HomeMy WebLinkAbout0399.000'.
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July 5, 1990
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THE HONORABLE CIrY COUNCIL
Palo Alto, CalIfornia
I •• pops. \0 Council ou"t'OP' R.qAr4ipq th' 1"0 Water xapagement
11ap ltopg'll
Members of the Council:
This informational report responds to Council questions that were
raised during the review of the 1990 Water Management Plan
(CMR.302.0), at the council meetinq on May 14, 1990. No Council
action is required.
lac'group!!
council asked the following questions relating to
Management Plan, and staff now has the neca&sary
provi~e the answers.
the 1990 Water
information to
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Question 1:
Resppnge:
Question 2:
Response:
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What other wholesale agencies that purchase water
:froll the San Francisco wate.r Department have adopted
ordinances prohibiting the Lilling of new pools,
spas, and bot tubs with agency supplied water?
As of June 1, 1990, 18 water districts or
municipalities (Includinq Palo Alto) h.ve .~ted
ordinances prohibiting the filling of new pools with
aqency supplied watera The City of Hayward is the
only other water agency that has add:'Cessed bot tubs
and spas specifically in their water-Ilanaqement
ordinances.
Wbat Is the number of pools, hot tubs, and spas that
were installed in Palo Alto during recent years and
wbat impact aight an ordinance prohibiting such use
of agency supplied water have on Palo Alto's
customers?
During calendar years 1988 and 1989, an average of
18 new pools and 22 new spasjhot tubs were
instaUed. 'l'hrouqh the I1Or1th of April 1990, 3 pools
and 1 bot. tubs/spas have rece.ived per.1ts. Assumi~
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Questions 3
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Respgnse:
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the t.rend: were to COI'lt inue, the new ordinance
proh1bltl"9 the filll"9 or new pools, spas "00 h<>t
tubs will affect, approxImately 1S new pools and IS
new hot tubs/_pas durl"9 the bal.nce of 1990.
Bow is palo Alto respondl"9 to the drouqht with
respect to watering trees in parks~ public areas,
etc.? Is reclaimed wastewater beinq used to water
City owned trees, and Is it available to the public
to water trees and landscaping?
The Public Works Department has responsibility for
the City'. tree .... aIntenance proqraa.. So that newly
established City t.rees and landscaping are not lost~
Public works Is alternatIng applications of potable
water and reclai.ed wastewater vater via its water
truck. '!'he use of potable water for every second
or third waterinq will prevent buildup of salts in
the root ~ones of susceptible trees and plants~
During the drouc;Jhtl new tree planti.ngs have been
re~uced~ Established trees must rely on existing
qround water and irriqation provided by residents.
Staff will continue to monitor city trees to
deteraine ovsrall health and additional steps that
are reasonable to take duril"l9 the drougbt ~
Attachment -A-I -Protecting Your Trees in the
Drought-, Is a useful quide and is available to
residents.
Reclaimed wastewater from the City 's Regional Water
QUality Control Plant is available to construction
contractors, Cal Trans and commercial operatIons
having their own water trucks. Residential use of
reclaimed wastewater is not allowed under the
Regional Water Quality Control Board permit
guidelines and,. therefore# cannot. be provided to
residents. Reclaimed wastewater is not recommended
for use in ornamental fountains as children may come
in contact with the vater. AIso# excessive algae
qrows in reclaimed yater, damaqing circulation
systems.
Staff considered filling its street 5weepers with
reclaimed wastewater troll the Regional Water Quality
Control Plant; however, the time lost for actual
sweeping of streets made this idea impractical.
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The City Council haa approved a Capital Improvement
project. for FY 1990-91 entItled ·Wastewater
Reclamation Kaster Plan'. The plan v1l1 study the
eoono.ie, technical, environmental and institutional
feasibllitles tor reclaimed wastewater uses. The
final report vill di.cusa the finding_ and
conclusIons, and reOO.aendationa vill be presented
to CCiWlCll.
Staff will continue to .onitor other aqencles' vater manaqement
ordinances and drought related programs and will keep Council
informed of any .lqniflcant developments.
Respectfully submitted I
t£r~,,·ti -&qL
DOOGIAS M. SBOR'r
Senior Pcwer Enqineer
;C:~~ X",~~77-~CIIARD L. YOUNG (/
Director of Utilities
~~
city Manager
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