REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF BOARD GOVERNED COUNTY SERVICE AREAS
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 28, 2022
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Special Districts
SUBJECT
Title
Continuation of Water Conservation Programs - Various County Service Area Water Systems
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of County Service Areas 42 (Oro Grande), 64 (Spring Valley Lake), 70 CG (Cedar Glen), 70 F (Morongo Valley), 70 J (Oak Hills), 70 W-3 (Hacienda) and 70 W-4 (Pioneertown), approve continued education and water conservation rebate programs for customers during the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, to advance water conservation efforts.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Costs associated with the water conservation programs will not exceed $30,000 collectively for the seven water districts. Adequate appropriation for the water conservation programs is included in the 2022-23 budget for each County Service Area (CSA).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On August 11, 2015 (Item No. 37), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved water conservation programs (education and rebate programs) for customers within all CSAs and Zones that provide water services. This action was in response to the Best Management Practices in the CSA Urban Water Management Plans and the water conservation reporting requirements to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). The water conservation programs, which include providing public education to customers through workshops, classroom education, water conservation fairs, and supplying rebate incentives, were initially approved for the period of August 12, 2015 through June 12, 2016. However, the Board subsequently extended the period as follows:
|
Board Approval Date |
Item No. |
Time Period |
|
June 28, 2016 |
95 |
July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017 |
|
June 27, 2017 |
60 |
July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 |
|
July 10, 2018 |
40 |
July 10, 2018 through June 30, 2019 |
|
June 25, 2019 |
61 |
July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020 |
|
June 23, 2020 |
99 |
July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 |
|
June 22, 2021 |
107 |
July 1, 2021 through July 30, 2022 |
Due to the ongoing drought conditions in California, the Department of Public Works - Special Districts is requesting Board approval to continue the water conservation programs, which have been successful in reducing water use across all CSAs and Zones, for an additional year.
On May 9, 2016, the Governor of California signed Executive Order B-37-16 “Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life”. This Executive Order, which continues to be in full force and effect, permanently prohibits practices that waste potable water, such as:
• Hosing off sidewalks, driveways and other hardscapes;
• Washing automobiles with hoses not equipped with a shut-off nozzle;
• Using non-recirculated water in a fountain or other decorative water feature;
• Watering lawns in a manner that causes runoff, or within 48 hours after measurable precipitation; and
• Irrigating ornamental turf on public street medians.
On May 31, 2018, the Governor of California signed two bills (AB 1668 and SB 606) that built on the ongoing efforts of Executive Order B-37-16. The two bills established guidelines for efficient water use and a framework for the implementation and oversight of water efficiency standards and require the SWRCB, in coordination with the Department of Water Resources (DWR), to establish long-term urban water use efficiency standards. The SWRCB is currently in the process of establishing guidelines for enforcement. The goal of the two bills is to strengthen California’s water resiliency in the face of future droughts, with provisions that include:
• Establishing an indoor, per person water use goal of 55 gallons per day until 2025, 52.5 gallons per day from 2025 to 2030, and 50 gallons per day beginning in 2030;
• Creating incentives for water suppliers to recycle water; and
• Requiring both urban and agriculture water suppliers to set annual water budgets and prepare for drought.
On March 28, 2022, the Governor of California signed Executive Order N-7-22, directing the SWRCB to consider adopting emergency regulations that would include a requirement that all urban water suppliers, at a minimum, implement water shortage response actions for a level of up to 20% by a date set by the SWRCB.
Accordingly, the Department will continue to implement water conservation programs and rebate incentives. The rebate programs will designate a fixed dollar amount to provide monetary water account credits to qualified customers that replace various outdoor and indoor items including weather-based irrigation controllers, irrigation sprinkler heads, toilets, bathroom sink faucets, and showerheads with efficient water-wise products as established by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Sense Program and the SoCal WaterSmart Program. There was a total of 15 rebates issued in 2020-21, and 12 rebates issued in 2021-22 for water efficient fixtures.
The Department will remain diligent with promoting rebates and educating the public that water conservation remains the way of life.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-4322) on May 31, 2022; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on June 7, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on June 13, 2022.