ITEM:

INFORMATIONAL ITEM/STAFF REPORTS

 

20.

WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM REPORT  

 

Meeting Date:
April 16, 2012

Budgeted: 

N/A

 

From:

David J. Stoldt,

Program/

N/A

 

General Manager

Line Item No.:

 

Prepared By:

Michael Boles

Cost Estimate:

N/A

 

General Counsel Review:  N/A

Committee Recommendation:  N/A

CEQA Compliance:  N/A

 

I.       MANDATORY WATER CONSERVATION RETROFIT PROGRAM

District Regulation XIV requires the retrofit of water fixtures upon Change of Ownership or Use with Ultra-Low Flush Toilets (ULF) (1.6 gallons-per-flush), 2.0 gallons-per-minute (gpm) Showerheads, 2.2 gpm faucet aerators, and Rain Sensors on all automatic Irrigation Systems.  Property owners must certify the Site meets the District’s water efficiency standards by submitting a Water Conservation Certification Form (WCC), and a Site inspection is often conducted to verify compliance. 

 

A.    Changes of Ownership

Information is obtained weekly from Realquest.com on properties transferring ownership within the District.  The information is entered into the database and compared against the properties that have submitted WCCs.  Details on 125 property transfers that occurred in March 2012 were entered into the database.  

 

B.     Certification

The District received 60 WCCs between March 1 and March 31, 2012.  Data on ownership, transfer date, and status of water efficiency standard compliance were entered into the database.

 

C.     Verification

In March, 115 inspections were performed to verify compliance with Rule 144 (Retrofit Upon Change of Ownership or Use).  Of the 115 inspections performed, 85 (74%) were in compliance.  Four of the properties that passed inspection involved more than one visit to verify compliance with all water efficiency standards.

 

District inspectors have also been tracking toilet replacement with High Efficiency Toilets (HET) in place of ULF toilets.  These retrofits are occurring in remodels and new construction, and are the toilet of choice for Rule 144 compliance.  State law mandates the sale and installation of HET by January 1, 2014, with a phase-in period that began in 2010.  The majority of toilets sold in California are HET.

Savings Estimate

Water savings from ULF retrofits triggered by Rule 144 verified in March 2012 are estimated at 0.320 acre-feet annually (AFA).  Water savings from retrofits that exceeded requirements (i.e., Ultra-Low Flush Toilets to HET) is estimated at 0.420 AFA (42 toilets).  Year-to-date estimated savings occurring as a result of toilet retrofits is 2.086 AFA.

 

  1. Water Waste Response

There were no Water Waste complaints reported by the public. Staff made several verbal contacts in the field after observing Water Waste.  Follow-up letters are sent as needed to respond to Water Waste.

 

II.    WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT

 

A.    Permit Processing

District Rule 23 requires a Water Permit application for all properties that propose to Expand or modify water use on a Site, including New Construction and Remodels.  District staff processed and issued 38 Water Permits in March 2012.  Three Water Permits were issued using Water Entitlements (Macomber, Pebble Beach Company, Griffin Estates, Quail Meadows, Water West, etc).  No Water Permits involved a debit to a Public Water Credit Account. 

 

All Water Permit Applicants have received a disclaimer informing them of the Cease and Desist Order against California American Water and that MPWMD reports Water Permit details to California American Water.  Disclaimers will continue to be provided to all Water Permit recipients with property supplied by a California American Water Distribution System.

 

District Rule 24-3-A allows the addition of a second Bathroom in an existing Single-Family Dwelling on a Single-Family Residential Site. Of the 38 Water Permits issued in March, two were issued under this provision.

 

B.     Permit Compliance

District staff completed 58 Water Permit final inspections during March 2012.  Eleven of the final inspections failed due to unpermitted fixtures. Of the 44 properties that were in compliance, 41 passed on the first visit. In addition, eight pre-inspections were conducted in response to Water Permit applications received by the District.

 

C.     Deed Restrictions

District staff prepares deed restrictions that are recorded on the property title to provide notice of District Rules and Regulations, enforce Water Permit conditions, and provide notice of public access to water records.  In March 2001, the District Board of Directors adopted a policy regarding the processing of deed restrictions.  In the month of March, the District prepared 26 deed restrictions.  Of the 38 Water Permits issued in March, 13 (34%) required deed restrictions.  District staff provided deed restriction Notary services for 35 Water Permit Applicants.      

 

III.  JOINT MPWMD/CAW REBATE PROGRAM

 

Rebate funding for customers of California American Water was depleted on May 18, 2011. The Cal-Am Rebate Program will continue when additional funding is available. The Rebate Program for non-California American Water Company customers, including Seaside Municipal Water District customers, will continue until funding is depleted.

 

There were no Rebate applications received for March 2012.

 

 

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