Laserfiche WebLink
BACKGROUND <br /> In preparation of a water shortage declaration in early 2014, City Council approved <br /> significant modifications to Pleasanton Municipal Code (PMC) Chapter 9.30 [at that time <br /> named the Water Conservation Plan]. A Stage 3 water shortage was declared by the City <br /> Council in May 2014, and the City implemented a mandatory 25% reduction in water <br /> usage. In April 2015, the State of California also adopted a mandatory 25% statewide <br /> reduction requirement, along with additional water conservation measures. Council <br /> approved additional amendments to PMC Chapter 9.30 to reflect these new requirements <br /> in May 2015. <br /> The State of California has been experiencing drought conditions since 2012, and over <br /> that last several years, the City of Pleasanton has engaged in ongoing efforts to provide <br /> educational outreach to its residents and business community on water conservation <br /> efforts, including home and office visits for the Controller Assistance Program (program <br /> irrigation systems & detect leaks), providing free water-efficient sink aerators and shower <br /> heads, conducting workshops, and providing enhanced rebates for water-saving efforts <br /> such as lawn conversions. When Council approved the 25% mandatory water reduction <br /> in May 2014 in response to the severely limited water supply conditions in the Tri-Valley, <br /> Council emphasized the necessity to ensure customers with low water consumption <br /> would not be subject to an "excess use penalty" if unable to achieve the percent of <br /> mandatory reduction corresponding to the declared water shortage stage. Additionally, <br /> during both winters commencing in 2014 and 2015, Council approved the suspension of <br /> excess use penalties due to lower water use trends over the winter and early spring <br /> months. The incorporation of both low-water user designation and mechanism for excess <br /> use penalty suspension are incorporated in the current PMC Chapter 9.30 proposed <br /> amendments. <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> Drought Update <br /> Attachment 1 is a chart summarizing a comparison between 2013 and 2016 water usage. <br /> Compared to potable water consumption in 2013, the City achieved a 27.8% savings for <br /> 2014, 37.7% savings for 2015 and 40.8% savings for thus far in 2016. The effective <br /> drinking water savings impact was 1.65 billion gallons in 2014, 2.23 billion gallons in 2015 <br /> and 0.700 billion gallons so far in 2016 for a total of 4.58 billion gallons. <br /> State Snowpack Conditions <br /> As of May 23, 2016, the state is currently at 13% of the April 1 peak snowpack level. <br /> The average snowpack for this time of year is normally 29% of the April 1 peak level. <br /> State Reservoir Conditions <br /> Statewide water reservoirs are currently at 53% of their available capacity and are at 72% <br /> of their historical average for this time of year. Lake Oroville in Butte County, the State <br /> Water Project's (SWP) principal reservoir, now holds 3.352 million acre feet (MAF), 95% <br /> of its 3.538 million acre-foot capacity and 113% of its historical average as of May 23. <br /> DWR Water Allocation for 2016 <br /> The water delivery allocation from the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to the Tri- <br /> Valley through Zone 7 was recently increased from 30% to 60%. This allocation level <br /> Page 2 of 5 <br />