Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/21/2011, PH 2 - 2010 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE I COUna L June 21,2011, ac En 0A nEpont CITY OF SAN LUIS O B I S P O FROM: Carrie Mattingly, Utilities Directorcffi__�1 Prepared By: Gary Henderson, Water Division Manager Ron Munds, Utilities Conservation Manager/` SUBJECT: 2010 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE RECOMMENDATION Adopt a resolution approving the 2010 update to the City of San Luis Obispo's Urban Water , Management Plan. DISCUSSION Background The State of California Urban Water Management Planning Act (Act) requires every urban water supplier providing water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 customers, or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet of water annually, to prepare and adopt an Urban Water Management Plan (Plan) every five years (years ending in -00 and -05). The City Council adopted the City's first Plan in November 1994. Subsequent updates have been submitted to the state in 2000 and 2005. Because of the significant amendments made to the Act in late 2009, the state legislature extended the filing deadline for the 2010 Plan to July 1, 2011. Since the Act's passage, many changes have been made to the required content in the Plan. These amendments are intended to encourage increased awareness of a water purveyor's responsibility to effectively manage California's water resources. As a result, Urban Water Management Plans in general have evolved to become the following: 1. Foundational documents and sources of information for Water Supply Assessments (California Water Code Section 10613) and Written Verifications of Water Supply (California Water Code Section 66473.7) 2. Long-range planning documents for water supply 3. Long-range planning documents for water use efficiency 4. Source data for the development of regional water plans 5. Source documents for cities and counties preparing their General Plans 6. A condition of eligibility for receipt of certain state loans and grant funds The most significant changes in the 2010 Plan update are a comprehensive reorganization of the sections to meet the requirements set forth under the Act, the elimination of the water policy section, and the addition of the 2009 Water Conservation Act requirements (discussed later in this report). PH2-1 2010 Urban Water Management Plan Page 2 The City's guiding water policy document for water planning purposes is the Water and Wastewater Management Element of the General Plan (WWME). In the past, the WWME was fully incorporated into a water policies section of the Urban Water Management Plan. In the 2010 Plan update, the WWME is incorporated by reference. This allows a single policy document to be updated if changes to water policy occur. The specific purposes of the Plan are summarized as follows: 1. Document and assess current and future water use trends in the community 2. Describe the sources of water supply and the water system 3. Assess water supply reliability 4. Document the water demand management measures in place to balance supply and demand 5. Act as a source document on the background and history of the water supply system 6. Demonstrate compliance with state law regarding water planning and water conservation The Plan being presented to the City Council has been updated in accordance with all the provisions of the Act (as amended). Plan Organization In order to present the material in a manner that best reflects the unique conditions within the City of San Luis Obispo's water service area, the sections in the Plan are sequenced slightly different than the guidance documents developed by the Department of Water Resources, The Plan still meets the requirements set forth in the Act. The Plan is organized into the following sections: Section 1. Introduction Section 2. Service Area and Water System Description Section 3. Past, Current and Projected Water Demand Section 4. Water Sources Section 5. Recycled Water Section 6. Water Supply Reliability Section 7. Water Conservation Section 8. Water Shortage Contingency Plan Appendices Section Summaries The following information summarizes the content of each section of the Plan. A complete copy of the Plan is located in the Council Reading File, PH2-2 2010 Urban Water Management Plan Page 3 Section L Introduction The introduction provides the framework for updating the plan, the City's coordination with other agencies in preparing the Plan, and the process leading to adoption. It identifies the responsible City staff for implementing the Plan. Section 2. Service Area and Water System Description The first part of this section provides a general description the City's service area including climate, population, and demographics. This is followed by detailed explanation of the water system including raw water transmission, water treatment (including treatment processes and impacts of current and future regulations), groundwater resources, and a comprehensive overview of the water distribution and meter reading operations. Section 3. Past, Current and Projected Water Demand Section 3 evaluates past water use trends in order to project future water demand in the community including required elements such as water use projections for low income housing, water losses through the water distribution system, and water supplied from the Nacimiento Reservoir by the San Luis.Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. The most important component of this section is the inclusion of the new state mandated water use reduction requirements. The Water Conservation Bill of 2009 (SBx7-7) requires each urban retail water supplier in California to develop urban water use targets to help meet the goal to reduce the statewide average per capita daily water consumption by 20 percent by the year 2020 and an interim reduction goal by 2015. The legislation outlines four "target method" reduction options that can be used by a water retailer to calculate the baseline and targets. Using the guidance documents provided by the Department of Water Resources, Target Method 3, which uses a regional average for water use and creates a higher baseline, best aligns with the investment the community has already made in water conservation. Using this target method provides reasonable water use reduction Table 1- 2015 and 2020 Per. Capita Targets goals for 2015 and 2020. Table 1 shows the per capita targets the City Year Adjusted Per Capita Target 120 cd must meet to be in compliance with the law. 2020 117 cd Failure to meet the targets will result in the City not being eligible for water or wastewater grants, State Revolving Fund loans, or other assistance offered by the State Water Resources Control Board or the Department of Water Resources. To put the 2015 and 2020 targets in context, the City's per capita rate for the year 2010 was 109 gallons per person per day. Section 4. Water Resources Section 4 provides a comprehensive overview of each of the City's water supply sources including Salinas, Whale Rock, and Nacimiento Reservoirs, groundwater, and recycled water. Background and historical information is also presented for each water supply source. It includes brief discussions of water transfer and exchange opportunities, future water supply projects, and the potential use of desalination as a water supply which are required sections per the Act. PH2-3 2010 Urban Water Management Plan Page 4 Section S. Recycled Water Extensive information about the City's wastewater collection and treatment operations, water recycling system, and an explanation of current and potential uses of recycled water in.the future is found in Section 5. It consolidates the information in a manner that it is easy to read and understand. Section 6. Water Supply Reliability A narrative on each water source is provided in this section. The reliability of each supply to provide water during single and multiple dry years is described. Much of the information and data in the tables are required elements to include in the Plan. The resulting conclusion from this data gathering exercise is that the City has highly reliable sources of water and policies in place that ensure current and future residents and businesses have an adequate water supply. Section 7. Water Conservation Because of the City's affiliation with the California Urban Water Conservation Council (Urban Council), the Act specifies that Urban Council members can submit their Best Management Practices (BMPs) annual reports to comply with this portion of the law. Appendix V includes the documentation of the City's ongoing water conservation program. Section 8. Water Shortage Contingency Plan The Water Shortage Contingency Plan remains relatively unchanged since the City Council adopted it back in the year 2000. This plan was developed based on the experiences gained during the City's water rationing program, which was in effect from 1989 through 1992. The section was updated to reflect the required elements, mostly tables, in the Act. Appendices Appendices I through VII contain the supporting documentation for the various sections of the Plan. Environmental Determination According to the Urban Water Management Act, Urban Water Management Plans are exempt from the California Environmental Quality.Act. Chapter 4, section 10652 of the Urban Water Management Planning Act states: The California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code) does not apply to the preparation and adoption of Plans pursuant to this part or to the implementation of actions taken pursuant to Section 10632 (Water Shortage Contingency Plan). Nothing in this,part shall interpreted as exempting from the California Environmental Quality Act any project that would significantly affect water supplies for fish and wildlife, or any project for implementation of the plan, other than projects implementing Section 10632, or any project for expanded or additional water supplies. PH2-4 , J 2010 Urban Water Management Plan Page 5 Summary The development and preparation of past updates of the Urban Water Management Plan played a large role in the City's water supply planning, water operational program evaluation, and water policy implementation. With a relatively secure and reliable water supply, which will meet the current and future water demands of the community, the water supply evaluation and data collection provision required by the Act are not as relevant to the City today as they were in the past. The Plan documents the history of the City's water supply development and provides detailed description of the water system. Most importantly, by adopting a compliant Plan, the City will remain eligible for State Water Resources Control Board and Department of Water Resources grants, low interest loans, and other assistance for both water and wastewater projects. CONCURRENCES The Community Development Department has reviewed the Plan for consistency with the General Plan and supporting elements and concurs with the information provided. FISCAL IMPACT Adoption of the updated Urban Water Management Plan document does not directly create additional fiscal impacts for the Water Fund. Any project or program that would stem from the information contained in the Plan would be brought back to the City Council for approval as appropriate. ATTACHMENT Resolution AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW IN THE COUNCIL READING FILE Urban Water Management Plan PH2-5 Attachment RESOLUTION NO. (2011 Series) A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO ADOPTING THE REVISED URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN WHEREAS, the California Legislature enacted Assembly Bill 797 during the 1983-1984 Regular Session, as subsequently amended, which mandates that every supplier providing water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 customers or supplying more than 3,000 acre feet of water annually,prepare an Urban Water Management Plan; and WHEREAS, the City is an urban supplier of water providing water to approximately 14,500 customers; and WHEREAS, the Plan shall be periodically reviewed at least once every five years, and that the City shall make any amendments or changes to its plan which are indicated by the review and required by the legislation; and WHEREAS, the Plan must be adopted, after public review and a public hearing, and filed with the California Department of Water Resources within thirty days of adoption; and WHEREAS, The City has therefore prepared for public review a draft Urban Water Management Plan, and a properly noticed public hearing regarding the Plan was held by the City Council on June 21, 2011;and WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo did prepare and shall file said Plan with the California Department of Water Resources and upon adoption shall distribute the Plan to the California State Library, the County of San Luis Obispo and make available for public review as prescribed by state law. BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo that the 2010 Urban Water Management Plan, consisting of text with tables, figures and appendices presented to the City Council on June 21, 2011,on file in the City Clerk's Office,.is hereby adopted. Upon motion of , seconded by and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: PGI2-6 Resolution No. (2011 Series) Attachment Page 2 The foregoing resolution was adopted this day of . 2011. Mayor Jan Howell Marx ATTEST: Elaina Cano, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: J. Christine Dietrick, t Attorney PH2-7