WATER DEMAND COMMITTEE
ITEM:		ACTION ITEM
3.	REVIEW CONCEPT FOR PERMITTING MOBILE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
Meeting Date:			April 18, 2013	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Stephanie Pintar	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Review: To be completed prior to first reading
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: District Rule 20 requires a permit for Mobile Water Distribution Systems (i.e., ). District staff has been issuing short (two months with two possible extensions) and long-term permits, although the rules are not specific about what information is to be obtained prior to issuing a permit, nor does it speak to the term of the permit. Staff recommends a process be added to Rules 22 and 23 to codify the existing procedures for obtaining a Mobile Water Distribution System Permit (long term and short term) or a temporary hydrant meter.

The permits most issued by MPWMD are for hydrant meters in the Cal-Am system that are used for construction, special events, road construction/repair, street cleaning, sewer cleaning, dust control, and flushing wells. Staff has been issuing hydrant permits for three months that can be extended twice before having the applicant reapply. Staff recommends there be two permit for hydrant meters in the Cal-Am systems, a short-term permit and a long term hydrant permit. The short term permit would be issued for six months, with one possible extension. The longer-term permit would allow use two years and would require the applicant to provide information about where and how the water is being used and whether there are potential alternate sources available. Staff recommends a fee for each type of permit based on the staff time involved with processing and monitoring the permits and that this process be added to Rule 23.

A second type of Mobile Water Distribution System permit is for water that is transported into the District from an outside source, or from a source of supply that is not restricted within the District, to supply the water needs of a resident/business. An example is a recent Mobile Water Distribution System Permit to truck water in for a swimming pool at a property that is supplied by Cal-Am. This type of permit requires additional review and should be processed as a Water Distribution System (Rule 22).

Fortunately, the total use of hydrant meters is small in the context of overall consumption. During the past two years, hydrant meters have amounted to about half an acre-foot of use per year. The cost of hydrant water is relatively inexpensive, $1.61 per unit in the Cal-Am system. Future efforts should be made to develop standpipes that could be used to fill water trucks with sub-potable water.

RECOMMENDATION: The Water Demand Committee should discuss the types of permits needed for Mobile Water Distribution Systems and provide direction to staff. Staff recommends these provisions be added to Rules 22 and 23 in the ordinance discussed under the previous item.

EXHIBIT

None

U:\staff\Board_Committees\WaterDemand\2013\20130418\03\item3.docx