HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-02-12 - AGENDA REPORTS - WATER CONSERVATION (2)1]
AGENDA REPORT
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
DATE:
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT:
BACKGROUND
February 12, 1991
WATER CONSERVATION
Public Works
0
City Manager Approval
",
Item to.be presented b .
John E. Medina
The State Department of Water Resources (DWR) has notified the local water
agencies that their requested allocation of State Project water will be cut by
50% next year and that cutbacks of up to 85% are possible if the drought
continues unabated. This presents a serious water supply problem for the.Santa
Clarita Valley that must be addressed quickly and decisively.
Water conservation is ,the key to managing our limited water resources during
this crisis period. The conservation measures taken must be effective through
the Valley, and not limited to those portions of the service areas within the
City limits. The conservation measures should include active auditing of water
consumption with special attention paid to the highest consumers, coupled with
economic incentives for water conservation and penalties for excessive use of
water.
The Upper Santa Clara Water Committee will provide a presentation to the City
Council on behalf of the local water purveyors. The presentation will address
the effects of the cutback in State Project water, how they can cooperate to
deal with localized shortages, and what can be done to further water
conservation in the City.
The County of Los Angeles will soon consider a water conservation ordinance that
places prohibitions and restrictions on certain types of water use, and provides
for a system of fines for violations of the ordinance. The Upper Santa Clara
Water Committee is proposing that a similar ordinance be adopted by the City of
Santa Clarita. Such an ordinance is being prepared, and copies of this draft
ordinance will be provided to the City Council at the February 12, 1991 meeting.
It is recommended that the City Council review the information presented and the
draft water conservation ordinance and provide staff with direction for further
action.
hds:377�9�
Agenda Item: _ _
WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES
The State Department of Water Resources (DWR) has notified users of
State Project Water that requested deliveries will be cut by 50%,
and that each agency must adopt measures to insure reductions in
water consumption. If the drought continues unabated, .the cutbacks
could, go as high as 85%.
Facing this loss of water, it is imperative that the City and the
local water agencies to develop an aggressive strategy for
implementing water conservation in the Santa Clarita Valley. This
report outlines some of the actions being developed and implemented
by other Agencies and a listing of typical conservation measures
that can be taken by the public.
DRAFT LOS ANGELES COUNTY ORDINANCE
The County of Los Angeles is currently reviewing a draft water
conservation ordinance for the unincorporated. areas of the County.
The ordinance is.intended to produce a 10% cutback in water
consumption. The ordinance prohibits or limits certain activities
and imposes fines for violations, but it does not require a
specific level of reduction in water consumption for each water
user. Fines for willful violations of the ordinance are $100 for
the first infraction and $500 for each subsequent infraction,
except as noted below. The specific provisions of the draft
ordinance include the following:
Hose Water Prohibitions
Paved areas such as sidewalks and driveways may not be cleaned
by hosing with water.
Watering of Lawns.and Landscaping
Lawns and landscaping cannot be watered between 10:00 a.m. and
5:00 p.m., with no more than one watering per cycle per day.
Watering must not result in runoff into the streets or parking
lots. Irrigation systems must be inspected regularly for
leaks, and repairs made quickly.
Indoor Plumbing and Fixtures
Accessible indoor plumbing and fixtures must be inspected for
leaks and repaired as soon as reasonably practicable. New and
replacement toilets must be of the low -flow variety. The fine
for willful violations is $500 or each infraction.
Washing Vehicles
Vehicles must be washed by hand held bucket or with a hose
equipped with an automatic shutoff nozzle. Hoses may not be
left running.
i
Public Eating Places
Water may be served only upon request by the customer.
Decorative Fountains
Water may not be used to clean, fill or maintain levels in
decorative fountains unless the fountain has a water recycling
system.
LOS ANGELES CITY
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has already
implemented a strict water conservation ordinance. It requires a
10% reduction in water consumption from the 1986 base year after
March 1, 1991, followed by a 15% reduction after May 1, 1991.
The first failure to meet the required reductions will result in a
surcharge of 10% of the bill plus $3.00 per unit (750 gallons) of
excess water used. The second violation fine is 25% of the bill
plus $3.00 per excess unit, and the third violation results in a
75% surcharge plus $4.00 per excess unit. Additional violations
will result in the City installing flow restriction devices in the
water meter and possibly.shutting off the water altogether.
CALIFORNIA -WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD
The California Water Resources Control Board has created a task
force to develop a list of "Best Management Practices" (BMP) for
water use reduction measures. Water agencies which wish to utilize
water diverted from the Sacramento Delta would be required to
implement most of these measures to be eligible to receive that
water. The task force has organized these measures into two
categories based on the ability to document the quantity of water
that can be expected to be conserved by each measure. Specific
examples in these two categories include the following:
BMP's With Well Defined Water Conservation Effectiveness
* Interior and exterior water audits and incentive programs
for single and multi family residential, institutional
and governmental customers;
* Enforcement of requirements for ultra low flush toilets
in all new construction beginning January 1, 1992;
* Plumbing retrofits with low water use fixtures;
* Ultra low flush toilet replacement programs;
* Distribution system water audits, leak detection. and
repair;
•
* Metering with commodity rates for all new connections and
retrofit of existing connections;
* Large landscape water audits and incentives;
* Landscape water conservation requirements for new and
existing commercial, industrial, institutional,
governmental and multi -family developments.
BMPIs With Undefined Water Conservation Effectiveness
* Public information programs;
* School education programs;
* commercial and industrial water audits and incentives;
* Elimination of declining block rate pricing structures
within customer classifications;
* Landscape water conservation for new and existing single
family homes;
* Water waste ordinances;
* Water conservation coordinator;
* Economic incentives.
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
The California Department of Water Resources may be developing a
"hardship" pool of emergency water for use by communities. and
agricultural users who are severely impacted by the overall
cutbacks in State Project Water deliveries. The water would be
obtained by paying rice growers in the Sacramento Delta $100 per
acre foot of water for the water that they would normally use if
they forgo rice production for this year.
OTHER WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES
One third of local water usage occurs indoors. This usage could be
dramatically cut through the use of water saving fixtures. For
example, 40% of the indoor usage is used to flush toilets.
Conventional toilets use between 3 and 7 gallons per flush, while
the new ultra low flow toilets require only 1.6 gallons. Showers
account for 22% of indoor usage. Conventional shower heads spay 3
to 8 gallons per minute, whereas restricted shower heads use only
2.5 gallons per minute.
There are many things that can be done to conserve water. The
following is a list of additional actions, not listed elsewhere in
this report, that the individual water user can implement to
conserve water.
* Install water saving devices such a low flow shower head
and flow restrictors in faucets;
* Adjust lawn sprinklers to avoid over spray and don't
water on windy days;
* Plant low water demand trees and plants, avoid large turf
areas which consume large amounts of water;
* Use pool and spa covers to reduce evaporation;
* Place bottles or plastic bags filled with water in the
tank of toilets to reduce the amount of water used per
flush;
* Scrape plates instead of rinsing them and avoid the use
of garbage disposals;
* Don't thaw frozen foods under running hot water;
* Bathe small children together;
* Install drip irrigation systems;
* Keep grass cut between 1 and 3 inches long. This shades
the roots, requires less water and allows the roots to
grow deeper and become more water efficient;
* Monitor your water usage by reading your water meter;
* Monitor your underground plumbing for leaks by shutting
off all water uses and monitoring the water meter for a
few hours. If there are no leaks, the meter will not
move;
* Use grey water for watering plants and landscaping.
Prepared by: James R. Van Winkle
City Engineer
0 0
ORDINANCE NO. 91-12 Al
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
ADDING CHAPTER 9.38 TO TITLE 9
OF THE SANTA CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE
WHEREAS, the State of California is experiencing a prolonged drought;
WHEREAS, the delivery of State Project Water to the Castaic Lake
Water Agency has been reduced by 50% of the requested delivery levels.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Santa Clarita Municipal Code is amended adding
Chapter 9.38 to Title 9 relating to water conservation to read as follows:
CHAPTER 9.38
WATER CONSERVATION
Sections:
9.38.010 Hose Watering Prohibition.
9.38.015 Watering of Lawns and Landscaping.
9.38.020 Indoor Plumbing and Fixtures.
9.38.025 Washing Vehicles.
9.38.030 Public Eating Places.
9.38.035 Decorative Fountains.
9.38.040 Termination of Ordinance
9:38.010 Hose Water Prohibition.
A. No person shall hose -water or wash down any sidewalks, walkways,
driveways, parking areas, or other paved surface.
B. Willful violation hereof shall be an infraction punishable by a fine
of $100,00 for the first infraction and $500.00 each for subsequent
infractions.
9.38.015 Watering of Lawns and Landscaping.
A. No person shall water or cause to be watered any lawn or landscaping
between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
B. No person shall water or cause to be watered any lawn or landscaping
more than once a day.
ORDINANCE NO. 91-12
Page 2
C. No person shall water or cause to be watered any lawn or landscaping
to such an extent that runoff into adjoining streets, parking lots or
alleys occurs due to incorrectly directed or maintained sprinklers or
excessive watering.
D. It shall be the duty of all persons to inspect all hoses, faucets and
sprinkling systems for leaks and to cause all leaks to be repaired as
soon as is reasonably practicable.
E. Willful violation hereof shall be an infraction punishable by a fine
of $100.00 for the first infraction and $500.00 each for subsequent
infractions.
9.38.020 Indoor Plumbing and Fixtures.
A. It shall be the duty of all persons to. inspect all accessible indoor
plumbing and faucets for leaks and to cause all leaks to be repaired
as soon as is reasonably practicable.
B. Any new or replacement toilets installed in any residence or business
shall be of the low -flow variety.
C. Willful violation hereof shall be an infraction punishable by a fine
of $500.00 for each infraction.
9.38.025 Washing Vehicles.
A. No vehicle of any 'type may be washed, except at a commercial car
wash, unless such vehicle is washed by using a hand-held bucket or a
water -hose equipped with an automatic shutoff nozzle.
B. No person shall leave a water hose.running while washing a vehicle or
at any other time.
C. Willful violation hereof shall be an infraction punishable by a fine
of $100.00 for the first. infraction and $500.00 each for subsequent
infractions.
9.38.030_ Public Eating Places.
A. No restaurant, cafeteria; coffee shop, or other public place where
food is sold or served shall serve drinking water to any customer
unlessspecifically requested to do so by such customer.
B. Willful violation hereof shall be an infraction punishable by a fine
of $100.00 for the first infraction and $500.00 each for subsequent
infractions.
11
ORDINANCE NO. 91-12
Page 3
0
9.38.035 Decorative Fountains.
A. No person shall use water to clean, fill or maintain levels in
decorative fountains unless such water flows through a recycling
system.
B. Willful violation hereof shall be an infraction punishable by a fine
of $100.00 for the first infraction and $500.00 each for subsequent
infractions.
9.38.040 Termination of Ordinance. This ordinance shall terminate on
January 1, 1992, unless renewed or termination earlier by ordinance.
Section 2. The City Council hereby declares that the provisions of
this ordinance are severable and if for any reason a court or competent
jurisdiction shall hold any sentence, paragraph, or section of this Ordinance
to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining
parts of this Ordinance.
Section 3. This ordinance is adopted as an urgency measure. The
facts of the urgency are these: The State of California is currently
suffering from the effects of a five-year drought, and the deliveries of State
Project water to -local water agencies are being reduced. This ordinance
restricts or prohibits certain types of water usage. The immediate enactment
of this ordinance is therefore necessary to ensure the adequacy of .the water
supply for the City of Santa Clarita and is thereby directly related to the
public health, safetyand welfare. Therefore, this ordinance shall be
effective immediately upon adoption.
Section 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this
ordinance and shall cause it to be published in the manner prescribed by law.
ATTEST
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this day of , 1991./
DONNA GRINDEY, CITY CLERK
CARL BOYER, MAYOR
ORDINANCE NO. 91-12
Page 4
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
I, Donna Grindey, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby
certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 91-12 was duly adopted at a regular
meeting of the City Council on the _ day of , 1991 by the following
four-fifths vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS
ABSENT:
DONNA GRINDEY, CITY CLERK
hds:937
0891 Date
FEB/ 8/1991
0
Questions for CLWA
K r- %- GI V n u
FEB 0 7 1991 rpl
e,..�,
CM( o 9 T.I.W.
Note: Following are a.few questions that could be addressed to the
CLWA on February. 12. They are designed to illustrate various
aspects of our water situation. The expected answers that may be
given by the Agency are noted below the questions.
1 If present drought conditions continue, how much water does
the agency expect to receive from its Devil's Den entitlement?
(Answer - Not any)
2 What supervision or. control or standards does the Agency
exercise over the purveyors' (i.e. retailers). commitments to make
new connections for providing water service?
(Answer - None)
3 What premises (not promises) has Agency used for ascertaining
the amount of water it can supply to retailers, in acre-feet/year
(afy), which retailers have used, in turn, to promise service to
customers?
�Nilull41i61!00iti
(Answer - Probably no definite numbers,
only guesses based on percentages of total
water that the agency might receive, which
applies only to periods of normal
snowpack)
4 Is there any minimum amount of water that the retailers are
sure of receiving from the Agency under severe drought conditions,
when they will need it most? _
(Answer - Probably not, although the figure
of 5000 afy seems reasonable)
5 The Slade geological studies indicate that the Santa Clarita
alluvium has a firm yield 32,500 afy. Under, our current drought
conditions has:the alluvium shown any diminishing of its yield?
Does the Agency believe the 32,500 figure is firm and should be
used for..growth planning purposes?
(Answer - Appreciable lowering of water
it�•
' c0-4
'it
FEB/ 8/1991
M i
table has occurred but it is still
Producing in most wells. Future is
uncertain unless Slade is correct in
saying 32,500 afy can be obtained
indefinitely, but nobody knows for sure)
6 Of the 32,500 afy estimated capacity of the alluvium, are
10.000 afy allocated for agricultural use? Is this water currently
actually being used for MSI (Municipal. and Industrial, which
includes household use) or is it still being held back for
agriculture and, if so, by whom? Is its quality suitable for M&I
use?
(Answer - ?)
7 Has the Agency actually started spending on its planned $373
million capital improvement program wrilch is being financed by
Certificates of Participation which were issued without voter
approval? Has this program been subject to a thorough independent
engineering audit or to a review for appropriateness, economy, and
efficiency by any outside qualified and impartial firm such as
Parsons or Brown and Root?
• (Answer - No. There has been a "Value
Engineering Study" which looks at adequacy
.we00,of details,. but only the agency's own
engineering consultant has passed
judgement on the overall suitability of
the designs and programs that it has
submitted to the Agency)
8 Will it cost more or less to process. and deliver water from
the proposed new plant on the Rehab site than it would from
expanding the existing Earl Schmidt treatment plant?
(Answer - More. Entire city will pay MWD
for transporting water from Lake to Rehab
plant and will pay for pumping it up to
plant site in addition to greater cost of
new plant)
9 How are the COP's to be repaid, and what is approximate annual
repayment on $132 Million loan?
(Answer - COP's are to be repaid at the
rate of about $11 million a year largely
(85%) from connection fees at an average
fY.^iiTii!L4!:krAi
FtEB/ 8/1 991
1.
annual rate of $9,3 million (connection
fees) a year, Connection fees this year,
however, were only about $1.5 million
instead of $9,3 million. The difference
has to oe taken from the Agency' s .general
funds which come from water charges and
taxes or else withdrwn from the COP fund
and returned to the lenders)
10 What funds of its own does the Agency have that could be used
for plant expansion, and would they be sufficient to expand the
Schmidt plant?
(Answer - Enough to expand the Schmidt
Plant and to meet the agency's needs
for about 10 years under the 2010/270,000
scenario)
11 What is the minimum amount of water that the Agency can
reasonably expect to receive from the State Water Project if the
drought continues for several years, and what is the maximum amount
of water of reasonable quality that can be safely extracted from
the ground each year, and for how many homes would this provide a
satisfactory supply? i
(Answer - About 5000 afy from the SWP and
44,500 afy - if Slade is correct - from
ground for a total of 49,500 afy. At .5
afy usage per household this would service
about 99,000 dwelling units or about
270,000 people if lindustrlal use is not
included. 200,000 is a safer figure. This
would allow about 450 gallons per dwelling
unit per day on average. Peaking factors
can complicate the question to the point
where no one will understand the answer)
FEB/ 8/1991
ID 10
annual rate of $9.3 million (connection
fees) a year. Connection fees this year,
however, were only about $1.5 million
instead of $9.3 million. The difference
has to be taken from the Agency's general
funds which come from water charges and
taxes or else withdrwn from the COP fund
and returned to the lenders)
10 What funds of its own does the Agency have that could be used
for plant expansion, and would they be sufficient to expand the
Schmidt plant?
(Answer - Enough to expand the Schmidt
plant and to meet the agency's needs
for about 10 years under the 2010/270,000
scenario)
11 What is the minimum amount of water that the Agency can
reasonably expect to receive from the State Water Project if the
drought continues for several years, and what is the maximum amount
of water of reasonable quality that can be safely extracted from
the ground each year, and for how many homes would this provide a
satisfactory supply?
(Answer - About 5000 afy from the SWP and
44,500 afy - if Slade is correct - from
ground for a total of 49,500 afy. At .5
afy usage per household this would service
about 99,000 dwelling units or about
270,000 people if industrial use is not
included. 200,000 is a safer figure. This
would allow about 450 gallons per dwelling
unit per day on average. Peaking factors
�! can complicate the question to the point
where no one will understand the answer)