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CONSENT
CALENDAR |
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4. |
CONSIDER
AUTHORIZING GENERAL MANAGER TO CONTRACT WITH WATERWISE CONSULTING, INC. TO COMPLETE LANDSCAPE WATER AUDITS AND
BUDGETS |
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Meeting
Date: |
May 21, 2009 |
Budgeted: |
Yes |
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From: |
Darby
Fuerst, General
Manager |
Program/ |
Promote Best Management Practices |
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Line Item
No.: |
4-2-1 |
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Prepared
By: |
Stephanie Pintar |
Cost
Estimate: |
NTE $100,000 |
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General Counsel Approval: N/A |
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Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on May 13, 2009 and recommended approval. |
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CEQA Compliance:
N/A |
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SUMMARY:
MPWMD and California American Water collaborate to complete and update
Landscape Water Audits and Budgets required under Regulation XV, the Expanded
Water Conservation and Standby Rationing Plan.
MPWMD manages the contracts with the Certified Landscape Irrigation
Auditors (CLIA) and California American Water supplies the contractors with the
information necessary to schedule and complete the audits and budgets. All funding for the landscape auditor
contracts is reimbursable by California American Water. MPWMD expects to receive $475,000 over the
next three years to support this effort as part of the conservation budget
pending before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). MPWMD currently has $200,000 for
audits/budgets in the FY 2008-2009 budget.
Staff has identified a new source for CLIA to
assist with efforts to complete Landscape Water Audits and Budgets. WaterWise
Consulting, Inc., with offices in
WaterWise Consulting, Inc.,
has agreed to contract with MPWMD under the same terms and conditions as the
current contractors at a rate of $125/hour, which is reasonable and in keeping
with both industry standards and with the District’s current contract with
Pacific Water Management. District staff
has reviewed work products and references of the company and recommends WaterWise Consulting, Inc. for a contract to conduct
Landscape Water Audits and prepare Landscape Water Budgets. WaterWise
Consulting, Inc. is a reputable water conservation service provider who has
contracted for conservation work with other water purveyors and public agencies
such as Santa Clara Valley Water District, Casitas Municipal Water District,
Regional Water Authority (
RECOMMENDATION: When adopted with the Consent Calendar, the General Manager will be authorized to enter into contract with WaterWise Consulting, Inc., in an amount not-to-exceed $100,000 for the purpose of completing Landscape Water Audits and Landscape Water Budgets to comply with the requirements set forth in District Rule 161 and the procedures set forth in Rule 172.
IMPACT
TO STAFF/RESOURCES: Funding is
available through reimbursement by CAW through Special Request 7 (SR7) of the last General
Rate Case until the adoption of the conservation filing (A.07.12-010) pending
before the CPUC. Once approved by the
CPUC, the conservation surcharge currently pending MPWMD will receive $475,000
to comply with Rule 161 and 172.
BACKGROUND:
The District, in
partnership with California American Water (CAW), provides audits and landscape
water budgets free of charge to all water users of CAW 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 as required
by District Rule 172. Stage 2 Water Conservation (and higher stages) requires
implementation of Landscape Water Budgets to attain water reductions to stay
within the annual water use limit.
During Stage 2, all water users required to have a Landscape Water
Budget are required to manage outdoor irrigation within their budget. Use in excess of the established Landscape
Water Budget is considered Water Waste and is subject to Water Waste fees and
enforcement.
Since March 2008, MPWMD has managed contracts
with two CLIA for Landscape Water Audits and Budgets. The addition of a third contractor would aid
in completion of the audits. There are
currently over 400 California American Water customers needing water audits and
budgets, including Large Residential Water Users and dedicated irrigation meter
customers in the Bishop, Hidden Hills, and Ryan Ranch systems. Every Water Year, the list of customers is
revisited by California American Water to identify new additions and
deletions. Completion of these Landscape
Water Audits and Landscape Water Budgets is a goal acknowledged by MPWMD,
California American Water, CPUC’s Division of
Ratepayer Advocates, and the Administrative Law Judge assigned to the
conservation filing currently pending at the CPUC. To date, completion of audits/budgets has been
time-consuming due to a shortage of local CLIA and the length of time it takes
to schedule, conduct and complete audits and budgets.
EXHIBITS
None