The District conducted a water supply reliability analysis in
its 2020 Urban Water Management Plan for three scenarios for the planning
period of 2025 — 2045. The scenarios evaluated included a normal
year, a single dry-year, and five consecutive dry years (multiple
dry-year scenario). Because the District relies on the San Diego County
Water Authority (SDCWA) to meet demands that cannot be met using local
supplies (e.g., Lake Hodges, non-potable recycled water), the District’s
reliability analysis as described in its 2020 UWMP tiers off of SDCWA’s
reliability analysis included in the San Diego County Water
Authority 2020 Urban Water Management Plan.
SDCWA’s modeling found that demands across the region
are projected to increase between seven percent and nine percent over
normal year conditions in the single dry-year and multiple dry-year
scenarios evaluated for 2025 — 2045. The District’s reliability
analysis assumes that changes in regional demand stemming from dry
conditions would be experienced at similar rates at the local level
because dry conditions would generally be experienced across the entire
region. Supply availability during dry conditions varies depending
on the type of supply being considered. In SDCWA’s analysis,
groundwater and recycled water supplies are considered reliable under
all scenarios, while availability of surface water supplies, including
the District’s Lake Hodges, would decrease in the single and
multiple dry-year scenarios. As demand increases under dry conditions
and local supply availability decreases, member agency purchases from
SDCWA would increase. SDCWA’s analysis found that there would
be sufficient supplies available through local and imported sources,
or from storage, to meet demands across all of its member agencies
in all years of each scenario. As such, the District anticipates 100%
reliability under all scenarios as evaluated in the 2020 UWMP.
In addition to the water supply reliability analysis that considered
normal, single dry-year, and multiple dry-year scenarios over the
2025 — 2045 planning period, the District’s 2020 UWMP
included a Drought Risk Assessment (DRA) for the next five years (2021 —
2025). As with the supply reliability analysis, the District tiered
off of SDCWA’s DRA (included in San Diego County Water
Authority 2020 Urban Water Management Plan), because the
District would increase purchases from SDCWA to meet local demands
that cannot be met with Lake Hodges or recycled water. The DRA analysis
projected demand increases between eight percent and 25% over 2020
demands, based on the five driest consecutive years on record, which
were 2014 — 2018.
(Ord. 2021-01, adopted 5/19/21)
Beginning in 2022, pursuant to the new requirements discussed
in CWC 10632.1, water suppliers will be required to submit a water
supply and demand assessment report (annual assessment) to DWR on
or before July 1st of each year. The annual assessment will be used
to evaluate short-term water supply reliability for the upcoming fiscal
year and will discuss the District’s existing and projected
water supply sources (including imported water from SDCWA), unconstrained
customer demand, planned water use for the current year assuming that
the following year will be dry, infrastructure capabilities and constraints,
and any other local factors that may influence or disrupt water supplies.
Because the District purchases water from the SDCWA, the annual assessment
will be conducted in coordination with the SDCWA’s annual assessment.
As described in SDCWA’s San Diego County Water Authority
2020 Urban Water Management Plan, SDCWA’s annual assessment
will consider municipal and industrial supplies and projected demands,
which includes a wide range of uses, including residential demand
as well as commercial, industrial, and institutional use. SDCWA’s
short-term forecast model considers historic water demand patterns,
weather, local economic index, and anticipated conservation levels,
as well as member agency local supplies that may be affected by weather
or other factors.
The District will perform its water supply and demand assessment
annually in spring each year to assess short-term reliability for
the upcoming fiscal year. Results of the annual analysis will be discussed
in a report and presented to the District’s Board in June. If
the analysis projects a supply deficit, the Board will vote to determine
the appropriate shortage response level and associated actions necessary
to reduce demand to ensure adequate supply. Because the District will
coordinate its annual assessment with SDCWA’s annual assessment,
the timeline for conducting the District’s annual assessment
is based on the SDCWA’s timeline. The District’s timeline
for developing its annual assessment is presented in Table 29-1.
Table 29-1: Annual Assessment Process and Timeline
|
---|
Time Frame
|
Step
|
Action
|
---|
March - April
|
1(a)
|
District estimates available local supplies.
|
1(b)
|
District coordinates with SDCWA to gather necessary information
for SDCWA to conduct its wholesaler assessment.
|
April - May
|
2(a)
|
SDCWA announces member agency allocation determination for current
year.
|
2(b)
|
SDCWA determines carryover (and emergency storage apportionments
if under emergency).
|
2(c)
|
District conducts its annual assessment:
|
(i)
|
District determines total available supply — inclusive
of imported water supply.
|
(ii)
|
District determines infrastructure constraints (including water
quality conditions limiting local sources).
|
(iii)
|
District determines expected demand for current year and one
subsequent dry year, anticipated to be based on regional projections
from SDCWA.
|
(iv)
|
District compares supply and demand and makes a determination
of the water supply reliability.
|
June
|
3(a)
|
District Board of Directors (Encinitas City Council) reviews
and approves annual assessment determination.
|
3(b)
|
District coordinates with SDCWA on submittal of the report.
Annual assessment report to be submitted to the State by July 1.
|
NOTES:
|
---|
The process outlined above is provided as a guideline and may
be modified based on conditions present during the evaluation period.
|
(Ord. 2021-01, adopted 5/19/21)
The District’s WSCP is currently incorporated into its
Water Supply Shortage Response Program and will be replaced with this
WSCP to comply with State regulations. The WSCP is designed to establish
priorities and restrictions during various types of water shortages,
including 10% to greater than 50% reductions in water supply. The
WSCP specifies watering restrictions for outdoor irrigation (including
golf course, park, school, agriculture, and commercial uses), mobile
equipment washing, pool refilling, over-irrigation, and hardscape
maintenance.
The District’s WSCP establishes levels of water supply
shortage response actions to be implemented in times of anticipated
shortages. As discussed in the preceding section, the District sets
its drought response levels in accordance with drought response levels
determined by the SDCWA and defined in SDCWA’s Water Shortage
and Drought Response Plan. The District has developed this WSCP to
update its shortage response levels from four to six stages of action
to align its plan with the SDCWA’s levels and to comply with
CWC 10632(a)(3)(A). The District will recommend that the District
Board adopt this Plan in May 2021.
Upon activation of SDCWA’s drought response levels, its
Board of Directors will set forth a drought level, and the SDCWA will
encourage its member agencies to adopt similar drought levels. The
District’s six stages of actions (Levels 1 – 6), as shown
in Table 29-2, are a sequential, regulatory program of increasingly
stringent water use restrictions. When the District declares that
a particular shortage level is in effect, District customers must
comply with all regulations contained in the declared stage or face
a potential penalty.
Table 29-2: Water Shortage Contingency Plan Stages
DWR Table 8-1: Water Shortage Contingency Plan Levels
|
---|
Shortage Level
|
Percent Shortage Range
|
Water Shortage Condition
|
---|
1
|
Up to 10%
|
Includes voluntary water shortage actions to achieve demand
reductions, such as water before 10 a.m. and after 6 p m. for residential,
commercial, and nursery / commercial growers.
|
2
|
Up to 20%
|
Mandates the voluntary actions included under Level 1 and includes
additional measures focused on reducing outdoor water use such as
limiting landscape irrigation for residential and commercial properties
to 3 assigned days per week and imposing time limits for lawn watering
with sprinklers.
|
3
|
Up to 30%
|
Includes mandatory Levels 1 and 2 actions and additional actions
focused on reducing outdoor water use such as stop operating ornamental
fountains unless recycled water is used and further limiting the number
of assigned days per week for residential and commercial landscape
irrigation to 2 days (one day per week November through May). The
District will also suspend new potable water services and new temporary
and permanent meters unless the District provides a program to offset
new water demands equal to the new use. The District may also establish
a water allocation policy for properties served and suspend considerations
of annexations to its service area.
|
4
|
Up to 40%
|
Includes mandatory Levels 1, 2, and 3 actions and additional
water shortage actions such as preventing filling / refilling of ornamental
lakes or ponds (except to sustain aquatic life).
|
5
|
Up to 50%
|
Includes mandatory Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 actions and additional
actions focused on reducing outdoor water use such as prohibiting
all landscape irrigation (with exceptions for commercial growers,
nurseries, and other listed uses).
|
6
|
>50%
|
Includes mandatory Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 actions and additional
actions focused on reducing outdoor water use such as expanding prohibitions
on all landscape irrigation by removing several exclusions permitted
under Level 5.
|
The District will compare its projected local and imported water
supplies against its projected water demands. If the District’s
water supply and demand assessment anticipates that available supplies
will be less than projected demands, it will then determine the percentage
reduction in demands that is required to offset water supply shortages.
The District will trigger the appropriate shortage response stage
to achieve the required demand reductions, in conjunction with the
SDCWA and MWD.
The demand reduction actions associated with each of the District’s
six shortage levels are described in more detail in Section 29.3.1.
Section 29.3.1. Shortage Response Actions. Voluntary
or mandatory water use restrictions and prohibitions to be implemented
for each stage are discussed below and listed in Table 29-3.
(a) Water Shortage Response Level 1 (10% Reduction). Level 1 may apply
when there is a reasonable probability that there will be water supply
shortages and that a consumer demand reduction of up to 10% is required.
At this stage restrictions are voluntary, and the District would increase
its public education and outreach efforts to encourage customers to
take actions to conserve water. A Level 1 condition is declared by
the General Manager upon a written determination of the existence
of the facts and circumstances supporting the determination. Some
voluntary measures under Level 1 include stop hosing down paved surfaces,
stop runoff from landscape irrigation, wash vehicles with a hand-held
hose / shutoff nozzle or at a commercial site with re-circulated water,
provide restaurant water refills and hotel laundering only upon request,
use non-potable water for construction purposes when available, and
repair all leaks within five days of notification. At this stage,
residential and commercial customers and nursery and commercial growers
are encouraged to water before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. It is also
encouraged that re-circulated water is used to operate ornamental
fountains. Landscape irrigation restrictions do not apply to micro-irrigation
systems such as drip irrigation.
(b) Water Shortage Response Level 2 (20% Reduction). Level 2 may apply
when a consumer demand reduction of up to 20% is necessary. At this
stage, all of the voluntary water use reduction measures in Level
1 become mandatory and additional mandatory water use restrictions
are implemented. During a Level 2 condition, customers are also required
to repair all leaks within 72 hours of notification, stop operating
ornamental fountains or similar decorative water features unless re-circulated
or recycled water is used, limit residential and commercial landscape
irrigation to three assigned days per week, and limit lawn watering
to no more than 10 minutes per water station per assigned day. Landscape
irrigation restrictions do not apply to micro-irrigation systems such
as drip irrigation. The Level 2 condition shall be declared by the
District’s Board of Directors (Encinitas City Council).
Under Level 2 conditions, The District may also implement drought
rates at Level 2 and above.
(c) Water Shortage Response Level 3 (30% Reduction). Level 3 represents
an increased shortage up to 30% due to drought or other supply reductions.
At this stage, Level 1 and Level 2 restrictions apply and additional
mandatory prohibitions are established. Additional mandatory actions
established under Level 3 restrictions include further limiting residential
and commercial landscape irrigation to two assigned days per week
(no more than once per week November through May), requiring leak
repair within 48 hours of notification, stopping operation of ornamental
fountains or similar decorative water features unless recycled water
is used, and stopping all vehicle washing except at commercial car
washes that re-circulate water or by high pressure / low volume wash
systems. Landscape irrigation restrictions do not apply to micro-irrigation
systems such as drip irrigation. At Level 3 and above, the District
may establish a water allocation for any property served by the District
and will suspend considerations of annexations to its service area.
The District will also begin to implement water waste monitoring and
may assess penalties and fines for violations. Restrictions and prohibitions
against specific water use practices associated with each level, and
penalties for violation, are discussed in Section 29.6.
(d) Water Shortage Response Level 4 (40% Reduction). Level 4 is implemented
when a consumer demand reduction of up to 40% is necessary. At this
stage, Level 1 through Level 3 restrictions apply and additional mandatory
prohibitions are established. Additional mandatory actions established
under Level 4 restrictions include stopping filling or refilling of
ornamental lakes and ponds (except to the extent needed to sustain
aquatic life). Landscape irrigation restrictions do not apply to micro-irrigation
systems such as drip irrigation. At Level 4 and above, the District
will suspend new potable water services and new temporary or permanent
meters within the District’s service area unless the District
establishes a program to offset the new potable water demands. The
District will also begin to implement water waste enforcement and
will assess penalties and fines for violation starting at Level 4.
(e) Water Shortage Response Level 5 (50% Reduction). Level 5 is implemented
when a consumer demand reduction of up to 50% is necessary. At this
stage, Level 1 through Level 4 restrictions apply and additional mandatory
prohibitions are established. Additional mandatory actions established
under Level 5 restrictions include stopping all landscape irrigation
with the exception of crops and landscape products of commercial growers
and nurseries and other listed exceptions (trees and shrubs watered
by bucket / hand-held hose / positive shut-off nozzle / low-volume
non-spray irrigation, fire protection, erosion control, rare or essential
plant materials, public parks / day care centers / school grounds
/ cemeteries / golf course greens not exceeding two days per week,
livestock water, public works projects, and actively irrigated environmental
mitigation projects) and requiring leak repair within 24 hours of
notification. Landscape irrigation restrictions do not apply to micro-irrigation
systems such as drip irrigation.
(f) Water Shortage Response Level 6 (Greater Than 50% Reduction). Level
6 is implemented when a consumer demand reduction of greater than
50% is necessary. At this stage, Level 1 through Level 5 restrictions
apply and additional mandatory prohibitions are established. Additional
mandatory actions established under Level 6 restrictions include further
limiting the exceptions to the Level 5 landscape irrigation prohibitions
to only include crops and landscape products of commercial growers
and nurseries and other listed exceptions (fire protection, erosion
control, rare or essential plant materials, livestock water, public
works projects, and actively irrigated environmental mitigation projects).
Landscape irrigation restrictions do not apply to micro-irrigation
systems such as drip irrigation.
Table 29-3: Shortage Response Actions by Stage
DWR Table 8-2: Demand Reduction Actions
|
---|
Shortage Level
|
Demand Reduction Actions
|
Shortage Gap Reduction
|
Additional Explanation or Reference (optional)
|
Penalty, Charge, or Other Enforcement?
|
---|
1
|
Other - Prohibit use of potable water for washing hard surfaces
|
1%
|
|
No
|
1
|
Landscape - Restrict or prohibit runoff from landscape irrigation
|
0.1%
|
|
No
|
1
|
Other - Prohibit vehicle washing; except at facilities using
recycled or recirculating water
|
1%
|
Wash vehicles with hand-held hose / shut-off nozzle and bucket
or at a commercial site with re-circulating water.
|
No
|
1
|
Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to specific times
|
3%
|
Irrigate residential and commercial landscape before 10 a.m.
and after 6 p.m. only. Nursery and commercial growers irrigate before
10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. only.
|
No
|
1
|
Other
|
1%
|
Vehicles must be washed using a bucket, hand-held hose with
positive shut-off nozzle, or at a commercial site that re-circulated
water.
|
No
|
1
|
CII - Restaurants may only serve water upon request
|
0.1%
|
|
No
|
1
|
CII - Lodging establishment must offer opt out of linen service
|
0.1%
|
|
No
|
1
|
Other - Customers must repair leaks, breaks, and malfunctions
in a timely manner
|
1%
|
Repair all leaks within 5 days of detection or notification
by the District.
|
No
|
1
|
Other - Prohibit use of potable water for construction and dust
control
|
< 0.1%
|
When recycled / non-potable water is available.
|
No
|
1
|
Other
|
Variable
|
Comply with any mandatory regulations established by any State
agency governing the use of water.
|
No
|
1
|
Water features - Restrict water use for decorative water features,
such as fountains
|
1%
|
Use re-circulated water or recycled water to operate ornamental
fountains.
|
No
|
1
|
Expand public information campaign
|
1%
|
|
No
|
1
|
Implement or modify drought rate structure or surcharge
|
2%
|
May implement drought rate structure.
|
No
|
2
|
Other - Prohibit use of potable water for washing hard surfaces
|
1%
|
|
Yes
|
2
|
Landscape - Restrict or prohibit runoff from landscape irrigation
|
0.1%
|
|
Yes
|
2
|
Other - Prohibit vehicle washing except at facilities using
recycled or re-circulating water
|
1%
|
Wash vehicles with hand-held hose / shut-off nozzle and bucket
or at a commercial site with re-circulating water.
|
Yes
|
2
|
Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to specific times
|
3%
|
Irrigate residential and commercial landscape before 10 a.m.
and after 6 p.m. only. Nursery and commercial growers irrigate before
10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. only.
|
Yes
|
2
|
Other
|
1%
|
Vehicles must be washed using a bucket, hand-held hose with
positive shut-off nozzle, or at a commercial site that re-circulated
water.
|
Yes
|
2
|
CII - Restaurants may only serve water upon request
|
0.1%
|
|
Yes
|
2
|
CII - Lodging establishment must offer opt out of linen service
|
0.1%
|
|
Yes
|
2
|
Other - Customers must repair leaks, breaks, and malfunctions
in a timely manner
|
1%
|
Repair all leaks within 72 hours of detection or notification
by the District.
|
Yes
|
2
|
Other - Prohibit use of potable water for construction and dust
control
|
< 0.1%
|
When recycled / non-potable water is available
|
Yes
|
2
|
Other
|
Variable
|
Comply with any mandatory regulations established by any State
agency governing the use of water.
|
Yes
|
2
|
Water features - Restrict water use for decorative water features
such as fountains
|
1%
|
Stop operation unless re-circulated or recycled water is used.
|
Yes
|
2
|
Expand public information campaign
|
5%
|
|
Yes
|
2
|
Implement or modify drought rate structure or surcharge
|
2%
|
May implement drought rate structure.
|
Yes
|
2
|
Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to specific days
|
8%
|
No more than 3 assigned days per week.
|
Yes
|
2
|
Landscape - Other landscape restriction or prohibition
|
3%
|
Limit watering using sprinklers to no more than 10 minutes per
watering station per assigned day.
|
Yes
|
3
|
Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to specific days
|
18%
|
No more than 2 assigned days per week (no more than once per
week November to May).
|
Yes
|
3
|
Other - Customers must repair leaks, breaks, and malfunctions
in a timely manner
|
2%
|
Repair all leaks within 48 hours of detection or notification
by the District.
|
Yes
|
3
|
Other
|
Variable
|
Suspend considerations of annexations to the service area.
|
Yes
|
3
|
Other
|
Variable
|
May establish a water allocation policy.
|
Yes
|
3
|
Water features - Restrict water use for decorative water features,
such as fountains
|
1%
|
Stop operation unless recycled water is used.
|
Yes
|
3
|
Other - Prohibit vehicle washing except at facilities using
recycled or recirculating water
|
1%
|
Stop washing vehicles except at commercial carwashes that re-circulate
water, or by high pressure / low volume wash systems.
|
Yes
|
4
|
Water features - Restrict water use for decorative water features,
such as fountains
|
1%
|
Stop filling or refilling ornamental lakes or ponds, except
to the extent needed to sustain aquatic life.
|
Yes
|
4
|
Moratorium or net zero demand increase on new connections
|
Variable
|
Suspend new potable water services and new temporary and permanent
meters unless the District provides a program to offset new potable
water demands.
|
Yes
|
5
|
Other - Customers must repair leaks, breaks, and malfunctions
in a timely manner
|
4%
|
Repair all leaks within 24 hour of detection or notification
by the District.
|
Yes
|
5
|
Landscape - Prohibit all landscape irrigation
|
26%
|
With the exception of crops and landscape products of commercial
growers and nurseries and other noted exceptions (trees and shrubs
watered by bucket / handheld hose / positive shut-off nozzle / low-volume
nonspray irrigation, fire protection, erosion control, rare or essential
plant materials, public parks / day care centers / school grounds
/ cemeteries / golf course greens not exceeding 2 days per week, livestock
water, public works projects, and actively irrigated environmental
mitigation projects).
|
Yes
|
6
|
Landscape - Prohibit all landscape irrigation
|
30%
|
With the exception of crops and landscape products of commercial
growers and nurseries and other noted exceptions (fire protection,
erosion control, rare or essential plant materials, livestock water,
public works projects, and actively irrigated environmental mitigation
projects.
|
Yes
|
6
|
Moratorium or net zero demand increase on new connections
|
Variable
|
Suspend new potable water services and new temporary and permanent
meters.
|
Yes
|
NOTES:
|
---|
Mandatory water shortage restrictions enforced in previous stages
also apply to the current stage unless the current stage includes
an equivalent action to reflect stricter measures, in which case the
stricter measure would apply.
|
(Ord. 2021-01, adopted 5/19/21)
The District has taken significant steps to ensure it is prepared
for catastrophic water supply interruption, including implementing
local measures to increase supply reliability, developing planning
documents that outline contingency actions, and coordinating with
the SDCWA and other member agencies.
(a) Local Supply Reliability Measures. In addition to water demand reductions
that would be implemented during a catastrophic supply interruption,
the District maintains partial ownership of the Badger Plant and access
to substantial raw water reserves. The District also has access to
potable water SDCWA connection and numerous emergency interconnections
with OMWD. The District installed an additional emergency interconnection
with OWMD at Manchester Avenue in 2013 to ensure sufficient water
for fire protection and to add redundancy to the District’s
water system. Construction of a parallel 54-inch transmission supply
pipeline from the R.E. Badger Filtration Plant to SDWD’s water
system also increased reliability and redundancy of the District’s
supplies.
Three active water reservoirs utilized for storage of water
supplies are located within the District, two of which the District
has full ownership of (Balour Reservoir and the Encinitas Ranch Reservoir).
The District shares ownership of the Badger Clearwell and the Wanket
Tank; however, the Wanket Tank is currently out of service.
The City of Encinitas has also adopted the National Incident
Management System (NIMS), which establishes procedures and training
programs for emergency response.
(b) Emergency Response Plan. The District is currently updating its Emergency
Response Plan pursuant to Section 2013(b) of the American Water Infrastructure
Act (AWIA) of 2018, which requires that community water suppliers
serving populations greater than 3,300 develop or update an Emergency
Response Plan that incorporates the findings of their risk and resilience
assessments. The District’s Emergency Response Plan is expected
to be completed by December 2021.
(c) Emergency Storage Project and Supply Reliability. In order to provide
sufficient emergency water storage to supply to its member agencies
during an extended period, the SDCWA implemented the Emergency Storage
Project (ESP) in 2014. The ESP is a system of reservoirs, pipelines,
pump stations, and other conveyance facilities intended to improve
San Diego’s regional water storage capacity and allow stored
emergency water to be delivered to SDCWA’s member agencies within
San Diego County during a prolonged regional interruption. The pipelines
that carry imported water from MWD to San Diego cross several major
fault lines on their way to San Diego County. Consequently, an earthquake,
drought, or other disaster could interrupt San Diego County’s
imported water supply for up to six months. The ESP facilities can
be used to help deliver emergency water supplies to member agencies
during twoand six-month emergency events in which the region is either
completely unable or only partially able to receive imported water
deliveries due to a disaster that renders their transmission system
inoperable. By providing interconnections within regional facilities,
the ESP is designed to make water available to the San Diego region
even during catastrophic conditions when there is an interruption
in imported water deliveries.
The regional emergency water supply reservoirs (with their ESP
capacity) are Olivenhain (18,000 AF), Lake Hodges (20,000 AF), and
San Vicente (52,100 AF). The actual amount of ESP water to be delivered
to a particular member agency during an emergency event will depend
on many factors such as member agency demands, local supplies, infrastructure,
availability of MWD supplies, and duration of emergency. The ESP was
designed to provide a total of 90,100 AF of stored water to meet the
region’s emergency needs through at least 2030 and recent trends
in regional water demand indicate this volume of emergency storage
will serve the region beyond 2045. SDCWA’s Board of Directors
may also authorize that supplies from the ESP be used in a prolonged
drought or other water shortage situations where imported and local
supplies do not meet 75% of the SDCWA’s member agencies urban
demands.
As discussed in the District’s 2020 UWMP (Chapter
6 – Water Supply Reliability Assessment), the SDCWA anticipates that it will have more than enough available supply to meet its own demands and the demands of its member agencies under a five-year multi-year drought scenario. Therefore, if the District anticipates that its available local surface water supply (Lake Hodges) will be less than projected, the District can augment supply and offset the anticipated deficit by purchasing more water from the SDCWA.
(d) Seismic Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan. CWC 10632.5 requires
an urban water supplier to include within its UWMP a seismic risk
assessment and mitigation plan to assess the vulnerability of each
of the various facilities of a water system and mitigate those vulnerabilities.
Pursuant to CWC 10632.5(c), an urban water supplier may comply with
this requirement by submitting a copy of the most recently adopted
multi-hazard mitigation plan under the Federal Disaster Mitigation
Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390) if the multi-hazard mitigation plan
addresses seismic risk.
Attachment A (attached to the ordinance codified in this article
and incorporated by reference) includes a copy of Section 4.3.4 of
the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan for San Diego County (MHM Plan),
which addresses seismic risk, as well as Section 5.8 of the MHM Plan
which summarizes the potential hazards for the City of Encinitas and
related goals, objectives, and actions. The MHM Plan was prepared
with input from the Water Authority and under the Federal Disaster
Mitigation Act of 2000.
(Ord. 2021-01, adopted 5/19/21)
Upon a water shortage declaration action by the General Manager
(Level 1), the District will increase its public education and outreach
efforts to emphasize increased public awareness of the need to implement
the voluntary water conservation practices. Upon a water shortage
declaration action by the Board of Directors (Levels 2 — 6),
the District will expand its public information campaign to notify
the public of the mandatory water conservation measures. The District
would need to provide notice of the water shortage rules and regulations
to all residents and businesses within its service area in the City
of Encinitas, in addition to its customers of record, through a variety
of media and communications methods, such as print or internet.
Upon declaration of a Level 1 shortage, the General Manager
may publish a notice of the determination in one or more newspapers,
including a newspaper of general circulation within the District.
Upon declaration of a Level 2 — 6 shortage or Water Shortage
Emergency, the District shall coordinate with the City Manager of
the City of Encinitas and shall publish a copy or summary of the resolution
in a newspaper used for publication of official notices at least one
time within five days of the declaration. If the District establishes
a water allocation under Water Shortage Response Levels 4 —
6, the District shall provide notice of the allocation by including
it in the regular billing statement for water service fees or charges
or by any other mailing to the address to which the SDWD customarily
mails the billing statement for fees or charges for ongoing water
service. Upon declaration of any water shortage condition level, the
District may also post notice on its website.
If possible, the District should activate its public information
campaign prior to a formal water shortage declaration to provide customers
with advanced notice of impending water use restrictions. The District
could continually update its webpage to notify residents of current
and planned shortage levels and modify and expand the webpage, as
necessary. During the recent drought, the District utilized bill inserts
to inform its customers of water shortage levels and the associated
mandatory demand reduction actions. Other actions that suppliers may
take to increase public outreach are contacting large water users
and businesses that are most likely to be seriously affected directly
in writing and/or providing public notifications for non-English speakers.
Because the District aligns its water shortage response levels
with the SDCWA, public outreach and messaging campaigns conducted
by SDCWA will also benefit the District as it triggers different levels.
(Ord. 2021-01, adopted 5/19/21)
Any person who uses, causes, or permits the use of water in
violation of the District’s WSCP is guilty of an offense punishable
as established by the provisions of Article 29. Each day that a violation
of this article occurs is counted as a separate offense. Violation
of Article 29 may result in issuance of a warning notice, fines, restriction
of service, and / or discontinuance of service. Administrative fines
may be levied for each violation of a provision of this article as
shown in Table 29-4.
Violation of a provision of Article 29 is also subject to enforcement
through installation of a flow-restricting device on the meter. Each
willful violation of this article may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor
punishable by imprisonment in the County Jail for not more than 30
days and/or a fine not exceeding $1,000, as authorized in CWC Section
377. A willful and excessive violation of the mandatory conservation
measures and water use restrictions as set forth in Section 29.3 may
result in a discontinuance of service.
Table 29-4: Penalties for Violation of Article 29
|
---|
Violation
|
Penalty
|
---|
First Violation
|
Warning (at sole discretion of General Manager)
|
Second Violation
|
$100 fine
|
Third Violation
|
$200 fine
|
Fourth Violation (and each additional violation)
|
$500 fine
|
NOTES:
|
---|
Within the current twelve-month period from the most recent
violation.
|
Customers can also report water waste using the District’s
telephone hotline by calling 760-633-2810.
(Ord. 2021-01, adopted 5/19/21)
In addition to water use restrictions and prohibitions, the
District implements consumption reduction methods to reduce water
demands within its service area. When a Level 1 condition is declared,
the District will expand its public education and outreach efforts
to increase public awareness of the need to implement water conservation
practices. The District will continue to increase public outreach
and engagement efforts as needed upon triggering progressive water
shortage levels.
The District, in conjunction with local agencies and MWD, offers
several ongoing rebate and incentive programs to help its customers
reduce water use, which in turn help the District reach its targeted
water use reductions. Actions taken by the District to reduce demands
during each shortage stage are presented in Table 29-5. The District’s
consumption reduction methods, including rebate and incentive programs,
are discussed in more detail in the District’s UWMP.
Table 29-5: Supply Augmentation and Other Actions
DWR Table 8-3: Supply Augmentation and Other Actions
|
---|
Shortage Level
|
Supply Augmentation Methods and Other Actions by Water Supplier
|
Shortage Gap Reduction
|
Additional Explanation or Reference (optional)
|
---|
All Levels
|
Increase Water Waste Patrols
|
5%
|
Water waste monitoring and/or enforcement.
|
All Levels
|
Expand Public Information Campaign
|
5%
|
|
All Levels
|
Offer Water Use Surveys
|
Variable
|
|
All Levels
|
Provide Rebates on Plumbing Fixtures and Devices
|
Variable
|
|
All Levels
|
Provide Rebates for Landscape Irrigation Efficiency
|
Variable
|
|
All Levels
|
Provide Rebates for Turf Replacement
|
Variable
|
|
All Levels
|
Decrease Line Flushing
|
Variable
|
|
All Levels
|
Reduce System Water Loss
|
< 1%
|
District’s water losses are already very good compared
to the water industry average (approximately 3% of total demand).
|
Level 2—6
|
Implement or Modify Drought Rate Structure or Surcharge
|
2%
|
May implement drought rates.
|
Levels 2—6
|
Other
|
5%
|
Customer billing inserts describing water shortage response
actions.
|
Levels 3—6
|
Other
|
Variable
|
The District may establish a water allocation for any property
it serves.
|
Levels 3—6
|
Other
|
Variable
|
The District may suspend consideration of annexations to its
service area.
|
Levels 4—6
|
Moratorium or Net Zero Demand Increase on New Connections
|
Variable
|
Suspends new potable water services and new temporary and permanent
meters unless the District provides a program to offset new potable
water demands (this exception does not apply to Level 6).
|
(Ord. 2021-01, adopted 5/19/21)
The District has the legal authority to implement and enforce
its Water Shortage Contingency Plan. California Constitution Article
X, Section 2 and CWC Section 100 provide that water must be put to
beneficial use, the waste or unreasonable use or unreasonable method
of use of water shall be prevented, and the conservation of water
is to be exercised with a view to the reasonable and beneficial use
thereof in the interest of the people and the public welfare. In addition,
CWC Section 375 provides the District with the statutory authority
to adopt and enforce water conservation restrictions, and CWC Section
350 et seq., authorize the District to declare a water shortage emergency
and impose water conservation measures when it determines that the
District may not be able to satisfy ordinary demands without depleting
supplies to an insufficient level.
If necessary, the District shall declare a water shortage emergency in according with CWC Chapter
3 (commencing with Section 350) of Division 1. Once having declared a water shortage, the District is provided with broad powers to implement and enforce regulations and restrictions for managing a water shortage. For example: CWC Section 375(a) provides:
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, any public entity
which supplies water at retail or wholesale for the benefit of persons
within the service area or area of jurisdiction of the public entity
may, by ordinance or resolution adopted by a majority of the members
of the governing body after holding a public hearing upon notice and
making appropriate findings of necessity for the adoption of a water
conservation program, adopt and enforce a water conservation program
to reduce the quantity of water used by those persons for the purpose
of conserving the water supplies of the public entity.
(CWC Section 375(a).) CWC Section 375(b) grants the District
with the authority to set prices to encourage water conservation.
Under California law, including CWC Chapters 3.3 and 3.5 of
Division 1, Parts 2.55 and 2.6 of Division 6, Division 13, and Article
X, Section 2 of the California Constitution, the District is authorized
to implement the water shortage actions outlined in this WSCP. In
water shortage cases, shortage response actions to be implemented
will be at the discretion of the District and will be based on an
assessment of the supply shortage, customer response, and need for
demand reductions as outlined in this WSCP.
It is noted that upon proclamation by the Governor of a state of emergency under the California Emergency Services Act (Chapter
7 (commencing with Section 8550) of Division 1 of Title
2 of the
Government Code) based on drought conditions, the state will defer to implementation of locally adopted water shortage contingency plans to the extent practicable.
(Ord. 2021-01, adopted 5/19/21)
The methods for determining actual water use reductions are
implemented on an ongoing basis. All water received from the SDCWA
is metered and monitored. Additionally, the District is fully metered.
The meters measure and record the water used by each connection within
its service area and keeps good records of the water meter readings.
Water use from all customers can be retrieved from these historical
water meter records. The District also regularly performs meter accuracy
testing and meter replacement to ensure the accuracy of meter readings.
When water use restrictions are in place, and specifically when water
allocations have been implemented, the District closely monitors water
use to ensure compliance with restrictions and to verify that customers
are not exceeding their set allocations. Because the District collects
water use data on a regularly scheduled basis as part of its customer
billing process, it can calculate a baseline to compare to current
water use during times of drought, which can then be used to estimate
actual reductions in water use. If the trend in consumption is such
that demand is greater than anticipated supply, the Board of Directors
will be notified so that corrective action (such as increased publicity
and enforcement or consideration of declaring the next higher stage)
can be taken.
(Ord. 2021-01, adopted 5/19/21)
The District’s WSCP is a living document and will need
to be responsive to the effectiveness of conservation measures in
the midst of a water shortage. The District will analyze monthly monitoring
data and convene the Board of Directors to determine if adaptive measures
need to be taken to achieve the necessary shortage reduction levels.
In the case that the water shortage response measures are not working
as planned, the District will add new actions or refine current actions
to achieve greater savings. Measures from a higher stage could be
adopted into the current stage, such as requiring leak repairs within
24 hours for Stages 3 and 4 rather than 48 hours. When updates are
needed, the District will coordinate with all appropriate City of
Encinitas Departments to refine the plan and provide updated information
and measures to the Board of Directors for approval.
(Ord. 2021-01, adopted 5/19/21)
In the event of a water shortage emergency, the District’s
WSCP would be activated to respond to the applicable level of the
shortage. With the activation of the District’s drought policies,
the drought response stage water conservation measures would go into
effect and the District would be operating with reduced water sales.
The amount of decreased water sales would depend on the drought response
stage under which the District would be operating.
With the implementation of the water conservation measures associated
with the drought response levels, the District may incur additional
expenses. Some of these additional expenditures may come from increased
staffing, increased staff time needed to implement measures, or increased
costs of new supplies, transfers, or exchanges (by either the District
or the SDCWA). Increased expenses may be recovered by implementing
demand reduction rates (drought rates), volumetric penalties, and
civil penalties. When allocations are implemented, any person that
uses water in excess of the allocation shall be subject to a penalty
in the amount of twice the District’s existing customers class
commodity rate if under 115% of the allocation and four times the
District’s existing customers class commodity rate if over 115%
in excess of the allocation. The penalty for excess water usage shall
be cumulative to any other remedy or penalty that may be imposed for
violation of Article 29, as discussed in Section 29.6. Additionally,
the District may use reserve funds or defer non-critical maintenance
or projects to help reduce expenses in the face of reduced water sales
during a water shortage emergency or to reallocate staff efforts to
support drought response actions.
The price of water is increasing, both as a commodity and with
an overall decrease in available supplies. If necessary, the District’s
water rates would be adjusted in response to the increasing cost of
water. Adjustments to the District’s rate structure may offset
potential losses in revenue due to reduced sales. The District is
currently in the process of conducting a rate study in accordance
with Proposition 218 and plans to coordinate this rate study with
any rate adjustments associated with this article.
(Ord. 2021-01, adopted 5/19/21)
The District uses the term “ornamental” when referring
to water features that are artificially supplied with water and are
not swimming pools or spas (e.g., ornamental fountains, ornamental
pond, ornamental like), as well as the term “decorative water
feature.” Table 29-3 specifies shortage response actions that
are applicable to these ornamental water features, distinct from pools
or spas. Water shortage response actions also distinguish between
ornamental water features and artificial water features that support
aquatic life or livestock in the action itself.
(Ord. 2021-01, adopted 5/19/21)