Water Supply Update
January 17, 2023
By: Benjamin A. Fine, P.E. –Director of Public Works/City Engineer Item 12.A
Background
•November 16, 2021
•Update on water supply and committed to return to Council at the second meeting every other month.
2 Past Council Action
•June 1, 2021 –Moderately Restricted Water Supply
•January 18, 2022 –Severely Restricted Water Supply
•May 17, 2022 –Critical Water Supply
3 Drought
4 Drought
5 Drought
6 Water Use Restrictions –No Change
A.Use of water which causes runoff onto adjacent
properties,non-irrigated areas,private and public
walkways,roadways,gutters,parking lots,or structures
is prohibited.
B.Outdoor water use for washing vehicles,boats,paved
surfaces,buildings,and other similar uses shall be
attended and have hand-controlled water devices,which
shut off the water immediately when not in use.
C.No water shall be used for cleaning driveways,patios, parking lots,sidewalks,streets,or other such uses
except as found necessary by the city to protect the
public health or safety.
7 Water Use Restrictions
D.Outdoor irrigation
1)Outdoor irrigation is prohibited between the hours of ten a.m.and four p.m.
2)Applying water to outdoor landscapes during and
within 48 hours after measurable rainfall is
prohibited.
3)Irrigation of private and public landscaping ,turf areas and gardens is permitted at even-numbered
addresses only on Mondays and Thursdays,and at
odd-numbered addresses only on Tuesdays and
Fridays.All customers are directed to use no more
water than necessary to maintain landscaping.
8 Water Use Restrictions
E.Restaurants shall serve drinking water only in response to a specific request by a customer.
F.Using water in a fountain or other decorative water
feature,except where the water is part of a
recirculating system ,is prohibited.
G.Use of potable water for compaction or dust control
purposes in construction activities is prohibited.
H.Emptying and refilling swimming pools and commercial
spas is prohibited except to prevent structural damage
and/or to provide for the public health and safety.
9 Water Use Restrictions
•Water leaks to be repaired within 72 hours of notification by the City
•Extended prohibited hours
•10 am –4 pm
•8 am –6 pm•No new lawns to be allowed in the City
10 Other Agencies –Water Use Restrictions
•Mandatory water reduction based upon 2020 usage
•Amount of reduction ranges from 0%-30%depending on
amount of usage
•Irrigation meters must reduce use by at least 25%
•Fines for noncompliance with a one-time “water school”to have the fine dismissed•Landscape irrigation limited to 10 minutes per station on allowed watering days
•Outdoor watering limited to one day per week
•All pools must be covered when not in use
•Mandatory 10%reduction based on 2020 usage
11 Rainfall 2022
Month Average
Rainfall (in)
2020
Rainfall (in)
Delta
(in)
2021
Rainfall (in)
Delta
(in)
2022
Rainfall (in)
Delta
(in)
Jan 3.59 0.61 -2.98 6.46 2.87 0.05 -3.54
Feb 3.87 0 -3.87 0.03 -3.84 0.10 -3.77
Mar 3.46 8.02 4.56 2.53 -0.93 1.08 -2.98
April 1.13 1.72 0.59 0 -1.13 0.49 -0.64
May 0.41 0 -0.41 0.1 -0.31 0 -0.41
June 0.07 0 -0.07 0 -0.07 0 -0.07
July 0.03 0 -0.03 0.03 0.03 0 -0.03
Aug 0.02 0 -0.02 0 -0.02 0 -0.02
Sep 0.32 0 -0.32 0 -0.32 2.03 2.30
Oct 0.62 0.04 -0.58 1.95 1.33 0 -0.62
Nov 1.7 .049 -1.21 0.46 -1.24 1.06 -0.64
Dec 2.57 1.21 -1.32 7.69 5.12 8.40 5.83
Total 17.79 12.09 -5.7 19.25 1.46 4.81*-4.58
Rainfall January 2023
Month Average
Rainfall (in)
Jan 3.59
Feb 3.87
Mar 3.46
April 1.13
May 0.41
June 0.07
July 0.03
Aug 0.02
Sep 0.32
Oct 0.62
Nov 1.7
Dec 2.57
Total 17.79
Date Inches
1st 0
2nd 0.36
3rd 0.01
4th 1.17
5th 0.39
6th 0.01
7th 0.06
8th 0.16
9th 4.03
10th 0.12
11th 0.02
12th 0
13th 0.12
14th 1.11
15th 0.25
16th 0.39
17th 0.01
TOTAL 8.21 17 days = 46.1% of annual average
Santa Maria Groundwater Basin
•Adjudication = 700 AF
•Deep Well Index Threshold = 7.5 feet
•April 2021 DWIL = 9.06 feet (1.56 above TH)
•July 2021 DWIL = 6.53 feet (0.97 below TH)
•April 2022 DWIL = 7.98 feet (0.48 above TH)
•July 2022 DWIL = 5.34 (2.16 below TH)
•2.64 feet lower than April 2022
•1.91 feet lower than July 2021
•October 2022 DWIL = 5.88 (1.62 below TH)
•0.54 feet higher than July 2022
•0.77 feet lower than October 2021
14 Lopez Lake
15 Measurement Date Lake Level (AF)% Change
November 2, 2021 14,763.0
January 12, 2022 14,942.8 1.2%
March 9, 2022 14,508.7 -2.9%
April 5, 2022 14,331.6 -1.2%
September 9, 2022 11,942.1 -16.7%
November 14, 2022 11,156.4 -6.6%
January 10, 2023 20,594.3 84.6%
January 17, 2023 24,786.0 20.4%
Lopez Lake
16 0.00
5,000.00
10,000.00
15,000.00
20,000.00
25,000.00
30,000.00
Lopez Lake
17 Lopez Lake
•Low Reservoir Response Plan (LRRP)
18 Impact From Recent Rain
19 12,266.7 AF
1/4/23
24,786 AF
1/17/23
12,519.3 AF
12,519.3 AF = 2.7 years of entitlement
1.8 Years with downstream Release
State Water
•Two components
•Table A
•Drought Buffer
•Table A –Allocation
•Drought Buffer makes State Water more reliable
•Table A + Drought Buffer ≤ 1,240 AF
20 State Water
•December 1, 2022 DWR
•Set initial 2023 supplies 5% + “Health and Safety Demand” 55 gpcd
21 State Water
22 State Water
23 Current Pismo Beach Supplies
24 Source Full Allocation
(AF)
Percent of
Allocation
Allocation (AF)
SMGWB*700 30%210
State Water 1,240 5%62
Drought Buffer 1,240 5%62
Stored State
Water ---
Lopez Water 892 80%713.6
Lopez Surplus --300.8
Total 2,692 1,348.4
2021 Production 1,770.9
Deficit (422.5)
State Water Subcontractors
25 Agency Table A (AF)DB (AF)Total (AF)
SLO County Flood Control and Water Conservation District 25,000 Shandon 100 0 100
Morro Bay 1,313 2,290 3,603
CMC 400 400 800
County Ops Center 425 425 850
Cuesta College 200 200 400
Pismo Beach 1,240 1,240 2,480
Oceano CSD 750 750 1,500
San Miguelito MWC 275 275 550
Avila Beach CSD 100 100 200
Avila Valley MWC 20 20 40
San Luis Coastal USD 7 7 14
Subcontractor Total 4,830 5,707 10,537
SLOCFCWCD Unallocated Table A 14,463
Current Pismo Beach Supplies
26 Source Full Allocation
(AF)
Percent of
Allocation
Allocation (AF)
SMGWB*700 30%210
State Water 1,240 5%62
Drought Buffer 1,240 5%62
County State
Water --1,116
Lopez Water 892 80%713.6
Lopez Surplus 300.8
Total 2,692 2,464.4
2021 Production 1,770.9
Surplus 693.5
Drought Buffer Increase
•January 6, 2023
•County staff issued memo
•First right of refusal for additional drought buffer
•County excess water may no longer be an option
27 Option A
•Goal = 1,240 AF of State Water @ SWP delivery of 20%
•Increase drought buffer by 3,720 AFY to 4,960 AFY
28 Delivery Table A
(AFY)
Drought
Buffer (AFY)
Total
5%62 248 310
10%124 496 620
20%248 992 1,240
30%372 1,488 1,860
40%496 1,984 2,480
50%620 2,480 3,100Fiscal Impact
•$762,600/year
Option B
•886.4 AF of State Water at a 20% delivery (1,800 AFY total) •Increase drought buffer by 1,952 AFY to 3,192 AFY
29 Delivery Table A
(AFY)
Drought
Buffer (AFY)
Total
5%62 159.6 221.6
10%124 319.2 443.2
20%248 638.4 886.4
30%372 957.6 1329.6
40%496 1,276.8 1,772.8
50%620 1,596 2,216Fiscal Impact
•$400,160/year
Council Direction
•Council directed staff to pursue Option B
•January 9, 2023 staff informed County staff of Council’s direction
•Increase DB from 1,240 AFY to 3,192 AFY
•Provides 1,800 AFY total water supply
•Staff waiting to hear back from County
30 Water Conservation Efforts
•October 18, 2022
•Five additional water conservation rebate programs
31 Rebates Issued to Date
32 Tree WellsConclusion and Recommendations
Fiscal Impacts
•No direct fiscal impact
34 Staff Recommendations
•Recent rains have:
•Eased the drought
•Provided some relief
•California is still in a drought
•Water conservation must still be taken seriously by the community
•Staff recommends that the City Council discuss the City’s water position and provide staff with direction if
necessary.
35 Questions?