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Home My WebLink About01/25/1994, 4 - REVISION OF CITY POLICY ON THE USE OF RECLAIMED WATER.F1 MEETING DATE: "ARQ11KIIJU city of sa Uis OBIspo A COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT ITEM NUMI: FROM: John Moss Utilities D' for SUBJECT: Prepared By: David P. Pierce Water Projects Manager Revision of City policy on the use of reclaimed water. CAO RECONEVIENDATION: Adopt a resolution revising City policy regarding the use of reclaimed water. DISCUSSION: Staff proposes that three changes be made to the reclaimed water policy adopted by City Council on August 20, 1991. ■ The use of recycled water within developments in the City and approved for connection to the City water system should be moved from Category II to Category I. ■ The reference to incidental groundwater recharge should be deleted. ■ The statement "If demand for category I is met; then reclaimed water could be distributed to category II" should be deleted. Summary of current policy Resolution 7024 (1991 Series) "Establishing Policy Regarding the Use of Reclaimed Water" states that reclaimed water is to be used to offset potable water demand for non - potable uses and to minimize the amount of ground water being pumped for non - potable purposes; that all projects are to be cost effective when compared to projects for developing new sources of potable water; and that the following policy guideline should be used for approving reclaimed water projects. The current policy guideline groups the priorities into two categories and says that "If demand for category I is met; then reclaimed water could be distributed to category II" Category I includes three priorities: • Existing uses connected to the City water system. • Existing uses within the Urban Reserve Line (URL) where water is pumped from private wells for non - potable uses. • Maintaining creek flow for existing instream uses and incidental groundwater recharge. Category II includes two priorities: • New uses within the URL. • Outside of the URL uses that maintain or enhance agriculture or open space. The portions affected by the proposed changes are italicized 41111111104 fU city of San Luis OBI SPO HMZM COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Reclaimed Water Policy Page 2 Chaneine the Driority for new develooment The most economical time to incorporate the use of reclaimed water into a facility is during the original construction. The dual plumbing system can be designed and constructed to insure the integrity of the potable water supply. Also, certain infrastructure costs associated with the transmission and distribution of the reclaimed water may be born by the development. Any project constructed within the City places a demand on the existing potable supply, the groundwater supply, or both. As soon as a project is approved, its water demand reduces the supply available to others. The overall policy for the use of reclaimed water is to emphasize the use of reclaimed water to offset potable water demand for non - potable use and to minimize the amount of groundwater pumped for non - potable use. The proposed change in priorities meets both of these requirements.. The use of reclaimed water to replace existing non - potable uses has limited application. It will be cost effective to retrofit large irrigation systems that have separate connections to the City mains. But, as the required distribution system branches out further to serve smaller customers, provision of recycled water becomes cost prohibitive to the City as the purveyor of the reclaimed water. Additionally the cost becomes prohibitive to the customer when smaller irrigation systems with several segments have multiple connections to the potable plumbing. Conversion requires separation of the plumbing systems and assurance that there are no cross - connections. In some cases this could require excavation of the entire irrigation system. Deletine references to- roundwater recharge The statement "incidental groundwater recharge" raises a question. Does this refer to a possibility that excess seasonal flows may contribute to ground water recharge or is the City going to commit water for the purpose of replenishing water that others are using. Comments to the Draft EIR for the Water Reuse Project indicated that the seasonal excess would not make a significant contribution. The City is currently having a study performed that will address the value of this water, however, if there is no intent to release water specifically to recharge underground waters being depleted by others, it would be best to remove this reference to groundwater. Deleting statement "If demand for category I is mete then reclaimed water could be distributed to cate o¢`ry If this statement is interpreted to say that all Category I uses must be met before serving any Category H uses, there is really no need for a Category H. It will never become cost effective to serve all of the small Category I uses. However the policy guidelines are to provide staff with general guidance in their review of potential projects. Category I includes those uses that Reclaimed Water Policy 6"01�111PMlll city of San LUIS OBISpo MMGs COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Page 3 are of greatest value to the City while Category H includes other possible uses that may benefit the City. As the only use presently listed in Category II is for service outside the City Limits, the City Council would have to approve any project and would have to modify the current ordinance (MC 13.16.010) that prevents the City from providing new water or sewer services outside the City. Review of terms being used In order to avoid confusion between the sale and reuse of reclaimed water and the production of that water by the Water Reclamation Facility, the Utilities Department will be using the following definitions. The State Water Code is currently using these terms in the same manner. Recycled water and Reclaimed water are used interchangeably to mean the highly treated disinfected tertiga reclaimed water produced by the Water Reclamation Facility. Water Reclamation is the processes of maidng a useable water from the City's wastewater. Water Reuse is the distribution of reclaimed water to the customer and use of the water by the customer. To be consistent with these definitions, the current Water Reclamation Project for distribution of reclaimed water is being renamed the Water Reuse Project. FISCAL EMPACT: There is no direct fiscal imr pct as a result of this Council action. However, construction costs for the Water Reuse Syste•a may be substantially reduced by allowing use of reclaimed water for development within & -- City. Y Y_►/_ 1. Coun . may change the recommended priority order. 2. Cou* :il may add or delete recommended priorities. Attachments: 1. Resolution 2. Resolution 7024 (1991 Series) gAdaveV=j1cy.agd ;+ dr RESOLUTION NO. (1994 Series) REVISING POLICY REGARDING THE USE OF RECLAIMED WATER WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Resolution 7024 (1991 series) establishing policy regarding the use of reclaimed water, and WHEREAS, by offsetting the current non - potable water use with reclaimed water, the City would be able to avoid demands on the safe annual yield from its other water sources, and WHEREAS, using reclaimed water to replace that used from private wells for irrigation and /or other non - potable use would lower the rate of withdrawal from the basin making more water available for potable use, and WHEREAS, the State of California encourages the use of reclaimed water, and WHEREAS, new sources of water supply are extremely limited. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo that Resolution 7024 (1991 series) is hereby rescinded. BE IT RESOLVED, that City policy regarding reclaimed water use places emphasis on offsetting potable water demand for non - potable use and minimizing the amount of groundwater pumped for non - potable use. BE IT RESOLVED, that each reclaimed water project should be cost effective when compared to developing a new potable water source. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the following guidelines should be used when committing reclaimed water resources. CATEGORY I - Uses that replace. potable and groundwater or that maintain creek instream uses. • New irrigation /non - potable water uses within development approved for construction within the City and approved for connection to the City water system. • Existing irrigation /non - potable water uses connected to the City water system. • Existing irrigation /non - potable uses within the Urban Reserve Line, with or without connections to the City water system which employ private wells to supply non - potable water requirements. • Maintaining creek flow for existing instream uses. J4 � q Resolution No. (1994 Series) CATEGORY U - Other uses of reclaimed water • Outside of the Urban Reserve Line irrigation/non - potable uses that maintain or enhance agriculture or open space. Upon motion of , seconded by , and on the following role call vote: AYES: NOES: the foregoing resolution was adopted this day of , 1994. MAYOR PEG PINARD ATTEST: Diane Gladwell, City Clerk APPROVED: 00./W ', , -9 L1�, r.�� „� City Att rney &:a.WV=_P,ry.,o 4vo,* 702! RESOLUTION NO. (1991 Series) ESTABLISHING POLICY REGARDING THE USE OF RECLAIMED WATER WHEREAS, City policy is to pursue'a water reclamation program to supplement the City's water supply, and WHEREAS, By offsetting the current non - potable water use with reclaimed water, the City would be able to avoid demands on the safe yield from its other water sources, and.- WHEREAS, using reclaimed water to replace or augment that used from private wells for irrigation and /or other non - potable use would allow for a lower rate of withdrawal from the basin and more water available for potable use. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED-, by the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo that City policy regarding reclaimed water use places emphasis on offsetting potable water demand for non- potable use and minimizing the amount of groundwater pumped for non - potable use. BE IT RESOLVED, in keeping with State water reclamation policy, each reclaimed water project should be a cost effective project when compared to developing a new potable water source. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the following is the City policy guideline for approving of reclaimed water projects. If demand for category I is net; then reclaimed water could be distributed to category II. CATEGORY I • EXISTING IRRIGATION /NOR - POTABLE WATER USERS WITH CONNECTION TO CITY WATER SYSTEM. • EXISTING IRRIGATION /NON- POTABLE USE THAT IS WITHIN THE URBAN RESERVE LINE (URL) , WITH OR WITHOUT A CONNECTION TO THE CITY WATER SYSTEM WHICH EMPLOY A PRIVATE WELL TO SUPPLY OR AUGMENT THEIR NON - POTABLE WATER REQUIREMENTS • MAINTAINING CREEKFLOW FOR EXISTING INSTREF M USES AND INCIDENTAL GROUNDWATER RECHARGE. CATEGORY II i. • NEW IRRIGATION /NON- POTABLE USERS WITHIN THE URL. • OUTSIDE OF THE URL IRRIGATION /NON- POTABLE USERS THAT MAINTAIN OR ENHANCE AGRICULTURE OR OPEN SPACE. Resolution No. 7023 (1991 Series) Upon motion of r,n„nc;l��nm n RapVa i seconded by Councilman Reiss and on the follcwing role call vote: AYES: Councilmembers Rappa, Reiss, Pinard, Roalman and 'Mayor Dunin NOES: None ABSENT: None the foregoing resolution was adopted this 20th day of August 1991. e AYOR RON DUNII ATTEST: V Pam v ges, Citr-- rk APPROVED: City A inistrative Officer �1y Attbrr�ey