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HomeMy WebLinkAboutE.1. Phase III Water Restrictions DeclarationSCHEDULED ITEM TO: HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD FROM: GEORGE F. MORROW, DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES DATE: FEBRUARY 24, 2014 SUBJECT: DECLARATION OF PHASE III WATER SHORTAGE RESTRICTIONS RECOMMENDATION Pursuant to Azusa Municipal Code Section 78-506, and Rule No. 21 of Azusa Light & Water Rules & Regulations, the Director of Utilities is declaring that a Phase III Water Shortage exists and is communicating the basis for this declaration to the Utility Board. The Phase III Water Shortage goes into effect on May 1, 2014. Utility Board ratification of this declaration is requested. BACKGROUND As you are probably aware, this past winter has so far been the driest rainy season on record in the San Gabriel Valley and no relief is in sight. The water held behind the dams along the San Gabriel River is at historic low levels, with two out of three of the dams being at minimum pool levels. Because of the low levels of water locally and statewide in this historically poor the rainy season, the Safe Yield for pumping will be lowered by the Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster at the May Watermaster Board meeting. Snowpack in the Sierra Mountains, which usually provides the bulk of imported water to the San Gabriel Basin through the State Water Project, is very low, both in quantity and in moisture content. Due to extremely low rainfalls so far this water year, the water stored behind most of the dams along the State Water Project is very low. In fact, the bottoms of the state reservoirs are being exposed, in some cases, for the first time. Furthermore, due to extremely limited water supply conditions in northern California, San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, of which Azusa is a member City, has a share of the State Water Project that is currently at 0% allocation for this year, the lowest preliminary allocation in history. E-1 APPROVED UTILITY BOARD 2/24/14 Phase III Water Shortage February 24, 2014 Page 2 For the time being, the large regional water supplier, Metropolitan Water District, has stated it has sufficient water supply for the near future. However, for Azusa to use that water, it must be purchased by Azusa and it is very expensive. In addition, that water will be discharged to the San Gabriel River where Azusa may not be able to divert all of it to the Canyon Basin. A third source of water comes from the Colorado River, of which California’s share has been reduced in recent years due to reapportionment. So far this year snowfall is above average in the Rocky Mountains’ watershed, but it remains to be seen how much will be used by the other States along the River. Recognizing the dry state-wide water conditions, the Governor has declared a State-wide drought emergency. He has requested that all water customers reduce water consumption by 20%. Azusa Light & Water is presently under Phase II drought restrictions which imposes certain mandatory conservation practices and limits landscape watering to 3 days a week. Phase II is intended to generate a minimum of 10% in reduced water usage and customers have responded well. AL&W’s Phase III water shortage program is intended to generate a minimum of 20% conservation. Phase III continues mandatory water use restrictions and limits landscape watering to 2 days a week. It also establishes a third water pricing tier which is intended to promote water use reductions and to mitigate the financial impact on the utility of reduced water sales. Upon ratification, Staff must prepare a declaration of water shortage notice and publish it in a local newspaper pursuant to Rule No. 21. Staff will also prepare and send a letter to all residential and commercial water customers outlining the particular conservation practices and measures as prescribed by Rule No. 21. A courtesy notification will also be sent to city managers of those cities receiving water service from Azusa Light & Water. FISCAL IMPACTS Conservation reduces water sales and hence sales revenue will be reduced. A Phase III declaration will result in higher rates for the higher water users without penalizing the lower level water users. This will make up for some of the water sales lost due to water conservation, but it is difficult to accurately estimate the financial impact of water sales reduction due to conservation. Utility staff will continue to monitor closely. Prepared by: Chet F. Anderson, P.E. Assistant Director-Water Operations Attachment: Phases I, II, and III Water Conservation Sections of the Azusa Municipal Code - MUNICIPAL CODE Chapter 78 - UTILITIES ARTICLE VI. - WATER DIVISION 6. - CONSERVATION PLAN Sec. 78-501. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Commercial and public agency water user includes: (1) any water user or customer conducting business, either retail, commercial, or industrial; and (2) any water user that is a public or governmental entity, such as the state government, school district, community college, the county, city or municipal government, or special district. Excess runoff means water accumulation on streets, gutters, neighboring properties or other surfaces in an amount sufficient to cause flow. New development means any addition, extension, conversion or enlargement of an existing structure or any new construction requiring a building permit. Residential water user means water customers that pay for water service to their individual residential dwelling unit and any water user that owns or manages residential property for rent or lease including homeowner associations. Upper basin means the underground aquifer located in the City of Azusa north of Sierra Madre. Water user means any person, customer or property served within the incorporated boundaries of the city and the area outside the city boundary served by the city water utility. (Ord. No. 08-O6, § 2, 6-16-08) Sec. 78-502. - Applicability. This division shall apply to all water users. (Ord. No. 08-O6, § 2, 6-16-08) Sec. 78-503. - Water user responsibility. Water users are deemed to have under control at all times their water distribution and facilities and to know the manner and extent of their water use and excess runoff. In multiple dwellings, the owner is the water user in control of the premises and is in control and responsible for the water usage. (Ord. No. 08-O6, § 2, 6-16-08) Sec. 78-504. - Phase I water shortage. (a) A Phase I water shortage may be declared by the director of utilities if any combination of events or factors threaten the adequacy of foreseeable water supply to consumers; qualifying factors to be considered in making a water shortage declaration include, but are not limited to, time of year, local rainfall, state water project allocations, safe yield as determined by the San Gabriel Basin Watermaster, amount of runoff into the San Gabriel and Morris dams, ground water level in different basins, especially the upper basin, and any major operating emergencies or natural disasters that cause damage to the water supply or water distribution system. Prior to making a public announcement of a Phase I water shortage, the director of utilities shall document the basis for the water shortage declaration and communicate this information to the city manager and city council. Azusa, California, Code of Ordinances Page 1 - MUNICIPAL CODE Chapter 78 - UTILITIES ARTICLE VI. - WATER DIVISION 6. - CONSERVATION PLAN Under a declared Phase I water shortage, conservation measures listed in this section shall be implemented. No water user within the city and the service area of the city's water utility shall knowingly make, cause, use or permit the use of water for residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural or any other purpose in a manner contrary to this division or in any amount in excess of that use permitted by the conservation phases designated in this division. Mandatory water conservation measures shall be as follows: (1) No water user shall cause or permit excess runoff to occur from any hose, pipe, valve, faucet, sprinkler or irrigation device onto any sidewalk, street or gutter or to otherwise escape from the property if such flow or runoff can reasonably be prevented. (2) If a break or leak occurs within the water user's plumbing or private distribution system, the leak shall be repaired within 48 hours after the water user discovers the leak or after the water user is notified of the leak. (3) Commercial and noncommercial watering of grass, lawns, ground cover, open ground, shrubbery, crops, gardens and trees, including agricultural irrigation, in a manner or to an extent which allows excess runoff from the area being watered shall not be permitted. Runoff which is a natural consequence of conservative watering, either by hand or mechanical sprinkling facilities, is permitted so long as such runoff is not excess runoff as defined in section 78-501 (4) There shall be no lawn watering and landscape irrigation by residential water users between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any day of the week. If a hand-held hose with a positive shutoff nozzle or drip irrigation system is used, watering may be done at any time. (5) There shall be no lawn watering and landscape irrigation by commercial and public agency water users between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any day of the week, except that there shall be no restriction of watering utilizing a hand held hose with a positive shutoff nozzle, drip irrigation system, or system which uses reclaimed or recycled wastewater. (6) There shall be no washing down of sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots and all other paved surfaces, except to alleviate immediate health, fire or sanitation hazards. (7) Restaurants and food serving establishments shall only serve water to their customers upon request of each customer, and shall not operate a water hose without a positive shutoff nozzle. Restaurants and food serving establishments provided with public information by the city's water utility about a water shortage shall post the information so that it is made available to customers. (8) It is unlawful to remove, replace, alter or damage any water meter or any components thereof, including but not limited to the meter face, its dials or other water usage indicators and any flow- restricting device installed. (9) Water from fire hydrants shall not be used for any purpose other than to fight fires or for other activities where such use is immediately necessary to maintain the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the city and customers of the city water utility. Metered water use for control of dust and at construction sites shall be considered necessary to maintain health and safety and are eligible uses of water from fire hydrants. (10) Schools, golf courses, governmental agencies, city parks and cemeteries, public or private, are required to reduce the amount of water used for irrigation purposes to levels sufficient to maintain plant life or public use thereof. Excessive use of irrigation systems for long periods of time is prohibited and may be determined by the frequency and duration of irrigation activity, water saturated or overly soft turfs, lawns, and soils, or pooling of water on turfs, lawns, or soils. Water users under this section may be required to submit a copy of a water conservation plan and landscape irrigation schedules. Azusa, California, Code of Ordinances Page 2 - MUNICIPAL CODE Chapter 78 - UTILITIES ARTICLE VI. - WATER DIVISION 6. - CONSERVATION PLAN (11) Washing of motor vehicles, trailers, boats and other types of equipment shall be done only with a hand-held bucket or a hose equipped with a positive shutoff nozzle for quick rinse, except that washing may be done with reclaimed wastewater or by a commercial car wash using recycled water. No excess runoff shall result from such activities as defined in section 78-501 (12) No water shall be used to clean, fill or maintain levels in decorative fountains, ponds, lakes or other similar aesthetic structures, unless such water is part of a recycling system. (13) The filling or replenishment of swimming pools shall be permitted, but the property owner will be liable for possible charges in the event a Phase II, III or Phase IV drought is declared. (14) The owner and operator of every hotel, motel, inn, guest house and short-term commercial lodging shall post a notice of water shortage and any necessary compliance measures. (b) Azusa Light and Water shall publish the declaration of a Phase I water shortage in a local newspaper of general circulation. (Ord. No. 08-O6, § 2, 6-16-08) Sec. 78-505. - Phase II water shortage. (a) A Phase II water shortage may be declared by the director of utilities if any of the conditions in section 78-504(a) for a Phase I water shortage are met, and it has been determined that there is need to reduce water consumption by up to ten percent based on available water supply and demand information. Prior to making a public announcement of a Phase II water shortage, the director of utilities shall document the basis for the water shortage declaration and communicate this information to the cit y manager and city council. Under a declared Phase II water shortage the following conservation measures shall be implemented: (1) Conservation measures listed in section 78-504 shall be in effect, except that the restrictions on watering lawns, landscapes and other turf areas shall be modified to limit watering by residential water users to 6:00 p.m. starting on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays until 6:00 a.m. the following day for customers with a street address number ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8), and to 6:00 p.m. starting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays until 6:00 a.m. of the following day for customers with a street address number ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9). If a hand-held hose with a positive shutoff nozzle or drip irrigation system is used, watering may be done at any time on the designated days. (2) Lawn watering and landscape irrigation by commercial and public agency water users shall be limited to 6:00 p.m. starting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until 10:00 a.m. of the following day, except that there shall be no restriction of watering utilizing a hand held hose with a positive shutoff nozzle, drip irrigation system, or system which uses reclaimed or recycled wastewater. (3) If a Phase II water shortage is declared, water users will be subject to the drought charge pursuant to section 78-511(b). (b) Azusa Light and Water shall publish the declaration of a Phase II water shortage in a local newspaper of general circulation, including the drought charge and implementation date of the declaration. (Ord. No. 08-O6, § 2, 6-16-08) Azusa, California, Code of Ordinances Page 3 - MUNICIPAL CODE Chapter 78 - UTILITIES ARTICLE VI. - WATER DIVISION 6. - CONSERVATION PLAN Sec. 78-506. - Phase III water shortage. (a) A Phase III water shortage may be declared by the director of utilities if any of the conditions in section 78-504(a) for a Phase I water shortage are met, and it has been determined that there is need to reduce water consumption by up to 20 percent based on available water supply and demand information. Prior to making a public announcement of a Phase III water shortage, the director of utilities shall document the basis for the water shortage declaration and communicate this information to the city manager and city council. Under a declared Phase III water shortage the following conservation measures shall be implemented: (1) Conservation measures listed in section 78-504 shall be in effect, except that the restrictions on watering lawns, landscapes and other turf areas shall be modified to limit watering by residential water users to 6:00 p.m. starting on Thursdays and Sundays until 6:00 a.m. the following day for customers with a street address number ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8), and to 6:00 p.m. starting on Wednesdays and Saturdays until 6:00 a.m. of the following day for customers with a street address number ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9). If a hand-held hose with a positive shutoff nozzle or drip irrigation system is used, watering may be done at any time on the designated days. (2) Lawn watering and landscape irrigation by Commercial and public agency water users shall be limited to 6:00 p.m. starting on Mondays and Fridays until 10:00 a.m. of the following day, except that there shall be no restriction of watering utilizing a hand held hose with a positive shutoff nozzle, drip irrigation system, or system which uses reclaimed or recycled wastewater. (3) If a Phase III water shortage is declared, water users will be subject to a drought charge pursuant to section 78-511(b). (b) Azusa Light and Water shall publish the declaration of a Phase III water shortage in a local newspaper of general circulation, including the drought charge and implementation date of the declaration. (Ord. No. 08-O6, § 2, 6-16-08) Azusa, California, Code of Ordinances Page 4