Water Supply Update
March 21, 2023
By: Benjamin A. Fine, P.E. –Director of Public Works/City Engineer Item 12.B
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
Month Average
Rainfall (in)
2021
Rainfall (in)
Delta
(in)
2022
Rainfall (in)
Delta
(in)
2022
Rainfall (in)
Delta
(in)
Jan 3.59 6.46 2.87 0.05 -3.54 8.67 5.08
Feb 3.87 0.03 -3.84 0.10 -3.77 5.31 1.44
Mar 3.46 2.53 -0.93 1.08 -2.98 7.9 4.44
April 1.13 0 -1.13 0.49 -0.64
May 0.41 0.1 -0.31 0 -0.41
June 0.07 0 -0.07 0 -0.07
July 0.03 0.03 0.03 0 -0.03
Aug 0.02 0 -0.02 0 -0.02
Sep 0.32 0 -0.32 2.03 2.30
Oct 0.62 1.95 1.33 0 -0.62
Nov 1.7 0.46 -1.24 1.06 -0.64
Dec 2.57 7.69 5.12 8.40 5.83
Total 17.79 19.25 1.46 4.81*-4.58 21.88 4.09
YTD 21.88 11.06
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)
•October 2022 DWIL = 5.88 (1.62 below TH)
•0.54 feet higher than July 2022
•0.77 feet lower than October 2021
•February 2023 DWIL = 10.58 (3.08 above TH)
•4.70 feet higher than October 2022
•1.22 feet higher than February 2022
13 Lopez Lake
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%
March 13, 2023 39,612.0 92.3%
March 20, 2023 47,302.2 19.4%
Lopez Lake
16 Lopez Lake
17 0.00
5,000.00
10,000.00
15,000.00
20,000.00
25,000.00
30,000.00
35,000.00
40,000.00
45,000.00
50,000.00
State Water
18 State Water
19 Current Pismo Beach Supplies
20 Source Full Allocation
(AF)
Percent of
Allocation
Allocation (AF)
SMGWB*700 30%210
State Water 1,240 35%427.0
Drought Buffer 1,240 35%434.0
Stored SW ---
Lopez Water 892 100%892.0
Lopez Surplus --1,048.0
Lopez Storage --1,061.35
Total 2,692 4,072.35
2021 Production 1,770.9
Current Pismo Beach Supplies
21 Source Full Allocation
(AF)
Percent of
Allocation
Allocation (AF)
SMGWB*700 30%210
State Water 1,240 35%427.0
Drought Buffer 1,240 35%434.0
County State
Water*--379
Lopez Water 892 100%892.0
Lopez S&S 2,109.35
Total 2,692 4,451.35*
2021 Production 1,770.9
Surplus 2,280.45
Water Conservation Efforts
•October 18, 2022
•Five additional water conservation rebate programs
22 Rebates Issued to Date
23 Tree WellsConclusion and Recommendations
Fiscal Impacts
•No direct fiscal impact
25 Staff Recommendations
•Recent rains have:
•Eased the drought
•Provided relief
•Water conservation must still be taken seriously by the community
•Staff recommends Council adopt a resolution:
•Rescinding R-2022-043, R-2022-004 and R-2021-049
•Declaring a “Normal Water Supply Condition”
•Municipal Code Section 13.24.030
26 Questions?