Santa Cruz Water Department: Water Resources, Conservation, and Water Shortage Contingency Plan Santa Cruz Neighbors February 18, 2009
Presentation Overview Overview of City s Water Supply System Challenges Facing Water Agencies in Santa Cruz & California What are We Doing in the Water Conservation Office? Water Shortage Contingency Planning
Service Area Characteristics Area served: Santa Cruz County Capitola Population: ~ 90,000 Employment: ~ 45,000 Governing body: City Council
North Coast Sources Laguna Creek - 1890 Liddell Spring - 1913 Majors Creek - 1884 Reggiardo Creek - 1912
San Lorenzo River Tait St Intake - 1924 Felton Diversion - 1976
Live Oak Wells 3 wells - 1964 Renovated after 1989 earthquake
Loch Lomond Reservoir Built 1960 (population was 31,000) 2.8 billion gallon capacity 577 feet above MSL
Percent of Total Water Production by Source of Supply Loch Lomond Reservoir 17% Live Oak Wells 4% North Coast Streams 32% San Lorenzo River 47%
Water Uses 9% 2% Irrigation 26% 40% Single Residential 23% Business, Industry Multiple Residential
Typical water use: single family residential account (gallons per day) 350 300 250 Outdoor Indoor 200 150 100 50 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
California Water Challenges Drought Population growth Aging infrastructure Endangered species/environmental needs Evolving drinking water regulations Unsustainable groundwater over-pumping Climate change All these factors affect reliability, sustainability
Drought
Primary Problem: Lack of Adequate Water Supply During Drought
2007 Watering Restrictions
Population Growth California projected to grow to 48 million people by 2030 Growth pressures on hotter, inland areas City service area expected to reach 100,000 by 2030
Aging Infrastructure 30 miles of raw water transmission main ranging from 40-100 years old 260 miles of treated water distribution mains 23,000+ service lines Pump stations, tanks, valves All becoming increasingly expensive to repair, replace
Bay Street Reservoir (1924) $28.5 million renovation project
Endangered Species Court-ordered reduction in State Water Project deliveries to protect Delta smelt Locally, pressure from CA Fish and Game to reduce existing surface water diversions for endangered salmon and steelhead
Climate Change Changes likely in timing, amount, and form of precipitation Higher snow level in Sierra Nevada Change in air temperature Increased evapotranspiration Change in sea level Brings saltwater, flooding threat to Delta
What Does It All Mean? Supply Demand - - Drought Climate change + Population growth $$$ - Aging infrastructure Environmental water needs Statewide, local water shortage worries
City s Approach to Meet These Challenges 1. Reduce average demand through water conservation in all years 2. Curtail water use through temporary restrictions and/or water rationing in drought years 15% 3. Develop new sources of supply
Integrated Water Plan: Long-term water conservation Desalination Short-term demand reduction
Water Conservation Emphasis on permanent measures that reduce average daily water use. Savings of 300 mil gal per year in 2010. Goal: Reduce per capita use from 76 to 65 gpcd Actual per capita use in 2008 = 68 gpcd Per capita water use among the lowest in California
California Urban Water Conservation Council BMP 1: Residential Survey Programs BMP 2: Residential Plumbing Retrofit BMP 3: System Water Audits BMP 4: Metering with Commodity Rates BMP 5: Large Landscape Conservation BMP 6: High Efficiency Clothes Washers BMP 7: Public Information Programs BMP 8: School Education Programs BMP 9: Commercial Industrial Institutional BMP10: Wholesale Agency Assistance BMP 11: Conservation Pricing BMP 12: Conservation Coordinator BMP 13: Water Waste Prohibition BMP 14: Residential Toilet Replacement
Residential Programs Toilet Rebates for ULF and HET High Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebates Home Water Surveys for Top 20% Plumbing Fixture Retrofit Regulations
Plumbing Fixture Retrofit Regulations All buildings must be retrofitted with low consumption plumbing fixtures when real estate is sold Regulations apply to all types of buildings served by the City: Residential, Commercial & Industrial
Commercial Industrial, and Landscape Programs Rebates Facility audits Retrofit regulations Smart Rinse, Light Wash Programs Regulations for New Development
Water-Conserving Rate Structures
Residential Water Rates Block Category Inside City monthly Outside City bimonthly Rate Units Rate Units 5 Inefficient or excessive use $8.37 over 18 $10.68 over 36 4 High use $6.71 15-18 $8.56 29-36 3 Average outdoor needs $4.89 10-14 $6.23 19-28 2 Average indoor needs $3.81 5-9 $4.86 9-18 1 Essential needs $1.49 1-4 $1.91 1-8
Next Priority: Large Landscapes Water budgets Pricing Water efficient landscape regulations Weather-based controllers Separate, real-time metering Audits
Water Shortage Contingency Plan Document that describes how the city will respond to future water shortages Public hearing at City Council on February 24
Reasons for Updating Plan Existing drought emergency ordinance last used in 1992; Many changes in community makeup, usage characteristics since then IWP calls for up to 15% cutbacks in water use in drought years, and shared use of desal capacity Respond to CA requirement: plan for water shortages of up to 50%
Contents and Organization Introduction Assessing Water Supply and Demand Demand Reduction Program Implementation
How is a water shortage defined? Rainfall Runoff Water Year Classification Reservoir Storage No one single criterion or trigger used to identify if a shortage exists; must consider all variables, including demand
How is a Water Shortage Defined? Late winter, early spring: staff prepares a forecast of water storage for end of dry season Evaluate whether reserves will be sufficient in case of another dry year If not, the question becomes how much reservoir water is available for the current year, and how much should be saved for the next year
Demand Reduction Program: 5 Stage Structure
Priority-Based Allocation System Classified demands into 3 usage priorities: 1. Health and safety 2. Business 3. Irrigation/other outdoor usage Scaled back water delivery by priority:
Stage 1: Water Shortage Alert Voluntary water conservation (0-5%) Step up water waste enforcement Time-of-day watering restrictions Prohibition on nonessential water uses
Stage 2: Water Shortage Warning (5-15%) Irrigation limited to specified days of week Disallow automatic irrigation on certain days Further prohibitions on exterior washing Large landscape water budgets
Stage 3: Water Shortage Emergency (15-25%) Residential water rationing Required water shortage signage in all commercial establishments Large landscape: lower water budgets
Stage 4: Severe Water Shortage Emergency (25-35%) Reduced residential water rationing allotments Commercial water rationing Prohibition on lawn/turf irrigation
Stage 5: Critical Water Shortage Emergency (35-50%) Further reduced residential rationing allotments Reduced commercial rationing allotments Prohibition on all residential outdoor water use
Enforcement, Exceptions, Appeals Start with personal contact (field, telephone, letter) Penalties added to utility bill Excess use penalties when in rationing Flow restriction, disconnection Plan addresses language for exceptions Appeals Board starting Stage 3
Implementation
Water Supply Status and Outlook for 2009 Both 2007 and 2008 below average Rainfall: 74% of average No significant runoff until last week WY 09 Classification: Critically Dry Reservoir: 85% full Projection shows flowing sources will be very low Unless there is more improvement, cutbacks will be needed in 2009
What s Next? Public review, revision, and adoption Preparation and review of water shortage ordinance Make modifications to utility billing system Reevaluate water conditions at end of February Proceed on assumption that 2009 will shape up dry