CITY OF GONZALES
WATER SHORTAGE
CONTINGENCY PLAN
June 2023
City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
1 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Overview and Intention 4
1.1 Water Code Section 10632- Water Shortage Contingency Plan 4 2 Reliability and Annual Assessment Process 5
3 Water Shortage Levels 6
3.1 Six Standard Water Shortage Levels 6
3.2 Triggering Mechanisms for Shortages 7
4 Water Shortage Response Reactions 8
4.1 History and Overview of Shortage Response Actions 8
4.2 Permanent Water Conservation Best Management Practices 8
4.3 Required Shortage Response Actions 9
4.4 City Management Emergency Declaration 15
4.5 Process for Initiation / Termination of Water Shortage Level 15
4.6 Request for Variance Procedure 15
5 Communication Protocols 16
5.1 Coordination 16
5.2 Key Audiences, Stakeholders, and Partners 16
5.3 Customer Outreach and Engagement Tools 16
5.4 Communication Objectives 16
5.5 Communication Protocol for Declaring a Water Shortage 17
5.6 Communication Protocol and Strategies for Water Shortage Levels 18
5.7 Crisis Communication 19
6 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and Seismic Risk Assessment 19
6.1 Monterey County Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan 19
6.2 Seismic Risk Assessment and Hazard Mitigation Plan 21
6.3 Catastrophic Supply Interruption Planning and the City’s Emergency Operations Plan 7 Compliance and Enforcement 21
8 Legal Authorities 23
9 Financial Impacts 23
10 Monitoring, Reporting, and Refinement 24
City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
2 Definitions
Basin: Central Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin
City: City of Gonzales
Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional: Includes but is not limited to any type of non-profit establishments, governmental entities, schools, retail establishments, hotels, motels, restaurants, car washes, and office buildings.
Conservation: Those practices, techniques, and technologies that Customer: Any person, company, agency, or organization using water supplied by the city.
Domestic Water: Used for personal needs or tor household or sanitary purposes, such as drinking, bathing, cooking, and sanitation, or for cleaning a residence, business, industry, or institution. Also used for landscape irrigation.
Household: Residential premises served by the customer’s meter.
Forebay Subarea: Forebay Aquifer Subbasin of the Central Salinas Valley Groundwater basin. 180/400 Subarea: 180/400 Aquifer Subbasin of the Central Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin.
East Side Subarea: East Aquifer Subbasin of the Central Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin.
Landscape Irrigation Use: The irrigation and maintenance of landscaped areas, whether public or privately owned, including residential and commercial lawns, gardens, parks, right-of-way, and medians.
Long-Term Shortage: A prolonged shortage of water supplies expected to last at least a year.
Potable Water: Filtered/treated water suitable for drinking; also used for household needs and landscape irrigation.
Short Term Shortage: A shortage of water supplies expected to last less than a year.
Shortage Level: Levels (stages) of water shortage.
VOC: Volatile organic compounds
WAC: Water Awareness Committee of Monterey County.
Water Resources Agency: Monterey County Water Resource Agency.
Water Shortage: A condition in which the existing or projected potable water supply available to the City is not adequate to meet the water requirements of its customers. This condition may be City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
3 the result of factors including but not limited to drought, groundwater limitations, emergency conditions or failures of water distribution systems.
Water Shortage Contingency Plan: The WSC Plan, as defined by this document.
Water Shortage Period: The period beginning on the effective date of the City Council’s approval of implementing the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan and ending on the date of the City Council’s finding that a potable water shortage no longer exists.
City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
4 1 OVERVIEW AND INTENTION
1.1 WATER CODE SECTION 10632 - WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN The City of Gonzales is responsible for conserving available water supply and protecting the integrity of public water system (PWS) supply facilities, and implementing a contingency plan in times of drought, with particular regard for domestic water use, sanitation, and fire protection, to protect and preserve public health, welfare, and safety and to minimize the adverse impacts of water supply shortage or other water supply emergency conditions, that do not include recycled water.
The City has developed a water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSC Plan) in accordance with California Water Code (CWC) Section 10632. Senate Bill 552 (2021) requires small water suppliers serving 1,000 to 2,999 service connections and no transient noncommunity (NTNC) schools to have a water shortage contingency plan. The required water shortage contingency plan is an abridged version of urban water management plans mandated for completion by urban water suppliers every 5 years.
This WSC plan outlines the shortage response actions that will be implemented in the City in the event of water supply shortages due to catastrophic events, drought, etc. The WSC Plan’s purpose is to provide a plan of action to be followed at various levels of water shortage in order to balance demand with constrained supply.
The WSC Plan supports and builds on the City of Gonzales conservation plan (Municipal Code
10.04.130 b.) to meet the CWC requirements. This WSA Plan and the Mandatory Water Conservation Regulations will be informed and enacted through the annual water supply and demand assessment. Additionally, this WSC Plan outlines the shortage response actions the city may take to balance demand with constrained supplies.
In addition, the Water Shortages and Service Interruptions of the Mandatory Water Conservation Regulations declares, “The City shall exercise reasonable diligence to provide continuous and adequate water service to consumers and to avoid any shortage or interruption of delivery of water; provided, that the City may suspend water service temporarily to make necessary repairs and improvements to the municipal water system.” It also states, “During any period of threatened or actual water shortage, the city may apportion its available water among customers in such a manner that is most equitable under circumstances then prevailing and with due regard to public health and safety.”
This WSC Plan provides the strategic responses the city may take if a water shortage is declared to conserve and manage precious water resources that are essential to maintain public health and community vitality.
1.2 PRINCIPLES OF THE CITY’S WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN The overall principle of the City’s WSC Plan is to maintain reliability to meet the water demand during shortages caused by supply interruptions, reductions, or allocations as well as respond to emergency conditions. The WSC Plan recognizes the following priorities for potable water:
• Public Safety, health, and welfare
• Economic sustainability
• Quality of life for City customers
• Statutory and regulatory requirements
City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
5 The domestic water use regulated and/or prohibited under this WSC plan is considered to be nonessential, or discretionary, use. Water code 106 established that domestic use of water is the highest use of water and that the next highest use is for irrigation. Continued use of non-essential water during times of water shortage or emergency supply conditions is deemed to constitute a waste of water and may be subject to citations, monetary assessments and fines or appropriate surcharges as described in section 7 of this plan.
The city prides itself in working with the community it serves such that the intent and goal in implementing the contents of the WSC Plan is to conserve water resources and generate the greatest benefit for the City’s water customers during times of drought, and water shortages. In the most recent drought of 2012-2017, the city was mandated to reduce water use by 24 percent by the State of California. The city was able to achieve its target water conservation through communication with its customers. This WSC builds on lessons learned during challenges of the 2012-2017 drought and the strategic community partnerships established through years of providing water and wastewater services to its customers.
2. BASIN WATER SUPPLY RELIABILITY
The City provides water service to the community of Gonzales through the operation of four wells.
Three wells have the capacity to pump 1200-1500 gallons per minute (gpm) and a firm capacity of 1200 gpm. The City also has one well that produces 900-1000 gpm. The capacity is sufficient for all areas within the existing city limits and within some designated areas for growth. The city has been proactive with respect to improving and developing its water supply system.
The city obtains its water supply from the Central Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin. The City is a part of three sub basins, the 180/400, East side and a small portion of the Forebay sub basin. This basin is not adjudicated and provides water for growers, municipalities, and other municipal and industrial users in the Salinas Valley. The city continues to work with the Monterey County Water Resource agency in developing plans to coordinate and encourage preservation of the Basin aquifers.
The main groundwater inflows into the subbasin are (1) the percolation of precipitated and applied agricultural irrigation water and (2) streambed recharge. Groundwater pumping is the predominate groundwater outflow. The smaller outflow terms are evapotranspiration, discharge to streams, and subsurface outflows to adjacent sub basins.
Infiltration in the Salinas River Channel is the principal source of groundwater recharge for the Basin.
The recharge area is believed to end at a point between Chular and the City of Salinas. Both natural runoff and conservation releases from the Nacimiento and San Antonio reservoirs, operated by the Monterey County Water Resource Agency, contribute to the flow in the Salinas River. Infiltration from smaller tributaries that drain the highland areas also provide recharge to the basin. The down-valley movement of this subsurface water is essential to the containment of saltwater intrusion into the pressure subarea.
Projected sustainable yield is the long-term pumping that can be sustained once all undesirable results have been addressed. However, it is not the amount of pumping needed to stop undesirable results before sustainability is reached. The Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA) recognizes that, depending on the success of various proposed projects and management actions, there may be some years when pumping must be held at a lower level to achieve necessary City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
6 rises in groundwater elevation. The actual amount of allowable pumping from the sub basin will be adjusted in the future based on the success of projects and management actions.
To retain consistency with the historical sustainable yield, projected sustainable yield can be estimated by summing all the average groundwater extractions and subtracting the average change in storage. This represents the change in pumping that results in no change storage, assuming no other projects or management actions are implemented. Chapter 6 of the Salinas Valley: 180/400, East side, and Forebay Groundwater Sustainability Plans (Chapter 6), shows the projected yield estimates. These results indicate that projected future sustainable yield in the 180/400 and Forebay Sub basin’s can be managed within its sustainable yield in the future. The East Side sub basin is reduced by 10,000 AF/yr. due to change in storage. The sustainable yield value will be updated in future GSP updates as more data is collected and additional analyses are conducted.
Groundwater demands in the subbasins are classified into the following water use sectors, consistent with GSP Regulations: urban/industrial, agricultural, and native vegetation. Agriculture, including grazing land, is the largest water use sector in the Subbasins, representing at least 90 percent of the Subbasin water consumption. The Water Resources Agency reports that there has not been an instance of overdraft in the Forebay Subarea since it began groundwater measurement in the 1950’s.
The 180/400 Sub Basin is in critical overdraft as of the 2021 annual report, and the East side sub basin is in minor overdraft and sustainability is possible with a 10,000 AF/yr. reduction. 3 WATER SHORTAGE LEVELS
3.1 SIX STANDARD WATER SHORTAGE LEVELS
As required by CWC Section 10632(a)(3)(A), the WSC Plan is framed around six standard water shortage levels(stages) that represent shortages from the normal reliability as determined in the Annual Assessment.
The six water shortage levels have been standardized by the CWC to provide a consistent regional and statewide approach to conveying the relative severity of water supply shortage conditions. The six standard shortage levels correspond to progressively increasing estimated shortage conditions (up to 10,20, 30, 40, 50 and greater that 50 percent water shortages) and align with the response actions the City may implement to meet a declared water shortage or emergency.
The levels will be implemented during water supply shortages or regional drought conditions that may or may not directly influence the City’s water supplies. The City Council will make the level of determination and declaration of a water supply shortage.
For example, if the Annual Assessment determines a shortage of 17 percent, the city would then be in a moderate water shortage level 2. Water shortage levels also apply to catastrophic interruption of water supplies, including but not limited to regional power outages, earthquakes, and other emergency events.
Table 3-1 lists the six water shortage levels and associated conditions, demand reduction goals, and action types. Details on water supply conditions applicable to each level, herein referred to as “triggering mechanisms” are discussed on the following pages.
City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
7 Table 3-1: Water shortage Levels, Conditions, Reduction Goals and Action Types WSC Plan
Level
Shortage
Level
Water Shortage
Condition
Demand Reduction
Goal
Action Type
1 <10% Mild Less than 10% Voluntary
2 10-20% Moderate Minimum 10%-20% Voluntary
3 20-30% Severe Minimum 20%-30% Mandatory
4 30-40% Critical Minimum 30%-40% Mandatory
5 40-50% Critical Minimum 40%-50% Mandatory
6 >50% Catastrophic More than 50% Mandatory
3.2 TRIGGERING MECHANISMS FOR SHORTAGE LEVELS
The six water shortage levels represent an ever-increasing gap between normal available supplies and normal expected customer demands to be addressed through appropriate local water shortage response actions.
The Basin is currently the most important source of water for the City of Gonzales. The foremost concern in developing appropriate triggers is achieving the maximum practical protection of an adequate long-term water supply of acceptable quality for the city water customers. To that end, triggering mechanisms should be tied to factors that, directly or indirectly, have the greatest potential effect on the quality and quantity of available ground water.
The two general types of threats most likely to cause the City to experience water shortages:
1. Unanticipated catastrophic system failure due to earthquake, terrorist attack or sudden contamination of the water supply, or
2. Chronic system threat, such as Nitrate Maximum Contaminate Level exceedance requiring impacted wells be removed from service.
In the case of catastrophic failure, the City will assess the nature and extent of the failure, and the City Manager will identify the appropriate water shortage level in accordance with the City’s Emergency Operating Plan, including enacting emergency ordinances as may be required by the City Counsel.
A chronic system threat to the City’s present water supplies is Nitrate contamination, which has occurred along the Salinas Valley in response to historical agricultural activities of fertilization of fields. Although Nitrate contamination has not yet affected deep sones of the Basin, which is the source of supply for Gonzales active wells, it is possible that continued extractions in the deeper aquifers could lead to contamination of these water supplies.
The City Manager and/or City Council may impose any of the following shortage levels based upon facts and circumstances that may not have been otherwise anticipated in this plan.
The City will implement an appropriate water shortage level based on current water conditions.
Higher levels will be implemented as shortages continue and/or if customer response does not bring about desired water savings. Restrictions, penalties, and enforcement will build on each other as higher shortage levels are implemented.
City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
8 For all water shortage levels, further triggering also may occur due to prolonged drought conditions and a need to focus public attention on water conservation. It may also occur based on detection of a statistically significant increase in nitrate concentrations or VOC concentrations but where such concentrations do not threaten to exceed the CDPH “upper level” primary drinking water standard. 4 WATER SHORTAGE RESPONSE ACTIONS
4.1 HISTORY AND OVERVIEW OF SHORTAGE RESPONSE ACTIONS
In previous droughts and potential water supply shortages, the city has worked collaboratively with the community and the water management agencies it partners with to implement pragmatic solutions to respond to water supply challenges. The WSC Plan continues this tradition of taking an adaptive management approach to its response at all water shortage levels. In any given water shortage level, the city will actively monitor relevant supply and demand data inputs and performance indicators to adjust its response actions or intensity. As an example, the City can adaptively increase activity in public education and awareness to reduce demand. These approaches have been successful in past periods of water shortage without the use of fines or drought surcharges, which can be reserved for extreme cases.
The various supply and demand data inputs and performance indicators the City will rely on to assess and adjust the efficacy of shortage response actions taken include hydrologic conditions, basin water availability, local demands by customer class and water type, and any supplemental or transfer water the City may need to procure. In any given water shortage level, should there be a shift in available water supplies or in customer demand, the City will determine the severity of the change, factor in the existing water shortage condition, and then determine the appropriate response.
4.2 PERMANENT WATER CONSERVATION BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES The City’s Municipal Code 10.8 established a permanent water conservation Best Managements Practices, (BMP’s) that are in effect at all times in the City’s service area. The BMPs are intended to promote water conservation as a permanent way of life, even during years of normal or above normal precipitation and water supplies. The following is an abbreviated list of permanent BMPs for the Code.
• No spilling of water into streets, curbs, or gutters or to cause any runoff. • No using potable water through a hose to wash vehicles, clean exterior or any building, structure, or surface, unless the hose is equipped with an automatic shutoff nozzle. • No emptying and refilling of swimming pools/spas except to repair structural damage or complying with public health regulations.
• No use of potable water for construction activities where there is a reasonable available source of recycled or non-potable water available.
• The City shall maintain a distribution system leakage detection and repair program. • New construction shall have ultra-low-flow toilets, low flow showerheads, water recirculating systems and shall use drought tolerant landscaping principles. • Retrofit toilets and showerheads to ultra-low flow devices on change of ownership. • No indiscriminate running of water which is wasteful and without reasonable purpose. • Maintain irrigation of lawns and other turf areas in accordance with City and county ordinances.
Additionally, the City has operationalized water conservation in the various policies and practices, City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
9 and programs that contribute to ongoing structural water savings.
4.3 REQUIRED SHORTAGE RESPONSE ACTIONS
California Water Code Section 10632(a)(4) requires the WSC Plan to specify shortage response actions that align with the defined shortage levels, and include, at a minimum, all of the following:
• Locally appropriate supply augmentation actions.
• Locally appropriate demand reduction actions to adequately respond to shortages. • Locally appropriate operational changes.
• Additional, mandatory prohibitions against specific water use practices that are in addition to state-mandated prohibitions and appropriate to local conditions. • An estimate of the extent to which the gap between water supply and demand will be reduced by implementation of each action.
Shortage response actions included in this WSC Plan are a mix of prohibitions on end use, demand reduction methods, supply augmentation, and operational changes. The California Department of Water Resources (WDR) defines prohibitions on end use as measures to address areas that are the responsibility of end users, such as a broken sprinkler or leaking faucet.
Demand reduction methods are actions invoked by a water agency to reduce consumption, such as expanding public information campaigns and offering water use surveys.
Supply augmentation is defined as any action designed to increase the existing supply availability such as the use of emergency storage or acquiring additional transfer water. The City does not anticipate development of supply augmentation actions given that it is 100 percent dependent on a reliable source of groundwater.
Operational changes are defined as actions taken by the City to change the way in which existing supplies are used within its service area. Examples of operational change include reducing hydrant flushing or adjusting operations for sewer cline cleaning.
Motivated by the need to minimize disruption and costs, a priority for protecting customer end users of water emerges as shown in Table 4.1. These priorities guide how the City progressively implements water shortage response actions.
Table 4-1 Prioritized Water Uses
1. Health and Safety- interior residential and firefighting.
2. Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional- maintain economic base, protect jobs
3. Permanent Crops- requires over 5 years to replace or re-establish
4. Annual Crops- protect jobs, provide a community a food source
5. Landscaping- trees shrubs that provide more community benefit and value, along with turf grass for recreational sports fields
City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
10 6. New demand- beyond construction projects already approved Shortage response actions from previous levels are assumed to remain in effect as the water shortage levels increase. The mix of shortage actions at any given level is designed to produce an additional 10 percent demand reduction above the previous level’s reduction. The following lists the combinations of shortage response actions associated with each of the WSC Plan shortage levels.
4.3.1 WATER SHORTAGE LEVEL 1- VOLUNTARY SHORTAGE WARNING The City shall declare a water shortage level 1- Water shortage Warning when it determines there is a water shortage, or threatened shortage, condition of up to 10 percent. Shortage response actions listed under this level emphasize the Permanent Water Conservation BMPs listed in the City’s Municipal Code. In addition, the following shortage response actions have been included in Level1- Water shortage Warning to elicit a voluntary customer demand reduction of up to 10%:
1. Public Awareness. The City will increase public awareness of, and messaging about, the water supply situation and call for voluntary conservation. a. Mail information to every customer and available potential water user customers on ways to conserve water and to improve water efficiency. b. Conduct a media campaign to remind customers of the need to save water. c. Publicize water efficiency programs available at the time, including low-flow showerheads, toilets, and other programs.
2. Encourage Voluntary Outdoor Water Efficiency. Customers will be encouraged to use water efficiently, particularly outdoors with efficient irrigation practices.
3. Obligation to fix leaks. Leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system must be repaired within three working days of notification by the city unless other arrangements are made with the city.
4. Reinforce the Permanent Water Conservation BMP’s. Reinforce and promote the Permanent Water Conservation BMPs as provided in the City’s Municipal Code.
4.3.2 WATER SHORTAGE LEVEL 2–VOLUNTARY–MODERATE WATER SHORTAGE In addition to the actions listed in Level 1, the City shall perform the following shortage response action:
1. Voluntary reductions of up to 25% Call for voluntary reductions of up to 25% for each connection based on the average use during a base period proposed by the Water Quality Control Division and adopted by City Counsel.
4.3.3 WATER SHORTAGE LEVEL 3 – MANDATORY – SIGNIFICANT WATER SHORTAGE.
In addition to the actions listed in Levels 1 and 2, the City shall establish mandatory annual allotments for each connection based on the average use during a base period proposed by the Water Quality Division and adopted by the City Counsel. When Level 3 use reduction becomes necessary, administration and enforcement of water conservation rules becomes the major focus of the Water Quality Division. If necessary, additional temporary personnel may be hired and special meetings of the after Quality Division and /or City Council may be scheduled. Level 3 shortage response action are as follows:
City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
11 • Water allotment. Each water service connection may receive an allotted quantity of water, typically specified in hundred cubic feet (hcf) units per billing cycle, as calculated by the Water Resource Manager.
• Emergency Ordinance. The City Council may pass an emergency ordinance increasing the customer water rates to ensure stable revenues for operation and maintenance of the City’s water system.
• Public Outreach efforts. The city may implement outreach efforts to increase community awareness, strategic messaging, and outreach for specific community groups and customer types.
• Special considerations. As individual customers are notified of allotments, requests for special consideration will be processed rapidly, efficiently, and fairly. Every application for variance must be heard, evaluated, and acted upon by the planning director as rapidly as possible. Every action by the City Manager shall be referred to the City Council for consideration. The procedures for variances are defined below. • Freeze on Building Permits and Meters. No building permits will be issued, or meters installed for new accounts that had not received building permits before Level 3- Significant water shortage declared.
The following water use restrictions shall be imposed for Shortage Level 3 as listed in Table 4-2.
Table 4-2: Shortage Level 3 Water Use Restrictions
Shortage
level Type of Use Restriction
3 Landscaping
irrigation for
existing
landscapes
including parks.
Mandatory Prohibition- Landscape watering with potable water shall be subject to the following limits.
1) Landscape watering using sprinklers or irrigation
systems is permitted only 2 days per week. Watering is
allowed only on Wednesday and Sunday.
2) Manual landscape watering with a soaker hose,
handheld hose or watering can is allowed any day.
3 Landscape
irrigation for
new landscapes,
including Public
Parks
Landscape watering with potable water shall be subject to the following limits.
1) Landscape watering is permitted to maintain adequate growth on newly installed landscapes for a period of up to five weeks. Property Owners must notify the Utilities Division of the address where new landscape is installed and the date of installation.
2) Following the initial establishment period, landscape watering using a sprinkler or irrigation system is
permitted only on days associated with the current
conservation level.
3 Athletic Fields Landscape watering with potable water shall be subject to the following limits:
1) All landscape out-of-play areas, such as those that may be found around clubhouses or entryways, shall follow
City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
12 the general irrigation restrictions.
2) All in-play-areas may be irrigated during the standard watering hours (before 10:00 am or after 5:00 pm)
3 Swimming pools
and hots tubs
Initially filling new and existing swimming pools is prohibited.
Draining and refilling existing swimming pools and hot tubs is permitted only if repairing a pool leak or repairing, maintaining, or replacing a pool component that has become hazardous. All pools and hot tubs shall be covered when not in use.
3 Industrial and
commercial
Reduction of water use by any means is encouraged.
Compliance with mandatory demand reduction measures is
required for outdoor water uses, including landscape irrigation, swimming pools, and vehicle washing. Use of water from
unmetered fire hydrants is prohibited, except by City personnel and Fire Dept.
3 Vehicle and
Equipment
washing
Non-commercial washing of vehicles and mobile equipment is permitted only on assigned landscape watering days.
Fleet Managers are encouraged to wash only those e vehicles as necessary for health and safety.
3 Heavy
Construction
The use of potable water for dust control shall be reduced to the greatest extent possible.
4.3.4 WATER SHORTAGE LEVEL 4 – MANDATORY – SEVERE WATER SHORTAGE In addition to the actions listed in Level’s 1,2, and 3, the City shall establish allotments based upon a 35-50% curtailment of water use. All new and previous appeals for waivers shall be evaluated by field audit and shall be reheard by the Utilities Division, if necessary, upon recommendation of Utilities Division staff. The City Council may increase water rates.
The following water use restrictions shall be imposed for Shortage Level 4 as listed in Table 4-3.
Table 4-3: Shortage Level 4 Water Use Restrictions
4 Landscape irrigation
for Existing
landscapes, including
Public Parks.
Landscape watering with potable water shall be subject to the following limits:
1) Landscape watering using sprinklers or irrigation
systems is permitted only 1 day per week.
Landscape watering is permitted on Wednesday
before 10:00 am and after 5:00 pm.
2) Manual landscape watering with a soaker hose,
handheld hose, or watering can is allowed any day.
4 Landscape irrigation
for new landscapes,
including public parks
Landscape watering with potable water shall be subject to the following limitations:
1)Landscape watering is permitted 3 days per week to
maintain adequate growth on newly installed landscapes.
Watering days shall be Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Property. for a period of up to five weeks. Property Owners must notify the Utilities Division of the address where new City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
13 landscape is installed and the date of installation.
Following the initial establishment period, landscape
watering using sprinkler or irrigation system is permitted only on days associated with the current conservation level in effect.
4 Athletic Fields Landscape watering with potable water shall be subject to the following limits:
All landscape out-of-play areas, such as those that may be found around clubhouses or entryways, shall follow the
general irrigation restrictions.
All in-play-areas may be irrigated during the standard
watering hours (before 10:00 am or after 5:00 pm)
A goal of 20% reduction in use is encouraged.
4 Swimming pools, hot
tubs
Initial filling new and existing swimming pools is permitted only if repairing a pool leak or repairing, maintaining, or replacing a pool component that has become hazardous.
All pools and hot tubs shall be covered when not in use. To reduce evaporation.
4 Vehicle and
equipment washing
Non-commercial washing of vehicles and mobile
equipment is permitted only on assigned landscape
watering days.
Fleet managers are encouraged to wash only those
vehicles as necessary for health and safety.
4 Industrial and
commercial
The City Council may establish mandatory use reduction
targets, if needed.
Compliance with mandatory demand reduction measures
is required for outdoor water uses including landscape
irrigation, swimming pools, and vehicle washing.
Use of water from unmetered fire hydrants is prohibited, except by City staff and Fire dept.
4 Heavy Construction The use of potable water for dust control shall be reduced to the greatest extent possible.
4.3.5 WATER SHORTAGE LEVEL 5- MANDATORY- CRITICAL WATER SHORTAGE The City shall calculate 40-50% shortage allotments, as appropriate, and provide notice of revised allotments to customers. Appropriate administration and enforcement of this stringent program shall be the highest priority of the Utilities Division activity. All resources of the Utilities Division will be directed toward improvement and increase of water supply to the system. The City Council may further increase water rates.
The following use restrictions shall be imposed for Shortage Level 5 as listed in Table 4-4.
Table 4-4 Shortage Level 5 Water Use Restrictions
Shortage
Level
Type Use Restriction
5 Landscape Landscape watering with potable water is prohibited.
City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
14 irrigation for
Existing
landscapes,
including Public
Parks
5 Landscape
irrigation for
New
landscapes,
including Public
Parks
The installation of new landscapes irrigated with potable water is prohibited.
New landscapes installed prior to declaration of Water Shortage Level 5 may water 2 days a week to maintain adequate growth on newly installed landscapes, for the remainder of the five-week establishment period. Watering days for new landscapes are Tuesday and Friday. Property Owners must notify the City of the address where the new landscape is installed and date of installation.
5 Athletic Fields Landscape watering with potable water shall be subject to the following limits:
1) All landscape out-of-play areas, such as those that may be found around a building or entryway, shall follow the
general landscape irrigation restrictions.
2) All in-play areas may be irrigated during standard
watering hours.
3) A 30% reduction is encouraged.
5 Swimming
pools, hot tubs
Filling new and existing swimming pools and /or draining and refilling existing swimming pools or hot tubs is prohibited. All swimming pools and hot tubs shall be covered when not in use to prevent evaporation.
5 Vehicle and
equipment
washing
Non-commercial washing of vehicles and mobile equipment is prohibited. Only commercial facilities with water recycling systems may be used.
5 Industrial and
Commercial
Reduction of water use by any means is encouraged. The City Council may establish mandatory use reduction measures if needed. Compliance with mandatory reduction measures is required for outdoor water uses, including landscaping irrigation, swimming pools, and vehicle washing. Use of water from
unmetered fire hydrants is prohibited, expect by City staff and Fire Dept.
5 Heavy
Construction
The use of potable water for dust control shall be reduced to the greatest extent possible. The City may establish mandatory construction water budgets, if needed.
4.3.6 WATER SHORTAGE LEVEL 6- MANDATORY- EMERGENCY WATER SHORTAGE California Water Code Section 10632€ provides for consumption reduction methods in the most restrictive levels. The City may use any type of consumption reduction methods in its water shortage contingency analysis that would reduce water use, as appropriate for its service area, and have the ability to achieve a water use reduction consistent with up to 50% reduction in water supply.
City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
15 The City shall calculate greater than 50% water shortage allotments, as appropriate, and provide notice to customers. Appropriate administration and enforcement of this stringent program shall be the highest priority of the Utilities Division. All resources of the Utility Division will be directed toward improvement and increase of water supply to the system. The City Council may further increase water rates.
The City’s Municipal Code, 10.08, prohibits water waste and promotes water conservation, which is in force at all times.
4.4 CITY MANAGEMENT EMERGENCY DECLARATION
If the City Manager, or his/her designee, determines that a sudden event has, or threatens to, significantly diminish the reliability of quality of the City’s Water supply, the City Manager may declare a catastrophic water supply shortage and impose whatever emergency water allocation or conservations actions deemed necessary, in the City Manager’s professional judgement, to protect the reliability and quality of the City’s water supply until the emergency passes or the City takes action.
4.5 PROCESS FOR INITITATION/TERMINATION OF WATER SHORTAGE LEVEL Driven by the requirements outlined in the CWC Section 10632 and if demand for potable water is expected to be in excess of the water supply, the City Manager shall request the City Council to authorize and implement the provisions of the WSC Plan. The request shall be made at a regular or special meeting of the City Council, to implement the appropriate level and provisions of the WSC Plan. The City Council has the authority to initiate or terminate the water shortage contingency measures described in the WSC Plan.
The city manager will recommend the appropriate level of response to a water shortage based on the best information available at the time. Conditions that will be considered include the following:
• Water supply conditions and storage levels
• Statewide water supply conditions
• Local water supply and demand conditions
• Actions by surrounding agencies.
As water supply conditions either deteriorate or improve, the City Manager will return to City Council to revise the appropriate level response. It shall not be necessary to implement any level prior to another; the levels may be implemented in any reasonable order.
In the event the state or local agencies, through executive action, emergency legislation, or other actions, imposed conditions, requirement, or procedures that are not included in the City’s water shortage contingency Plan, the City Manager is authorized to implement such measures as are reasonably required to bring the City’s’ actions in each level to functional conformity with such conditions, requirements, or procedures.
4.6 REQUEST FOR VARIANCE PROCEDURE
Any person who wished to request a variance to a customer classification or allotment shall do so in writing by using the forms provided by the City:
1. The planning Director and staff will review variances. Site visits may be scheduled.
2. A condition of granting a variance shall be that all plumbing fixtures or irrigation systems be City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
16 replaced or modified for maximum water conservation. 5 COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS
Timely and effective communication is a critical element of the WSC Plan implementation. The City has established communication protocols and procedures to inform customers, the public, interested parties, and local, regional, and state governments regarding any current predicted shortages as determined by the Annual assessment described pursuant to Section 10632.1; any shortage response actions triggered or anticipated to be triggered by the Annual Assessment described pursuant to Section 10632.1; and any other relevant communications.
Strategic communication is an ongoing activity where the purpose, audience, message, tools, and channels may change at any given moment. In the context of water shortage response, the purpose may be an emergency water shortage situation, such as may result from an earthquake, or longerterm, non-emergency, shortage condition, such as may result from drought.
In an Emergency, the city will activate communication protocols detailed in the City’s Emergency Operations Plan. In non-emergency water shortage situation, the city will implement communication protocols outlined in this section.
5.1 COORDINATION
To communicate effectively, avoid confusion, and maintain credibility, the coordination of the WSC plan is in cooperation with various levels of City management, as well as the Basin Manager, Monterey County Water Resource Agency, and other regional planning groups, including the Water Awareness Committee of Monterey County. Through WAC and the integrated Regional Water management Plan for the Greater Monterey County. Through WAC, representatives from 14 agencies throughout Monterey County work together coordinating conservation and other water awareness efforts, including educational programs and information booths for special events, for public understanding of Monterey County water challenges and opportunities.
During droughts and other times of limited supply, the frequency and extent of coordination will increase to ensure outreach tactics are consistent with the changing needs of the region. The City will seek opportunities to leverage external resources to complement its own outreach.
5.2 KEY AUDIENCES
Communication with various stakeholders is essential during normal supply periods and becomes increasingly more involved during water shortages. Communicating to these audiences requires varying levels of involvement depending on the status of supply conditions. Feedback, research, and leveraging existing relationships are central to an effective communications plan. The City will continue to coordinate closely with water resource agencies in the region, stakeholders, and governing agencies on an ongoing basis to ensure appropriate messaging is effective and culturally competent within the City’s service area.
5.3 CUSTOMER OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT TOOLS
Water efficiency as a sustainable way of life remains central to City messaging during normal supply conditions. Indoor and outdoor water use efficiency, sustainable landscaping principles, rebate programs, investments to maintain infrastructure, emergency preparedness, local supply programs, water quality, and local supply reliability are among some of the themes that are in the City’s communications mix to promote, normalize, and advocate for water conserving ethics and activities.
City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
17 Below is a snapshot of the various strategies and activities the City uses or may use for communication that could be strategically ramped up in a water shortage condition.
Awareness and Education
• City website and Kick Kiosk
• Social media (Facebook, Instagram)
• Emails to customers
• Emails and correspondence to County, State, and Local elected officials • Media relations (Press releases, interviews, op-eds)
• Digital print and other paid media marketing
• Direct mail (bill messages, Inserts, post cards)
• Community events
• Education and outreach (school programs)
• Resources (water efficiency how to video guides and webinars) Communication through Action
• In-person, phone based.
• On site customer assistance (site surveys)
• Conservation programs
• Community events and demonstrations
5.4 COMMUNICATION OBJECTIVES
The city will provide the public with information about the WSC Plan using any of the outreach methods in Section 5.5. During water shortage conditions and when urgent conversation is needed, the City believes it is important to communicate the following to customers:
• Why water needs to be saved.
• How much water needs to be saved and for how long?
• Specific actions needed to save water.
• What the City, along with the water industry, is doing to remedy the shortage condition.
To that end, communication objectives during the various water shortage levels of the WSC Plan include the following:
• Motivate water users to increase conservation in ways that are consistent with any voluntary or mandatory actions called for at the current level of the WSC Plan. • Raise awareness and understanding of the drought, regulatory, or other condition affecting water supplies.
• Minimize confusion and maintain credibility of water agencies and conservation messages with an appropriate tome that invokes trust and avoids non-compliance backlash. • Make water users feel appreciated for accomplishments in improving their water use efficiency.
• Educate civic and business leaders and the public that the City has improved its water supply reliability and is committed to furthering local, sustainable, and reliable supplies. • Ensure customers and stakeholders believe they are being treated fairly in their relationship with others.
• Prepare City customers for any potential escalation or de-escalation of the WSC Plan based City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
18 on conditions and trending supply.
• Maintain communication effectiveness by soliciting or monitoring feedback from regional water agencies. Managers, key stakeholders, and the general public. • Depart WSC Plan implementation having demonstrated the effectiveness and value of conservation actions and water supply reliability investments in minimizing impacts to customer’s quality of life or the community’s economy.
5.5 COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL FOR DECLARING A WATER SHORTAGE A current or predicted water shortage, or the termination of a current shortage, as determined by the Annual Assessment, will be communicated to the public upon submittal ofthe Annual Assessment in June of any given year.
When the City determines that a potable water shortage condition exists, any or all of the following notification procedures may be implemented:
a) City management and other key decision makers must be notified regarding the situation, actions to be taken, goals customers are intended to achieve, and how these actions will be implemented.
b) By adopting the WSC Plan, the City Council authorizes the City Manager to declare the extent of a potable water shortage emergency and to implement the appropriate water shortage level and contingency measures.
c) The declaration of the City Council that the appropriate water shortage level of water conservation be implemented or terminated will be done by resolution adopted in accordance with this WSC Plan and public announcement. The City shall public a copy of the resolution in a newspaper used for publication of official notices and shall post notice on the City’s website and use social media. These 3 postings, notices, and notifications will communicate to the public the shortage response actions in place to offset the water shortage gap. Adoption of a resolution terminating any shortage level shall be made at a public meeting of the City Council.
d) The public at large will be informed of the situation and actions the City will be taking.
Communications will occur through the following: billing inserts, special mailings, telephone contact, email, social media, Kick Kiosk, water conservation booths, community association meetings and educational programs, etc. Literature appropriate to the drought circumstance will be provided regarding the potable water shortage condition, conservation methods and water saving devices. e) Use of all forms of media may be employed. This would include public service announcements on radio and cable television and social media, as well as local newspapers.
The City’s website, https://gonzalesca.gov, will be the central location for messaging and customer communications.
5.6 COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLL AND STRATEGIES FOR WATR SHORTAGE LEVELS To reduce water consumption during any water shortage level, the city will use public education and outreach efforts to build awareness of needed actions from the public. In addition, the City’s City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
19 outreach efforts will be regularly revised to reflect current conditions. Key communication strategies and associated water shortage level implementation are listed below:
• Announce status change to key stakeholders and the general public (all water shortage levels)
• Provide regular updates to customers and the media on conditions (all water shortage levels)
• Increase agency coordination via monthly meetings (water shortage level 1 and 2) • Conduct issue briefings with key officials and civic and business leaders (water shortage level 2)
• Promote available water assistance resources for vulnerable populations; customized outreach for impact customer groups (water shortage levels 3 and 4) • Suspend promotion of long-term water use efficiency programs/ tools to focus on imminent needs (water shortage levels 5 and 6)
• Perform crisis communication, as outlined in the City’s Emergency Operations Plan; outreach messaging will reflect emergency conditions and the need to focus on health and public safety (water level 6)
5.7 CRISIS COMMUNICATION- EMERGENCY WATER SHORTAGE
In the event of a catastrophic shortage due to an infrastructure failure or natural disaster, the city will enact its crisis communications as part of the City’s Emergency Operations Plan. The City’s Emergency Operations Plan was developed in accordance with local, regional, state, and federal emergency response guidelines to ensure a coordinated effort and effective response was adopted. 6 LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN AND SEISMIS RISK ASSESSMENT
6.1 MONTEREY COUNTY MULTI- JURISDICTIONAL LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN The WSC Plan includes a seismic risk assessment and mitigation plan to assess the vulnerability of each of the various facilities of the supplier’s water system and to mitigate those vulnerabilities.
Compliance may include submitting a copy of the most recently adopted local hazard mitigation plan if it addresses seismic risk.
The city recognizes that the threat from natural hazards poses a risk to water and wastewater utilities and the individuals they serve, and the impacts can result in regional economic and public health consequences. There are two types of disaster planning documents: Hazard mitigation Plan and Emergency Operations plan.
A HMP is different from the City’s Emergency Operations Plan such that a HMP is proactive and EOP is reactive. The HMP develops actions to reduce or eliminate risk from a future hazard event, while the EOP establishes overall operational concepts. The HMP identifies implementation priorities based on an in-depth local hazard assessment, while the EOP details emergency management for a significant disaster or emergency.
City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
20 The City of Gonzales is under the Monterey County Multi-Jurisdictional HMP (MJHMP) (March 2016). The 2016 MJHMP is currently being updated to 2021, led by Monterey County, and all 12 cities, as well as special districts, are participating in the planning process.
Once available, the updated MJHMP would have a comprehensive review process that includes the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, a 30-day stakeholder review, the California Office Of Emergency Services (CalOES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), followed by adoption by the County Board of Supervisors and each City Council. MJHMP Goals include the following:
1. Promote disaster-resistance and climate adaptation strategies in future development.
2. Retrofit, reinforce, or otherwise protect existing community assets, especially critical infrastructure, for hazard resilience.
3. Encourage natural systems protection through plans and policies; vegetation, debris, and sediment control measures; maintenance and restoration programs; ecosystem services.
4. Provide regulatory tools for applicable hazards and integrate hazard mitigation into appropriate local plans.
5. Increase public education and awareness on hazard risks; build personal support, personal preparedness to enable the public to better prepare for respond to and recover from disasters.
6. Improve local government capacity for disaster resiliency; facilitate coordination between participating jurisdictions and state and federal agencies, local utility companies, local businesses, non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders to promote hazard risk reduction.
Monterey County is potential vulnerable to a wide range of natural and man-made hazards. These hazards can threaten life and safety of residents and visitors and have the potential to damage or destroy both public and private property and disrupt the local economy and overall quality of life.
While the threats from hazard events may never be fully eliminated, there is much that can be done to lessen the potential impact on communities BY minimizing the damaging impacts of hazards upon our built environment, we can protect such events from resulting in disasters. The concept and practice of reducing risks to people and property from known hazards is called hazard mitigation.
The MJHMP identifies the following 12 hazards, including climate change, drought, earthquake, and others, which could impact the City’s water and wastewater infrastructure. • Agriculture
• Climate change/ Sea level rise
• Coastal erosion
• Dam Failure
• Drought
• Earthquake
• Flood
• Hazardous materials event
• Landslide
• Tsunami
City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
21 • Wildland fire
• Windstorm
6.2 SEISMIC RISK ASSESSMENT AND HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
The CWC requires the WSC Plan to include a seismic risk assessment and mitigation plan to assess the vulnerability of each water facility. Per CWC Section 10632.5©, this requirement is met by the Monterey County MJHMP.
Section 4, Hazard Analysis, of the MJHMP shows that several active faults, including the San Andreas Fault, run through Monterey County. The MJHMP also includes a hazard profile for earthquakes that includes a discussion of the nature of an earthquake, history of earthquakes in the region, and the location, extent, and probability of future seismic events. The probability analysis shows that Monterey County experiences several small detectable earthquakes every year. Also, moderate-sized potentially damaging earthquakes could occur in the area any time. Recent research by the USGS shows that the San Andreas Fault has a 21percent probability and the San Gregorio-Palo Colorado Fault Zone has a 10 percent probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake by 2032. Because Monterey County experiences small earthquakes every year, the overall probability of occurrence of this hazard to some degree is considered highly likely.
Section 5, Vulnerability Analysis, of the MJHMP shows that all of the City of Gonzales is located in a moderate shaking hazard area. A total of 22 critical government facilities across the City are vulnerable to a moderate shaking event.
7 COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT
CWC Section 10632(a)(6) requires a water supplier to penalize or charge for excessive use, where applicable. Chapter 10.08.080 of the City Municipal Code provides for a system of violations, warnings, and enforcement.
10.08.060 EXEMPTIONS:
A. Application For Exemption:
1. Any person may, at any time, apply in writing for an exemption from the strict application of this chapter. The application for the exemption shall be filed with the city manager.
2. The city manager may, in his/her discretion, temporarily dispense with the requirement to file a written application, if he/she finds that an emergency condition exists requiring immediate action on the exemption request.
B. Temporary Exemption: The city manager may grant a temporary exemption of up to one year to come into compliance with the terms of this chapter upon making both of the following findings:
1. The strict application of the chapter would create an undue hardship, or an emergency condition exists which requires that the exemption be granted; and
2. Granting the exemption will not cause a significant adverse effect on the water supply or on service to other water consumers.
C. Imposition Of Conditions: In granting an exemption, the city manager may impose any conditions in order to ensure that the exemption is consistent with the overall goal of water City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
22 conservation. The granting of an exemption and any conditions imposed upon such exemption shall be set forth in writing.
D. Right Of Appeal; Fee:
1. Any decision of the city manager with respect to an application for an exemption may be appealed, in writing, to the city council with a filing fee as set by the city council.
2. The city council shall schedule the matter for hearing within thirty (30) days of receipt of appeal.
3. The city council may confirm, modify, or rescind any decision of the city manager in this regard. The city council’s decision on all exemption appeals shall be final.
10.08.070 REVENUE RECEIVED FROM ENFORCEMENT:
All revenue received by the city from enforcement of this chapter shall be used exclusively for city water conservation programs, including, but not limited to, administration, monitoring, and enforcement costs of mandatory water conservation.
10.08.080 WARNINGS; NOTICE OF VIOLATION:
To encourage cooperative efforts to achieve water conservation, it shall be the policy of the city to issue a written warning notice when an alleged violation is first noted. Such warning shall include an explanation of the alleged violation. Any individual provided with such notice will then be given an opportunity to correct the identified problem. However, if an infraction citation is issued and a prosecution commenced for the alleged violation, in no case shall proof of a violation depend upon the showing that a warning was previously given, nor shall failure to give a warning be a defense.
10.08.100 PENALTIES:
A. Infraction; Penalty: Each violation of this chapter is an infraction punishable as provided for in subsection 1.16.010B of this code.
B. Separate Offense For Each Day: Any violation that occurs or continues from one day to the next shall be deemed a separate violation, for each day during which such violation occurs or continues to occur. (1972 Code § 13.09.070; amd. 2003 Code)
C. Additional Remedial Action: Nothing contained in this section limits the city to the prescribed remedy or prevents the city from initiating and prosecuting any other remedy available to it for the abatement of a public nuisance, or for recovery of the cost of abatement, under the civil or criminal statutes of the state or under other ordinances of the city. (1972 Code § 13.09.080)
10.08.100 PENALTY:
A. Infraction; Penalty: Each violation of this chapter is an infraction punishable as provided for in subsection 1.16.010B of this code.
B. Separate Offense For Each Day: Any violation that occurs or continues from one day to the next shall be deemed a separate violation, for each day during which such violation occurs or continues to occur. (1972 Code § 13.09.070; amd. 2003 Code)
The procedures for warnings and penalties above are for ongoing activities through water shortage level 2. For water shortage Levels 3-6, the following will apply:
Procedure for water shortage levels 3 through 6
1. Issue a written warning notice when an alleged violation is first noted. Such warning shall include an explanation of the alleged violation. Any individual provided with such notice will then be given an opportunity to correct the identified problem.
City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
23 2. If the violation is not corrected after one written warning notice, the City shall install a flow restrictive device on the service line and any customer observed by the City personnel to be using water for any non-essential unauthorized use.
3. Repeated violations of unauthorized water use will result in discontinuance of water service. 8 LEGAL AUTHORITIES
The City has the legal authority to implement and enforce its WSC Plan. California Constitution Article X- Water, Section 2 and California Water Code Section 100 provide that water must be put to beneficial use, the waste or unreasonable use or unreasonable method of use of water shall be prevented, and the conservation of water is to be exercised with a view to the reasonable and beneficial use thereof in the interest of the people and the public welfare. In addition, Water Code Section 375 provides the City with the statutory authority to adopt and enforce a water shortage emergency and impose water conservation measures it determines that the City may not be able to satisfy ordinary demands without depleting supplies to an insufficient level. 9 FINANCIAL IMPACTS
9.1 VOLUMETRIC BASED TIERED RATE STRUCTURE
The City’s volume based rate structure is designed and intended to be an ongoing and active water demand management tool that proportionately recovers the cost of providing water service within the City’s service area. Since the City reads meters and bills its customers monthly, the water use can provide a monthly signal, or performance measure, to assist customers in managing their water consumption. Moreover, the City’s volumetric rates are tiered such that customers who exceed a tier quantity experience more expensive rates for water.
The City’s rate structure is based upon adopted rate tiers and allows for modification of rates by due process. There is a flat rate charge based on meter size as well as volume-based rate. The volume based rate incorporates higher rates for higher usage tiers.
All City water service connections are charged monthly for the volume of water used. The City’s current rate schedule provides separate water rates for single family residential, multi family residential, commercial, school, and public accounts. Each account type is charged at a specific rate for every hundred cubic feet of water used monthly.
9.2 REVENUE SOURCES AND MANAGEMENT
In the event that the city implements the WSC Plan, it is recognized that the reductions in water sales would impact the revenues that would normally be generated to the Water Enterprise Find. However, the City’s Water Enterprise Fund revenues may vary according to regional weather, the economy, in dry years, local demands tend to increase, and the City may receive higher than anticipated revenues due to increased sales volume. In contrast, in wet years, demands tend to decrease, and revenues drop due to lower sales volumes. Such revenue surpluses and shortages could cause instability in water rates.
To the extent that this reduction negatively impacts the coverage of its fixed costs (those that are not tied to volume), the city will temporarily utilize its water reserves to mitigate any shortfall.
Maintaining financial reserves is a way the city can manage rate volatility. The reserves can, therefore, be a useful tool to offset the need for revenues during times of lower water sales or unanticipated water supply costs.
City of Gonzales
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
24 The City is in the process of a rate study and will provide further comment once the study is complete.
Under long term drought conditions, it may be necessary to institute temporary increased to rates to cover increased operating expenses. The City may consider adopting a surcharge or flat rate increase over a specific time period to cover increased expenses while under a water shortage. This measure would allow the City to implement various levels of rate increases after the City Council, by resolution, has declared a threatened shortage of funds due to water shortage or another emergency.
Conditions of drought and the implementation of water restrictions would also impact expenditures.
Reduced availability of groundwater would produce higher energy bills. The difference in groundwater elevation would lengthen the pumping time required to produce the same amount of groundwater.
Enforcement of the WSC Plan is presumed to be covered by enhanced revenues from the application of excess use charges and penalties.
10 MONITORING, REPORTING, AND REFINEMENT
In normal water supply conditions, production data is recorded daily. Totals are then reported monthly to the Water Resources Manager and Supervisor. Production figures are reported monthly to the State Water Resources Control Board office of Research. Planning, and performance ([email protected]) and in the Annual Report to the Drinking Water Program, which is submitted to the Water Board Water Division each year.
Water supply volumes are generated monthly by the Basin Manager. If the goals of balancing supply and demand under shortage conditions are not met, the City can adjust shortage response actions following an adaptive management approach. Baseline and demand reduction targets may utilize unconstrained demands, demand target as a percentage, or weighted by month to determine success.
11 WSC PLAN ADOPTION, SUBMITTAL AND AVAILABLITY
The City of Gonzales City Council adopted this WSC Plan by Resolution 2023-xx on ______.