HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2304-12752.Staff Recommends that the Utilities Advisory Commission Recommend the City Council
Adopt the 2023 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report (Action 6:45 PM – 7:25
PM) Staff: Lisa Bilir
Item No. 2. Page 1 of 8
Utilities Advisory Commission
Staff Report
From: Dean Batchelor, Director Utilities
Lead Department: Utilities
Meeting Date: June 7, 2023
Staff Report: 2304-1275
TITLE
Staff Recommends that the Utilities Advisory Commission Recommend the City Council Adopt
the 2023 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report
RECOMMENDATION
Staff requests the Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC) recommend the City Council adopt the
2023 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Beginning in 2022, every urban water supplier in California must conduct an Annual Water Supply
and Demand Assessment as required by California Water Code Section 10632 (a). Each urban
water supplier must also submit an Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report to the
Department of Water Resources (DWR) on or before July 1, as required by California Water Code
Section 10632.1. The City’s Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report (Tables 1-5 below) shows
that there is no water shortage anticipated for Fiscal Year 2024. On April 17, 2023, the San
Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), Palo Alto’s water supplier, provided Palo Alto with
the Water Supply Availability Update indicating for this upcoming water year, to-date
precipitation has been above average and snowpack is at record-breaking levels; additionally,
SFPUC indicated its 11% regional voluntary reduction request will expire at the same time the
State Board’s drought emergency regulation expires on June 10th, 2023 (unless the State Board
rescinds the drought emergency regulation earlier). Palo Alto’s water use for the period July 1,
2022 through March 31, 2023 was 13% below the base year of July 1, 2019 through March 31,
2020. The City of Palo Alto encourages continued water conservation efforts and the City’s
website contains more information about available water conservation programs1 and latest
water conservation and drought updates.2
1 https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Utilities/Sustainability/Ways-to-Save
2 https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Utilities/Sustainability/Water-Conservation-and-Drought-Updates
Item No. 2. Page 2 of 8
DISCUSSION
To prepare the 2023 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report, staff followed the procedures
outlined in its Water Shortage Contingency Plan, contained in Section 7 of the City’s 2020 Urban
Water Management Plan (UWMP). Palo Alto’s 2023 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report
uses the DWR-developed Optional Annual Assessment Tool format. This format includes the 5
tables shown below. Staff will submit the standard tables to DWR by July 1, 2023. “Table 1. Annual
Assessment Information” (Table 1) provides required overview information. The remaining tables
project water supply and demand for FY 2024 under dry conditions, as required, and finds that
there is no projected water shortage.
After Palo Alto and other urban water suppliers report to DWR on the 2023 Annual Water
Shortage Assessment Reports, DWR will prepare a summary report on its review of the Annual
Water Supply and Demand Assessment results and provide it to the State Water Resources
Control Board (State Board) by September 30. The DWR report will include water shortage
information at the supplier level, as well as regional and statewide analysis of water conditions
as required by California Water Code Section 10644 (c)(1)(B).
Potable Water
Palo Alto receives 100% of its potable water supply from the SFPUC Regional Water System and
staff used the SFPUC's April 17, 2023 Water Supply Availability Update to determine water
supply.
•“Table 2: Water Demands” (Table 2) provides a demand projection for each month of FY
2024;
•“Table 3: Water Supplies” (Table 3) notes that there is sufficient supply to meet Palo Alto’s
demand and projects supply equal to the demand projection since there is no projected
water shortage;
•“Table 4(P): Potable Water Shortage Assessment” (Table 4(P)) compares projected FY
2024 demand with supply and illustrates that there is no shortage projected for FY 2024;
•“Table 5: Planned Water Shortage Response Actions” (Table 5) shows no triggered water
shortage actions.
On March 24, 2023, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order (N-5-23) which eliminated his
directive that agencies implement Stage II of their water shortage contingency plans as well as
lessened the drought emergency restrictions presented in his previous Executive Order (N-7-22),
while not eliminating all actions completely. On April 11, 2023, the SFPUC approved the
rescindment of the Water Shortage Emergency that was declared on November 23, 2021. This
action removes the voluntary system wide cutback of 11% (Resolution No. 22-0098), effective
when the State Board’s order expires on June 10, 2023 (unless the State Board takes an earlier
action). The City of Palo Alto’s temporary drought water use restrictions expire at the same time
as SFPUC’s voluntary water use restriction and the State Board’s drought emergency regulations.3
Palo Alto’s eight permanent water use regulations will remain in effect (see Palo Alto Municipal
3 See Resolution 10054, adopted June 20, 2022: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/city-
clerk/resolutions/resolutions-1909-to-present/2022/reso-10054.pdf
Item No. 2. Page 3 of 8
Code Section 12.32.010). Staff will continue to monitor drought actions and requirements at the
SFPUC and State level and provide updates to the UAC and to the public through the City’s
website described above.
Non-Potable Water
For non-potable recycled water, Table 2 provides the demand projection and Table 3 notes that
there is sufficient supply to meet Palo Alto’s non-potable recycled water demand. For that
reason, the supply is set to equal demand and there is no shortage of non-potable water
projected in Table 4(NP), “Non Potable Water Shortage Assessment”.
Item No. 2. Page 4 of 8
Table 1. A nnual Assessment Information
Annual Assessment Information (Required)
Year Covered By This Shortage Report
Start: July 1,2023
End: June 30,2024
Supplier's Annual Assessment P lanning Cycle
Start Month:July
End Month:June
Data Reporting Interval Used: MONTHLY
Volume Unit for Reported Supply and Demand:
(Must use the same unit throughout)AF
Water Supplier's Contact Information
Water Supplier's Name:City of Palo Alto
Contact Name:Lisa Bilir
C ontact Title:Senior Res ource Planner
Street Addres s:250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto
Z IP Code:94301
Phone Number:(650)329-2543
Email Addres s:l isa.bil ir@ci tyofpaloalto.org
Report Preparer's Contact Information
(if different from above)
Preparer's Organization Name:
Preparer's Contact Name:
Phone Number:
Email Addres s:
Supplier's Water Shortage Contingency Plan
W SCP Title 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan of the City of Palo Alto
WSCP Adoption Date 6/7/2021
Other Annual Assessment Related Activities
(Optional)
Activity Timeline/ Out comes / Links / Notes
Annual Ass es s ment/ Shortage Report Title:Optional
Annual As s es s ment / Shortage Report Approval Date:6/12/2023
Other Annual As s es sment Related Activities:
The 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan of the C ity of Palo Alto
s tates that Palo Alto will utilize the BAWSCA Regional Reliability
Model to evaluate water s upply availability, however, the plan als o
permits the City to use SFPUC data s ince SFPUC is the City's sole
s upplier. Specifically, the 2020 Water Shortage Conting ency Plan
s tates: "Becaus e Palo Alto relies on only one potable water s upply
s ource, SFPUC RWS water, the Annual Ass es s ment will rely on key
data inputs from the SFPUC." Palo Alto us ed the SFPUC's April 17th
2023 Water Supply Availability Update to determine water s upply.
(Add rows as needed)
Item No. 2. Page 5 of 8
= From prior tables
= Auto calculated
Use Type Start Year:2023 Volumetric Unit Used2:AF
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Total by Water
Demand Type
All Demands 1259 1147 1103 1070 840 715 673 554 674 887 1138 1120 11182
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1259 1147 1103 1070 840 715 673 554 674 887 1138 1120 11182
All Demands Tertiary 54 53 35 22 11 2 2 11 9 24 42 50 315
0
0
0
0
54 53 35 22 11 2 2 11 9 24 42 50 315
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Total
0
0
0
0
Three years ago total demand
Four years ago total demand
Optional (for comparison purposes)
Last year's total demand
Two years ago total demand
Table 2: Water Demands1
Projected Water Demands - Volume3
Total by Month (Non-Potable)
1Projections are based on best available data at time of submitting the report and actual demand volumes could be different due to many factors.
2Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent.
3When opting to provide other than monthly volumes (bi-monthly, quarterly, or annual), please see directions on entering data for Projected Water Demand in the Table Instructions.
Notes: Potable unconstrained customer demand determined using the end-use model described in the 2020 UWMP Section 4. Non-potable unconstrained customer demand determined
based on 2020 UWMP projection.
Total by Month (Potable)
Additional
Description
(as needed)
Level of
Treatment
for Non-
Potable
Supplies
Drop-down
list
Drop-down list
May select each use multiple times
These are the only Use Types that
will be recognized by the WUEdata
online submittal tool
(Add additional rows as needed)
Demands Served by Potable Supplies
Demands Served by Non-Potable Supplies
Item No. 2. Page 6 of 8
= From prior tables
= Auto calculated
Water Supply Start Year:2023 Volumetric Unit Used2:AF
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Total by
Water
Supply Type
Purchased/Imported Water
San Francisco
Public
Utilities
Commission
Regional
Water
Supply
System
1259 1147 1103 1070 840 715 673 554 674 887 1138 1120 11182
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1259 1147 1103 1070 840 715 673 554 674 887 1138 1120 11182 0
Recycled Water
Recycled
Water from
the Regional
Water
Quality
Control Plant
54 53 35 22 11 2 2 11 9 24 42 50 315
0
0
0
0
54 53 35 22 11 2 2 11 9 24 42 50 315 0
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Total
0
Potable Supplies
Non-Potable Supplies
eAR Reported Total Water Supplies
Optional (for comparison purposes)
1Projections are based on best available data at time of submitting the report and actual supply volumes could be different due to many factors.
2Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent.
3When opting to provide other than monthly volumes (bi-monthly, quarterly, or annual), please see directions on entering data for Projected Water Supplies in the Table Instructions.
Notes: Palo Alto purchases 100% of its potable water from SFPUC; Palo Alto used the SFPUC's April 17th 2023 Water Supply Availability Update to determine water supply. Palo Alto supplies
recycled water for irrigation of the municipal golf course, a park and some other minor applications. There is sufficient supply of both potable and recycled water to meet demand.
Total by Month (Potable)
Total by Month (Non-Potable)
Table 3: Water Supplies1
Projected Water Supplies - Volume3
Water
Quality
Drop-down
List
Total Right
or Safe
Yield*
(optional)
Additional
Detail on
Water
Supply
Drop-down List
May use each category multiple
times.These are the only water
supply categories that will be
recognized by the WUEdata
online submittal tool
(Add additional rows as needed)
Item No. 2. Page 7 of 8
TIMELINE
Upon review, discussion, and action by the UAC, staff will bring the Annual Water Shortage
Assessment Report to the City Council to consider its adoption on June 12, 2023. California Water
Code Section 10632.1 requires the Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report to be submitted
= Auto calculated
= For manual input
Table 4(P): Potable Water Shortage Assessment1 Start Year:2023 Volumetric Unit Used2:AF
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun3 Total
Anticipated Unconstrained Demand 1,259 1,147 1,103 1,070 840 715 673 554 674 887 1,138 1,120 11,182
Anticipated Total Water Supply 1,259 1,147 1,103 1,070 840 715 673 554 674 887 1,138 1,120 11,182
Surplus/Shortage w/o WSCP Action 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
% Surplus/Shortage w/o WSCP Action 0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%
State Standard Shortage Level 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Benefit from WSCP: Supply Augmentation 0.0
Benefit from WSCP: Demand Reduction 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Revised Surplus/Shortage with WSCP 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
% Revised Surplus/Shortage with WSCP 0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%
= Auto calculated
= For manual input
Table 4(NP): Non-Potable Water Shortage Assessment1 Start Year:2023 Volumetric Unit Used2:AF
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun3 Total
Anticipated Unconstrained Demand: Non-Potable 54 53 35 22 11 2 2 11 9 24 42 50 315
Anticipated Total Water Supply: Non-Potable 54 53 35 22 11 2 2 11 9 24 42 50 315
Surplus/Shortage w/o WSCP Action: Non-Potable 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
% Surplus/Shortage w/o WSCP Action: Non-Potable 0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%
Benefit from WSCP: Supply Augmentation 0.0
Benefit from WSCP: Demand Reduction 0.0
Revised Surplus/Shortage with WSCP 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
% Revised Surplus/Shortage with WSCP 0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%
= From prior tables
Planned WSCP Actions
1Assessments are based on best available data at time of submitting the report and actual volumes could be different due to many factors.
2Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent.
3When optional monthly volumes aren't provided, verify Tables 2 and 3 use the same columns for data entry and are reflected properly in Table 4 and make sure to use those same
columns to enter the benefits from Planned WSCP Actions. Please see directions on the shortage balancing exercise in the Table Instructions. If a shortage is projected, the supplier is
highly recommended to perform a monthly analysis to more accurately identify the time of shortage.
= From prior tables
Planned WSCP Actions
1Assessments are based on best available data at time of submitting the report and actual volumes could be different due to many factors.
2Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent.
3When optional monthly volumes aren't provided, verify Tables 2 and 3 use the same columns for data entry and are reflected properly in Table 4 and make sure to use those same
columns to enter the benefits from Planned WSCP Actions. Please see directions on the shortage balancing exercise in the Table Instructions. If a shortage is projected, the supplier is
highly recommended to perform a monthly analysis to more accurately identify the time of shortage.
July 1,2023 to June 30,2024
Enter Amount
(Drop-down
List)
Select % or
Volume Unit
Start Month End Month
Table 5: Planned Water Shortage Response Actions
NOTES: Palo Alto currently implements permanent water us e res trictions according to the Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 12.32.010
https ://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/paloalto/lates t/paloalto_ca/0-0-0-69362#JD_Chapter12.32. There is currently no water s hortage
projected for FY 2024 in Table 4(P).
Add additional rows as needed
How much is action going to
reduce the shortage gap?
When is s hortage res ponse
action anticipated to be
implemented?Is action
already being
implemented?
(Y/N)
ACTIONS: Demand Reduction, Supply
Augmentation, and Other Actions.
(Drop-down List)
Thes e are the only categories that will
be accepted by the WUEdata online
submittal tool. Select thos e that apply.
Anticipated
Shortage
Level
Drop-down Lis t of
State Standard
Levels (1 - 6) and
Level 0 (No
Shortage)
Item No. 2. Page 8 of 8
to DWR by July 1 each year.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Staff encourages interested parties to comment or provide feedback on the draft Annual Water
Shortage Assessment Report at the UAC or Council meeting where the report will be considered
for approval, or to submit written comments prior to those meetings.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Adoption of the 2023 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report is exempt from California
Environmental Quality Act’s (CEQA) review pursuant to Water Code Section 10652.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Presentation
APPROVED By:
Dean Batchelor, Director of Utilities
Staff: Lisa Bilir, Senior Resource Planner
June 7, 2023 www.cityofpaloalto.org
2023 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report
Utilities Advisory Commission
Staff: Lisa Bilir •
CITY OF
PALO ALTO
TITLE 40 FONT BOLD
Subtitle 32 font
2 www.cityofpaloalto.org
Beginning in 2022, every urban water supplier must:
1) Conduct an Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment; and
2) Submit an Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report to the Department of Water Resources
Required by the California Water Code Sections 10632(a) and 10632.1
There is no water shortage and no triggered water shortage actions
SFPUC’s April 17, 2023 Water Supply Availability Update indicates above average precipitation and
record-breaking snowpack
Palo Alto’s temporary drought emergency water use restrictions are expected to expire June 10, 2023;
staff will continue to monitor SFPUC and state requirements
Permanent Water Use Restrictions (Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 12.32.010)
Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report •
CITY OF
PALO ALTO
TITLE 40 FONT BOLD
Subtitle 32 font
3 www.cityofpaloalto.org
The Utilities Advisory Commission recommends Council
adopt the 2023 Annual Water Shortage Assessment
Report.
RECOMMENDED MOTION •
CITY OF
PALO ALTO
Questions
www.cityofpaloalto.org