CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
Meeting: June 6, 2023
To: Cupertino City Council
From: Chad Mosley, Interim Director of Public Works
Re: Receive drought conditions update.
Background
In 2021, the State of California (State), including Santa Clara County (County), was in its third consecutive year of a drought. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of the County was in a condition of “Extreme” drought. The year 2021 was the third driest year on record and the driest since 1977. Local watershed runoff in the County was substantially limited due to extremely dry conditions. As a result, Santa Clara Valley Water District’s (Valley Water) local surface water storage was below 30 percent.
Year: 2021 Year: 2023
Source: US Drought Monitor
On June 9, 2021, Valley Water adopted a resolution declaring a water shortage emergency condition within the County and a call for retailers to achieve a water use reduction target equal to 15 percent of 2019 water use (33 percent of 2013 water use). Subsequently on April 12, 2022, Valley Water further required property owners no more than two days of irrigation in a week for ornamental lawns and prohibit excessive runoff, midday irrigation, and irrigation after rainfall events.
In addition, the Governor signed an executive order on July 8, 2021, calling on all Californians to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15% compared to 2020 levels through simple actions such as reducing landscape irrigation, running dishwashers, and washing machines only when full, finding, and fixing leaks, installing water-efficient showerheads and taking shorter showers. The Governor also directed state agencies to take further actions to preserve critical water supplies, address drought impacts, and protect people, natural resources, and economic activity.
Current Water Supply
The water supply outlook for the State as well as Valley Water has improved considerably over the past six months due to several atmospheric river events. In January, the State experienced one of the wettest three-week periods on record which led to increased storage in major reservoirs in the State. According to the report by California Department of Water Resources, the snow survey conducted on April 3 determined that the snowpack is 237 percent above the average for the date. Statewide reservoir storage is expected to go higher once snow melts commence.
Due to the water supply outlook, on March 24, 2023, the Governor signed Executive Order N-5-23, which rescinded the previous voluntary call for 15 percent water use reduction and the requirement that urban water suppliers activate Level 2 of their water shortage contingency plans. However, the Governor left in place other State water use restrictions, including, but not limited to, restrictions against runoff and watering lawns within 48 hours of rain, and using drinking water to irrigate non-functional turf on commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) properties.
Valley Water manages ten local reservoirs, and these are collectively at approximately 180% of restricted storage capacity and the 2023 end of year groundwater storage is projected to be in the normal range. To align with the State, the Valley Water Board approved the following measures on April 11:
Rescind the Water Shortage Emergency Condition calling for a countywide mandatory 15% water-use reduction compared 2019 usage. The removal of the mandatory water use reduction would be consistent with the Governor’s action.
Direct the CEO to bring a recommendation for the Board's consideration for additional actions to support water conservation as a way of life in our county and state.
The Valley Water Board also chose to put in place countywide voluntary 15% water-use reduction compared to 2019 usage, and to continue enforcing the two-day per week watering limit for residential nonfunctional turf. The enforcement of outdoor water waste restrictions against runoff, midday watering, watering after rainfall, and watering of CII nonfunctional turf will continue as well.
City Operations
The City has a long history of conserving water across its operations, leading by example through its practices, and encouraging businesses, residents, and schools to do the same. Upon Valley Water’s June 2021 call to conserve 15% of 2019 water usage levels, staff implemented water conservation restriction measures for City facilities similar to those enacted during the drought in 2015. The conservation measures included the following:
Reduced irrigation for all trees/shrubs, setting water use at a minimum according to the conservation amount.
No watering of passive turfed areas.
Limited watering (consistent with two days/week watering or similar) of turf areas used intermittingly at City permitted events.
A minimum of 20 percent reduced watering of turf areas used for City or school recreation events.
No operation of the interactive fountain at Community Hall.
No water used to clean asphalt areas/sidewalks/plaza areas.
Water used for street sweeping was minimized while still complying with Santa Clara Valley Air Board requirements.
Based on the City’s water conservation efforts at City facilities, the City reduced an estimated 16% below the total 2019 consumption in comparison with the total 2022 consumption. The majority of the savings is attributed to the reduction of water use across parks, sports fields, school sites, and at programmed turf areas to 2 days per week. The non-programmed turf areas were not watered.
Although the State and Valley Water have rescinded the call for 15% water-use reduction, the City will voluntarily continue the water conservation efforts for City facilities. The conservation measures noted above will continue and will be adjusted as needed based on the condition of the landscape areas.
These water conservation efforts will also help to reduce overall irrigation costs for the City facilities.
In summary, both the State of California and Valley Water have rescinded their call for 15% water use reduction as drought conditions have improved. However, the City will voluntarily continue to conserve water by keeping the irrigation cycle similar to the restriction imposed during the drought at City facilities and adjust, as necessary. In addition, the City will:
Continue to coordinate with San Jose Water and Cal Water Services on water conservation efforts throughout the City.
Work with Valley Water to continue promoting water conservation programs for residents and businesses within the community.
Sustainability Impact
Actions taken to conserve water across the City’s municipal portfolio directly implement Cupertino’s Climate Action Plan Measure M-F-7: Conserve water through efficient landscaping and enable the City to advance its emissions reduction goals arising from onsite water use. Further, these visible actions showcase the City’s commitment to protecting this diminishing limited resource with the goal of spurring similar water conservation action across the community, above and beyond minimum requirements.
Fiscal Impact
No fiscal impact with receiving the update.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Not applicable.
______________________________________________________________________________ Prepared by: Jimmy Tan, Assistant Director of Public Works Reviewed by: Chad Mosley, Interim Director of Public Works Reviewed by: Matt Morley, Assistant City Manager
Approved for Submission by: Pamela Wu, City Manager
Attachments:
A – City of Cupertino Water Conservation Restriction Measures for City Operations B – Valley Water Resolution No. 21-68
C – Valley Water Resolution No. 22-20
D – State of California Proclamation of a State of Emergency E – State of California Executive Order N-10-21
F – State of California Executive Order N-5-23