TECHNICAL
ADVISORY COMMITTEE |
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ITEM: |
ACTION
ITEMS |
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3. |
Review and Comment on Draft
Ordinance No. 129 -- Adding the Rebate Program to the Rules and Regulations
of the District, Amending the Rebate Amounts, Excluding Areas within the
District that Receive Water from Water Distribution Systems Not Regulated by
the District from the Rebate Program, and Adding Rebates for Certain Water
Saving Irrigation System Retrofits |
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Meeting Date: |
August 7, 2007 |
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From: |
David A. Berger, |
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General Manager |
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Prepared by: |
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SUMMARY: Draft Ordinance No. 129 (Exhibit 3-A) adds the District’s Rebate Program to the Rules and Regulations, updates the rebates available to equate the water savings benefit to the rebate amount, excludes areas within the District that receive water from systems not regulated by the District (i.e. former Fort Ord lands) and adds rebates for certain water saving irrigation system retrofits.
The TAC reviewed the rebates proposed by this ordinance at the June 29, 2007 meeting. Although a completed draft of the ordinance was not available for review at the June meeting, District staff walked the committee through the proposed changes to the existing rebate program, including recommendations from the June 26, 2007 Water Demand Committee meeting. The Board of Directors approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 129 at its July 16, 2007 meeting and is scheduled to consider adoption on August 20, 2007.
Outdoor water use has been targeted by the District and California American Water as an area where significant water savings can still be achieved. To reduce outdoor water use, Ordinance No. 129 adds Smart Controllers, Rain Sensors and Soil Moisture Sensors to the list of qualifying devices in the joint MPWMD/California American Water rebate program. As part of this ordinance, changes are proposed in the amount of rebate issued for installation of the existing qualifying devices based on the cost/benefit of the appliance.
Automatic irrigation systems offer convenience and control in a landscape investment and help property owners keep their landscapes healthy and beautiful. However, most property owners tend to over-water their lawn or waste water through inefficient practices. Water savings achieved through irrigation system retrofits is essential to maintaining and extending the community's water supply, particularly during the current regulatory restrictions and during times of drought.
The key to efficient outdoor irrigation is applying just enough water only when necessary. Water-wise habits result in a healthier lawn and landscape, in addition to conserving water. Plus, reducing consumption reduces the user’s water bill. The proposed additions to the rebate program target outdoor water use by adding irrigation system components to make the system water-wise. The following summarizes the irrigation system rebates added to the rebate program by Ordinance No. 129:
1. Smart Controllers, Rain Sensors and Soil Moisture Sensors
Smart Controllers use weather, site or soil moisture data as a basis for determining an appropriate watering schedule. Smart Controllers (commonly referred to as ET controllers, weather-based irrigation controllers, Smart sprinkler controllers, and water smart controllers) are a new generation of irrigation controllers that utilize prevailing weather conditions, current and historic Evapotranspiration, soil moisture levels, and other relevant factors to adapt water applications to meet the actual needs of the plants. Smart Controllers include sensor-based and signal-based irrigation controllers. Both types of controllers achieve significant water savings (up to 50 percent) over conventional controllers that receive no feedback on actual soil or weather conditions.
Ordinance No. 129 limits rebates to Smart Controllers that meet minimum quality and dependability requirements. The Irrigation Association conducts tests on Smart Controllers and maintains a list of controllers that have met the criteria. The draft ordinance includes a provision that the District will maintain a list of Smart Controllers that qualify for rebates and that this list will be regularly updated and posted to the website.
Ordinance No. 129 adds rebates for Smart Controllers, Rain Sensors and Soil Moisture Sensors as follows:
· The rebate for a Smart Controller is $100 for up to four stations. An additional $10 rebate is available per station up to twenty (20) stations or the actual cost, whichever is less.
· The rebate for a Rain Sensor attached to an irrigation system controller is $25 or the actual cost, whichever is less.
· The rebate for installation and use of one or more Soil Moisture Sensor(s) on a conventional automatic irrigation system is $25 per sensor or the actual cost, whichever is less. Gypsum block soil moisture sensors do not qualify for rebate as they dissolve over time and disintegrate, reducing long-term water savings without regular replacement.
2. Adjustment of Existing Rebates for
Installation of Water Conservation Appliances
Ordinance No. 129 includes varying rebates for installation of other qualifying devices allowed by the rebate program based on the cost/benefit of the appliance. Modifications to the existing $100 rebate are explained below:
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Ordinance
No. 129 increases the rebate for installation of a recirculating Instant-Access
Hot Water System to $200 per site or the actual cost, whichever is less.
·
Ordinance
No. 129 modifies the rebate for installation of an on-demand pump or point-of
source water heater as part of an Instant-Access Hot Water System from a set
$100 maximum to $100 per component, to a maximum of two components per site.
This ordinance is exempt from CEQA as a categorical exemption under Class I, §15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Class I exemptions are available for replacement of existing facilities. A Notice of Exemption will be filed in compliance with CEQA following adoption of the ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION: The TAC should review draft Ordinance No. 129 and make a recommendation to the Board.
BACKGROUND: The rebate program is jointly funded with California American Water and is funded for $200,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008. The District administers the program and tracks the retrofits and water savings that occur. California American Water has expressed support for the proposed increases in the rebate amounts as water savings associated with replacement of older fixtures with ultra-low water consumption technology contributes to both entities’ conservation goals. Since January 1, 2007, the rebate program has increased estimated water savings in the California American Water system by 8.634 acre-feet per year. Since the inception of the program in 1997, more than 188 acre-feet of water has been saved.
EXHIBIT
3-A Draft Ordinance No. 129
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