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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-09-11 - AGENDA REPORTS - PRACTIES VS PERCENTAGE WATER (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA DATE: September 11, 1991 TO: Members of the City Council and Drought Committee FROM: Don Froelich, Drought Committee Member SUBJECT: PRACTICES VS. PERCENTAGE REDUCTION IN WATER USE DISCUSSION In January and February of this year, it has become very apparent that California was going into the fifth year of a drought. Many communities, especially in the Santa Barbara area, were reducing the deliveries of water to their customers by upwards of 40 percent. Much of Southern California was looking at the prospects of a 30 to 40 percent reduction in supply by summer. Many communities started developing ordinances that contained a phased reduction in water use to accommodate the prospects of water shortages. The City of Santa Clarita likewise developed an Ordinance that both prohibited wasteful uses of water and a goal to reduce water use by 254. This level of reduction was based on a review of anticipated water supplies and water demands. This effort was very similar to that being done in other communities. The State of California requested that all communities develop drought contingency plans for a possible .504 reduction in water supplies. The State was also developing a "water bank" so that communities would obtain water under the State program. To be eligible, a community was required to have a program in place to reduce water use by 254. The need for the 254 reduction was based both on available supplies and eligibility to participate in the State program. A 254 reduction creates a substantial hardship. It means that a typical user would have to substantially reduce outdoor water use with a significant portion of the landscaping not be watered. Also, a conscious reduction in indoor water use would also have to occur. For business and industry, there would be a reduction in the number of products that could be produced and possible reduction in employment. Therefore, this level of reduction should only be imposed when necessary. In March, the State had a significant amount of rain and snow. This dramatically increased the snow pack in Northern California and produced near normal rainfall in Southern California. This substantially altered the water supply conditions by reducing the possible severity of the water shortage. Communities that were facing 30 . to 404 reduction were now looking at 10 to 204. Areas with significant groundwater supplies had essentially a full supply. Agenda Item: 5___T CITY COUNCIL AND DROUGHT COMMITTEE Page 2 After the first few meetings .of -the Drought Committee, it became apparent based on information from the water purveyors that the -Santa Clarita Valley (SCV) had essentially a full supply. The purveyors were of the opinion that little need existed for any reduction in use except for possible system limitations during peak demand periods. The possibilities of shortages would be related more to the reliability of the emergency backup in the water delivery system than deficiencies in water supply. This raised the issue as to whether the City should continue to advocate a 25% reduction in water use when there was no water shortage. Continuing to advocate a large reduction with a full water supply could create a credibility problem during future droughts. Based on a full supply of water, the Drought Committee considered abandoning the 25% reduction goal, recommending a lower percentage reduction, and eliminating any reference to a percentage reduction. The Committee looked at a 10% reduction just to keep conservation in the minds of the users or a program based on a continuation of the conservation practices in the Ordinance. In other words, should the conservation effort be a "percentage or a practice approach?" After considerable discussion, it was felt that absent changes in water supply conditions, the SCV's conservation program should be based on elimination of wasteful practices. This approach is consistent with the development of "best management practices" (BMP's) at the State level. The BMP's are water conservation practices and programs to be implemented by all agencies. within the State. There are no specific percentage reductions incorporated -- only practices. The elimination of specific percentage reduction numbers in the conservation Ordinance. is appropriate because water supplies are adequate to meet all demands. The prohibition against wasteful practices should continue as part of the new water ethic. If water supply conditions change for the worse, the Drought Committee can report to the City on the need for implementing specific reductions in water use. In addition to the recommendation on the percentage goal, the Committee would like the Council to consider three other recommended modifications presented in our first .report to the Council on June 25, 1991. These modifications are as follows: 1. The Ordinance restrict watering times to 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., and only on every other day. This results in over -watering and excessive runoff. Watering every other day will be too stressful for landscaping in Santa Clarita's hot summer sun. Recommendation: Modify.the Drought Ordinance to allow watering each day, for no more than 10 minutes per watering station or cycle. 2. Commercial gardeners are only restricted from watering lawns between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., even if the property under their care is residential. This causes .some confusion in the enforcement and creates the impression that some residents are not being subject to the Ordinance. CITY COUNCIL AND DROUGHT COMMITTEE Page 3 Recommendation: Prohibit the watering of all residential lawns between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. 3. The recycling regulations require that glass bottles be washed out prior to placing them in the green barrels. This seems to be a waste of water. The .Public Works Department has indicated- that it is not necessary to thoroughly clean all bottles, only to remove the heavier deposits. Recommendation: Reduce the requirement that bottles be washed prior to placement in the City's recycling containers. RECOMMENDATION 1. The Council eliminate the specific. reduction in water use from the Ordinance but that prohibition against wasteful water use practices continue and should.be monitored. 2. The Council consider the recommended modifications to. the Ordinance relating to water every day, prohibiting watering of all residential lawns and deleting the bottle washing requirement. hds:1226