ITEM:

INFORMATIONAL ITEM/STAFF REPORTS

 

17.

WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM REPORT  

 

Meeting Date:
October 17, 2011

Budgeted: 

N/A

 

From:

David J. Stoldt,

Program/

N/A

 

General Manager

Line Item No.:

 

Prepared By:

Michael Boles

Cost Estimate:

N/A

 

General Counsel Review:  N/A

Committee Recommendation:  N/A

CEQA Compliance:  N/A

 

I.       MANDATORY WATER CONSERVATION RETROFIT PROGRAM

District Regulation XIV requires the retrofit of water fixtures upon Change of Ownership to Ultra-Low Flush Toilets (ULF) (1.6 gallons-per-flush), 2.0 gallons-per-minute (gpm) Showerheads, and 2.2 gpm faucet aerators. Rain Sensors are also required for all automatic Irrigation Systems.  Property owners must certify the Site meets the District’s water efficiency standards by submitting a Water Conservation Certification Form (WCC).  A Site inspection to verify compliance is conducted when five years have passed since a previous inspection. 

 

A.    Changes of Ownership

Information is obtained weekly from Realquest.com on properties transferring ownership within the District.  The information is entered into the database and compared against the properties that have submitted WCCs.  Properties not in compliance with Regulation XIV are identified.  Details on 121 property transfers that occurred in September 2011, were entered into the database.  

 

B.     Certification

The District received 57 WCCs between September 1 and September 30, 2011.  Data on ownership, transfer date, and status of water efficiency standards were entered into the database.

 

C.     Verification

In September, 122 inspections were performed to verify compliance with Rule 144 (Retrofit upon Change of Ownership or Use).  Of the 122 inspections performed, 99 (81%) were in compliance.  Eight of the properties that passed inspection involved more than one visit to verify compliance with all water efficiency standards.

 

District inspectors are noting that a large percentage of toilets are being replaced with High Efficiency Toilets (HET).  These retrofits are occurring as a result of remodels and new construction, and as the toilet of choice for Rule 144 compliance.  State law mandates the sale and installation of HET by January 1, 2014, with a phase-in period that began in 2010.


  1. Savings Estimate

Water savings from retrofits triggered by Rule 144 that were verified in September 2011, are estimated at 1.219 acre-feet annually (AFA).  Water savings in September from voluntary retrofits that exceeded requirements (Ultra-Low Flush Toilets to HET), 37 toilets, is estimated at 0.620 AFA.  Year-to-date estimated savings occurring as a result of retrofits is 13.877 AFA.

 

  1. Water Waste Response

There was one Water Waste complaint reported by the public. Staff made several verbal contacts in the field after observing Water Waste.  Follow up letters were sent as needed to correct the Water Waste.

 

II.    WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT

 

A.    Permit Processing

District staff processed and issued 55 Water Permits in September 2011.  Three Water Permits were issued using Water Entitlements (Macomber, Pebble Beach Company, Griffin Estates, Quail Meadows, Water West, etc).  No Water Permits issued involved a debit to a Public Water Credit Account.  District Rule 23 requires a Water Permit application for all properties that propose to Expand or modify water use on a Site, including New Construction and Remodels.

 

All Water Permit Applicants have received a disclaimer informing them of the Cease and Desist Order against California American Water and the possibility that MPWMD will be reporting Water Permits details to California American Water.  Disclaimers will continue to be provided to all Water Permit recipients with property supplied by a California American Water Distribution system.

 

District Rule 24-3-A allows the addition of a second Bathroom to an existing Single-Family Dwelling on a Single-Family Residential Site. Of the 55 Water Permits issued in September, five were issued under this provision.

 

B.     Permit Compliance

District staff completed 79 Water Permit final inspections in September 2011. Twenty-eight of the final inspections failed due to unpermitted fixtures. Of the 51 properties that were in compliance, 38 passed on the first visit. In addition, four pre-inspections were conducted in response to Water Permit applications received by the District.

 

C.     Deed Restrictions

District staff prepares deed restrictions that are recorded on the property title to provide notice of District Rules and Regulations, enforce Water Permit conditions, and provide notice of public access to water records.  In March 2001, the District Board of Directors adopted a policy regarding the processing of deed restrictions.  Specifically, an extensive quality control process was put into place, and the District is now responsible for thoroughly reviewing and recording these documents.  In the month of September, the District prepared 45 deed restrictions.  Of the 55 Water Permits issued in September, 24 (44%) required deed restrictions.  District staff provided deed restriction Notary services for 24 Water Permit Applicants.           

III.  JOINT MPWMD/CAW REBATE PROGRAM

 

Rebate funding for California American Water was depleted on May 18, 2011. The rebate program will continue when additional funding is made available. The rebate program for non-California American Water Company customers will continue until funding is depleted.

 

California American Water year to date water savings for associated with the installation of high efficiency devices is: 23.3697 acre-feet.

 

California American Water program to date water savings for associated with the installation of high efficiency devices is: 306.918 acre-feet.

 

Non-California American Water program to date water savings for associated with the installation of high efficiency devices is: 0.964 acre-feet.

 

 

 

 

 

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