The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutF-2. Water Conservation Programs Update Information Item Presented 1311-04- F-2 *Or AZUSA .01“ wAou INFORMATION ITEM TO: HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD FROM: GEORGE F. MORROW,DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES DATE: MARCH 24, 2014 SUBJECT: WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS UPDATE In February 2008, then Governor Schwarzenegger introduced a seven-part comprehensive plan for improving the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. As part of this effort, the Governor directed state agencies to develop a plan to reduce statewide per capita urban water use by 20 percent by the year 2020. This marked the initiation of the 20x2020 Water Conservation Plan (20x2020 Plan) process. This 20x2020 Plan was developed through the collaborative effort of an Agency Team, which consisted of state and federal agencies including the Department of Water Resources (DWR), State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), California Energy Commission(CEC),Department of Public Health(DPH), California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Air Resources Board (ARB), California Bay-Delta Authority (CBDA), and the US Bureau of Reclamation(USBR). In May 2013, Governor Brown issued an Executive Order to direct state water officials to expedite the review and processing of voluntary transfers of water and water rights. In December 2013, the Governor formed a Drought Task Force to review expected water allocations, California's preparedness for water scarcity and whether conditions merit a drought declaration. With California facing water shortfalls in the driest year in recorded state history, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. proclaimed a State of Emergency on January 17, 2014 and directed state officials to take all necessary actions to prepare for these drought conditions. In his declaration, the governor called for voluntary "20 percent conservation of our water use" statewide and initiated a greatly expanded water conservation public awareness campaign. For the purpose of water conservation programs,Azusa Light&Water is essentially divided into two areas based on the corresponding wholesale "replacement water" district. The customers located within the Azusa city limits are within the boundaries of the San Gabriel Valley Metropolitan Water District(Four Cities),with a few exceptions, such as APU West Campus and Mountain Cove that are located within Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper District) jurisdiction, along with most of the customers located outside of Azusa city limits. The two districts have drastically different conservation budgets, with Four Cities having very limited funds and Upper District having substantial funds principally provided by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. UB-90 Water Conservation Programs Update March 24,2014. Page 2 CURRENT WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS All Azusa Light & Water customers are covered by the DRIP Rebate Program that provides a 50% rebate for controlled irrigation systems, drought tolerant plants and artificial turf, with upper rebate limits per site of $1,400 for residential customers and $10,000 for commercial customers. In addition, using energy conservation funding, AL&W has an additional rebate of $75 for clothes washers and$50 for dishwashers. AZUSA CITY(FOUR CITIES)CUSTOMERS Residential Azusa City residential customers have an annual toilet exchange that is funded in part by Azusa Light & Water and the Four Cities District. There is also a $150 clothes washer rebate that is fully funded and administered by the Four Cities, which can be supplemented by a $75 energy efficiency rebate from AL&W. Commercial -- — No current commercial rebate programs. OUTSIDE OF CITY(UPPER DISTRICT)CUSTOMERS All Upper District rebate programs are administered on-line by SoCal Water$mart and consist of: Residential Indoor measures- • Starting at$85 for High Efficiency Clothes Washers • Starting at$50 per toilet for High Efficiency Toilets(HET) Outdoor measures– • Weather-Based Irrigation Controller (WBIC) rebates start at $80 per controller for less than 1 acre of landscape and $25 per station for more than 1 acre • Rotating Sprinkler Nozzle rebates are $4 per nozzle with a minimum quantity of 15 nozzles • Rain Barrel rebates start at$75 per barrel • Turf Removal rebate is $1 per square foot UB-91 Water Conservation Programs Update March 24,2014 Page 3 Commercial \1ca.t►rc Ba.c Ilchatc ;I'lumhinI iytore~ I High-Efficiency Toilets (Tank-Type) $50/multi-family toilet $100/commercial toilet High-Efficiency Toilets(Flushometer) $100 Ultra Low and Zero Water Urinals $200 Plumbing Flow Control Valves $5Nalve(minimum of 20) ,Landscaping Equipment Irrigation Controllers $25/Station Rotating Nozzles for Pop-up Spray $4/Nozzle Heads Large Rotary Nozzles $13/Set In-stem Flow Regulators $1/Regulator Soil Moisture Sensor Systems $25/Irrigation controller station I m,U l.quip►nent Connectionless Food Steamers $485/Compartment Air-cooled Ice Machines $1000 Laminar Flow Restrictors $10/Restrictor 1IV-1t1.quipment I. Cooling Tower Conductivity Controllers $625 Cooling Tower ph Controllers $1,750 Medical and Dental I.quipment Dry Vacuum Pumps $125/0.5 HP Currently the annual Water Programs Expenses budget is $100,000 and spending levels have been around $60,000 to $70,000 for the last few years. In light of the impending Phase III drought and the additional expenses associated with meeting the State's 20% by 2020 water conservation goals, the proposed annual budget will be increased to $200,000 for fiscal year 2014-2015. The programs within the Upper District territory are fairly comprehensive presently and believed to be meeting the needs of the customers. Staff is in the process, however, of evaluating programs available to residents/businesses within the city to determine cost effectiveness and the possible need for additional programs that target areas of high water consumption. UB-92 Water Conservation Programs Update March 24,2014 Page 4 Conservation program success is directly related to the associated communication efforts. Azusa Light& Water will continue to advertise the drought and its impact on water supply. This will be accomplished through multiple forms of media and by stepped up communications on the Azusa Light& Water website. Prepared by: Paul Reid, Utility Program Specialist UB-93