DATE:
May 23, 2023
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
Public Works
TITLE: Rescind Stage 2 Water Shortage
Emergency Condition
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View Finding that a Stage 2 Water Shortage Emergency No Longer Exists, Rescinding the Ju ne 2022 Stage 2 Water Shortage Emergency Condition, and Reinstating Normal Water Supply Conditions, to be read in title only, further reading waived (Attachment 1 to the Council report).
BACKGROUND
The City of Mountain View provides potable and recycled water to the majority of residents and businesses in Mountain View through its municipal water distribution systems. Mountain View’s primary water supply (approximately 85%) comes from the San Francisco Regional Water System (Regional Water System), which is operated by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). The City receives approximately 10% of its water from Valley Water and 1% from local groundwater wells. The remaining 4% of Mountain View’s water supply is recycled water from the Regional Water Quality Control Plant in Palo Alto. Recycled water is available in Mountain View’s North Bayshore Area for irrigation and other nonpotable uses. A small numbe r of properties in Mountain View receive water from the California Water Service Company (Cal Water), not from the City.
In response to two years of dry conditions, the City Council declared a Stage 1 Water Shortage Emergency Condition on November 9, 2021. As conditions worsened throughout the State, the City Council declared a Sta ge 2 Water Shortage Emergency Condition on June 28, 2022 and implemented increased water conservation measures , including limiting irrigation to no more than two days per week Citywide.
As of April 2023, w ater supply conditions have improved significantly , with the Statewide snowpack exceeding 250% and many reservoirs reaching historic high levels. In response to the above-normal (and in some cases record-breaking) water supply conditions throughout much of
Rescind Stage 2 Water Shortage Emergency Condition
May 23, 2023
California, the Governor and our regional partners have updated their drought response actions as follows:
• California—On March 24, 2023, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N -5-23 removing key water conservation mandates, including the requirement for agencies to implement Level 2 of their Water Shortage Contingency Plan . This requirement was implemented through State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) Resolution 2022-0018, which was adopted on May 24, 2022 and is scheduled to expire June 10, 2023, unless otherwise rescinded or extended by the State Board . As part of Executive Order N-5-23, the Governor continued his proclamation of a State of E mergency and maintained several actions targeted toward drought recovery and long-term conservation.
Among these continued actions is the Governor’s ban on irrigating nonfunctional turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional sites, which is also implemented through the State Board’s Resolution 2022-0018.
• SFPUC—On April 11, 2023, SFPUC rescinded their drought emergency and maintained a voluntary call for 11% conservation that would expire concurrent with the State Board resolution. SFPUC also maintained a temporary irrigation ban for nonfunctional turf to maintain consistency with State requirements.
• Valley Water—On April 11, 2023, the Valley Water Board of Directors (Board) voted to rescind their Water Shortage Emergency Condition. Concurrent with this action, the Board also v oted to maintain a 15% call for voluntary conservation and a two-day limit on residential nonfunctional turf irrigation.
ANALYSIS
Based on the actions of Governor Newsom, SFPUC, and Valley Water, staff recommends rescinding the current Stage 2 water shortage condition in Mountain View and reinstating normal water supply conditions. A water shortage declaration is recommended when th ere is a reasonable probability of a supply shortage necessitating a demand reduction (City Code Section 35.28.3.1). Stage 2 is designed for supply shortages between 10 % and 20 %, and at present, there is no immediate supply shortage.
Rescinding the curre nt Stage 2 drought status and reinstating normal supply conditions would offer relief for the City’s water customers who have met the requested water use reductions from Mountain View’s wholesale water suppliers. Together, the City, residents, and businesses saved 623 million gallons of potable water since the drought was initially declared in Santa Clara County on June 15, 2021. This is equivalent to saving about three months of water use for the City over a 22-month period.
Rescind Stage 2 Water Shortage Emergency Condition
May 23, 2023
To align with our regional partners, long-term conservation and efficiency remain important, and staff will continue efforts to promote long -term water use efficiency regardless of the presence of a water shortage.
FISCAL IMPACT
Revenue to the City’s Water Fund will likely increase with increased water use.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not rescind the Stage 2 water shortage condition.
2. Provide other direction.
PUBLIC NOTICING—Agenda posting.
Prepared by:
Elizabeth Flegel
Water Resources Manager
Reviewed by:
Lisa Au
Assistant Public Works Director
Approved by:
Dawn S. Cameron
Public Works Director
Audrey Seymour Ramberg
Assistant City Manager
EF/LL/6/CAM
703-05-23-23CR
203031
Attachment: 1. Resolution