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1 RiversideCA.gov
1 RiversideCA.gov
WATER CONSERVATION
SURCHARGE
City Council
March 19, 2024
Public Utilities - Customer Engagement
RiversideCA.gov
2 May 2004 the Board and City Council approved and
established the Water Conservation Surcharge.
I. Amount:
a. 0.5% effective June 1, 2004,
b. another 0.5% effective June 1, 2005,
c. and a final 0.5% effective June 1, 2006, for a total of
1.5% of total water rates and charges
II. Effective Date: through May 31, 2014
WATER CONSERVATION SURCHARGE EST. 2004
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3 III. Funds restricted to:
1. Water conservation and reclamation education
programs;
2. Water conservation and reclamation programs;
3. Science and technology advancement of water
conservation and reclamation research, development
and demonstration programs;
4. Water conservation and reclamation assistance for low- income customers in the City; and
5. Other programs consistent with the Board’s water
conservation and reclamations goals and objectives.
WATER CONSERVATION SURCHARGE EST. 2004
RiversideCA.gov
4 In March 2014 and April 2014, the Board and City Council respectively renewed the Water Conservation Surcharge.
I. Amount: 1.5% of total water rates and charges
II. Effective Date: through April 22, 2024
III. Funds restricted to:
1. Conservation, education, and water use efficiency programs; and
2. Research, development, and demonstration programs to advance science and technology with respect to water
conservation.
WATER CONSERVATION SURCHARGE RENEWED 2014
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5 In 2009, SB x7-7 mandated urban water
suppliers to lower per capita water usage
20% by the year 2020.
In 2018, Senate Bill 606 and Assembly Bill
1688 created the framework for
‘Conservation is a California Way of Life’
requires that retail water agencies
calculate, and annually report water use
metrics.
SAVING WATER IS A WAY OF LIFE
RiversideCA.gov
6 The water conservation programs and efforts are
funded solely through the Water Conservation
Surcharge.
RPU has expended over $13 million dollars and
leveraged an additional $5.2 million dollars in
conservation program funding from WMWD and the
Metropolitan Water District and MET.
The Water Conservation Surcharge has funded programs
that have resulted in:
61,318 customer rebates for water efficiency measures
lifetime water savings of 13.4 billion gallons of water.
CONSERVATION SURCHARGE 20-YEAR SUCCESS
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7 WATER EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS
Turf Replacement High Efficiency
Clothes Washers
Rotating Sprinkler
Nozzles
Premium High
Efficiency Toilets
Weather Based
Irrigation Controllers
Additional Information on Programs & Rebates available at:
RiversidePublicUtilities.com/Rebates
RiversideCA.gov
8 Since 2014, over 38,800 water rebates provided for a
water savings of over 4.2 billion gallons of water
CONSERVATION SURCHARGE - REBATES
Water Savings
(Gallons)
Number
Provided
Measure/device
28,940,8683,606High Efficiency Clothes Washers
31,410,0162,625High Efficiency Toilets
116,468,8361,709Smart Irrigation Controllers (Direct
Installation)
116,748,58827,492High Efficiency Sprinkler Nozzles
28,464,392668Weather based irrigation controller
3,384,311,04057Commercial waterwise landscape
481,914,708614Waterwise landscape incentive
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9 Since 2014, residential and commercial turf replacement programs have seen nearly 2.5 million square feet of turf being removed
CONSERVATION SURCHARGE - TURF
Turf Removed Sq FtDescription
1,048,635Residential
1,446,410Commercial
2,495,045Total
RiversideCA.gov
10 Since 2014, RPU has had taught over 549 water classes with over 16,000 young people participating, with 51
specific water education community events with 16,000
participants
CONSERVATION SURCHARGE - TURF
Community
Event
Participants
Water
Conservation
Community
Events
Class
Participants
Water
Classes
15,8925116,020549
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11 Kathleen Gonzales Memorial Waterwise
Garden
Location: connected to the SSgt. Salvador J.
Lara Casa Blanca Library; 3025 Madison St
Date: October 2005
Funded by the Water Conservation
Surcharge, the garden provides an example
and inspiration of what’s possible from a
drought-tolerant landscape.
CONSERVATION SURCHARGE PROJECTS
RiversideCA.gov
12 Janet Goeske Center WaterWise Garden
CONSERVATION SURCHARGE PROJECTS
Location: 5257 Sierra St.
Date: Completed Fall 2018
Description: The 45,000 sq. ft. turf
removal project showcases:
1. Conservation education
2. California-native and drought-
tolerant plants
3. Various methods of climate
appropriate landscaping
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13 State Water Resources Control Board, Media Release May 31, 2023 Effective until June 2024 (expected to be renewed) - Watering decorative grass on business and government properties.
“The regulation bans watering non-functional turf, which generally is mowed grass that is not used for recreational or other community activities, at commercial, industrial and institutional properties. This applies to areas like grass in front of or next to large commercial buildings, and some co mmon areas managed by homeowners’ associations.
In addition to not applying to grass used for recreational or other community activities, the ban does not affect or prohibit watering residential lawns or trees. In fact, the state encourages people to keep watering trees because of their many environmental benefits. The ban also does not prohibit using recycled water for irrigating non-functional turf .”
WATER USE RESTRICTION - NON-FUNCTIONAL TURF
https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/press_room/press_releases/2023/pr20230601-decorative-watering.pdf RiversideCA.gov
14 Strategic Priority 4 – Environmental Stewardship
Goal 4.2 - to 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
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15 That the City Council:
1. Conduct a public hearing to engage the community and receive input related to the renewal of the Water Conservation Surcharge applicable to all RPU water customers;
2. Approve the renewal of the Water Conservation Surcharge applicable to all RPU water customers, effective through the ten years thereafter; and
3. Adopt a resolution establishing the revised Schedules WA-1A, WA-1B, WA-2, WA-3, WA-4, WA-5, WA-6, WA-7, WA-8, WA-9 and WA-10, effective upon Council approval through ten years thereafter, and repealing Resolution No. 22675.
RECOMMENDATIONS
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