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1 RiversideCA.gov
1 RiversideCA.gov
WATER CONSERVATION SURCHARGE
PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS FOR WATER USE
EFFICIENCY REBATE PROGRAMS
City Council
September 20, 2022
Public Utilities Department
RiversideCA.gov
2 BACKGROUND
1. June 12, 2018 – City Council Approved RPU’s
participation
for the use of SoCalWaterSmart website
for water rebates.
2. RPU water customers have been utilizing
SoCalWaterSmart to apply
for and to receive rebates
for
many different conservation measures such as:
a. Turf Removal
b. High Efficiency Clothes Washers
c. Weather Based Irrigation Controllers
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2 RiversideCA.gov
3 1. Increase incentive levels for turf removal
2. Continue elevated incentive level for outdoor water
use efficiency rebates
3. Offer new water efficiency rebates
4. Double the SoCalWaterSmart budget from $300,000
per year to $610,000 per year
5. Align RPU programs and messaging with WMWD as
appropriate
DROUGHT RESPONSE
RiversideCA.gov
4 CURRENT PROGRAMS
SoCalWaterSmart
Residential Incentive
RPU
Contribution
MWD
Contribution
Total
Incentive
Approved RPU
FY 22/23 Budget
Turf Removal (sq ft) $1 $2 $3 $100,000
Weather Based Irrigation
Controller $120 $80 $200 $25,000
High Efficiency Sprinkler
Nozzle $3 $2 $5 $25,000
Commercial Incentive
RPU
Contribution
MWD
Contribution
Total
Incentive
Approved RPU
FY 22/23 Budget
Turf Removal (sq ft) $1 $2 $3 $150,000
Total Budget $300,000
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5 TURF REMOVAL PROGRAM - ENHANCEMENTS
1. State-mandated commercial customer
non-functional turf must not be irrigated
2. RPU Response:
Increase turf removal
incentive from $3 to $5 per
square foot of turf removed
for both residential and
commercial customers for
RPU Water customers
RiversideCA.gov
6 FLOW MONITORING DEVICE PROGRAM - NEW
Residential Flow Monitoring Devices:
1. Flow monitoring devices monitor a
home’s water use and can help detect
leaks.
2. Several varieties available on
SoCalWaterSmart
3. RPU Water customers to be eligible for
up to $75 from RPU and $100 from MWD
for approved devices
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7 HOSE BIB IRRIGATION CONTROLLER PROGRAM - NEW
Residential hose bib irrigation controllers:
1. Hose bib timers connect to any hose
faucet
2. Used to efficiently irrigate landscaping
3. RPU Water customers to be eligible for up
to $15 from RPU and $35 from MWD for
approved devices
RiversideCA.gov
8 TREE CARE PROGRAM- NEW
Residential Tree Care Program:
1. The US Forest Service recommends the use of
soaker hoses and a mulch ring for irrigating
trees during water restrictions.
2. This method of irrigation is extremely valuable
for those customers who have existing trees
which are normally irrigated during turf
irrigation
3. For RPU Water customers that provide proof of
purchase for a hose bib timer and at least one
bag of mulch, RPU will provide them with a
free soaker hose at the Customer Resource
Center.
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9 PROPOSED PROGRAMS
SoCalWaterSmart
Residential Incentive
RPU
Contribution MWD Contribution Total Incentive
Proposed RPU
FY 22/23 Budget
Turf Removal (sq ft) $3 $2 $5 $225,000
Weather Based Irrigation Controller $120 $80 $200 $25,000 High Efficiency Sprinkler Nozzle $3 $2 $5 $15,000
Flow Monitoring Device (New) $75 $100 $175 $25,000
Hose Bib Irrigations Controller (New) $15 $35 $50 $10,000 Commercial Incentive
RPU
Contribution MWD Contribution Total Incentive
Proposed RPU
FY 22/23 Budget
Turf Removal (sq ft) $3 $2 $5 $300,000
RPU – Casa Blanca Resource Center
Residential Incentive
Tree Care Program (New) $10,000
Total Budget $610,000
RiversideCA.gov
10 RPU REBATE COST
Water Use Efficiency Devices
Annual
Customer
Water
Reduction
(savings) acre-
feet/year
Device
Lifetime
(years)
Device Lifetime
Savings (acre-
feet)
RPU Cost per
Customer
Rebate
RPU Rebate Cost
(per Acre Foot)
Customer Rebates available with additional RPU contribution Hose Bib Controller 0.0179 10 0.179 $15.00 $83.80
Leak Monitoring Device 0.0627 10 0.627 $75.00 $119.62
Rotary Multi-Stream Nozzle 0.0026 5 0.013 $3.00 $227.27 Weather Based Irrigation Controller (each; < 1 acre) 0.0414 10 0.414 $120.00 $289.86 Customer Rebates available with standard MWD contribution Cistern 0.0076 5 0.038 $0.00 $0.00
High Efficiency Clothes Washer 0.0328 14 0.459 $0.00 $0.00 Premium High Efficiency Toilet (Based on savings from 1.6 gpf unit) 0.0105 20 0.210 $0.00 $0.00 Rain Barrel 0.0019 5 0.010 $0.00 $0.00
Soil Moisture Sensor (/Station; > 1 acre) 0.0179 10 0.179 $0.00 $0.00 Soil Moisture Sensor (each; < 1 acre) 0.0414 10 0.414 $0.00 $0.00 Weather Based Irrigation Controller (/Station; > 1 acre) 0.0179 10 0.179 $0.00 $0.00 Turf - Tiered rebate program
Customer Rebates available with additional RPU contribution Turf Removal (per square foot) - 250 - 1,000 sq. ft. Residential 0.0001 10 0.001 $3.00 $2,307.69 Turf Removal (per square foot) - 250 - 5,000 sq. ft. Commercial 0.0001 10 0.001 $3.00 $2,307.69 Customer Rebates available with standard MWD contribution Turf Removal (per square foot) - 1001 - 5,000 sq. ft. Residential 0.0001 10 0.001 $0.00 $0.00 Turf Removal (per square foot) - 5,001 - 50,000 sq. ft. Commercial 0.0001 10 0.001 $0.00 $0.00 9 10
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11 Strategic Priority 4 - Environmental Stewardship
Goal 4.2 - sustainably manage local water resources to
maximize reliability and advance water reuse to ensure safe, reliable and affordable water to our community
Cross-Cutting Threads
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
RiversideCA.gov
12 That the City Council:
1. Approve the change to the Residentia l Turf Removal Program, to increase funding from $3 per square foot of turf to $5 per square foot of turf, estimated total fiscal impact for FY 2022/23 of $125,000;
2. Approve the change to the Commercial Turf Removal Program, to increase funding from $3 per square foot of turf to $5 per square foot of turf, estimated fiscal impact for FY 2022/23 of $150,000;
3. Approve the new Residential Flow Monitoring Device Program, estimated fiscal impact for FY 2022/23 of $25,000;
4. Approve the new Residential Hose Bib Program, estimated fiscal impact for FY 2022/23 of $10,000; and
5. Approve the purchase of soaker ho ses for the Tree Care Program, estimated fiscal impact for FY 2022/23 of $10,000.
RECOMMENDATIONS
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