ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE

 

 

10.

CONSIDER EXPENDITURE OF BUDGETED FUNDS FOR LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION AUDITS/BUDGETS (RULE 172) AND AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO RENEW LIMITED CONTRACTS WITH SPOT WATER MANAGEMENT, PACIFIC WATER MANAGEMENT, AND WATERWISE CONSULTING INC., FOR AUDITING SERVICES

 

Meeting Date:

June 15, 2010

Budgeted: 

Yes

 

From:

Darby Fuerst,

Program/

Conservation Programs

 

General Manager

Line Item No.: 

4-2-2-C, D, and I

 

 

 

Prepared By:

 

Stephanie Pintar

 

Cost Estimate:

$200,000 Reimbursable

$10,000 Non-reimbursable

General Counsel Review:  N/A

Committee Recommendation:  The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on June 15, 2010 and recommended _____________.

CEQA Compliance: N/A

 

SUMMARY:  Staff is seeking Board authorization to renew contracts with Spot Water Management (SWM), Pacific Water Management (PWM), and WaterWise Consulting, Inc., for Landscape Water Audit and Landscape Water Budget services not-to-exceed $200,000.  Funding for audits is included in the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 budget and is partially reimbursable through California American Water (CAW).  District funding is available through the line item for CII audits.  SWM and PWM have been under contract with the District for these services since 2007.  WaterWise was added in 2009.  The majority of this contract amount is to complete landscape audits/budgets that are currently in progress and to complete audits on the golf courses and open space in the Del Monte Forest supplied with both recycled and CAW water.

 

Landscape Water Audits and Landscape Water Budgets completed by a Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA) are required for specific users by District Rule No. 172.  Rule 172 requires landscape water audits and landscape water budgets to be offered by the District and/or CAW or their agent free of charge to CAW customers that have dedicated landscape meters or large irrigated areas over three acres, and to all large residential water users that use more than 32 units per month average.  Note that one unit equals one hundred cubic feet or 748 gallons of water.  The audit involves an on-site analysis of existing plant types and locations, soil types, existing irrigation and watering practices and equipment.  The CLIA then determines a water budget based on those factors and efficient water use. 

 

As of June 4, 2010, nearly all Large Residential Water Users and priority Dedicated Irrigation Meters have been completed or are underway and funds have been mostly exhausted.  Once the funding has been expended, audits will be conducted by District and/or California American Water staff until the next General Rate Case (GRC) has been decided.  Funding to continue outsourcing the audits is in the proposed GRC conservation budget for 2012-2014.

The new contracts will not exceed $200,000 for Fiscal Year 2010-2011.  Funding for this effort is in the FY 2010-2011 budget.  Payment to the contractors is made at the completion of the audit and budget and is reimbursed by California American Water through the conservation budget approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in 2009.  The Administrative Law Judge involved in the PUC decision was particularly supportive of completing these audits.

 

RECOMMENDATION: The Administrative Committee should recommend the Board authorize the General Manager to renew contracts with PWM, SWM and WaterWise in a not-to-exceed amount of $200,000 for the purpose of conducting Landscape Water Audits and Landscape Water Budgets to comply with the requirements set forth in District Rule 172. 

 

IMPACT TO STAFF/RESOURCES:  Funding is available in the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 budget through reimbursement by California American Water in the conservation budget approved by the Public Utilities Commission in May 2009 and through the District’s budget for CII audits.  

 

BACKGROUND:  Stage 2 Water Conservation (and higher stages) implements enforcement of Landscape Water Budgets to maintain regulatory compliance.  During Stage 2, all water users required to have a Landscape Water Budget must manage outdoor irrigation within their budget.  Use in excess of the Landscape Water Budget is considered Water Waste and is subject to Water Waste fees and enforcement.  Every October (i.e., new Water Year), CAW reviews their customer database to determine which customers are subject to the audit/budget requirement.

 

EXHIBITS

None 

 

 

 

U:\staff\word\committees\Admin\2010\20100615\10\item10.doc