In July 2014, the State Water Resources Control Board (State) announced emergency conservation regulations imposing requirements for water agencies to impose water conservation programs and prohibit certain types of water use. As a result of this action, and in order to meet statewide mandates, the City updated its Ordinance (Title 14, Chapter 40 of the Municipal Code) in December 2014, effective January 2015.

In March 2015, the State regulations called upon water agencies to implement the stage of its water conservation program that included mandatory restrictions on the number of days that outdoor irrigation was allowed. The City implemented a Stage 2 Mandatory Conservation-Water Alert conservation level in April 2015 to comply with the State’s mandate.

In April 2015, the State implemented mandatory water reductions in cities and towns across California to reduce water usage by 25 percent. The state mandated water reduction for the City was 20 percent based on the City's prior conservation efforts.

In May 2016, the State lifted the 20 percent water reduction mandate and has allowed water agencies to establish their own water reduction target, based on parameters set by the State. City staff and the local water districts performed a water supply stress test evaluating demand and available supplies to determine the appropriate level of water conservation should the drought continue for three more years. After this analysis, it was determined that water projections fully meet the City's water supply requests for the three-year period. Because of the preceding factors, City staff established a water reduction target of 0 percent. Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council authorize implementation of Stage 1 Voluntary Conservation-Water Watch conservation level under the Ordinance.

The voluntary water conservation measures imposed under the Stage 1 Water Watch include the following:

• Lawn watering and landscape irrigation should be limited to once every other day. All such irrigation is prohibited between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on any day, except by use of a hand-water shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.
  
  
• Washing of vehicles should be limited to once every other day unless done at a commercial car wash. Such washing shall be done only by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off device, or a low-volume, high-pressure cleaning machine equipped to recycle any water used.
  
  
• Use of a pool/spa cover is encouraged to prevent evaporation water loss. Restaurants should avoid serving water to their customers unless the customers specifically request it.
  
  
• Use of water from fire hydrants is limited to firefighting, system testing, construction activities, or for other activities necessary to maintain the public health, safety, and welfare of the community.

There is no impact to the General Fund.

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Adopt the attached Resolution approving the declaration of Stage 1 Voluntary Conservation-Water Watch conservation level under the City’s Water Conservation Program Ordinance.

By:  Katie Victoria, Senior Administrative Analyst