HomeMy WebLinkAboutF-2.1. Water Conservation Update - Revoking 2-Day Week Watering ScheduleINFORMATIONAL ITEM F-2
TO: HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE AZUSA UTILITY BOARD
FROM: TIKAN SINGH, GENERAL MANAGER
DATE: MAY 22, 2023
SUBJECT: WATER CONSERVATION UPDATE – REVOKING THE TWO DAY A WEEK
LANDSCAPE WATERING SCHEDULE
BACKGROUND:
On March 28, 2022, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-7-22 directing the State Water
Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to adopt drought emergency water conservation regulations. On May
24, 2022, the SWRCB adopted Emergency Regulations requiring urban water suppliers to implement at
minimum, all demand reduction actions identified in the supplier’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan for
a shortage level of up to 20%. Section 8.4.2 of ALW’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan explains that
the type of event which may prompt the General Manager to declare a water shortage, and implement
Water Utility Rule No. 21, includes a drought or a state emergency.
As a result, the General Manager exercised the authority granted under ALW’s Water Utility Rule No. 21,
Water Conservation, and implemented a Landscape Watering Schedule of two days per week with
alternating watering days of the week based on even or odd address numbers. As required under Rule No.
21, the General Manager made that recommendation under Item F-2 of the Utility Board Agenda on May
31, 2022 as an Information Item. The Landscape Watering Schedule then went into effect on June 1,
2022.
This year, a series of abnormal atmospheric river storm events brought record rainfall and filled depleted
reservoirs. The Department of Water Resources announced a 100% State Water Project Allocation to state
water contractors, which last occurred in 2006, due to record snow and runoff in the Sierra Nevada. Due
to these improved hydrological conditions, on March 24, 2023, the Governor issued Executive Order N-
5-23 which, among other things, ends the requirement that water suppliers implement 20% shortage levels.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Utility Board take the following action:
1) Receive and file Staff’s report lifting the 2-day watering restrictions.
Approved
Utility Board
05/22/2023
Water Conservation Update
May 22, 2023
Page 2
ANALYSIS:
In order to comply with the March 28, 2022, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-7-22 20%
reduction required by the State, a Phase IV Water Shortage was implemented under Rule No. 21. Rule
No. 21 allows the General Manager to recommend and implement landscape and lawn watering
restrictions to achieve the mandated water reduction goal. With the State’s lifting of the mandated 20%
reduction goal, there is no further need to implement ALW’s Phase IV of Rule No. 21, also known as
Water Shortage Contingency Plan Shortage Level 2.
As a result, Staff is recommending that the 2-day Landscape Watering Schedule be lifted and return to the
3-day Schedule under Rule No. 21(E)(2) (Water Shortage Contingency Plan Shortage Level 1) which
provides as follows:
(E)(2) Three days per week watering during Summer Period (April 1 through October 31) and two
days per week during Winter period (November 1 through March 31).
Rule No. 21(D) remains in effect regardless of the Landscape Watering Schedule and sets forth a number
of Mandatory Water Conservation Measures including, but not limited to, the following:
(D)(4) There shall be no lawn (turf) watering and landscape irrigation between the hours of 9:00
a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on any day of the week. Lawn (turf) watering shall be limited to no more than
30 minutes per location per day.
Section (G) of Rule No. 21 provides that prior to making a public announcement of a lifting of a Water
Shortage Phase, the General Manager shall document the basis for the water shortage change and
communicate this information to the Utility Board.
Although the most recent drought is effectively over and the State has lifted many water restrictions, the
reality remains that we live in a region where most years are dry, where drought will return, and we need
to plan for it and not just react to the current condition. Staff will continue to focus on water conservation
as a way of life in its public education and outreach and rebate/conservation programs to sustain long-
term water conservation habits and continue to use water wisely.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact in lifting the two-day watering restrictions.
CEQA COMPLIANCE:
Not applicable.
Prepared by: Reviewed and Approved:
Water Conservation Update
May 22, 2023
Page 3
Melissa Barbosa, PE Sergio Gonzalez
Assistant General Manager City Manager
Water Operation
Reviewed and Approved:
Tikan Singh
General Manager