June 9, 2009

City Council Meeting: May 12, 2009

Agenda Item: 8-A

8-C

To:                   Mayor and City Council

From:              Lee E. Swain, Director of Public Works

Subject:          Adoption of Water Shortage Response Plan and Declaration of a Water Shortage Emergency Advisory

 

Recommended Action

Staff recommends that the City Council:

1.      adopt a Water Shortage Response Plan (Attachment A) by resolution (Attachment B); and

2.      declare an advisory water shortage emergency effective July 1, 2009 by resolution (Attachment C).

 

Executive Summary

In response to the current water supply issues facing the City of Santa Monica and the State of California and in compliance with the State mandated Urban Water Management Plan, staff has prepared the attached Water Shortage Response Plan (WSRP).

 

Adoption of the plan by resolution creates the legal authority for Council to declare water shortage emergencies.  This staff report describes the WSRP and when and how it may be implemented.  At this time, an Advisory Level stage (non-mandatory) water shortage declaration is recommended.

 

Background

Council approved Water Conservation Ordinance and Declared a State of Emergency Ordinance Number 1580 (CCS) (now Chapter 7 Section 7.16) on April 9, 1991.

Council adopted modifications to Ordinance 7.16.020 on June 10 2008.

 

Discussion

The City of Santa Monica currently imports eighty-eight percent (88%) of its water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) and produces twelve percent (12%) from groundwater aquifers.  These combined sources meet the current Citywide water demand of approximately 13 million gallons per day.

 

On June 4, 2008, the Governor declared a Statewide drought.  On February 27, 2009, the Governor declared a state of emergency due to the below-average rainfall and snowpack in Northern California, which is a major source of water for the Los Angeles region and supplies the majority of Santa Monica’s water.  On April 14, 2009, the Metropolitan Water District approved a shortage allocation plan in response to water supply challenges resulting from consecutive critically dry years, as well as restrictions on State Water Project deliveries due to endangered species protection. 

 

The Water Shortage Response Plan

The State of California Department of Water Resources requires water agencies to prepare an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) every five years.  A new provision in the 2005 UWMP directed agencies to prepare a water shortage response plan prior to the 2010 submittal. 

 

The City of Santa Monica Water Shortage Response Plan (WSRP) was developed by staff from the Department of Public Works, Office of Sustainability and the Environment, Community Maintenance Department, and the Fire Department.  The WSRP is based on the State of California Department of Water Resources 2007 and 2008 Drought Guidebooks.  The WSRP includes elements that have proven to work for agencies during a water shortage.  The WSRP is designed to effectively and efficiently respond to any water shortage the City faces, the duration of which may be days to years depending on the event which prompted the shortage and the severity of the shortage.

 

The WSRP will be implemented in stages of water shortage severity.  Each stage calls for a specific percentage reduction in total water demand, as indicated in Table 1.

 

                                    Table 1: Water Shortage Reduction Targets

Water Shortage Stage

Water Use Restrictions

Total Water Supply Reduction Percentage

City-wide Water Use Reduction Goal

Advisory

Voluntary

Shortage is imminent

10%

Stage 1

Mandatory

5-10%

15%

Stage 2

Mandatory

10-20%

20%

Stage 3

Mandatory

20-30%

30%

Stage 4

Mandatory

30+%

50%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following adoption of the plan (by Council-approved resolution), any stage of water shortage may subsequently be implemented by City Council resolution.

 

In the mandatory stages of a Council-declared shortage, water allowances, also known as water budgets, based on meter sizes will be created for residential customers.  Water budgets will be customized for each customer using historical water usage, and will provide enough water for customers without creating hardship while meeting the reduction goals.  For non-residential customers, water will be allocated on a percentage reduction basis in recognition that water demand is uniform for this customer class and water use restrictions may cause undue hardship on business practices. 

 

There are four hundred landscape water meters owned primarily by the City for the purposes of watering parks, medians, and open spaces.  Like the non-residential water customers, these customers would receive a percentage of their previous year’s water use.   In the Stage 4 water shortage conditions, no irrigation of these sites would be permitted. 

 

The majority of water savings will be gained from customers that have the most potential for saving water; i.e., those which have not employed water efficiency practices.  Customers whose water use is already below the water allocation will not receive a water allowance.  In effect, their conservation efforts are being rewarded.  

 

Staff reviewed various alternative methods for addressing mandatory water restrictions.  While the water budget approach presents administrative challenges, it is regarded as a fair and equitable means of achieving water reduction goals.   For example, if a flat rate across the board cut were implemented, undue burden is placed on residential and business customers that are already efficiently using water.

 

Proposed City Shortage Level Declaration

In MWD’s water supply allocation plan, a regional shortage level of 10% was approved based on expected 2009 water supply conditions.  The determination of the appropriate regional shortage level takes into consideration State Water Project allocations (rainfall, snowpack, and runoff conditions), reservoir storage levels, Colorado River deliveries, and MWD member agency water demands.  The plan results in a defined allocation of water to Santa Monica.  Significant penalties will be assessed if the allocation is exceeded. 

 

Santa Monica’s conservation level already meets MWD’s 10% reduction target due to the diligence and cooperation of City residents and businesses in response to ongoing conservation efforts; consequently, further mandatory reductions are not necessary.  Nevertheless, it is critical that conservation programs and messaging efforts continue, both to meet budgetary forecasts and to avoid significant penalties if the allocation is exceeded.  Accordingly, staff recommends that Council approve the Water Shortage Response Plan, and adopt an “Advisory Level” shortage (Attachment C).  The advisory level is not mandatory and calls for a voluntary 10% water use reduction.  In effect, the advisory level shortage will ask residents and businesses to continue doing what they are already doing.  In large measure, the success of the WSRP at the Advisory level will depend on the ongoing outreach efforts and the continuing conservation practices of residents and businesses.

 

An implementation date of July 1, 2009, is recommended since it is consistent with regional shortage response efforts, in particular the MWD allocation plan start date.  Should Council elect to declare a shortage level other than the Advisory level, the July 1 start date will provide time for modifications to the billing system necessary to create water budgets and to create/distribute public outreach materials.

 

Public Outreach

Upon implementation of the WSRP, public information will be provided via advertisements in local papers, information on the City’s website, public service announcements on CityTV, and messages on customer water bills.  Staff will make presentations at neighborhood group meetings, libraries, and other forums to communicate the water shortage plan and how it will be implemented. 

 

The Office of Sustainability and the Environment currently implements 15 programs annually to assist residents and businesses in conserving water to meet the water reduction goals outlined in the City’s Sustainable City Plan.  In August 2007, in light of the impending water supply challenges facing California, the “20 Gallon Challenge” was implemented.  This campaign asked individuals to save 20 gallons of water each day, which would equal a 10% reduction in total water demand.  Since 2007, water demand has decreased by 9%.  Implementing the WSRP will provide further water savings in order to meet water demand during shortages.

 

Financial Impact & Budget Actions

At the Advisory Stage, financial impacts will be minimal and within the present budget.  In the long term, financial impacts of water shortages will vary depending upon severity of the shortage.  A gradual two percent per year reduction in demand was projected in the water and wastewater five-year rate increases adopted by Council in July 2008 which will help offset a possible 15 percent reduction in revenues.   Long-term water shortages will adversely affect water and wastewater sales revenue and emergency action by the Council may be required.  The California Water Code Section 350-359 gives the City Council the authority to declare a water shortage emergency once the water shortage plan is enacted.   Proposition 218 noticing is not required for emergency actions.

 

Prepared by:  Gil Borboa, Water Resources Manager

 

Approved:

 

Forwarded to Council:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lee E. Swain, Director

Department of Public Works

 

P. Lamont Ewell

City Manager