Drought Response Jessica Bean, Engineering Geologist State Water Resources Control Board August 28, 2015

Drought Response Emergency Water Conservation Regulations Water Conservation Pricing Water Shortage Notices and Curtailments Emergency Drinking Water Program Recycled Water

2015 Emergency Rulemaking April 1 st -Executive Order mandated 25% statewide conservation May 18 th -Emergency Conservation Regulation went into effect June 1 st -Conservation standards went into effect (percent reductions)

1.Irrigation runoff 2.Washing vehicles without auto shutoff nozzle 3.Washing driveways and sidewalks 4.Fountains without recirculation systems 5.Irrigating during or 48 hours after rain event 6.Irrigating turf on street medians 7.Irrigating landscapes of newly constructed homes and businesses without drip or microspray Emergency Conservation Regulation- Prohibited for All Californians

Emergency Conservation Regulation- Required for Businesses Hotels and Motels – Options for laundering linens Restaurants – Water on request Self-supplied – Conservation actions Small water suppliers (>3,000 connections) – Conservation actions and reporting

Emergency Conservation Regulation- Required for Urban Water Suppliers Meet a conservation standard – 4% to 36% (statewide = 25%; 1.2 MAF) – 2013 baseline for measuring compliance Report monthly – Potable water production – Residential use (R-GPCD) – Commercial, institutional, and industrial (CII) use – Enforcement actions Meeting the standard – Suppliers have flexibility in how they save water.

How are we doing? billion gallons (414,800 ac-ft) 35% towards goal of 1.2 million acre-feet

Urban Supplier Compliance 73% of suppliers met or exceeded standard! 14% of suppliers were within 5% 12% of suppliers were more than 5% State Water Board is working with suppliers to help get them on track

Conservation Water Pricing (Tiered Rates) Directive 8 of Executive Order B – State Water Board is to direct urban water suppliers to develop rate structures and other pricing mechanisms to maximize water conservation consistent with statewide water use restrictions. Challenges to Conservation Water Pricing – Rate-setting is complex – One-size-fits-all approach will not work; must be tailored to local circumstances – Constitutional limitations from Proposition 218 State Water Board Activities – Engaging with state agencies, water suppliers, and other stakeholders – Information webpage – July 8 public workshop to receive stakeholder input (more to come)

Water Shortage Notices (Curtailments) Water right permits specify – season of use – purpose of use – place of use – quantity of water authorized Right to divert surface water – type of right – priority date In times of drought and limited supply, the most recent (“junior”) right holder must be the first to discontinue use.

Curtailments since March ,329 water rights affected by lack of supply Watersheds: – Sacramento River – San Joaquin River – Delta – Scott River watershed

EMERGENCY DRINKING WATER $1 billion emergency drought relief package $19 million in funding to meet emergency drinking water needs. Eligible Entities Public Agencies Community Water Systems (that serve DACs) Not-for-Profit Organizations (that serve DACs) Tribal Governments (that serve DACs) Eligible Projects may include Bottled Water Well Repair, Rehabilitation, and Replacement Point of Use Devices (for example, Filtration) Hauled Water Treatment Systems Images of East Porterville from the Los Angeles Times

Recycled Water 669,000 ac-ft used annually statewide 1.Agriculture 2.Landscape Irrigation 3.Groundwater Recharge 4.Industrial The State Water Board strongly supports recycled water as a safe alternative to potable water Recycled Water Policy aims at increasing the use of recycled water March 2014: $800 million for recycled water projects June 2014: Regulations for groundwater replenishment using recycled water adopted December 2016: Adopt regulations for surface water augmentation with recycled water 2020: Increase recycled water by 200,000 ac-ft 2030: Increase recycled water by another 300,000 ac-ft