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DISCUSSION Attached for City Council information is a chart summarizing a comparison between 2013 and 2014 water usage. As indicated, the City realized a 27.8% reduction in potable water consumption and the entire community should be commended for its efforts in exceeding the 25% reduction target. In recognition of the community's efforts and slightly improved water conditions resulting from the December rains, staff is recommending a 90-day suspension of the current 25% mandatory reduction that will allow for additional information from the State regarding 2015 water allocations. After the 90 days, at the Council's April 21, 2015 meeting, staff anticipates that the City Council will consider action to either rescind the local drought emergency if sufficient water supplies are available or to continue emergency drought measures depending on projected water supplies. Notwithstanding any suspension of the City's stage 3 mandatory reductions, state restrictions are still in place for all Californians and these will remain in effect until at least April 15, 2015. A summary of these requirements are: 1. 20% voluntary water reduction over the 2013 consumption. 2. Irrigate in a manner that does not create runoff or flooding of water. 3. Irrigate only between 6 PM and 9 AM 4. Do not irrigate on consecutive days and only once per week October through March, 2 days a week April through September. 5. Do not water hardscape surfaces, patio's, driveways, etc. 6. Fix water leaks within no more than 8 hours after detection. 7. Restaurants only serve water on request. 8. Must use a cover for swimming pools. 9. No use of potable water for ponds, fountains, and other water features. 10.No use of potable water for construction if a feasible alternate source is available (recycled water). 11.No use of potable water for pressure washers If unforeseen drought conditions should dramatically change in the interim, staff would return to Council for authorization to continue the emergency declaration to protect the community water supplies and act accordingly to the situation. It is important that the community know and remember that the drought is not yet over and that we all need to be vigilant and keep our consumption as low as possible and do all that we can to comply with 20% voluntary reduction over 2013 use. General Water Matters Most notably, December saw some much needed rain and snow in California which slightly improved the outlook for 2015 compared to this time in 2014. Nonetheless, staff remains confident that the community will continue to be engaged in exercising water conservation whenever possible and remain hopeful for additional precipitation through the remainder of the winter. On December 1st, 2014 the State Water Project released its initial allocation for 2015 supplies at 10%. Zone 7 has requested 80,619 acre/ft for the Tri-Valley. The allocation now stands at 10% of that or 8,062 acre/ft for 2015. This allocation will be revised as the season progresses and we find out how much precipitation the state receives this winter. The allocation last year kept changing due to Page 3 of 4