HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/03/1988, 3A - 1988-89 ANNUAL WATER OPERATIONAL PLAN I`lu^I�Illl�lllllnl�ll� II Ilulll — MEETING DATE:
(III II I CiVJ of san lues oBIspo May 3, 1988
COUNCIL,AGENDA REPORT ITEM NUMBER:
_
:ROM: David F. Romero , LBy: Bill Hetla Hal Fones--'eLinda Herman
Dir of Public Works Util Mgr Util Eng y Wtr Cons Coord `
SUBJECT:
1988-89 Annual Water Operational Plan
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
By Motion direct staff to implement the 1988-89 Annual
Water Operational Plan recommendations
BACKGROUND:
In 1985 the City Council adopted the Annual Water Operational Plan
Policy statement. It established a procedure to monitor the City's
water supply situation and implement certain programs at specific
action levels. The full 1988-89 Annual Water Operational Storage
Plan is attached. This agenda report will briefly summarize its
findings.
The Annual Water Operational Storage Plan looks at the current
reservoir storage situation, projects future storage based on a
worse case scenario, and then evaluates supply and demand
management options. The attached reservoir storage curve is the
basis for the Annual Water Operational Plan.
This curve takes into account the water in storage at the
reservoirs. A distinction should be made between the water in
storage and safe annual yield, another key water measurement used
by the City. Safe annual yield is the long term quantity of water
the City can use each and every year. This is an empirically
developed number based on historical weather patterns. Though the
amount of water in the reservoirs is related to the safe annual
yield, they are independent. When water use exceeds the safe
annual yield, it is regulated by the proposed water allocation
ordinance. on the other hand, when reservoir supply is deficient,
control measures are regulated by the Annual Water Operational Plan
Policy Statement.
The beginning of the Reservoir Storage Curve is in April 1986 when
the reservoirs were essentially full. Because of the minimal
rainfall the last two years and higher then average use, the curve
steeply declines. The water storage is now in the moderate action
level and will reach the severe level by this summer or fall. The
recent storms did not add any appreciable new storage to the
reservoirs. The Plan calls for implementing supply and demand
management options in order to reduce consumption by 15% - 25%.
Without significant rainfall, our storage levels can reach the
critical level in late 1989 or early 1990 depending on water
consumption rates which would mandate a 50% cutback in water
consumption.
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filmi COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Page 2
Projected reservoir storage levels are also shown on the curve for
an average and median winter rainfall season. Even in that
situation the City will most likely be facing continued water
conservation and needed supply development for the next few years.
Recommendations
The Annual Water Operational Plan analyzed a number of supply and
demand mangement options in order to develop new resources and
reduce consumption. The recommended options are outlined below.
Supply Management
1. Continue to operate the reservoirs to minimize evaporation and
maximize reservoir storage. This is done by actively using the
Salinas Reservoir, taking into account water quality and system
reliabilty, while relying on Whale Rock Reservoir primarily for
storage.
2. Continue development of the groundwater wells within the City
for domestic consumption. This would result in new supplies being
on line within 9 months to a year. It may be possible to fast
track this effort. Long term projects like the Salinas Reservoir
expansion and the Coastal Stream Diversion and Storage Project are
still being pursued, but they will not help in this current dry
period.
Demand Management
1. Continue the ongoing public education program with an increased
emphasis on the the current water situation. Also continue the
water waste program and the City's water conservation efforts
outlined in the Five Year Water Conservation Program.
2. Establish growth control measures in accordance with the
proposed Water Allocation Regulations. This is covered in the
Community Development Department's staff report.
3. Revise the water rate schedule to include an increasing block
rate structure. This will provide an economic incentive for people
to reduce their water consumption and will tend to emphasize
irrigation reductions. This will require Staff to bring back a
rate ordinance for adoption by the Council.
4. Implement alternate day water irrigation schedule. This will
result in less water being used for landscape irrigation. This
option will also require an ordinance change.
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1988-89 ANNUAL WATER OPERATIONAL PLAN
The City Council adopted the Annual Water Operational Plan Policy
Statement June 4, 1985. The policy statement sets guidelines for
monitoring the City's reservoir supply and specifies action
levels. The action levels are specific points where remedial
procedures will be instituted to correct any projected water supply
deficits to maintain a dependable supply during critical periods,
The Annual Water Operational Plan Policy Statement is a five step
process. The five steps are:
I. Identify Supply Situation
This step clearly defines the supply situation as a
function of total reservoir storage and projects what it
will be in the future, based on a number of criteria.
Average and worst case scenarios are evaluated and
specific action levels identified. There are four action
levels based on the available supply in the reservoirs.
The four levels are minor, moderate, severe and critical.
II. Supply Management
If the supply situation analysis shows a potential
problem, additions and modifications to the existing
supply are evaluated. Major new supplies and system
modifications require extensive lead time to develop. In
an emergency situation though, temporary supplies are
feasible. Changes in the use of the existing supply are
also considered.
III. Demand Management
Reducing consumer demand is a key element of the
operational plan during a time of water supply shortages.
Demand management provides the greatest flexibility and
potential for water savings. Demand reduction includes
both voluntary and mandatory programs.
IV. Sequential Operational Plan
This step develops sequential measures to be enacted at
each action level so as to conserve existing water
supplies.
Supply and demand options are included. Least restrictive
and least expensive measures are instituted first with
more stringent and costly measures to follow if the water
supply conditions do not improve.
g-A-.�
1988-89 Annual Water Operational Plan
Page Two
V. Final Operational Plan Summary
Develop a summary of goals, and recommended demand and
supply measures to be instituted to meet required water
supply needs.
I. IDENTIFY SUPPLY SITUATION
The first step in the Annual Water Operation Plan is to develop a
reservoir storage curve which identifies the current water reservoir
status and project future reservoir levels. This is done by using
the current reservoir levels allocated to the City and then
estimating the future levels using projected consumption, reservoir
inflow and evaporation. The City's allocated reservoir storage is
45, 643 acre feet compared to the total reservoir storage capacities
of 63,960 acre feet.
Action Levels
In May 1987, the Whale Rock Commission adopted an operational policy
in which the individual storage rights of each entity are
quantified. Previously, our action levels were based on total
reservoir storage and took into account Cal Poly's and the California
Men's Colony storage rights. To more accurately reflect the City of
San Luis Obispo's storage situation, the action levels have been
restated to reflect only the water entitlements for the City.
In conjunction with the operational policy and as members of the
Whale Rock Commission, Cal Poly and the California Mens Colony (CMC)
should develop their own water operational plan to ensure that their
water use does not exceed their supply. The City will continue to
take the lead as staff members of the commission to encourage Cal
Poly and CMC to indentify their own actions to be taken if the water
situation continues in its current trend.
The action levels are based on available supply during the worst case
conditions over a six year period. This is the basis for the City's
determination of of its safe annual yield which is the measure of the
City's available water supply. The action levels, taking into
account the minimum pool requirements at the reservoirs for fish and
wildlife, equal 5,250 acre feet for the City's share.
The revised action levels, considering the City's entitlement only,
are at the following storage points:
1. Minor (5%) - 66% of reservoir storage capacity
2. Moderate (15%) - 2.5 years of supply plus 5,250 acre feet
3 . Severe (25%) - 2. 0 years of supply plus 5,250 acre feet
4. Critical (50%) - 1.0 year of supply plus 5,250 acre feet
The percentage indicated in parenthesis is the recommended reduction
in water consumption for that particular action level.
3-A -60**
1988-89 Annual Water Operational Plan
Page Three
Historical Reservoir Storage
Figure 1 is a graph which shows historical reservoir storage. It
shows Salinas Reservoir spilling and Whale Rock Reservoir at 97% full
in April, 1986. If this was the beginning of a worst case scenario,
only 24 months has elapsed. The graph shows reservoir levels since
1974 . It demonstrates that there has been a rather wet weather
pattern with frequent reservoir spills, and it also shows that the
drought of 1976 and 1977 was only three years without spills, whereas
our worst case is six years without spills.
Reservoir Storage Curve
The beginning of the reservoir storage curve is April, 1986, with the
reservoir essentially full. The reservoir storage curve (figure 2)
is based on an estimated 2% growth in basic water consumption and
includes reductions in consumption based on the criteria established
in the 1985 Water Operational Plan Policy which would call for a 15%
reduction in 1988, a 25% reduction in 1989 and a 50% reduction in
1990 based on reservoir storage being at the specified action levels.
Reservoir inflow estimates were developed by looking at the worst
case dry cycle when Salinas Reservoir did not spill for six years.
Our records date back to 1870 and indicate an average inflow of
16,700 acre feet a year. However the median inflow is only 9, 000
acre feet, in which half the years receive less than 9, 000 acre
feet. Those six dry years that consist of our worst case
historically had inflows of:
1946 = 7,214 A.F.
1947 = 3,880 A.F.
1948 = 857 A.F. Worst drought for 118 years of record
1949 = 3,757 A.F.
1950 = 6,993 A.F.
1951 = 1, 544 A.F.
1952 = 46,439
Our worst case scenario inflow is based on those six years of total
inflow at 24, 245 acre feet or an average of 4 , 041 per year.
Reservoir evaporation was also a key factor in developing the
reservoir storage curve. Evaporation rates were based on historical
measurements for the different seasons; a higher evaporation rate for
the warm season and a lower rate of the cool season. An average
percentage evaporation was then applied to reservoir levels.
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1988-89 Annual Water Operational Plan
Page Four
Supply Management - Maximizing Existing Supplies
Supply Management has been divided into two areas. The first
involves maximizing the existing reservoir supplies through efficient
operations. The second area of supply management is the development
of new supply sources.
Maximizing existing supplies is divided into evaporation management
and inflow maximization.
Evaporation Management
Evaporation losses play a major role in the coordinated use of
Salinas and Whale Rock reservoirs. Salinas Reservoir has a higher
rate of evaporation than Whale Rock. Figure 3 shows the monthly
percent evaporation from Salinas and Whale Rock Reservoirs. It
dramatically depict the higher rate of evaporation from Salinas
Reservoir. There are three primary factors that contribute to this:
1. Summer temperatures are much higher at the Salinas Reservoir
than at the Whale Rock Reservoir.
2. The altitude at the Salinas Reservoir is 1, 301 feet and the
altitude at Whale Rock is 216 feet. The reduced atmospheric
pressure at the higher altitude increases the rate of
evaporation.
3. The reservoir surface to volume ratio is higher at Salinas
Reservoir providing a larger area of exposure to the effects of
evaporation. For instance, when both reservoirs have a surface
area of 581. 5 acres, Salinas has a volume of 17, 913 acre feet and
Whale Rock has a volume of 39, 059 acre feet.
The result of these three factors is vastly different rates of water
loss due to evaporation, as shown below.
FISCAL EVAPORATION LOSS EVAPORATION IHSS
YEAR AT SALINAS AT WHALE ROCK
1985-86 16. 25% 6. 04%
1.986-87 16. 10% 5. 58%
1987-88 18. 12% 5.95%
It is apparent that year-to-year evaporation losses can vary by
several hundred acre feet due to weather alone, and affect the amount
of water in storage. Typically, Whale Rock will have a substantially
lower evaporation rate.
Because of this difference in rate of evaporation, one element to our
reservoir operation plan is to use Salinas Reservoir for consumption
and maintain our reserve storage in Whale Rock to minimize the
evaporation losses.
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1988-89 Annual Water Operational Plan
Page Five
Inflow Maximization
Another element is operating our reservoir storage to try and achieve
a situation where both reservoirs will fill to the brim at the same
time. This takes maximum advantage of all available inflow to the
reservoir.
Weather patterns and inflow data were analyzed to accomplish this.
The variations in storms and their effects make such efforts a study
in probability, since no two storms are alike. Extreme weather
conditions are of little value in analyzing reservoir operations and
therefore were discounted. The years where the Salinas Reservoir
inflow was less than 7,000 acre feet were not used, since consumption
and evaporation always exceed this amount and a reservoir spill does
not occur. The two largest inflows to the Salinas Reservoir were
also left out since they would distort the analysis, since both
reservoirs would be spilling under any plan. Downstream releases to
meet "live stream" requirements and contract commitments were taken
into account.
From the analysis, it was possible to develop an optimum reservoir
level curve (figure 4) , which shows the optimum reservoir storage
levels for Salinas and Whale Rock. The curve shows what the storage
levels should be at each reservoir to maximize inflow retention. For
example, when the Whale Rock Reservoir storage is at 35, 000 acre
feet, the optimum Salinas Reservoir level is 4 , 000 acre feet. The
curve also depicts that there is about four times as much inflow for
Salinas than for Whale Rock.
There are some operational problems in using all the water from the
Salinas Reservoir prior to making heavy drafts on the Whale Rock
Reservoir. First, two sources of raw water provide a backup in the
event of delivery system failure. Secondly, taste and odor problems
arise in the summer months due to algae in a shallow warm reservoir.
Even though taste and odor problems are not serious public health
risks, every effort is made to eliminate them and provide a high
level of quality water to city customers. Switching between the two
reservoirs often times helps to minimize taste and odor problems.
It is important to note that the annual water operational plan takes
into account this up and down cycle by implementing more stringent
efforts the further into the six year worst case scenario we go, The
primary reason for this is efficiency in operation and also not to
prematurely alarm the public.
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1988-89 Annual Water Operational Plan
Page Six
SUPPLY MANAGEMENT - NEW SUPPLY SOURCES
The second area of supply management is the development of new supply
sources. There are four projects underway that will increase our
local supply of water. These projects are budgeted and are in
various stages of development.
1. Groundwater - The Groundwater Study being conducted by John L.
Wallace and Associates, in conjuction with Timothy S. Cleath, has
completed phase one of a two phase study. The first phase
analyzed groundwater resources in the San Luis Obispo area. The
study identified six sites that warrant test drilling and show 3
potential yield of up to 1860 acre feet of water a year.
Phase two involves test drilling to verify the actual yield of
the groundwater wells. Test drilling should be completed this
year and construction is budgeted in the amount of $200, 000 for
1988-89. Some of this production could be of use during this dry
cycle. This project may also be fast tracked to bring ground
water on line sooner.
2. Golf Course Well - Council authorized the drilling of a well at
the Laguna Lake Golf course. The purpose of the well was to
develop additional information on the groundwater availablity in
the area and to develop a source of water that could be used for
golf course irrigation and possible domestic consumption.
The golf course test well has been drilled and tested. The yield
of the well is around 70 gallons per minute or about 40 acre feet
per year for irrigation use. Water quality is not acceptable for
domestic consumption due to high iron and manganese mineral
content. Treatment to remove these high levels is possible but
very cost inefficient due to the low yield of the well. The most
feasible option for use of this well is for irrigation of the
golf course. Staff is proceeding with the development of the
plans and specifications to implement the irrigaton option. It
is anticipated that this well will be operational this summer.
3 . Salinas Reservoir Expansion - The City's Draft Water Management
Plan identified expanding the Salinas reservoir by building a
gate structure within the exsiting spillway. Staff has issued a
Request for Proposals on the Salinas Reservoir Expansion. The
proposals are due May 5, 1988.
This project will involve a seismic evaluation of the dam, yield
analysis, environmental review and project design. The amount of
$250, 000 has been budgeted in 1987-88 for the study and design
phase, while $2, 600,000 is budgeted in 1989-90 for construction.
This work will increase our storage and thereby increase our safe
annual yield by an estimated 1,300 acre feet. Since the benefits
are derived from capturing excess storm flows, it will have no
bearing on this immediate dry cycle but will contribute to the
City's long term safe annual yield. 9-4s/�
1988-89 Annual Water Operational Plan
Page Seven
4. Coastal Stream Diversion and Storage Proiect - The Whale Rock
Commission and the City of Morro Bay have undertaken a
feasibility study. The project is known as the Coastal Streams
Diversion and Storage Project. Under this plan, excess storm
flows in eight streams that empty into the ocean would be
diverted into the Whale Rock facilities and stored at Whale Rock
Reservoir. Initial studies have identified a potential yield of
about 1700 acre feet. The city of San Luis Obispo, as a member
of the Whale Rock Commission, would be expected to benefit from
the additional water, all conditioned by future institutional
agreements and a final design. The feasibility report should be
out within a week.
As with the Salinas Reservoir Expansion project, the benefits of
this project would be only minimal in this immediate dry cycle,
but would provide some long term benefit to the City's safe
annual yield.
III. DEMAND MANAGEMENT
The City of San Luis Obispo's water demand is currently exceedi the
safe annual yield of its supply source by six percent. The city is
considering several approaches to alleviating the discrepancy between
supply and demand, including supply mamagement method, mentioned
previously in this report, and demand management techniques. Demand
management is one of the most straight forward approaches to reducing
water use. Some of the aspects of demand management include water
conservation, leak detection and repair, revised rate structures, and
growth management.
The Annual Water Operational Plan specifies certain demand management
options that may be implemented to reduce the burden on the existing
water supply. The type and structure of the measures is dependent
upon the existing water supply, and are catagorized into the four
action levels.
With the current reservoir storage and water use figures, the City of
San Luis Obispo is now in the Moderate Action Level and is rapidly
approaching the Severe Level of the Operational Plan. The moderate
action level recommends a 15% reduction in water use by implementing
the following options:
A. Public Information
B. Water waste Program (Water Conservation Ordinance and "Water
Cop")
C. Growth Management
D. Water Conservation Efforts in City Operations
E. Rate Structure Analysis
F. Mandatory Irrigation Schedules
G. Water Conservation Element of the Draft Water Management Plan
(Community Retrofit Program)
3 mA_16
1988-89 Annual Water Operational Plan
Page Eight
The Severe Action level recommends a 25% reduction in use by
implementing the additional options:
A. Mandatory Restrictions on Water Use
B. Development of Emergency Supplies
Upon review of the City's water conservation efforts over the past
three years, some of these recommended options have already been
implemented and staff is currently working on implementing the other
options. For example, the City .has conducted a public
information/education program for water conservation continuously
since May 1985 offering various literature and informational material
to the public. The public information efforts range from
incorporating bill stuffers to conducting water conservation
workshops.
The City also developed and implemented its water waste program
last summer as an extension of its public information efforts. The
water waste program's prime emphasis was to remind residents not to
waste water, and it is believed that it was very effective in
deterring water waste and generating an invaluable public awareness
of the need to conserve water.
To implement the water conservation element of the draft Water
Management Plan, the City conducted a community retrofit program
called Cooperative Action for Resource Efficiency (C.A.R.E. ) The
C.A.R.E. program offered free water saving devices to residents
through a door-to-door canvass, and approximately 5, 800 resident
had received the devices at program end. Follow-up studies
indicated that approximately 55% of the residents that received the
devices installed them. However, because of the unusually hot and
dry winter months this year, a significant amount of water saved
from this program may not be felt until a year of normal rainfall
and a statistically valid test sample can be developed.
3 -4-/4
1988-89 Annual Water Operational Plan
Page Nine
FIVE-YEAR WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM
Since the most efficient use of water is a major City policy and is
recognized as a viable approach to demand management, staff has
developed a comprehensive water conservation program which
addresses all potential means of conserving water throughout the
community. The water conservation program identifies actions for
the City to effectively manage its water consumption over a
five-year period. It emhasizes voluntary efforts that affect
existing development, and does not address limits on the amount of
new development or any mandatory conservation measures that may be
instituted during a water crisis.
The Five-year Water Conservation Program has previously been
submitted to staff and Council for review. Many of the programs
that are recommended in the five-year program are identified as
options in the City's Annual Water Operational Plan. Therefore,
the five-year program plays an important role in the implementation
of the operational plan.
In accordance with the Annual Water Operational Plan and the
Five-year Water Conservation Program, staff is planning to continue
the following current programs and are proposing other alternatives
in efforts to reach a 15% to 25% reduction in water use.
CURRENT PROGRAMS
The following programs are currently being implemented by the City.
A. PUBLIC INFORMATION/EDUCATION EFFORTS
1. "Water Awareness Week" scheduled for June 5-11, 1988,
which will include:
a. "Water Appreciation Fair" on June 11, 1988
b. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Tours throughput
the week
C. In-school poster contest
d. Extensive publicity including public service
announcements, mass mailer and banner.
2. Incorporating water conservation material in the local
library to be viewed at the public's leisure
3 . News articles and features in the local newpaper and City
Newsletter. Possible full or half page advertisement in
the local paper with information on how to reduce water
use.
4. Bill stuffers and other direct mailers to commercial,
industrial and residential users explaining the severity
of the water situation and offering ways to conserve
water.
1988-89 Annual Water Operational Plan
Page Ten
5. Public Service Announcements and other public relation
efforts, including potential drought warnings as the City
approaches the severe action level of the operational
plan.
6. Low-flow showerheads and other water saving devices used
in the retrofit program will be available by request to
all water users.
7. Suggesting that restaurants serve water upon request only.
Table tents with a water conservation message will be
provided to restaurant owners.
B. WATER WASTE PROGRAM
Staff is currently recruiting for a new water conservation
representative ("water cop") who will drive around the city
monitoring water use and enforcing water conservation
ordinances. The representative will be responsible for
reminding residents not to waste water by practicing good
watering habits. The representative will also provide a means
in which to increase the public's awareness of the water
situation and to disseminate water conservation literature.
Because of the unusually dry weather, the representative will
begin working on May 16, 1988, a month earlier than last year.
A press conference will be held announcing the beginning of the
program once the new representative is obtained.
C. GROWTH MANAGEMENT
The Community Development Department is proposing Water
Allocation Regulations that would limit water-use increases to
between zero and two percent per year, depending on the
severity of the use/supply imbalance. Further information can
be found in the Community Developments Department's Council
Agenda Report on water allocation regulations
D. WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN CITY OPERATIONS
1. Leak Detection and Repair - Based on billing records, it
is estimated that approximately 9; of the water delivered
from the City's water treatment plant is not being billed
to any water customers. This discrepancy between what is
delivered and billed is described as "unaccounted for"
water. The reasons for this unaccounted for water stem
from fire fighting and hydrant testing, water and sewer
main flushing, meter error, and leaks within the City's
distribution system.
3 -A -/�
1988-89 Annual Water Operational Plan
Page Eleven
To help reduce the amount of water lost each year through
leaks, the City has purchased sonic listening devices and
a main locator. These devices will enable staff to survey
the water distribution system and listen at all contact
points to locate leaks. This will be a continuous
on-going process, resulting in the immediate repair of
leaks that may go undetected for long periods of time.
Existing staff is currently being trained on how to
effectively use the equipment. Once training is complete,
staff will begin surveying the City's water distribution
system. Additional part-time, temporary staff is also
being retained to step-up the City's meter repair and
replacement program, which will also reduce the
unaccounted for water percentage within the City.
2 . Water Audit - In conjunction with the leak detection
program, staff will be conducting a water audit on the
city's operations. The .audit determines the City's
"unaccounted for" water percentage by identifying and
quantifying all water sources and uses, and then comparing
them with the revenue generated. The audit will help
identify the sources of the unaccounted for water and will
help monitor the effectivness of the city's leak detection
and repair program.
3 . Landscape Water Audit Program - City staff has completed
training on how to conduct water audits on large turf
areas, such as parks and golf courses. The audits require
determining the efficiency of the irrigation system by
performing precipitation tests on sprinklers and then
developing base irrigation schedules according to local
weather data.
Staff will begin auditing and developing irrigation
schedules for all the City's parks within the next few
weeks. The program will be expanded to include local
schools if the water supply situation triggers the Severe
Action Level of the operational plan.
It is estimated that this program can save between 20 to
40% of the amount of water used for irrigation purposes,
depending on the efficiency of the existing irrigation
systems of the sites audited. The amount of savings from
this program will be less if stringent restrictions on
irrigation use are instituted, since managers of large
turf areas will already be watering at a minimum.
1988-89 Annual Water Operational Plan
Page Twelve
4. Turf Management Plan - Staff is currently working on a
Turf Management Plan that would look at the existing
city's park system and will make recommendations on how to
reduce water consumption over the next few years. Some of
the measures recommended are intallation of tensiometers,
retrofitting of irrigation systems with low precipitation
sprinklers, and requiring drought-tolerant landscaping in
all newly constructed parks.
5. Landscape Guidelines - Staff is currently developing
landscape guidelines that would make recommendations on
reducing water use in the landscape. Some .of these
rcommendations include installing drip irrigation systems,
planting drought-tolerant plants and reducing turf in the
landscape. Staff is considering making these guidelines
mandatory for all new construction, which would be
enforced by the Architectural Review Commission. The
guidelines would also be available to the local homeowner
who is building a new home or would like to retrofit an
existing landscape into a water conserving one. The
expected completion date of the guidelines is August,
1988.
PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES
These proposed alternatives give the City additional options in
trying to reduce water demand by 15%, or if necessary 25%, as
specified in the Operational Plan.
Some of the proposed alternatives will result in short-term water
savings while others are considered a long-term approach to demand
management. The affects of the long-term alternatives, such as a
retrofit ordinance, will not be felt until they have been
implemented for a long perid of time. These alternatives may or
may not be needed at the present time, but could be implemented if
the current water situation continues, bringing the City to the
Severe Action level of the Annual Water Operational Plan. The
proposed alternatives are as follows:
E. RATE STRUCTURE ANALYSIS
Staff is recommending that the current rate structure for the
City be revised to incorporate an increasing block rate
structure. An increasing block rate structure charges a higher
rate for each unit of water above a certain base level of use.
The general idea of this type of structure is to increase the
rate charged respectively with an increase in use. Customers
who reduce their water use into a lower priced block receive a
larger reduction in their water bills, thus providing an
economic incentive to conserve water.
�5-A-aC)
1988-89 Annual Water Operational Plan
Page Thirteen
The concept of price elasticity is used to express the
effectiveness of pricing in reducinqq_,water use. Price
elasticity is defined as the ratio td the relative change in
commodity use to the relative change in price. Based on
previous price elasticity studies and the characteristics of
the area, staff estimates a elasticity value of 0.30 for San
Luis Obispo. This means that a l0% increase in water rates
will theoretically reduce household water use by 3%.
Preliminary efforts by staff are suggesting that a two-tiered
rate structure with the lower tier based on a certain
"lifeline" consumption figure may be beneficial in discouraging
excess water use in the City. It is estimated that a 30%
increase in the unit charge for water should be charged for
water usage that falls within the second tier of the rate
structure. It is hoped that this would result in an
approximate 9% decrease in water use for those households that
usually fall outside the lifeline consumption figure.
F. MANDATORY IRRIGATION SCHEDULING
Mandatory irrigation schedules are being considered as a means
of reducing water demand during the peak water use months of
summer. Some of the irrigation schedules being looked at
involve assigning even and odd watering days for residents.
For example, those residents whose address ends with an even
number will water on certain days of the week, while those with
odd addresses will water on the other days.
Restrictions on the time of day that irrigation can occur cauld
also be implemented. This would mean that residents could not
water during the hours, such as between 10: 00 a.m. and 4 : 00
p.m. , when water losses from wind and evaporation are high. If
the water situation follows its current trend leading the City
into the Severe Action level of the plan, prohibition on all
outside uses except irrigation on designated times and days
will be instituted. Stricter enforcement methods may also be
needed at this time.
G. ORDINANCES AND LONG TERM APPROACHES TO CONSERVATION
1. Retrofit Ordinance - Staff is also considering establishing a
retrofit ordinance that would require a homeowner to install
water saving devices, such as low-flow showerheads and toilet
dams, in the home before it can be sold. This ordinance can be
considered a long-term community retrofit program, since
together with the current building codes, it ensures that
eventually every household in San Luis Obispo will have these
devices installed.
1988-89 Annual Water Operational Plan
Page Fourteen
2. Local Ordinance Revising the State Building Code - Staff is
also looking at the feasibility of establishing a local
ordinance that would revise the current state building code to
require installation of ultra low-flush toilets, which use 1
1/2 gallons per flush instead of the current 3 1/2, in all new
construction.
IV. SEQUENTIAL OPERATIONAL PLAN
In the event that we are involved in a worst case drought scenario,
certain measures appear necessary to ensure that our water
resources meet the demand. This section outlines the recommended
actions necessary to maintain water supplies through this potential
drought period.
Figure 5 shows the reservoir storage curve for the worst case
secnario.
The curve for the worst case scenario reservoir storage, shown in
figure 5, shows that the current reservoir storage is in the
moderate action level and therefore requires 15% reduction in water
demand at this time. As the year progresses our reservoir supply
will decline to a severe action level which requires a 25% decline
in water consumption. A year from now we will have more
information on the water supply made available by the winter season
of 1988-89 and the groundwater study should be in the construction
phase. If we evaluate this new information and find we are still
on the track of the worst case scenario, a 25% reduction in
consumption would be required. If the 1989-90 winter season is
again insufficient, a 50% decrease in consumption would be required
in 1990.
The curve also shows what effect the historical average and median
inflow conditions would have on reservoir storage. Under the
average conditions runoff into the Salinas Reservoir is 16,700 acre
feet a year or enough inflow to raise the storage above the minor
action level. Under median conditions runoff is 9,000 acre feet
and would maintain reservoir storage in the moderate action level.
Under the worse case scenario reservoir storage would reach the
critical action level at the end of 1989 or early 1990.
3 —14 —o2 a;2--
1988-89 Annual Water Operational Plan
Page Fifteen
RECOMMENDATIONS
In order to institute an immediate 15%-25% reduction in water use
staff is recommending the following measures be implemented.
Supply Management
1. Continue to operate the reservoirs to minimize evaporation and
maximize reservoir storage.
2. Continue development of groundwater wells within the City for
domestic consumption and with the long term development of
increased supplies offerred by the Salinas Reservoir Expansion and
the Coastal Stream Diversion snd Storage Projects. .
Demand Management
1. Continue with ongoing public education programs, water waste
program City water conservation efforts.
2. Establish growth control measures in accordance with the
proposed Water Allocation Regulations.
3. Revise the water rate schedule to include an increasing block
rate structure. The proposed rate structure and ordinance will be
brought to Council for approval at a later date.
4. Implement alternate day water irrigation schedules by City
ordinance, which will be taken to Council for approval at a later
date.
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