HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-06-16; City Council; 6636; Water Conservation Plan• • Y »y` �./ CIT_ Y OF CARLS[3A'_J � ,,/r �/�
AGENDA BILL NO. �o (� 3Co Initial:
Dept. Hd.�
DATE: June 16, 1981
C. Atty.
DEPARTMENT: Utilities & Maintenance
- C. Mgr.
Subject:
WATER CONSERVATION PLAN
Stat_ ement of the Matter
The City of Carlsbad Water Conservation Plan, and other agency specific plans, is being
developed by the San Diego County Water Authority under the auspices of SANDAG. The plan is
essentially a recapitulation of the various programs undertaken during the 1976-77 drought,
± which resulted in about a 15% reduction in consumption. Consumption since that tim
been the same, with variations of less than 200 acre feet around the 5 e has
(± 4%). SANDAG has requested that Council approve the plan. ,000 acre feet level
.p Fisca'I Impact
City costs for completely implementing th" plan are estimated to be less than $10,000
j,. although the effectiveness of full implementation without the genuine concern of imminent
shortage is expected to be much less than 15% gent
of the mechanical reduction devices (low flow faucets, aerators, insulatednPipes,areducedt
size toilet tanks) because of general industry resource conservation efforts in water a
;? energy conservation. Conservation efforts of the City and CRMWD are closely coordinated and
*: avoid duplication of effor. and funding.
ted to
,e
Exhibits
S
,fir"g1
A. ✓Draft Water Conservation Plan.
>:a Recommendation
Council approve the Water Conservation Plan by minute motion.
r'.
AEROVED
'Y
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f
San Diego
ASSOCIATION OF
GOVERNMENTS
Suite 524, Security Pacific Plaza
1200 Third A%enue
San Diego, California 92101
(714) 236.5300
TO City Managers
FROM: Executive Director
Sts=: Water Conservation Plan
May 12, 1981
Enclosed with this memrandusn are eight copies of a proposed Water Conserva-
tion Plan for your city. Your proposed Plan was prepared by the San Diego
County Water Authority on behalf of SANDAG as part of the Regional Water
Conservation Plan. Your Plan is one of 34 such individualized Plans pre-
pared by the County Water Authority and SANDAG for the region's cities,
water districts, the County and the County Water Authority itself. The
table on the last page of your Plan lists all of the agencies for which
plans were prepared.
This Plan was reviewed in draft forn by your planning/public works staff
sane weeks ago. We believe that this proposed version takes your recar-
mended changes into account. We now request that your City Council consider
the Plan for adoption during the next month. We currently intend to seek
SANDAL adoption of the Regional Water Conservation Plan report at the
June 15, 1981 Board of Directors meeting, As usual, therefore, we are re-
questing that the cities adopt their Plans prior to SANDAG action on the
regional report.
Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. If you have
any questions, please call me at 236-5330. Also, your staff can call
Stuart Shaffer at 236-5370 or Larxy Michaels of the County Water Authority
staff at 745-5521 (Escondido).
Sinc y,
RI CHARD J.
Executive Director
RJH/SS/sc
Encl.
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MAR 21 '89 15:58 S. D. UNITY WATER AIJTH(.',PIT'(
SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY
San Diego, California
DRAFT WATER CONSERVATION STUDY
FOR: THE
CITY OF CARLSBAD
51
This -report was prepared by the San Diego County Water
Authority for the San Diego Association of Governments. It
was financed by funds provided by the U.S. Environmental Pro-
tection Agency and funds provided by SANDAG member agencies.
Linden R. Burzell
General Manager and Chief Engineer
March, 1981
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
IProgram Summary ........................ 2
:
:
Introduction ........................... 2
City Background..... ................... 4
Water Conservation Program ............. 5
:
Recommended Measures ................... 7
Results of Conservation Program........ 25
` Regional Summary Table ................. 27
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This report was prepared by the staff
of try San Diego County Water Authority. Staff
Project Engineer was Lawrence R. Michaels.
Graphics were prepared by Donald A. Bandick.
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INTRODUCTION
The preparation of a water conservation plan for the
San Diego region is intended as a means of identification
and implementation of all conservation measures that are
economical and suited to the region. Two earlier work products
listed and evaluated over fifty different approaches. Those
.:t
�µ■�•... 1 ; that had value were recommended for
> implementation by municipalities and
water agencies in the region. However,
• f no single agency could be responsible
for every approach. Individual plans
were developed for each agency out-
R % lining which approaches might be best
•� for that agency. This plar. includes
the recommendations which appear to be most suited to the
City of Carlsbad with some justification for the selection of
alternatives.
The City should review these recommendations and if
found to be acceptable, the plan should be adopted. In adop-
ting the plan the City also will be agreeing to implement
the measures shown in the individual plan. This is the im-
portant part of the whole process. More water is conserved
by a few measures effectively implemented than by adopting
the most grandiose plan which goes no farther than being
printed in a report. If any recommendations are not acceptable
to the City, they should be excluded from the plan when
adopted.
Conservation must be a long term part of the water
Supply program if it is to attain
� full effectiveness. The
reduction in demand that results from conservation must be
r sufficiently reliable over a projected period that it can
be considered in system design. Then it will have the effect
of reducing the size of facilities rather than 'in resulting
in their under utilization for a period of time. This does
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not mean that approaches that produce temporary reduction
in demand during emergencies should never be considered in
the plan._Some of the recommendations would be implemented
only during emergencies and the scope and emphasis of others
would be affected by short-term requirements. But, conser-
vation must be more than an emergency response in an area
that is as dependent on imported water as the San Diego
region. The proposed conservation plan is intended to produce
that long term beneficial effect.
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CITY BACKGROUND
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The City of Carlsbad is one of the most rapidly urbani-
zing areal in the region. Most of the City area is served
by the Costa Real M.W.D. However, the City operated water
system serves the older sections of the City. The present
population of the City is 34,095 and is projected to increase
to 93,900 by the year 2000.
The present per capita domestic use for the entire
City is 222 gallons per capita per day. On the basis of the
average of 222 gallons per capita per day, the present use
within the City would be 7,569,000 gallons per day or about
8470 AF per year. The projected use by the year 2000, based
on a constant per capita demand, would be 20,846,000 gallons
or about 23,340 AF per year. However, the average use in
the City operated system would be less than the average for
the entire City. The per capita figure has been rising his-
torically due to larger lot developments, reduction in average
family :size, which increases per capita figures due to fixed
irriga':ion use, and improved amenities in the homes and in
landscaped areas. This tends to be balanced to some degree
by building of multi -family developments in the Carlsbad
area that have lower per capita use due to less landscaping
per unit. This balance could continue or even improve in,
the future as the areas zoned for multi -family units continue
to be developed. An increase in the use of conservation fix-
tures and drought resistant landscaping in new homes and
a continued conservation awareness should maintain a con-
stant per capita use. These programs Must include efforts
by the City, in addition to programs by Costa Real M.W.D.
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WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM
Present
eaLl*U4d w4* iuvvivea in the water conservation review
of codes and planting lists that occurred during the 1976-77
drought and in water conservation efforts within its own
service area. The ending of that crisis with the rain of
early 1978 interrupted must of that effort before it was
finalized. However, the program did have some success in
incorporating conservation measures into City operations.
Regional Program
The regional water conservation program is based on
each agency doing what is most suited to its powers and oper-
ation to make conservation practical in the region. The ap-
proaches that were assigned to the City are similar to other
Cities in the region which provide
water service as a municipal function.
The City program will include both
'M municipal and water supply approaches
ro
�-OW water
program for a more complete ram than where
k., o
water supply is separate from City
�'4, -0144
government. However, where the separ-
ation exists, the same approaches will
be required but will be shared by two or more governmental en-
tities. The Water Authority would undertake the areawide
information programs and support local information programs
by both the Cities and the water agencies. Thus, no -program
judged to be effective was excluded from the program, yet
no agency was required to go beyond its normal area of oper-
ation. A summary of the different approaches and how they
were assigned is included at the end of the report.
The conservation measures to be implemented as part of
this areawide effort are coordinated with the efforts of the
Costa Real M.W.D. serving part of the City. The't'recormended
measures are described below. However: the City may identify
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or expand other approaches unique to the Cit
Y of
The regional program is not intended to displace otherbad.
efforts, but to produce a basic effort that can be expanded
upon by each agency in the region with special approaches.
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RECOMMENDED Mf~A cjtn fg
1. Cooperation With Areawide Programs - The school
presentation and brochure and handout programs operated by'
the Water Authority require local
support and cooperation for maximum
effectiveness. School presentations
•� ; within the City service area benefit
by having a City representative in
attendance duringthe
presentation.
Not only does a representative provide
valuable assistance in answering ques-
tions on local matters, but also will emphasize the importance
of the program by the City.
The City should distribute conservation information
and brochures to its customers. The brochures are prepared
by the State Department of Water Resources, the Metropolitan
Water District and the Water Authority. General purpose bro-
chures should be distributed to all customers as bill stuff ers
at regular intervals during the year. Special purpose bro-
chures for conservation measures suitable for select groups
of customers should be available to those desiring such
information.
2. Speakers Bureau - A speakers bureau on water matters
should be made available to local clubs, service organiza-
tions and other groups within the
r City boundaries. Films and speaker
information kits are available from
the water Autnority to assist such
speakers. Notification of the avail-
ability of speakers should be made
to all groups that may use their
N,. a ..•ax services. While conservation should
be a major topic in such presentations, a wide iange of infor-
mation topics on other water issues o: both local and state-
wide interest should be available.
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3. Water Conservation Home Designation - The City
should establish criteria for housing designs that can be
designated as "Water Conservation
tHomes". Builders could adhere to these
criteria on a voluntary basis and
advertise that their homes carry such
a designation. A list of criteria
that should be considered are shown
below, however, the list could be
expanded to include other water con-
servation measures the City determines to be applicable.
The list could be adjusted for condominium units where dif-
ferent objectives are possibly!.
1. Flow -limiting devices (3 gpm max.) should be installed
on all faucets.
2. Hot water heaters should be located close to hot water
outlets to reduce waste of cooled water in pipes.
3. ,Hot water -pipes should be insulated when not in or
under concrete floor slabs.
4. Dishwashers should have a low water use cycle.
S. Clothes washers should have a water level' selector
and a reminder to use the lowest setting forpartial
loads.
6. Water softeners should have a reduced regeneration
cycle and be set for actual hardness encountered from
the water supply for that location.
7. Softened water should be plumbed only to those outlets
that require soft water, not the entire house system.
S. Thermostatic mixing valves should be installed on
shGwers and baths to reduce waste during adjustments
and to allow turn-off and turn -on during a shower.
9. Landscaping should make maximum use of drought resis-
tant plants in areas that are decorative rather than
actively used. ':�
3.0. Sprinkler system moisture probe override to prevent
water sprinkling when not needed.
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The designation could be given for homes that meet
a certain number of criteria out of a longer list so that
some choice is left to the builder. However, some of the
criteria such as Nos. 1, 2, 6, 7 and 9 would have major long
term savings and should be required if possible for all ap-
plicants. No. 10 may be more practical on larger multi -family
complexes rather than single family homes due to cost and
maintenance requirements.
4. Uniform Pricing For Water - Pricing for water should
be related to actual costs without declining rate blocks
which make greater use less expensive per unit of use. The
present City water rate system meets this requirement and
should continue to be used in the future with adjustments
to actual rates to reflect increases in the cost of water
and operations.
5. Faucet Aerators - Public information programs should
recommend aerators or other in -line flow control devices
on all faucets. Such devices are easily installed, are cost
efficient and have anti -splash benefits that make them highly
acceptable. Since faucets are often turned on faster than
needed, the. -maximum flow control provided by an aerator is
desirable. The savings in energy associated with hot water
inefficiently used at high flows is probably as valuable
as the water savings.
6. Distribution of Shower Restrictors and Reduced
Flush Devices - Kits with shower restrictors and toilet dams
should be made available without charge
to all buildings in the City service
area that were constructed prior to
the State regulation requiring low -
flow shower heads and low -flush
toilets. All customers should be noti-
fied of the availability of the kits.
While such kits were disf''ributed :o
customers during the drought, many prcbably were not installec
and discarded. Some renewed interest o::ll result from oul:1.c
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information programs and a small demand will develop from
homeowners and others most likely to install the kits.
7. Hot Water Pipe Insulation - Hot water pipes should
be insulated except in locations under concrete floor slabs.
The water savings results from reduced amounts of cooled
water that must be flushed from lines to obtain hot water.
However, the major savings to the owner will be in reducing
energy losses while hot water is being used. This conser-
vation approach becomes more important in multi -family dwel-
lings where greater runs of piping in walls are required
for multi -story units.
S. Self -Closing Faucets - Self -closing faucets should
be required in all unattended restrooms in new commercial,
t industrial and public buildings. It
is cost effective to convert regular
• faucets to self -closing faucets and
such installations are very economical
0000
in new buildings at present water
rates. The delayed closing valves
ab now on the market have solved many
of the complaints associated with
rapid closing valves and should be acceptable to people using
such restrooms.
9. Automatic Sprinkler System Override - New sprinkler
systems that irrigate landscaping on multi -family develop-
ments, commercial -industrial and public
areas should be required to have a
moisture sensor override if the irri-
�`,�, gated area is one-half acre or larger.
0 I.
.�� ;� 'a The sensors would prevent sprinkler
''�`' ;, ," ` �.."✓�systems from operating when adequate
moisture was available for the land-
scaping. The City should con vert ex-
isting City -owned sprinkler systems by installifig sensors
and recommend that private systems be converted where suf-
ficient area was being irrigated to make conversion feasible.
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10. Moisture Sensors - Information on the advantages
of hand held moisture sensors should be made available to
` the public. These devices have been
used extensively for house plants•
that cannot tolerate overwatering.
An extension of this use to landscaping
Purposes to prevent overwatering would
be a desirble conservation approach
and may promote good plant growth.
4: Such devices are highly desirable
with drought resistant plants that grow excessively if over -
watered, thereby causing problems rather than promoting con-
servation. These devices are cost effective if used regularly
and help control the largest use in private homes. The infor-
mation also should include information on local availability.
11. Retrofitting Flush Valves - The City should recom-
mend that flush valves, which are often used on toilets in
commercial, industrial and public restrooms, be retrofitted
to use less water. Complete replacement of an old style valve
is economical, but nearly all major makes of flush valves
can be retrofitted with a water saving kit by maintenance
personnel in a few minutes. The cost of the kit pays for
itself in a few months while complete replacement of the
valve would require several ,years to repay the cost of in --
vestment from water savings.
12. Landscaping Design Information -- The greatest dif-
ficulty in promoting drought resistant landscaping:is the
lack of public knowledge on what
1 plants are drought resistant and how '
they may be best used in landscaping.
~ Information on the types of individual
plants :.s not fully useable by an
uninfor-,ed public. In copjunction with
the Authority demonstration garden
progra:-n; sample landscaping plans
should be prepared which gi,�•e ;Ljgestions on landscaping
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with drought resistant plants. Such practical design infor-
mation should be provided to the public on request by the
City and directly offered to customers requesting the in-
stallation of meters at new homes. In addition, benefits
may accrue from reducing peak water demands since landscape
irrigation coincides with peak summer use.
13. Landscaping planting Lists - The City requires pri-
vate developers to landscape common areas of multi -family
IiIND.fCAAC complexes and public areas of com-
PLANTiy� mercial and industrial development.
• 64tT
Planting lists are provided to show
the type of landscaping that may be
used. These lists were updated during
�.N�. the drought emergency to include
drought resistant plants and to reflect
those plants which are readily avail-
able. The City. should continue the practice of reviewing
and updating the planting lists in the future. Developers
should be urged to make maximum use of drought resistant
plants where they are compatible with the use of the site.
h�
�. 14. .Incentives for Water-Savin Landsca in -The City
should consider adjusting development fees'or providing in-
centives to encourage the use -of
drought resistant plants in land-
���-��� scaping. An incentive to the developer
to install drought resistant land-
s df, scaping with a new home would probably
r,Y yY0,AE�JSt��r�' result in a very long term saving
since the type of landscaping usually
♦�, y ,,� �r��i� `*+t*Ovff is not changed, even though individual
Plants may be added or replaced. A developer is more likely
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to use a,. landscape architect to design the landscaping than
would an individual homeowner and would ,'sake the best use of
drought resistant plants.
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15. Technical Assistan
A water conservation ce
or coordinatorfshouldservation
Questions be designated from
the City staff to provide information
and answer questions raised by the -
public. The coordinator should be
familiar with the State and regional
• conservation efforts in addition to
T�•.r 4=440 City programs. Customers should be
made aware of the creation of the
Position and the number to call if
different from a general water service number used b
City. y the
16. Previous Year Use on Water Bills - dater bills
should show the water use for the same billing period the
previous year in addition to current
tl use. A comparison with a customers,
own past experience helps increase
awareness of water use patterns and
prevent a gradual increase in per
capita use. Some explanarion of this
new information may be necessary when
first implemented since other agenciis
have reported customer confusion on the meaning of the
item especially where use has increased and fear of new
exists. a penalty
17• S ecial Re ulatio
periods whens burin Emergencies - burin
n regional demands cannot b8
� e met due to droughts
A, or other conditions, special regu-
s lations should be enforced to reduce
aN �� N demand.
Customers should be required
to not use hoses for stashing down
f driveways and
of ��„ r other pared surfaces and
to irrigate lawns and other land -
he..
scaping during morning or`. evening
IZZ" hours where irrigation is b
con-
ventional overhead sprinkler s Y
yste�;.s. Restaurant; serve crater
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only on request by a customer. The first two regulations
represent good conservation practice which should be em--
phasized-im handout literature at all times. The restaurant
regulation is a good reminder of the need for special. conser-
vation. Regulations which restrict such use of water during
shortfall periods emphasize the seriousness of the need to
reduce demand during the emergency.
18. Information Program on AB 1150
mbly Bill
1150 providing for income tax credits for water econservation
systems, was signed into law in July 1980. Among other provi-
sions the bill provides for a State personal income tax credit
Of 55% on the cost of installing water conservation systems
on residences in California. The chapter of the Water Code
created by AB 1150 will remain in effect until January 1,
1983 unless extended. Rapid distribution of information on
the provisions will maximize the potential of the bill for
the region. The City should provide information to all its
customers an conservation systems eligible for such rebates
as soon as DWR completes the evaluation.
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RESULTS OF CONSERVpTrQH PRpCR:+;4
The &onservation program for the City of Carlsbad
builds cn past conservation efforts and includes public infor-
mation programs, installation of conservation devices, re-
vision of building codes, reduced landscape irrigation, and
emergency measures. Implementation of the program would allow
the City to remain within the projections of future water use
presented earlier. However, opportunities exist to produce
sufficient long term savings to reduce per capita demand.
Reduction in per capita water demands are very much
dependent on a reduction in irrigation of landscaping. Since
the installation of drought resistant
plants is cost effective on new homes
aft
and would reduce landscaping main-
tenance costs at the same time, their
r . ' use could be widely accepted as a
conservation approach. This measure
would require a significant educational
• �d` f&A,.S effort to get started, since few people
are aware of which plants are available or how they are used.
Such information must be made available as a new home is
being occupied to gain acceptance, since later conversion
of landscaping to drought resistant plants is far less cost
effective.
Other approaches which reduce indoor use are included
j and stressed in the plan. Past information efforts and the
expanded conservation effort during the drought probably
have accomplished much of what could be done in;reducing
indoor use. However, maintaining those gains through a con-
tinued information program will continue to be necessary
and new opportunities cannot be left untapped. The City will
recognize special opportunities for conserving water in ways
unique to the service area which also should be�'�implemented.
The result§ of implementing the recommended measures
by the City of Carlsbad could be expected to reduce demand by
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350 AF per year by the year 2000 kven if only modestly
c2�Siiii � es . 3ti..
More widespread acceptance of drought resistant
Plants could increase that total to 1,440 AF per year, equal
to about 8% of the projected increase in domestic demand in
the next 20 years.
The projected savings due to the measures to be imple-
mented by the City will be supported by regional conservation
efforts to be accomplished by Costa Real M.W.D. The varied
approaches are mutually supportive and some of the water
"v'"G9 acciGnOd to oithor of tho partiaipantc in tho arOA
actually would be a result of the efforts of both. The value
of a coordinated regional conservation program is shown more
clearly where a City and a water district together implement
a broader range of measures than either unit of government
could accomplish alone.
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