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Main Basin - Description
The Main San Gabriel Basin is located within the San Gabriel Valley, which is located in southeastern Los Angeles County and is bounded on the north by the San Gabriel Mountains; on the west by the San Rafael and Merced Hills, on the south by the Puente Hills and the San Jose Hills, and on the east by a low divide between the San Gabriel River system and the Upper Santa Ana River system, as shown on Figure 3.
The San Gabriel River and its distributary, the Rio Hondo, drain an area of about 490 square miles upstream of Whittier Narrows. Whittier Narrows is a low gap between the Merced and Puente Hills, just northwest of the City of Whittier, through which the San Gabriel River and the Rio Hondo flow to the coastal plain of Los Angeles County. Whittier Narrows is a natural topographic divide and a subsurface restriction to the movement of groundwater between the Main Basin and the Coastal Plain. The approximately 490 square miles of drainage area upstream of Whittier Narrows consists of about 167 square miles of valley lands and about 323 square miles of mountains and foothills.
The Main Basin includes essentially the entire valley floor of the San Gabriel Valley with the exception of the Raymond Basin and Puente Basin. The boundaries of the Main Basin are the Raymond Basin on the northwest, the base of the San Gabriel Mountains on the north, the groundwater divide between San Dimas and La Verne and the lower boundary of the Puente Basin on the east, and the common boundaries between Upper Water and Central District through Whittier Narrows on the southwest. The common water supply of the Main Basin does not include the Raymond Basin, the area northerly of Raymond Hill Fault, which was adjudicated in the Pasadena v. Alhambra case (Superior Court of the County of Los Angeles, 1944). The Puente Basin, although tributary to the Main Basin, is not included in the Main Basin administered by the Main Basin Watermaster.
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The Main Basin (administered by the Main Basin Watermaster) is a large groundwater basin replenished by stream runoff from the adjacent mountains and hills, by rainfall directly on the surface of the valley floor, subsurface inflow from Raymond Basin and Puente Basin, and by return flow from water applied for overlying uses. Additionally, the Main Basin is replenished with imported water. The Main Basin serves as a natural storage reservoir, transmission system and filtering medium for wells constructed therein.
There are three municipal wholesale water districts overlying and/or partially overlying the Main Basin. The three districts are Upper Water, San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (SGVMWD), and TVMWD.
Urbanization of the San Gabriel Valley began in the early part of the twentieth century, but until the 1940s, agricultural land use occupied more area than residential and commercial land use. After World War II, agricultural areas reduced rapidly and tend to be located in the easterly portion of the Main Basin and along power transmission rights of way adjacent to the San Gabriel River. Agricultural plots are discontinuous and relatively small. There are several major industrial areas adjacent to the San Gabriel River and within other portions of the valley. The greatest area of land use in the valley is for residential and commercial purposes. DWR Bulletin 118 does not identify the Main Basin as being in overdraft.
Main Basin - Geology
The Main Basin consists of a roughly bowl-shaped depression of bedrock, filled over millions of years with alluvial deposits. This bowl-shaped depression is relatively deep; the elevation at the base of the groundwater reservoir declines from about 800 feet above mean sea level (MSL) in the vicinity of San Dimas, at the northeast corner of the Main Basin, to about 2,200 feet below MSL in the vicinity of South El Monte (DWR, 1966, Plate II).
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Most of the alluvium deposited within this depression is debris from the San Gabriel Mountains, washed and blown down from the side of the mountains over time. This process has also resulted in the materials of the Main Basin varying in size from relatively coarse gravel nearer the mountains to fine and medium-grained sand containing silt and clay as the distance from the mountains increases. The principal water-bearing formations of the Main Basin are unconsolidated and semi-consolidated sediments, which vary in size from coarse gravel to fine-grained sands. The interstices between these alluvial particles throughout the Main Basin fill with water and transmit water readily to wells. The thickness of the water-bearing materials in the Main Basin ranges from 200 to 300 feet in the northeastern portion of the Main Basin near the mountains (DPW, 1934, page 141) to nearly 4,000 feet in the South El Monte area (DWR, 1966, page 31).
The soils overlying the Main Basin average about six feet in depth. Soil depths are generally greater at the perimeter of the valley and decrease toward the center along the San Gabriel River. These soils are residual, formed in place through chemical, mechanical and plant weathering processes. The infiltration rates of these soils are greater along the natural channels and their adjacent flood plains. Lower infiltration rates are found in the perimeter areas of the valley. Since the valley is mostly urbanized, a significant portion of the area has been paved and many miles of stream channel have been lined for flood control purposes, thus decreasing infiltration of water through streambeds. Detailed basin geology is discussed in the report entitled “Planned Utilization of Ground Water Basins, San Gabriel Valley, Appendix A: Geo-hydrology” (DWR, 1966).
Main Basin - Hydrology
The total fresh water storage capacity of the Main Basin is estimated to be about 9.5 million acre-feet. Of that, about 1,100,000 acre-feet have been used historically in Main Basin operations. The change in groundwater elevation at the Baldwin Park Key Well4 4 The Baldwin Key Well is a water-level monitoring well located in the City of Baldwin Park used to
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Key Well (Key Well) is representative of changes in groundwater in the Main Basin. One foot of elevation change at the Key Well is roughly the equivalent of about 8,000 acrefeet of water storage. The historical high groundwater elevation was recorded at over 329.1 feet in April 1916, at which time Main Basin storage was estimated to be about 8,700,000 acre-feet. The historical low was recorded in November 2018 at 169.4 feet, at which time Main Basin storage was estimated to be about 7,400,000 acre-feet. The Key Well hydrograph illustrates the cyclic nature of basin recharge and depletion. The hydrograph also illustrates the dramatic recharge capability of the Main Basin during wet periods.
Generally, water movement in the Main Basin is from the San Gabriel Mountains on the north to Whittier Narrows to the southwest. Groundwater movement in the northern and northeastern regions of the Main Basin is affected by faulting. For example, the Raymond Fault located in the northwesterly portion of the Main Basin separates the Raymond Basin from the Main Basin.
The Main Basin is an unconfined aquifer. Although clay deposits appear mixed with the soils in several locations in the Main Basin and there are various clay lenses throughout the Main Basin, they do not coalesce to form a single impermeable barrier for the movement of subsurface water. The Main Basin therefore operates as a single, unconfined aquifer. As previously mentioned, a thorough discussion of basin hydrogeology is contained in the report “Planned Utilization of Ground Water Basins, San Gabriel Valley, Appendix A: Geo-hydrology” (DWR, 1966).
Within the Main Basin there are a number of identified sub-basins. These include the Upper San Gabriel Canyon Basin, Lower San Gabriel Canyon Basin, Glendora Basin, Foothill Basin, Way Hill Basin and San Dimas Basin. In addition, the Puente Basin is determine when imported water may or may not be spread in the Basin.
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tributary to the Main Basin from the southeast, between the San Jose and Puente Hills, but is not included in the Main Basin adjudication.
Main Basin – Groundwater Replenishment
The major sources of recharge to the Main Basin are direct penetration of rainfall on the valley floor, percolation of runoff from the mountains, percolation of imported water and return flow from applied water. Rainfall occurs predominantly in the winter months and is more intense at higher elevations and closer to the San Gabriel Mountains.
The magnitude of annual recharge from direct penetration of local rainfall and return flow from applied water is not easily quantifiable. Percolation of runoff from the mountains and valley floor along with percolation of imported water has only been estimated. The DPW maintains records on the amount of local and imported water conserved in water spreading facilities and stream channels.
The San Gabriel River bisects the Main Basin. The San Gabriel River originates at the confluence of its west and east forks in the San Gabriel Mountains. It flows through the San Gabriel Canyon and enters the Main Basin at the mouth of the canyon north of the City of Azusa. The San Gabriel River flows southwesterly across the valley to Whittier Narrows, a distance of about 15 miles. It exits San Gabriel Valley at Whittier Narrows, and transverses the Coastal Plain in a southerly direction to reach the Pacific Ocean at Alamitos Bay near the City of Long Beach.
The San Gabriel River is joined and fed by tributary creeks and washes. In the Main Basin these include: Big Dalton Wash, which originates in the San Gabriel Mountains; Walnut Creek, which originates at the northeast end of the San Jose Hills; and San Jose Creek, which originates in the San Gabriel Mountains, but which travels around the southerly side of the San Jose Hills through the Puente Narrows before joining the San Gabriel River just above Whittier Narrows.
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The channel of the San Gabriel River bifurcates in the upper middle portion of the Main Basin, forming a channel to the west of and parallel to the San Gabriel River, known as the Rio Hondo. Tributaries draining the westerly portion of the Main Basin, including Sawpit Wash, Santa Anita Wash, Eaton Canyon Wash, Rubio Wash and Alhambra Wash, all of which originate in the San Gabriel Mountains or the foothills, feed the Rio Hondo.
The Santa Anita Wash, Eaton Canyon Wash, Rubio Wash and Alhambra Wash all cross the Raymond Basin area before entering the Main Basin. The channel of the Rio Hondo passes through Whittier Narrows westerly of the San Gabriel River, and then flows southwesterly to join the Los Angeles River on the Coastal Plain.
To protect residents of the San Gabriel Valley from flooding that can result during periods of intensive rainfall, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps of Engineers) have constructed an extensive system of dams, debris basins, reservoirs and flood control channels. The dams and reservoirs also operate as water conservation facilities. The dams and reservoirs that control the flow of the San Gabriel River and the Rio Hondo include: Cogswell Reservoir on the west fork of the San Gabriel River, San Gabriel Reservoir at the confluence of the west and east forks of the San Gabriel River, Morris Reservoir near the mouth of the San Gabriel Canyon, Santa Fe Reservoir in the northerly portion of the Main Basin and Whittier Narrows Reservoir at the southwestern end of the San Gabriel Valley.
Many of the stream channels tributary to the San Gabriel River have been improved with concrete banks (walls) and concrete-lined bottoms. These stream channel improvements have significantly reduced the area of previous stream channels and reduce Main Basin recharge. A number of off-stream groundwater replenishment facilities have been established along these stream channels to offset such reductions in recharge. Some of these facilities are accessible to imported water supplies, while some facilities receive only local runoff.
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The paths of the surface streams are mirrored in the soils and in the direction of groundwater movement in the Main Basin. The tributary creeks and washes, carrying smaller amounts of water, generally flow toward the center of the San Gabriel Valley, while the direction of flow of the major streams, the San Gabriel River and the Rio Hondo, is from the mountains in the north to Whittier Narrows in the southwest. In similar fashion, the primary direction of groundwater movement in the Main Basin is from the north to the southwest, with contributing movement generally from the east and west toward the center of the Main Basin. The greatest infiltration and transmissivity rates of soils in the Main Basin are from north to south, with the maximum rates found in the center of the valley along the stream channels. Generally, the Main Basin directs groundwater to the southwest through Whittier Narrows.
The Main San Gabriel Basin has a freshwater storage capacity of about 8.7 million acrefeet when the Key Well groundwater elevation is at 329.1 feet, of which about 125 feet of elevation change, or about 1,000,000 acre-feet, has been used for historical Basin operations. Local runoff is stored in a series of reservoirs operated by DPW and diverted into spreading grounds to replenish the groundwater supply. Groundwater recharge occurs every year and is exhibited as increasing water levels. High rainfall years can be identified as increases in the groundwater level of 30 feet or more in one year.
In addition to groundwater replenishment with local storm runoff, the Watermaster maintains records of each producer’s water rights and annual production. Although there is no limit on the quantity of water that may be produced, production in excess of a water right is subject to a Replacement Water assessment. Watermaster uses funds collected from producers’ overproduction to purchase imported water from municipal water districts.
Upper Water and TVMWD obtain their water from MWD. SGVMWD has its own contract for SWP water. Watermaster coordinates purchase and delivery of imported water to replenish the ground water basin, thus offsetting the producers’ overproduction and making the Basin whole.
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Groundwater Management Plan
The Main Basin has been adjudicated and management of the local water resources within the Main Basin is based on that adjudication. Management of the water resources in the Main Basin is based upon Watermaster services under two Court Judgments: San Gabriel River Watermaster (River Watermaster)5 and (Main Basin Watermaster)6. The City is a party to both Judgments and as such participates in these cases. The City also participates in the Main Basin management described in the Main Basin Watermaster document entitled “Five-Year Water Quality and Supply Plan.” The following sections provide a description of the two Judgments and the Five Year Water Quality and Supply Plan that make up the groundwater management plan for the Main Basin. In addition, this section describes Upper Water’s and San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority’s (WQA) policies to promote groundwater basin clean-up.
Operations of the Groundwater Basin
Through the Long Beach Judgment and the Main Basin Judgment, operations of the Main Basin are optimized to conserve local water to meet the needs of the parties of the Main Basin Judgment.
Typically, water producers within Upper Water rely upon groundwater from Main Basin for their water supply. The City of Alhambra has agreed to receive treated, imported water as part of the Cooperative Water Exchange Agreement (CWEA) to reduce the groundwater extractions from the western portion of the Main Basin and the associated drawdown concerns.
5 Board of Water Commissioners of the City of Long Beach, et al., v. San Gabriel Valley Water Company, et al., Los Angeles County Case No. 722647, Judgment entered September 24, 1965. 6 Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District v. City of Alhambra, et al., Los Angeles County Case No. 924128, Judgment entered January 4, 1973.
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Imported water for groundwater replenishment is delivered through the flood control channels and diverted and spread at spreading grounds through Main Basin Watermaster’s agreement with DPW. Groundwater replenishment utilizes imported water and is considered Replacement Water under the terms of the Main Basin Judgment. In addition, it can be stored in the Main Basin through Cyclic Storage agreements, authorized by terms of the Main Basin Judgment, but such stored water may be used only to supply Supplemental Water to the Main Basin Watermaster.
The Main Basin Watermaster has entered into a Cyclic Storage Agreement with each of the three municipal water districts. One is with MWD and Upper Water, which permits MWD to deliver and store imported water in the Main Basin in an amount not to exceed 200,000 acre-feet for future Replacement Water use. The second Cyclic Storage Agreement is with TVMWD and permits TVMWD to deliver and store up to 50,000 acrefeet for future Replacement Water use. The third is with SGVMWD and permits SGVMWD to deliver and store up to 50,000 acre-feet for future Replacement Water use.
Imported Make-up Water has been delivered to lined stream channels and conveyed to the Lower Area. Make-up Water is required to be delivered to the Lower Area by the Upper Area when the Lower Area entitlement under the Long Beach Judgment exceeds the usable water received by the Lower Area. Imported water is used to fulfill the Make-up Water Obligation when the amount of Make-up Water cannot be fulfilled by reimbursing the Lower Area interests for their purchase of recycled water. The amount of recycled water for which reimbursement may be made as a delivery of Make-up Water is limited by the terms of the Long Beach Judgment to the annual deficiency in Lower Area Entitlement water or to 14,735 acre-feet, whichever is the lesser quantity.
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Salt and Nutrient Management Plan
On February 9, 2009, the State Water Board adopted Resolution 2009-0011 that created the “Recycled Water Policy”. The Recycled Water Policy recognized that “…collapse of the Bay Delta ecosystem, climate change, and continuing population growth have combined with a severe drought on the Colorado River, and failing levees in the Delta, to create a new reality that challenges California’s ability to provide the clean water need for a healthy environment, a healthy population and a healthy economy, both now and in the future.” The Recycled Water Policy encourages appropriate water recycling, water conservation and use of stormwater to increase water supplies within California.
The primary goal of the San Gabriel Valley Salt and Nutrient Management Plan (SNMP) is to assist the Main Basin Watermaster and participating/potential stakeholders to comply with the Recycled Water Policy regarding the use of the recycled water from municipal wastewater treatment facilities as a safe source of water supply, while maintaining the water quality objectives for salt and nutrients in the Basin Plan established by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. The primary objective of the SNMP is to comply with the specific requirements described in the Recycled Water Policy. They include:
Characterization of the Main Basin,
Identification of sources of salt, nutrients, and constituents of emerging concern (CECs) (when deemed necessary by the Recycled Water Policy) and their fate and transport,
Estimation of salt, nutrients, and CECs (if necessary) loadings and assimilative capacities,
Identification of water recycling and stormwater recharge/use goals and objectives,
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Verification of compliance with Resolution No. 68-16 through antidegradation analyses, and
Development of a monitoring plan to verify compliance with the Basin water quality objectives.
The SNMP reviewed the geology, hydrology and hydrogeology of the San Gabriel Basin, along with the institutional and management structure for the San Gabriel Basin. TDS, Nitrate, Sulfate, and Chloride were identified as the primary constituents of concern.
Sources of loading (precipitation, subsurface inflow, infiltration of applied water, storm runoff and untreated imported water replenishment) and unloading (groundwater pumping and subsurface outflow) were included in a spreadsheet computer model, along with average water quality data for TDS, Nitrate, Sulfate, and Chloride, on an annual basis.
The SNMP proposed to use the Main Basin Watermaster’s existing Title 22 water quality monitoring program for groundwater and San Gabriel River water, with increased frequencies of monitoring for Total Dissolved Solids and nitrate, to satisfy the monitoring plan requirement of the SNMP. The following are recommendations for on-going salt and nutrient management in the San Gabriel Basin:
Regularly update the SNMP spreadsheet data so that impacts of potential future projects on salt and nutrient loading may be evaluated. Continue to collect water quality data throughout the San Gabriel Basin. Continue to meet with stakeholders on a regular basis to coordinate San Gabriel Basin management activities with an emphasis on stormwater runoff replenishment and continued use of SWP water for groundwater replenishment
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In-Lieu Program
During calendar year 2014, the ability to deliver Supplemental Water (State Water Project (SWP) water and Colorado River water) to replenish the Basin was severely limited.
Consequently, during fiscal year 2014-15, Watermaster developed and implemented a program to have Producers purchase additional treated imported water for direct delivery in-lieu of pumping groundwater (In-Lieu Program), in an effort to reduce the amount of groundwater pumped from the Basin. The Watermaster uses the In-Lieu Assessment on all production to fund the additional direct cost incurred by a producer participating in the In-Lieu Program. Watermaster has implemented this program during fiscal year 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Supplemental Water Reliability Storage Program
The 2012 Main Basin Judgment Amendments provided the Main Basin Watermaster with increased management flexibility and adaptability; and provided more discretion in making Basin management decisions. A key component of the Judgment Amendments was the new Water Resource Development Assessment to be levied on all production.
The Supplemental Water Reliability Storage Program provides a process for the Main Basin Watermaster to generate funds to purchase and store Supplemental Water in the Basin to be used (applied) when there are limitations on the availability of Supplemental Water from the Responsible Agencies. As a result of the severe long-term drought conditions resulting in significant reductions on the quantity of local water replenishment to the Basin, the Main Basin Watermaster expanded RDA into the Supplemental Water Stormwater Augmentation Program described below.
Supplemental Water Stormwater Augmentation Program
The Water Resource Development Assessment for Stormwater Augmentation Program was developed by the Main Basin Watermaster to help manage Basin water supplies
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under the perceived “worst case” hydrologic conditions, which was assumed to be two additional consecutive 5-year droughts, using the same hydrologic conditions as the recent FY 2011-12 through 2015-16 severe drought. Based upon ten (10) additional consecutive years of drought, the new RDA II Program is intended to purchase imported replenishment water (when available), for stormwater augmentation, to maintain the Baldwin Park Key Well elevation above 180 feet by the end of the tenth year. This Key Well elevation essentially ensures continued Basin water supply to the Basin Producers under a worst case, 15-year sustained drought. The RDA II Program has an assessment of $175/AF on all FY 2024-25 production and is planned to also be $175/AF on all FY 2025-26 production with a potential to increase in the next three to five years. The Main Basin Watermaster will use the RDA II funds to purchase untreated imported water to replenish the Main Basin for the “general benefit” of all Producers within the Main Basin.
Unlike the original RDA (Supplemental Water Replenishment Storage Program), which is a Watermaster pre-purchase of Replacement Water, the RDA II untreated imported water will supplement local stormwater replenishment, enhance overall Basin conditions, and have “no right of recovery” using a water right, by any Main Basin producer.
MWD Letter Agreement
Since 2017, Watermaster, Upper Water, the Three Valleys District, and MWD entered into a series of letter agreements to pre-deliver untreated imported water in support of Basin management programs (Letter Agreement). Through these agreements, MWD has delivered a cumulative total of 405,517.5 acre-feet of imported water. While deliveries have varied depending on hydrological conditions and local stormwater capture, these agreements have provided a critical means of supplementing the Basin’s supplies over time.
During fiscal year 2023–24, Watermaster and Upper Water entered into a fourth agreement with MWD to pre-deliver an additional 87,000 acre-feet of untreated imported water during calendar year 2024. In addition, Watermaster and Three Valleys District
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entered into a separate agreement with MWD to pre-deliver about 35,000 acre-feet during calendar year 2024. During fiscal year 2024–25, Watermaster and Upper Water entered into a fifth agreement with MWD to pre-deliver an additional 86,000 acre-feet of untreated imported water during calendar year 2025.
Three Year Purchased Water Plan
On June 21, 2012, the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles (Court) approved certain proposed Judgment amendments. Some of these Judgment amendments help Watermaster address Supplemental Water supply concerns. One of the amendments, Exhibit H(3)(d), requires that “…on or before November 1 of each year, Watermaster shall prepare and distribute to the Responsible Agencies a three-year projection of its Supplemental Water purchases from each agency.
Watermaster shall, to the extent feasible, coordinate the tentative schedule for delivery and payment of those purchases with each agency.”
Judgment Amendment, Section 45(b)(7), allows Watermaster to “…levy an Assessment on all Pumping, as determined through Rules and Regulations … to support the purchase, financing, and/or development of new or additional Supplemental Water sources, in cooperation with one or more Responsible Agencies as appropriate.” Section 45(b)(7) established the “Water Resource Development Assessment” for the purchase or development of additional Supplemental Water supplies. Based on these Judgment amendments, Main Basin Watermaster also amended its Rules and Regulations to include a policy/criteria to develop the “Three-Year Purchased Water Plan” (Three-Year Plan). Under Section 26(d)(5) of the Rules and Regulations, the first priority for spreading of Supplemental Water is “…Supplemental Water ordered by Watermaster from Responsible Agencies for direct delivery to the Basin as Replacement Water…”.
Recognizing many Producers currently pre-purchase Supplemental Water for delivery into their Cyclic Storage accounts, those pre-purchases are considered to have the same priority as Replacement Water.
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Exhibit M of Watermaster’s amended Rules and Regulations7 provides the policy/criteria for the “Three-year Purchased Water Plan,” and requires Main Basin Watermaster to estimate Supplemental Water purchases from the Responsible Agencies for each of the three subsequent years. The policy/criteria indicate estimated Supplemental Water purchases may be based on the following:
(b) The first year shall be, at a minimum, the total Replacement Water requirement for the three Responsible Agencies (Upper Water, San Gabriel District, and Three Valleys).
(c) The second and third years may be estimated as follows:
a. Operating Safe Yield (OSY) established by Watermaster for the current fiscal year and next succeeding years;
b. Alternative projections of the OSY;
c. Evaluation of potential wet, average, and dry hydrologic conditions; d. Future groundwater production provided by or estimated for each producer; and
e. Depending on Basin conditions, Watermaster may consider additional factors as necessary.
As a result of the negotiated pre-delivery of significant MWD imported replenishment water by Watermaster, and subsequently transferred by MWD to Upper Water and TVMWD, the above policy/criteria has been superseded by this delivery of imported water to supplement local rainfall and runoff replenishment.
Five-Year Water Quality and Supply Plan
7 https://www.watermaster.org/about-us (Rules and Regulations)
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The Main Basin Watermaster was created in 1973 to resolve water issues that had arisen among water users in the San Gabriel Valley. Main Basin Watermaster’s mission was to generally manage the water supply of the Main Basin. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, significant groundwater contamination was discovered in the Main Basin. The contamination was caused in part by past practices of local industries that had carelessly disposed of industrial solvents referred to as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as well as by agricultural operations that infiltrated nitrates into the groundwater. Cleanup efforts were undertaken at the local, state, and federal level.
Local water agencies adopted a joint resolution in 1989 regarding water quality issues that stated Main Basin Watermaster should coordinate local activities aimed at preserving and restoring the quality of groundwater in the Main Basin. The joint resolution also called for a cleanup plan. In 1991, the Court granted Main Basin Watermaster the authority to control pumping for water quality purposes. Accordingly, Main Basin Watermaster added Section 28 to its Rules and Regulations regarding water quality management. The new responsibilities included development of a Five-Year Water Quality and Supply Plan8, updating it annually, submitting it to the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region, and making it available for public review by November 1 of each year.
Main Basin Watermaster prepares and annually updates the Five-Year Water Quality and Supply Plan in accordance with the requirements of the Section 28 Rules and Regulations. The objective is to coordinate groundwater-related activities so that both water supply and water quality in the Main Basin are protected and improved. Many important issues are detailed in the Five-Year Plan, including how Main Basin Watermaster plans to:
8 https://www.watermaster.org/reports
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Monitor groundwater supply and quality;
Develop projections of future groundwater supply and quality; Ensure adequate supplemental water is available for groundwater replenishment; Review and cooperate on cleanup projects, and provide technical assistance to other agencies;
Assure that pumping does not lead to further degradation of water quality in the Basin;
Address Perchlorate, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), and other emerging contaminants in the Basin;
Develop a cleanup and water supply program consistent with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) plans for its San Gabriel Basin Superfund sites; and
Coordinate and manage the design, permitting, construction, and performance evaluation of the Baldwin Park Operable Unit (BPOU) cleanup and water supply plan.
The Main Basin Watermaster, in coordination with Upper Water, has worked with state and federal regulators, along with local water companies to clean up water supplies.
Section 28 of the Main Basin Watermaster’s Rules and Regulations require all producers (including the City) to submit an application to 1) construct a new well, 2) modify an existing well, 3) destroy a well, or 4) construct a treatment facility. The Main Basin Watermaster prepares a report on the implications of the proposed activity. As a party to the Main Basin Judgment, the City reviews a copy of these reports and is provided the opportunity to submit comments on the proposed activity before the Main Basin Watermaster Board takes final action.
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Water Quality Authority 406 Plan
The WQA was established by the State Legislature on February 11, 1993 to develop, finance and implement groundwater treatment programs in the Main Basin. Section 406 of the WQA Act requires the WQA “to develop and adopt a basinwide groundwater quality management and remediation plan” that is required to be consistent with the EPA’s National Contingency Plan (“NCP”) and Records of Decision (“ROD”) and all requirement of the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (“LARWQCB”). According to the WQA Act, the Section 406 Plan, which is incorporated in this Plan by reference, must include:
Characterization of Basin contamination;
A comprehensive cleanup plan;
Strategies for financing the design, construction, operation and maintenance of groundwater cleanup facilities;
Provision for a public information program; and
Coordination of activities with federal, state, and local entities.
WQA reviews and adopts the Section 406 Plan on an annual basis and as necessary, makes revisions according to changing regulatory, political and/or funding environments.
In support of the Section 406 Plan, WQA also adopts an annual FY budget (July 1 through June 30) which includes all projects (actual or planned) WQA is facilitating through its participation during that time period. The budget identifies the various funding sources, and combinations thereof, to ensure full funding for each project (capital and/or O&M) can be achieved.
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Main Basin – Historical and Projected Basin Production
As shown in Table 6-1, the City has not produced from the Main Basin within the past five years. The City’s projected production from the Main Basin, over the next 25 years in fiveyear increments, is provided in Table 6-9.
Although the City does not currently pump from the Main Basin, the City’s share of the Operating Safe Yield is 0.23979 percent. In addition, the City purchases water supplies from CVWC, which produces from the Main Basin. As discussed above, the Main Basin is managed by the Main Basin Watermaster. The most recent amendments to the Main Basin Judgment were made in June 2012. Historical fluctuation of the Key Well elevation illustrates that since the Main Basin was adjudicated in 1973, it generally operated between an elevation 250 feet and 200 feet above MSL. Furthermore, at an elevation of 169 feet above MSL at the Key Well, which represents the historical low, the Main Basin has about 7,400,000 acre-feet of available storage. During the period of management under the Judgment, significant drought events have occurred from 1969 to 1977, 1983 to 1991, 1998 to 2004, 2006 to 2009, and 2011 to 2015. In each drought cycle the Main Basin has been managed to maintain water levels.
SURFACE WATER
The City does not directly use surface water supplies to meet its water demands.
However, the City purchases water from CVWC which includes treated surface water supplies, as discussed in Section 6.2.1.
STORMWATER
The City does not directly use stormwater to meet its water demands.
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WASTEWATER AND RECYCLED WATER
CWC 10633R.
The plan shall provide, to the extent available, information on recycled water and its potential for use as a water source in the service area of the urban water supplier. The preparation of the plan shall be coordinated with local water, wastewater, groundwater, and planning agencies that operate within the supplier’s service area, and shall include all of the following:
(a) A description of the wastewater collection and treatment systems in the supplier’s service area, including a quantification of the amount of wastewater collected and treated and the methods of wastewater disposal.
(b) A description of the quantity of treated wastewater that meets recycled water standards, is being discharged, and is otherwise available for use in a recycled water project. (c) A description of the recycled water currently being used in the supplier’s service area, including, but not limited to, the type, place, and quantity of use. (d) A description and quantification of the potential uses of recycled water, including, but not limited to, agricultural irrigation, landscape irrigation, wildlife habitat enhancement, wetlands, industrial reuse, potable reuse, and other appropriate uses, and a determination with regard to the technical and economic feasibility of serving those uses. (e) The projected use of recycled water within the supplier’s service area at the end of 5, 10, 15, and 20 years, and a description of the actual use of recycled water in comparison to uses previously projected pursuant to this subdivision.
(f) A description of actions, including financial incentives, which may be taken to encourage the use of recycled water, and the projected results of these actions in terms of acre-feet of recycled water used per year.
(g) A plan for optimizing the use of recycled water in the supplier’s service area, including actions to facilitate the installation of dual distribution systems, to promote recirculating uses, to facilitate the increased use of treated wastewater that meets recycled water standards, and to overcome any obstacles to achieving that increased use.
The City does not have access to recycled water supplies due to the lack of infrastructure to convey recycled water to the City. Subject to availability of recycled water, the City would have to construct transmission and distribution facilities to deliver recycled water to customers within its service area. Additional information regarding the potential use of recycled water is provided below.
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City of Covina Page 6-36
6.2.5.1 RECYCLED WATER COORDINATION
CWC 10633.
The plan shall provide, to the extent available, information on recycled water and its potential for use as a water source in the service area of the urban water supplier. The preparation of the plan shall be coordinated with local water, wastewater, groundwater, and planning agencies that operate within the supplier’s service area…
The City does not have access to recycled water due to the lack of infrastructure to convey recycled water supplies to the City. The Los Angeles County Sanitation District’s (LACSD) San Jose Creek Water Reclamation Plant (SJCWRP), from which the City would purchase recycled water supplies, is located approximately 10 miles southwest of the City’s service area.
Subject to the availability of recycled water, the City would construct transmission and distribution facilities to deliver recycled water to customers within its service area. The City’s potential recycled water users within the City are schools and parks.
6.2.5.2 WASTEWATER COLLECTION, TREATMENT, AND DISPOSAL
CWC 10633.
(a) A description of the wastewater collection and treatment systems in the supplier’s service area, including a quantification of the amount of wastewater collected and treated and the methods of wastewater disposal.
Wastewater generated by the City is treated by LACSD. Wastewater is collected within the City’s local sewer collection system. The City’s local sewers tie into one of LACSD’s regional trunk sewers. The regional trunk sewer lines deliver wastewater to one or more
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City of Covina Page 6-37
water reclamation plants owned by LACSD for treatment. The water reclamation plants are not located within the City’s service area. The water reclamation plants serving the City include the SJCWRP and the A.K. Warren Resource Facility (formerly known as the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant); however, the percentage breakdown between these two plants in treating the City’s wastewater is unknown. LACSD estimates approximately 69 gallons per person per day of wastewater is generated within LACSD’s service area.
Based on a 2025 population of 34,945 within the City, the estimated amount of wastewater collected by the City is approximately 2,700 AFY, as shown in Table 6-2. As indicated previously, and in Table 6-3, wastewater is not treated or disposed within the City’s service area.
The SJCWRP, which began operations in 1971, has a treatment capacity of about 100 MGD and provides coagulated, filtered and disinfected tertiary effluent. Consequently, approximately 24 percent of treated water effluent from the SJCWRP would be available for subsequent recycled water projects. The SJCWRP plant serves a largely residential population of approximately 1 million people. The method of disposal when treated recycled water is not used (non-recycled) is discharge to the San Gabriel River/Rio Hondo and eventually flows to the ocean.
LACSD’s A.K. Warren Water Resource Facility, which began operation in 1928, currently has a treatment capacity of about 400 MGD. The treatment level is primary and secondary treatment with disinfection. The A.K. Warren Water Resource Facility serves a population of approximately 4.8 million people. Solids collected in primary and secondary treatment are processed in anaerobic digestion tanks where bacteria break down organic material and produce methane gas. Treated wastewater is ultimately disinfected prior to being discharged to the Pacific Ocean. All water discharged to the ocean is monitored to ensure compliance with applicable local, state, and federal standards for discharge water.
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City of Covina Page 6-38
6.2.5.3 RECYCLED WATER SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
CWC 10633.
(c) A description of the recycled water currently being used in the supplier’s service area, including, but not limited to, the type, place, and quantity of use.
The City currently does not have access to recycled water supplies due to the lack of infrastructure to convey recycled water to the City. Subject to the availability of recycled water, the City would construct transmission and distribution facilities to deliver recycled water to customers within its service area. Potential recycled water users within the City are schools and parks.
6.2.5.4 CURRENT, POTENTIAL, AND PROJECTED RECYCLED
WATER USES
CWC 10633.
(d) A description of the recycled water currently being used in the supplier’s service area, including, but not limited to, the type, place, and quantity of use. A description of the quantity of treated wastewater that meets recycled water standards, is being discharged, and is otherwise available for use in a recycled water project. (d) A description and quantification of the potential uses of recycled water, including, but not limited to, agricultural irrigation, landscape irrigation, wildlife habitat enhancement, wetlands, industrial reuse, groundwater recharge, indirect potable reuse, and other appropriate uses, and a determination with regard to the technical and economic feasibility of serving those uses.
(e) The projected use of recycled water within the supplier’s service area at the end of 5, 10, 15, and 20 years, and a description of the actual use of recycled water in comparison to uses previously projected pursuant to this subdivision.
The City currently does not have access to recycled water supplies due to the lack of infrastructure to convey recycled water to the City. Subject to the availability of recycled
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City of Covina Page 6-39
water, the City would consider constructing transmission and distribution facilities to deliver recycled water to customers within its service area. The City does not anticipate it will have access to recycled water supplies over the next 25 years due to the lack of infrastructure to convey recycled water to the City and the availability of recycled water from LACSD.
MWD is developing its “Pure Water Southern California” (Pure Water) project. MWD is partnering with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD) to investigate the viability of providing up to 150 MGD (approximately 168,000 AFY) of advanced treated wastewater from LACSD’s A.K. Warren Water Resource Facility located in Carson, California (Carson Plant). The Pure Water project would deliver purified water from the Carson Plant through up to 60 miles of transmission pipelines to groundwater basins within MWD’s service area, including the including the Central, West Coast, Main San Gabriel, and Orange County Basins. The purified water would be used in various locations within MWD’s service area for groundwater recharge, groundwater storage, and industrial facilities. In addition, purified water could potentially be treated further at two of MWD’s existing water treatment plants for direct potable reuse.
Pursuant to MWD’s “Regional Recycled Water Program Conceptual Planning Studies Report”, February 2019, the proposed Pure Water project would potentially provide 60,000 to 80,000 AFY to replenish the Main Basin. A portion of the replenished recycled water may be designated as Replacement Water (see Section 6.2.2) and will offset all State Water Project water (on an AF for AF basis) which historically has been used to replenish the Main Basin groundwater supplies and is essential to sound basin management. Furthermore, some of the replenished recycled water may be used for general Basin benefit which will result in higher groundwater levels and potentially enable the Operating Safe Yield to be established at a higher amount than had no deliveries occurred. For the Main Basin, MWD has entered into a letter of intent with Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District for at least 35,000 AFY, with San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District for at least 6,000 AFY, and with Three Valleys Municipal Water
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District for at least 6,500 AFY, and will potentially provide up to 60,000 to 80,000 AFY, collectively.
6.2.5.5 ACTIONS TO ENCOURAGE AND OPTIMIZE FUTURE
RECYCLED WATER USE
CWC 10633.
The plan shall provide, to the extent available, information on recycled water and its potential for use as a water source in the service area of the urban water supplier. The preparation of the plan shall be coordinated with local water, wastewater, groundwater, and planning agencies that operate within the supplier’s service area, and shall include all of the following:
(g) A plan for optimizing the use of recycled water in the supplier’s service area, including actions to facilitate the installation of dual distribution systems, to promote recirculating uses, to facilitate the increased use of treated wastewater that meets recycled water standards, and to overcome any obstacles to achieving that increased use.
The City currently does not have access to recycled water supplies due to the lack of infrastructure to convey recycled water to the City. The SJCWRP is located about 10 miles southwest of the City’s service area. Potential recycled water users within the City are schools and parks.
The City has determined that use of recycled water is not cost effective at this time due to the unavailability of a nearby source of recycled water supply. The City will continue to assess the potential for use of recycled water and work with local and regional agencies on this matter.
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City of Covina Page 6-41
DESALINATED WATER OPPORTUNITIES
CWC 10631.
(g) Describe the opportunities for development of desalinated water, including, but not limited to, ocean water, brackish water, and groundwater, as a long-term supply.
Main Basin
Groundwater produced from the Main Basin is low in total dissolved solids (TDS) and does not require desalination. The SWRCB-DDW recommended TDS level is 500 milligrams per liter (mg/L) and water can be provided for long-term domestic use with TDS concentrations of up to 1,000 mg/L. Recent water quality data indicates the TDS values for Main Basin groundwater wells are less than 500 mg/L. Due to the high quality (low TDS concentration) of the groundwater, Main Basin producers do not need to investigate the use of desalination to develop or reestablish a new long-term supply. The City is currently not considering the development of a desalinated water project. However, there may be opportunities for use of desalinated ocean water as a potential water supply source in the future, if needed, through coordination with other agencies that have ocean desalination programs.
WATER EXCHANGES AND TRANSFERS
CWC 10631.
(c) Describe the opportunities for exchanges or transfers of water on a short-term or long-term basis.
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City of Covina Page 6-42
6.2.7.1 EXCHANGES
Pursuant to DWR’s 2025 Final Guidebook, “Water exchanges are typically water delivered by one water user to another water user, with the receiving water user providing water in return at a specified time or when the conditions of the parties’ agreement are met. Water exchanges can be strictly a return of water on a basis agreed upon by the participants or it can include payment and the return of water.” The City does not have any current or planned water exchange opportunities.
6.2.7.2 TRANSFERS
Pursuant to DWR’s 2025 Final Guidebook, “The Water Code defines a water transfer as a temporary or long-term change in the point of diversion, place of use, or purpose of use due to a transfer, sale, lease, or exchange of water or water rights.” On an annual basis, the City leases its pumping rights to another water agency in exchange for financial compensation. The City can also lease/transfer its Main Basin pumping rights to CVWC. In exchange, CVWC provides treated groundwater, imported water, and/or surface water to the City. This decision is made on a year-by year basis.
6.2.7.3 EMERGENCY INTERTIES
The City has emergency interties (or interconnections) with other water agencies that serve as short-term emergency water supplies. Emergency interconnections are distribution system interconnections between water agencies for use during critical situations where one system or the other is temporarily unable to provide sufficient potable water to meet its water demands and/or fire protection needs. An emergency interconnection will allow a water system to continue serving water during critical
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City of Covina Page 6-43
situations such as local water supply shortages as a result of earthquakes, fires, prolonged power outages, and droughts.
The City has the ability to receive water from an interconnection with Golden State Water Company (2,000 gpm connection).
SUPPLY FROM STORAGE
Section 6.2.8 is not applicable. The City does not remove water from either surface storage or underground storage for use (including surface water placed into storage in a given year and retrieved in the following year).
OTHER
The City does not rely on any additional water supply sources.
FUTURE WATER PROJECTS
CWC 10631.
(f) Include a description of all water supply projects and water supply programs that may be undertaken by the urban water supplier to meet the total projected water use, as established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10635. The urban water supplier shall include a detailed description of expected future projects and programs that the urban water supplier may implement to increase the amount of the water supply available to the urban water supplier in normal and single-dry water years and for a period of drought lasting five consecutive water years. The description shall identify specific projects and include a description of the increase in water supply that is expected to be available from each project. The description shall include an estimate with regard to the implementation timeline for each project or program.
The City does not have any future or planned water supply projects.
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City of Covina Page 6-44
ENERGY USE
CWC 10631.2.
(a) In addition to the requirements of Section 10631, an urban water management plan shall include any of the following information that the urban water supplier can readily obtain:
(1) An estimate of the amount of energy used to extract or divert water supplies. (2) An estimate of the amount of energy used to convey water supplies to the water treatment plants or distribution systems.
(3) An estimate of the amount of energy used to treat water supplies. (4) An estimate of the amount of energy used to distribute water supplies through its distribution systems.
(5) An estimate of the amount of energy used for treated water supplies in comparison to the amount used for nontreated water supplies.
(6) An estimate of the amount of energy used to place water into or withdraw from storage. (7) Any other energy-related information the urban water supplier deems appropriate. “Energy intensity” is defined as the quantity of energy consumed, measured in kilowatt hours (kWh), divided by the volume of water, measured in acre-feet for a water management process over a one-year period. The information used to calculate the estimated energy intensity associated with the City’s water system is provided below. The energy intensity information is based on readily obtainable energy and water use data for the following water management processes: 1) extraction or diversion of water supplies; 2) placement into storage; 3) conveyance to distribution; 4) treatment; and 5) water system distribution.
The City has tabulated its energy intensity using readily obtainable energy consumption data obtained from monthly electricity bills from Southern California Edison (SCE) for the whole water system and the corresponding water use data obtained from available water meter readings. The City has reported the energy intensity associated with the water management processes which occur within its operational control. Because the City does
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City of Covina Page 6-45
not track individual energy usage for each water management process identified above, the City has estimated the energy intensity using the “total utility approach” (i.e. sum of all water management processes). The total energy consumed was approximately 1,537,887 kWh during FY 2024-25. Although the total energy consumption reported includes electricity usage for general administration (e.g. at the City’s headquarters) which is not associated with any water management processes, the general administration energy usage is considered negligible compared to overall water system use and has not been netted out.
The total volume of water entering the potable water system was approximately 4,858 AF during FY 2024-25 and is consistent with the total volume of water provided in Table 4-1.
The total energy intensity associated with the City’s water management processes is estimated at 972 kWh per million gallons. The energy intensity data and calculations based on the “total utility approach” are provided in Table O-1B below.
The City’s water management processes do not include “consequential hydropower generation” where the energy generation is a direct consequence of water delivery (i.e. all water passing through the energy generation devices is delivered to users). The City’s water management processes do not include “non-consequential hydropower generation” where the energy generation is not a direct consequence of water delivery (i.e. energy could be generated even if no water was being delivered to water users). In addition, the City’s water management processes do not include any substantial “self-generated energy sources” including solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, co-generation, and diesel generator sources.
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City of Covina Page 6-46
Table O-1B. Recommended Energy Reporting — Total Utility Approach
SUBMITTAL TABLES
The applicable standardized Submittal Tables referenced within Chapter 6 are provided below.
Water Delivery Product
drop down list
(If delivering more than one type of product recommend
using Table O-1C)
Retail Potable
Deliveries
Start Date of Reporting Period 7/1/2024
End Date of Reporting Period 6/30/2025
Is upstream embedded energy in the values reported? No
Units of Measure for Water AF Total Utility
See DWR NOTES Hydropower Net Utility
4,858 4,858
1,537,887 1,537,887
- 972 972
Quantity of Self-Generated Renewable Energy
0 kWh
Data Quality (Estimate, Metered Data, Combination of Estimates and Metered Data) Combination of Estimates and Metered Data
Data Quality Narrative:
Narrative:
Volume of Water Entering Process
Energy Consumed (kWh)
Energy Intensity (kWh/vol. converted to MG)
Optional Submittal Table O-1B: Recommended Energy Reporting - SINGLE DELIVERY PRODUCT - TOTAL UTILITY
APPROACH
The total energy consumed was identified based on Southern California Edison (SCE) billing records. Although the total energy consumed includes electricity usage for general administration (which is not an identified water management process), general administration energy use is considered to be negligible compared to overall water system use and has not been netted out.
Only for Water Delivery Products Under the Urban Water Supplier's Operational Control
Sum of All Water
Management Processes Non-Consequential Hydropower
DWR NOTES:
Total Utility:The volume of water entered in the “Total Utility” column should equal the volume of water entering the distribution system (excluding recycled water); in most cases, this is the total volume calculated in UWMP Table 4-1: 2025 Actual Total Uses for Potable and Non-Potable Water. Note if recycled water is included in your Submittal Table 4-1, you must exclude it from your volume in this table.
NOTES:
The total energy consumption includes energy associated with operating booster pumps to deliver water in the distribution system. Energy consumption is associated with operating groundwater water treatment. Energy consumption is also associated with plant lighting and air conditioning, and operating the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system and chlorination injection pumps.
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City of Covina Page 6-47
TABLE 6-1: GROUNDWATER VOLUME PUMPED
Table 6-1 Groundwater Volume Pumped
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City of Covina Page 6-48
TABLE 6-2: WASTEWATER COLLECTED WITHIN SERVICE
AREA
Table 6-2 Wastewater Collected Within UWMP Service Area
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 6-49
TABLE 6-3: WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND OUTCOMES
WITHIN UWMP SERVICE AREA
Table 6-3 Wastewater Treatment and Outcomes Within UWMP Service Area
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 6-50
TABLE 6-4: RECYCLED WATER DIRECT BENEFICIAL USES
WITHIN SERVICE AREA
Table 6-4 Recycled Water Direct Beneficial Uses Within Service Area
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City of Covina Page 6-51
TABLE 6-5: 2020 UWMP RECYCLED WATER-USE
PROJECTION COMPARED TO 2025 ACTUAL
Table 6-5 2020 UWMP Recycled Water Use Projection Compared to 2025 Actual
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City of Covina Page 6-52
TABLE 6-6: METHODS TO ENCOURAGE FUTURE RECYCLED
WATER USE
Table 6-6 Methods to Encourage Future Recycled Water Use
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City of Covina Page 6-53
TABLE 6-7: EXPECTED FUTURE WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS
OR PROGRAMS
Table 6-7 Expected Future Water Supply Projects or Programs TABLE 6-8: WATER SUPPLIES—ACTUAL
As discussed in Section 6.2, the City’s water supply sources consist of treated imported water purchased from TVMWD (see Section 6.2.1) and water purchased from CVWC (see Section 6.2.1). The actual quantities of the water supply sources available to the City during FY 2019-20 are summarized in Table 6-8. The reliable quantities of projected water supply sources available to the City in five-year increments through FY 2049-50 during normal or average years are summarized in Table 6-9. The reliability of these sources of supply are addressed in Section 7.2.3, including during normal years, single dry years, and five consecutive year droughts.
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City of Covina Page 6-54
The order of use of the City’s projected reliable water supplies from FY 2024-25 through FY 2049-50 in five-year increments is based on historical practices, water supply availability, and the cost of water. It is anticipated the City will initially use purchased water from CVWC. The City will also use treated imported water. It is important to note that the Main Basin is adjudicated (as discussed in Section 6.2.2) and that there is no limit to the amount of groundwater which can be produced annually. Consequently, in the event local treated surface water and/or treated imported water may be limited, CVWC has the flexibility to increase groundwater production from the Main Basin to provide sufficient water supplies to the City.
The City’s projected quantities of purchased water supplies are based on historical longterm averages and available supplies during previous dry year conditions. The City’s projected quantities of purchased water supplies from CVWC are based on meeting the City’s total water demands. As noted above, in the event treated imported water may be limited, the City can purchase water from CVWC which has the flexibility to increase groundwater production from the Main Basin. Consequently, it is anticipated the City will have sufficient water supplies available to meet projected demands.
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City of Covina Page 6-55
Table 6-8 Water Supplies—Actual
OPTIONAL TABLE 6-8DS: SOURCE DESALINATION BY
SUPPLIER
As discussed in Section 6.2.6, the City is currently not considering the development of a desalinated water project. As a result, optional Table 6-8DS is not included.
Water Supply
Drop down list
May use each category multiple
times. These are the only water
supply categories that will be
recognized by the WUEdata online
submittal tool
Potable or Non-Potable
(after treatment if treated)
(OPTIONAL)
Drop Down list
Actual Volume
(AF)
Total Entitlement
(OPTIONAL)
See 'DWR Notes'
below (AF)
Purchased or Imported Water Three Valleys Municipal Water District
Potable 7
Purchased or Imported Water Covina Valley Water Company Potable 4,851 4,858 0
00 4,858 0
Submittal Table 6-8 Retail: Water Supplies — Actual
Water Code Section 10631(b)
2025
NOTES:
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
Total Entitlement: e.g. Water Right, Groundwater Allocation, Contracted Amount.
Add additional rows as needed
Total
Subtotal Potable
Subtotal Non-Potable
Additional Description
(as needed)
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 6-56
TABLE 6-9: WATER SUPPLIES—PROJECTED
Table 6-9 Water Supplies—Projected
Water Supply
Reasonably
Available
Volume
(AF)
Total
Entitlement
(OPTIONAL)
See 'DWR Notes'
below (AF)
Reasonably
Available
Volume (AF)
Total
Entitlement
(OPTIONAL)
See 'DWR Notes'
below (AF)
Reasonably
Available
Volume
(AF)
Total
Entitlement
(OPTIONAL)
See 'DWR Notes'
below (AF)
Reasonably
Available
Volume (AF)
Total
Entitlement
(OPTIONAL)
See 'DWR Notes'
below (AF)
Reasonably
Available
Volume (AF)
Total
Entitlement
(OPTIONAL)
See 'DWR Notes'
below (AF)
Purchased or Imported
Water
Three
Valleys
Municipal
Water
District
Potable 150 150 150 150 150
Purchased or Imported
Water
Covina
Valley
Water
Company
Potable 5,169 5,187 5,202 5,220 5,235
5,319 0 5,337 0 5,352 0 5,370 0 5,385 0
00 0 000 0 0 0 0
5,319 0 5,337 0 5,352 0 5,370 0 5,385 0
2050 (opt)
Add additional rows as needed
Total
NOTES:
2030 2035 2040 2045
Subtotal Non-Potable
Subtotal Potable
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
Total Entitlement: e.g. Water Right, Groundwater Allocation, Contracted Amount.
Submittal Table 6-9 Retail: Water Supplies — Projected
Water Code Section 10631 (b)
Projected Water Supply (Report to the Extent Practicable) Drop down list
May us e ea ch category
multiple times. Thes e are the
only water s upply categories
that will be recognized by the
WUEdata onl ine s ubmittal
tool
Additional
Detail on
Water
Supply
Potable or Non-Potable
(after treatment if treated)
(OPTIONAL)
Drop Down list
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 7-1
CHAPTER 7
WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY AND DROUGHT RISK ASSESSMENT
LAY DESCRIPTION – CHAPTER 7
WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY AND DROUGHT RISK ASSESSMENT
Chapter 7 (Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessment) of the City’s 2025 Plan discusses and provides the following:
FY 2019-20 represents an “average” or “normal” water year for the City in which the total amount of rainfall was similar to the historical average rainfall. A “single dry” year for the City was represented in FY 2017-18, in which the total amount of rainfall was below the historical average rainfall. A “five consecutive year drought” period for the City is represented from FY 2011- 12 to FY 2015-16, where the total amount of rainfall during each of these years was less than the historical average rainfall.
The City’s current and projected water supplies available during normal years in five-year increments over the next 25 years are provided (through Fiscal Year 2049-50) as shown on Table 7-2.
The City’s current and projected water supplies available during single dry years in five-year increments over the next 25 years are provided (through Fiscal Year 2049-50) as shown on Table 7-3.
The City’s current and projected water supplies available during each year of a five consecutive year drought in five-year increments over the next 25 years are provided (through Fiscal Year 2049-50) as shown on Table 7-4.
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City of Covina Page 7-2
The reliability of the City’s water supply sources, including a review of water supply constraints, is provided. A single dry year or a five consecutive year drought period will not compromise the City’s ability to provide a reliable supply of water to its customers.
A Drought Risk Assessment is provided which includes an assessment of the City’s water supply reliability over a five consecutive year drought period. The City’s Drought Risk Assessment assumes a five consecutive year drought from FY 2025-26 through FY 2029-30 and includes a review of water supplies, water uses, and water supply reliability for each water supply source during this period. The City’s water system has experienced a prior five consecutive year drought with no limitation to its collective water supplies. However, the cost of those water supplies may have increased based on the mix of water supplies which are used.
Consequently, the City has the ability to enact varying water shortage levels (see Chapter 8) to help educate its customers and provide an economic incentive for the retail customers to reduce their water consumption.
CONSTRAINTS ON WATER SOURCES CONSIDERATIONS
CWC 10631.
(b)(1) A detailed discussion of anticipated supply availability under a normal water year, single dry year, and droughts lasting at least five years, as well as more frequent and severe periods of drought, as described in the drought risk assessment. For each source of water supply, consider any information pertinent to the reliability analysis conducted pursuant to Section 10635, including changes in supply due to climate change.
Water Code Section 10634
The plan shall include information, to the extent practicable, relating to the quality of existing sources of water available to the supplier over the same five-year increments as described in subdivision (a) of Section 10631, and the manner in which water quality affects water management strategies and supply reliability.
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City of Covina Page 7-3
Water Code Section 10635
(b)(2) A determination of the reliability of each source of supply under a variety of water shortage conditions. This may include a determination that a particular source of water supply is fully reliable under most, if not all, conditions.
Water Code Section 10635
(b)(4) Considerations of the historical drought hydrology, plausible changes on projected supplies and demands under climate change conditions, anticipated regulatory changes, and other locally applicable criteria.
This section of the City’s Plan describes the City’s ability to meet retail customer water demands by analyzing a variety of factors which affect the City’s water supply. This section assesses the City’s water service reliability during average years, single dry years, and during a five consecutive year drought period to meet the water needs of its customers. This section also includes the discussion of a Drought Risk Assessment which provides a mechanism for the City to evaluate the risk to its water supply under a drought lasting for the next five consecutive years.
SERVICE RELIABILTY - CONSTRAINTS ON WATER SOURCES
The City’s sources of supplies consist of water purchased from CVWC and imported water from TVMWD, as described in Section 6.2. Although all of these supplies are managed, the following constraints may occur which the City has considered in this reliability analysis.
Main Basin
The City can purchase water from CVWC which is produced from the Main Basin. The groundwater historically had been impacted by contamination. However, CVWC has developed and implemented appropriate treatment (blending and/or treatment facilities)
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City of Covina Page 7-4
which have been approved by SWRCB-DDW. These groundwater supplies are considered reliable both from a water quality and quantity standpoint.
Imported Water
The City receives treated surface water from MWD through TVMWD. Water quality from MWD relating to supply reliability is addressed separately in MWD’s 2025 Regional Urban Water Management Plan.
WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT
CWC 10635.
(a) Every urban water supplier shall include, as part of its urban water management plan, an assessment of the reliability of its water service to its customers during normal, dry, and multiple dry water years. This water supply and demand assessment shall compare the total water supply sources available to the water supplier with the long-term total projected water use over the next 20 years, in five-year increments, for a normal water year, a single dry water year, and a drought lasting five consecutive water years. The water service reliability assessment shall be based upon the information compiled pursuant to Section 10631, including available data from state, regional, or local agency population projections within the service area of the urban water supplier.
Information regarding the reliability of the City’s water supplies is based on the historical precipitation data in the San Gabriel Valley. Historical annual precipitation in the San Gabriel Valley is discussed in Section 3.3 and is based on historical data collected from Station 047050 (Pomona Fairplex, California). Furthermore, Section 4.2.5.6 of this Plan notes that potential future climate change impacts may result in an increase in the average annual precipitation within the City’s service area, thus indicating use of historical data is a reasonable and conservative approach. As indicated in Section 3.3, the historical average annual rainfall in the vicinity of the City’s service area is 17.2 inches. FY 2019- 20 represents an average or normal water year for the City in which the total amount of
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rainfall was similar to the historical average rainfall. A single dry year for the City was represented in FY 2017-18, in which the total amount of rainfall was below the historical average rainfall. A five consecutive year drought period for the City is represented from FY 2011-12 to FY 2015-16, where the total amount of rainfall during each of these years was less than the historical average rainfall. Table 7-1 summarizes these “base years” for average, single dry, and five consecutive year drought and provides the total amount of water supplies available to the City during those base years. The following discussion assesses the water service reliability of the City’s water supply sources.
Water Service Reliability - Imported Water
The City’s treated imported water supplies from MWD, through TVMWD, may be impacted during a multi-year drought or other conditions which limits MWD from delivering sufficient water supplies to all of its member agencies, and consequently to the City. In anticipation of such a reduction in supplies, MWD developed a WSAP which is briefly described below. The WSAP provides a means of equitably providing reduced water supplies to each of MWD’s member agencies for up to 10 levels of reduction representing up to a 50 percent reduction.
During calendar year 2007, critically dry conditions impacted MWD’s water supply sources. In addition, a ruling in the Federal Courts in August 2007 provided protective measures for the Delta Smelt (and subsequently other aquatic species) in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta resulting in restrictions on the availability of State Water Project water. As a result, MWD adopted a WSAP in February 2008 to allocate available water supplies to its member agencies. MWD revised the WSAP in December 2014.
The WSAP establishes ten different shortage levels and a corresponding Allocation to each member agency. Based on the shortage levels established by MWD, the WSAP provides a separate reduced Allocation to a member agency for its 1) Municipal and
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Industrial (M&I) retail demand and 2) replenishment demand. The WSAP formula considers historical local water production, full service treated water deliveries, agricultural deliveries and water conservation efforts when calculating each member agency’s Allocation.
In general, the WSAP process calculates total historical member agency demand. That historical demand is then compared to member agency projected local supply for a specific Allocation year. The balance required from MWD, less an Allocation reduction factor, is the member agency’s “Water Supply Allocation” of imported water from MWD.
When a member agency reduces its local demand through conservation or other means, the Allocation of imported water will increase. Depending on MWD’s available supply, MWD can establish a specific WSAP shortage level. The shortage level causes a regional reduction and calculates an allocation for each of its member agency. Additional information about MWD’s WSAP is provided in MWD’s Regional 2025 UWMP which is incorporated by reference. The following is a summary of MWD’s water shortage levels:
Level 1 – Regional Percent Reduction of 5%
Level 2 – Regional Percent Reduction of 10%
Level 3 – Regional Percent Reduction of 15%
Level 4 – Regional Percent Reduction of 20%
Level 5 – Regional Percent Reduction of 25%
Level 6 – Regional Percent Reduction of 30%
Level 7 – Regional Percent Reduction of 35%
Level 8 – Regional Percent Reduction of 40%
Level 9 – Regional Percent Reduction of 45%
Level 10 – Regional Percent Reduction of 50%
In response to a fourth consecutive year of below average rainfall and critically dry conditions, MWD declared a WSAP Allocation Level 3 for fiscal year 2015-16, which
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represented a regional reduction of 15 percent. MWD rescinded the WSAP for fiscal year 2016-17 and has not reinstated the WSAP since that time.
Water Service Reliability – Purchased Water
The City purchases treated water from CVWC (as discussed in Section 6.2.1). During a normal year (FY 2019-20), the City met about 100 percent of its total demands with supplies from purchased water from CVWC. During a single dry year (FY 2017-18), the City met about 99 percent of its total demands with supplies from purchased water from CVWC. During a five consecutive year drought (FY 2011-12 to FY 2015-16), the City met between 76 and 100 percent of its total demands with supplies purchased from CVWC.
Water Service Reliability Summary
Table 7-1 shows the water supplies during the base years (for average year, single dry year and a five consecutive year drought). As a result of the City’s diverse water supply portfolio, water supplies may be re-apportioned during a five consecutive year drought to meet the City’s water demands.
WSRA - YEAR TYPE CHARACTERIZATION
7.2.1.1 TYPES OF YEARS
The City’s base years for an average year, a single dry year, and a five consecutive year drought are discussed in Section 7.2 and are summarized in Table 7-1. As indicated in Chapter 6, the City’s water supplies sources have been sufficient in meeting the City’s historical water demands during an average year, a single dry year, and a five consecutive year drought. An average year was based on a historical year during the past 15 years with a total precipitation similar to the historical average precipitation in the vicinity of the City’s service area. Because a single dry year or a five consecutive year drought period
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will not compromise the City’s ability to provide a reliable supply of water to its customers, a single dry year in this Plan was selected based on one of the driest years during the past 15 years. The five consecutive year drought period was based on a period of five consecutive dry years during the past 15 years.
As indicated in Section 3.3, the historical average rainfall in the vicinity of the City’s service area is 17.2 inches. FY 2019-20 represents an average or normal water year for the City in which the total amount of rainfall was similar to the historical average rainfall. A single dry year for the City was represented in FY 2017-18, in which the total amount of rainfall was less than the historical average rainfall. A five consecutive year drought period for the City is represented from FY 2011-12 to FY 2015-16, where the total amount of rainfall during each of these years was less than the historical average rainfall. Table 7-1 summarizes these “base years” for an average year, a single dry year and a five consecutive year drought period and provides the total amount of water supplies available to the City during those base years.
7.2.1.2 SOURCES FOR WATER DATA
The monthly historical average temperatures (including minimum and maximum), monthly historical average rainfall, and monthly ETo in the vicinity of the City’s service area are discussed in Section 3.3. Historical climate information was obtained from the WRCC, DPW, and from DWR’s CIMIS.
WSRA – SUPPLY AND DEMAND COMPARISON
CWC 10635.
(a) Every urban water supplier shall include, as part of its urban water management plan, an assessment of the reliability of its water service to its customers during normal, dry, and multiple dry water years. This water supply and demand assessment shall compare the total water supply sources available to the water supplier with the long-term total projected water use over the next 20 years, in five-year increments, for a normal water year, a single dry water
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year, and a drought lasting five consecutive water years. The water service reliability assessment shall be based upon the information compiled pursuant to Section 10631, including available data from state, regional, or local agency population projections within the service area of the urban water supplier.
The City primarily obtains its water supply from water purchased from CVWC. As discussed in Section 7.3 and shown in Table 7-2, Table 7-3, and Table 7-4, each of the City’s water supply sources share the same base years. As previously discussed in Section 7.2.1, a single dry year or a five consecutive year drought period will not compromise the City’s ability to provide a reliable supply of water to its customers.
The City’s projected normal year water demands over the next 25 years are discussed in Section 4.2.6. The ratio of total water supplies (including potable water supplies) available to the City during a historical average year in FY 2019-20 (or 5,106 AF) and during a historical single dry year in FY 2017-18 (or 5,247 AF) was used to estimate the City’s projected water demands during single dry years. The ratio of total water supplies available to the City during a historical average year in FY 2019-20 (or 5,106 AF) and a historical a five consecutive year drought period from FY 2011-12 to FY 2015-16 (or 5,677 AF, 6,075 AF, 6,058 AF, 5,396 AF, and 4,633 AF, respectively) was used to estimate the City’s projected water demands during a five consecutive year drought period. The City’s projected dry year water supplies over the next 25 years were based on the minimum supplies needed by the City to meet projected single-dry year demands. Table 7-2, Table 7-3, and Table 7-4 summarize the City’s projected water demands and supplies over the next 25 years in five-year increments, including during normal years, single dry years, and a five consecutive year drought periods. These tables indicate the City can meet water demands during normal years, single dry years, and a five consecutive year drought periods over the next 25 years.
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7.2.2.1 NORMAL YEAR
Table 7-2 summarizes the City’s projected water demands and supplies over the next 25 years in five-year increments during normal years. Table 7-2 indicates the City can meet water demands during normal years over the next 25 years.
7.2.2.2 SINGLE DRY YEAR
Table 7-3 summarizes the City’s projected water demands and supplies over the next 25 years in five-year increments during single dry years. Table 7-3 indicates the City can meet water demands during single dry years over the next 25 years.
7.2.2.3 FIVE CONSECUTIVE DRY YEARS
Table 7-4 summarizes the City’s projected water demands and supplies over the next 25 years in five-year increments during five consecutive year drought periods. Table 7-4 indicates the City can meet water demands during five consecutive year drought periods over the next 25 years.
WSRA DESCRIPTION OF MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND
OPTIONS
CWC 10620.
(f) An urban water supplier shall describe in the plan water management tools and options used by that entity that will maximize resources and minimize the need to import water from other regions.
Main Basin
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As noted in Section 6.2.2, the Main Basin is managed by the Main Basin Watermaster.
During the period of management under the Judgment, significant drought events have occurred. In each drought cycle the Main Basin has been managed to maintain water levels. Therefore, based on historical and on-going management practices, the City (through CVWC) will be able to rely on the Main Basin for adequate supply over the next 25 years under single dry years and a five consecutive year drought period.
Section 6.2.2 provides a description of the management of groundwater resources in the Main Basin, as well as information on basin management. Chapter 6 also demonstrates the management structure of the Main Basin provides a reliable source of groundwater supply for the City (through CVWC) during a normal year, a single-dry year and a five consecutive year drought. Historical data indicates the Main Basin has been well managed for the full period of the adjudication, resulting in a stable and reliable water supply. Basin management changes are discussed in Section 6.2.2, and include increased direct use of recycled water (see Section 6.2.5) and the planned use of treated recycled water for groundwater replenishment in the Main Basin to reduce the need to import water from other regions. Therefore, the groundwater supplies in the Main Basin are deemed reliable.
DROUGHT RISK ASSESSMENT
CWC 10612.
“Drought Risk Assessment” means a method that examines water shortage risks based on the driest five-year historic sequence for the agency’s water supply, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 10635.
CWC 10635.
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(b) Every urban water supplier shall include, as part of its urban water management plan, a drought risk assessment for its water service to its customers as part of information considered in developing the demand management measures and water supply projects and programs to be included in the urban water management plan. The urban water supplier may conduct an interim update or updates to this drought risk assessment within the five-year cycle of its urban water management plan update. The drought risk assessment shall include each of the following:
(1) A description of the data, methodology, and basis for one or more supply shortage conditions that are necessary to conduct a drought risk assessment for a drought period that lasts five consecutive water years, starting from the year following when the assessment is conducted.
(2) A determination of the reliability of each source of supply under a variety of water shortage conditions. This may include a determination that a particular source of water supply is fully reliable under most, if not all, conditions.
(3) A comparison of the total water supply sources available to the water supplier with the total projected water use for the drought period.
(4) Considerations of the historical drought hydrology, plausible changes on projected supplies and demands under climate change conditions, anticipated regulatory changes, and other locally applicable criteria.
The City’s sources of supplies consist of treated import water purchased through Three Valleys Municipal Water District and managed by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and purchased water from CVWC. The following discussion provides a Drought Risk Assessment (DRA) which assesses the City’s water supply reliability over a five consecutive year drought period. The City’s DRA incorporates a five consecutive year drought from FY 2025-26 through FY 2029-30 and includes a review of water supplies, water uses, and water supply reliability.
DRA, DATA, METHODS, AND BASIS FOR WATER SHORTAGE
CONDITIONS
The City’s DRA was prepared using historical production data from the City’s water supply sources. The following assumptions were considered during the preparation of the City’s DRA for each year of the five consecutive year drought.
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The five consecutive year drought period associated with the 2025 Plan is based on five consecutive dry years from FY 2025-26 through FY 2029-30 The projected water supplies available during each year of this five consecutive year drought are assumed to be identical to the water supplies produced during each year between FY 2011-12 and FY 2015-16 (which represents the most recent and historical five consecutive year drought).
The projected demands during this five consecutive year drought are based on water demands from FY 2019-20 (a normal year) which were adjusted based on projected population over the next five years along with the ratio of the normal year demands to actual demands over each year of the most recent and historical five consecutive year drought period (from FY 2011-12 and FY 2015-16). The projected demands were compared to the projected supplies to identify potential water supply deficits which may require implementation of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan (discussed further in Chapter 8).
The following methodologies were considered during the preparation of the City’s DRA during for each year of the five consecutive year drought:
Drought Year 1: The region had experienced an average to above average year of precipitation in the prior year. Water use in the prior year had been below average due to a reduce need for outdoor water use, the groundwater basin had been replenished from above average local stormwater runoff, and imported water supplies were not restricted.
Drought Year 2: The region experienced a second year of below average precipitation and runoff. Retail customers increase water use for outdoor irrigation to compensate for lack of precipitation. Groundwater and imported water supplies have not been impacted. Local surface water supplies have not been impacted.
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Drought Year 3: The region experienced a third year of below average precipitation and runoff. Retail customers increase water use for outdoor irrigation to compensate for lack of precipitation. Groundwater and imported water supplies have not been impacted. However, there is an increased demand on both groundwater and treated imported water.
Drought Year 4: The region experienced a fourth year of below average precipitation and runoff. Groundwater supplies have not been impacted. However, there is an increased demand on groundwater.
Drought Year 5: Fifth year of below average precipitation and runoff. Groundwater supplies have not been impacted. However, there is an increased demand on groundwater.
DRA INDIVIDUAL WATER SOURCE RELIABILITY
The City’s DRA incorporates a five consecutive year drought based on five consecutive dry years commencing in FY 2025-26. The quantity of water supplies available for each year during this five consecutive year drought period included in the City’s DRA is assumed to be the same as the quantity of water supplies produced by the City (i.e. demands) during the most recent and historical five consecutive year drought which occurred from FY 2011-12 through FY 2015-16. Production data for those years have been tabulated in Section 6.1. The following describes the anticipated reliability of each water source for each year of the five consecutive year drought based on recent experience.
Groundwater
The City purchases water supplies from CVWC which produces groundwater from the Main Basin which is actively managed by the Main Basin Watermaster, as described in
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Section 6.2.2. Each year the Main Basin Watermaster reviews water supply conditions including local rainfall, groundwater levels, local stormwater runoff available for replenishment, imported water availability and the amount of imported water stored in the groundwater basin for future demands. The Watermaster identifies the annual amount of groundwater which may be pumped (such as an Operating Safe Yield) before more expensive imported water would need to be purchased from MWD through the Three Valleys Municipal Water District and Upper Water to replenish the Basin for all production in excess of the water rights. Regardless of the annual safe yield adopted there is never a restriction on the amount of water which may be pumped from the Main Basin, only the cost of producing the groundwater is impacted. The Main Basin Watermaster is not restricted as to when or how much untreated imported water be delivered to the Main Basin, only that it ultimately be delivered. The quantity of groundwater used (and reliably available) during the most recent and historical five consecutive year drought period have been tabulated in Section 6.1. During this period, CVWC was able to utilize production of its groundwater supplies from an adjudicated and managed groundwater basin. The City also had the ability to systematically implement aspects of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan (see Chapter 8). As a result of these collective actions (and experience during prior consecutive five year droughts), the City (through CVWC) does not anticipate a water supply shortage from the Main Basin.
Imported Water
The City obtains imported water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California through Three Valleys Municipal Water District. Section 6.2.1 describes the planning conducted by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California regarding treated imported water supplies available to the City. The reliability of MWD’s supplies is also discussed in its 2025 Regional UWMP and is incorporated by reference. The City purchases treated imported water which is delivered directly within its distribution system.
The City’s purchases of treated, imported water over the past 15 years have been
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tabulated in Section 6.1. In the event of a drought which limits imported water supplies, the City will rely on purchased water from CVWC.
The imported water purchases by the City during the most recent and historical five consecutive year drought period have been tabulated in Section 6.1. Because the City’s DRA assumes the most recent and historical five consecutive year drought scenario will be repeated over the next five years, it is assumed the quantity of treated imported water supplies purchased during the most recent and historical five consecutive year drought scenario will be available. Furthermore, this constitutes the minimum amount of treated imported water which may be available in a future five consecutive year drought absent MWD’s programs which it has since implemented.
Summary
The City’s water system has experienced a prior five consecutive year drought with no limitation to its collective water supplies. However, the cost of those water supplies may have increased based on the mix of supplies which are used. Consequently, the City has the ability to enact varying Demand Management Measures (see Chapter 9) to help educate its customers and provide an economic incentive for the retail customers to reduce their water consumption.
DRA TOTAL WATER SUPPLY AND USE COMPARISON
Gross water use for the projected five consecutive year drought is shown on Table 7-5.
Section 7.3.2 describes the water source reliability for each source of supply the City will rely on during a five consecutive year drought. The annual quantities are summed and are also provided on Table 7-5. However, for the purposes of the City’s DRA, as a worstcase scenario, the City has considered no water supply augmentation (as indicated in Table 7-5) from its groundwater supplies. When necessary, the City can implement various water shortage levels of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan (as discussed in
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Chapter 8) in order to reduce its water demands. As shown in Table 7-5, assuming no additional water supply benefits will be available from groundwater supplies, the City can implement various stages of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan to balance water demands with available supplies during each year of the projected five consecutive year drought.
OPTIONAL PLANNING TOOL WORKBOOK
DWR has deemed the “Planning Tool Worksheet” as optional and the City is not required by DWR to use the tool. The City has provided sufficient water supplies to its customers, including during long-term droughts and years with historically high water demands. The City has also been able to provide water service to meet maximum day water demands for these years, including during the summer months. The City purchases a majority of its water supplies from CVWC, which produces groundwater from a managed groundwater basin which is not subject to seasonal fluctuation. Consequently, an evaluation regarding water supplies on a monthly basis was not considered.
SUBMITTAL TABLES
The applicable standardized Submittal Tables referenced within Chapter 7 are provided below.
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OPTIONAL TABLE 7-1: BASIS OF WATER-YEAR DATA (WSRA)
Table 7-1 Basis of Water-Year Data (Reliability Assessment)
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TABLE 7-2: NORMAL-YEAR SUPPLY AND USE COMPARISON
Table 7-2 Normal-Year Supply and Use Comparison
2030 (AF) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF)
Supply totals
(autofill from Submittal
Table 6-9 R)
5,319 5,337 5,352 5,370 5,385
Use totals
(autofill from Submittal
Table 4-2 R)
5,319 5,337 5,352 5,370 5,385
Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP - supply
augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction
savings benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
Submittal Table 7-2 Retail: Normal Year Supply and Use Comparison Water Code Section 10635 (a)
NOTES:
DWR NOTES : Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
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TABLE 7-3: SINGLE-DRY-YEAR SUPPLY AND USE
COMPARISON
Table 7-3 Single-Dry-Year Supply and Use Comparison
Supply totals 5,466 5,484 5,500 5,518 5,534
Use totals 5,466 5,484 5,500 5,518 5,534
Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP - supply
augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction
savings benefit
Revised
Surplus/(shortfall)
Submittal Table 7-3 Retail: Single Dry Year Supply and Use Comparison Water Code Section 10635(a)
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
2030 (AF) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF)
DWR NOTES : Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES
2050 (AF)
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TABLE 7-4: MULTIPLE DRY YEARS SUPPLY AND USE
COMPARISON
Table 7-4 Multiple Dry Years Supply and Use Comparison
2030 (AF) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF)
Supply totals 5,914 5,934 5,951 5,971 5,987
Use totals 5,914 5,934 5,951 5,971 5,987
Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
Supply totals 6,328 6,350 6,368 6,389 6,407
Use totals 6,328 6,350 6,368 6,389 6,407
Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
Supply totals 6,311 6,332 6,350 6,371 6,389
Use totals 6,311 6,332 6,350 6,371 6,389
Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
Supply totals 5,621 5,640 5,656 5,675 5,691
Use totals 5,621 5,640 5,656 5,675 5,691
Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
Supply totals 4,826 4,843 4,856 4,873 4,886
Use totals 4,826 4,843 4,856 4,873 4,886
Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
NOTES:
First year
Second year OPTIONAL WSCP Actions
Third year
Fifth year
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
Fourth year OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
Submittal Table 7-4 Retail: Multiple Dry Years Supply and Use Comparison Water Code Section 10635(a)
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
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TABLE 7-5: FIVE-YEAR DROUGHT RISK ASSESSMENT
Table 7-5 Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment
2026 Total
Total Water Use (AF) 5,504
Total Supplies (AF) 5,677
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 173
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF)
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF)
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
2027 Total
Total Water Use (AF) 6,000
Total Supplies (AF) 6,075
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 75
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF)
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF)
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
2028 Total
Total Water Use (AF) 6,092
Total Supplies (AF) 6,058
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action (34)
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF)
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 34
Revised Surplus/(shortfall) 0
2029 Total
Total Water Use (AF) 5,524
Total Supplies (AF) 5,396
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action (128)
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF)
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 128
Revised Surplus/(shortfall) 0
2030 Total
Total Water Use (AF) 4,826
Total Supplies (AF) 4,633
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action (193)
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF)
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 193
Revised Surplus/(shortfall) 0
NOTES:
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain
consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
Submittal Table 7-5 Retail: Five-Year Drought Risk
Assessment
Water Code Section 10635(b)(3)
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation)
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation)
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation)
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation)
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation)
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CHAPTER 8
WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
LAY DESCRIPTION – CHAPTER 8
WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
Chapter 8 (Water Shortage Contingency Plan) of the City’s 2025 Plan discusses and provides the following:
The City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan is a detailed approach which presents how the City intends to act, or respond, in the case of an actual water shortage contingency.
Preparation of the City’s “Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment” (or Annual Assessment) is discussed. The City is required to submit annually an Annual Assessment. The Annual Assessment includes a review of the City’s “unconstrained” water demands for the current year and for a potential upcoming single dry year. Unconstrained water demands represent the City’s water demands prior to any “response actions” the City may invoke pursuant to the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
The City will manage water supplies to minimize the adverse impacts of water shortages. The City’s plan for water usage during periods of shortage is designed to incorporate six standard water shortage levels corresponding to progressive ranges from up to a 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 percent shortage, and greater than a 50 percent shortage.
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For each declared water supply shortage level, customers will be required to reduce their consumption by the percentage specified in the corresponding water supply shortage level.
For each declared water supply shortage level, the City has established response actions to reduce demand on water supplies and to reduce any shortage gaps in water supplies. These demand reduction actions include irrigation and other outdoor use restrictions, rate structure changes, and other water use prohibitions. The operational changes the City will consider in addressing water shortages on a short-term basis are discussed and include improved monitoring, analysis, and tracking of customer water usage to enforce demand reduction measures. The City’s Emergency Response Plan is summarized. The Emergency Response Plan provides the management, procedures, and designated actions the City and its employees will implement during emergency situations (including catastrophic water shortages) resulting from natural disasters, system failures, and other unforeseen circumstances.
The preparation of the City’s seismic risk assessment and mitigation plan is discussed. The locations of earthquake faults in the vicinity of the City’s water service area are provided.
The effectiveness of the shortage response actions for each of the City’s standard water shortage levels is presented. The City has been able to provide sufficient water supplies to its customers, including during long-term droughts and years with historically high water demands.
The communication protocols implemented by the City when it declares any water shortage level are presented.
The compliance and enforcement procedures associated with City’s standard water shortage levels are presented.
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The legal authorities associated with City’s standard water shortage levels are presented.
The financial consequences associated with City’s standard water shortage levels are presented.
The City will evaluate the need for revising the Water Shortage Contingency Plan in order to resolve any water shortage gaps, as necessary. The steps necessary for the City to adopt and amend its Water Shortage Contingency Plan are presented.
The following Water Shortage Contingency Plan includes references to Chapters and Sections from the City of Covina’s 2025 Urban Water Management Plan:
WATER SUPPLY RELIABILITY ANALYSIS
CWC 10632.
(a)(1) The analysis of water supply reliability conducted pursuant to Section 10635.
CWC 10632.5.
(a) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 10632, beginning January 1, 2020, the plan shall include 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.
The City’s sources of supply were discussed in Section 6.2 of the 2025 Plan and consist of treated imported water purchased from MWD through TVMWD and purchased water from CVWC. The reliability of the various sources of supply are discussed in Chapter 7 of the 2025 Plan. Imported water supplies (treated) may be impacted in the event MWD
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implements its WSAP due to a water supply shortage. A seismic risk assessment and mitigation plan is discussed in Section 8.4.6.
ANNUAL WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
CWC 10632.
(a) Every urban water supplier shall prepare and adopt a water shortage contingency plan as part of its urban water management plan that consists of each of the following elements CWC 10632.
(a)(2) The procedures used in conducting an annual water supply and demand assessment that include, at a minimum, both of the following:
(A) The written decision-making process that an urban water supplier will use each year to determine its water supply reliability.
(B) The key data inputs and assessment methodology used to evaluate the urban water supplier’s water supply reliability for the current year and one dry year, including all of the following:
(i) Current year unconstrained demand, considering weather, growth, and other influencing factors, such as policies to manage current supplies to meet demand objectives in future years, as applicable.
(ii) Current year available supply, considering hydrological and regulatory conditions in the current year and one dry year. The annual supply and demand assessment may consider more than one dry year solely at the discretion of the urban water supplier.
(iii) Existing infrastructure capabilities and plausible constraints. (iv) A defined set of locally applicable evaluation criteria that are consistently relied upon for each annual water supply and demand assessment. (v) A description and quantification of each source of water supply.
CWC 10632.1.
An urban water supplier shall conduct an annual water supply and demand assessment pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10632 and, on or before July 1 of each year, submit an annual water shortage assessment report to the department with information for anticipated shortage, triggered shortage response actions, compliance and enforcement actions, and communication actions consistent with the supplier’s water shortage contingency plan. An urban water supplier that relies
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on imported water from the State Water Project or the Bureau of Reclamation shall submit its annual water supply and demand assessment within 14 days of receiving its final allocations, or by July 1 of each year, whichever is later.
By July 1st of every year, the City is required to submit an “Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment” (Annual Assessment) in accordance with DWR’s guidance and requirements. The Annual Assessment includes a review of the City’s unconstrained water demands (i.e. water demands prior to any projected response actions the City may trigger under this Water Shortage Contingency Plan) for the current year and the upcoming (potential single dry) year. The Annual Assessment also includes information regarding anticipated shortages, triggered shortage response actions, compliance and enforcement actions, and communication actions consistent with the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
During the preparation of each Annual Assessment, the City will evaluate the adequacy of its water supplies for the current and upcoming years. The evaluation will include a review of water supplies for at least a single dry year.
DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
The City purchases water from CVWC as its primary source of water supply. During the third quarter of each fiscal year the City will review its water demands from the initial six months along with the current groundwater basin conditions and local hydrology. This information will be used to help develop the Annual Assessment. A draft of the Annual Assessment will be circulated internally within the City for peer review and comment.
Based on comments received, a redraft will be prepared and provided to City managers during the Spring of each year. The draft will subsequently be provided to the General Manager for final review. If necessary, a final draft of the Annual Assessment will be
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provided to the City Council for review and included in the agenda as part of a Council meeting such that it can be approved and any recommended specific shortage response actions may be enacted. The final Annual Assessment will be provided to DWR no later than July 1 of each year.
The Annual Assessments will be instrumental in providing guidance to the City for decisions regarding potential declarations of a water supply shortage and implementation of water reduction stages, instituting mandatory water restrictions, promoting water use efficiency and conservation programs, water rates and drought rate surcharges, and the necessity of pursuing alternative water supplies. This process will help ensure adequate water supplies resources are available to the City.
DATA AND METHODOLOGIES
The key data inputs and methodologies which will be evaluated by the City during the preparation of the Annual Assessment will include the following:
Evaluation Criteria: The locally applicable evaluation criteria used to prepare the Annual Assessment will be identified. The evaluation criteria will include, but is not limited to, an analysis of current local hydrology (including rainfall and groundwater levels), current water demands, a review of water system improvement plans which may impact infrastructure availability, and water quality regulations which may impact groundwater availability.
Water Supply: A description of each available water supply source will be provided.
The descriptions will include a quantification of each available water supply source and will be based on review of current production capacities, historical production, Urban Water Management Plans, and prior water supply studies (including Water Supply Assessments and/or Master Plans).
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Unconstrained Water Demand: The potential unconstrained water demands during the current year and the upcoming (potential single dry) year will be reviewed. The review will include factors such as weather, existing and projected land uses and populations, actual customer consumption and water use factors, monthly Urban Water Supplier Monthly Reports, existing water shortage levels (see Section 8.3), and existing water conservation ordinances (see Section 9.1). Planned Water Use for Current Year Considering Dry Subsequent Year: The water supplies available to meet the demands during the current year and the upcoming (potential single dry) year will be considered and identified by each type of supply.
The evaluation will include factors such as estimated water demands, weather, groundwater basin operating safe yields, water quality results, imported water allocations, contractual obligations, regulatory issues, use of emergency interconnections, and the costs associated with purchasing each water supply source.
Infrastructure Considerations: The capabilities of the water distribution system infrastructure to meet the water demands during the current year and the upcoming (potential single dry) year will be considered. Available production capacities (e.g. groundwater well capacities) and distribution system water losses (see Section
4.3) will be reviewed. In addition, capital improvement and replacement projects, as well as potential projects which may increase water system and production capacities (see Section 6.2.10), will be considered.
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SIX STANDARD WATER SHORTAGE LEVELS
CWC 10632.
(a)(3)(A) Six standard water shortage levels corresponding to progressive ranges of up to 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 percent shortages and greater than 50 percent shortage. Urban water suppliers shall define these shortage levels based on the suppliers’ water supply conditions, including percentage reductions in water supply, changes in groundwater levels, changes in surface elevation or level of subsidence, or other changes in hydrological or other local conditions indicative of the water supply available for use.
Shortage levels shall also apply to catastrophic interruption of water supplies, including, but not limited to, a regional power outage, an earthquake, and other potential emergency events.
(a)(3)(B) An urban water supplier with an existing water shortage contingency plan that uses different water shortage levels may comply with the requirement in subparagraph (A) by developing and including a cross-reference relating its existing categories to the six standard water shortage levels.
The City has a legal responsibility to provide water utility services, including water for residential, commercial, industrial, public authority, and for public fire hydrants and private fire services. The City will manage water supplies prudently to minimize the adverse impacts of water shortages. The City’s plan for water usage during periods of shortage is designed to incorporate six standard water shortage levels corresponding to progressive ranges from up to 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 percent shortages and greater than 50 percent shortage. Water shortage trigger mechanisms have been established to ensure that this policy is implemented.
For each declared water supply shortage level, customers will be required to reduce their water consumption by the percentage specified in the corresponding water supply shortage level.
The City’s water conservation plan (part of the City’s Municipal Code Chapter 13.06), most recently amended through Ordinance 22-10 in 2022, established four (4) water shortage levels. A copy of the City’s water conservation plan is provided in Appendix H.
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In accordance with the California Water Code in which urban water suppliers are required to define six standard water shortage levels, the City has developed the crosswalk illustrated below (also included in the City’s 2020 Plan) that translated the City’s previously established shortage levels to the mandated standard shortage levels. Table 8-1 also provides a cross-reference between the City’s previously established shortage levels and the mandated standard shortage levels.
Corresponding Relationships Between Supplier's Established Shortage Levels and the WSCP Mandated Shortage Levels
Established
Level
Supply
Condition/Shortage
WSCP
Standard
Level
Shortage Level
All times Up to 5% 1 ≤ to 10%
1 Up to 10% 2 10 to 20%
2 Up to 25% 3 20 to 30%
3 Up to 40% 4 30 to 40 %
4 50% 5 40 to 50 %
6 > 50 %
SHORTAGE RESPONSE ACTIONS
CWC 10632.
(a)(4) Shortage response actions that align with the defined shortage levels and include, at a minimum, all of the following:
(A) Locally appropriate supply augmentation actions.
(B) Locally appropriate demand reduction actions to adequately respond to shortages. (C) Locally appropriate operational changes.
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(D) Additional, mandatory prohibitions against specific water use practices that are in addition to state-mandated prohibitions and appropriate to the local conditions. (E) For each action, an estimate of the extent to which the gap between supplies and demand will be reduced by implementation of the action.
SUPPLY AUGMENTATION
The City does not plan to add a new source of water supply to address customer demands, but instead will consider increased supplies from existing sources. Table 8-2 reflects this approach and does not identify any new supplies. Instead, the City will focus on demand reduction measures in the event existing sources of supply are not sufficient to meet customer demands. As discussed in Chapter 6, the City’s sources of water supply include imported water purchased from MWD through Three Valleys Municipal Water District and water purchased from CVWC. As noted in Section 8.2, the City is required to annually prepare and submit an Annual Assessment which will include a review of water supplies available to meet water demands for the current and upcoming years. If the City is currently in, or considers entering into, one of the standard water shortage levels identified in Section 8.3, the City will consider the water supply augmentation actions described below.
For each water shortage level discussed in Section 8.3, the City will consider supplementing its existing water supplies through purchase of additional imported water supplies. Due to previous critically dry conditions, MWD developed the “Water Supply Allocation Plan” (WSAP) whereby available supplies are equitably allocated to its member agencies, including Three Valleys Municipal Water District. The WSAP establishes ten different shortage levels and a corresponding drought allocation to each member agency.
Based on the shortage level established by MWD, the WSAP provides a reduced drought allocation to a member agency for its Municipal and Industrial (M&I) retail demand. The ratio of MWD water supply drought allocation to local water supply will change based on
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the WSAP stage. Any Full Service water delivered in excess of a drought allocation is subject to a penalty rate in addition to the normal rate paid for the water.
In addition to the WSAP, MWD describes supply augmentation actions in its Regional 2025 UWMP, which is incorporated by reference. MWD’s primary first response to any gap between core supplies (from the State Water Project and Colorado River) and demand is to make optimal use of its supply augmentation options, consisting of drawing from flexible supply programs and storage reserves. MWD has developed and actively manages a portfolio of water supply programs including water transfer, storage, and exchange agreements. MWD pursues voluntary water transfer and exchange programs to help mitigate supply/demand imbalances and provide additional dry-year supply sources. In addition, MWD has developed significant storage capacity in reservoirs, conjunctive use, and other groundwater storage programs totaling approximately 6.0 million AF. Based on MWD’s historical and on-going water supply and storage programs and management practices, the City can potentially continue relying on purchased imported water supplies from MWD through Three Valleys Municipal Water District for adequate supply augmentation in response to each of the standard water shortage levels identified in Section 8.3.
DEMAND REDUCTION
The City may establish water shortage response actions to reduce demand on water supplies. These demand reduction actions include irrigation and other outdoor use restrictions, rate structure changes, and other water use prohibitions. Depending on the percent reduction in the City’s water supply and corresponding water shortage level, regulations are made to conserve water and reduce the shortage gap in normal supply levels. Many demand reduction actions, identified as voluntary or mandatory conservation measures, are applicable to all levels of water shortages. The structure of water shortage levels are designed to strongly encourage customers with high per capita usage to achieve proportionally greater reduction than those with low usage. Violations of these
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demand reduction actions will be considered waste and an unreasonable use of water.
Table 8-3 describes each demand reduction action and its effect on reducing the shortage gap.
A full listing of the restrictions/prohibitions associated with each shortage level is provided below.
Permanent Water Conservation Requirements
The following water conservation requirements are effective at all times and are permanent. Violations of this section shall be considered waste and an unreasonable use of water.
A. Limits on Watering Hours. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water is prohibited between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on any day, except by use of hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing, shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.
B. Limit on Watering Duration. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated areas with potable water using a landscape irrigation system or water device that is not continuously attended is limited to no more than 15 minutes watering per day per station. This subsection does not apply to landscape irrigation systems that exclusively use very low-flow, drip-type irrigation systems when no emitter produces more than two gallons of water per hour and weather-based controllers or stream rotor sprinklers that meet a 70 percent efficiency standard.
C. No Excessive Water Flow or Runoff. Watering or irrigating lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area in a manner that causes or allows excessive water flow or runoff onto an adjoining sidewalk, driveway, street, alley, gutter or ditch is prohibited.
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D. No Washing Down Hard or Paved Surfaces. Washing down hard or paved surfaces, including but not limited to sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios or alleys, is prohibited except when necessary to alleviate safety or sanitary hazards, and then only by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive, self-closing shut-off device, a low-volume, high-pressure cleaning machine equipped to recycle any water used, or a low-volume, high-pressure water broom.
E. Obligation to Fix Leaks, Breaks, or Malfunctions. Excessive use, loss or escape of water through breaks, leaks or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system for any period of time after such escape of water should have reasonably been discovered and corrected, and in no event more than five days of receiving notice from the city, is prohibited.
F. Recirculating Water Required for Water Fountains and Decorative Water Features.
Operating a water fountain or other decorative water feature that does not use recirculated water is prohibited.
G. Limits on Washing Vehicles. Using water to wash or clean a vehicle, including but not limited to any automobile, truck, van, bus, motorcycle, boat or trailer, whether motorized or not, is prohibited, except by the use of a hand-held bucket or similar container or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing, shut-off nozzle or device. This subsection does not apply to any commercial car washing facility.
H. Drinking Water Served upon Request Only. Eating or drinking establishments, including but not limited to a restaurant, hotel, cafe, cafeteria, bar, or other public place where food or drinks are sold, served, or offered for sale, are prohibited from providing drinking water to any person unless expressly requested. This subsection does not apply to permanently installed public drinking fountains.
I. Commercial Lodging Establishments Must Provide Guests Option to Decline Daily Linen Services. Hotels, motels and other commercial lodging establishments must provide customers the option of not having towels and linen laundered daily.
Commercial lodging establishments must prominently display notice of this option in each bathroom using clear and easily understood language.
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J. No Installation of Single Pass Cooling Systems. Installation of single pass cooling systems is prohibited in buildings requesting new or increased capacity water service.
K. No Installation of Non-recirculating Water Systems in Commercial Car Wash and Laundry Systems. Installation of non-recirculating water systems is prohibited in new commercial conveyor car wash and new commercial laundry systems.
L. Restaurants Required to Use Water Conserving Dish Wash Spray Valves. Food preparation establishments, such as restaurants or cafes, are prohibited from using non-water-conserving dish wash spray valves.
M. Commercial Car Wash Systems. Effective on January 1, 2011, all commercial conveyor car wash systems must have installed operational recirculating water systems, or must have secured a waiver from this requirement from the city.
Water Shortage Level 1
A Level 1 water supply shortage exists when the city manager or designee thereof determines that due to drought or other water supply conditions, a water supply shortage or threatened water supply shortage exists and a consumer demand reduction is necessary to make more efficient use of water and appropriately respond to existing water conditions.
In addition to the prohibited uses of water identified in the Permanent Water Conservation requirements, the following water conservation requirements shall be in effect during a declared Level 1 water supply shortage:
1. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area with potable water is limited to three days per week on a schedule established and posted by the director of public works. During the months of November through March, watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water is limited to no more than one day per week on a schedule established and posted
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by the director of public works. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated areas with potable water using a landscape irrigation system or water device that is not continuously attended is limited to no more than 15 minutes per day per station. This subsection does not apply to landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use very low-flow drip irrigation systems when no emitter uses more than two gallons of water per hour. This subsection also does not apply to watering or irrigating by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing, shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.
2. All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in the water user's plumbing or distribution system must be repaired within 72 hours of notification by the city unless other arrangements are made with the city. Whenever possible, the water user must immediately isolate or valve off any part of their distribution system or irrigation system for the express purpose of eliminating water waste until permanent repair can be made.
Water Shortage Level 2
A Level 2 water supply shortage exists when the city manager or designee thereof determines that due to drought or other water supply conditions, a water supply shortage or threatened water supply shortage exists and a consumer demand reduction is necessary to make more efficient use of water and appropriately respond to existing water conditions.
In addition to the prohibited uses of water identified in the Permanent Water Conservation Requirements and Water Shortage Level 1, the following additional water conservation requirements shall be in effect during a declared Level 2 water supply shortage:
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1. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area with potable water is limited to two days per week on a schedule established and posted by the director of public works. During the months of November through March, watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water is limited to no more than one day per week on a schedule established and posted by the director of public works. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated areas with potable water using a landscape irrigation system or water device that is not continuously attended is limited to no more than 10 minutes per day per station. This subsection does not apply to landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use very low-flow drip irrigation systems when no emitter uses more than two gallons of water per hour. This subsection also does not apply to watering or irrigating by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing, shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.
2. All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in the water user's plumbing or distribution system must be repaired within 48 hours of notification by the city unless other arrangements are made with the city. Whenever possible, the water user must immediately isolate or valve off any part of their distribution system or irrigation system for the express purpose of eliminating water waste until permanent repair can be made.
3. Filling or refilling ornamental lakes or ponds is prohibited except to the extent needed to sustain aquatic life; provided, that such animals are of significant value and have been actively managed within the water feature prior to declaration of supply shortage level.
4. Using water to wash or clean a vehicle, including but not limited to any automobile, truck, van, bus, motorcycle, boat or trailer, whether motorized or not, is prohibited except by the use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing, shut-off nozzle or device, by highPage 655 of 760 2025 Urban Water Management Plan
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pressure/low-volume wash systems, or at a commercial car washing facility that utilizes a recirculating water system to capture or reuse water.
Water Shortage Level 3
A Level 3 water supply shortage condition is also referred to as an “emergency” condition.
A Level 3 condition exists when the city manager or designee thereof declares a water shortage emergency and notifies residents and businesses that a significant reduction in consumer demand is necessary to maintain sufficient water supplies for public health and safety. During a Level 3 water supply shortage condition, the director of public works will implement the mandatory Level 3 conservation measures identified in this section.
In addition to the prohibited uses of water identified in the Permanent Water Conservation Requirements, Water Shortage Level 1, and Water Shortage Level 2, the following water conservation requirements shall apply during a declared Level 3 water supply shortage emergency:
1. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area with potable water is limited to one day per week on a schedule established and posted by the director of public works. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated areas with potable water using a landscape irrigation system or water device that is not continuously attended is limited to no more than eight minutes per day per station. This subsection does not apply to landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use very low-flow drip irrigation systems when no emitter uses more than two gallons of water per hour. This subsection also does not apply to watering or irrigating by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a handheld hose equipped with a positive self-closing, shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system. Any irrigation system shall apply water at a weekly volume not to exceed that consistent with the one-day watering restriction.
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2. All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in the water user's plumbing or distribution system must be repaired within 48 hours of notification by the city unless other arrangements are made with the city. Whenever possible, the water user must immediately isolate or valve off any part of their distribution system or irrigation system for the express purpose of eliminating water waste until permanent repair can be made.
3. Filling or refilling ornamental lakes or ponds is prohibited except to the extent needed to sustain aquatic life; provided, that such animals are of significant value and have been actively managed within the water feature prior to declaration of supply shortage level.
4. Using water to wash or clean a vehicle, including but not limited to any automobile, truck, van, bus, motorcycle, boat or trailer, whether motorized or not, is prohibited except by the use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing, shut-off nozzle or device, by highpressure/low-volume wash systems, or at a commercial car washing facility that utilizes a recirculating water system to capture or reuse water.
Water Shortage Level 4
A Level 4 water supply shortage condition is also referred to as an “emergency” condition.
A Level 4 condition exists when the city manager or designee thereof declares a water shortage emergency and notifies residents and businesses that a significant reduction in consumer demand is necessary to maintain sufficient water supplies for public health and safety. Upon declaration of a Level 4 water supply shortage condition, the director of public works will implement the mandatory Level 4 conservation measures identified in this section.
In addition to the prohibited uses of water identified in the Permanent Water Conservation Requirements and Water Shortage Levels 1 through 3, the following water conservation requirements shall apply during a declared Level 4 water supply shortage emergency:
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1. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area with potable water is limited to one day per week on a schedule established and posted by the director of public works. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape, or other vegetated areas with potable water using a landscape irrigation system or water device that is not continuously attended is limited to no more than eight minutes per day per station. This subsection does not apply to landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use very low-flow drip irrigation systems when no emitter uses more than two gallons of water per hour. This subsection also does not apply to watering or irrigating by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a handheld hose equipped with a positive self-closing, shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system. Any irrigation system shall apply water at a weekly volume not to exceed that consistent with the one-day watering restriction.
2. All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in the water user's plumbing or distribution system must be repaired within 48 hours of notification by the city unless other arrangements are made with the city. Whenever possible, the water user must immediately isolate or valve off any part of their distribution system or irrigation system for the express purpose of eliminating water waste until permanent repair can be made.
3. Filling or refilling ornamental lakes or ponds is prohibited except to the extent needed to sustain aquatic life; provided, that such animals are of significant value and have been actively managed within the water feature prior to declaration of supply shortage level.
4. Using water to wash or clean a vehicle, including but not limited to any automobile, truck, van, bus, motorcycle, boat or trailer, whether motorized or not, is prohibited except by the use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing, shut-off nozzle or device, by highpressure/low-volume wash systems, or at a commercial car washing facility that utilizes a recirculating water system to capture or reuse water.
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Water Shortage Level 5
A Level 5 water supply shortage condition is also referred to as an “emergency” condition.
A Level 5 condition exists when the city manager or designee thereof declares a water shortage emergency and notifies residents and businesses that a significant reduction in consumer demand is necessary to maintain sufficient water supplies for public health and safety. Upon declaration of a Level 5 water supply shortage condition, the director of public works will implement the mandatory Level 5 conservation measures identified in this section.
In addition to the prohibited uses of water identified in the Permanent Water Conservation Requirements and Water Shortage Levels 1 through 4, the following water conservation requirements shall apply during a declared Level 5 water supply shortage emergency:
1. Watering or irrigating lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area with potable water is prohibited. This restriction shall not apply to the following categories of use, if they are necessary to support health of trees or other perennials or the ability to recover after restrictions are lifted, unless the director of public works has determined that recycled water is available and may be applied to the use:
a. Maintenance of vegetation, including trees and shrubs, that are watered using a hand-held bucket or similar container or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing shut-off nozzle or device. b. Maintenance of existing landscape necessary for fire protection. c. Maintenance of existing landscape for soil erosion control. d. Maintenance of plant materials identified to be rare or essential to the well-being of protected species.
e. Maintenance of landscape within active public parks and playing fields, day care centers, golf course greens, or school grounds; provided, that such irrigation does not exceed two days per week according to the
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schedule established in the Water Shortage Level 2 and time restrictions in the Permanent Water Conservation Requirements. f. Actively irrigated environmental mitigation projects.
2. All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in the water user's plumbing or distribution system must be repaired within 24 hours of notification by the city unless other arrangements are made with the city. Whenever possible, the water user must immediately isolate or valve off any part of their distribution system or irrigation system for the express purpose of eliminating water waste until permanent repair can be made.
3. During a Level 5 water supply shortage emergency, no new potable water service will be provided, no new temporary meters or permanent meters will be provided, and no statements of immediate ability to service or provide potable water service, such as will serve letters, certificates, or letters of availability, will be issued, except under the following circumstances:
a. A valid, unexpired building permit has been issued for the project; or b. The project is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare; or c. The applicant provides substantial evidence of an enforceable commitment that water demands for the project will be offset prior to the provision of a new water meter(s) to the satisfaction of the director of public works.
This subsection does not preclude the resetting or turn-on of meters to provide continuation of water service or the restoration of service that has been interrupted for a period of six months or less.
4. The director of public works, in his or her sole discretion, may discontinue service to consumers who willfully violate provisions of this section.
5. Upon the declaration of a Level 5 water supply shortage condition, the city will suspend consideration of annexations to its service area. This subsection does not apply to boundary corrections and annexations that will not result in any increased use of water.
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Water Shortage Level 6
A Level 6 water supply shortage condition is also referred to as an “emergency” condition.
A Level 6 condition exists when the city manager or designee thereof declares a water shortage emergency and notifies residents and businesses that a significant reduction in consumer demand is necessary to maintain sufficient water supplies for public health and safety. Upon declaration of a Level 6 water supply shortage condition, the director of public works will implement the mandatory Level 6 conservation measures identified in this section.
In addition to the prohibited uses of water identified in the Permanent Water Conservation Requirements and Water Shortage Level 1 through 5, the following water conservation requirements shall apply during a declared Level 6 water supply shortage emergency:
1. Watering or irrigating lawn, landscape, or other vegetated area with potable water is prohibited. This restriction shall not apply to the following categories of use, if they are necessary to support health of trees or other perennials or the ability to recover after restrictions are lifted, unless the director of public works has determined that recycled water is available and may be applied to the use:
a. Maintenance of vegetation, including trees and shrubs, that are watered using a hand-held bucket or similar container or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing shut-off nozzle or device. b. Maintenance of existing landscape necessary for fire protection. c. Maintenance of existing landscape for soil erosion control. d. Maintenance of plant materials identified to be rare or essential to the wellbeing of protected species. e. Maintenance of landscape within active public parks and playing fields, day care centers, golf course greens, or school grounds; provided, that such irrigation does not exceed two days per week according to the schedule
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established in the Water Shortage Level 2 and time restrictions in the Permanent Water Conservation Requirements.
f. Actively irrigated environmental mitigation projects.
2. All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in the water user's plumbing or distribution system must be repaired within 24 hours of notification by the city unless other arrangements are made with the city. Whenever possible, the water user must immediately isolate or valve off any part of their distribution system or irrigation system for the express purpose of eliminating water waste until permanent repair can be made.
3. During a Level 6 water supply shortage emergency, no new potable water service will be provided, no new temporary meters or permanent meters will be provided, and no statements of immediate ability to service or provide potable water service, such as will serve letters, certificates, or letters of availability, will be issued, except under the following circumstances:
a. A valid, unexpired building permit has been issued for the project; or b. The project is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare; or c. The applicant provides substantial evidence of an enforceable commitment that water demands for the project will be offset prior to the provision of a new water meter(s) to the satisfaction of the director of public works.
This subsection does not preclude the resetting or turn-on of meters to provide continuation of water service or the restoration of service that has been interrupted for a period of six months or less.
4. The director of public works, in his or her sole discretion, may discontinue service to consumers who willfully violate provisions of this section.
5. Upon the declaration of a Level 6 water supply shortage condition, the city will suspend consideration of annexations to its service area. This subsection does not apply to boundary corrections and annexations that will not result in any increased use of water.
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OPERATIONAL CHANGES
During a water supply shortage situation, the City will manage its water supply resources to provide sufficient water supplies capable of meeting the demands of its customers.
Section 8.4.2 describes the City’s water supply sources and water supply augmentation actions available. Section 8.4.1 describes the City’s standard water shortage levels and associated demand reduction measures. The supply augmentation actions and demand reduction measures, when implemented, may potentially result in short-term operational changes which are necessary to allow the City to utilize all available water supply sources in response to water shortage situations.
As noted in Section 8.2, the City is required to annually prepare and submit an Annual Assessment which will include a review of the water supplies available to meet water demands for the current and upcoming years. Preparation of the Annual Assessment will assist the City in determining any potential operational changes. In addition, the City’s standard water shortage levels and the associated demand reduction measures, in conjunction with the City’s existing Demand Management Measures (discussed in Chapter 9), will be essential to the City in reducing water demands during any water shortage period. The operational changes the City will consider in addressing noncatastrophic water shortages on a short-term basis include the following:
Improved monitoring, analysis, and tracking of customer water usage to enforce demand reduction measures
Optimized production from existing available water supply sources Potential use of emergency supply sources, including emergency interconnections Potential blending of water supply resources
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Improved monitoring, maintenance, and repairs to reduce water distribution system losses
ADDITIONAL MANDATORY RESTRICTIONS
The mandatory restrictions which are implemented by the City to reduce customer demands are discussed in Section 8.4.2. There are no additional mandatory restrictions planned at this time.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
Catastrophic water shortages are incorporated in the City’s standard water shortage levels (identified in Section 8.3) and the associated demand reduction measures (described in Section 8.4.2). In addition to the water supply augmentation actions (Section
8.4.1) and potential operational changes (Section 8.4.3) which the City may consider in order to continue providing sufficient water supplies, the City will review and implement any necessary steps included in its “Emergency Response Plan”.
As part of the “America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018”, community water systems serving a population greater than 3,300 people, including the City, are required to review and update their “Risk and Resilience Assessment” (RRA) and the associated “Emergency Response Plan” (ERP) every five (5) years. However, due to security concerns regarding the submitting of these reports, water systems are required to submit certifications to the United States Environment Protection Agency, from March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2026, confirming the current RRA and ERP have been reviewed and updated.
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The City’s RRA, updated in 2026, evaluates the vulnerabilities, threats, and consequences from potential hazards to the City’s water system. The City prepared its RRA (which is incorporated by reference) by evaluating the following items:
Natural hazards and malevolent acts (i.e., all hazards); Resilience of water facility infrastructure (including pipes, physical barriers, water sources and collection, treatment, storage and distribution facilities, and electronic, computer and other automated systems);
Monitoring practices;
Financial systems (e.g., billing systems);
Chemical storage and handling; and
Operation and maintenance.
The District’s RRA evaluated a series of potential malevolent acts, natural hazards, and other threats in order to estimate the potential “monetized risks” (i.e. associated economic consequences to both the water system and surrounding region, and the likelihood of occurrence) associated with the City’s water facility assets. The cost-effectiveness of implementing potential countermeasures to reduce risks was also reviewed.
The City’s ERP, updated in 2026, provides the management, procedures, and designated actions the City and its employees will implement during emergency situations (including catastrophic water shortages) resulting from natural disasters, system failures and other unforeseen circumstances. The City’s ERP (which is incorporated by reference) provides the guidelines for evaluating an emergency situation, procedures for activating an emergency response, and details of the different response phases in order to ensure that customers receive a reliable and adequate supply of potable water. The scope of the ERP includes emergencies which directly affect the water system and the ability to maintain
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safe operations (such as a chlorine release, and earthquake or a threat of contamination).
The ERP also incorporates the results of City’s RRA and includes the following:
Strategies and resources to improve resilience, including physical and cybersecurity
Plans and procedures for responding to a natural hazard or malevolent act Actions and equipment to lessen the impact of a natural hazard or malevolent act Strategies to detect natural hazards or malevolent act The City will review the ERP for procedures regarding the utilization of alternative water supply sources in response to water supply shortages, including during the standard water shortage levels. The City will also review applicable procedures described in the ERP regarding any necessary temporary shutdown of water supply facilities, including appropriate regulatory and public notifications.
SEISMIC RISK ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION PLAN
CWC 10632.5.
(a) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 10632, beginning January 1, 2020, the plan shall include 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.
(b) An urban water supplier shall update the seismic risk assessment and mitigation plan when updating its urban water management plan as required by Section 10621. (c) An urban water supplier may comply with this section by submitting, pursuant to Section 10644, a copy of the most recent adopted local hazard mitigation plan or multihazard mitigation plan under the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390) if the local hazard mitigation plan or multihazard mitigation plan addresses seismic risk.
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The City prepared a local “Hazard Mitigation Plan” in 2019. The Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies effective ways to assess the significant natural hazards (including earthquakes) that may affect the City and its residents. The Hazard Mitigation Plan provides resources, information, and strategies to reduce the City’s vulnerability to these hazards, while providing guidance for the coordination of mitigation activities throughout the City. The Hazard Mitigation Plan includes mitigation projects necessary to reduce seismic risk to the City’s water distribution system facilities (including its distribution system pipelines, groundwater wells, booster pumps, and storage reservoirs) and potential disruptions in providing water service. The City’s Hazard Mitigation Plan is provided in Appendix I.
The County of Los Angeles prepared a “All-Hazards Mitigation Plan” in May 2025 which identified methods to assess significant natural hazards (including earthquakes) affecting areas throughout Los Angeles County, and the mitigation strategies necessary to reduce risks, including seismic risk. The County’s All-Hazards Mitigation Plan is provided in Appendix J.
The California Geological Survey has published the locations of numerous faults which have been mapped in the Southern California region. Although the San Andreas fault is the most recognized and is capable of producing an earthquake with a magnitude greater than 8 on the Richter scale, some of the lesser-known faults have the potential to cause significant damage. The locations of these earthquake faults in the vicinity of the City’s water service area are provided in the figure below. The faults that are located in close proximity to and could potentially cause significant shaking in the City’s water service area include the San Andreas fault, the Walnut Creek fault, the Whittier fault, the San Jose fault, the Central Avenue fault, and the Sierra Madre fault.
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City of Covina Page 8-29
Location of Earthquake Faults
Source: https://maps.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/fam/App/
The California Geological Survey provides earthquake hazard maps9 based on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale, which measures earthquake shaking intensity and its impacts on people, objects, and buildings. The area within the City’s service area has an MMI of approximately 9.3 calculated based on the level of shaking that has a 2 percent chance of being exceeded in 50 years (or the level of shaking with an approximate 2,500- year average repeat time). An MMI at this intensity (violent shaking) can result in buildings shifted off foundations, cracked, or tilted, the ground cracked, and underground pipes broken. As discussed in Section 8.4.5, the City has prepared an Emergency Response Plan which provides the management, procedures, and designated actions the City and its employees will implement during emergency situations resulting from natural 9 https://conservation.ca.gov/cgs/sh/earthquake-shaking-potential City’s Service Area
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disasters, including during earthquakes, to ensure that customers receive a reliable and adequate supply of potable water. The City’s ERP is incorporated by reference.
SHORTAGE RESPONSE ACTION EFFECTIVENESS
The effectiveness of the shortage response actions for each of the standard water shortage levels identified in Section 8.3 is evident in the City’s historical ability to meet its customer’s water demands in response to a water supply shortage. In addition, the City imposes water consumption regulations and restrictions, and supports local agencies in efforts to enforce regulations and prohibitions on water use. The effectiveness of each of the City’s shortage response actions, in order to reduce any potential gaps between supply and demand, has been quantified in the expected demand reduction provided in Table 8-2 and Table 8-3.
Section 6.1 provides a tabulation of the City’s historical annual water demands for each water supply source. During the past 15 years, the City experienced a five consecutive year drought within its service area from FY 2011-12 to FY 2015-16. Throughout this extended dry year period, the City’s annual water production ranged from 4,633 AF to 6,075 AF, with an average of approximately 5,568 AF. In addition, historical records indicate the City previously produced a maximum of up to 7,594 AF during FY 2006-07.
The City has been able to provide sufficient water supplies to its customers, including during long-term droughts and years with historically high water demands. In addition, the City has been able to provide water service to meet maximum day water demands for these years, including during the summer months.
The City’s water demands during the most recent five years (from FY 2019-20 to FY 2024- 25) averaged approximately 4,930 AFY. Due to conservation efforts and demand management measures (discussed in Chapter 9), the City’s recent water demands have been less than its historical water demands, including during long-term droughts. The
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City’s projected water demands (during normal, single dry, and a five consecutive year drought) are provided in Section 7.2.3 and are anticipated to incorporate similar reductions in water use rates as a result of the shortage response actions, ongoing conservation efforts, and demand management measures. Because the City’s projected water demands are similar to or less than its historical demands, it is anticipated the City will be able to continue providing sufficient water supplies to its customers to meet projected water demands, including during long-term droughts. In addition, as discussed in Section 8.4.1, based on historical and on-going management practices, the City (through CVWC) will be able to continue relying on its water supply source from the Main Basin for adequate supply augmentation in response to each of the standard water shortage levels identified in Section 8.3.
Based on the City’s ability in meeting water demands during past water supply shortages, adopted water shortage levels, adjusted operating safe yields, and long-term droughts, it is anticipated that the City will be able to continue providing sufficient water supplies to its customers during any of its standard water shortage levels. Although adequate supplies are anticipated, the cost of those water supplies may become incrementally more expensive. The City will enact varying levels of its water shortage contingency plan to encourage retail customers to reduce water consumption and at the same time reduce the need to use the more expensive water supplies. Notwithstanding, the effectiveness of each of the City’s shortage response actions, in order to reduce any potential gaps between supply and demand, has been quantified in the expected demand reduction provided in Table 8-2 and Table 8-3. The effectiveness of the City’s shortage response actions is based on the City’s water demands prior to 2015 (unconstrained demands).
The City reduced its water demands in 2015 in response to the Governor’s April 1, 2015 Executive Order B-29-15 which mandated statewide reduction in water use of 25 percent.
The City’s actual water demand reduction during this period was used to estimate the extent of water use reductions for the City’s Water Shortage Stages. The City’s Water Shortage Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are expected to reduce water demands by up to 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and greater than 50%, respectively.
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Emergency regulations previously adopted by the SWRCB pursuant to Executive Order N-7-22 (issued on March 28, 2022 by California Governor Gavin Newsom) required urban water suppliers to implement Level 2 of their Water Shortage Contingency Plans meant to address up to a 20% shortage of water supplies. The regulations also required urban water suppliers to establish a ban on irrigating non-functional turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional properties (including grass in front of or next to large industrial or commercial buildings). The ban did not include watering turf that is used for recreation or other community purposes, water used at residences or water to maintain trees.
Pursuant to Executive Order N-5-23 issued on March 24, 2023 by California Governor Gavin Newsom, the requirement for urban water suppliers to implement Level 2 of their Water Shortage Contingency Plans was removed. As of June 5, 2024, SWRCB statewide water conservation emergency regulations have expired. In October 2023, however, the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1572, which phases in a ban on decorative grass watering in commercial, industrial, and institutional areas permanently beginning January 2027.
COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS
CWC 10632.
(a)(5) Communication protocols and procedures to inform customers, the public, interested parties, and local, regional, and state governments, regarding, at a minimum, all of the following:
(A) Any current or predicted shortages as determined by the annual water supply and demand assessment described pursuant to Section 10632.1. (B) Any shortage response actions triggered or anticipated to be triggered by the annual water supply and demand assessment described pursuant to Section 10632.1. (C) Any other relevant communications.
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Pursuant to CWC 10632.1, the City’s Annual Assessment will be submitted to DWR by July 1 of each year. The Annual Assessment will provide information on the City’s anticipated shortage, triggered response actions, compliance and enforcement actions, and communication actions, as discussed in Section 8.2, the City’s may use the Annual Assessment as a method of declaring the appropriate water shortage level.
All water supply shortage conditions will be effective on the tenth day after the date the shortage is declared. Within five days following the declaration of the shortage level, the City will publish a notice of the declaration of water supply shortage in a newspaper used for publication of official notices, post the notice in the same location and manner as other official notices of the city are posted, and use whatever means are reasonably available, including but not limited to the city’s website, the emergency telephone notification system, and regular billing statements, to notify customers of the shortage declaration.
City media resources (i.e. website, newsletters, water bill messages, etc.) are utilized continually to communicate the importance of water conservation, encourage a permanent behavior change, and explain the impacts of both the drought and the recent precipitation.
The information provided will include the declared shortage level, response action associated with each shortage level, and any other relevant information relating to the declaration.
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COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT
CWC 10632.
(a)(6) For an urban retail water supplier, customer compliance, enforcement, appeal, and exemption procedures for triggered shortage response actions as determined pursuant to Section 10632.2.
Under Section 13.06.110 of the City Municipal Code, any customer violating the regulations and restrictions on water use set forth in the City Municipal Code may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 30 days or by a fine not exceeding $1,000, or by both.
At the sole discretion of the City, in lieu of prosecution as a misdemeanor, any violation of this chapter may result in a penalty being assessed to a person’s water utility bill, as follows:
First Violation. The City will issue a written warning and deliver a copy of the ordinance codified in this chapter either by mail or by hand delivery to the property. Second Violation. A second violation within the preceding 12 calendar months is punishable by the levying of an assessment of $100.00 upon the responsible person’s water bill.
Third Violation. A third violation within the preceding 12 calendar months is punishable by the levying of an assessment of $200.00 upon the responsible person’s water bill.
Fourth and Subsequent Violations. A fourth and any subsequent violation is punishable by the levying of an assessment of $400.00 upon the responsible person’s water bill.
Water Flow Restrictor. In addition to, or in place of, any noncompliance assessments, the City, in its sole discretion, may install a water flow restrictor
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device of approximately one gallon per minute capacity for services up to one-andone-half-inch size and comparatively sized restrictions for larger services 48 hours after written notice of intent to install a flow restrictor is issued. Discontinuing Service. In addition to or in place of any noncompliance assessments and/or installation of a water flow restrictor, the City may, in its sole discretion, disconnect a customer’s water service for willful violations of mandatory conservation measures contained within this chapter.
A person or entity that violates any of the provisions is responsible for payment of the City's charges for installing and/or removing any flow restricting device and for disconnecting and/or reconnecting service per the City's schedule of charges then in effect. The charge for installing and/or removing any flow restricting device must be paid to the City before the device is removed. Nonpayment will be subject to the same remedies as nonpayment of basic water rates.
Any customer may request an appeal to a notice of violation or violation penalty assessment by submitting a written appeal as prescribed within the water utility’s approved rules and regulations.
LEGAL AUTHORITIES
CWC 10632.
(a)(7)(A) A description of the legal authorities that empower the urban water supplier to implement and enforce its shortage response actions specified in paragraph (4) that may include, but are not limited to, statutory authorities, ordinances, resolutions, and contract provisions.
(B) A statement that an urban water supplier shall declare a water shortage emergency in accordance with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 350) of Division 1. [see below]
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(C) A statement that an urban water supplier shall coordinate with any city or county within which it provides water supply services for the possible proclamation of a local emergency, as defined in Section 8558 of the Government Code.
CWC Division 1, Section 350
The governing body of a distributor of a public water supply, whether publicly or privately owned and including a mutual water company, shall declare a water shortage emergency condition to prevail within the area served by such distributor whenever it finds and determines that the ordinary demands and requirements of water consumers cannot be satisfied without depleting the water supply of the distributor to the extent that there would be insufficient water for human consumption, sanitation, and fire protection.
In the event that the demand of water consumers cannot be satisfied without depleting a substantial amount of water supply needed for human consumption, sanitation, and fire protection, the City shall declare a water shortage emergency (in accordance with Water Code Chapter 3 commencing with Section 350 of Division 1 regarding water shortage emergencies). The City shall coordinate with any city or county within its service area for possible declaration of a local emergency including the City of Covina and the County of Los Angeles, as defined in Section 8588 of the Government Code.
Chapter 13.06 of the City Municipal Code is the City’s adopted water conservation plan, as shown in Appendix H. The purpose and intent of Chapter 13.06 of the City Municipal Code is to establish a water conservation and supply shortage program that will reduce water consumption within the City’s jurisdiction through conservation, enable effective water supply planning, assure reasonable and beneficial use of water, prevent waste of water, and maximize the efficient use of water within the City to avoid and minimize the effect and hardship of water shortage to the greatest extent possible.
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FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF WSCP
CWC 10632.
(a)(8) A description of the financial consequences of, and responses for, drought conditions, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A) A description of potential revenue reductions and expense increases associated with activated shortage response actions described in paragraph (4). (B) A description of mitigation actions needed to address revenue reductions and expense increases associated with activated shortage response actions described in paragraph (4). (C) A description of the cost of compliance with Chapter 3.3 (commencing with Section 365) of Division 1. [retail urban suppliers only]
During periods of water supply shortages, state-mandated water use restrictions, or emergency conditions, the City may require its customers to reduce demands below levels projected under the current water rate structure. Under any of these circumstances, the City may experience a decrease in revenues that may result in insufficient funds to meet projected expenses. As part of its financial policies, the City has established a reserve policy to provide 25 percent (90 days) of its annual operating and maintenance expenses in a reserve account.
MONITORING AND REPORTING
CWC 10632.
(a)(9) For an urban retail water supplier, monitoring and reporting requirements and procedures that ensure appropriate data is collected, tracked, and analyzed for purposes of monitoring customer compliance and to meet state reporting requirements.
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Customer compliance of the provisions adopted by declaration of a WSCP are monitored and reported through water loss audits performed by the City. Staff prepares annual Distribution System Water Audits to monitor water losses. Staff reviews the audits to track real and apparent losses. Losses are monitored by comparing water production to sales.
The City regularly monitors its system and repairs leaks in a timely manner. This includes regular checks on valves and meters, and pipeline maintenance. If leaks are encountered or suspected during routine inspection of the system, further evaluation is conducted. If leaks are found, they are repaired.
When a Water Shortage Level has been declared, production figures are reported and used to compare the current monthly production to the monthly production prior to the declared level shortage to verify that the reduction goal is being met.
WSCP REFINEMENT PROCEDURES
CWC 10632.
(a)(10) Reevaluation and improvement procedures for systematically monitoring and evaluating the functionality of the water shortage contingency plan in order to ensure shortage risk tolerance is adequate and appropriate water shortage mitigation strategies are implemented as needed.
The City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan has been prepared as an adaptive management plan. As discussed in Section 8.9, the City will monitor and report on the implementation of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan. The City will review the implementation results for any current or potential shortage gaps between water supplies and demands. The City will evaluate the need for revising the Water Shortage Contingency Plan in order to resolve any shortage gaps, as necessary. The City will consider the following potential revisions in the event of a potential shortage gap:
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Implementation of additional public outreach, education, and communication programs (in addition to the programs discussed in Chapter 9). Implementation of more stringent water use restrictions under the standard water shortage levels (discussed in Section 8.4)
Implementation of stricter enforcement actions and penalties (discussed in Section
8.6)
Improvements to the water supply augmentation responses (discussed in Section
8.4.1), as well as any associated operational changes (discussed in Section 8.4.3) which may be required
Incorporation of additional actions recommended by City staff or other interested parties
The City will use the monitoring and reporting data to evaluate the ability for these potential revisions to resolve any shortage gaps which may occur within the standard water shortage levels.
This Water Shortage Contingency Plan is adopted as part of the City’s 2025 Urban Water Management Plan adoption process discussed in Section 10.3. It is anticipated the City will review, revise, and adopt an updated Water Shortage Contingency Plan as part of preparing its 2030 Urban Water Management Plan as necessary. However, the City will continue to review the monitoring and reporting data, and if needed, update the Water Shortage Contingency Plan more frequently. Any updates to the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan will include a public hearing and adoption process by the City Council (see Section 8.12).
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SPECIAL WATER FEATURE DISTINCTION
CWC 10632.
(b) For purposes of developing the water shortage contingency plan pursuant to subdivision (a), an urban water supplier shall analyze and define water features that are artificially supplied with water, including ponds, lakes, waterfalls, and fountains, separately from swimming pools and spas, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 115921 of the Health and Safety Code.
The City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan defines “decorative water features” as water features which are artificially supplied with water, including ponds, lakes, waterfalls, and fountains, but excluding pools and spas. In general, there are additional health and safety considerations in the water supplied to pools and spas compared to decorative water features. As a result, the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan has reviewed the response actions, enforcement actions, and monitoring and reporting programs separately for decorative water features and for pools and spas, as applicable.
PLAN ADOPTION, SUBMITTAL, AVAILABILITY, AND AMENDMENT
PROCEDURES
CWC 10632.
(c) The urban water supplier shall make available the water shortage contingency plan prepared pursuant to this article to its customers and any city or county within which it provides water supplies no later than 30 days after adoption of the water shortage contingency plan.
The City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan is adopted as part of the City’s 2025 Urban Water Management Plan adoption process discussed in Chapter 10. The process for adopting the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan includes the following:
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The City will conduct a public hearing and make the Water Shortage Contingency Plan available for public inspection.
The City will provide notification of the time and place of the public hearing to any city or county in which water is provided.
The City will publish notice of public hearing in a newspaper once a week, for two successive weeks (with at least five days between publication dates). The City Council will adopt the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan and the Water Shortage Contingency Plan
As part of submitting the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan to DWR, the City will also submit the Water Shortage Contingency Plan (electronically through DWR’s online submittal tool) within 30 days of adoption and by July 1, 2026. The City will submit a copy of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan to the California State Library and to any city or county in which water is provided within 30 days of adoption. In addition, the City will make the Water Shortage Contingency Plan available for public review within 30 days of adoption.
If there are any subsequent amendments required, the process for adopting an amended Water Shortage Contingency Plan includes the following:
The City will conduct a public hearing and make the amended Water Shortage Contingency Plan available for public inspection.
The City Council will adopt the amended Water Shortage Contingency Plan The City will submit the amended Water Shortage Contingency Plan to DWR (electronically through DWR’s online submittal tool) within 30 days of adoption
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Additional information regarding the adoption, submittal, and availability of the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan (and 2025 Urban Water Management Plan) is provided in Chapter 10.
RESOURCES AND REFERENCES
DWR’s Final 2025 UWMP Guidebook provides a listing of resources and references which can be helpful during the preparation of a Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
SUBMITTAL TABLES
The applicable standardized Submittal Tables referenced within Chapter 8 are provided below.
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TABLE 8-1: CROSS REFERENCE FOR STANDARD VS.
SUPPLIER SHORTAGE LEVELS
Table 8-1 Cross-Reference for Standard vs. Supplier Shortage Levels
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TABLE 8-2: SUPPLY AUGMENTATION AND OTHER ACTIONS
Table 8-2 Supply Augmentation and Other Actions
Yes
Volume or
Percentage
Drop down
Shortage Gap
Reduction Value
(May be a range)
(AF)
1 Transfers Volume 0 Not applicable (see Notes)
2 Transfers Volume 0 Not applicable (see Notes)
3 Transfers Volume 0 Not applicable (see Notes)
4 Transfers Volume 0 Not applicable (see Notes)
5 Transfers Volume 0 Not applicable (see Notes)
6 Transfers Volume 0 Not applicable (see Notes)
Submittal Table 8-2 Retail: Supply Augmentation and Other Actions Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(A),(C) and (E)
Add additional rows as needed
NOTES: The City will consider increased purchases from CVWC using existing facilities to address increased demands. As noted on Table 8-3, the City plans to implement demand reduction measures in the event water supplies from existing sources are not sufficient to meet anticipated demands.
Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) How much is this going to reduce the
shortage gap?
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
Shortage
Level
Supply Augmentation Methods and
Other Actions by Water Supplier
Drop down list
Thes e are the only categories that will
be accepted by the WUEdata online
s ubmittal tool
Additional Explanation or Reference
(OPTIONAL)
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TABLE 8-3: DEMAND-REDUCTION ACTIONS
Table 8-3 Demand-Reduction Actions
Yes
Volume or
Percentage
Drop down
Shortage Gap
Reduction Value
(May be a range)
(AF)
1 Landscape - Limit landscape
irrigation to specific times Volume
Collective reduction
from all Shortage
Level 1 actions is up
to 500 AFY
prohibited between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and
5:00 p.m. Yes
1 Landscape - Other landscape
restriction or prohibition Volume
Collective reduction
from all Shortage
Level 1 actions is up
to 500 AFY
Limit on Watering Duration to no more than 15
minutes per day per station Yes
1 Landscape - Restrict or prohibit
runoff from landscape irrigation Volume
Collective reduction
from all Shortage
Level 1 actions is up
to 500 AFY
Yes
1 Other - Prohibit use of potable
water for washing hard surfaces Volume
Collective reduction
from all Shortage
Level 1 actions is up
to 500 AFY
Yes
1 Water Features - Restrict water use
for decorative water features, such
as fountains
Volume
Collective reduction
from all Shortage
Level 1 actions is up
to 500 AFY
Yes
1 Other - Prohibit vehicle washing
except at facilities using recycled or
recirculating water
Volume
Collective reduction
from all Shortage
Level 1 actions is up
to 500 AFY
Yes
1 CII - Restaurants may only serve
water upon request Volume
Collective reduction
from all Shortage
Level 1 actions is up
to 500 AFY
Yes
1 CII - Lodging establishment must
offer opt out of linen service Volume
Collective reduction
from all Shortage
Level 1 actions is up
to 500 AFY
Yes
1 Other Volume
Collective reduction
from all Shortage
Level 1 actions is up
to 500 AFY
No installation of Single Pass Cooling Systems Yes
1 Other Volume
Collective reduction
from all Shortage
Level 1 actions is up
to 500 AFY
No installation of non-recirculating water
systems in commercial car wash and laundry
systems
Yes
1 CII - Other CII restriction or
prohibition Volume
Collective reduction
from all Shortage
Level 1 actions is up
to 500 AFY
Restaurants required to use water conserving
dish wash spray valves Yes
1 Other Volume
Collective reduction
from all Shortage
Level 1 actions is up
to 500 AFY
Commercial car wash systems must have
installed operational recirculating water
systems
Yes
1 Other - Customers must repair
leaks, breaks, and malfunctions in a
timely manner
Volume
Collective reduction
from all Shortage
Level 1 actions is up
to 500 AFY
Must repair within 72 hours of notification by
the City Yes
Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) Submittal Table 8-3 Retail: Demand Reduction Actions
Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(B),(D), and (E)
Add additional rows as needed
How much is this going to reduce the
shortage gap?
Shortage
Level
Demand Reduction Actions
Drop down list
These are the only categories that will
be accepted by the WUEdata online
submittal tool. Select those that apply.
Additional Explanation or Reference
(OPTIONAL)
Penalty, Charge,
or Other
Enforcement?
For Retail Suppliers
Only
Drop Down List
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1 Landscape - Limit landscape
irrigation to specific days Volume
Collective reduction
from all Shortage
Level 1 actions is up
to 500 AFY
Limited to three days per week on a schedule
established and posted by the director of public
works. During the months of November through
March, limited to no more than one day per
week on a schedule established and posted by
the director of public works.
Yes
2 Other Volume
Collective reduction
from Shortage Level
1 plus all Shortage
Level 2 actions is up
to 1,001 AFY
All actions under Shortage Level 1 Yes
2 Landscape - Limit landscape
irrigation to specific days Volume
Collective reduction
from Shortage Level
1 plus all Shortage
Level 2 actions is up
to 1,001 AFY
Limit landscape irrigation to two days per week Yes
2 Other - Customers must repair
leaks, breaks, and malfunctions in a
timely manner
Volume
Collective reduction
from Shortage Level
1 plus all Shortage
Level 2 actions is up
to 1,001 AFY
Must repair within 48 hours of notification by
the City Yes
2 Other water feature or swimming
pool restriction Volume
Collective reduction
from Shortage Level
1 plus all Shortage
Level 2 actions is up
to 1,001 AFY
Filling or refilling ornamental lakes or ponds is
prohibited Yes
2 Other - Prohibit vehicle washing
except at facilities using recycled or
recirculating water
Volume
Collective reduction
from Shortage Level
1 plus all Shortage
Level 2 actions is up
to 1,001 AFY
Yes
3 Other Volume
Collective reduction
from Shortage Level
2 plus all Shortage
Level 3 actions is up
to 1,501 AFY
All actions under Shortage Level 2 Yes
3 Landscape - Prohibit all landscape
irrigation Volume
Collective reduction
from Shortage Level
2 plus all Shortage
Level 3 actions is up
to 1,501 AFY
Yes
3 Other Volume
Collective reduction
from Shortage Level
2 plus all Shortage
Level 3 actions is up
to 1,501 AFY
No new potable water service will be provided,
no new temporary meters or permanent meters
will be provided, and no statements of
immediate ability to serve or provide potable
water service, such as will-serve letters,
certificates, or letters of availability, will be
issued
Yes
4 Other Volume
Collective reduction
from Shortage Level
3 plus all Shortage
Level 4 actions is up
to 2,002 AFY
All actions under Shortage Level 3 Yes
5 Other Volume
Collective reduction
from Shortage Level
4 plus all Shortage
Level 5 actions is up
to 2,502 AFY
All actions under Shortage Level 4 Yes
5 Other - Customers must repair
leaks, breaks, and malfunctions in a
timely manner
Volume
Collective reduction
from Shortage Level
4 plus all Shortage
Level 5 actions is up
to 2,502 AFY
Must repair within 24 hours of notification by
the City Yes
6 Other Volume
Collective reduction
from Shortage Level
5 plus all Shortage
Level 6 actions is
greater than 2,502
AFY
All actions under Shortage Level 5 Yes
NOTES:
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 9-1
CHAPTER 9
DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES
LAY DESCRIPTION – CHAPTER 9
DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES
Chapter 9 (Demand Management Measures) of the City’s 2025 Plan discusses and provides the following:
The City has implemented “Demand Management Measures” to reduce its water demands and achieve its water use targets (discussed in Chapter 5) The City’s Demand Management Measures include adoption of an ordinance to prevent water waste.
The City’s Demand Management Measures include metering of all customer connections, including separate metering for single-family residential, commercial, industrial, large landscape and institutional/governmental facilities. The City’s Demand Management Measures include conservation pricing. The City’s current water rate structure is tiered to promote water conservation by customers.
The City’s Demand Management Measures include public education and outreach programs regarding water conservation.
The City’s Demand Management Measures include various actions to assess and manage water distribution system losses.
Additional Demand Management Measures including rebate, conservation, and educational programs are discussed.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 9-2
A summary of the Demand Management Measures the City has implemented over the past five (5) years is provided. The City met the 2020 Water Use Target (discussed in Chapter 5) through the implementation of these Demand Management Measures.
DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR RETAIL SUPPLIERS
CWC 10631.
(e) Provide a description of the supplier’s water demand management measures. This description shall include all of the following:
(1)(A) For an urban retail water supplier, as defined in Section 10608.12, a narrative description that addresses the nature and extent of each water demand management measure implemented over the past five years. The narrative shall describe the water demand management measures that the supplier plans to implement to achieve its water use targets pursuant to Section 10608.20.
(B) The narrative pursuant to this paragraph shall include descriptions of the following water demand management measures:
(i) Water waste prevention ordinances.
(ii) Metering.
(iii) Conservation pricing.
(iv) Public education and outreach.
(v) Programs to assess and manage distribution system real loss. (vi) Water conservation program coordination and staffing support. (vii) Other demand management measures that have a significant impact on water use as measured in gallons per capita per day, including innovative measures, if implemented.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 9-3
IMPLEMENTATION OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS
The City is committed to implementing water conservation programs and works collaboratively with TVMWD to provide water conservation programs for its residents. As a sub-agency of TVMWD and Upper Water, the City’s residents have the benefit of participating in TVMWD and Upper Water’s conservation efforts. The highlights of DMM implementation over the past five years are described below.
As discussed in Section 9.1.3.1, Chapter 13.06 of the City’s Municipal Code established a water conservation and supply shortage program to reduce water consumption within the City’s jurisdiction through conservation, enable effective water supply planning, assure reasonable and beneficial use of water, prevent waste of water, and maximize the efficient use of water within the City to avoid and minimize the effect and hardship of water shortage to the greatest extent possible.
As discussed in Section 9.1.3.2, the City metered all customer connections, including separate metering for single-family residential, commercial, industrial, large landscape and institutional/governmental facilities during the past five years. Furthermore, if there was new development within the City, each facility was individually metered. Service charges for the City are based on the customers’ meter size.
As discussed in Section 9.1.3.3, the City’s current rate structure consists of: 1) the monthly fixed water charge, which is based on meter size and 2) the monthly consumption commodity charge, which is based on all customer classes with two tiered rates for singlefamily residential. The monthly fixed water charge and consumption commodity charge enabled the City to encourage conservation, while reducing the burden on those already conserving, as shown in Appendix K.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 9-4
As discussed in Section 9.1.3.4, the City encourages water conservation through public information programs such as notices in customers’ water bills, notices in newspapers/websites, community programs, and local schools. The City participates in water conservation information campaigns to increase customers’ awareness of water waste. The City also participates in various city events during each year where water conservation materials are distributed at no direct cost to the customers. Advisory notices are sent to customers that are found to be in violation of the City’s water use restrictions.
As a member agency of TVMWD, the City participates in TVMWD’s public education and outreach programs.
As discussed in Section 9.1.3.5, the City conducted leak detection based on visual reports from meter readers, field crew personnel, and the public. The City immediately repaired any leaks in the distribution system after the leak is made known to or is discovered by the City staff.
In addition, the City billing staff tracks service leaks utilizing a High/Low Exception Report generated by the computer billing system. With the assistance of public works field staff, the City billing staff investigates these flagged addresses to determine the possibility of service leaks. Meter readers reported unusual usage for the City billing staff to prepare work orders for abnormalities detected in the field.
As described in Section 9.1.3.6, the City has designated existing staff to oversee water conservation program implementation. The City plans to continue to provide staffing support.
As discussed in Section 9.1.3.7, the City’s landscape maintenance contractors and City staff monitor for leaks in sprinkler systems serving City-owned facilities and landscape medians. The City actively promotes MWD’s regional rebate program, the SoCal Water$mart Program, which is available to the City’s residential and commercial customers. There are rebates available for indoor plumbing including high efficiency
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 9-5
clothes washers and toilets. Rebates are also available for outdoor plumbing include those for weather-based irrigation controllers, rotating sprinkler nozzles, and replacement of irrigated lawn with drought tolerant plants or other approved landscape options. The City’s commercial customers are offered plumbing, landscaping, HVAC, and medical and dental equipment rebates.
IMPLEMENTATION TO ACHIEVE WATER USE TARGETS
CWC 10631.
(e)(1)(A) For an urban retail water supplier, as defined in Section 10608.12, a narrative description that addresses the nature and extent of each water demand management measure implemented over the past five years. The narrative shall describe the water demand management measures that the supplier plans to implement to achieve its water use targets pursuant to Section 10608.20.
The Demand Management Measures implemented by the City are discussed in Section
9.1.3. Descriptions regarding the nature and extent of these Demand Management Measures implemented by the City over the past five years are discussed in Section 9.1.1.
The City will continue to implement these Demand Management Measures and other water conservation programs and work collaboratively with Three Valleys Municipal Water District to provide water conservation programs for its residents.
As indicated in Section 5.2.2, the City previously met its 2020 Water Use Target as part of the 2020 Plan. The City met the 2020 Water Use Target through the implementation of the Demand Management Measures discussed in Section 9.1.3. Continued implementation of these Demand Management Measures will assist the City in meeting water use targets and objectives.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 9-6
REQUIRED DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES
9.1.3.1 WATER-WASTE PREVENTION ORDINANCES
Chapter 13.06 of the City Municipal Code is the City’s adopted water conservation plan, as shown in Appendix H. The purpose and intent of Chapter 13.06 of the City Municipal Code is to establish a water conservation and supply shortage program that will reduce water consumption within the City’s jurisdiction through conservation, enable effective water supply planning, assure reasonable and beneficial use of water, prevent waste of water, and maximize the efficient use of water within the City to avoid and minimize the effect and hardship of water shortage to the greatest extent possible.
9.1.3.2 METERING
CWC 526.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an urban water supplier that, on or after January 1, 2004, receives water from the federal Central Valley Project under a water service contract or subcontract… shall do both of the following:
(1) On or before January 1, 2013, install water meters on all service connections to residential and nonagricultural commercial buildings… located within its service area.
CWC 527.
(a) An urban water supplier that is not subject to Section 526 shall do both of the following:
(1) Install water meters on all municipal and industrial service connections located within its service area on or before January 1, 2025.
The City meters all customer connections, including separate metering for single-family residential, multi-family residential, commercial, industrial, large landscape and institutional/governmental facilities. Furthermore, if there is new development within the City, each facility is individually metered. Service charges for the city are based on the
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 9-7
customers’ connection size. Further information regarding the City’s service fees and conservation pricing is provided in Section 9.1.3.3.
9.1.3.3 CONSERVATION PRICING
The City’s current rate structure consists of: 1) the monthly fixed water charge, which is based on meter size and 2) the monthly consumption commodity charge, which is based on all customer classes with two tiered rates for single-family residential. The monthly fixed water charge and consumption commodity charge enable the City to encourage conservation, while reducing the burden on those already conserving, as shown in Appendix K.
9.1.3.4 PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
The City encourages water conservation through public information programs such as notices in customers’ water bills, notices in newspapers/website, community programs, and local schools. The City participates in water conservation information campaigns to increase customers’ awareness of habits or procedures which waste water. The City also participates in various city events during each year where water conservation materials are distributed at no direct cost to the customers. During community events, literature and water conserving devices are distributed to encourage water conservation. The materials are always available at City Hall.
The City holds at least one smart gardening workshop per year to promote water-wise gardening.
As a sub-agency of TVMWD, the City participates in TVMWD’s public education and outreach programs. TVMWD’s public education and outreach efforts include:
support/partner with MWD on mass media campaigns encouraging conservation; school
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 9-8
education programs; information booths at public events; newsletters; informative websites, online tools, and newspaper articles.
TVMWD is one of the founding members of Water Education/Water Awareness Committee (WEWAC), which provides grants to local teachers for creative water conservation activities in the classroom, conducts an annual Project WET Workshop for teachers, scholarships to high school seniors who write an essay regarding the importance of water conservation (two to four scholarships up to $ 1,500 are awarded annually). WEWAC also awards funding to schools that participate in a media contest where students create public service announcements or digital art on water conservation.
More information can be found in TVMWD’s 2025 UWMP, which is incorporated by reference.
The City customers can also receive public information about water conservation through Upper Water’s various public information programs. Upper Water offers conservation brochures, posters, activity booklets, public outreach display and workshops. Upper Water also raises awareness about water conservation through paid advertising, press releases, news ads and media events.
9.1.3.5 PROGRAMS TO ASSESS AND MANAGE DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEM REAL LOSS
The City's system is comprised mainly of single and multi-family dwellings. The City estimated water system losses are discussed in Section 4.3. Leak detection is done on an informal basis based on visual reports from meter readers, field crew personnel, and the public. The City will immediately repair any leak in the distribution system after the leak is made known to or is discovered by the City staff. The City has installed auto-read water meters to make it easier to determine if any leaks are present.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 9-9
The City billing staff tracks service leaks utilizing a High/Low Exception Report generated by the computer billing system. Excessive or irregular high-water consumption by a particular service address is flagged and recorded as part of the High/Low Exception Report. The City billing staff, with the assistance of public works field staff, investigates these flagged addresses to determine the possibility of service leaks. Meter readers report unusual usage for the City billing staff to prepare work orders for abnormalities detected in the field.
The City will continue these programs to assess and manage distribution system real losses.
9.1.3.6 WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM COORDINATION AND
STAFFING SUPPORT
The City has designated existing staff to oversee water conservation program implementation. Various City staff are involved in the City’s water conservation program, including operations personnel who constantly monitor for water waste and the Department of Public Works Environmental Services staff who respond to conservation questions. Water efficient landscape projects (parks, street medians, drought tolerant gardens) are overseen by the City’s Engineering Division. In addition, the City billing staff reviews bills for high water usage to identify any potential leaks. The City plans to continue to provide staffing support.
9.1.3.7 OTHER DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES
The City’s landscape maintenance contractors and City staff monitor for leaks in sprinkler systems serving City-owned facilities and landscape medians. Necessary repairs are completed on a timely basis so as to minimize water loss.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 9-10
The City participates in MWD’s regional rebate program, the SoCal Water$mart Program which is available to the City’s residential and commercial customers. There are rebates available for indoor plumbing including high efficiency clothes washers and toilets.
Rebates are also available for outdoor plumbing include those for weather-based irrigation controllers, rotating sprinkler nozzles, and replacement of irrigated lawn with drought tolerant plants or other approved landscape options. The City’s commercial customers are offered plumbing, landscaping, HVAC, and medical and dental equipment rebates. The City provides information about these programs to customers on its website.
The City plans to continue implementation of the programs described above to promote water conservation.
DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES FOR WHOLESALE SUPPLIERS
CWC 10631.
(e) Provide a description of the supplier’s water demand management measures. This description shall include all of the following:
(2) For an urban wholesale water supplier, as defined in Section 10608.12, a narrative description of the items in clauses (ii), (iv), (vi), and (vii) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), and a narrative description of its distribution system asset management and wholesale supplier assistance programs.
The City is not a wholesale agency and is not required by DWR to complete Section 9.2.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 10-1
CHAPTER 10
PLAN ADOPTION, SUBMITTAL, AND IMPLEMENTATION
LAY DESCRIPTION – CHAPTER 10
PLAN ADOPTION, SUBMITTAL, AND IMPLEMENTATION
Chapter 10 (Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Implementation) of the City’s 2025 Plan discusses and provides the following:
The steps the City has performed to adopt and submit its 2025 Plan are detailed The steps the City has performed to adopt and submit its Water Shortage Contingency Plan are detailed.
The City coordinated the preparation of its 2025 Plan with the City of Covina, the City of West Covina, and the County of Los Angeles. The City notified these agencies at least sixty (60) days prior to the public hearing of the preparation of the 2025 Plan and invited these agencies to participate in the development of the 2025 Plan.
The City provided a notice of the public hearing to the same agencies regarding the time, date, and place of the public hearing.
The City published a newspaper notification of the public hearing, once a week for two successive weeks
The City conducted a public hearing to discuss and adopt the City’s 2025 Plan and City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
Within 30 days of adoption, the City submitted the 2025 Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan to the California Department of Water Resources.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 10-2
Within 30 days of adoption, the City submitted all data tables associated with the 2025 Plan to the California Department of Water Resources. Within 30 days of adoption, the City submitted a copy of the 2025 Plan to the State of California Library.
Within 30 days of adoption, the City submitted a copy of the 2025 Plan (and Water Shortage Contingency Plan) to the County of Los Angeles Registrar/ Recorders office and the City Clerk’s Office.
Within 30 days after submittal of the 2025 Plan to the California Department of Water Resources, the City made the 2025 Plan (including the Water Shortage Contingency Plan) available at the City Clerk’s Office and on the City’s website. The steps the City will perform to amend the 2025 Plan and/or the Water Shortage Contingency Plan, if necessary, are provided.
PLAN COMPLETTION TIMELINE
The data provided in the City’s 2025 Plan and the Water Shortage Contingency Plan is provided on a FY basis through June 30, 2025 (as discussed in Section 2.5).
NOTICE PLAN PREPARATION
CWC 10621.
(b) Every urban water supplier required to prepare a plan shall … at least 60 days prior to the public hearing on the plan … notify any city or county within which the supplier provides waters supplies that the urban water supplier will be reviewing the plan and considering amendments or changes to the plan.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 10-3
As discussed in Section 2.4.2, the City coordinated the preparation of the 2025 Plan with Covina Valley Water Company, Golden State Water Company, Suburban Water Systems, Valencia Heights Water Company, the City of Covina, the City of West Covina, and County of Los Angeles. The City notified these agencies, as well as to the cities and county within which the City provides water supplies, at least sixty (60) days prior to the public hearing of the preparation of the 2025 Plan and invited them to participate in the development of the Plan. A copy of the notification letters sent to these agencies is provided in Appendix D.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
CWC 10642.
…Prior to adopting either, the urban water supplier shall make both the plan and the water shortage contingency plan available for public inspection and shall hold a public hearing or hearings thereon. Prior to any of these hearings, notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be published within the jurisdiction of the publicly owned water supplier pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code. The urban water supplier shall provide notice of the time and place of a hearing to any city or county within which the supplier provides water supplies.
Government Code 6066.
Publication of notice pursuant to this section shall be once a week for two successive weeks.
Two publications in a newspaper published once a week or oftener, with at least five days intervening between the respective publication dates not counting such publication dates, are sufficient. The period of notice commences upon the first day of publication and terminates at the end of the fourteenth day, including therein the first day.
The City provided a notice of the public hearing to Covina Valley Water Company, Golden State Water Company, Suburban Water Systems, Valencia Heights Water Company, the City of Covina, the City of West Covina, and County of Los Angeles. The notice includes the time and place of the public hearing. Copies of the notice of the public hearing are
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 10-4
provided in Appendix D. Table 10-1 summarizes the agencies which were provided notifications by the City.
The City encouraged the active involvement of the population within its service area prior to and during the preparation of the Plan. Pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code, the City published a notice of public hearing in the newspaper during the weeks of June 1, 2026 and June 8, 2026. A notice of public hearing was also provided to the City Clerk’s office and was posted throughout the City of Covina and on the City’s website. A copy of the published notice is provided in Appendix D. To ensure that the draft 2025 Plan and the draft Water Shortage Contingency Plan were available for review, the City placed a copy at the City Clerk’s Office located at City Hall and made a copy available for review on its website.
PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPTION
CWC 10642.
Each urban water supplier shall encourage the active involvement of diverse social, cultural, and economic elements of the population within the service area prior to and during the preparation of both the plan and the water shortage contingency plan. Prior to adopting either, the urban water supplier shall make both the plan and the water shortage contingency plan available for public inspection and shall hold a public hearing or hearings thereon…. After the hearing or hearings, the plan or water shortage contingency plan shall be adopted as prepared or as modified after the hearing or hearings.
Government Code Section 7291
…every local public agency… serving a substantial number of non- English-Speaking people, shall employ a sufficient number of qualified bilingual persons in public contact positions or as interpreters to assist those in such positions, to ensure provision of information and services in the language of the non-English-speaking person.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 10-5
Prior to adopting the draft 2025 Plan and the draft Water Shortage Contingency Plan, the City held a public hearing on June 16, 2026 which included input from the community regarding the City’s draft 2025 Plan and the draft Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
Following the public hearing, the City adopted both the draft 2025 Plan and the draft Water Shortage Contingency Plan (included in Chapter 8). A copy of the resolution adopting the 2025 Plan and the Water Shortage Contingency Plan is provided in Appendix L.
PLAN SUBMITTAL
CWC 10621.
(e) .Each urban water supplier shall update and submit its 2025 plan to the department by July 1, 2026…
CWC 10635.
(c) The urban water supplier shall provide that portion of its urban water management plan prepared pursuant to this article to any city or county within which it provides water supplies no later than 60 days after the submission of its urban water management plan.
CWC 10644.
(a) (1) An urban water supplier shall submit to the department, the California State Library, and any city or county within which the supplier provides water supplies a copy of its plan no later than 30 days after adoption.
The City’s submittal process for its 2025 Plan and the Water Shortage Contingency Plan is discussed below.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 10-6
SUBMITTING A UWMP AND WATER SHORTAGE
CONTINGENCY PLAN TO DWR
Within 30 days of adoption of the 2025 Plan by the City Council, the City submitted the adopted 2025 Plan (including the Water Shortage Contingency Plan) to DWR. The 2025 Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan were submitted through DWR’s “Water Use Efficiency (WUE) Data Portal” website.
DWR developed a checklist which was used by the City to assist DWR with its determination that the City’s 2025 Plan has addressed the requirements of the California Water Code. The City has completed the DWR checklist by indicating where the required CWC elements can be found within the City’s 2025 Plan (See Appendix B).
ELECTRONIC DATA SUBMITTAL
CWC 10644.
(a)(2) The plan, or amendments to the plan, submitted to the department …shall be submitted electronically and shall include any standardized forms, tables, or displays specified by the department.
Within 30 days of adoption of the 2025 Plan, the City submitted all data tables associated with the 2025 Plan through DWR’s “Water Use Efficiency Data Portal” website.
SUBMITTING A UWMP INCLUDING WSCP, TO THE
CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY
Within 30 days of adoption of the 2025 Plan by the City Council, a copy (CD or hardcopy) of the 2025 Plan was submitted to the State of California Library. A copy of the letter to
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 10-7
the State Library will be maintained in the City’s file. The 2025 Plan will be mailed to the following address if sent by regular mail:
California State Library
Government Publications Section
Attention: Coordinator, Urban Water Management Plans
P.O. Box 942837
Sacramento, CA 94237-0001
The 2025 Plan will be mailed to the following address if sent by courier or overnight carrier:
California State Library
Government Publications Section
Attention: Coordinator, Urban Water Management Plans
900 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
SUBMITTING A UWMP TO CITIES AND COUNTIES
CWC 10645.
(a) Not later than 30 days after filing a copy of its plan with the department, the urban water supplier and the department shall make the plan available for public review during normal business hours.
(b) Not later than 30 days after filing a copy of its water shortage contingency plan with the department, the urban water supplier and the department shall make the plan available for public review during normal business hours.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 10-8
Within 30 days of adoption of the 2025 Plan (including the Water Shortage Contingency Plan) by the City Council, a copy of the 2025 Plan was submitted to the County of Los Angeles Registrar / Recorders office and the City Clerk’s Office. A copy of the letter to the County of Los Angeles will be maintained in the City’s file.
PUBLIC AVAILABILITY
Within 30 days after submittal of the 2025 Plan to DWR, the City made the 2025 Plan (including the Water Shortage Contingency Plan) available at the City Clerk’s Office located at City Hall during normal business hours and on the City’s website.
NOTIFICATION TO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
CWC 10621.
(c) An urban water supplier regulated by the Public Utilities Commission shall include its most recent plan and water shortage contingency plan as part of the supplier’s general rate case filings.
The City is not regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 10-9
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
CWC 10643.
An urban water supplier shall implement its plan adopted pursuant to this chapter in accordance with the schedule set forth in its plan.
The City will implement any schedules set forth in the adopted 2025 Plan.
AMENDING AN ADOPTED UWMP OR WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY
PLAN
CWC 10621.
(d) The amendments to, or changes in, the plan shall be adopted and filed in the manner set forth in Article 3 (commencing with Section 10640).
CWC 10644.
(a)(1) Copies of amendments or changes to the plans shall be submitted to the department, the California State Library, and any city or county within which the supplier provides water supplies within 30 days after adoption.
The City’s amendment process for its 2025 Plan is discussed below.
AMENDING A UWMP OR A WSCP
If the City amends the adopted 2025 Plan, the City will conduct a similar notification and public hearing process for the amended 2025 Plan as discussed in Sections 10.2, 10.3, and 10.4. The amended Plan will undergo adoption by the City’s governing board. Within 30 days of adoption, the amended Plan will then be submitted to DWR, the State of
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 10-10
California Library, the County of Los Angeles Registrar / Recorders office, and the City Clerk’s Office.
SUBMITTING REVISED WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY
PLAN
CWC 10644.
(a) If an urban water supplier revises its water shortage contingency plan, the supplier shall submit to the department a copy of its water shortage contingency plan prepared…no later than 30 days after adoption, in accordance with protocols for submission and using electronic reporting tools developed by the department.
If the City amends the adopted 2025 Plan (including the Water Shortage Contingency Plan), the amended Plan (and Water Shortage Contingency Plan) will undergo adoption by the City’s governing board. Within 30 days of adoption, the amended Plan (and Water Shortage Contingency Plan) will then be submitted to DWR, the State of California Library, the County of Los Angeles Registrar / Recorders office, and the City Clerk’s Office.
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES REVIEW OF
SUBMITTED PLANS
As discussed in Section 1.5, DWR will review the 2025 Plans to ensure that they address the California Water Code requirements. Following DWR’s review, water suppliers will be notified of the results of the review via a formal review letter. These review letters will also be available to the public on DWR’s WUEdata portal. In cases where DWR finds that a Plan does not properly address item(s) in the Water Code, DWR will reach out to the water supplier to discuss needed corrections and correction procedures.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan
City of Covina Page 10-11
SUBMITTAL TABLES
SUBMITTAL TABLE 10-1: NOTIFICATION TO CITIES AND
COUNTIES
The applicable standardized Submittal Tables referenced within Chapter 10 are provided below.
Table 10-1 Notification to Cities and Counties
City Name 60 Day Notice
Drop Down (yes/no)
Notice of Public
Hearing
Drop Down (yes/no)
Covina Yes Yes
West Covina Yes Yes
County Name
Drop Down List
60 Day Notice
Drop Down (yes/no)
Notice of Public
Hearing
Drop Down (yes/no)
Los Angeles County Yes Yes
Submittal Table 10-1 Retail: Notification to Cities and Counties
Water Code Section 10621(b) and 10642
Add additional rows as needed
Add additional rows as needed
NOTES:
Service Layer Credits: Sources: Esri, HERE,
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CC Regular Meeting
AGENDA ITEM REPORT
ITEM NO. NB 1
Meeting: July 7, 2026
Title: Declaring the Results and Reciting the Facts of the Covina General Municipal Election Held June 2, 2026 & Authorizing Agreements with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration for the Implementation of a Local Transactions and Use Tax
Presented by: Fabian Velez, Chief Deputy City Clerk
Recommendation: 1. Adopt Resolution CC 2026-67 reciting the fact of the General Municipal Election held on June 2, 2026, declaring the result and such other matters as provided by law; and
2. Adopt Resolutions CC 2026-68 and CC 2026-69, authorizing agreements with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (“CDTFA”) for the implementation of a local transactions and use tax and the examination of said records.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On January 20, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution CC 2026-09 calling and giving notice of the General Municipal Election to be held on June 2, 2026, for the purpose of electing three members of the City Council, the City Clerk, and the City Treasurer for full terms of four years. On March 3, 2026, the City Council subsequently adopted Resolutions CC 2026-16, ordering that a general tax measure be submitted to the voters of the City of Covina at the June 2, 2026, General Municipal Election.
Per Elections Code Section 10263(b), for a consolidated election, City Council shall meet at its usual place of meeting no later than the next regularly-scheduled Council meeting following presentation of the 28-day canvass of the returns, or at a special meeting called for this purpose, to declare the results and to install the newly-elected officers.
DISCUSSION:
The Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (RR/CC) began its official canvass of the June 2, 2026, Election results on June 3, 2026, after which RR/CC certified the results on June 26, 2026. The County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors was later scheduled to declare results on June 30, 2026. RR/CC transmitted the official certificate of the canvass of returns to the City on June 30, 2026, verifying that the voters elected three members of the City Council, the City Clerk, and the City Treasurer for full four-year terms, respectively. Resolution CC 2026-67 is included as Attachment A and a summary of the votes will be included as Attachment B.
Based on the vote count as of the time this report was prepared, the results of the election were as follows:
Hector Delgado was elected as a member of the City Council, 1st District, for a term of four years. Victor Linares was elected as a member of the City Council, 3rd District, for a term of four years. Andrew Aleman was elected as a member of the City Council, 5th District, for a term of four years. Susan Zermeno was elected as City Clerk, for a term of four years Neil Polzin was elected as City Treasurer, for a term of four years.
In addition, a majority of Covina voters approved Measure CC, which imposes a 0.25% Transactions and Use Tax to be administered by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (“CDTFA”).
Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolutions CC 2026-68 and CC 2026-69 (“Attachments C and D”) for the implementation of a local transactions and use tax and the examination of said records.
Next, Ordinance 26-04 (“Attachment E”) (Sales Tax Ordinance) takes effect 10 days after certification of election results pursuant to Elections Code Section 9217. The CDTFA will then set the operative date for the sales tax ordinance by which time it will begin collecting taxes pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code Section 7265. Therefore, effective October 1, 2026, the sales tax in Covina will increase by 0.25%.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for the General Municipal Election was included in the City’s Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget.
CEQA (CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT):
Not applicable.
Respectfully submitted,
RESOLUTION CC 2026-67
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COVINA,
CALIFORNIA, RECITING THE FACT OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL
ELECTION HELD ON JUNE 2, 2026, DECLARING THE RESULT, AND
DECLARING SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS PROVIDED BY LAW
WHEREAS, the General Municipal Election was held and conducted in the City of Covina, California, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, as required by law; and WHEREAS, notice of the election was given in the time, form, and manner as provided by law; voting centers were properly established; election officers were appointed; and, in all respects, the election was held and conducted and the votes were cast, received and canvassed and the returns made and declared in the time, form, and manner as required by the provisions of the Elections Code of the State of California for the holding of elections in general law cities; and
WHEREAS, the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (“RR/CC”) canvassed the returns of the election, certified the election results, and delivered the official certificate of results to this City Council, which are attached and made a part hereof as “Exhibit A.”
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COVINA,
CALIFORNIA, DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The whole number of votes cast in the precincts, except vote by mail voter ballots, was 2,897. The whole number of votes by mail voter ballots cast in the City was 9,190, making a total of 11,982 votes cast in the General Municipal Election.
SECTION 2. The names of persons voted for at the election for Member of the City Council, in ballot order, are as follows:
DISTRICT 1
HECTOR DELGADO
DISTRICT 3
VICTOR LINARES
SARAH “MAC” RIZVI
ADRIAN FERNANDEZ
DISTRICT 5
BRI SERRANO
ANDREW “DREW” ALEMAN
Resolution CC 2026-67 Page 2 of 3
The names of the persons voted for at the election for City Clerk are as follows:
SUSAN ZERMENO
ROSIE RICHARDSON
The names of the persons voted for at the election for City Treasurer are as follows:
NEIL POLZIN
THOMAS “TJ” NASS
SECTION 3. The measure voted upon at the election is as follows:
MEASURE CC
“To maintain local funding for 911 emergency medical, fire and police services; clean up encampments, address homelessness; improve city parks and facilities; repair streets and potholes, and provide senior and youth programs, shall the City of Covina adopt an ordinance to implement a supplemental 0.25 cent sales tax, providing approximately $3,000,000 annually, and to remain in effect until ended by voters, with money staying in the City?” SECTION 4. That the number of votes given at each precinct and the number of votes given in the City to each of the persons above named for the respective offices for which the persons were candidates and the number of votes given at each precinct and the number of votes given in the City for and against the measure were as listed in Exhibit “A” attached hereto.
SECTION 5. The City Council does declare and determine that: Hector Delgado was elected as Member of the City Council 1
st District for the full term of four years; Victor
Linares was elected as Member of the City Council 3
rd District for the full term of four (4)
years; and Andrew “Drew” Aleman, was elected as Member of the City Council 5th District for a full term of four (4) years; Susan Zermeno was elected as City Clerk (at large) for the full term of four years; and Neil Polzin was elected as City Treasurer (at large) for the full term of four (4) years.
SECTION 6. The City Council does declare and determine that as a result of the election, a majority of the voters voting on Measure CC to increase Covina’s sales tax by one-quarter of a percent voted in favor of it, and that the measure was carried, and shall be deemed adopted and ratified.
SECTION 7. The Chief Deputy City Clerk shall enter on the records of the City, a statement of the result of the election, showing: (1) the whole number of votes (ballots) cast in the City; (2) the names of the persons voted for; (3) for what office each person was voted for; (4) the number of votes given at each precinct to each person; and (5) the number of votes given to each person.
The Chief Deputy City Clerk shall also enter on the records of the City Council of the City, a separate statement of the result of the election, showing: (1) The whole number
Resolution CC 2026-67 Page 3 of 3
of votes (ballots) cast in the City; (2) The measure voted upon; (3) The number of votes given at each precinct for and against the measure; and (4) The total number of votes given for and against the measure.
SECTION 8. The Chief Deputy City Clerk shall immediately make and deliver to each of the persons so elected a Certificate of Election signed by the Chief Deputy City Clerk. The Chief Deputy City Clerk or their Deputy(ies) shall also administer to each person elected the Oath of Office prescribed in the Constitution of the State of California and shall have them subscribe to it and file it in the office of the City Clerk. Each and all of the persons so elected shall then be inducted into the respective office to which they have been elected.
SECTION 9. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution and enter it into the City’s book of original resolutions.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 7
th day of July, 2026.
City of Covina, California
BY:
HECTOR DELGADO, Mayor
ATTEST:
FABIAN VELEZ, Chief Deputy City Clerk
CERTIFICATION
I, Fabian Velez, Chief Deputy City Clerk of the City of Covina, do hereby certify that Resolution CC 2026-67 was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Covina at a regular meeting held on the 7
th day of July, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Dated:
FABIAN VELEZ, Chief Deputy City Clerk
ATTACHMENT B Page 731 of 760
RESOLUTION CC 2026-68
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COVINA, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING EXAMINATION OF THE CITY’S SALES
OR TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX RECORDS
WHEREAS, pursuant to Ordinance 26-04, the City of Covina (City) entered into a contract with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (Department) to perform all functions incident to the administration and collection of sales and use taxes; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Ordinance 26-04 and Revenue and Taxation Code section 7270, the City entered into a contract with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (Department) to perform all functions incident to the administration and collection of transactions and use taxes; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Covina deems it desirable and necessary for authorized officers, employees and representatives of the City to examine confidential sales or transactions and use tax records of the Department pertaining to sales or transactions and use taxes collected by the Department for the City pursuant to that contract; and
WHEREAS, Section 7056 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code sets forth certain requirements and conditions for the disclosure of Department records, and Section 7056.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code establishes criminal penalties for the unlawful disclosure of information contained in, or derived from, the sales or transactions and use tax records of the Department.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COVINA, CALIFORNIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That the City Manager and Director of Finance, or other officer or employee of the City designated in writing by the City Manager to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration is hereby appointed to represent the City with authority to examine sales or transactions and use tax records of the Department pertaining to sales or transactions and use taxes collected for the City by the Department pursuant to the contract between the City and the Department.
SECTION 2. The information obtained by examination of Department records shall be used only for purposes related to the collection of City sales or transactions and use taxes by the Department pursuant to that contract, and for purposes related to the following governmental functions of the City:
(a) Budget Planning
(b) Economic Development
ATTACHMENT C Page 747 of 760
Resolution CC 2026-68 Page 2 of 3
The information obtained by examination of Department records shall be used only for those governmental functions of the City listed above.
SECTION 3. That Hinderliter, de Llamas & Associates (“HdL Companies”) is hereby designated to examine the sales or transactions and use tax records of the Department pertaining to sales or transactions and use taxes collected for the City by the Department. The person or entity designated by this section meets all of the following conditions, which are also included in the contract between the City and the Hinderliter, de Llamas & Associates “HdL Companies”:
a) has an existing contract with the City to examine those sales or transactions and use tax records;
b) is required by that contract to disclose information contained in, or derived from, those sales or transactions and use tax records only to the officer or employee authorized under Section 1 of this resolution to examine the information. c) is prohibited by that contract from performing consulting services for a retailer during the term of that contract; and
d) is prohibited by that contract from retaining the information contained in, or derived from those sales or transactions and use tax records, after that contract has expired.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the information obtained by examination of Department records shall be used only for purposes related to the collection of City sales or transactions and use taxes by the Department pursuant to the contract between the City and the Department and for those purposes relating to the governmental functions of the City listed in Section 2 of this resolution.
SECTION 4. That this resolution supercedes all prior resolutions of the City Council of the City of Covina adopted pursuant to subdivision (b) of Revenue and Taxation Code Section 7056.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 7th day of July, 2026.
City of Covina, California
BY:
HECTOR DELGADO, Mayor
ATTEST:
FABIAN VELEZ, Chief Deputy City Clerk
Resolution CC 2026-68 Page 3 of 3
CERTIFICATION
I, Fabian Velez, Chief Deputy City Clerk of the City of Covina, do hereby certify that Resolution CC 2026-68 was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Covina at a regular meeting held on the 7th day of July, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Dated:
FABIAN VELEZ, Chief Deputy City Clerk
RESOLUTION CC 2026-69
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COVINA,
CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE
AGREEMENTS WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TAX AND
FEE ADMINISTRATION FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF A LOCAL
TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX
WHEREAS, on March 3, 2026, the Covina City Council adopted Resolution CC 2026-16, ordering that a general tax measure be submitted to the voters of the City of Covina at the June 2, 2026, General Municipal Election; and WHEREAS, on June 2, 2026, the voters of the City of Covina approved Measure CC, the City’s Supplemental General Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance, which would add Chapter 3.19 to the Covina Municipal Code, and thus establish a general sales tax on the sale, use, or both the sale and use of all tangible personal property sold at retail in the City at a rate of one-quarter (1/4) cent; and
WHEREAS, on July 7, 2026, the City Council certified the voter’s approval of Ordinance No. 26-04 amending the City Municipal Code and providing for a local transactions and use tax; and
WHEREAS, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (Department) administers and collects the transactions and use taxes for all applicable jurisdictions within the state; and
WHEREAS, the Department will administer and collect the transactions and use tax for the City; and
WHEREAS, the Department requires that the City enter into a “Preparatory Agreement” and an “Administrative Agreement” prior to implementation of said taxes; and WHEREAS, the Department requires that the City Council authorize the agreements.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COVINA,
CALIFORNIA, DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE, AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council hereby approves the “Preparatory Agreement” attached as Exhibit A and the “Administrative Agreement” attached as Exhibit B.
SECTION 2. The City Council directs the City Manager to execute each agreement on behalf of the City.
SECTION 3. This Resolution shall become effective upon its adoption.
Resolution CC 2026-69 Page 2 of 2
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 7th day of July, 2026.
City of Covina, California
BY:
HECTOR DELGADO, Mayor
ATTEST:
FABIAN VELEZ, Chief Deputy City Clerk
CERTIFICATION
I, Fabian Velez, Chief Deputy City Clerk of the City of Covina, do hereby certify that Resolution CC 2026-69 was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Covina at a regular meeting held on the 7th day of July, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Dated:
FABIAN VELEZ, Chief Deputy City Clerk
ORDINANCE 26-04
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF
COVINA, CALIFORNIA, ADDING CHAPTER 3.19 TO THE MUNICIPAL
CODE TO ENACT A SUPPLEMENTAL ONE-QUARTER PERCENT
(1/4%) GENERAL TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX (SALES TAX), TO BE
ADMINISTERED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TAX AND
FEE ADMINISTRATION
WHEREAS, pursuant to California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 7285.9, the City of Covina (“City”) is authorized to levy a Transactions and Use Tax for general purposes, subject to majority voter approval; and
WHEREAS, the People of the City desire to add a new Chapter 3.19 (Supplemental Transactions and Use Tax) to Title 3 (Revenue and Finance) of the Covina Municipal Code, establishing a Supplemental General Transactions and Use Tax until ended by the voters, on the sale, use, or both the sale and use of all tangible personal property sold at retail in the City, at a rate of one-quarter cent (1/4 cent).
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF COVINA, CALIFORNIA, DO HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Title and Text. This Ordinance shall be known as the “Covina Supplemental General Transactions and Use Tax,” the full text of which is set forth in Attachment “1,” attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 2. Approval by the City Council. Pursuant to California Government Code section 53724 and Revenue and Taxation Code section 7285.9, this Ordinance was duly approved for placement on the ballot by a minimum two-thirds (2/3) of all members of the City Council on March 3, 2026.
SECTION 3. Approval by the Voters. Pursuant to California Elections Code section 9217, this Ordinance shall be deemed adopted and take effect only if approved by a majority of the eligible voters of the City of Covina voting at the General Municipal Election of June 2, 2026. It shall be deemed adopted when the City Council has certified the results of that election by resolution and shall take effect ten (10) days thereafter.
SECTION 4. Operative Date. “Operative Date” for the Covina Supplemental General Transactions and Use Tax means the first day of the first calendar quarter commencing more than 110 days after the date this Ordinance is adopted.
SECTION 5. Amendments. This Chapter may be amended by the City Council without a vote of the people, except that,.as required by Article XIII C of the California Constitution, voter approval is required for any amendment provision that would increase the rate of any tax levied pursuant to this Ordinance. The people of the City of Covina affirm that the deletion, restoration, relocation, renumbering, amendment or alteration of the provisions of this Chapter and any provision of this Ordinance or provision of the Municipal Code adopted by this Ordinance is authorized and may be acted upon by the
Ordinance 24-04 Page 2 of 2
City Council without a vote of the people, provided that such action does not establish any new tax or increase any existing tax.
SECTION 6. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the Ordinance and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
SECTION 7. Effective Date and Termination. This Ordinance relates to the levying and collecting of the City transactions and use taxes and shall take effect immediately upon approval by the voters and shall remain in effect until repealed by the voters of the City of Covina.
I hereby certify that the Covina Supplemental General Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance was submitted to the voters by the City Council at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Covina on the 3rd day of March, 2026, and PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the voters of the City of Covina on the 2nd day of June, 2026.
City of Covina, California
HECTOR DELGADO, Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________________
FABIAN VELEZ, Chief Deputy City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________
KEVIN ENNIS, City Attorney
Attachment 1
Chapter 3.19 (“Supplemental General Transactions and Use Tax”) of Title 3 (“Revenue and Finance”) is hereby added to the Covina Municipal Code to read as follows:
“CHAPTER 3.19
SUPPLEMENTAL GENERAL TRANSACTIONS AND USE TAX
Sections:
3.19.010 - Short Title.
3.19.020 - Operative Date.
3.19.030 - Purpose.
3.19.040 - Contract With State
3.19.050 - Transactions Tax Rate.
3.19.060 - Place of Sale.
3.19.070 - Use Tax Rate.
3.19.080 - Adoption of Provisions of State Law.
3.19.090 - Limitations on Adoption of State Law and Collection of Use Taxes.
3.19.100 - Permit Not Required.
3.19.110 - Exemptions and Exclusions.
3.19.120 - Amendments.
3.19.130 - Enjoining Collection Forbidden.
3.19.140 - Duration of Tax.
Sections:
3.19.010. SHORT TITLE. This chapter shall be known as the “Covina Supplemental General Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance of 2026.” The City of Covina hereinafter shall be called “City.” This chapter shall be applicable in the incorporated territory of the City.
3.19.020. OPERATIVE DATE. "Operative Date" means the first day of the first calendar quarter commencing more than 110 days after the approval of this ordinance, the date of adoption being set as forth below.
3.19.030. PURPOSE. This ordinance is adopted to achieve the following, among other purposes, and directs that the provisions hereof be interpreted in order to accomplish those purposes:
A. To impose a supplemental retail transactions and use tax in accordance with the provisions of Part 1.6 (commencing with Section 7251) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code and Section 7285.9 of Part 1.7 of Division 2, authorizing the City to adopt this tax ordinance which shall be operative if a majority of the electors voting on the measure vote to approve the imposition of the tax at an election called for that purpose.
B. To adopt a supplemental retail transactions and use tax ordinance that incorporates provisions identical to those of the Sales and Use Tax Law of the State of
California insofar as those provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements and limitations contained in Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
C. To adopt a supplemental retail transactions and use tax ordinance that imposes a tax and provides a measure therefore that can be administered and collected by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration in a manner that adapts itself as fully as practicable to, and requires the least possible deviation from, the existing statutory and administrative procedures followed by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration in administering and collecting the California State Sales and Use Taxes.
D. To adopt a supplemental retail transactions and use tax ordinance that can be administered in a manner that will be, to the greatest degree possible, consistent with the provisions of Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, minimize the cost of collecting the transactions and use taxes, and at the same time, minimize the burden of record keeping upon persons subject to taxation under the provisions of this ordinance.
E. Nothing contained in this Chapter is intended to, or shall repeal, amend or replace, the existing provisions of Chapter 3.12 (Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax) or Chapter 3.18 (the City of Covina Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance of 2018), and those existing Chapters and provisions shall remain in place and in full force and effect and will not be superseded or affected by the adoption of this Chapter 3.19.
3.19.040. CONTRACT WITH STATE. Prior to the operative date, the City shall contract with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to perform all functions incident to the administration and operation of this transactions and use tax ordinance; provided, that if the City shall not have contracted with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration prior to the operative date, it shall nevertheless so contract and in such a case the operative date shall be the first day of the first calendar quarter following the execution of such a contract.
3.19.050. TRANSACTIONS TAX RATE. For the privilege of selling tangible personal property at retail, a supplemental tax is hereby imposed upon all retailers in the incorporated territory of the City at the rate of 0.25 percent (1/4%) of the gross receipts of any retailer from the sale of all tangible personal property sold at retail in said territory on and after the operative date of this ordinance.
3.19.060. PLACE OF SALE. For the purposes of this ordinance, all retail sales are consummated at the place of business of the retailer unless the tangible personal property sold is delivered by the retailer or his agent to an out-of-state destination or to a common carrier for delivery to an out-of-state destination. The gross receipts from such sales shall include delivery charges, when such charges are subject to the state sales and use tax, regardless of the place to which delivery is made. In the event a retailer has no permanent place of business in the State or has more than one place of business, the place or places at which the retail sales are consummated shall be determined under rules and regulations to be prescribed and adopted by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.
3.19.070. USE TAX RATE. An excise tax is hereby imposed on the storage, use or other consumption in the City of tangible personal property purchased from any retailer
on and after the operative date of this ordinance for storage, use or other consumption in said territory at the rate of 0.25 percent (1/4%) of the sales price of the property. The sales price shall include delivery charges when such charges are subject to state sales or use tax regardless of the place to which delivery is made.
3.19.080. ADOPTION OF PROVISIONS OF STATE LAW. Except as otherwise provided in this ordinance and except insofar as they are inconsistent with the provisions of Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, all of the provisions of Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code are hereby adopted and made a part of this ordinance as though fully set forth herein.
3.19.090. LIMITATIONS ON ADOPTION OF STATE LAW AND COLLECTION OF USE TAXES. In adopting the provisions of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code:
A. Wherever the State of California is named or referred to as the taxing agency, the name of the City shall be substituted therefor. However, the substitution shall not be made when:
1. The word "State" is used as a part of the title of the State Controller, State Treasurer, State Treasury, or the Constitution of the State of California;
2. The result of that substitution would require action to be taken by or against this City or any agency, officer, or employee thereof rather than by or against the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, in performing the functions incident to the administration or operation of this Ordinance.
3. In those sections, including, but not necessarily limited to sections referring to the exterior boundaries of the State of California, where the result of the substitution would be to:
a. Provide an exemption from this tax with respect to certain sales, storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property which would not otherwise be exempt from this tax while such sales, storage, use or other consumption remain subject to tax by the State under the provisions of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, or;
b. Impose this tax with respect to certain sales, storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal property which would not be subject to tax by the state under the said provision of that code.
4. In Sections 6701, 6702 (except in the last sentence thereof), 6711, 6715, 6737, 6797 or 6828 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
B. The word "City" shall be substituted for the word "State" in the phrase "retailer engaged in business in this State" in Section 6203 of the Revenue and Taxation Code and in the definition of that phrase in Section 6203. “A retailer engaged in business in the City” shall also include any retailer that, in the preceding calendar year or the current calendar year, has total combined sales of tangible personal property in this state or for delivery in the State by the retailer and all persons related to the retailer that exceeds five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). For purposes of this section, a person is related to
another person if both persons are related to each other pursuant to Section 267(b) of Title 26 of the United States Code and the regulations thereunder.
3.19.100. PERMIT NOT REQUIRED. If a seller's permit has been issued to a retailer under Section 6067 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, an additional transactor's permit shall not be required by this ordinance.
3.19.110. EXEMPTIONS AND EXCLUSIONS.
A. There shall be excluded from the measure of the transactions tax and the use tax the amount of any sales tax or use tax imposed by the State of California or by any city, city and county, or county pursuant to the Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law or the amount of any state-administered transactions or use tax.
B. There are exempted from the computation of the amount of transactions tax the gross receipts from:
1. Sales of tangible personal property, other than fuel or petroleum products, to operators of aircraft to be used or consumed principally outside the county in which the sale is made and directly and exclusively in the use of such aircraft as common carriers of persons or property under the authority of the laws of this State, the United States, or any foreign government.
2. Sales of property to be used outside the City which is shipped to a point outside the City, pursuant to the contract of sale, by delivery to such point by the retailer or his agent, or by delivery by the retailer to a carrier for shipment to a consignee at such point. For the purposes of this paragraph, delivery to a point outside the City shall be satisfied:
a. With respect to vehicles (other than commercial
vehicles) subject to registration pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code, aircraft licensed in compliance with Section 21411 of the Public Utilities Code, and undocumented vessels registered under Division 3.5 (commencing with Section 9840) of the Vehicle Code by registration to an out-of-City address and by a declaration under penalty of perjury, signed by the buyer, stating that such address is, in fact, his or her principal place of residence; and b. With respect to commercial vehicles, by registration to a place of business out-of-City and declaration under penalty of perjury, signed by the buyer, that the vehicle will be operated from that address.
3. The sale of tangible personal property if the seller is obligated to furnish the property for a fixed price pursuant to a contract entered into prior to the operative date of this ordinance, in which case the tax rate shall be the rate in effect in the City prior to the operative date of this ordinance.
4. A lease of tangible personal property which is a continuing sale of such property, for any period of time for which the lessor is obligated to lease the property for an amount fixed by the lease prior to the operative date of this ordinance, in which case the tax rate shall be the rate in effect in the City prior to the operative date of this ordinance.
5. For the purposes of subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this section, the sale or lease of tangible personal property shall be deemed not to be obligated pursuant to a contract or lease for any period of time for which any party to the contract or lease has the unconditional right to terminate the contract or lease upon notice, whether or not such right is exercised.
C. There are exempted from the use tax imposed by this ordinance, the storage, use or other consumption in this City of tangible personal property:
1. The gross receipts from the sale of which have been subject to a transactions tax under any state-administered transactions and use tax ordinance.
2. Other than fuel or petroleum products purchased by operators of aircraft and used or consumed by such operators directly and exclusively in the use of such aircraft as common carriers of persons or property for hire or compensation under a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued pursuant to the laws of this State, the United States, or any foreign government. This exemption is in addition to the exemptions provided in Sections 6366 and 6366.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the State of California.
3. If the purchaser is obligated to purchase the property for a fixed price pursuant to a contract entered into prior to the operative date of this ordinance.
4. If the possession of, or the exercise of any right or power over, the tangible personal property arises under a lease which is a continuing purchase of such property for any period of time for which the lessee is obligated to lease the property for an amount fixed by a lease prior to the operative date of this ordinance, in which case the tax rate shall be the rate in effect in the City prior to the operative date of this ordinance.
5. For the purposes of subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this section, storage, use, or other consumption, or possession of, or exercise of any right or power over, tangible personal property shall be deemed not to be obligated pursuant to a contract or lease for any period of time for which any party to the contract or lease has the unconditional right to terminate the contract or lease upon notice, whether or not such right is exercised.
6. Except as provided in subparagraph (7), a retailer engaged in business in the City shall not be required to collect use tax from the purchaser of tangible personal property, unless the retailer ships or delivers the property into the City or participates within the City in making the sale of the property, including, but not limited to, soliciting or receiving the order, either directly or indirectly, at a place of business of the retailer in the City or through any representative, agent, canvasser, solicitor, subsidiary, or person in the City under the authority of the retailer.
7. "A retailer engaged in business in the City" shall also include any retailer of any of the following: vehicles subject to registration pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4000) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code, aircraft licensed in compliance with Section 21411 of the Public Utilities Code, or undocumented vessels registered under Division 3.5 (commencing with Section 9840) of the Vehicle Code. That
retailer shall be required to collect use tax from any purchaser who registers or licenses the vehicle, vessel, or aircraft at an address in the City.
D. Any person subject to use tax under this ordinance may credit against that tax any transactions tax or reimbursement for transactions tax paid to a district imposing, or retailer liable for a transactions tax pursuant to Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code with respect to the sale to the person of the property the storage, use or other consumption of which is subject to the use tax.
3.19.120. AMENDMENTS. All amendments subsequent to the effective date of this ordinance to Part 1 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code relating to sales and use taxes and which are not inconsistent with Part 1.6 and Part 1.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and all amendments to Part 1.6 and Part 1.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, shall automatically become a part of this ordinance, provided however, that no such amendment shall operate so as to affect the rate of tax imposed by this ordinance.
3.19.130. ENJOINING COLLECTION FORBIDDEN. No injunction or writ of mandate or other legal or equitable process shall issue in any suit, action or proceeding in any court against the State or the City, or against any officer of the State or the City, to prevent or enjoin the collection under this ordinance, or Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, of any tax or any amount of tax required to be collected.
3.19.140. DURATION OF TAX. The tax imposed by this Chapter shall continue until this ordinance is repealed.”