Irrigation with AMR Proposition 84 Drought Round Grant Irrigation with Automated Meter Reading Project Grant Agreement with Association of Bay Area Governments

Irrigation with AMR AMR Technology Automated Meter Reading uses radio transmitters and receivers to collect and report water meter readings. MMWD staff will collect readings from all irrigation meters at least once each week and upload the data to a user-accessible website.

Irrigation with AMR Project Goals  Increase water supply resiliency and customer participation in landscape efficiency programs.  Upgrade all dedicated irrigation meters to AMR with cellular-read capability.  Significantly increase access to water use data for customers and staff.  Improve irrigation efficiency through equipment rebates.  Ensure long-term efficiency through training and monitoring.  Minimize costs to customers and MMWD.  Conserve 400 acre feet each year.

Resiliency AMR technology enhances the districts ability to extend the district’s water supply at a low cost. Drought restrictions can be monitored, water waste restrictions can be enforced, and water budgets can be tracked on a weekly basis – this is an eightfold improvement from the existing process. Irrigation with AMR

Status Update  Completed measurement of all commercial landscapes in MMWD and calculated scientifically valid water budgets.  Staff met with landscape managers at all sites and obtained and telephone contact information.  Completed an inventory of existing water meters and selected hardware and software components.  Approved over $60,000 in Irrigation Improvement rebates ($179,000 remaining)

Irrigation with AMR Customer Support  Staff will host a series of free workshops to all property owners, landscape contractors and irrigation managers. Customers can access water history and graph trends online using any smart device.  Develop and distribute a periodic update comparing water budget targets to actual consumption.  Assign staff to work directly with landscape managers and provide onsite technical assistance as needed.

Draft Ordinance 430 Water Conservation Code Update Includes updates in policy, technology, and science Every gallon saved through water efficiency extends the water supply

For projects subject to a permit or design review:  Plan review is required for new landscape construction projects larger than 500 square feet.  A streamlined prescriptive process is available to small residential projects less than 1,000 square feet.  Ornamental turf is prohibited in new commercial construction, and limited to a maximum of 25% of the area in residential landscapes.  Complies with the Governor’s executive order no. b revising sections of the California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Division 2, Chapter 2.7, Model Water Efficient Landscape ordinance, and the July 1, 2015 supplement to the 2013 California Green Building Code, Title 24, Part 11. Policy Draft Ordinance 430

 Encourages the use of alternative water supplies: gray water, infiltrated storm water, and harvested rain water.  Requires flow sensors and automatic irrigation shutoff valves on all landscape projects of 5,000 sq. ft.  Reduces the allowable flow from lavatory and kitchen faucets.  Increases irrigation equipment efficiency standards.  Requires an irrigation audit for all projects. Technology

Draft Ordinance 430  The Maximum Applied Water Allocation (MAWA) is reduced by approximately 10% for residential landscapes and 25% for commercial projects.  Additional design flexibility is given to landscapes utilizing alternative water supplies.  Soil erosion and water runoff is reduced.  Storm water retention areas are encouraged. Science

Draft Ordinance 430 Public Outreach  Create formal agreements with towns, cities and the county that clearly delineate the responsibilities of each entity and that insure the District is assimilated into their respective review processes.  Develop and distribute (through our contractor contacts list) a simplified fact sheet highlighting the changes to the current review process.  District staff will host a series of free workshops to all property owners, landscape contractors and irrigation managers. Customers can access water history and graph trends online using any smart device.  Simplify online documents to improve ease of use and reduce submission errors.  Inform through MMWD social media, website, bill inserts, newsletters, and customer portal.  Promote at public events, professional training and residential workshops.  Network with retail outlets, trade organizations, cities, towns, county, non-profits, and resource agencies  Co-market with CAP, water waste, and rebate programs.  Enforce through water service application process.