WATER DEMAND COMMITTEE
ITEM:		ACTION ITEMS
3.	Discuss and Recommend Incentives for Converting Potable Landscape Irrigation to Recycled Water Irrigation
Meeting Date:			May 9, 2007
From:			David A. Berger,
			General Manager
Prepared by:			Stephanie Pintar

SUMMARY: Recent action by the Board in adopting Ordinance No. 125 (9/18/2006) clarified Rule 25.5, Water Use Credits, as it related to Water Use Credit for landscape removal. Specifically, water use credit for permanent landscape removal is no longer possible, except for instances where the District has documented the landscaped area through issuance of a water permit (see Rule 25.5 F-3.b., attached). Under previous Rule 25.5, credit for landscape removal was granted only in limited cases where the removal was considered to be permanent and quantifiable, such as occurred when a historically-irrigated area was built upon. Staff recently realized that amended Rule 25.5 does not provide any incentive for converting landscape irrigation from potable to recycled water use. The conversion of existing irrigated areas to recycled water will be more desirable to a property owner if the District provides an incentive to convert. The substitution of recycled water for drinking water is highly desired in the District. Substituting recycled water for irrigation will reduce reliance on limited potable supplies.

Recycled water availability is likely to increase in the next decade, making this discussion timely. Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency (MRWPCA) plans to supply additional recycled water for use in city parks, roadway landscapes and golf courses. The use of Forest Lake Reservoir to hold recycled water in Pebble Beach increases the potential for additional future conversions in that area. New subdivisions being built and those that are proposed are including purple pipe (used for distributing recycled water) in their initial infrastructure. Some subdivisions, such as Carmel Valley Ranch, Pasadera (Bishop Ranch), Monterra and Canada Woods are currently producing and using recycled water for irrigation.

The cost of re-plumbing existing irrigation systems to accommodate recycled supply can be daunting. For this reason, staff is requesting direction on preparation of an ordinance that would amend Rule 25.5 to allow a Water Use Credit for conversion of potable irrigation to recycled water. As recycled water savings contribute to achievement of the District’s conservation goal, staff is proposing that the committee consider setting a limit on the percentage of water savings that could be reused. For similar credits, the District allows reuse of 85 percent of the water savings. Fifteen percent of the savings are permanently withdrawn from use.

RECOMMENDATION: The Water Demand Committee should discuss the concept of modifying the District rules to allow a Water Use Credit for conversion of potable irrigation to recycled irrigation. The committee should make a recommendation and provide direction to staff on presenting this item to the Board.

BACKGROUND: Incentives for conversion of potable irrigation to recycled supplies are essential to continued interest in recycled water programs. An example of a successful recycled water project is the CAWD/PBCSD Recycled Water Project in Pebble Beach, designed to save 800 AF of potable water: Over 869 acre-feet of potable water has been saved in the past year (May 2006-April 2007). In exchange for receiving and using recycled water, the fiscal sponsors of the CAWD/PBCSD project received water entitlements for less than one-half of the anticipated water savings (380 AF) and the District received 420 AF.

EXHIBITS

3-A Excerpt from existing Rule 25.5

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