HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2402-26913.Staff Recommends that the Utilities Advisory Commission Recommend the City Council
Adopt the 2024 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report (ACTION 7:15 PM – 7:35 PM)
Staff: Lisa Bilir
Item No. 3. Page 1 of 3
Utilities Advisory Commission
Staff Report
From: Dean Batchelor, Director Utilities
Lead Department: Utilities
Meeting Date: June 3, 2024
Staff Report: 2402-2691
TITLE
Staff Recommends that the Utilities Advisory Commission Recommend the City Council Adopt
the 2024 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report
RECOMMENDATION
Staff requests the Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC) recommend the City Council adopt the
2024 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 (Attachment A, Tables 1-
5) shows that there is no water shortage anticipated for Fiscal Year 2025. On April 15, 2024, the
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), Palo Alto’s water supplier, provided Palo Alto
with the Water Supply Availability Update indicating for the current water year, Hetch Hetchy
watershed has experienced nearly average conditions for precipitation and snowpack. The City
of Palo Alto encourages continued water conservation efforts and the City’s website contains
more information about available water conservation programs.1
DISCUSSION
To prepare the 2024 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).2 Palo Alto’s 2024 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report
uses the DWR-developed Optional Annual Assessment Tool format. This format includes the 5
tables shown in Attachment A. Staff will submit the standard tables to DWR by July 1, 2024.
1 Water Conservation Programs https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Utilities/Sustainability/Ways-to-
Save
2 UWMP https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/utilities/uwmp/2020-uwmp_final-submission-to-
dwr.pdf
Item No. 3. Page 2 of 3
“Table 1. Annual Assessment Information” (Table 1) provides required overview information. The
remaining tables project water supply and demand for FY 2025 under dry conditions, as required,
and finds that there is no projected water shortage.
Potable Water
Non-Potable Water
ANALYSIS
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Item No. 3. Page 3 of 3
Staff encourages interested parties to comment or provide feedback on the draft Annual Water
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
ATTACHMENTS
AUTHOR/TITLE:
Attachment A: 2024 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report Tables
June 5, 2024 www.cityofpaloalto.org
2024 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report
Utilities Advisory Commission
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§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 15, 2024 Water Supply Availability Update indicates precipitation and snowpack close to
long-term median levels; SFPUC does not anticipate any water shortage
§Palo Alto’s temporary drought emergency water use restrictions expired June 10, 2023
§Permanent Water Use Restrictions (Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 12.32.010)
Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report
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The Utilities Advisory Commission recommends Council
adopt the 2024 Annual Water Shortage Assessment
Report.
RECOMMENDED MOTION
Questions
www.cityofpaloalto.org