City of Patterson
Office of the Mayor
1 Plaza
P.O. Box 667
Patterson, California 95363
Phone (209) 895-8004
Email: [email protected]
December 20, 2022
Stanislaus Civil Grand Jury
Honorable Robert B. Westbrook
Post Office Box 3488
Modesto, CA 95353
Honorable Robert B. Westbrook,
The City of Patterson acknowledges receipt of the summary report from the Stanislaus Grand Jury Case #22-07GJ – “The Future of Urban Water Supply and Demand.” On December 20, 2022, the Patterson City Council reviewed and approved the attached responses to the findings and recommendations contained in the report.
Findings, Overall
F1. The changing climate is putting pressure on the supply side for urban water systems.
Response: The City of Patterson agrees with this finding.
F2. The likelihood of more stringent state mandated reductions in water use is putting pressure on the demand side.
Response: The City of Patterson does not contest this finding.
F3. Even if sufficient supply may exist in any given year in Modesto or Patterson, state mandates may still require greater conservation measures.
Response: The City of Patterson does not contest this finding.
Findings, City of Patterson
F8. The City has made progress on securing additional sources of water through its Agreement with the Del Puerto Water District.
Response: The City of Patterson agrees with this finding.
F9. Other possible strategies to increase supply are not yet finalized.
Response: The City of Patterson partially disagrees with this finding. The City has been working to diversify its water supply portfolio by: developing non-potable well supplies to meet irrigation needs; developing a stormwater capture and ground water recharge system, and continued 2 conservation program implementation to consistently maintain per capita water use below target levels. Extensive recharge analysis has also been completed. Final plans and construction documents are not yet finalized.
F10. Since 2001 Patterson has reduced its GPCD consumption by 9%. Based on likely State action, it will need to further reduce its gallons per capita daily usage.
Response: The City of Patterson partially agrees with this finding. The City has significantly reduced its GPCD consumption over the last two decades. Due to fluctuations in water use across years, it is more accurate to evaluate GPCD reductions using multi-year averages. Between 2001 and 2010, use in the City was 169 GPCD. Between 2018-2020 use averaged l44 GPCD. Assuming current consumption is 144 GPCD, the City decreased its GPCD consumption by 14.8% since the 2000-2010 period. Since setting a water use target of 164 GPCD in 2015, actual use has always been significantly below target. City agrees that it would have to comply with state action.
F11. The City’s conservation programs, such as turf and toilet replacement, have had minor impact to date
Response: The City of Patterson disagrees with this finding. First, the City’s Turf Rebate and high efficiency toilet (HET) programs have yielded cumulative water savings of 1,945,770 gallons and 1,419,850 gallons between 2016-2020, respectively. Second, these programs are only two facets of the City’s water conservation programs. As demonstrated in the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan, the City of Patterson has seen steady population growth in recent years without a large spike in its overall water use. The reason water use lags the actual population growth rate is that City has implemented an effective water conservation program. City meters all of its water services and has a conservation-oriented water rate structure. The City has ordinances that discourage water waste.
Over the past decade, Respondent has implemented a water loss control program to reduce system losses.
F12. Further reductions in daily per capita consumption will result in pressure on the City water fund to cover fixed costs.
Response: The City of Patterson partially agrees and acknowledges the Grand Jury’s finding.
F13. The City is losing about 207,000 gallons of water per day due to system leakage.
Response: The City of Patterson generally agrees with this finding. Historically, the City’s water system loss rate has been around 10-12%. However, the City implemented a plan to replace older and leakier pipes, which has reduced system losses. The City expects its water loss rate to decline to less than 8%, the industry standard, as it continues its pipe replacement program and metering projects. The City is currently assuming a water loss rate of 9% as a baseline for its future water use projections with the goal of improvement in future years.
F14. The City has a tiered rate structure, i.e., per unit, water costs more the more one uses.
Response: The City of Patterson agrees it has a tiered rate structure.
Recommendations, City of Patterson
R4. Patterson should move as quickly as possible to evaluate and implement, if deemed feasible, the other strategies it has identified to increase supply. 3 Response: The City of Patterson agrees with this recommendation.
R5. Patterson should better educate its citizens on the need to conserve so that when greater restrictions are required, the public is more accepting of the need.
Response: The City of Patterson partially agrees with this recommendation. The City has prioritized and has engaged in significant public education and outreach regarding water conservation. The City will continue its public education and outreach efforts and will continue to strengthen its existing practices.
R6. Patterson should adopt a more aggressive conservation program to reduce its gallons per capita daily consumption and the severity of future rate increases.
Response: The City of Patterson partially agrees with this recommendation. As described above, the City is currently implementing an aggressive conservation program to reduce its gallons per capita daily consumption. The City has also implemented a tiered rate structure to protect rate affordability. The City will continue its ongoing programs and will continue to reduce its water consumption while maintaining affordable rates.
R7. Patterson should accelerate its efforts to limit water system loss.
Response: The City of Patterson partially agrees with this finding. Historically, the City’s water system loss rate has been around 10-12%. However, the City implemented a plan to replace older and leakier pipes, which has reduced system losses. The City expects its water loss rate to decline to less than 8%, the industry standard, as it continues its pipe replacement program and metering projects. The City is currently assuming a water loss rate of 9% as a baseline for its future water use projections with the goal of improvement in future years. Therefore, the City is on track to meet and exceed the industry standard and agrees that efforts to limit water system loss should be prioritized.
Response:
R8. While the SCCGJ supports a tiered rate structure to promote conservation, Patterson should once again evaluate whether this structure complies with the requirements of Proposition 218.
Response: The City of Patterson agrees with this finding.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Civil Grand Jury’s findings and recommendations.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Regards,
Michael Clauzel
Mayor
cc: Ken Irwin, City Manger
Nubia Goldstein, City Attorney