REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE BOARD GOVERNED COUNTY SERVICE AREAS
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 22, 2021
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Special Districts
SUBJECT
Title
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 rebate programs for customers from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 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 $25,000 collectively for the seven water districts. Adequate appropriation for the water conservation programs is included in the 2021-22 budget.
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 County Service Areas (CSA) 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 |
Since implementation of the water conservation programs, the Department of Public Works - Special Districts, Water and Sanitation Division (Division) has been successful in reducing water use across all CSAs and Zones. As a result, the Division is requesting Board approval to continue the programs 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 build on the ongoing efforts of Executive Order B-37-16. The two bills establish guidelines for efficient water use and a framework for the implementation and oversight of water efficiency standards, which must be in place by 2022. 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.
Accordingly, the Division will continue to implement water conservation programs and rebate incentives. The rebate programs 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. The Division will remain diligent with educating the public about understanding that water conservation remains the way of life.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Dawn Martin, Deputy County Counsel, 387-4322) on May 24, 2021; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on June 2, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on June 6, 2021.