540 31,

106 CHAPTER 9 DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES This chapter describes the City s historical and existing water conservation program, status of implementation of Demand Management Measures (DMMs), and projected future conservation implementation. The chapter includes a comprehensive description of historical, current, and projected water conservation programs that are being implemented to achieve compliance with SB X7-7. A narrative description of the status of the DMMs and how the DMMs will help the City achieve its SB X7-7 water use targets is provided. As a member of the California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC), the City has also included its CUWCC Best Management Practices (BMP) reporting for 2013 and 2014 in Appendix K. 9.1 WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM OVERVIEW The City has been and continues to be a leader in implementing innovative water conservation programs. Water conservation and demand management are an integral part of the City s water management strategy. Santa Rosa is committed to integrating water conservation into future supply and demand solutions for both the water system and the wastewater treatment/reuse system. The City has been implementing water conservation programs since the drought. In the early 1990 s, the City further expanded the program with the creation and hiring of a full-time Water Conservation Coordinator. In 1998, the City became a signatory to the CUWCC Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Regarding Urban Water Conservation dated September The City was recognized by the Public Officials for Water and Environmental Reform (P.O.W.E.R) 2007 Water Conservation Scorecard as one of only two water retailers in the State of California to successfully complete all 14 BMPs, as outlined in the 1998 CUWCC MOU, without an exemption. The City has spent $20 million on its water conservation programs, including replacement of approximately 50,000 toilets with ultra-low-flow and high-efficiency toilets and the replacement of over 3 million square feet of high water use landscapes with low water use landscapes. Additionally, the City implements innovative programs such as our rainwater harvesting rebate program, graywater reuse ( laundry-to-landscape ) rebate program, hot water recirculation pump incentive, and sustained reduction rebate programs. From the approximate period since the City joined the CUWCC, the City s cumulative water conservation implementation has resulted in water use savings of over 4,500 AFY, reducing the City s total water demand by approximately 18%. To assist with water conservation implementation, the City established a conservation-oriented water rate structure in 2007 that encourages water conservation implementation. The City s water rate structure is designed to derive the overwhelming majority of water sales revenue from volumetric, as opposed to fixed, charges. In 2015 the City received approximately 76% of water sales revenue from volumetric charges and 24% from fixed charges. The City set a tiered water rate structure for Single-Family Residential customers and a water budget-based tiered water rate structure for Dedicated Irrigation customers that targets outdoor water use. The Dedicated Irrigation rate structure is based on landscape measurements for each customer site and real-time evapotranspiration (ETo) data from the City s California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) station. 9-1

107 The City offers technical support, education, information and incentives to Single-Family Residential, Multi-Family Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) customers, and Dedicated Irrigation customers. Figure 9-1 illustrates the amount and location of participation in all of the City s water conservation programs since Figure 9-1 Water Use Efficiency Program Participants 9-2

108 9.2 DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES The City implements a wide range of DMMs to achieve water use reductions. DMMs include implementation of a water waste ordinance, metering of all water connections, conservation pricing, public outreach and education, programs to assess and manage distribution system real loss, water conservation program coordination and staffing, and a suite of free services, rebates, and incentives. Each of these DMMs is described below WATER WASTE PREVENTION ORDINANCES The City adopted Water Waste Ordinance No in May A copy of the Ordinance is included in Appendix A. The Ordinance prohibits waste of water due to plumbing leaks, unattended open hoses, broken sprinkler heads or irrigation lines, excessive irrigation running off property, and excessive irrigation spraying off property; non recirculating ornamental fountains; and inefficient plumbing fixtures. The Ordinance gives the City the authority to discontinue service if water waste is not corrected. The City has developed a process to address violations of the Ordinance and any reported water waste violation receives immediate response from City staff. If water waste is identified, a door tag is left at the property to notify the customer of the violation and follow-up technical assistance is provided, including offers of water conservation surveys and information on incentive programs to improve water-use efficiency. If corrective action is not implemented within the identified time frame, a notice of violation is mailed to the customer specifying actions that must be taken within a particular time frame. Failure to comply can lead to the City discontinuing water service. During water shortage conditions, the City also implements a water waste patrol to identify and notify customers of violations of the Ordinance. The City maintains a database of water waste violations, including the customer account information, date of water waste and corrective actions taken to address the water waste violation. In addition, the City has adopted ordinances to require efficient water use in new development. In 1991, the City adopted an efficient plumbing fixture ordinance, Ordinance No. 2889, mandating the installation of low-flow faucet aerators and showerheads and ultra-low-flow toilets (ULFTs) at all new and existing properties within the City. In 1992, the City adopted a Water Efficient Landscape Policy in response to Assembly Bill 325 (1991), requiring the installation of water-efficient landscaping for all new development construction, excluding Single-Family Residential. In 2010, the City adopted the CalGreen Building Code Requirements, requiring high-efficiency plumbing fixtures for all new construction and renovations of residential and commercial properties. The City has adopted the 2013 CalGreen Building Code Requirements which remain in effect until January 1, In 2007, the City adopted a Single-Family Residential Landscape Policy, requiring the installation of water-efficient landscaping in all new Single-Family Residential development. In 2009, the City adopted a Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO), in response to AB 1881, incorporating and superseding both the Water Efficient Landscape Policy and Single- Family Residential Landscape Policy. In 2015 the City revised WELO to comply with the State s new Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. A copy of the WELO is included in Appendix A METERING The City s service area is fully metered. All water connections are metered, and all new connections 9-3

109 are required to be metered. The City reads meters and bills customers monthly. In addition, the City has a comprehensive meter maintenance and replacement program in place to assure proper meter calibration and registering. The City maintains an asset management database that maintains information on all of the meters in the City s system, including meter size, type, year installed, customer class served and maintenance performed CONSERVATION PRICING The City established a conservation-oriented water rate structure in 2007 to encourage water conservation implementation. The City implements an increasing block, tiered water rate structure for Single-Family Residential customers and an increasing block water budget-based tiered water rate structure for Dedicated Irrigation customers (outdoor water use). The Dedicated Irrigation water rate structure is based on individual landscape measurements and real-time ETo data from the City s CIMIS station. The City s sewer charges are based on metered water use during winter months, when all water use is presumed to be indoor use, and customers are billed monthly. The water rate structure is designed to derive the majority of water sales revenue from volumetric charges. In 2015 the City received approximately 76% of water sales revenue from volumetric charges and 24% from fixed charges, which is higher than the CUWCC s Conservation Pricing requirement of 70% of water sales revenue derived from volumetric charges. Customers are billed based on metered water use on a monthly basis. Because water rates are tiered and sewer use is based on metered water use during winter months, customers can reduce their water and sewer bills by reducing their water use PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH The City maintains four water conservation information distribution centers in City facilities, provides water conservation bill inserts in both English and Spanish, sends a Water Conservation Welcome Packet to all new accounts informing them of the City s water conservation programs, participates in the annual Fix A Leak Week by staffing events and providing leak detection kits, staffs a Water Conservation informational booth at the Downtown Market every summer, staffs booths at numerous public events, provides information in English and Spanish through our Water Conservation Website, provides speakers to organizations, provides technical workshops for customers, provides technical irrigation efficiency workshops for landscape contractors, supports the statewide Water Awareness Month campaign each May with a variety of activities, and produces our annual Water SMART Expo, providing education and information about using water wisely. Santa Rosa Water staff at Community Event 9-4

110 In 2010, the Sonoma Marin Saving Water Partnership (SMSWP) was established to work collaboratively on water conservation implementation, including water conservation outreach and education. The SMSWP consists of the cities of Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Sonoma, Cotati, Petaluma, Town of Windsor, North Marin, Marin Municipal, and Valley of the Moon Water Districts, California American Water and Sonoma County Water Agency. The SMSWP provides regional media campaigns related to water conservation and water use efficiency, including newspaper and radio ads, facebook notices, before the movie ads, a dedicated website, and local cable channel videos. In response to the drought, the SMSWP developed the regional There s a Drought On. Turn the Water Off. campaign in 2014 and There s Never Enough to Waste. Turn the Water Off. regional media campaign in As part of both of these regional outreach efforts, unique events were held including Drought Drive Up events focusing on ways to reduce water use indoors and Do It Yourself Outdoor Drought Solutions events focusing on ways to reduce water use outdoors. The City s water wholesaler, the Sonoma County Water Agency, implements a regional water education program on behalf of all of its retail water agencies. The Agency s Water Education Program is designed to help educators teach students the value of water as an important natural resource and to promote water conservation and watershed stewardship. The program includes classroom instructional presentations; field study opportunities; Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) teacher trainings and workshops; free curriculum materials aligned with the California Content Standards; a lending library of videos, interactive models, and printed materials; production of a newsletter for teachers; and endorsement, participation, and financial sponsorship of events, assemblies, and workshops. All programs and materials are free to teachers in the service area. To supplement the Sonoma County Water Agency education program, the City conducts an annual water conservation poster contest for 3rd and 4th grade classes throughout Santa Rosa. The water conservation posters are used to create an annual water conservation calendar produced by the Agency. The City also provides classroom presentations on where our water comes from, water conservation, and water quality through our Take it From the TAP! Program and offers tours of the Laguna Wastewater Treatment Plant, incorporating information on water conservation and recycled water use Programs to Assess and Manage Distribution System Real Loss. Every year, the City uses the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Standard Water Audit and Water Balance M36 Publication and companion Water Audits and Loss Control software to determine and analyze the annual water loss for the system. Staff also utilized the Real Loss Component Analysis to better understand the sources of real water losses (reported, un-reported, or background) every four years. Unaccounted-for water use, or system water loss, is the difference between water produced and water sold to the customers. Unaccounted-for water includes metered and unmetered water use, such as water used for fire protection and training, water system flushing, sewer cleaning, construction, system leaks, as well as water used by unauthorized connections. Unaccounted-for water use can also result from meter inaccuracies. The City implements a number of programs to control system water loss, including meter testing and calibration on a routine schedule based on meter size, hydrant maintenance to insure valves are exercised appropriately, metering of all City 9-5

111 field crew trucks that use water as part of their routine maintenance activities and metering all construction use. The City s field crews also implement a leak detection program using a combination of acoustic listening devices and a leak detection correlator to systematically complete a survey of the City s distribution system annually to identify undetected leaks (walking routes and listening to accessible points of the system, i.e. curb stops, valves, hydrants, etc.). Any leaks discovered are repaired immediately. The City maintains a database that records the date, time and location of the leak, as well as the repair information and estimated amount of water lost due to the leak. In addition, as a preventative measure, the City implements a service replacement program for plastic services and certain copper services where the City has identified areas of high leaks from services. The City s billing department notifies customers of potential property-side water leaks by analyzing water use records for dramatic increases in water use and contacting customers individually and offering assistance. In addition, the City s Water Conservation Program analyzes dedicated irrigation customers water use records to determine which accounts have high water use and contacts those customers to offer assistance. The City s robust program has led to unaccounted-forwater being less than 10% over the past fifteen years WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM COORDINATION AND STAFFING SUPPORT Since January 1991, the City has had a full-time Water Conservation Program Coordinator overseeing the implementation of the City s water conservation programs described in this chapter. In addition to the Coordinator, the City employs eight full-time-equivalent staff for water conservation programs, including one Water Resources Analyst, four Water Conservation Technicians, a part-time Senior Administrative Assistant, and five part-time Water Conservation interns. From 2011 to 2015, the annual budget averaged $1.2 million for staff and DMM programs OTHER DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES The City offers a wide range of free services and financial incentives to help customers use water wisely. The programs are listed below and described in more detail in this section. The Santa Rosa Water Crew repairing water system Indoor Water Use Efficiency Survey: In 2004, the City began providing free water use efficiency audits to all residential customers. The water use surveys are conducted by Water Conservation staff and include checking for interior and exterior 9-6

112 property leaks, checking for ULFTs or highefficiency toilets, low-flow shower heads, and lowflow faucets and distributing free high-efficiency showerheads and faucet aerators as needed. Rainwater Harvesting Rebate: In 2009, the City developed and implemented a Rainwater Harvesting Rebate program, providing a rebate for storage, limited to the amount of storage needed to meet the estimated peak month water use needs for the landscape. Rainwater harvesting is the capture, storage and use of rainwater on-site. Rainwater systems range from simple catchment devices, such as rain barrels, to more complex systems such as cisterns and storage tanks. Rainwater Harvesting The City added a Rainwater Harvesting rebate to its portfolio in At the program s inception, any storage of rainwater was considered to be an auxiliary water supply. As such, Title 17 required the installation (if not already present) of a backflow device to prevent cross-connection with the potable supply. Ten systems were installed between 2010 and March of 2014, ranging in size from 1,000 to 11,500 gallons, for a total of 34,000 gallons. Graywater Reuse Rebate: In 2010, the City developed a Graywater Rebate to encourage the installation of graywater systems in compliance with new building codes. Graywater is wastewater collected from showers, bathtubs, bathroom sinks, and clothes washing machines that is reused onsite instead of going into the sewer system. Graywater does not include water from toilets, kitchen sinks or dishwashers. High-Efficiency Urinal Rebate: In 2009 the City began implementing a High-Efficiency Urinal Rebate Program for CII customers. Best Available Technology Incentive: New Laundromats, commercial kitchens, and restaurants that install the best available technology for water efficiency, above and beyond what is required by current building codes, can earn a reduction in sewer demand fees. Green Exchange Program: In 2007, the City began offering rebates and financial incentives for reducing landscape water use and improving landscape water use efficiency at residential and CII sites. The Green Exchange Program provides rebates for replacing high water use landscaping In March of 2014, our Water Quality section and the California Department of Public Health agreed to forego the backflow requirement for gravity-fed systems with no pumps, electrical controls or power, and used solely for outdoor irrigation (rain barrel systems). Since then, the city has held four well-attended rainwater harvesting workshops, demonstrating the construction of simple multiple-barrel systems. These workshops, along with the increased public awareness of our current water situation, have resulted in the installation of 66 additional systems with a combined storage of 85,000 gallons. 9-7

113 with low water use alternatives ( cash for grass ) and for qualifying irrigation system upgrades. For single-family sites, the City provides a rebate for replacing up to 500 square feet of high water use landscaping with low water use alternatives; this increases to up to 5,000 square feet at multi-family and commercial sites. The City also provides a rebate for qualifying irrigation equipment and hardware upgrades. Landscape Water Use Efficiency Survey: In addition to the Indoor Water-Use Efficiency Survey described above, staff conduct irrigation audits as well. Staff develops site-specific recommendations for improving the efficiency of landscape water use by measuring landscape areas, testing irrigation systems for efficiency, recommending irrigation system repairs and improvements, and providing customers with an irrigation schedule based on their individual landscape and ETo data. By participating in this program, customers can also pre-qualify to participate in other landscape incentive programs, such as the Green Exchange Program described previously. For customers with Dedicated Irrigation accounts, technical staff will measure landscape areas by plant type, check irrigation systems for leaks and for efficiency, perform distribution efficiency ( catch can ) tests on sprinkler systems, recommend irrigation system repairs and improvements, develop irrigation schedules based on landscape measurements and ETo data, and analyze potential water and money savings from implementing efficiency upgrades. Water Budgets: In 2007, the City implemented a water budget-based tiered water rate structure for dedicated irrigation customers based on real-time ETo from the City s CIMIS stations and square footage of irrigated plant type on the site. Customers receive information about their water budgets on their monthly water bill and are billed based on how efficiently they water compared to 9-8 Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Training The SMSWP Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) Program is recognized as a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency s Water Sense labeled Professional Certification Program. QWEL is offered in both English and Spanish and provides landscape professional with 20 hours of education on landscape water management. Topics include overviews of irrigation systems, plant water needs, irrigation scheduling, water budgets and selling water management to customers. Participants must take and pass a final exam in order to be QWEL certified. Currently, 751 individuals have been certified through QWEL. 199 of these certifications were issued to landscape professionals in Sonoma and Marin Counties. Since the QWEL program became Water Sense labeled in 2007, QWEL has issued over 1,000 certifications and is offered by 16 organizations throughout the US. The SMSWP has received numerous awards for the QWEL program, including the EPA Water Sense Professional Certifying Organization Partner of the Year 2015, EPA Water Sense Professional Certifying Organization Partner of the Year 2014, and the EPA Water Sense Excellence Award Visit for more information.

114 their billing period water budget. Customers that have water use in the highest tier of the water rate structure are contacted by technical staff and offered assistance to help improve irrigation wateruse efficiency. The audit also provides recommendations for improving irrigation efficiency, which is detailed in the Landscape Water Survey section. Customers are provided with a report of findings, water-use efficiency recommendations, and water conservation brochures and educational material at the end of the audit. Santa Rosa Water staff at the Water Smart Expo The City also provides free water use surveys for CII customers; audits include a review of water uses, plumbing fixtures, processes, cooling water systems, and site-specific recommendations for efficiency improvements. for CII customers. Today CII and residential customers can receive a rebate for sustained water reduction due to process or hardware changes. High Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate: The City offers a rebate to single-family and multi-family residential customers who replace clothes washers with the most efficient models available. The program began in 1998, initially through a regional program administered by the Agency. The City began administering its own residential program in Since 2000, the City has offered a rebate program for the replacement of commercial washing machines with the highest-efficiency commercial washing machines available. Recirculating Hot Water Pump Rebate: In September 2014, the City began offering a rebate for recirculating hot water pumps for single-family residential sites. With a push of a button, the device pumps cold water sitting in the hot water pipe back to the water heater through the cold water pipe. When the hot water pipe has been refilled with hot water, the pump stops operating and the end user has access to hot water without having wasted any cold water. To earn the rebate, sites must complete a free Water Use Efficiency Checkup by Water Department staff. Water Management Rebate: Water Management Rebates are available to Dedicated Irrigation accounts who maintain landscapes using less water than the site-specific ET-based water budget. Sustained Reduction Rebate: The City s Sustained Reduction Rebate program began in 1996, initially 9-9

115 Service Split Incentive: The City has required new CII developments to install dedicated irrigation services since the 1980s. Because of this, the City has a limited number of CII accounts with mixed-use meters that serve both indoor and outdoor water use on one meter. Approximately 10% of the City s CII accounts have mixed-use meters. To encourage the retrofitting of mixed-use meters to dedicated irrigation meters, the City developed and implements a Service Split Incentive Program. The Service Split Incentive Program provides financial incentives to offset the material and permitting cost of retrofitting mixed-use meters with a dedicated irrigation meter and an indoor meter. SB 407 Compliance Assistance: Starting in 2010, the City began developing a residential survey and qualification program to assist realtors and property owners with complying with new SB 407 legislation. SB 407 requires that when a property is sold, starting in January 2017, all Single-Family Residential properties, and, starting in January 2019, all Multi-Family Residential and CII properties, must disclose to the buyer whether or not indoor plumbing fixtures are efficient. 9.3 IMPLEMENTATION OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS The following narrative provides a description of the nature (e.g. type of rebate and amount) and extent (e.g. number of customers who participated) of the DMMs implemented by the City from 2011 through Over the course of this five year period, staff conducted more than 5,000 indoor and/or outdoor water use surveys for residential and commercial customers, and the City provided more than $1.39 million in rebates to 4,935 residential and commercial customers. The ongoing water use savings resulting from these measures is estimated to be 275 acre-feet per year. The increase in rebate dollars in 2015 is attributed to the increase in rebate amount for the cash for grass component of the Green Exchange Program. In response to the drought, the City offered a drought special of $1 per square foot, doubling the rebate amount. Figure 9-2 illustrates changes in rebates and associated dollars over the past five years. Figure 9-2: Customer Participation in Rebate Programs $600,000 1,200 $400, $200, $ Rebate $$ $293,830 $199,102 $117,885 $267,448 $513,250 # Rebates 1, ,

116 Water Waste Prevention: From 2011 through 2015, staff observed 612 incidents of water waste on customer property. Staff notified these customers in writing about the observed water waste, explained the City s Water Waste Ordinance, and clarified the requirement to resolve the issue within 30 days. The overwhelming majority of notifications occurred in 2014 (284 door tags) and 2015 (270 door tags). This is because the City performed regular early morning Water Watch patrols throughout the City after the State put emergency drought regulations in place in 2014 and In addition, the public was encouraged to report water waste to the City by phone, through our website, and/or through the MySantaRosa app. Public Outreach and Education: Each year the City distributes six to twelve bill inserts, plus bill face messages and outer envelope messages to inform almost 53,000 customers each month about rebates, incentives, free services and fixtures, classes, and events related to water use efficiency. Staff offers about ten workshops each year on subjects such as water efficient landscapes, graywater reuse, and rainwater harvesting; classes tend to fill quickly, with 300 or more customers attending each year. From August 2014 to October 2015, the City conducted over a dozen Drought Drive Ups and Do It Yourself events, made dozens of special presentations, and provided low-water use plumbing fixtures and water saving information to thousands of customers. The City also reached thousands of customers by staffing information booths at the City s annual Water Expo, Wednesday Night Markets, County Fair, local Home Show, the City s St. Patrick s Day 5K Run, Earth Day Festival, Cinco de Mayo Celebration, Dia de los Niños, and Caesar Chavez Day. Indoor Water Use Efficiency Survey: Staff completed indoor audits for 2,624 residences (673 single-family and 1,951 multi-family units) and 183 businesses from 2011 through Sustained Reduction Rebate: The City offers $200 for every 1,000 gallons per month of sustained water savings to residential and commercial customers. From 2011 through 2015, six residential and twenty commercial sites achieved sustained reductions, collectively reducing their demand by more than 2.3 million gallons per month. High Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate: The City offers a rebate of $25 for residential washing machines and $350 for commercial washing machines. A total of 2,577 residential and 25 commercial washers were replaced under this program from 2011 through Recirculating Hot Water Pump Rebate: Ninetyeight single-family residential customers have taken advantage of the $100 rebate for installing a recirculating hot water pump since the program s inception in September of Rainwater Harvesting Rebate: From 2011 through 2015, City customers have received rebates of $0.25 per gallon of storage for rainwater harvesting systems. Collectively, customers installed over 92,000 gallons of rainwater storage during this period. Graywater Rebate: The City provides two options for the Graywater Rebate Program, including a $75 rebate for single-fixture graywater systems and a sustained reduction rebate of $200 for every 1,000 gallons per month of sustained water saving (the sustained reduction option would typically be used for multi-fixture and engineered systems). Fiftytwo customers participated in the Graywater Rebate program from 2011 through 2015, collectively installing over 5,200 gallons of storage for graywater capture and reuse in their landscapes. 9-11

117 High-Efficiency Urinal Rebate: The City provides a rebate of up to $450 per urinal with a qualifying highefficiency urinal that uses 1 pint of water per flush or less. Four urinals were rebated from 2011 through Best Available Technology Incentive: From 2011 through 2015, six new business (restaurants, commercial kitchens or laundromats) earned a reduction in sewer demand fees by installing the most efficient water technologies available, above and beyond current building code requirements. Green Exchange: The City pays $0.50 per square foot of high water use landscaping replaced with low water use alternatives (up to 500 square feet for single-family homes and up to 5,000 square feet for multi-family and commercial sites). In response to the severity of drought conditions, the incentive increased to $1.00 per square foot in August From 2011 through 2015, a total of 1,674 customers (1,519 single-family residences and 155 multi-family and commercial sites) participated in this cash for grass program, collectively replacing more than 1.64 million square feet of high water use landscaping with low water use alternatives. This total is 40 percent more square feet than the number of rebated square feet because many customers replaced more landscaping than the rebate limit for their site. The City also provides a rebate for upgrading irrigation equipment (up to $100 for single-family homes and up to $1,000 for multi-family and commercial sites). A total of 420 sites (347 residential and 73 multi-family and commercial sites) received rebates for installing qualifying upgrades to their irrigation systems from 2011 through Figure 9-3 illustrates program participation since its inception ( ) in square feet of landscaping replaced per square mile Figure 9-3: Water Use Efficiency Grass Removal Program