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Home My WebLink About0150.092- ~: .. ' , " " ,".- February 13~ 1992 THE HONORhBLE CITY COUNCIL Palo Alto, California 19'j~{92 water Management Polan Update Members ot the Council: This informational report updates Counc~l on Palo Alto's ~ater use status and drought program managem.ent. No Council action is required. CITY or PALO ALTO WAT~ CONSUMPTION Palo Alto water customers have dramatically curtailed their water usage since adoption of the 1991-1992 Drought Management Plan~ As of the end of the January billing perioa, Palo Alto's consumption was 12 percent below allocation and 14 percent below 1987 usage~ This saved water accumulates as a "bank" to use if circumstances should require during the remaining months of the SFWO's mandatory rationing program. In addition, the 1990-1931 billing year (June 1990 through May 1991) 'Was coonpleted with water consumption belov,' that year I s annual allocation, resulting in a positive bank "Which has :been carried forward into the 1991-1992 year. Attachment "A-shous 1991 consumption compared to the 1987 base year and tho!: 1991-1992 allocation. CMR:150:92 " ! I • __ ,,,,,, ___ ' _JlllllllIIIl!)!I!l!I!!la.,; .... li!St:uJ. IIU1!l!d CO:D:lltUl];!tl,O'D Pb.:Qa a.v ( -+ ) ..... """ ... """" a.'~t-) A«-....... ---.Il!!t !l!!< A!kgtioo (r.'1)-u..Cgfr AIIoaUoo BrliM Cg;O 1~1991 July n J .. mt ~ S,L<;6,.t36 <C,7<l3,8'9'l -t'" <In,S1?S '91-'92 Feta::aa (ha Co. J -.... "" ""'"" (Jl" u.dct(-) " , V_ ..... ",.. M (!d)O I Ire::. fcxf). ..,....... -.... hr, (a:!) ''''r JII.II'" 21 "'If 12 ,",,256 .s.:o,N3 .?(l,7% 14Z,24J '54..,. A""", Jl:iy 23 Au,_ 21 644,61Q 127,&74 -1S~% Wi.W, 671.834 5op«mb« ..... " Sop< >l 6Ql,"" .. nm -21~ 128,()47 ". .. , On_ Sep. 21 Od. " SSi,7lO 4?9.l34 -10.59% 5llSo/9 SS8,4lO ~mber ''''' " "" .... 20 "we 3"' .... .. 4.1% ·t·MS(] 84:;,~ 0....".., !Ib.t 21 D=>l 300,'00 3:!.S,00!\ <-11.6% .3oI,B.2S 809,lS,s ."'mllL"}" D=n Jail. 21 ""'" "", .. ... ..1% 1l.1!U: m>l7 curreDt B111i,gg: MODt~ '91-'92 l"btt.I Ocr ( ... ) -... ..... ..... "'" -aru..k:rO ""-, .. V_ -.!1!!! u (cd'l* U!!cJ: rmr -..... ~ ""'''''''' ,~ " Feb. 19 Wl,l~ as,O':Xl -t4% 4,159 52t;.476 ·1 ed • One HundrT;d C .. b~ Feet .. 74S Ginoru. ·1 ulm EVen though consumption was above allocation for November and December, the sizable bank built up will be enough so that the city 'Will not pay fines for over-cons'umption this year. However, this is based on continued vigilance in our conservation effort. This bank -would carryover in the case of another year of mandatory rationinq~ CMR:150:92 --------- .. ~."':'':;;' -.!. As ot February J, 1992, information from Pale Alto's water supplier, the San Francisco Water Oepartment (SFWD), shews their reservoir system level to be 55 percent of normal and the Sierra Mountain snowpack level to be 37 percent of normal. However, the determination of whether rationing will be continued --and at ~hat level --is basad primar i.ly on the al'lount of spring runGff from melting show. ThErefore, it is far too early to make any predic tions now. When the winter storm season has ended and the majority of snow melting has taken place, SFWD can estimate the final status of its reservoir system. Typically, SFWD is able to notify its customers about rationing require~en~s by May. Water Utility Impacts For the first half of FY 1991-92, actual water sales in ~he city are below projections. This is a result, in large pa~t, of palo Altans conserving more wate~ than anticipated. The City has an overall usage target this fiscal year of 28 pe.rcent beloW" 1987 levels. Hc~ever, actual c¢nsumption for the first six months of the fiscal year is approximately 35 percent belo~ 1987 levels. The Utility has been monitcring this trend on a monthly basis because of the adverse impact decreased wate.r sales has on the water Fund revenue. There are a number of mitigating circumstances that considerably lessen the impact of lost revenue on the projected fiscal year operation, such as reduced purchases of water, avoidance of potential fines for excess use, and savings resulting from delayed hiring of some staff to work on Yater infrastructure improvements. Sta.ff continues to evaluate the revenue and expel'1se numbers as they dev~lop and expects to have an analysis to Council with the midyear report. Despite these mitigating factors. and assuming the judicious USe of already dwindling reserves, staff estimates that by year-end the Water Fund -will need a rate increase. The increase will be needed for the 1992-9J fiscal year to allo~ for the planned transfers to the Gener~l Fund, to enable the infrastructure project to move forward, to restore ~eakened reserves, and to meet an increase in water costs (announced but as yet unspecified as to amount) coming from the San Francisco water Department. CMR:150:92 --..... I'!!! .. ' ." .... __ ' ,~ .. '"" --. - l : - DROUGHT PRQGRAM IMPLEHENTATION The drought rate schedule implementation continues to nm smoothly. Since the new rates went into effect on July 1, 1991, 254 exemption applications have been submitted. The following summary indicates the numbers of exemptions granted (categorized by reason) and the number of applications denied. Family of six or more Medical needs Baseline consumption Allo .... ance adjustment yarrantsd Permission to exceed maximum cap Other/Decision pending Request denied APPLICATIONS TOTAL: <;) 17 70 7 10 ~- 254 Customers who exceed the maximum caps on monthly usage continue to qet warning notices on their utilities bill. If the maxi:mum is exceeded more than once, a direct 1I18i1 warnin'3' notice is sent (assuming the customer has not applied for and received an exemption). If excessive usage still continues, a warning notice o£ intent to install a flow restriction is issued. Warning notices also include offers of conservation assistance, and most customers who rece.ive them request this help to resolVe their e:xcess use problem. To date, no flow restrictors have had to be installed, and less than a dozen customers are currently sched~led to be sent flow restrictor notices. Water Use Ordinances Cooperation with the city1s water use restrictions is at an al1- time high with less than 10 citations beinq issued over the last month. Since July 1991, a total of 91 first 'Warnil"'.g and 14 seccnd warning notices have been issued, but in no case has installation of a flow restrictor been required. The vast majority of citations continue to be for irrigation flooding, with watering at the wrong time and hosinq down pavement the next most frequent violations. city and Public Facili~ __ ies M~st park and city facility irrigation has been turned off during the winter. All irrigation is being :kept to a 30 percent or greater reduction level. The project to install reclaimed water lines to serve the Golf Course and Municipal Services center is unQerway and expected to be completed by late 1992 or early 1993. CMR:150:92 • -- Utilities st~ff continue to work cooperatively ~ith L~e Palo Alto unified schO¢l District, providing ongoing vater ~anaqement assistance and any needed billing problem resolution~ The drouqht rate schedules have proven to be applicable and effective for the schools which, like any other commercial accounts, were able to have their seA (Baseline Consumption Allowance) adjusted whenever it proved to be. inappropriate to coyer their basic needs. In general, the 6chools are doing a good job of conserving. CQSTQKEB OUAREACH ASSISTANCE The high level of coo~eratjon from Palo Alto residents and businesses has meant that less -drought reminder" advertisinq has been needed in the last few months. Ongoing conservation activi ties and assistance provided by statf since the october status report to council (CMR:4.43:91) are summarized }:lela..,: Perfo~med 56 on-site water audits; provid~d 868 telephone consultations; handled 63 requests for conservation litera ture anQ hQme water kits. Issued upd~te ne~51etters to all small and large commercial customers; produced one utilities flye~ and two newspaper ads promoting conservation awar~ness. Sent tarqet.ed ma:lll.ngs to r~sidential and commercial customers with high2.r water use offering specific assistance services. Reviewed six commercial landscape plans for conformance with City Landscape guidelines. (These guidelines, which have been in a test implementation phase, will be finalized and presented for council review z.nd adoption. as a permanent ordinance by the summer.} Sponsorea a session for corporate facilities managers on Cooling Tower _ate~ conservation opportunities. Continued. involvement with other local and regional aqe.ncies to coordinate outreach efforts (e.g. Santa Clara Valley water District, Bay J...xea Water Users Association) ; continued. active participation on state Department of Water Resources conservation Advisory co~ittee. CM.'<: 150: 92 O~-,~o-O 0_' ---""'----.---~ • , '~~:, :'~\'. '.-, -." --..... ~ Water conservation Incentive progr~Ji In October 1991, a report to Council described new pilot incentive p~oqram9 heinq launched to encouraqe long-term indoor conservation improvements. (CMR: 442: 91) • The ultra-low flush (ULF) toilet rebate program targeted to residents got an immediate, enthusiastic puhlic response~ As a result, all rebate funds have been fully obligated for an estimated total installation of 390 toilets. The commercial incentivgs program I which includes rebates for a vari~ty of process water use retrofits as well as ULF toilet installations, still has funds available. A co~plete report will be provided to council after these pilot programs er.d in Kay. The report will include numbers of customers served, projects installed~ and 'Wate.r units saved, as well as identity key lessons learned from implementing the pilot programs. Respectfully submitted, ,..-~( .. /~~-.-/-' .... '.- DEBP">. AATZ Manager, Energy Services Chair, City Water Management Committee /~<.~~1 ........ RICHARD L. Y G fj'l=-)IZ:1 E FLEMING I sSistant City Manag,r '-' \ / '--"/ Attachment A: Palo Alto Consumption Chart CMR:150:92 --".. CITY OF PALO ALTO WATER CONSUMPTION 1987 cnd 1991 va. ALlOCAnON 0.9 r O.B f-z 0 :::10 ~ 0.7, / /~. 8~ ~" oa w:= 0.6 ;>= :::J::> (f)~ Z 0 O.!) () 0:- W ';( 0.4 "-~ 0.3 I 0.;;>' i-__ -L ____ ~ __ ~ ____ -L ____ ~ __ ~ ____ ~ __ ~ ____ _LI ~ JAN FEE MAR APR MAY JlJN .l.JL Al)G SEP OCT NOV DEC .i · '''' X "" " -~':~-.-, ,..... ., ALLOCATION r:: ~ ." ~ ~ " I 30 ~ 2 -1 » '. i I , L, . "