Drought 2014COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: AUGUST 8, 2014
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
MEETING DATE: 08/19/14
ITEM NO: I
FROM: GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGERArJp�
SUBJECT: DROUGHT 2014 - DIRECT STAFF TO ASSIST SAN JOSE WATER
COMPANY IN EDUCATING LOS GATOS RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES
ABOUT EXISTING DROUGHT RESTRICTIONS.
RECOMMENDATION:
Direct staff to assist San Jose Water Company in educating Los Gatos residents and businesses
about existing drought restrictions. Such assistance could include press releases, e- mails; letters,
online marketing and more.
BACKGROUND:
The Santa Clara Valley Water District ( SCVWD) is a governmental agency that serves as the
primary water "wholesaler" covering most of Santa Clara County and all of the Town of Los
Gatos. The San Jose Water Company (SJWC) is a private business that serves as the primary
water "retailer" serving residents and businesses in the Town of Los Gatos. Both the SCVWD
and SJWC are subject to regulatory and drought requirements of the State and the California
Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
A drought emergency has been declared for the State of California and a Stage 3 water
conservation alert has been called for Santa Clara County. This level of designation seeks to
reduce water consumption by at least 20% through a combination of regulatory and voluntary
approaches. If the drought continues another year or the reduced water consumption is not
sufficient, then more stringent measures would be required in future years. See Attachment 1 for
a description of conservation stages as provided in the SCVWD Water Conservation
Contingency Plan.
In prior drought years, local municipalities were required to enact and enforce water
conservation restrictions depending on the severity of the drought. However, prior to the current
drought, the CPUC adopted water conservation requirements which, to date, are applied and
enforced by the SJWC; consequently, independent action has not been required for
municipalities served by SJWC. Some of these existing regulatory restrictions include restaurant
service of water only upon request, positive shut off valves for hose use, elimination/prevention
of water runoff, etc. Attachment 2 provides a list of rules in effect by San Jose Water.
PREPARED BY: MATT MORLEY �,,� _ ,�/
Director of Parks and Public Work
Reviewed by: L R Assistant Town Manager -A&Town Attorney R[A-Finance
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AUGUST 8, 2014
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
BACKGROUND (cont'd):
San Jose Water is receiving, prioritizing, and addressing concerns and complaints on water
usage. San Jose Water has requested these come in through a dedicated email address:
conservation(i�sjwater.com.
DISCUSSION:
To date, SJWC has been largely taking an educational and "soft" approach to water conservation,
not traditional enforcement. SJWC has requested further assistance from the Town to educate
Town residents and businesses about existing water conservation requirements and further
possible steps to reduce water consumption and waste.
Possible steps the Town could take include:
A. Publicize water conservation opportunities /requirements online, through What's New,
Nextdoor, Town web site, and more;
B. Inform Town restaurants directly or indirectly regarding limits on water service unless
requested;
C. Discourage or prevent new pool permits until after drought stage is lifted;
D. Reduce operation of fountains throughout the Town.
The Town could also choose to enact and enforcement its own water conservation regulatory
framework comparable to what the CPUC adopted for SJWC. However, such ordinances would
not likely be legally enforceable for at least 60 days and would then require a re- direction of
Code Compliance or other staff from existing duties and demands.
Town staff has implemented water conservation measures as well. These include the following:
• Proactive reduction of watering at Town properties, especially park turf (with the
exception of the Plaza and the Civic Center due to high summer use).
• Reduction in tree replacement plantings, as new trees require higher levels of watering.
Staff will target early winter to resume planting.
• Pilot of urinal inserts at park restrooms that simulate waterless urinals and reduce water.
• Increased use of aerators on faucets.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the Town Council direct staff to assist San Jose Water Company in
educating Los Gatos residents and businesses about existing drought restrictions. Staff will
continue to monitor the drought and will provide further updates as necessary.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project as defined under CEQA.
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AUGUST 8, 2014
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FISCAL IMPACT:
No expenditures are required as a result of this action.
Attachment:
1. Water Conservation Contingency Plan Stages
2. CPUC Conservation Requirements
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URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN 12010
Table 6 -1 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Stage 7
Normal
Above 300,000
Cont7outreach outreach
•Maintain public information and
AF
activage
outreach focused on long term,
to prng
ongoing conservation actions
imple conservation
(e.g., water saving appliances,
and in of BMPs.
repairing leaks, and low -water use
landscaping(.
Stage 2
Alert
250,000 to
This stage is meant to worn
0-10% demand
• Expand on Stage 1 efforts
300,000
customers that current water
reduction
• Intensify public information and
AF
use is tapping into groundwater
advertising campaign
reserves — a signal that
• Focus messages on shortage
groundwater levels are
situation and immediate behavioral
dropping to meet demands.
changes
Communications are needed
to set the tone for the onset of
shortages. Request water users
to reduce water use by as much
as 10 %. Coordinate ordinances
with cities and warn and
prepare for a stage 3 situation.
Stage 3
Severe
200,000 to
Shortage conditions are
10 -20% demand
• Expand and intensify Stage 2
250,000
worsening, requiring close
reduction
activities
AF
coordination with retailers and
• Further expand outreach efforts
cities to enact ordinances and
• Modify messages to reflect more
water use restrictions. Requires
severe shortage condition and need
significant effort and behavioral
for immediate behavioral changes
change by water users.
Increase outreach campaign to
save water.
Stage 4
Critical
150,000 to
This is the most severe stage in
20 -40% demand
• Strengthen and expand Stage 3
200,000
a multiyear drought. Encourage
reduction
activities
AF
retailers and cities to enforce
• Further expand outreach efforts
their plans which could include
• Open drought information center
fines for repeated violations.
Stage 5
Emergency
Below 150,000
This last stage is meant to
Up to 50%
• Daily updates on water shortage
AF
address a more immediate
demand
emergency (media briefings, web
crisis such as a major
reduction
update, social media outlets)
infrastructure failure. Water
• Activate EOC
supply would be available
only to meet health and safety
needs.
Nis;_
(1) When the District Board calls for short -term water conservation, the cities and water retailers will consider the implementio , of
water contingency plan actions identified in their Urban Water Management Plans in order to achieve the necessary shortage
response. The District works with the water retailers and cities to help coordinate these activities.
Page 4 3I Chapter 6.0
ATTACHMENT
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Water Conservation Rules In Effect
Posted on 03129 at 10:23 AM
SJWC's water conservation rules to achieve the 20% conservation target is now in effect through December 31,
2014. The rules mostly apply to outdoor use that typically accounts for 50% of a typical customer's usage. No
customer shall use utility - supplied water for non - essential or unauthorized uses as defined below:
• Use of water through any connection when the utility has notified the customer in writing to repair a broken or
defective plumbing, sprinkler, watering or irrigation system and the customer has failed to make such repairs within 5
days after receipt of such notice.
• Use of water which results in flooding or run -off in gutters, waterways, patios, driveway, or streets.
• Use of water for washing aircraft, cars, buses, boats, trailers or other vehicles without a positive shut -off nozzle on
the outlet end of the hose. Exceptions include washing vehicles at commercial or fleet vehicle washing facilities
operated at fixed locations where equipment using water is properly maintained to avoid wasteful use.
• Use of water through a hose for washing buildings, structures, sidewalks, walkways, driveways, patios, parking lots,
tennis courts, or other hard - surfaced areas in a manner which results in excessive run -off or waste.
• Use of water for watering streets with trucks, except for initial wash -down for construction purposes (if street
sweeping is not feasible), or to protect the health and safety of the public.
• Use of water for construction purposes, such as consolidation of backfill, dust control, or other uses unless no other
source of water or other method can be used.
• Use of water for more than minimal landscaping in connection with any new construction.
• Use of water for outside plants, lawn, landscape, and turf areas more often than every other day, with even
numbered addresses watering on even numbered days of the month and odd numbered addresses watering on the
odd numbered days of the month, except that this provision shall not apply to commercial nurseries, golf courses and
other water - dependent industries.
• Use of water for watering outside plants and turf areas using a hand -held hose without a positive shut -off valve.
• Use of water for decorative fountains or the filling or topping off of decorative lakes or ponds. Exceptions are made
for those decorative fountains, lakes, or ponds which utilize recycled water.
• Use of water for the filling or refilling of swimming pools ( *see footnote).
• Service of water by any restaurant except upon the request of the patron.
Due to limited availability of surface water supplies, SJWC anticipates delivering more groundwater throughout its
service area in the coming months. Groundwater may exhibit a more pronounced chlorine taste or odor and this
supply source is also typically "harder" than the supply normally provided. Groundwater remains safe and appropriate
for all potable uses.
ATTACHMENT 2
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