From
Ron McCuller
Title
Public Hearing and Adoption of a Revised Drought Contingency Plan
Presenter
Ron McCuller. Public Works Director
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
The State requires public water suppliers to review, revise and adopt a Drought Contingency Plan every five years. Our updated plan is due on July 1, 2014.
Additionally, our wholesale water contracts require that we adopt a Drought Contingency that reflects the same or similar restrictions as the supplier has in place. As of last month, our wholesale suppliers adopted new 3 stage plans.
Our revised plan is submitted herewith. Key changes include:
1) Transition from a 5 stage Plan to a 3 Stage Plan. This generally imposes more restrictions more quickly by going through fewer stages. For example where stage one allows twice a week irrigation based on address, Stage 2 imposes once per week watering, and Stage 3 prohibits all outdoor landscape watering except with a hand-held hose, soaker hose or drip irrigation system. The previous plan had intermediate stages to the general prohibition of landscape irrigation by modern sprinkler systems. Generally, moving to a 3 stage plan is seen as more effective and less confusing as we are not as likely to be moving as rapidly between stages.
2) Changing the prohibition on watering between the hours of 10 AM and 6 PM, from seasonal to a year-round requirement,
3) Addition of several definitions to provide clarity.
4) The Water Rationing/Surcharge portion of the plan is deleted
Financial Consideration
There are no financial requirements to make these changes in the Drought Contingency Plan.