ITEM:

INFORMATIONAL ITEM/STAFF REPORTS

 

18.

WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM REPORT  

 

Meeting Date:
December 10, 2012

Budgeted: 

N/A

 

From:

David J. Stoldt,

Program/

N/A

 

General Manager

Line Item No.:

 

Prepared By:

Gabriela Ayala

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 or Use with Ultra-Low Flush Toilets (ULF) (1.6 gallons-per-flush), 2.0 gallons-per-minute (gpm) Showerheads, 2.2 gpm faucet aerators, and Rain Sensors on 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), and a Site inspection is often conducted to verify compliance. 

 

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.  Details on 157 property transfers that occurred in  November 2012, were entered into the database.  

 

B.     Certification

The District received 66 WCCs between November 1 and November 26, 2012.  Data on ownership, transfer date, and status of water efficiency standard compliance were entered into the database.

 

C.     Verification

In November, 71 inspections were performed to verify compliance with Rule 144 (Retrofit Upon Change of Ownership or Use).  Of the 71 inspections performed, 59 (83%) were in compliance.  Nine of the properties that passed inspection involved more than one visit to verify compliance with all water efficiency standards.

 

District inspectors have also been tracking toilet replacement with High Efficiency Toilets (HET) in place of ULF toilets.  These retrofits are occurring in remodels and new construction, and are 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.  The majority of toilets sold in California are HET.

 

Savings Estimate

Water savings from ULF retrofits triggered by Rule 144 verified in November 2012 are estimated at 0.678 acre-feet annually (AFA).  Water savings from retrofits that exceeded requirements (i.e., Ultra-Low Flush Toilets to HET) is estimated at 0.466 AFA (43 toilets).  Year-to-date estimated savings occurring as a result of toilet retrofits is 8.201 AFA.

 

  1. Water Waste Response

There were six Water Waste complaints reported by the public. Staff made several verbal contacts in the field after observing Water Waste.  Follow-up letters are sent as needed to respond to Water Waste.

 

II.    WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT

 

A.    Permit Processing

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.  District staff processed and issued Water Permits in November 2012.  No Water Permits were issued using Water Entitlements (Macomber, Pebble Beach Company, Griffin Estates, Quail Meadows, Water West, etc).  No Water Permits involved a debit to a Public Water Credit Account. 

 

All Water Permit Applicants have received a disclaimer informing them of the Cease and Desist Order against California American Water and that MPWMD reports Water Permit 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 in an existing Single-Family Dwelling on a Single-Family Residential Site. Of the 37 Water Permits issued in November, eight were issued under this provision.

 

B.     Permit Compliance

District staff completed 60 Water Permit final inspections during November 2012.  Ten of the final inspections failed due to unpermitted fixtures. Of the 42 properties that were in compliance, 30 passed on the first visit. In addition, five 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.  In the month of November, the District prepared 36 deed restrictions.  Of the 37 Water Permits issued in November, 18 (49%) required deed restrictions.  District staff provided deed restriction Notary services for 31 Water Permit Applicants.      


 

III.  JOINT MPWMD/CAW REBATE PROGRAM

 

The Rebate Program for customers of California American Water was reinstated as of November 19, 2012.

 

There were six Rebate applications received and approved for California American Water customers in November 2012.

 

There were no Rebate applications received for Non-California American Water customers in November 2012.

 

 

 

 

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