Urban Water
Management Plan
2025
(DRAFT)
DRAFT
URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
2025
MAY 2026
(DRAFT)
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................1-1
1.1 New UWMP Requirements ...............................................................................................1-1
1.2 Overview..................................................................................................................................1-2
1.3 Organization of 2025 Urban Water Management Plan..........................................1-6 2 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATION..............................................2-1
2.1 Local and Regional Coordination ...................................................................................2-1
2.2 Fiscal or Calendar Year and Units of Measure...........................................................2-3
2.3 Plan Adoption ........................................................................................................................2-4 3 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION.........................................................................................................3-1
3.1 General Description.............................................................................................................3-1
3.2 Service Area Boundary Maps...........................................................................................3-2
3.3 Service Area Climate ...........................................................................................................3-1
3.4 Climate Change Influences................................................................................................3-3
3.5 Service Area Population.....................................................................................................3-6 4 WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION...................................................................................4-1
4.1 Overview of Past Water Use.............................................................................................4-1
4.2 Projected Water Use Considerations............................................................................4-8
4.3 Projected Water Use......................................................................................................... 4-13 5 SB X7-7 BASELINE AND TARGETS....................................................................................5-1
5.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................5-1
5.2 Baselines and Targets.........................................................................................................5-1 6 WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION...........................................................................6-1
6.1 Water Supply Analysis Overview...................................................................................6-1
6.2 Water Supply Characterization.......................................................................................6-8
6.3 Overview of Wastewater Collection System and Recycled Water Supply .................................................................................................................................... 6-18
6.4 Current and Projected Water supply......................................................................... 6-32
6.5 Energy Intensity................................................................................................................. 6-34 7 WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY..........................................................................................7-1
7.1 Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessment......................................7-1
7.2 Water Service Reliability Assessment..........................................................................7-1
7.3 Drought Risk Assessment..................................................................................................7-7 8 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN.....................................................................8-1 9 DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES..............................................................................9-1
9.1 Existing Demand Management Measures...................................................................9-1 DRAFT
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
9.2 Water Conservation Program Coordination And Staffing Support...................9-7
9.3 Water Demand Management Measures, Implementation To Achieve Water Use Targets, And Water Use Objectives (Future
Requirements).......................................................................................................................9-8 Figures
Figure 1-1. Overview of Key Components in the City’s 2024 Water Conservation Master Plan.............................................................................................................................1-4 Figure 3-1. City of Santa Monica (Circa 1920) .................................................................................3-1 Figure 3-2. City of Santa Monica Today ..............................................................................................3-2 Figure 3-3. City of Santa Monica Potable Water System ..............................................................3-3 Figure 3-4. Typical Average Monthly Temperature and Water Use........................................3-2 Figure 3-5. City of Santa Monica Average Monthly Water Use and Average Monthly Rainfall....................................................................................................................3-3 Figure 3-6. City of Santa Monica Annual Water Use and Population (2015-2025)...........3-7 Figure 3-7. City of Santa Monica Yearly Water Use and Unemployment Rate ....................3-8 Figure 3-8. City of Santa Monica Official Districting Map ......................................................... 3-10 Figure 4-1. Summary of Drought Conditions from 2005-2025.................................................4-1 Figure 4-2. Summary of Water Use Trends by Sector in the City of Santa Monica ............4-3 Figure 4-3. Projected Potable Water Use Trends (2025 – 2040 in 5 Year Increments)......................................................................................................................... 4-14 Figure 6-1. Santa Monica Basin and Subbasin Boundaries .........................................................6-2 Figure 6-2. Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project...................................................................6-3 Figure 6-3. Arcadia WTP...........................................................................................................................6-4 Figure 6-4. Olympic AWTF.......................................................................................................................6-6 Figure 7-1. Summary of the City’s Water Usage Trends from 2010-2025............................7-8 Tables
Table 1-1. Summary of Santa Monica’s Water Supply Make-Up from 2015-2025...........1-3 Table 1-2. Multiple Dry Years Supply and Use Comparison (DWR Table 7-4)..................1-5 Table 2-1. Retail: Public Water Systems (DWR Table 2-1)........................................................2-1 Table 2-2. Plan Identification (DWR Table 2-2) ............................................................................2-2 Table 2-3. Summary of Regional Coordination for Development of the 2025 UWMP .......................................................................................................................................2-2 DRAFT
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Table 2-4. Water Supplier Information Exchange Water Code Section 10631(h) (DWR Table 2-4 Retail)......................................................................................................2-3 Table 2-5. Supplier Identification (DWR Table 2-3)....................................................................2-4 Table 2-6. Retail: Notification to Cities and Counties (DWR Table 10-1)............................2-5 Table 3-1. City of Santa Monica Average High Temperature, 2015-2025 (Degrees Fahrenheit)..........................................................................................................3-1 Table 3-2. City of Santa Monica Precipitation, 2015-2025 (Inches of Rainfall)................3-1 Table 3-3. City of Santa Monica Current and Projected Population, 2025-2050 (DWR Table 3-1)...................................................................................................................3-8 Table 3-4. Summary of City’s Low Income Assistance Program Enrollment from 2021-2025...............................................................................................................................3-9 Table 4-1. Summary of Water Use by Sector in Santa Monica (2021-2025)......................4-5 Table 4-2. Summary of Non-Potable Water Produced, AF (2021-2025).............................4-5 Table 4-3. Water Loss Audit Reporting (DWR Table 4-5) .........................................................4-6 Table 4-4. Water Loss between 2020 and 2024............................................................................4-6 Table 4-5. Progress Towards 2028 Water Loss Standard (DWR Table 4-6)......................4-7 Table 4-6. Total Uses for Potable and Non-Potable Water (DWR Table 4-1).....................4-8 Table 4-7. Summary of Santa Monica’s Water Conservation Program and Ordinances ........................................................................................................................... 4-10 Table 4-8. Summary of Potable Water Use Projections for Santa Monica (2030 – 2045 in 5 Year Increments)........................................................................................... 4-13 Table 4-9. Total Projected Uses for Potable and Non-Potable Water (DWR Table 4-2).......................................................................................................................................... 4-15 Table 4-10. Inclusion in Water Use Projections (DWR Table 4-3)......................................... 4-16 Table 5-1. SB X7-7 2020 Target Progress (DWR Table 5-1).....................................................5-2 Table 6-1. Summary of Existing Water Supplies ...........................................................................6-7 Table 6-2. Summary of Treated Water Supply Availability for Each Water Supply .......................................................................................................................................6-8 Table 6-3. Summary of Groundwater Pumped by Subbasin between 2021 and 2025........................................................................................................................................ 6-10 Table 6-4. Summary of Groundwater Pumped between 2021 and 2025 (DWR Table 6-1)............................................................................................................................. 6-11 Table 6-5. 2018 Sustainable Yield Estimate (Richard C. Slade & Associates LLC, June 2018)............................................................................................................................ 6-14 Table 6-6. Wastewater Collected Within Service Area (DWR Table 6-2)......................... 6-19 Table 6-7. Wastewater Treatment and Outcomes Within UWMP Service Area (DWR Table 6-3)................................................................................................................ 6-20 Table 6-8. 2020 UWMP Recycled Water Use Projection Compared to 2025 Actual (DWR Table 6-5)................................................................................................. 6-23 DRAFT
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Table 6-9. Summary of Non-Potable Water Use from SMURRF (2021-2025)................ 6-24 Table 6-10. Summary of Non-Potable Water Use from SWIP AWTF (2021-2025)......... 6-26 Table 6-11. Expected Future Water Supply Projects or Programs (DWR Table 6- 7).............................................................................................................................................. 6-29 Table 6-12. Methods to Encourage Future Recycled Water Use (DWR Table 6-6)......... 6-30 Table 6-13. Recycled Water Direct Beneficial Uses Within Service Area (DWR Table 6-4)............................................................................................................................. 6-31 Table 6-14. Water Supplies - Actual (DWR Table 6-8)............................................................... 6-32 Table 6-15. Water Supplies – Projected (DWR Table 6-9)........................................................ 6-33 Table 6-16. Summary of Energy Intensity for Santa Monica.................................................... 6-34 Table 6-17. 2024 Energy Data for Water Production ................................................................. 6-35 Table 7-1. Basis of Water Year Data (DWR Table 7-1)................................................................7-3 Table 7-2. Summary of Total Projected Water Supply Availability for Normal, Single Dry, and Five Consecutive Dry Years...............................................................7-4 Table 7-3. Projected Normal Year Supply and Use Comparison (DWR Table 7-2)..........7-5 Table 7-4. Single Dry Year Supply and Use Comparison (DWR Table 7-3).........................7-5 Table 7-5. Multiple Dry Years Supply and Use Comparison (DWR Table 7-4)..................7-5 Table 7-6. Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment (DWR Table 7-5) ...................................... 7-10 Table 8-1. Cross-Reference for Standard vs Supplier Shortage Levels (DWR Table 8-1)................................................................................................................................8-2 Table 8-2. Retail: Supply Augmentation and Other Actions (DWR Table 8-2)..................8-3 Table 8-3. Retail: Demain Reduction Actions (DWR Table 8-3)..............................................8-4 Table 9-1. Summary of the City's Drought Rate Structure for FY 2025/26 through FY 2029/30 ($/hundred cubic feet [CCF])................................................9-4 Appendices
Appendix A: Urban Water Management Plan Checklist
Appendix B: California Water Code – Urban Water Management Planning Appendix C: Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Appendix D: City Council Resolution
Appendix E: Urban Water Management Plan Submittal Tables Appendix F: Public Comments
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List of Acronyms
1,2,3-TCP 1,2,3-Trichloropropane
Act Urban Water Management Planning Act
ADU Accessory Dwelling Unit
AF Acre-Feet
AFY Acre-Feet Per Year
AMI Advanced Metering Infrastructure
AWTF Advanced Water Treatment Facility
BMP Best Management Practice
CBI Clean Beaches Initiative
CRA Colorado River Aqueduct
CTC Carbon Tetrachloride
DDW Division of Drinking Water
DRA Drought Risk Assessment
DWR California Department of Water Resources
GAC Granular Activated Carbon
GLAC IRWM Greater Los Angeles County Integrated Regional Water Management GPCD Gallons Per Capita Per Day
GRRP Groundwater Replenishment Reuse Project
GSA Groundwater Sustainability Agency
GSP Groundwater Sustainability Plan
MG Million Gallon
MGD Million Gallons Per Day
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MTBE Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether
MWD Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
NAICS North American Industry Classification System
PCE Tetrachloroethylene
RHNA Regional Housing Needs Assessment
RO Reverse Osmosis
SBX7-7 Senate Bill X7-7, Water Conservation Act of 2009 SCAG Southern California Association of Governments
SGMA Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
SMBGSA Santa Monica Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency SMGB Santa Monica Groundwater Basin
SMMC Santa Monica Municipal Code
SMURRF Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility
SWIP Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project
SWMP Sustainable Water Master Plan
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
SWP State Water Project
TCE Trichloroethylene
UWMP Urban Water Management Plan
VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds
WCU Water Conservation Unit
WELIS Water Efficient Landscape and Irrigation Standards WSCP Water Shortage Contingency Plan
WSRP Water Shortage Response Plan
WTP Water Treatment Plan
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter 1
Introduction
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INTRODUCTION 1-1
1 INTRODUCTION
Urban Water Management Plans (UWMPs) aid water providers in analyzing past, current, and future water demands on their systems and assessing their ability to reliably serve customers. Specifically, the UWMP takes an in-depth look at how water is used by different sectors in the City of Santa Monica (City) and how factors such as climate, population, conservation programs, and the economy influence water usage. It also examines existing water supplies and how potential impacts such as regulatory changes, climate change, and aging infrastructure, may affect those supplies. Water providers are then able to use this information to plan water supply projects and conservation programs to help ensure reliable water service to their customers.
The California Legislature first enacted the Urban Water Management Planning Act (Act) in 1983. The Act requires urban water suppliers that provide water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 customers or who supply more than 3,000 acre-feet (AF) of water annually, to prepare and adopt an UWMP. UWMPs must be filed with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) every five years describing and evaluating water use (also referred to as water demand), water supplies, and conservation activities (See Water Code § 10631). This UWMP for the City of Santa Monica (City) has been prepared in compliance with the Act, which has been codified in the California Water Code provided in Appendix A.
Declarations and policies set forth in the Act can be found in §10608 and §106010 of the California Water Code. Among them are the following: that waters of the state are a limited and renewable resource subject to ever increasing demands; that the conservation and efficient use of urban water supplies are of statewide concern; that successful implementation of plans is best accomplished at the local level; that conservation and efficient use of water shall be actively pursued to protect both the people of the state and their water resources; that conservation and efficient use of urban water supplies shall be a guiding criterion in public decisions; and that urban water suppliers shall be required to develop water management plans to achieve conservation and efficient use.
1.1 NEW UWMP REQUIREMENTS
The Act has been amended several times since its initial passage in 1983. Amendments have been made since the 2020 UWMP; some of the significant new requirements include:
◼ Standardized tables that allow for the input of explicitly required information; ◼ Reporting stored water through the new accounting method developed by DWR to prevent double counting of stored water supplies (Section 4 and 6); ◼ Direct Potable Reuse added as an option for the level of treatment within tables reporting recycled water (Section 6);
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◼ Additional reporting requirements for SB X7-7, where the SB X7-7 target will replace the Urban Water Use Objective (UWUO) if it is less than the calculated UWUO (Section 5);
◼ Inclusion of the 2020 target and actual 2020 gallons per capita per day (GPCD) if targeted reduction was achieved in 2020 (Section 5);
◼ New guidance regarding the demonstration of need for proposed desalination facilities (Section 6); and
◼ Reporting of progress towards meeting supplier’s individual water loss standard calculated by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) (Section 4).
1.2 OVERVIEW
The analysis performed for this 2025 UWMP found that the City continues to enhance its water service reliability and resiliency through on-going efforts at the local level. The City recently completed a suite of projects outlined in its 2018 Sustainable Water Master Plan (SWMP) that increased local water supplies and diversified its water supply portfolio.
These projects included the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP), Olympic Well Field Restoration Project, and the Arcadia Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Production Efficiency Enhancement and Expansion Project. In 2024, the City developed a Water Conservation Master Plan (WCMP) to further assist water conservation efforts as well as achieve compliance with recent California legislative requirements. Ongoing conservation efforts have led to a 20% decrease in water usage since 2013.
With regards to water supply, the City has continued to develop local water resources and reduce its reliance on imported water supplies from Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). In 2022, the City inaugurated its SWIP that leverages stormwater, dry weather urban runoff, brackish groundwater, and municipal wastewater to provide up to 1,650 acre-feet per year of sustainable, drought resilient water supply to the City’s water supply portfolio. In 2025, the City completed the Olympic Well Field Restoration and Arcadia WTP Expansion Project. This project enhanced the production efficiency at the Arcadia WTP by implementing the first municipal installation of Flow Reversal Reverse Osmosis (FR-RO) that provides an additional 1,200 acre-feet per year of drinking water for the City. Additionally, a new wellhead treatment facility was constructed to remove industrial contaminants in the Olympic Well Field and restore it to full production capacity. From 2021 to 2025, approximately 33% of the water supply was from local water resources and 67% was imported, compared to 65% and 35%, respectively, from 2015 to 2020. Local water supplies between 2021 and 2025 were much lower than historical figures due to upgrades and expansion of the Arcadia WTP that resulted in long outage periods for construction. Because much of Southern California relies heavily on imported water, the continued development of local water resources provides water DRAFT
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INTRODUCTION 1-3
service reliability and resiliency to the City and the region. A summary of the City’s water supply make-up from 2015 through 2025 is provided in Table 1-1.
Table 1-1. Summary of Santa Monica’s Water Supply Make-Up from 2015-2025
TIME PERIOD MWD (AF)
% OF TOTAL
GROUND (AF)
% OF TOTAL
RECYCLED (AF)
% OF TOTAL
2021-2025 67% 33% 1%
2015-2020 35% 65% 1%
While the city is completely built out, population growth is expected in the near- and longterm. Over the last 5 years, the City has continued to offset water demand increases typical of population growth through conservation measures, including the City’s Water Neutrality Ordinance as well as the Recycled Water Ordinance. As conservation programs become more established, however, the City understands that a multifaceted approach is needed to help ensure water service reliability. This point is further emphasized when considering other factors that have the potential to impact water supply, including climate change, aging infrastructure, and evolving regulations.
To face these challenges, the City developed additional strategic plans on top of the UWMP to support its goal of having a sustainable and climate resilient water supply. The 2018 SWMP outlined key local water supply projects aimed to reduce the City’s reliance on imported water supplies. The projects from the 2018 SWMP have since all been completed and in operation. The City is also working on updating the 2018 SWMP to identify future local and regional opportunities to bolster water resiliency and reliability.
The City also developed its first Water Conservation Master Plan (WCMP) in 2024 aimed to realign water conservation efforts across the City due to:
◼ Pandemic: As a result of the three-year COVID-19 pandemic, water conservation staff was reduced from 6 full-time equivalent (FTE) to 2 FTE in 2020 and can only maintain the City’s existing water conservation program and policies such as Water Neutrality and Cash for Grass Landscape Rebates.
◼ Drought: 2020 to 2022 was the driest three-year period on record in California. ◼ Legislation: The following mandatory California water conservation regulations have been passed that began on January 1, 2025:
● Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life: Senate Bill 606 (Hertzberg), Assembly Bill 1668 (Friedman), and Senate Bill 1157 (Hertzberg) ● Potable Water Nonfunctional Turf: Assembly Bill 1572 (Friedman) DRAFT
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The 2024 WCMP builds on the City’s previous successes by continuing to develop projects and programs at the local level to enhance the reliability and resiliency of the City’s water supply.
When fully implemented, the projects outlined in the 2024 WCMP will provide a diversified, drought-resilient water supply portfolio that leverages all available water resources to the City. The key components of the WCMP are listed below and shown in Figure 1-1.
◼ Component 1 – Identifying current and new conservation measures for analysis. ◼ Component 2 – Estimating water savings and cost for current and new conservation measures.
◼ Component 3 – Creating and modeling three program options to attain conservation goals.
◼ Component 4 – Selecting the best program and recommendations to implement.
Figure 1-1. Overview of Key Components in the City’s 2024 Water Conservation Master Plan As part of the reliability assessments performed in Section 7, water supply availability was established for three scenarios: normal, single-dry, and five consecutive dry years. The period from 2010 through 2020 was selected for the assessment period since it is more representative of the City’s water supply reliability and drought risk going forward.
The assessment found that even under a five consecutive dry year scenario, the City maintains adequate water supplies to meet projected water demand through 2045. A DRAFT
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summary of the five consecutive dry year scenario is provided in Table 1-2. Details regarding the assessment are provided in Section 7.2.
Table 1-2. Multiple Dry Years Supply and Use Comparison (DWR Table 7-4) 2030
(AF)
2035
(AF)
2040
(AF)
2045
(AF)
2050
(AF)
First year
Supply totals 17,640 17,640 17,640 17,640
Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Surplus/(shortfall) 4,896 4,387 3,878 3,367
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
Second year
Supply totals 16,787 16,787 16,787 16,787
Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Surplus/(shortfall) 4,043 3,534 3,025 2,514
OPTIONAL WSCP Actions
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
Third year
Supply totals 16,893 16,893 16,893 16,893
Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Surplus/(shortfall) 4,149 3,640 3,131 2,620
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
Fourth year
Supply totals 17,000 17,000 17,000 17,000
Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Surplus/(shortfall) 4,256 3,747 3,238 2,727
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
Fifth year
Supply totals 15,508 15,508 15,508 15,508
Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Surplus/(shortfall) 2,764 2,255 1,746 1,235
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES:
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1.3 ORGANIZATION OF 2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
The City’s 2025 Urban Water Management Plan is organized in the following sections:
Section 1 - Introduction
Section 1 describes the UWMP Act and updates since 2020. It also provides an overview of the City’s 2025 UWMP, including a lay description of the factors considered in the development of the UWMP and reliability assessments.
Section 2 – Plan Preparation
Section 2 describes the process used to prepare the UWMP. Plan development included coordination and outreach to local and regional stakeholders, notifications to the public of plan preparation, and a City Council meeting hearing to solicit comments from the public.
Section 3 – System Description
This section provides a description of the City’s service area and other characteristics that influence the water system including climate and population.
Section 4 – Water Use Characterization
Section 4 describes past, current, and projected future water use within the City’s service area. Water use trends in the City are analyzed and factors considered to project future water use are discussed.
Section 5 – SBX7-7 Baseline and Targets
This section addresses requirements of the Water Conservation Act of 2009 (referred to as SBx7-7). In particular, information in this section demonstrates the City’s compliance with the Water Conservation Act of 2009, which required a 20 percent reduction in urban per capita water use by 2020.
Section 6 – Water Supply Characterization
Section 6 describes the City’s past, current, and projected future water supply. This section also discusses water supply challenges and actions the City is taking to enhance supply reliability and resiliency.
Section 7 – Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessment This section presents an assessment of the reliability of the City’s water supplies by performing two assessments: a Water Service Reliability assessment and a Drought Risk Assessment (DRA). The Water Service Reliability assessment compares projected future DRAFT
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water demands from Section 4 with expected water supplies from Section 6 under three different hydrologic conditions: a normal year; a single dry year; and multiple dry years.
The DRA looks at the City’s water supply reliability under drought conditions for the years 2026 to 2030. Findings from the assessment conclude that if projected imported and local supplies are developed or maintained as anticipated, no water shortages are anticipated in the City’s service area during the planning period.
Section 8 – Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Section 8 provides an overview of the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP). The WSCP serves as the City’s action plan for actual or anticipated water shortage conditions.
The WSCP is a standalone document, included as Appendix B of this UWMP.
Section 9 – Demand Management Measures
This section describes the City’s current and future conservation efforts to reduce water demand.
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Chapter 2
Urban Water Management Plan
Preparation
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URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATION 2-1
2 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATION
California Water Code (CWC) Section 10617 requires urban water suppliers that provide water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 customers, or that serve more than 3,000 acre-feet (AF) annually, to prepare and adopt an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) every five years. The City currently provides over 10,800 AF of water annually to approximately 18,600 service connections and therefore is subject to this requirement, as summarized in Table 2-1. The City's most recent prior UWMP was adopted and submitted in June 2021.
Table 2-1. Retail: Public Water Systems (DWR Table 2-1) Public Water System
Number
Public Water System
Name
Number of Municipal
Connections 2025
Volume of Water
Supplied 2025 (AF)
CA1910146 Santa Monica-City,
Water Division 18,554 10,263
Total 18,554 10,263
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES:
2.1 LOCAL AND REGIONAL COORDINATION
The 2025 UWMP has been prepared on an individual reporting basis covering the City's service area exclusively (see Table 2-2). While the City participates in regional water planning efforts, it is not a member of a formal regional alliance and has therefore not prepared a Regional Urban Water Management Plan (RUWMP).
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URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATION 2-2
Table 2-2. Plan Identification (DWR Table 2-2)
The City has encouraged broad participation in the development of the 2025 UWMP. Please refer to Table 2-3 for a summary of regional coordination in preparing this UWMP. Copies of the City’s draft plan were made available for public review at City Hall and on the City’s Public Works/Water Resources website. The City also presented UWMP findings to the Task Force on the Environment, established by the Santa Monica City Council to advise City Council on environmental program and policy issues.
Table 2-3. Summary of Regional Coordination for Development of the 2025 UWMP
NOTIFIED OF
PLAN
PREPRATION
CONTACTED
FOR
ASSISTANCE
COMMENTED
ON DRAFT
NOTIFIED OF
PUBLIC
HEARING
ATTENDED
PUBLIC
HEARING
City Water Resources
Division X X X X X
City Public Works
Department X X X X X
City Commission on
Sustainability,
Environmental Justine,
and the Environment
X X
City Manager’s Office X X X
Santa Monica City Council X X X
The Metropolitan Water
District of Southern
California
X X X
Santa Monica Basin X X X
Select
One
Name of Regional Alliance or
RUWMP (Drop Down List)
NOTES:
Type of Plan
Individual UWMP
If Water Supplier is also a member of a SB X7-7
Regional Alliance, select name from the drop-down.
Regional Urban Water Management Plan (RUWMP)
If Supplier selected RUWMP, select name from the
drop-down.
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URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATION 2-3
NOTIFIED OF
PLAN
PREPRATION
CONTACTED
FOR
ASSISTANCE
COMMENTED
ON DRAFT
NOTIFIED OF
PUBLIC
HEARING
ATTENDED
PUBLIC
HEARING
Groundwater
Sustainability Agency
(SMBGSA)
CA Department of Water
Resources X
Los Angeles Department
of Water and Power X X
Los Angeles County X X
Santa Monica
Neighborhood
Organizations
X X
Interested General Public X X X
As discussed in Section 6 and shown in Table 2-4, the City receives water supply from Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). In accordance with CWC Section 10631, the City has provided MWD with water demand projections in five-year increments from 2025 to 2050.
Table 2-4. Water Supplier Information Exchange Water Code Section 10631(h) (DWR Table 2-4 Retail)
The retail Supplier has informed the following wholesale supplier(s) of projected water use.
Wholesale Water Supplier Name
Add additional rows as needed
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
NOTES:
2.2 FISCAL OR CALENDAR YEAR AND UNITS OF MEASURE
The City operates as a water retailer. The 2025 UWMP has been prepared on a calendar year basis, running from January 1 through December 31, with water use and planning data reported for the full 2025 calendar year. All water volumes are expressed in units of acrefeet (AF). The City's reporting methods are summarized in Table 2-5.
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URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATION 2-4
Table 2-5. Supplier Identification (DWR Table 2-3)
Submittal Table 2-3: Supplier Identification
Type of Supplier (select one or both)
Supplier is a wholesale supplier
Supplier is a retail supplier
Fiscal or Calendar Year (select one)
UWMP Tables are in calendar years
UWMP Tables are in fiscal years
If using fiscal years provide month and date that the fiscal year begins (mm/dd) Units of measure used in UWMP
(Select from the drop down list).
Unit AF
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES:
2.3 PLAN ADOPTION
The City provided more than seven weeks' advance notice of the public hearing to review and accept comments on the draft plan. Notice of the public hearing was published in the local press on June 12 and June 20, 2026, and mailed to the City Clerk. On July 8, 2026, the City held the noticed public hearing.
Following the public hearing, the City Council adopted the 2025 UWMP on July 8, 2026. A copy of the authorizing resolution is included in Appendix D.
In accordance with the Act, the City is transmitting the 2025 UWMP to DWR, the California State Library, and the public within 30 days of adoption. The 2025 UWMP is available for public review at the City's Public Works/Water Resources office and on the City's website.
The cities and counties notified prior to the public hearing are summarized in DRAFT
Table 2-6.
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN PREPARATION 2-5
Table 2-6. Retail: Notification to Cities and Counties (DWR Table 10-1) City Name 60 Day Notice
Drop Down (yes/no)
Notice of Public
Hearing
Drop Down (yes/no)
Santa Monica Yes Yes
Beverly Hills Yes Yes
Culver City Yes Yes
Los Angeles Yes Yes
Los Angeles 60 Day Notice
Drop Down (yes/no)
Notice of Public
Hearing
Drop Down (yes/no)
Los Angeles County Yes Yes
Add additional rows as needed
Add additional rows as needed
NOTES:
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
Chapter 3
System Description
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SYSTEM DESCRIPTION 3-1
3 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
3.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The City of Santa Monica was founded in 1875 on a land grant by Don Francisco Sepulveda and encompasses 8.3 square miles (5,312 acres). Originally established as a seaside resort (see photo in Figure 3-1), the City gradually became integrated into the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area as development across the Los Angeles Basin expanded. During the first half of the twentieth century, Santa Monica's population grew rapidly, mirroring broader growth trends throughout California.
To meet the demands of an expanding regional population, the City of Los Angeles constructed aqueducts to convey water from the Owens Valley. At the time, much of the western Los Angeles area remained unincorporated, and the City of Los Angeles leveraged the promise of a reliable water supply as an incentive for neighboring communities to annex into the city. For many areas, annexation was an attractive proposition; however, Santa Monica chose to remain independent. Instead, the City acquired several existing small water purveyors, including the Arcadia Water Company and the Venice Water Company, to establish its own municipal water supply and administrative agency in 1916.
Figure 3-1. City of Santa Monica (Circa 1920)
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
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The City of Santa Monica, along with 12 other cities, formed MWD in 1928 under an act of the California Legislature, primarily to build and operate the Colorado River Aqueduct and secure a reliable imported water supply for the growing Southern California region. Water from the Colorado River Aqueduct was first delivered to the City in 1941. In 1960, MWD became the first and largest contractor to the State Water Project, and by the early 1970s began receiving deliveries via the California Aqueduct, augmenting its Colorado River supplies with water from Northern California. Today, MWD serves water to more than 300 cities and numerous unincorporated communities across six counties in Southern California. The City continues to purchase MWD water to supplement its local water supply.
From 1960 to 1980, Santa Monica's population growth slowed considerably, and the City experienced a modest population decline between 1980 and 1990. This trend was largely attributable to the City's limited geographic size and the diminishing availability of developable land (see photo of Santa Monica today in Figure 3-2).
Figure 3-2. City of Santa Monica Today
3.2 SERVICE AREA BOUNDARY MAPS
The City is an urban coastal community, bordered to the west by the Pacific Ocean and the City of Los Angeles to the north, east, and south. The City's water service area consists entirely of the City of Santa Monica with limited service in the City of Los Angeles (Figure 3-3).
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SYSTEM DESCRIPTION 3-3
Figure 3-3. City of Santa Monica Potable Water System
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3.3 SERVICE AREA CLIMATE
The City experiences a Mediterranean climate, ranging from warm and generally dry summers to cool, relatively wet winters. Water usage in the City varies with changes in temperature and rainfall throughout the year. Historical weather information for the City was obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Network ID: GHCND:USW00093197. Summaries of the City’s monthly climate and rainfall from 2015 to 2025 are provided below in Table 3-1 and Table 3-2, respectively.
Table 3-1. City of Santa Monica Average High Temperature, 2015-2025 (Degrees Fahrenheit) MONTH 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 AVERAGE January 71 64 63 70 68 66 67 68 62 65 65 66
February 71 74 62 66 61 67 67 69 63 63 64 66
March 75 68 69 65 67 63 65 69 61 65 63 66
April 72 71 71 67 69 67 68 70 65 67 66 68
May 68 68 68 67 66 71 68 68 65 67 69 68
June 72 74 72 71 70 73 69 73 68 72 71 71
July 75 77 77 79 75 73 75 74 75 75 73 75
August 79 76 77 81 76 78 76 78 76 78 78 78
September 82 77 78 78 78 79 74 82 75 76 76 78
October 81 75 79 78 78 77 73 74 75 73 73 76
November 72 74 73 76 69 69 70 69 74 70 68 71
December 66 66 71 70 64 69 61 64 68 65 69 67
Table 3-2. City of Santa Monica Precipitation, 2015-2025 (Inches of Rainfall) MONTH 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 AVERAGE January 1.2 2.3 7.8 1.5 6.3 0.5 1.8 0.0 7.4 2.0 1.2 2.9 February 0.3 0.6 4.2 0.1 5.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 5.2 12.3 3.8 2.9 March 2.6 1.9 0.2 4.1 2.5 4.6 1.1 1.1 7.2 4.6 1.8 2.9
April 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.1 2.2 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.6 0.2 0.4
May 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.1 1.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.3
June 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
July 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
August 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.6 0.0 0.0 0.3
September 2.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.3 October 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.4 0.3 November 0.1 0.9 0.1 1.9 1.5 0.1 0.0 1.6 0.2 0.0 5.6 1.1 December 1.1 4.2 0.0 2.1 4.7 1.3 7.1 2.5 3.6 0.0 3.6 2.7 Totals 8.5 10.6 12.7 10.4 21.4 9.0 10.8 6.0 28.0 19.5 17.7 14.4 DRAFT
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From 2015 to 2025, the City’s warmest months were generally from July through October.
It is common for water demand to increase as the days get warmer and decrease as the weather cools down. During warmer months, the increase in water usage arises primarily from outdoor irrigation but swimming pools and consumption also plays a factor. A typical water usage pattern through the year, by month is given in Figure 3-4. Historical weather information was obtained from the NOAA and shows the correlation in demand and weather temperature.
Figure 3-4. Typical Average Monthly Temperature and Water Use Like temperature, rainfall also affects water usage. During rainy periods users tend to use less water, particularly for outdoor irrigation, thereby reducing water use during these times. From 2015 to 2025, the City received most of its rainfall during the months of November through March. During these wetter months, water usage in the City was less, on average, compared to other months as indicated in Figure 3-5. 400
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80 90
Volume (AF)
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Demand Temperature
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Figure 3-5. City of Santa Monica Average Monthly Water Use and Average Monthly Rainfall
3.4 CLIMATE CHANGE INFLUENCES
Climate change models for Southern California forecast continued increases in ambient temperature, with a possible shift in precipitation events towards later in the regional wet season of October to April. Sea level and storm wave run up are also predicted to increase, with 12 – 61 cm (5-24 inches) of sea level rise expected by 2050 along the southern California coast. Knowing these factors will affect long-term water resource planning and existing coastal water infrastructure vulnerability, the City has implemented a review of climate change factors for new water utility capital projects. To further refine its evaluation of potential climate change impacts to its water supply, the City is exploring robust decision-making methods to model a focused suite of likely climate change scenarios, developed in consultation with the City’s Office of Sustainability and Environment and recognized climate change experts with local knowledge.
The City, along with other members of the Santa Monica Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SMGBSA), has also adopted a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) to comply with the California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014. The GSP was finalized and submitted to DWR on January 2022 and approved by DWR on October 2023. As part of the GSP development, various climate change scenarios based on DWR guidance will be modeled for the Santa Monica Groundwater Basin. These scenarios will be utilized to assess how to best ensure the sustainability and resiliency of the City’s water supply.
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3.4.1 Climate Change Vulnerability
Climate change in the coming decades is expected to test the City’s ability to sustainably manage its water resources, in particular its groundwater supply. However, along with these challenges come the opportunities for the City to apply innovative thinking and solutions to mitigate those components of climate change that most directly affect having a sustainable water supply. Chief among these are greenhouse gas emissions/energy, drought, temperature rise, sea level rise, saltwater intrusion/water quality, and flooding/storm surges that are discussed below.
3.4.2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions/Energy
Water, and especially imported water from the State Water Project or the Colorado River, is a carbon intensive resource. In 2010, the Santa Monica City Council adopted the objective of the City achieving water sustainability by eliminating its dependence on environmentally costly imported water for use as a potable supply. Historically, the City produced approximately 60 to 70 percent of its water supply from local groundwater. Since 2021, the City has produced approximately 30 percent of its water supply from local groundwater.
The reduction of local groundwater in recent years is attributed to Arcadia WTP, the City’s primary treatment plant for treating local groundwater, being offline during construction of the Arcadia WTP expansion project. Completed in 2025, project will provide the City an additional 1,200 acre-feet of drinking water annually and allow the City to resume its historical use of local groundwater (approximately 65%). By using local groundwater, the City is offsetting the energy and emissions typically associated with water imported from Northern California and the Colorado River. To further reduce its water-related carbon footprint, the City has implemented various water conservation programs designed to permanently reduce demand.
The City has audited its water infrastructure to ensure it is energy efficient by upgrading equipment and selecting energy efficient pumps. In addition, the City is applying innovative approaches to water and wastewater infrastructure such as below grade construction of critical treatment facilities to allow for alternative uses for surface areas such as parks, and the inclusion of solar panels to projects in order to reduce energy consumption.
3.4.3 Drought and Temperature Rise
As previously discussed, increased seasonal temperatures and cyclical periods of drought of varying duration are expected to have a measurable influence on the City’s water supply strategy and long-term demand. As is currently evident in summer months, warmer temperatures typically give rise to increased water demands. Accordingly, further citywide reductions in water demand through water conservation programs will greatly assist the City in maintaining its water use at levels which will support water self-sufficiency.
Further assistance in meeting this challenge is the City’s broadening of its water supply portfolio to include alternative water supplies to enhance reliability and resiliency.
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The City has developed additional local water supplies with SWIP leveraging dry weather runoff, stormwater, and municipal wastewater to produce up to 1,650 AFY of advanced treated recycled water suitable for non-potable and indirect potable reuse (groundwater recharge) and the Olympic Well Field Restoration and Arcadia WTP Expansion Project to increase local production capacity. By not relying on any one source of water and reducing its reliance on imported water supplies, the City will lower its vulnerability to drought and other natural disasters as it moves to meet its sustainability goal of becoming water selfsufficient.
3.4.4 Sea Level Rise
Per the recommendations of the 2024 California Coastal Commission Sea Level Policy Guidance, the City considered the findings of the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) 2024 State of California Sea Level Rise Guidance. The 2024 State Sea Level Rise Guidance utilizes five sea level rise scenarios ranging from low to high and offers scenarios for each of the 14 tide gauges found in California, one of which corresponds to Santa Monica. According to the 2024 State Sea Level Rise Guidance, for Santa Monica, sea level rise is expected to be on the order of 12 - 37cm (0.4 - 1.2 ft.) by 2050, and 24-195 cm (0.8 - 6.4 ft.) by 2100. If sea level rises as predicted by the currently available studies, the City would have ample time to adapt to the potential risk to any water-related infrastructure near the beach by implementing mitigation measures such as natural dune barriers, engineered hardening of some infrastructure, or by implementing adaptive retreat from areas of higher risk whereby infrastructure would be relocated landward.
3.4.4.1 Saltwater Intrusion/Water Quality
If current OPC sea level projections are proven to be accurate, saltwater intrusion may be expected to change the quality of the shallow groundwater zones immediately adjacent to the coast and those low-lying areas where wave run-up would likely be higher. A 2017 exploratory boring drilled at Santa Monica City Hall, located approximately 1,200 feet northeast of the Santa Monica Pier, determined that highly brackish-saline groundwater conditions do not occur at that location until approximately 540 feet below ground surface.
Future changes to water quality from the groundwater zones the City currently pumps from are not expected through 2050. This is primarily because the City’s principal water supply wellfields are located inland and remote from the coast. Overall, salinity intrusion due to climate change is expected to be gradual, allowing enough time to adjust groundwater extraction and modify the City’s reverse osmosis (RO) treatment facility in response. As part of the City’s participation in the SMBGSA, the GSP was developed in January 2022 and defined groundwater conditions to ensure long-term sustainability including ensuring groundwater conditions support sufficient seaward flow of fresh water to prevent significant and unreasonable saltwater intrusion. The vulnerability to saltwater DRAFT
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intrusion is considered to be low as various sustainable management strategies and adaptive engineering measures were developed for the local groundwater basin.
3.4.4.2 Flooding/Storm Surges
With increases in sea level, an increased vulnerability to flooding and storm surges can be expected. Along the coast, flooding and storm surge can be exacerbated by sea level rise attributed to poor drainage conveyance systems, melting continental and sea ice, and volume expansion of the oceans due to thermal warming, winds, and tides. To assess for such vulnerability, the City consulted the USGS Coastal Storm Modeling System 3.0 (CoSMoS 3.0) during its Sustainable Water Master Plan development process. The CoSMoS
3.0 has generated a series of figures showing potential impact to various coastal areas, including the Santa Monica Beach and Pier, caused by varying increases in sea level rise and a coinciding 100-year storm event. As with the general effects of expected sea level rise, the City can adapt to the potential increase in storm surge or flooding attributable to the predicted gradual rise of sea level by implementing engineering mitigation measures.
Based on this intrinsic ability, City topography, and the CoSMoS 3.0 modeling output, the risk of flooding or a storm surge adversely impacting water related infrastructure, including the Clean Beaches Initiative (CBI) Project and the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP), is considered to be low. However, the City simultaneously recognizes that large rogue storm events are possible.
3.5 SERVICE AREA POPULATION
Figure 3-6 shows the City’s population from 2015 to 2025. The population data was obtained from the State of California Department of Finance. From 2015 to 2021, the City’s population remained relatively level and decreased between 2021 and 2022. Population has since rebounded and are consistent with pre-2021 population. Typically, population growth increases water demand, however, water conservation programs and policies implemented by the City’s Water Conservation Unit in 2015 have managed to offset the potential for impact by population growth as shown in Figure 3-6.
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Figure 3-6. City of Santa Monica Annual Water Use and Population (2015-2025) It is important to note that as the City’s water conservation programs become more established, there will be correspondingly fewer opportunities for further conservationbased savings. In effect, future population growth may result in a measurable increase in water demand. To mitigate increases in water demands resulting from new developments, the City enacted a Water Neutrality Ordinance1 in May 2017 where new developments are to maintain water neutral from its previous baseline water demand (average potable water use from the previous five years), as well as a Recycled Water Ordinance in March 2022 where the purpose is to add water recycling requirements where feasible.
The Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) targets require the City to plan for 8,873 new housing units over the 2021 to 2029 planning period. After 2029, the City is expected to experience minimal population growth as the City will be considered built out.
The expected population, in five-year increments, over the next twenty years is summarized in Table 3-3.
1 https://www.qcode.us/codes/santamonica/view.php?topic=7-7_16-7_16_050&frames=on 93,276 93,397 93,686 93,552 93,312 93,275 93,241
92,575 92,735 93,034 93,212
90,000
92,000
94,000
96,000
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2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
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Table 3-3. City of Santa Monica Current and Projected Population, 2025-2050 (DWR Table 3-1)
Population
Served
2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
93,212 111,143 115,848 119,704 120,034
NOTES: Demographic forecast from the City’s 2024 Water Conservation Master Plan.
3.5.1 Other Social, Economic, and Demographic Factors
It is not unusual, during poor economic conditions and increased unemployment rates, to see a reduction in water demand. When the economy recovers and employment levels increase, there is generally a rebound in water use.
The City’s average annual unemployment rates and corresponding water demands from 2015 to 2025 are summarized in Figure 3-7. Unemployment rates were obtained from the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics. In 2020, average annual unemployment in the City was 10.7 percent due to the impact of COVID-19. As the economy recovered from 2021 to 2025, the economy improved (based on unemployment), and annual water demand increased.
Figure 3-7. City of Santa Monica Yearly Water Use and Unemployment Rate 11,775 11,479 11,393 11,416 10,700 10,645 10,687 10,511 9,696 9,929 10,263
5.7% 5.4%
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2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
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In 2015, the City established a Water Conservation Unit (WCU) to implement new conservation programs throughout the City. From 2016 to 2019 water use continued to stay below 2015 levels, and the community continued to conserve even with the improving economy, suggesting a sustained behavioral change in the City with regards to water conservation.
The relationship between water use and economic activity is also illustrated by considering the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic that started in early 2020. In 2020 unemployment jumped to approximately 11% due to the pandemic. Unemployment continued to drop back to pre-2020 levels by 2022 before increasing again through 2025. 2023 recorded the lowest water demand, approximately 9,696 AF, mostly due to the recorded 28 inches of rainfall. Overall water used in 2025 was approximately 10,263 AF, which corresponds with the higher-than-average rainfall and about average temperature.
3.5.2 Land Uses within Service Area
Land use within the City of Santa Monica consists primarily of single-family and multifamily residential development, a centralized business and commercial district, and institutional and industrial areas. As the City is largely built out, future changes in land use will occur predominantly through the redevelopment of existing parcels rather than new development. A zoning and land use map from the City's Planning Department is provided in Figure 3-8.
The City administers a low-income customer assistance program to support eligible residential water customers. Enrollment has remained relatively stable over the 2021– 2025 period, with single-family accounts consistently outpacing multi-family enrollment each year. From 2021 to 2025, a total of 1,218 single-family and 890 multi-family accounts were enrolled in the program, for a combined total of 2,108 accounts over the five-year period. Single-family enrollment peaked in 2023 at 280 accounts before declining to 203 and 206 accounts in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Multi-family enrollment followed a similar trend, reaching a high of 186 accounts in 2023 before tapering to 166 and 177 accounts in 2024 and 2025. Annual enrollment figures are summarized in Table 3-4.
Table 3-4. Summary of City’s Low Income Assistance Program Enrollment from 2021-2025 Account Type CY 2021 CY 2022 CY 2023 CY 2024 CY 2025 Total Single-Family 258 271 280 203 206 1,218
Multi-Family 180 181 186 166 177 890
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Figure 3-8. City of Santa Monica Official Districting Map DRAFT
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Chapter 4
Water Use Characterization
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WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION 4-1
4 WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION
A thorough analysis of historical water use provides valuable insights that are essential to sound water resource planning. This chapter examines water use by customer sector to develop a more detailed understanding of consumption patterns and trends within the City's service area. Those trends are then considered alongside other factors that influence water demand, including land use, population change, and conservation, to develop projections of future water use. In Section 7, these demand projections are compared with the water supply projections presented in Section 6 to evaluate the long-term reliability of the City's water service.
4.1 OVERVIEW OF PAST WATER USE
Billing data for the period 2015 to 2025 were compiled to analyze past water use in the City. This time frame was chosen to understand recent historical water use patterns in the City. It also includes water use data during one of the most severe droughts in the state’s history, which allows some understanding of usage during multi-year drought conditions (see Figure 4-1 for drought periods from the past two decades).
Historical Drought Conditions – Los Angeles County; D0-Abnormally Dry; D1-Moderate Drought; D2-Severe Drought; D3-Extreme Drought; D4-Exceptional Drought (Source: https://www.drought.gov/states/california/county/Los%20Angeles) Figure 4-1. Summary of Drought Conditions from 2005-2025 DRAFT
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The period from 2010 to 2025 also provides a useful contrast of water usage just before and after 2015, when the City established its Water Conservation Unit (WCU) and entered Stage 2 of its Water Shortage Response Plan (WSRP). Stage 2 of the WSRP established mandatory water use restrictions including a Water Use Allowance (WUA) for each water customer. The WUA is calculated as a percentage of the baseline year’s (calendar year 2013) water usage. The calculated WUA for Stage 2 is 80 percent of calendar year 2013’s usage. Since groundwater is a big part of the City’s water supply and the effects of drought are long term, the City continues to remain in Stage 2 since 2014 to encourage water conservation which has contributed to a water demand reduction of 20% or approximately 2,500 acre-feet per year (AFY). Furthermore, in July 2022, the City implemented tighter outdoor watering restrictions limiting outdoor watering to two days per week in response to drought conditions.
4.1.1 Water Use Sectors
The City categorizes water billing data by different uses. By doing so, billing data provides valuable water use information including which sectors consume the most water and how policies, such as implementation of water conservation programs, affect usage. The sectors analyzed are consistent with those found in the State’s Water Code and are defined below.
Some sectors listed in the Water Code, such as agricultural, are not used in the City but are described for clarification, rather than being left out of this UWMP. The complete list of water use sectors can be found in Section 10631(d) of the Water Code.
Water use sectors listed in the Water Code include the following:
◼ Single-Family Residential. A single-family dwelling unit. A lot with a free-standing building containing one dwelling unit that may include a detached secondary dwelling.
◼ Multi-Family. Multiple dwelling units contained within one building or several buildings within one complex.
◼ Commercial. A water user that provides or distributes a product or service. ◼ Industrial. A water user that is primarily a manufacturer or processor of materials as defined by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code sectors 31 to 33, inclusive, or an entity that is a water user primarily engaged in research and development. It should be noted that the industrial sector makes up a very small percentage of water use in the City (less than 1.5 % of total commercial use). As a result, industrial and commercial usage were combined for the purposes of analysis and discussion in this UWMP update.
◼ Institutional. A water user dedicated to public service. This type of user includes, among other users, higher-education institutions, schools, courts, churches, hospitals, government facilities, and nonprofit research institutions.
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◼ Landscape. Water connections supplying water solely for landscape irrigation. Such landscapes may be associated with multi-family, commercial, industrial, or institutional/governmental sites, but are considered a separate water use sector if the connection is solely for landscape irrigation.
◼ Sales to Other Agencies. These are water sales made to another agency. The City does not sell water to any other agency.
◼ Groundwater Recharge. The managed and intentional replenishment of natural groundwater supplies using man-made conveyances such as infiltration basins or injection wells. The City recently began groundwater recharge operations toward the end of 2025.
◼ Saline Water Intrusion Barriers. Injection of water into a freshwater aquifer to prevent the intrusion of saltwater. The City does not use water for saline water intrusion barriers.
◼ Agricultural Water. Water used for commercial agricultural irrigation. There are no agricultural water users in the City.
◼ Distribution System Losses. Water losses from the water distribution system. ◼ Other (Fire). Water used for the maintenance and testing of fire suppression systems, hydrant flushing, etc.
4.1.2 Past Water Use by Sector (Potable)
Water usage for the City is tracked by six of the water sectors described above, including Single Family Residential, Multi-Family Residential, Commercial/Industrial, Institutional, Landscape, and Other (Fire). Trends for these sectors from 2015 to 2025 are summarized in Figure 4-2.
Figure 4-2. Summary of Water Use Trends by Sector in the City of Santa Monica 0 1,000
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The predominate water usage within the City is by residential users, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the City’s total water consumption. Total water usage in the MultiFamily Residential category is the highest in the City and about double compared to the Single Family Residential. Over the last five years, there was a slight decrease in usage when compared to the period prior to 2020, with Single Family Residential usage beginning to increase recently. Between 2020 to 2023, water usage for Multi-Family and Single-Family Residential users decreased by approximately 16%, likely influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, before increasing by approximately 5% between 2023 and 2025. In 2023, the City received abnormally high rainfall (28 inches); this resulted in the lowest annual residential water usage (6,476 AF) between 2015 to 2025, where the average annual residential usage was 7,245 AF. This uptick in water use may be due to the decrease in total yearly rainfall in 2024 and 2025. Overall, while there were moderate fluctuations in water use since 2015, residents have sustained conservation reductions despite the end of the drought emergency in 2017.
Commercial/Industrial water consumption is similar in magnitude to the Single-Family Residential sector and is approximately 24% of the total water usage within the City.
During 2020, the City saw a substantial decrease of about 30% by Commercial/Industrial users compared to 2016 to 2019. This was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic which included mandated business closures and many employees working from home. Since 2021, commercial/industrial water use has increased by approximately 15% and has almost rebounded to pre-2020 levels.
The Landscape sector accounts for about 5% of water use in the City. Similar to SingleFamily Residential, the Landscape sector usage decreased in 2023, followed by a slight increase from 2024 to 2025 consistent with the rainfall patterns.
The Institutional sector accounts for approximately 3% of total water usage in the City.
Similar to the Commercial/Industrial sector, the Institutional sector was relatively static from 2015 to 2019 and saw a significant decrease of about 34% in 2020, due to mandated closures resulting from COVID-19. Since 2020, institutional water use has remained constant with only a 1% increase between 2020 and 2025.
The fire use sector includes water used for the maintenance and testing of fire suppression systems and hydrant flushing. This sector makes up less than 1% of the total water use in the City and has remained about the same over the last five years.
Overall water usage in 2025 totaled 9,946 AF, a 5% decrease since 2020. As discussed in Chapter 3, 2025 saw higher than average rainfall and experienced lower than average temperature. As a result, water usage has continued to remain lower than it was in 2021 and has only seen a slight increase since 2023 due to less precipitation in 2024 and 2025, DRAFT
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION 4-5
though still higher than the average precipitation since 2015. A summary of the water consumption by sector from 2021 through 2025 is provided in Table 4-1.
Table 4-1. Summary of Water Use by Sector in Santa Monica (2021-2025) SECTOR 2021 2022 2023 2024 ‘21 – ‘24
AVERAGE 2025
Single Family Residential 2,820 2,549 2,241 2,315 2,481 2,451 Multi-Family Residential 4,558 4,437 4,235 4,299 4,382 4,318 Commercial 2,174 2,470 2,343 2,316 2,326 2,417
Institutional 268 288 278 262 274 275
Landscape Irrigation 579 469 338 454 460 455
Fire 3 26 4 8 10 31
Total 10,401 10,239 9,441 9,655 9,934 9,946
4.1.3 Non-Potable Water Use
The City has a dedicated recycled water system that provides service to 30 metered locations. The primary use of recycled water is for landscape irrigation, but it is also used for street sweeping, sewer jetting, and for lavatories at two facilities. Construction of the City’s Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP) commenced in 2020 and was completed in 2022. With the completion of SWIP, the City is able to produce advanced treated recycled water for non-potable and potable reuse (e.g., groundwater recharge via direct injection).
Collectively, the SWIP and Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility (SMURRF) is able to produce up to 1,650 AFY of recycled water, however, production has been lower as the City is in the process of completing groundwater recharge wells and expanding its recycled water network to increase recycled water demand. Non-potable use production from 2021 to 2025 is provided in Table 4-2.
Table 4-2. Summary of Non-Potable Water Produced, AF (2021-2025) Facility 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
SMURRF 65 69
SWIP 51 67 91
Total 65 69 51 67 91
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION 4-6
4.1.4 Distribution System Water Losses
Distribution system water loss, defined as the difference between water supplied to the system less authorized consumption, has declined linearly during this entire reporting period. The City meets the Water Loss Audit Standard through its participation in annual water audits. The audits are validated by an independent third-party according to American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards. Table 4-3 summarizes the City’s water loss audit reporting to DWR. In 2020 the total water loss was 3.2% and in 2021 it was 1.7%. This was followed by a total water loss of 9.3% in 2024. Table 4-4 presents the water loss between 2020 and 2024.
Table 4-3. Water Loss Audit Reporting (DWR Table 4-5)
Public Water System ID # Reported in
Table 2-1 R Reporting Period Submitted to DWR Water Loss Audit Program (yes/no) Report submittal status for all five years for each Public Water System as available.
CA1910146
2020 Yes
2021 Yes
2022 Yes
2023 Yes
2024 Yes
DWR NOTES: Suppliers will provide a link to the WUEdata submittals of their Water Loss Audit Reports.
NOTES:
Table 4-4. Water Loss between 2020 and 2024
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Water Loss (AF) 352 187 192 1,001 1,015
Water Loss (%) 3.2% 1.7% 1.8% 9.4% 9.3%
In 2023 California State Water Resources Control Board released water loss performance standards for each urban retail water supplier. The water loss performance standard requires urban retail water suppliers to reduce real losses within their distribution systems to no greater than their real loss standard in the 2027 annual audit. If the supplier’s real loss exceeds the standard, the supplier must achieve the standard in either 2025 or 2026. After 2028, the supplier’s water loss compliance will be assessed every three years based on an average of the real losses reported in the three most recent annual audits. The City’s progress in meeting their water loss standard is shown in Table 4-5.
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION 4-7
Table 4-5. Progress Towards 2028 Water Loss Standard (DWR Table 4-6) Public
Water
System ID #
Did the Water
Board
Calculate a
Water Loss
Standard for
this Public
Water
System? (y/n)
Real Water Loss Apparent Water Loss
State Water Board
Standard
Most Recent AWWA Water
Loss Audit
Real
Water
Loss Per
Unit per
Day
State Water Board
Standard
Most Recent AWWA Water
Loss Audit
Apparent
Water
Loss Per
Unit per
Day
2028
Real
Water
Loss
Standard
per Unit
per day
Units for
Real Water
Loss
Drop down
list
Number of
Units
(Connections or
Miles
corresponding
with units
selected)
Volume of
Total Real
Loss
(AF)
2028
Apparent
Water
Loss
Standard
per Unit
per Day
Units for
Apparent
Water Loss
Number of
Connections
Volume of
Total
Apparent Loss
(AF)
Add additional rows as needed.
CA1910146 Yes 0
Gallons per
Service
Connection
per Day
(GPSCD)
18,456 966 46.7 6.4
Gallons per
Service
Connection
per Day
(GPSCD)
18,456 49 2.4
Water Board's Calculated Water Loss Standards
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) for Water Loss MUST remain consistent with units reported in Submittal Table 2-3. The units reported in Submittal Table 2-3 are used in this table's calculations.
NOTES: Data obtained from CY AWWA 2024 Water Loss Audit.
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION 4-8
4.1.5 Total Current Potable and Non-Potable Water Use
The City’s 2025 actual water use is presented in Table 4-6 by water use sector. Water loss is not included.
Table 4-6. Total Uses for Potable and Non-Potable Water (DWR Table 4-1) Use Type Additional Description
(as needed)
2025 Actual Water Use
Drop down list
May select each use multiple times
These are the only use types that will be
recognized by the WUEdata online
submittal tool
Additional Description
(as needed)
Potable or NonPotable
(OPTIONAL)
Drop down list
Volume (AF)
Single Family Potable 2,451
Multi-Family Potable 4,318
Commercial Includes Industrial Water Potable 2,417
Institutional/Governmental Potable 275
Landscape Potable 455
Other (optional) Fire Service Water Potable 31
Other (optional) Recycled Water Non-Potable 91
Subtotal Potable 9,946
Subtotal Non-Potable 91
Total 10,038
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-
3. NOTES: Data provided in units of HCF by the City in January 2026.
4.2 PROJECTED WATER USE CONSIDERATIONS
The previous sections in this Chapter detailed historical water consumption, which serves as the basis for understanding water use patterns in the City. While historical data provides valuable insight into water use trends, additional factors including anticipated changes in land use, climate, and water use codes, standards, and ordinances are also important factors that should be considered when projecting future water use.
To this end, the City’s Planning Division was consulted to incorporate land use planning data such as population growth into future water use projections. The City’s WCU provided projections of how conservation programs, and water use codes, standards, and ordinances DRAFT
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION 4-9
may impact future water consumption in the City. The Water Resources Division also aligned climate change assumptions used for this UWMP with those used for the GSP being developed for the Santa Monica Groundwater Basin (SMGB).
4.2.1 Coordination with Planning Division
In October of 2022, the City’s Planning Division adopted the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update for 2021-2029, which requires the City to plan for 8,873 new housing units in the 8- year period. The housing unit allocation is based on the 2020 Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA), developed by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). Based on the average household size of 1.9, the City estimates that the additional units will result in a total population of 111,143 people in 2030 or an increase of 19% from the City’s 2021 population.
Most of this growth envisioned will be multifamily residential units, 69% of which would be affordable units. The City also anticipates that a very small percentage of the additional units (about 500-800 units) will be Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), while the singlefamily residential sector will likely remain unchanged.
The City is completely built out with very little (less than 0.05%) undeveloped area. These undeveloped areas are limited to the beach and public open spaces, such as parks. It is likely that much of the residential growth will occur within existing developed properties near transit, including downtown and major boulevards. To accommodate this growth, existing commercial/industrial land uses would likely be redeveloped into residential or mixed uses. Hence, only minimal to moderate growth is anticipated for the commercial/industrial water use sectors.
4.2.2 Water Use Ordinances, Codes, Standards, and Conservation Programs The City has a long history of promoting water conservation. In 2002, the City initiated its Water Efficiency Strategic Plan and in 2004 began implementing various conservation programs including the No Water Waste and Green Building Ordinances. In 2014, City Council authorized the significant expansion of staffing and funding to augment the City’s water conservation efforts to address the state-wide drought and help the City meet its self-sufficiency goal. This contributed to a water demand reduction of approximately 20 percent from 2015–2020, which equates to savings of approximately 2,500 AFY. Current water conservation
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programs and ordinances in the City are provided in Table 4-7.
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION 4-10
Table 4-7. Summary of Santa Monica’s Water Conservation Program and Ordinances
CURRENT WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
(See Chapter 9 for Additional Details)
2015 - Ongoing
• Water Use Allowances
• Water Use Allowance Exceedance Citations
• Water School
• Water Use Consultations
• Landscape Rebate Program
• Landscape Consultations
• Sustainable Landscape Trainings
• Enhanced MWD Water Conservation Rebate Incentive Program • Free Water Saving Items
• Marketing and Outreach (see Chapter 9.2.4)
• Customer Support
2015-2018
• Multi-Family Toilet Direct Install Program
2016 – Ongoing
• Water Efficient Landscape and Irrigation Standards/WELIS (SMMC 8.108) • Plan checks and inspections for WELIS compliance (landscape, irrigation) for building projects 2017-2020
• School District (K-12) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to Fund Water Conservation 2017 – Ongoing
• Water Neutrality Ordinance (SMMC 7.16.050)
• Water Neutrality Direct Install Program
2018 – 2019
• School Education Pilot Program
2020 – Present
• Spray to Drip Irrigation Conversion Rebate
2022 – Present
• Recycled Water Ordinance
2026 – Present
• Non-functional Turf survey and conversion for City and public agency properties • Enhanced Landscape Rebate Program (increased rebate amounts) DRAFT
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION 4-11
The City evaluated the potential for further water efficiency and conservation in all customer sectors as part of its 2024 Water Conservation Master Plan. This included an assessment of the current level of water fixtures, as well as identifying where the greatest opportunities for reducing water consumption existed. Based on this analysis, a plan was developed to reach the City’s long-term objectives via existing and new conservation programs. City staff modeled three conservation plans:
◼ Current – reflects the City’s current conservation effort and implementation of the existing 11 conservation measures.
◼ Strategic – includes implementation of 13 conservation measures (nine existing and four new) that balance water savings with cost to save significant amounts of water and provide enhanced community outreach and education. ◼ All-Inclusive – includes implementation of 16 conservation measures, making it the most expensive and the one that will achieve the most water savings.
Based on the assessment, the City selected the Strategic conservation plan, which continues the successful ongoing programs and increases water conservation in untapped areas such as installation of irrigation devices, indoor and outdoor CII water audits, and dedicated irrigation meters.
Strategic recommendations for the next five years to assist in implementing the Strategic conservation plan include the following:
◼ Consider adding two additional FTEs to implement additional measures needed to comply with the forthcoming State water conservation framework regulations and to enhance current water conservation measures.
◼ Prioritize measures that contribute the most to meeting water conservation targets and are relatively easy to operate with limited staff.
◼ Identify and target measures to the largest 100 water using customers to reduce their demand.
◼ Form partnerships and apply for grants where appropriate. ◼ Define steps for each measure in the work plan detailing how it will be implemented.
◼ Track water use each month by customer class and overall per capita water use. Use the Data Collection Workbook to enter data or an online tool (e.g., WaterViewTM by Eagle Aerial).
◼ Use aerial imagery tools (e.g., WaterViewTM by Eagle Aerial) to identify areas of turf grass to target outreach for landscape conversion rebates and removal of nonfunctional turf grass.
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION 4-12
◼ Employ a SaaS tool (e.g., ConserveTrack by RightThere, LLC) to track measure progress, including participation, cost, projected water savings, and other data to gauge successes and areas that need improvement/added attention. ◼ Consider conducting a device potentiality study to determine market saturation of installed indoor high-efficiency fixtures (toilets, showerheads, aerators, clothes washers) to inform rebate and direct install programs.
◼ Continue enforcing existing City ordinances that reduce water use as previously required by the statewide drought emergency declaration (recently lifted) and the Governor’s Executive Orders (e.g., only serving water upon request, no watering for 48 hours after a rain event).
◼ Annually update the Plan, including individual measure participation and savings, overall projected water savings, and projected per capita water use reductions, to ensure the City is on track to meet conservation goals. ◼ Consider launching pilot studies for new measures.
◼ Consider soliciting and tracking community input and feedback via online or phone surveys or at outreach and education events.
◼ Continue to utilize the information and support offered to urban water agencies provided by CalWEP and Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE). ◼ As a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense Partner take advantage of their many resources including outreach in the form of infographics, videos, template press releases, social media graphics, advertisements, bill stuffers and more.
Implementation of the existing conservation programs with the addition of supplemental conservation efforts is expected to continue water demand reductions through 2040.
Conservation will play a critical role in the City’s march toward water self-sufficiency by continuing to reduce overall use even in the face of demand from new housing and from the commercial and institutional sectors of the local economy.
4.2.3 Climate Change
Climate change considerations for the 2025 UWMP were aligned with those being used to develop the GSP for the SMBGSA. The GSP is using climate change datasets provided by DWR that were originally developed for the Water Storage Investment Program (DWR 2018). These datasets were derived from a collection of 20 global climate projections. The central tendency of each of the 20 projections was used to establish projected climate conditions.
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION 4-13
Using the DWR climate change factors, temperatures in the Santa Monica Groundwater Subbasin are expected to increase, while average annual precipitation is projected to remain relatively constant. The timing of the precipitation is, however, projected to change with more precipitation received in January and February, and less precipitation received in October, November, and December. Overall, evapotranspiration is projected to increase relative to historical rates, which reflects the projected increases in temperature.
4.3 PROJECTED WATER USE
Potable water use projections in five-year increments up to 2045 are summarized in Table 4-8. Annual water use projections are from the 2024 Water Master Plan and projections with additional conservation are from the 2024 Water Conservation Plan assuming the Strategic conservation plan is implemented. Sectoral water use projections were calculated from annual projections assuming the average water use percent breakdown from 2021 through 2024. A 5 percent water distribution system loss is added on top of the annual projections.
Table 4-8. Summary of Potable Water Use Projections for Santa Monica (2030 – 2045 in 5 Year Increments)
2030 2035 2040 2045
Single Family Residential 2,642 2,645 2,649 2,652
Multi-Family Residential 5,708 5,844 5,980 6,117
Commercial and Industrial 2,618 2,566 2,514 2,462
Institutional and Governmental 306 300 294 288
Landscape 759 1,147 1,535 1,924
Other (Fire) 24 36 48 60
Subtotal 12,057 12,539 13,021 13,502
Distribution Loss (5%) 603 627 651 675
Total 12,660 13,166 13,672 14,178
Total w/Additional Conservation
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11,240 10,913 10,906 10,631
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION 4-14
Past annual water use, between 2015 and 2025, and projected water use with and without additional conservation, is shown in five-year increments between 2030 and 2045, is shown in Figure 4-3. Additional conservation, as recommended in the 2024 Water Conservation Master Plan, has the potential to decrease annual water demands by 12 percent in 2030 and 26 percent by 2045.
Figure 4-3. Projected Potable Water Use Trends (2025 – 2040 in 5 Year Increments) Projected potable and non-potable water use in five-year increments, between 2030 and 2045, is shown in Table 4-9. Water use projections include water use ordinances, codes, standards, and lower income residential demands but do not include additional conservation from the Strategic program as outlined in the 2024 Water Conservation Master Plan as summarized in Table 4-10.
0 2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 Water Use (Acre-Feet)
Past Water Use
Projected Potable Water Use w/out Additional Conservation Projected Potable Water Use w/ Additional Conservation
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION 4-15
Table 4-9. Total Projected Uses for Potable and Non-Potable Water (DWR Table 4-2) Use Type
Additional
Description
(as needed)
Projected Water Use
(Report To the Extent that Records are Available)
Drop down list
May select each use multiple
times
These are the only Use Types
that will be recognized by the
WUEdata online submittal
tool
Additional
Description
as needed)
Potable or
NonPotable
(OPTIONAL)
Drop down
list
2030
(AF)
2035
(AF)
2040
(AF)
2045
(AF)
2050
opt
(AF)
Add additional rows as needed.
Single Family Potable 2,642 2,645 2,649 2,652
Multi-Family Potable 5,708 5,844 5,980 6,117
Commercial
Includes
Industrial
Water
Potable 2,618 2,566 2,514 2,462
Institutional/Governmental Potable 306 300 294 288
Landscape Potable 759 1,147 1,535 1,924
Other (optional) Fire Service
Water Potable 24 36 48 60
Distribution System Water
Loss Potable 603 627 651 675
Other (optional) Recycled
Water
NonPotable 84 88 91 95
Subtotal Potable 12,660 13,165 13,671 14,178 0
Subtotal Non-Potable 84 88 91 95 0
Total 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273 0
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES:
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City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION 4-16
Table 4-10. Inclusion in Water Use Projections (DWR Table 4-3) Are Future Water Savings Included in Projections?
Drop down list (y/n) No
If "Yes" to above, state the section or page number, in the cell to the right, where citations of the codes, ordinances, or otherwise are utilized in demand projections are found.
Optional Suppliers may complete Optional Submittal Table 4-4 R to quantify the expected savings.
Are Lower Income Residential Demands Included In Projections? Drop down list (y/n) Yes
Optional If the method for accounting Lower Income Residential Demands has been included, provide page number where this accounting can be found. Section 4.2 DWR NOTES: Additional guidance is provided in Appendix K.
NOTES:
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City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
Chapter 5
SB X7-7 Baseline and Targets
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City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
SB X7-7 BASELINE AND TARGETS 5-1
5 SB X7-7 BASELINE AND TARGETS
5.1 INTRODUCTION
The Water Conservation Act of 2009, enacted as Senate Bill X7-7 (SB X7-7), requires the State of California to reduce urban per capita water use by 20 percent by December 31, 2020. The legislation established an interim statewide target of a 10 percent reduction by December 31, 2015, as a milestone toward the final 2020 goal. To meet these objectives, each urban retail water supplier was required to establish an individualized urban water use target and demonstrate compliance by the 2020 deadline.
The City has successfully achieved its water use reduction target, demonstrating full compliance with SB X7-7. The City's baseline daily per capita water use, interim target, 2020 target, and compliance water use are presented in Table 5-1.
5.2 BASELINES AND TARGETS
The City established its SB X7-7 baseline and 2020 target in the 2015 UWMP and did not revise these calculations when demonstrating compliance in the 2020 UWMP.
SB X7-7 provided urban retail water suppliers with four methodologies for establishing a 2020 water use target. In the 2015 UWMP, the City selected Target Method 1, the most stringent of the four methods, which requires a 20 percent reduction from the supplier's ten-year baseline daily per capita water use, measured in gallons per capita per day (GPCD). The City's ten-year baseline for the period 1996 to 2005 was 154 GPCD, resulting in a 2020 target of 123 GPCD. In the 2020 UWMP, the City reported an actual compliance GPCD of 103, which is well below the 2020 target of 123 GPCD, confirming the City's compliance with SB X7-7. Results are summarized in Table 5-1.
Since the City was an urban retailer in 2020 and met its 2020 Target, SB X7-7 compliance and verification forms are not required.
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
SB X7-7 BASELINE AND TARGETS 5-2
Table 5-1. SB X7-7 2020 Target Progress (DWR Table 5-1) Check the box if the Supplier was not an Urban Water Supplier during or before the 2020 UWMP reporting cycle. Proceed to the next table.
Was Supplier
part of a
merger or
consolidation
since 2020?
Regional
Alliance
Target or
Individual
Target?
Drop down
list
2020
Target
Actual
2020
GPCD
Did
Supplier
Achieve
Targeted
Reduction
for 2020?
Only for suppliers that
did not meet the Target
in 2020
See DWR NOTES below.
Actual
2025 GPCD
(From SB
X7-7
Compliance
Form)
Did Supplier
meet the
2020 Target
in 2025?
No Individual
Target 123 103 Yes NA
DWR NOTES:
Suppliers calculating a 2025 GPCD will need to complete and submit SB X 7-7 Compliance Tables to verify the use of SB X7-7 Methodologies.
Suppliers that were part of a merger or consolidation since 2020 see Chapter 5 and Appendix P for guidance.
NA=Not Applicable
NOTES:
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
Chapter 6
Water Supply Characterization
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City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-1
6 WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION
The City's water supply portfolio is designed to balance sustainable groundwater management, local water supply development, reduce reliance on imported water supplies, recycled water use, and long-term demand management. This section characterizes the City's existing and planned water supplies, identifies key factors that affect source reliability, and establishes the basis for evaluating supply availability under normal-year, single-dry-year, and five-consecutive-dry-year conditions. The analysis supports the City's assessment of water supply reliability over the planning horizon and informs the reliability assessment, drought risk assessment, and water shortage contingency planning discussions presented herein.
6.1 WATER SUPPLY ANALYSIS OVERVIEW
The City meets potable water demands through local groundwater produced from the Santa Monica Groundwater Subbasin (Subbasin) and supplemented with imported water purchased from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). Local groundwater is produced from the Charnock, Arcadia, and Olympic well fields, which are historically associated with the Charnock, Arcadia, and Olympic subbasins within the broader Subbasin. The approximate locations of the subbasins and well fields are shown in Figure 6-1Figure 6-1. Historically, local groundwater has provided approximately 60 to 70 percent of the City's potable water supply, with imported water supplementing the remaining 30 to 40 percent. Beginning in the end of 2023, the City has also begun to use a limited volume of non-potable water from the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP; Figure 6-2), which represents less than one percent of total supply and supports uses such as landscape irrigation, toilet flushing, and street sweeping.
The City's supply composition within this UWMP evaluation period was affected by the temporary closure of the Arcadia Water Treatment Plant (Arcadia WTP; Figure 6-3), the City's primary drinking water treatment facility, which was taken offline between 2021 and 2025 to accommodate major upgrades and capacity expansion as outlined in the City’s 2018 Sustainable Water Master Plan to increase local water supplies. During this period, the City relied more heavily on imported water, with MWD supplies accounting for approximately 67 percent of total potable supply and local groundwater accounting for the remaining 33 percent. This temporary shift should be distinguished from the City's longterm supply strategy, which continues to emphasize greater reliance on locally controlled sources through expanded groundwater production, treatment infrastructure improvements, recycled water use, stormwater capture, managed aquifer recharge, and conservation.
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-2
Figure 6-1. Santa Monica Basin and Subbasin Boundaries
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-3
Figure 6-2. Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project
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City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-4
The Arcadia WTP upgrades and Olympic Well Field Restoration Project are central to the City's long-term strategy to increase local supply reliability and reduce dependence on imported water. The project expanded the Arcadia WTP's raw water treatment capacity from approximately 10 million gallons per day (MGD) to approximately 13 MGD and increased the production efficiency from 80% to 90% with the implementation of the first municipal Flow Reversal Reverse Osmosis (FR-RO) retrofit in the country. The new Olympic Advanced Water Treatment Facility (Olympic AWTF; Figure 6-4), co-located at the Arcadia WTP, restores the Olympic Well Field to produce up to 3,200 acre-feet per year (AFY) of groundwater.
Figure 6-3. Arcadia WTP
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-5
Groundwater sustainability is a critical consideration for the City's supply analysis. The Subbasin is replenished through natural and incidental recharge processes, including infiltration of precipitation, mountain-front recharge from the Santa Monica Mountains, urban return flows, subsurface inflows from adjacent areas, and managed aquifer recharge.
Groundwater management within the Subbasin is subject to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 (SGMA). The Santa Monica Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SMBGSA) was formed by the cities of Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Culver City, and Beverly Hills, together with the County of Los Angeles, to manage the Subbasin under SGMA. The Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) was adopted in January 2022 and approved by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) in October 2023.
Imported water purchased from MWD remains an important component of the City's supply portfolio, particularly during periods when local groundwater production or treatment capacity is constrained. Imported water supplies are derived primarily from the State Water Project (SWP) and the Colorado River Aqueduct (CRA) and are subject to variability associated with hydrologic conditions, climate change, storage conditions, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) regulatory constraints, and long-term Colorado River Basin supply challenges. Accordingly, imported supply availability is evaluated under normal-year, single-dry-year, and five-consecutive-dry-year conditions.
The 2010 through 2020 period was used to characterize treated water supply conditions under normal-year, single-dry-year, and five-consecutive-dry-year scenarios. This period is considered representative of the City’s water supply reliability and drought risk going forward as 2010 established the new baseline for local water supplies when the City restored its major groundwater well field back to full production. In addition, the time period also includes one of the single worst drought years in recorded history in 2014 where it registered as the hottest year in California in 1,200 years according to the National Weather Service. The time period chosen also acknowledges that temporary closures, such as that of the Arcadia WTP during construction between 2021 and 2025, are not representative of normal supply conditions. A summary of the City's water supply components is provided in Table 6-1, and anticipated supply availability by source and hydrologic condition is summarized in
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Table 6-2.
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-6
Figure 6-4. Olympic AWTF
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-7
Table 6-1. Summary of Existing Water Supplies
WATER
SUPPLY
COMPONENT
DESCRIPTION
Local
Groundwater
The City's local groundwater supply is produced from the Subbasin through ten active groundwater supply wells in the Charnock, Arcadia, and Olympic well fields. These include five wells in the Charnock Well Field (Charnock 13, 16, 18, 19, and 20); three wells in the Arcadia Well Field (Arcadia 4, Arcadia 5, and Santa Monica Well 1); and two active wells in the Olympic Well Field (Santa Monica Well 8 and Santa Monica Well 9). A third Olympic well, Santa Monica Well 4, is being rehabilitated following well screen damage, and the City plans to return it to production following approval from the Division of Drinking Water (DDW). Local groundwater treatment facilities include the Arcadia WTP, the Charnock Treatment Facility, and the Olympic AWTF.
Imported
Water
The City purchases imported water from MWD through two service connections.
Imported water supplements local supplies and can meet a significant portion of City demands when local production or treatment capacity is constrained. Imported supplies are derived principally from the SWP and the CRA and are subject to hydrologic variability, climate change, storage conditions, Delta regulatory constraints, and long-term Colorado River Basin supply challenges. Historically, the City's Tier 1 allotment from MWD was approximately 7,406 AFY. However, MWD's adopted fiscal year (FY) 2024/25 and FY 2025/26 biennial budget does not include separate Tier 1 and Tier 2 rate structures; accordingly, these historical allotment figures should be used for background context only and not as the basis for current supply or rate planning assumptions.
Conservation
and Demand
Management
The City has implemented water conservation and demand management measures that have resulted in a sustained reduction in demand of approximately 18 percent, or approximately 2,500 AFY. In July 2022, the City implemented additional outdoor watering restrictions in response to severe drought conditions. The City also completed a Water Conservation Master Plan in 2024 that evaluated new and existing conservation measures; under the selected Strategic Program, additional savings of approximately 924 AFY, or approximately 9.1 percent of current demand, could be achieved by 2045.
Recycled
Water and
Advanced
Treated
Recycled
Water
The City historically captured and treated dry-weather urban runoff at the SMURRF to produce non-potable water for uses such as irrigation, toilet flushing, and street sweeping. The SMURRF is currently offline due to upgrades. The SWIP Advanced Water Treatment Facility (SWIP AWTF) has been developed to treat municipal wastewater, stormwater, dry-weather urban runoff, and brackish groundwater and can produce up to approximately 1,680 AFY of advanced treated recycled water, equivalent to roughly 10 percent of the City's water supply. The City uses advanced treated recycled water to meet non-potable reuse demands and, as of January 2026, to augment the Olympic Well Field through direct aquifer injection.
Potential
Future
Groundwater
Reserve
The Coastal subbasin, located within the broader Subbasin, is not currently used as an active City water supply source. The City is evaluating the Coastal subbasin as a potential future water supply reliability reserve through ongoing investigations to assess groundwater quality as it may be impacted by historical industrial activities, potential yield, and feasibility for future supply development.
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City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-8
Table 6-2. Summary of Treated Water Supply Availability for Each Water Supply SOURCE NORMAL YEAR1 SINGLE DRY YEAR AVERAGE FIVE-YEAR
CONSECUTIVE DROUGHT
Local Groundwater 7,121 AFY 5,181 AFY 7,203 AFY
Imported Water Supply 7,406 AFY2 7,406 AFY2 7,406 AFY2
Total 14,527 AFY 12,587 AFY 14,609 AFY
1The normal year is estimated using the average of total water supply available from 2010 through 2020 2Lowest MWD Tier 1 allotment was assumed.
6.2 WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION
This section provides a detailed characterization of the water supplies currently available to the City and identifies the principal factors that affect supply availability and reliability.
The discussion is organized by supply source and supports the normal-year, single-dryyear, and five-consecutive-dry-year reliability analyses presented herein:
◼ Local groundwater from the Subbasin;
◼ Purchased imported water from MWD; and
◼ Advanced treated recycled water supplies.
Consistent with Section 6.1, potable demands are met primarily through treated local groundwater and imported water, while recycled water supplies are used to offset potable demands for approved non-potable uses and, more recently, to support groundwater replenishment through managed aquifer recharge. The City's long-term water supply strategy emphasizes continued development and protection of local supplies, reduced dependence on imported water, sustainable groundwater management, recycled water production, stormwater capture, and conservation and demand management.
6.2.1 Groundwater
Groundwater from the Subbasin has historically been the City's primary local water supply source. The Subbasin is located in western Los Angeles County and underlies the cities of Santa Monica, Culver City, and Beverly Hills, as well as portions of the City of Los Angeles.
The Subbasin covers approximately 50 square miles and is designated by DWR as the Coastal Plain of Los Angeles, Santa Monica Subbasin, Basin No. 4-011.01. The City is the sole municipal-supply producer of groundwater from the Subbasin. Other existing groundwater withdrawals include one privately owned residential irrigation well and irrigation wells at Brentwood Country Club, Riviera Country Club, Hillcrest Country Club, and Los Angeles Country Club.
The Subbasin is bounded by the Santa Monica Mountains to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone to the east, and the Ballona Escarpment to the DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-9
south. The principal groundwater-bearing units include the Ballona aquifer and the Silverado aquifer, with the Silverado aquifer serving as the City's primary groundwater production aquifer. The hydrogeologic setting is influenced by complex geologic structure, including faults and folds, as well as variations in depositional environment and lithology.
These conditions affect groundwater occurrence, flow, storage, recharge, and water quality across the Subbasin.
Groundwater recharge within the Subbasin occurs through natural and incidental processes, including mountain-front recharge from the Santa Monica Mountains, areal recharge from precipitation where infiltration is possible, subsurface inflows, and urban return flows. Because the Subbasin is highly urbanized, local groundwater replenishment strategies increasingly rely on engineered approaches, including recycled water production and managed aquifer recharge. As discussed in Section 6.1, the City initiated direct aquifer injection of advanced treated recycled water at the Olympic Well Field in January 2026 to support groundwater replenishment and long-term local supply reliability.
Groundwater management in the Subbasin is governed by SGMA. The SMBGSA adopted the GSP for the Subbasin in January 2022, and DWR approved the GSP in October 2023. The GSP establishes the framework for long-term groundwater sustainability, including maintaining sufficient groundwater in storage to support continued production, maintaining groundwater conditions that support sufficient seaward flow of freshwater to prevent significant and unreasonable seawater intrusion in the Silverado aquifer, and ensuring that groundwater production does not impair groundwater-dependent ecosystems.
Historically, the Subbasin has been characterized in terms of five local subbasins, namely the Charnock, Arcadia, Olympic, Coastal, and Crestal subbasins. The locations of these basins are shown in Figure 6-1. These areas were historically distinguished based on water level differences, mapped geologic features, and groundwater geochemistry. More recent hydrogeologic evaluations prepared for the GSP indicate that these historic distinctions do not necessarily correspond to discrete fault-bounded groundwater subbasins. For this reason, the GSP refers to these areas as production areas rather than managing them as separate subbasins. However, because the City's water supply infrastructure, production records, and treatment facilities are commonly organized by well field or historic subbasin, this UWMP will continue to refer to the Charnock, Arcadia, Olympic, Coastal, and Crestal subbasins for consistency with City planning documents.
The City currently obtains local groundwater supply from the Charnock, Arcadia, and Olympic well fields (see Figure 6-1). The Coastal and Crestal subbasins are not currently used as active City water supply sources. The Coastal subbasin has been evaluated as a potential future water supply reliability reserve, while the Crestal subbasin is currently not considered for groundwater supply development.
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-10
Groundwater production volumes from the three active well fields are summarized in Table 6-3, and total raw groundwater production from the Subbasin between 2021 and 2025 is summarized in Table 6-4. These values represent raw groundwater extracted for treatment and should not be interpreted as finished potable water delivered to the distribution system, as finished water availability is further affected by treatment capacity, treatment efficiency, source water quality, regulatory requirements, operational constraints, and facility outages. Due to construction upgrades at the Arcadia WTP, groundwater pumped within the Subbasin between 2021 and 2025 is not representative of normal operations. Under normal operations, the City has the ability to pump about 8,000 to 10,000 AFY of groundwater from the three subbasins.
Table 6-3. Summary of Groundwater Pumped by Subbasin between 2021 and 2025 SOURCE 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Arcadia 507 291 38 0 98
Charnock 5,467 4,137 876 3,072 3,344
Olympic 363 410 0 0 0
Total 6,337 4,837 914 3,072 3,442
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-11
Table 6-4. Summary of Groundwater Pumped between 2021 and 2025 (DWR Table 6-1) Groundwater Type
Drop Down List
May use each category
multiple times
Potable or
Non-Potable
(OPTIONAL)
Drop down list
Location or Basin Name 2021 (AF) 2022 (AF) 2023 (AF) 2024 (AF) 2025 (AF) Alluvial Basin Potable Santa Monica Basin 6,337 4,837 914 3,072 3,442 6,337 4,837 914 3,072 3,442
Add additional rows as needed
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES Data obtained from City's Water Production Reports from FY20-21 through FY25-26.
Total
Check the box if the Supplier does not pump groundwater.
Proceed to the next table.
Check the box if all or part of the groundwater described below is desalinated. (OPTIONAL) DRAFT
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-12
6.2.1.1 Charnock Subbasin (Charnock Well Field)
The Charnock Well Field, located within the historically defined Charnock subbasin of the Subbasin, consists of five groundwater production wells: Charnock 13, Charnock 16, Charnock 18, Charnock 19, and Charnock 20. The Charnock Well Field has been used as a drinking water source since 1924 and is the City’s largest groundwater-producing well field. The well field is located within the City of Los Angeles on property owned by the City.
Under normal operating conditions, groundwater production from the Charnock Well Field averages approximately 8,000 acre-feet per year (AFY).
The Charnock production wells were shut down in 1996 following the detection of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) in groundwater. The contamination resulted from leaking underground gasoline storage tanks and pipelines owned by several oil companies, and the loss of the Charnock production wells caused the City to substantially increase imported water purchases from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). A settlement agreement was reached with the responsible parties in December 2003, and in 2006 the City assumed full oversight and management of the restoration program.
The restoration included construction of the Charnock Treatment Facility, which uses granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment to remove MTBE and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) from impacted groundwater before the treated water is conveyed to the Arcadia Water Treatment Plant (Arcadia WTP) for additional treatment, including reverse osmosis and disinfection. The Charnock wells were restored to production in December 2010.
Since 2021, average raw groundwater extraction from the Charnock Well Field has been approximately 3,379 AFY, which is below the approximately 8,000 AFY associated with normal operating conditions. Recent production has been constrained by maintenancerelated outages at Charnock 16 and 19 and outages at Charnock 13 and Charnock 18 to facilitate construction of new replacement wells. The City also has future plans to replace Charnock 16 within the next 5-10 years as the existing well is over 50 years old. Long-term planning assumptions should account for restoration of full treatment capacity, completion of maintenance and replacement projects, and ongoing compliance with applicable drinking water and groundwater management requirements.
6.2.1.2 Olympic Subbasin (Olympic Well Field)
The Olympic Well Field is located within the historically defined Olympic subbasin along Olympic Boulevard at the eastern end of the City. The Olympic Well Field is the City’s second largest groundwater producer. Under normal operating conditions prior to restoration, groundwater production from the Olympic Well Field averaged approximately 2,500 AFY, with a maximum annual production of 3,176 acre-feet recorded in 1995. The well field’s active production wells are Santa Monica Well 8 (SM-8) and Santa Monica Well 9 (SM-9), supported by a dedicated conveyance pipeline to the Olympic Advanced Water Treatment Facility (Olympic AWTF). Following completion of the restoration project, the DRAFT
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-13
Olympic AWTF is capable of treating up to 3,200 AFY of groundwater from the well field. A third well, Santa Monica Well 4 (SM-4), is currently offline due to well screen damage and is undergoing rehabilitation; the City plans to return the well to production following approval from the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water (DDW).
A replacement well for SM-4 is currently under design and will be online within the next 5 years.
The Olympic Well Field has experienced periods of regulatory and operational constraint due to historical industrial contamination. Constituents detected in groundwater have included volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), carbon tetrachloride (CTC), 1,2,3-trichloropropane (1,2,3-TCP), and 1,4-dioxane. Production was further restricted in 2003 and 2004 due to nearby leaking underground fuel storage tanks, and regulations adopted in December 2017 establishing a maximum contaminant level for 1,2,3-TCP and notification levels for 1,4-dioxane imposed additional constraints on extraction from the well field.
The Olympic AWTF, co-located at the Arcadia WTP, incorporates ultraviolet advanced oxidation process treatment and GAC filtration to remove industrial contaminants to below applicable drinking water standards. The project was completed in 2025. Since 2021, average raw groundwater extraction from the Olympic Well Field has been approximately 154 AFY, well below the historical normal operating average of approximately 2,500 AFY.
This reflects SM-4 being offline and the intermittent suspension of production during construction of the Olympic Well Field Restoration Project. With restoration completed, the Olympic Well Field is expected to return to and ultimately exceed its historical production levels, contributing up to approximately 3,200 AFY to the City’s local groundwater supply portfolio.
6.2.1.3 Arcadia Subbasin
The Arcadia subbasin has historically been the least productive of the three active subbasins used by the City. Under normal operating conditions, groundwater production from the Arcadia Well Field averages approximately 700 AFY. The well field includes three groundwater production wells: Arcadia 4, Arcadia 5, and Santa Monica Well 1 (SM-1).
Arcadia 4 and Arcadia 5 are located at the Arcadia WTP, near Bundy Drive and Wilshire Boulevard, and groundwater from these wells is treated through the Arcadia WTP prior to distribution. SM-1 is located in a median along San Vicente Boulevard and is disinfected at the wellhead before being discharged directly into the City's potable water distribution system.
Since 2021, average groundwater extraction from the Arcadia Well Field has been approximately 187 AFY, substantially below the approximately 700 AFY associated with normal operating conditions. This reduction primarily reflects operational constraints associated with construction of the Arcadia WTP Expansion Project and aging well DRAFT
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-14
infrastructure requiring more frequent maintenance. The recent reduced production should be interpreted as a temporary operating condition rather than a permanent change in the long-term role of the Arcadia subbasin in the City's water supply portfolio.
6.2.1.4 Coastal Subbasin
The Coastal subbasin underlies the southern portion of the City and is not currently used as an active groundwater supply source. The City has identified the Coastal subbasin as a potential future water supply reliability reserve. One exploratory well, Airport 1, was installed at Santa Monica Airport over 5 years ago with an estimated production rate of approximately 300 gallons per minute; however, the well is not currently equipped or operated for production. Further development has been paused due to third-party industrial contamination, and the City does not currently have an established schedule to develop the Coastal subbasin as an active supply source as it may interfere with investigation and remediation efforts by the responsible party.
6.2.1.5 Crestal Subbasin
The Crestal subbasin is not currently used by the City as a groundwater supply source and is not identified as an existing or planned component of the City's water supply portfolio.
The City has no current plans to develop the Crestal subbasin, as it lies outside City limits and the City does not currently have ownership of or access to viable well locations.
6.2.2 Other Considerations - Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014 Prior to adoption of the GSP, several studies were prepared to evaluate groundwater production and sustainable yield. In 2018, Richard C. Slade & Associates LLC prepared the Updated Preliminary Study of the Sustainable Yield of the Groundwater Sub-basins, which estimated the sustainable yield of the Subbasin to range from approximately 11,800 AFY to 14,725 AFY, including an infiltration credit factor recharge component. These estimates are summarized in Table 6-5.
Table 6-5. 2018 Sustainable Yield Estimate (Richard C. Slade & Associates LLC, June 2018)
GROUNDWATER SUBBASIN LOWER LIMIT (AFY) UPPER LIMIT (AFY) PREVIOUS STUDIES (AFY) Arcadia 870 920 2,000
Charnock 6,410 8,080 4,420 to 8,200
Olympic 2,360 3,145 3,275
Coastal 1,160 1,450 4,225
Crestal NA NA 2,000
Subtotals: 10,800 13,595 15,920 to 19,700
ICF Recharge Factor: 1,000 1,130 NA
Total: 11,800 14,725 15,920 to 19,700
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-15
In May 2017, the cities of Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Culver City, together with the County of Los Angeles, formed the SMBGSA through a Memorandum of Understanding. DWR has designated the Subbasin as a medium-priority basin, and the Subbasin is therefore subject to SGMA requirements.
The SMBGSA adopted the GSP in January 2022, and DWR approved the GSP in October 2023. The GSP establishes sustainable management criteria, minimum thresholds, measurable objectives, and monitoring requirements to avoid undesirable results related to groundwater levels, groundwater storage, seawater intrusion, water quality, land subsidence, and interconnected surface water. DWR's approval identified recommended corrective actions for future GSP updates, including addressing data gaps related to seawater intrusion, water budget uncertainty, numerical model updates, and monitoring network expansion.
The GSP identifies the following management actions and projects to support sustainable groundwater management:
◼ Management Action #1: Adjust groundwater production as needed to meet water level and/or seawater intrusion objectives.
◼ Management Action #2: Impose a replenishment or imported water purchase/pumping offset fee, if needed.
◼ Management Action #3: Develop a Salt and Nutrient Management Plan for the Subbasin.
◼ Management Action #4: Develop a groundwater allocation for the Subbasin. ◼ Management Action #5: Increase water conservation.
◼ Project #1: Increase recycled water production for non-potable and potable reuse. ◼ Project #2: Recharge local groundwater aquifers.
◼ Project #3: Enhance production efficiency at the Arcadia WTP. ◼ Project #4: Install additional monitoring wells.
◼ Project #5: Conduct additional investigations and technical studies.
The City's local water supply planning is closely aligned with SGMA implementation. The City's Sustainable Water Master Plan (SWMP), developed in 2014 and updated in 2018, identified conservation, alternative water supplies, and increased local groundwater production within sustainable yield limits as key strategies to reduce reliance on imported water. More recent planning efforts, including the Domestic Water Master Plan, Recycled Water Master Plan, and Water Conservation Master Plan, continue to support these objectives through infrastructure improvements, recycled water development, managed aquifer recharge, and demand reduction. For the purposes of this analysis, SGMA DRAFT
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
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implementation is an important planning constraint: future groundwater production must remain consistent with the GSP, the Subbasin's sustainable management criteria, and the SMBGSA's adaptive management framework.
6.2.3 Imported Water Supply
The City purchases imported water from MWD to supplement its local water supplies, particularly during periods when local groundwater production or treatment capacity is constrained. The City is one of MWD's founding member agencies and receives imported water derived principally from two regional supply sources: the Colorado River, conveyed through the CRA, and Northern California supplies conveyed through the SWP. MWD operates the CRA and distributes both Colorado River and SWP supplies through its regional conveyance, storage, treatment, and distribution system. The SWP is operated by DWR.
MWD is a regional wholesale water agency serving 26 member agencies that collectively provide water to nearly 19 million people across six Southern California counties. The City receives imported water through two MWD service connections, one at the Arcadia WTP and one at the Charnock Water Treatment Plant. Both connections are 24 inches in diameter and are capable of supplying the City's full water demand when local supplies are unavailable or constrained, providing hydraulic flexibility and supply reliability across the City's distribution system.
Historically, the City's imported water purchases were evaluated against MWD's two-tiered supply rate structure, with the City's Tier 1 limit set at approximately 7,406 AFY. Following restoration of the Charnock Well Field in 2010, the City's annual MWD purchases have generally remained below this threshold.
MWD's rate structure has since changed. The 2014 Purchase Order program expired on December 31, 2024, and was not renewed. As a result, MWD's adopted FY 2024/25 and FY 2025/26 Biennial Budget eliminated the separate Tier 1 and Tier 2 supply rates; all purchases are now priced under a single, uniform supply rate regardless of volume. The City's historical Tier 1 limit is retained here for background context only and should not be used as the basis for current MWD rate assumptions.
MWD's current rate structure consists of the following components charged to its member agencies:
◼ Single Supply Rate (volumetric): A uniform per acre-foot rate applied to all deliveries, replacing the former tiered supply rates.
◼ System Access Rate (volumetric): Recovers costs of operating MWD's regional delivery network.
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-17
◼ System Power Rate (volumetric): Recovers energy costs for pumping imported water to Southern California.
◼ Treatment Surcharge (volumetric, treated water only): Recovers treatment costs; not applicable to untreated water purchases.
◼ Readiness-to-Serve Charge (fixed): Recovers fixed system capacity costs, allocated based on each agency's historical delivery share.
◼ Capacity Charge (fixed/demand-based): Recovers peaking capacity costs based on each agency's maximum peak day flow.
6.2.3.1 Colorado River Supplies
The Colorado River is a major regional water source for the western United States, supplying water for municipal, industrial, agricultural, and environmental uses across seven Basin states and Mexico. California's basic apportionment of Colorado River water is
4.4 million acre-feet per year under the Law of the River framework. MWD was formed in 1928, in part, to secure and convey Colorado River supplies to Southern California, and construction of the CRA was one of MWD's founding purposes.
The CRA conveys Colorado River water from Lake Havasu near Parker Dam to MWD's service area in Southern California. The aqueduct is approximately 242 miles long and includes open channels, tunnels, pipelines, reservoirs, and pumping plants. Colorado River supplies continue to be an important part of MWD's regional supply portfolio; however, the long-term reliability of this source is affected by hydrologic variability, declining reservoir storage, interstate allocation agreements, federal operating guidelines, and ongoing Colorado River Basin management negotiations. These reliability considerations are addressed in the imported water reliability analysis presented herein.
6.2.3.2 State Water Project and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Supplies MWD also receives imported water from Northern California through the SWP. The SWP is a system of reservoirs, canals, and pumping plants built by DWR that delivers water to 29 public water agencies under long-term water supply contracts. The SWP provides water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland.
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is a critical hub of California's statewide water system and the point from which SWP supplies are conveyed south through the California Aqueduct. SWP deliveries vary annually depending on precipitation, snowpack, reservoir storage, regulatory requirements, water quality conditions, and Delta export constraints.
For 2025, DWR set an initial SWP allocation of 5 percent of requested supplies in December 2024, which was subsequently increased to 50 percent by April 2025 as snowmelt and reservoir conditions improved. This variability underscores the importance of evaluating imported water availability under normal-year, single-dry-year, and five-consecutive-dryyear conditions.
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
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6.2.4 Imported Water Conveyance and Delivery System
Imported water supplies are conveyed to Southern California through two major aqueduct systems: the CRA and the SWP California Aqueduct system. The CRA is owned and operated by MWD and was one of MWD's founding purposes following its formation in 1928.
Construction began in 1933, and the system was completed in 1941. The CRA extends approximately 242 miles from Lake Havasu near Parker Dam to Lake Mathews in Riverside County and includes open aqueduct, siphons, tunnels, reservoirs, and five pumping plants that collectively lift Colorado River water more than 1,600 feet before it flows by gravity into MWD's regional distribution system.
The SWP is a statewide water storage and delivery system extending more than 705 miles and consisting of reservoirs, aqueducts, canals, pipelines, pumping plants, and power facilities, planned, built, operated, and maintained by DWR. MWD is the largest single SWP contractor, with a maximum contracted volume of 1.9 million AFY.
Within Southern California, MWD manages a regional system of reservoirs, pipelines, pumping facilities, treatment plants, and service connections to deliver imported water to its member agencies. The City receives MWD supplies through two service connections, one at the Arcadia WTP and one at the Charnock Water Treatment Plant, providing supplemental and backup supply capacity and an important component of the City's overall supply reliability strategy, particularly when local groundwater production is reduced by treatment limitations, maintenance, water quality constraints, drought conditions, or other operational factors. Both the CRA and SWP are subject to operational, hydrologic, regulatory, and climate-related constraints that may affect annual supply availability, as addressed in the imported water supply reliability analysis presented herein.
6.3 OVERVIEW OF WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM AND RECYCLED WATER SUPPLY
A description of the City's wastewater collection system, SMURRF, SWIP, recycled water distribution, and recycled water coordination efforts is provided in this section.
6.3.1 Wastewater Collection System
The City’s wastewater system comprises approximately 150 miles of pipelines, approximately 2,100 manholes, a pump station with a firm capacity of approximately 27.6 MGD, and two flow monitoring stations. The system includes six primary sewer facilities and structures: the Moss Avenue Pump Station (MAPS), the Ocean Avenue Lift Station (OALS), the SWIP AWTF, the Colorado Avenue Diversion Structures, the I-10 Siphon, and Junction Box 1 at Pico Boulevard and Main Street.
Wastewater generated within the City is collected and combined with pass-through flows from the City of Los Angeles before being conveyed to the City of Los Angeles’ Hyperion DRAFT
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Water Reclamation Plant for treatment. Based on the City's Annual Wastewater Flow Reports provided by the City of Los Angeles for FY 2020/21 through FY 2024/25, net Citycontributed wastewater flows average approximately 13 MGD, with total flows including City of Los Angeles pass-through averaging approximately 18 MGD. Please refer to Table 6-6 for wastewater collected within the City’s service area for 2025.
The Hyperion WRP, operated by Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment (LASAN), is one of the largest water reclamation facilities in the United States, treating an average of approximately 260 MGD of wastewater. The plant's current treatment process includes primary sedimentation and high-purity oxygen secondary treatment. LASAN's Hyperion 2035 program represents a commitment to recycling 100 percent of available treated wastewater for beneficial reuse from the Hyperion WRP by 2035. This transformation would retrofit the plant with advanced treatment processes, including membrane bioreactors, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet advanced oxidation, making it one of the largest facilities in the world to employ this technology. The program is a partnership between LASAN and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and represents a significant step toward reducing the City of Los Angeles' dependence on imported water.
Table 6-6. Wastewater Collected Within Service Area (DWR Table 6-2) DRAFT
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Table 6-7. Wastewater Treatment and Outcomes Within UWMP Service Area (DWR Table 6-3) DRAFT
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Submittal Table 6-3 Retail: Wastewater Treatment and Outcomes Within UWMP Service Area Water Code Section 10633(b)
Check the box if no wastewater is treated or disposed of within the UWMP service area.
Proceed to the next table.
Wastewater
Treatment
Plant Name
and Place ID
Number
Drop down
list
Does This
Plant Treat
Wastewater
Generated
Outside the
UWMP
Service
Area?
(OPTIONAL)
Drop down
list
2025
Volume of
Wastewater
Received
from UWMP
Service Area
(As
Reported in
Submittal
Table 6-2 R)
(AF)
Total
2025
Volume
of Water
Treated
(AF)
2025 Outcomes of Treated Wastewater
Water Recycled
Within UWMP
Service Area
(enter data as
applicable)
Water Recycled
Outside of UWMP
Service Area
(enter data as
applicable)
Effluent Discharge
that is not a
Permitted Recycled
Water Use
(enter data as
applicable)
Required Discharge
for Instream Flow
(enter data as
applicable)
Delivered to Another Entity
for Additional Treatment
(enter data as applicable)
Treatment
Level
Drop
down list
Volume
(AF)
Treatment
Level
Drop
down list
Volume
(AF)
Treatment
Level
Drop
down list
Volume
(AF)
Treatment
Level
Drop
down list
Volume
(AF)
Treatment
Level
Drop
down list
Volume
(AF)
Name
of
other
entity
Add additional rows as needed
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
IPR: Indirect Potable Reuse would have the treatment level of its end use requirement in the Level of Treatment drop-down.
Additional Guidance: See Appendix M, Section M.21 for detailed guidance on this table.
NOTES:
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-22
6.3.2 Recycled Water Distribution System
The City's existing non-potable water distribution system consists of recycled water pipelines ranging from 4 to 12 inches in diameter. The recycled water system was originally constructed in 2001 as part of the SMURRF and delivers recycled water to current customers for non-potable reuse applications, including irrigation, toilet flushing, and fill stations. New recycled water pipelines to expand the existing system were in design and construction at the time of this writing.
Until 2023, treated urban runoff from the SMURRF was the City's only source of nonpotable water. SMURRF recycled water was used for irrigation at various public parks, including Tongva Park, Memorial Park, and Palisades Park, as well as at City-owned properties such as Woodlawn Cemetery, City Hall, and various street medians and parkways. SMURRF recycled water also serves toilet flushing at the City's only dualplumbed building, the Public Safety Facility, and four fill stations available to City operations staff for street sweepers, pressure washers, and sewer jetting trucks. The SMURRF is currently offline due to upgrades.
The SWIP AWTF became fully operational in late 2023 to supply non-potable customers.
The SWIP AWTF treats raw municipal wastewater and urban runoff and stormwater and can produce up to 1 MGD of advanced treated recycled water, representing approximately 10 percent of the City's daily raw municipal wastewater flow and roughly 10 percent of the City's total water supply. The SWIP AWTF also incorporates a 1.5 million gallon belowgrade stormwater harvesting tank beneath the City's Civic Center parking lot, which captures stormwater and dry-weather urban runoff from the municipal separate storm sewer system for treatment and distribution. The City currently serves approximately 61 AFY of recycled water to customers connected to the existing recycled water system.
Advanced treated recycled water is being used to meet non-potable reuse demands and, as of January 2026, to augment the Olympic Well Field through direct aquifer injection as part of the Groundwater Replenishment Reuse Project (GRRP). When operating at full capacity together with SMURRF, the SWIP AWTF can produce up to approximately 1,680 AFY of advanced treated recycled water, equivalent to roughly 10 percent of the City's total water supply.
The City is also exploring the potential for direct potable reuse (DPR) as a future supply option. DPR regulations were adopted by the State Water Board in December 2023, and the City has been communicating its proposed DPR strategy with the DDW. The City's DPR concept involves raw water augmentation, combining advanced treated recycled water from the SMURRF and SWIP AWTF with extracted groundwater from the Olympic Well Field before conveyance to the Olympic AWTF and Arcadia WTP for treatment and distribution.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-23
Table 6-8 presents the 2020 UWMP recycled water use projections to the 2025 actual recycled water use.
Table 6-8. 2020 UWMP Recycled Water Use Projection Compared to 2025 Actual (DWR Table 6-5)
6.3.2.1 Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility (SMURRF) The SMURRF was commissioned in 2000 and began operations in 2001, with the primary objective of eliminating contamination in Santa Monica Bay caused by stormwater and dryweather urban runoff from the City's Pico-Kenter and Santa Monica Pier drainage areas.
The facility is covered under the Los Angeles County Municipal Stormwater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Number CAS004001 and is operated by the City as a stormwater best management practice (BMP) facility, with operating costs and revenues shared jointly with the City of Los Angeles. The SMURRF treatment processes include a drum screen, grit removal, a dissolved air flotation unit, ultrafiltration, ultraviolet disinfection, and sodium hypochlorite dosing. The SMURRF is capable of producing up to 560 AFY (0.50 MGD) of recycled water; however, the facility has historically operated well below its full capacity due to limited and inconsistent urban and stormwater runoff supplies.
Treated water from the SMURRF is distributed through the City's non-potable water distribution system to serve parks, street medians, Woodlawn Cemetery, and the City's DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-24
dual-plumbed Public Safety Facility for toilet flushing. Non-potable water is also used by City operations for street sweeping, sewer jetting, and pressure washing.
To address the SMURRF's limited and variable influent supply and to improve beach water quality near the Santa Monica Pier, the City completed construction of the Clean Beaches Initiative (CBI) stormwater harvesting tank project in 2018. The CBI project included the installation of a 1.6 MG below-grade stormwater harvesting tank on the north side of the Santa Monica Pier to capture wet and dry-weather runoff from the downtown Promenade area for conveyance to the SMURRF for treatment. During dry weather, a set of horizontal sub-drains beneath the CBI tank collects shallow brackish groundwater, which is also routed to the SMURRF for treatment. Together, these sources maintain the SMURRF's production capacity of 560 AFY.
In early 2023, the SMURRF was upgraded to include a new modular, containerized reverse osmosis (RO) treatment unit to address the brackish groundwater from the CBI tank. With this upgrade, the SMURRF can achieve its nominal capacity of 560 AFY and produce treated water meeting the diluent water requirements under Title 22 for a Groundwater Replenishment Reuse Project, suitable for augmenting local groundwater supplies through injection. The SMURRF is currently offline due to ongoing upgrades. During the period the SMURRF was offline, potable water was used to meet recycled water demand until the SWIP AWTF came online in 2023.
The non-potable water supply produced by the SMURRF from 2021 to 2025 is summarized in Table 6-9.
Table 6-9. Summary of Non-Potable Water Use from SMURRF (2021-2025) 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
SMURRF Non-Potable Water Use (AF) 65 69 0 0 0
6.3.2.2 Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP) The SWIP is an integrated system developed by the City to harvest, treat, and beneficially reuse alternative water resources, including stormwater, brackish groundwater, and municipal wastewater. Construction of the SWIP was completed in 2022 and fully operational in 2023. The SWIP comprises three coordinated elements:
◼ SWIP Element 1 – SMURRF Upgrades: The first element involved upgrading the SMURRF with a new modular, containerized RO treatment unit to treat captured stormwater and brackish groundwater from the CBI tank. The upgraded SMURRF is capable of producing up to 560 AFY of recycled water suitable for non-potable reuse and, ultimately, as diluent water meeting Title 22 requirements for a Groundwater Replenishment Reuse Project. As described in Section 6.3.2.1, the SMURRF upgrades DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-25
were completed in 2022 and the facility is currently offline due to ongoing commissioning activities.
◼ SWIP Element 2 – SWIP Advanced Water Treatment Facility: The second element is a new below-grade SWIP AWTF capable of producing up to 1,120 AFY (1.0 MGD) of advanced treated recycled water. The SWIP AWTF treats municipal wastewater sourced from the Ocean Avenue 54-inch sewer line and stormwater runoff harvested by the Civic Center stormwater tank. When stormwater is present, the anticipated influent split is approximately 70 percent wastewater and 30 percent stormwater; when stormwater is not available, the SWIP AWTF operates on 100 percent local wastewater. Treatment processes include a headworks fine screen, membrane bioreactors, cartridge filtration, RO, ultraviolet advanced oxidation process with chlorine, and chlorine disinfection. Although construction was completed in 2022, the facility was not brought online until permitting was finalized in late 2023 for indirect potable reuse.
◼ SWIP Element 3 – Civic Center Stormwater Harvesting Tank: The third element is a 1.5 MG below-grade stormwater harvesting tank constructed beneath the City's Civic Center parking lot, adjacent to the SWIP AWTF. The tank captures dry-weather and stormwater runoff from the municipal separate storm sewer system and the Civic Center parking lot, which is then conveyed to the SWIP AWTF for treatment and distribution. Construction of this element was completed in 2022.
The City also has plans to construct an additional below-grade stormwater storage reservoir at Memorial Park to capture additional stormwater flows for conveyance to the SWIP AWTF, further expanding the available influent supply.
Currently, advanced treated recycled water from the SWIP AWTF is being used to meet non-potable reuse demands, and as of January 2026, to augment the Olympic Well Field through direct aquifer injection as part of the GRRP. The GRRP injection capacity is based on two operational injection wells (SM-10i and SM-11i) and the planned completion of one additional injection well (SM-12i). SM-10i is fully operational and running continuously.
SM-11i has reached substantial completion of construction and is operational, though final resolution of minor outstanding issues and receipt of a permit amendment authorizing recycled water injection are pending. SM-12i is currently in the early design phase and drilling of this well is not anticipated in the near term as the City explores the feasibility of direct potable reuse. Each well has an injection rate of approximately 200 gallons per minute. With SM-10i and SM-11i operational, the current estimated injection capacity is approximately 646 AFY, with a maximum estimated injection capacity of approximately 969 AFY upon full buildout of all three wells. When the SWIP AWTF and SMURRF operate at full combined capacity, up to 1,680 AFY of advanced treated recycled water would be available for non-potable reuse, groundwater replenishment, and future potable reuse applications.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-26
As noted in Section 6.3.2, the State Water Board adopted DPR regulations in December 2023, and the City is continuing to engage with DDW on its proposed DPR strategy, which involves raw water augmentation by blending advanced treated recycled water with extracted groundwater from the Olympic Well Field prior to treatment at the Olympic AWTF and Arcadia WTP.
The non-potable water supply produced by SWIP AWTF from 2021 to 2025 is summarized in Table 6-10.
Table 6-10. Summary of Non-Potable Water Use from SWIP AWTF (2021-2025) 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
SWIP AWTF Non-Potable Water Use (AF) 0 0 51 67 91
6.3.2.3 Recycled Water Coordination
The City coordinates with regional partners on recycled water programs and regional water supply opportunities. The Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility (SMURRF) is a joint project between the City and the City of Los Angeles, with both parties sharing operating costs and revenues. The City also participates in the Greater Los Angeles County Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Group, and the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP) functions as a regional project by capturing stormwater and urban runoff from areas that extend beyond City boundaries and reducing discharges to Santa Monica Bay.
Regional recycled water programs near the City may provide long-term opportunities to supplement local supplies. West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) produces recycled water at the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility in El Segundo and has identified potential system expansion opportunities farther north, including toward the Kenneth Hahn Project Area. LADWP, in partnership with LASAN, is advancing Pure Water Los Angeles, a major water supply initiative aimed at developing advanced purified recycled water from the Hyperion WRP for groundwater replenishment and potential future DPR. The program aims to produce up to 230 million gallons of purified recycled water per day and support the City of Los Angeles' transition to a 70 percent local water supply. The Pure Water Los Angeles Master Plan, completed in early 2025, confirms that the first phase of the program, capable of producing up to 50 million gallons per day, could be available no sooner than 2040. A Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is currently underway, with a public scoping period that closed in October 2025.
The City’s ability to use regional recycled water from West Basin or LADWP would depend on supply availability, water quality, conveyance infrastructure, treatment requirements, regulatory approvals, funding, interagency agreements, and partner implementation schedules. Accordingly, regional recycled water coordination is considered a long-range DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-27
strategy, and there is currently no active near-term project for the City to receive recycled water from either West Basin or the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant.
6.3.3 Future Water Projects
The City’s long-term water supply strategy has focused on reducing reliance on imported water by increasing conservation, developing alternative water supplies, and expanding local groundwater production within sustainable yield limits. The 2014 SWMP established the City’s original pathway toward water self-sufficiency, and the 2018 SWMP Update refined that strategy around three primary components: continued water conservation, development of sustainable and drought-resilient alternative supplies, and expanded local groundwater production.
All major projects identified in the 2018 SWMP Update have since been implemented or substantially advanced, including SWIP, the Olympic Well Field Restoration Project, and the Arcadia WTP Expansion Project. SWIP was developed to collect and treat municipal wastewater, stormwater, dry-weather urban runoff, and brackish groundwater for nonpotable reuse and groundwater replenishment. Together with upgrades to SMURRF, SWIP is designed to produce up to approximately 1,680 AFY of advanced treated recycled water, or roughly 10 percent of the City’s water supply.
The Olympic Well Field Restoration and Arcadia WTP Expansion Project are key components of the City’s local supply strategy. The project includes two new groundwater production wells, a dedicated conveyance pipeline, the Olympic AWTF co-located at the Arcadia WTP, and production efficiency upgrades at the Arcadia WTP using Flow Reversal Reverse Osmosis technology. The Olympic AWTF is capable of treating up to approximately 3,200 AFY of groundwater from the Olympic Well Field, and the Arcadia WTP expansion increases raw water treatment capacity from approximately 10 MGD to approximately 13 MGD. These improvements are intended to allow the City to provide up to approximately 14,700 AFY, or about 70 percent of its drinking water supply, from local resources.
The City’s more recent planning efforts build on these completed and ongoing supply investments. The 2024 Water Conservation Master Plan realigned the City’s conservation program with current and future water use efficiency requirements and focused on demand reduction rather than new physical supply development. The 2024 RWMP provides a roadmap for optimizing the City’s recycled water resources for non-potable reuse, groundwater replenishment reuse, and potential future DPR. The RWMP evaluates portfolios that balance these uses so that available recycled water can be beneficially used to support the City’s long-term water supply reliability objectives.
The preferred recycled water strategy identified in the RWMP includes continued nonpotable reuse, expansion of groundwater replenishment through injection wells, and evaluation of DPR through raw water augmentation. Under a raw water augmentation DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-28
approach, advanced treated recycled water from SMURRF and SWIP AWTF would be blended with extracted Olympic Well Field groundwater and conveyed to the Olympic AWTF and Arcadia WTP treatment train before distribution. California’s DPR regulations are now complete and became effective on October 1, 2024, providing a regulatory pathway for future DPR projects, subject to permitting and project-specific approvals.
Future recycled water and potable reuse projects will require additional feasibility analysis, regulatory coordination, design, permitting, funding, and implementation planning. Expected supply benefits from future DPR are summarized in Table 6-11, and additional methods to encourage future non-potable reuse and groundwater replenishment reuse are summarized in Table 6-12.
The City does not currently have plans to pursue seawater desalination. Although the City is located near the coast, its current supply strategy prioritizes local groundwater restoration, recycled water development, managed aquifer recharge, conservation, and regional coordination. Climate change considerations are addressed through the City’s broader water supply planning efforts, including SWMP implementation, the GSP process, and ongoing evaluation of groundwater sustainability, imported water reliability, drought resilience, and local supply diversification.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-29
Table 6-11. Expected Future Water Supply Projects or Programs (DWR Table 6-7) Drop Down
List
(yes/no)
If Yes, Supplier Name
Direct Potable Reuse No
Raw water augmentation would combine
advanced treated water from SMURRF and
SWIP AWTF with extracted water from the
Olympic Well Field. The combined flow
would be conveyed to a new Olympic
AWTF that would feed into the Arcadia
WTP prior to distribution to the City’s
drinking water customers.
Potable 2030 All Year Types 662
Planned for Use
in Year Type
Drop Down List
NOTES: From the City of Santa Monica 2024 Recycled Water Master Plan.
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
Check the box if some or all of the supplier's future water supply projects or programs are not compatible with this table and are described in a narrative format.
Check the box if there are no expected future water supply projects or programs that provide a quantifiable increase to the agency's water supply.
Proceed to the next table.
Planned
Implementation
Year
Add additional rows as needed
Joint Project with other suppliers? Expected
Increase in
Water Supply
to Supplier
(This may be a
range) (AF)
Provide page location of narrative in the UWMP
Name of Future
Projects or Programs
Additional Description
(as needed)
Potable or Non-Potable
(after treatment if treated)
(OPTIONAL)
Drop Down list
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-30
Table 6-12. Methods to Encourage Future Recycled Water Use (DWR Table 6-6)
6.3.4 Projected Recycled Water Use
Table 6-13 summarizes the projected recycled water use from non-potable reuse, indirect potable reuse for groundwater recharge, and direct potable reuse.
Name of Action Description
Expected Increase in Recycled Water
Use (AF)
Non-potable reuse Expand existing recycled water systems to include key developments
392
Indirect potable reuse
Utilize two groundwater injection wells, SM-10i and
SM-11i, to increase groundwater replenishment. 626
1,018
1,018
Total (AF)
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) MUST remain consistent with units reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
The unit conversion to Acre Feet addresses the Water Code's requirement that this value be provided in acre-feet.
NOTES:
Supplier does not plan to expand recycled water use in the future. Supplier will not complete the table below but will provide narrative explanation.
Provide page location of narrative in the UWMP
Add additional rows as needed
Unit Conversion to AF
Planned Implementation Year
2030
2030
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-31
Table 6-13. Recycled Water Direct Beneficial Uses Within Service Area (DWR Table 6-4) DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-32
6.4 CURRENT AND PROJECTED WATER SUPPLY
In 2025, the City’s water supply totaled 9,619 AF across groundwater, purchased MWD water, and recycled water from SWIP AWTF. Table 6-14 presents the City’s 2025 water supply by supply source.
Table 6-14. Water Supplies - Actual (DWR Table 6-8)
MWD's 2025 UWMP projects a water supply surplus through 2050 across all planning scenarios: normal year, single dry year, and five consecutive dry years. Accordingly, projected MWD imported water supply is defined as the volume needed to meet projected demand. Table 6-15 presents projected water supply for 2030 through 2045 in five-year increments. Projected water supply for 2030 through 2045, in five-year increments, is shown in Table 6-15.
Water Supply
Drop down list
May use each category multiple times.
These are the only water supply
categories that will be recognized by
the WUEdata online submittal tool
Potable or Non-Potable
(after treatment if treated)
(OPTIONAL)
Drop Down list
Actual Volume
(AF)
Total Entitlement
(OPTIONAL)
See 'DWR Notes' below
(AF)
Groundwater (not desalinated) SM-1 Potable 0
Desalinated Water - Groundwater Arcadia, Charnock, Olympic Potable 3,442 Purchased Imported Water MWD Potable 6,086
Recycled Water SWIP AWTF Non-Potable 91
9,528 0
91 0
9,619 0
2025
NOTES:
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
Total Entitlement: e.g. Water Right, Groundwater Allocation, Contracted Amount.
Add additional rows as needed
Total
Subtotal Potable
Subtotal Non-Potable
Additional Description
(as needed)
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-33
Table 6-15. Water Supplies – Projected (DWR Table 6-9)
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-34
6.5 ENERGY INTENSITY
The City used the Total Utility Approach (Option B) to report the energy intensity of its potable water production operations for the 2024 calendar year. This approach accounts for energy used across the City’s potable water system, including extraction, diversion, treatment, conveyance, storage, and distribution, as applicable.
In 2024, electricity meters associated with the City’s water system recorded a total of 9,288,604 kilowatt-hours (kWh). Of this total, 6,123,071 kWh was attributed to potable water production and distribution. The remaining 3,165,533 kWh was associated with nonpotable recycled water and wastewater-related facilities, including the Pico-Kenter storm drain diversion, SMURRF, the Moss Avenue Pump Station, and SWIP AWTF, and was excluded from the potable water energy intensity calculation.
For the 2024 reporting period, 10,871 acre-feet (AF) of water entered the potable water production and distribution process. This volume includes raw groundwater extracted for treatment and imported water purchased from MWD. Based on the potable system energy use and water volume reported for 2024, the City’s estimated potable water energy intensity was approximately 1,729 kWh per million gallons (kWh/MG), or 563.2 kWh per AF. Supporting energy use and water volume data are summarized in Table 6-16 and Table 6-17.
Table 6-16. Summary of Energy Intensity for Santa Monica DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-35
Table 6-17. 2024 Energy Data for Water Production
LOCATION UTILITY
WATER
PRODUCTION
PROCESS(ES)
WATER SUPPLY FACILITY DESCRIPTION KWH
11375 Westminster
Ave LADWP
Extract & Divert
Treatment
Conveyance
Local
Groundwater:
Charnock Subbasin
Charnock: 5 wells with treatment plant 2,630,400
1252 Capri Dr
(Riviera Reservoir) LADWP Place intoStorage Not Applicable Riviera Reservoir: Recirculation pump andvalving 185,726 1228 S Bundy A LADWP Extract and
Divert
Treatment
Distribution
Local
Groundwater:
Arcadia Subbasin
+ Imported
Arcadia: 2 wells + treatment plant with RO
1,614,000
1228 S Bundy B LADWP 1,683,200
LADWP Water System SUBTOTAL 6,113,326
LOCATION UTILITY
WATER
PRODUCTION
PROCESS(ES)
FACILITY DESCRIPTION KWH
Ocean/Pacific SCE Extract & Divert Not Applicable SM Well Salt Water: Pump station 1,748 1880 San Vicente
Blvd. SCE Extract & DivertDistribution
Local
Groundwater:
Arcadia Sub-basin
Well SM-1: Pump station + fluoride station 7,098
2930 Olympic Blvd. SCE Extract & Divert
Conveyance
Local
Groundwater:
Olympic Sub-Basin
Well SM-4: Pump station + Chlorine dosing1 899
Olympic & Stewart SCE Extract & Divert
Conveyance
Local
Groundwater:
Olympic Sub-Basin
Well SM-8: Pump station + Chlorine dosing 10,734
Centinela/Olympic SCE Extract & Divert
Conveyance
Local
Groundwater:
Olympic Sub-Basin
Well SM-9: Pump station + Chlorine dosing 0
2425 Olympic Blvd SCE Extract & Divert
Conveyance
Local
Groundwater:
Olympic Sub-Basin
Well SM-10i: Injection well 9,767
1898 Ocean Front
Walk SCE Extract & Divert
Recycled Runoff:
SMURRF
NON-POTABLE
Pico Kenter Storm Drain: Pump station,
stormwater diversion to SMURRF. 101,922
1623 Appian Way SCE Treatment
Distribution
Recycled Runoff:
SMURRF
NON-POTABLE
Moss Ave. Pump Station: Wastewater (70%) +
SMURRF (30%). 1,112,827
1771 Main St. SCE Treatment
Distribution
Recycled:
SWIP AWTF
NON-POTABLE
Wastewater treatment facility 1,950,784
SCE Water System SUBTOTAL 3,195,779
Water System: Total Energy 9,309,105
Less Non-Potable
(Pico Kenter, Moss Ave., & SWIP)
3,165,533
POTABLE Water System: Total Energy 6,143,572
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-36
6.5.1 Energy Intensity Data
◼ Volume of Water Entering the Process (AF): The water volume reported in Table 6-16 is based on flowmeter data recorded in operator logs and well reports for local groundwater supplies, together with imported water purchase data from MWD invoices. The reported groundwater volume represents raw groundwater pumped into the treatment process and does not represent finished potable water delivered to customers, because a portion of raw water is not recovered through the City’s multi-barrier treatment processes at the Charnock Treatment Facility and Arcadia WTP.
◼ Energy Consumed: Energy data reported in Table 6-16 and Table 6-17 are based on 2024 electricity invoices from LADWP and SCE. The City’s water production facilities are served by both utilities because certain facilities, including the Arcadia WTP and Charnock Treatment Facility, are located outside City boundaries. Energy use is recorded by facility-specific meters and assigned to the applicable water management process based on facility function.
6.5.2 Water Supply / Water Management Processes Consuming Energy The following summarizes the primary water management processes included in the City’s energy intensity reporting.
6.5.2.1 Groundwater
◼ Charnock Subbasin (Charnock Well Field): The Charnock Well Field consists of five groundwater production wells located in the City of Los Angeles and is served by LADWP electric power. Energy-consuming processes include groundwater extraction, treatment at the Charnock Treatment Facility, and conveyance to the Arcadia WTP. Since 2021, the average groundwater extracted from the Charnock Well Field was about 3,379 AFY, below the average 8,000 AFY under normal operating conditions. This decrease was due to maintenance-related outages at Charnock 13 and Charnock 18, and intermittent operational constraints associated with construction and integration of the SWIP AWTF.
◼ Olympic Subbasin (Olympic Well Field): The Olympic Well Field's active production wells are Santa Monica Well 8 (SM-8) and Santa Monica Well 9 (SM-9), located along Olympic Boulevard at the eastern end of the City. A third well, SM-4, is currently offline due to well screen damage and is undergoing rehabilitation pending DDW approval. Energy-consuming processes include extraction and conveyance of groundwater to the Olympic AWTF and Arcadia WTP treatment train.
The well field has historically been constrained by water quality, well availability, and construction-related outages associated with the Olympic Well Field Restoration Project and SWIP AWTF. As discussed previously, the restored Olympic DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-37
AWTF is capable of treating up to approximately 3,200 AFY of groundwater from the Olympic Well Field.
◼ Arcadia Subbasin (Arcadia Well Field): The Arcadia Well Field consists of three groundwater production wells. Two of the wells are located at the Arcadia WTP near Bundy Drive and Wilshire Boulevard in the City of Los Angeles and are served by LADWP for extraction, treatment, and distribution operations The third well, located within a median along San Vicente Boulevard in the City, is served by Southern California Edison (SCE) and, unlike Arcadia 4 and Arcadia 5, is disinfected at the wellhead and discharged directly into the City's potable water distribution system without treatment at the Arcadia WTP. Under normal operating conditions, groundwater production from the Arcadia Well Field averages approximately 700 AFY.
6.5.2.2 Imported Water
◼ MWD: Imported water purchased from MWD supplements the City’s local groundwater supplies. In 2024, the City purchased approximately 8,006 AF of treated imported water from MWD. Imported water is received through two service connections, located at the Arcadia WTP and the Charnock Treatment Facility.
Energy associated with imported water treatment and conveyance prior to delivery to the City is not included in the City’s facility-level energy use, but energy used within the City’s system to convey, store, or distribute imported water is reflected in the City’s potable water system energy total.
6.5.2.3 Recycled Water and Non-Potable Facilities
Energy used for non-potable recycled water production and related wastewater or stormwater diversion facilities was excluded from the potable water energy intensity calculation. These facilities include the Pico-Kenter storm drain diversion, SMURRF, the Moss Avenue Pump Station, and SWIP AWTF.
◼ SMURRF: The SMURRF captures and treats dry-weather urban runoff to produce non-potable water for irrigation, toilet flushing, and City operations such as street sweeping, sewer jetting, and pressure washing. Power is used to divert stormwater and urban runoff from the Pico-Kenter storm drain and to treat and distribute nonpotable water. SMURRF energy use is commingled with the Moss Avenue Pump Station meter; because these facilities do not directly contribute to potable water production, their water volumes and energy use are excluded from Table 6-16. ◼ SWIP AWTF: The SWIP AWTF treats wastewater, stormwater, dry-weather urban runoff, and brackish groundwater to produce advanced treated recycled water. The SWIP system is designed to produce up to approximately 1,680 AFY of advanced treated recycled water, equivalent to roughly 10 percent of the City’s water supply.
Because SWIP AWTF production was treated as non-potable/recycled water for this DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION 6-38
energy intensity calculation, its energy use and water volumes were excluded from the potable water totals shown in Table 6-16.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
Chapter 7
Water Service Reliability
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY 7-1
7 WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY
7.1 WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY AND DROUGHT RISK ASSESSMENT One of the fundamental purposes of preparing an UWMP is to assess a water supplier’s ability to reliably serve its customers. Accordingly, this section includes two assessments, a Water Service Reliability Assessment and a Drought Risk Assessment (DRA). The Water Service Reliability Assessment evaluates the City’s service capabilities over a 20-year planning period under three different hydrologic scenarios, a normal, a single-dry year, and multiple dry years. In contrast, the DRA assumes a severe drought period lasting five consecutive years, specifically calendar years 2026 through 2030. Both assessments synthesize the analyses performed in earlier chapters of this 2025 UWMP, including the factors affecting water use described in Sections 4.1 and 4.2, and the water supply characterization and relatability factors detailed in Sections 6.2.1 and 6.2.2.
7.2 WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT
The City completed the 2018 Sustainable Water Master Plan (SWMP) update to enhance reliability and drought resiliency of its water supply by developing local water supplies and reducing reliance on imported water. The water self-sufficiency projects outlined in the 2018 SWMP Update were designed to increase local water supply and reduce reliance on imported water supplies, which represent approximately 35 percent of the City’s water supply on average, and allows the City to meet up to 99 percent of its water demand through local water supplies. However, a major development since the 2018 SWMP Update was the 2020 Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) developed by Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). The RHNA requires the City to plan for approximately 8,873 new housing units over an eight-year period from 2021 through 2029.
The additional housing units may affect the 2018 SWMP Update goal of achieving 99 percent water self-sufficiency due to increased population projections, and this factor is considered in the water service reliability assessment below. In response to these developments, the City developed the 2024 Water Conservation Master Plan to realign implementation of water conservation efforts from the 2018 SWMP.
The water service reliability assessment evaluates the water system under the three scenarios described below:
◼ Normal Year. This scenario represents the water supplies a supplier expects to be available under normal hydrologic and operating conditions. The normal-year supply condition may be based a single representative year or an average of multiple years that reflects typical supply availability. ◼ Single Dry Year. This scenario represents the year with the lowest water supply available to the supplier.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY 7-2
◼ Five-Consecutive-Year Drought. This scenario represents the driest five-year historical sequence for the supplier.
Major construction projects and infrastructure upgrades across several City facilities, including associated groundwater well shutdowns for drilling of replacement wells that significantly reduced local production capacity, rendered the 2021 to 2025 period unrepresentative of normal operating conditions. Accordingly, the 2010 to 2020 period was selected as the assessment baseline, as it more accurately reflects typical operating performance.
The City obtains its potable water supply from a combination of local groundwater and imported water from MWD. The water service reliability assessment first considers the imported water available from MWD that could be used to supplement the City’s local water supplies. As a wholesale water supplier, MWD is also in the process of updating its UWMP, which includes projected water supply and demand figures.
Based on MWD’s analysis, MWD is capable of meeting the City’s supplemental water demands for a normal water year, single dry-year, and five consecutive drought years. For the purposes of the Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessments, the lowest MWD Tier 1 allotment available to the City between 2010 and 2020 will be used, which was 7,406 AFY.
As the City moves towards reducing its reliance on imported water, it must demonstrate expected water service for a normal year, a single dry year, and five consecutive dry years over a twenty-year for the projection years 2030, 2035, 2040, and 2045. For both assessments, the City used the period 2010 through 2020 to establish normal year, single dry-year, and multiple dry-year conditions.
Historically, the City’s available water supply has been less affected by drought conditions and more by groundwater contamination. For example, the City’s lowest available local groundwater supply occurred in 2004, when only approximately 544 acre-fee (AF) of local groundwater was available due to groundwater contamination at the City’s Charnock Well Field that resulted in the entire well field being taken out of production until it was restored in 2010 with the Charnock Well Field Restoration Project. The project installed additional treatment processes such as biological GAC and reverse osmosis which restored local groundwater supplies to approximately 8,000 to 10,000 AFY, depending on the age and condition of the wells.
Due to the upgrades at the Arcadia WTP and construction of the Olympic Field Restoration Project from 2021 through 2025, the City’s water supply does not reflect normal operating conditions and is not representative of the water supply reliability. Thus, the period from 2010 through 2020 was selected for the assessments because it is more representative of the City’s water supply reliability and drought risk going forward and it encompasses a DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY 7-3
severe single-year drought and a five-consecutive-year drought in the Southern California region.
◼ Normal Year. The average of the years 2010 through 2020 was used to establish water supply conditions.
◼ Single Dry-Year. The year 2020 was used to represent a worst-case single dry year scenario as the groundwater supply available to the City was the lowest annual total during the period of 2010 through 2020.
◼ Five-Consecutive Dry Years. A running average over 2010 through 2020 identified the period 2016 through 2020 as the driest five-year sequence, and this period is used for both assessments.
A summary of the City’s current water supply availability for a normal year, a single-dry year, and five-consecutive dry years is provided in Table 7-1. Please note the water supply availability presented in Table 7-1 includes the entire MWD Tier 1 allotment for the City.
Table 7-1. Basis of Water Year Data (DWR Table 7-1)
Year Type
Base Year
If not using a
calendar year,
type in the last
year of the
fiscal, water
year, or range
of years, for
example,
water year
2024-2025,
use 2025
Available Supplies if
Year Type Repeats
☐
Quantification of available
supplies is not compatible with
this table and is provided
elsewhere in the UWMP.
Location: [insert location from
UWMP]
Quantification of available supplies is provided in this table as either volume only, percent only, or both.
Volume Available
(AF)
% of Average Supply
Average Year 2010-2020 16,628 100%
Single-Dry Year 2020 12,587 76%
Consecutive Dry Years 1st Year 2016 15,948 96%
Consecutive Dry Years 2nd Year 2017 14,683 88%
Consecutive Dry Years 3rd Year 2018 14,796 89%
Consecutive Dry Years 4th Year 2019 15,034 90%
Consecutive Dry Years 5th Year 2020 12,587 76%
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY 7-4
DWR NOTES: Supplier may use multiple versions of Submittal Table 7-1 R if different water sources have different base years and the supplier chooses to report the base years for each water source separately. If a Supplier uses multiple versions of Submittal Table 7-1 R, in the "Note" section of each submittal table, state that multiple versions of Submittal Table 7-1 R are being used and identify the particular water source that is being reported in each submittal table.
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
This table reports the units of measure reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES: MWD Tier 1 Allotment was 11,407 AF for 2010-2012, 11,110 AFY for 2013-2014, and 7,406 AFY for 2016- 2020.
The City is in the process of implementing additional water supply projects as outlined in Table 6-11 and Table 6-12. These projects are scheduled for completion in 2030 and are therefore included in the water supply reliability assessment for the period 2030 through 2045. For planning purposes, the low-end of the estimated sustainable yield of the Santa Monica Groundwater Basin was also assumed, as shown in Table 6-5. The average supply percentages established in Table 7-1 were then applied to the City’s projected future water supply, as shown in Table 6-15 to determine availability for the normal, single-dry, and multiple-dry year scenarios as summarized in Table 7-2.
Table 7-2. Summary of Total Projected Water Supply Availability for Normal, Single Dry, and Five Consecutive Dry Years
YEAR TYPE % OF AVERAGE
SUPPLY
GROUNDWATER1
(ACRE-FEET)
IMPORTED WATER2
(ACRE-FEET)
TOTAL
(ACRE-FEET)
Normal 100% 10,660 7,406 18,066
Single Dry Year 76% 8,102 7,406 15,508
Dry Year 1 96% 10,234 7,406 17,640
Dry Year 2 88% 9,381 7,406 16,787
Dry Year 3 89% 9,487 7,406 16,893
Dry Year 4 90% 9,594 7,406 17,000
Dry Year 5 76% 8,102 7,406 15,508
1 Includes water loss due to treatment process (i.e. reverse osmosis). 2 MWD Tier 1 Allotment was 11,407 AF for 2010-2012, 11,110 AFY for 2013-2014, and 7,406 AFY for 2016- 2020.
Projected water use, not including conservation and shown in Table 4-2, was used to determine water supply availability under each scenario. Results from the assessment indicate that the City’s water supply is capable of meeting potable and non-potable water demand for the normal (Table 7-3), single-dry (Table 7-4), and multiple-dry year scenarios (Table 7-5).
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY 7-5
Table 7-3. Projected Normal Year Supply and Use Comparison (DWR Table 7-2) 2030 (AF) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF)
Supply totals
(autofill from Submittal Table
6-9 R)
13,598 13,598 13,762 14,273
Use totals
(autofill from Submittal Table
4-2 R)
12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Surplus/(shortfall) 854 345 0 0
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
WSCP - supply augmentation
benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings
benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
DWR NOTES : Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES: Supply totals shown include groundwater, imported water, and recycled water (potable and non-potable).
Table 7-4. Single Dry Year Supply and Use Comparison (DWR Table 7-3) 2030 (AF) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF)
Supply totals 15,508 15,508 15,508 15,508
Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Surplus/(shortfall) 2,764 2,255 1,746 1,235
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
WSCP - supply augmentation
benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings
benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
DWR NOTES : Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES:
Table 7-5. Multiple Dry Years Supply and Use Comparison (DWR Table 7-4) 2030 (AF) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF)
Supply totals 17,640 17,640 17,640 17,640
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY 7-6
2030 (AF) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF)
First
year
Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Surplus/(shortfall) 4,896 4,387 3,878 3,367
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
WSCP - supply augmentation
benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings
benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
Second
year
Supply totals 16,787 16,787 16,787 16,787
Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Surplus/(shortfall) 4,043 3,534 3,025 2,514
OPTIONAL WSCP Actions
WSCP - supply augmentation
benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings
benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
Third
year
Supply totals 16,893 16,893 16,893 16,893
Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Surplus/(shortfall) 4,149 3,640 3,131 2,620
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
WSCP - supply augmentation
benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings
benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
Fourth
year
Supply totals 17,000 17,000 17,000 17,000
Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Surplus/(shortfall) 4,256 3,747 3,238 2,727
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
WSCP - supply augmentation
benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings
benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY 7-7
2030 (AF) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF)
Fifth
year
Supply totals 15,508 15,508 15,508 15,508
Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Surplus/(shortfall) 2,764 2,255 1,746 1,235
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
WSCP - supply augmentation
benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings
benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES:
7.3 DROUGHT RISK ASSESSMENT
Proper water management is essential for safeguarding current and future water supplies and managing demand, particularly given the uncertainties of climate change and recurring drought cycles. California Water Code requires urban water suppliers to prepare a DRA based on historical drought conditions. Other factors, including climate and regulatory changes, were also considered to determine the overall impact to future water service.
7.3.1 Data, Methods, and Basis for Water Shortage Condition
7.3.1.1 Water Use
To perform the DRA, water billing data from 2010 to 2020 was compiled and analyzed to quantify water consumption trends in the City. This timeframe was selected because it captures water use during one of the most severe droughts in California’s history. It also reflects water usage patterns before and after 2015, when the City established its Water Conservation Unit (WCU) and entered Stage 2 of its Water Shortage Response Plan (WSRP), providing a reasonable basis for understanding of how water customers respond during drought conditions.
As shown in Figure 7-1, water usage declined significantly following drought measures implemented in 2015. Water customers have sustained these lower levels despite population growth and the State’s declaration ending the drought emergency in 2017. This sustained reduction suggests that behavioral changes regarding water conservation have become lasting. Accordingly, the DRA assumes that the water use reductions observed after 2015 will continue over the five-year assessment period of 2026 through 2030.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY 7-8
Figure 7-1. Summary of the City’s Water Usage Trends from 2010-2025 As recommended by DWR, the City first projected its estimated gross water use for the next five years without water shortage actions, referred to as unconstrained demand. The historical water use data shown in Figure 7-1 demonstrates that the community is receptive to calls for reductions in water usage. These reductions are accounted as savings benefits in the DRA, as shown in Table 7-6.
7.3.1.2 Water Sources
The City’s water supply consists of local water resources and imported water from MWD.
For the DRA, the lowest MWD Tier 1 allotment available to the City from 2010 to 2020 is assumed, which has remained at 7,406 AF since 2016. This assumption is considered reasonable given the large reserves MWD has accumulated as a result of regional conservation efforts and above-average precipitation events over recent years.
For local water resources, the lowest five-year running average for the current water supply from 2010 to 2020 plus additional water supply from the recently completed or nearly completed projects. For the DRA, the average availability over five dry years is used, totaling 9,359 AF. The recently completed supply projects are described below:
◼ Recharge Local Groundwater Aquifers. The Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP) provides a sustainable and drought resilient water supply by delivering approximately 1,100 AFY of advanced treated recycled water through the
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Population
Water Demand (Acre Feet)
Water Demand (AF) Population
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY 7-9
new Advanced Water Treatment Facility (AWTF) to recharge local groundwater aquifers via direct injection, which the City commenced in January 2026. This aquifer recharge allows the City to maximize groundwater pumping from the Olympic subbasin within sustainable yield limits.
◼ Production Efficiency Enhancement at Arcadia WTP. New high-recovery FR-RO technology has increased treatment efficiency to greater than 90 percent, adding up to an additional 1,200 AFY of potable water production and reducing reverse osmosis concentrate discharge to the sewer system.
◼ Olympic Well Field Restoration. The Olympic subbasin has been restored to full pumping capacity through a new wellhead treatment system designed to remove contaminants that have historically limited production, including 1,2,3- trichloropropane (1,2,3-TCP), 1,4-dioxane, trichloroethene (TCE), and tetrachloroethene (PCE) current production. The project included equipping two new groundwater wells, constructing a new pipeline to convey groundwater to the wellhead treatment facility, and constructing a new Olympic AWTF to treat groundwater extracted from the Olympic Well Field prior to conveyance to the City’s Arcadia WTP.
◼ Arcadia WTP Expansion. Following completion of its expansion in 2025, the Arcadia WTP has an upgraded raw water treatment capacity of approximately 14,700 AFY, or 13 MGD. The expansion incorporated FR-RO technology, which increased reverse osmosis recovery from approximately 80 percent to greater than 90 percent, and accommodated the additional groundwater flows from the Olympic Well Field Restoration Project.
7.3.2 Total Water Supply and Use Comparison
As summarized in Table 7-6, the City’s water supplies are adequate to meet projected water use under drought conditions over the five-year assessment period. With the new supply projects online, available supply increases substantially, resulting in surpluses through 2030.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY 7-10
Table 7-6. Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment (DWR Table 7-5) 2026 Total
Total Water Use (AF) 10,960
Total Supplies (AF) 10,960
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF)
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 2,740
Revised Surplus/(shortfall) 2,740
2027 Total
Total Water Use (AF) 11,406
Total Supplies (AF) 11,406
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF)
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 2,852
Revised Surplus/(shortfall) 2,852
2028 Total
Total Water Use (AF) 11,852
Total Supplies (AF) 11,852
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF)
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 2,963
Revised Surplus/(shortfall) 2,963
2029 Total
Total Water Use (AF) 12,298
Total Supplies (AF) 12,298
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF)
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 3,075
Revised Surplus/(shortfall) 3,075
2030 Total
Total Water Use (AF) 12,744
Total Supplies (AF) 12,744
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF)
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 3,186
Revised Surplus/(shortfall) 3,186
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES: MWD's 2025 UWMP concluded reliable water supplies would be available through 2050; therefore, it is assumed projected water use would be met for this five-year drought risk assessment.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
Chapter 8
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN 8-1
8 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
Water shortages occur whenever the available water supply cannot meet the normally expected customer water use. This can be due to climate change, drought, catastrophic events, regulatory action constraints, and natural and manmade disasters. A Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) presents how an urban water supplier plans to respond to a water shortage condition and helps prevent catastrophic service disruptions.
In addition to the Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessments conducted in Section 7, the City has prepared a WSCP pursuant to the California Water Code’s Urban Water Management Planning Act (Section 10632). The City’s WSCP is included in this plan as Appendix A and describes the City’s strategic plan for preparing and responding to water shortages.
The WSCP includes the following elements:
◼ Description of the key components of the City’s water supply reliability analysis. [Water Code Section 10632 (a)(1)]
◼ Six standard water shortage levels corresponding to progressive ranges of up to 10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, and 50-percent shortages and greater than 50-percent shortage. [Water Code Section (a)(3)]
◼ Locally appropriate “shortage response actions” for each shortage level, with a corresponding estimate of the extent the action will address the gap between supplies and demands. [Water Code Section 10632 (a)(4)] The City’s shortage response actions are summarized in Table 8-1 through Table 8-3. ◼ Procedures for conducting an annual water supply and demand assessment with prescribed elements. Under Water Code Section 10632.1, urban water Suppliers are required to submit, by July 1 of each year, beginning in the year following adoption of the 2020 UWMP, an annual water shortage assessment report to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). [Water Code Section 10632 (a)(2)] ◼ Communication protocols and procedures to inform customers, the public, and government entities of any current or predicted water shortages and associated response actions. [Water Code Section 10632 (a)(5)]
◼ Monitoring and reporting procedures to assure appropriate data is collected to monitor customer compliance and to respond to any state reporting requirements. [Water Code Section 10632(a)(9)]
◼ A reevaluation and improvement process to assess the functionality of its WSCP and to make appropriate adjustments as may be warranted. [Water Code Section 10632(a)(10)]
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN 8-2
The City intends for its WSCP to be an adaptive management plan so that it may assess response action effectiveness and adapt to foreseeable and unforeseeable events. It may also be updated to conform to State legislative and regulatory requirements. The City’s WSCP is included as an appendix to this plan so it may be updated independently of the UWMP preparation process.
The City’s WSCP is adopted concurrently with this plan, by separate resolution. Prior to adoption, a public hearing was conducted. An electronic copy of the WSCP will be submitted to DWR within 30 days of adoption. No later than 30 days after adoption, a copy of the WSCP will be available at the City’s offices and provided to regional partners including surrounding cities, Los Angeles County, and MWD. An electric copy of the WSCP will also be available for public review and download on the City’s website.
Table 8-1. Cross-Reference for Standard vs Supplier Shortage Levels (DWR Table 8-1) ☒
Check the box if the Supplier uses the Standard six levels of water shortage.
Proceed to the next table.
Standard Shortage
Levels Percent Shortage Range Suppliers Shortage Levels Percent Shortage Range 1 Up to 10%
2 Up to 20%
3 Up to 30%
4 Up to 40%
5 Up to 50%
6 >50%
NOTES:
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN 8-3
Table 8-2. Retail: Supply Augmentation and Other Actions (DWR Table 8-2) Yes Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) Shortage
Level
Supply Augmentation Methods
and Other Actions by Water
Supplier How much is this going to
reduce the shortage gap?
Additional
Explanation or
Reference
Drop down list (OPTIONAL)
These are the only categories that will
be accepted by the WUEdata online
submittal tool
Volume or
Percentage
Shortage Gap
Reduction
Value
Drop down (May be a
range) (AF)
Add additional rows as needed
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES: The City currently does not participate in listed actions such as transfers or exchanges. Other supply augmentation methods listed including public information campaigns and implementing a drought rate structure are accounted for in Table 8-3.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN 8-4
Table 8-3. Retail: Demain Reduction Actions (DWR Table 8-3) Yes Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) Shortage
Level
Demand Reduction Actions How much is this going
to reduce the shortage
gap?
Additional
Explanation
or
Reference
Penalty,
Charge, or
Other
Enforcement?
Drop down list (OPTIONAL) For Retail Suppliers
Only
These are the only categories that
will be accepted by the WUEdata
online submittal tool. Select those
that apply.
Volume or
Percentage
Shortage
Gap
Reduction
Value
Drop Down List
Drop down
(May be a
range)
(AF)
Add additional rows as needed
Stage 1 Offer Water Use Surveys Percentage 1% - 2% No
Stage 1 Provide Rebates on Plumbing
Fixtures and Devices Percentage 1% - 2% No
Stage 1 Provide Rebates for Landscape
Irrigation Efficiency Percentage 1% - 2% No
Stage 1 Provide Rebates for Turf
Replacement Percentage 1% - 2% No
Stage 1
Landscape - Restrict or prohibit
runoff from landscape
irrigation
Percentage 1% - 2% Yes
Stage 1 Landscape - Limit landscape
irrigation to specific times Percentage 1% - 2% Yes
Stage 1 CII - Restaurants may only serve
water upon request
Percentage 1% - 2% Yes
Stage 1
Water Features - Restrict water
use for decorative water
features, such as fountains
Percentage 1% - 2% Yes
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN 8-5
Stage 1 Pools and Spas - Require covers
for pools and spas Percentage 1% - 2% Yes
Stage 1
Other - Customers must repair
leaks, breaks, and
malfunctions in a timely
manner
Percentage 1% - 2% Yes
Stage 1 Other - additional conservation
measures by City staff Percentage 1% - 2% No
Stage 1
Other - Irrigation Association’s
Best Management Practices for
all City landscaped areas
Percentage 1% - 2% No
Stage 1
Other – immediate notification
by City staff of any leaks seen
on City property or private
property
Percentage 1% - 2% No
Stage 2
Other – continued
implementation of Stage
1 actions
Percentage 10% -
20% Yes
Stage 2
Other - Implement Water Use
Allowances (WUAs) for a 20%
reduction from the amount of
water used in 2013.
Percentage 10% -
20% Yes
Stage 2 Expand Public Information
Campaign Percentage 1% - 10% No
Stage 2 Increase Water Waste Patrols Percentage 1% - 10% Yes Stage 3
Other - continued
implementation of Stage 2
actions
Percentage 20% -
30% Yes
Stage 3
Other - Implement Water Use
Allowances (WUAs) for a 30%
reduction from the amount of
water used in 2013.
Percentage 10% -
30% Yes
Stage 3 Implement or Modify Drought
Rate Structure or Surcharge Percentage 1% - 10% Yes
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN 8-6
Stage 4
Other - continued
implementation of
Stage 3 actions
Percentage 20% -
30% Yes
Stage 4
Other - Implement Water Use
Allowances (WUAs) for a 40%
reduction from the amount of
water used in 2013.
Percentage 20% -
40% Yes
Stage 4 Implement or Modify Drought
Rate Structure or Surcharge Percentage 1% - 10% Yes
Stage 5
Other- continued
implementation of
Stage 4 actions
Percentage 30% -
40% Yes
Stage 5
Other - Implement Water Use
Allowances (WUAs) for a 50%
reduction from the amount of
water used in 2013.
Percentage 20% -
50% Yes
Stage 5 Implement or Modify Drought
Rate Structure or Surcharge Percentage 1% - 10% Yes
Stage 6
Other- continued
implementation of
Stage 5 actions
Percentage 40% -
50% Yes
Stage 6
Other - Implement Water Use
Allowances (WUAs) for a 55%
reduction from the amount of
water used in 2013.
Percentage 20% -
55% Yes
Stage 6 Implement or Modify Drought
Rate Structure or Surcharge Percentage 1% - 10% Yes
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES:
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Chapter 9
Demand Management
Measures
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DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES 9-1
9 DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES
9.1 EXISTING DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES
The City has adopted several plans and ordinances to implement water conservation programs and policies including the Sustainable City Plan, the Sustainable Water Master Plan (SWMP), the Water Shortage Response Plan, the Water Conservation Master Plan, the Green Building Ordinance and the Water Conservation Ordinance. The City recognizes that efficient water use is a vital component of its current and future water planning and operations policies. The following sections describe the conservation programs and policies implemented by the City.
9.1.1 Water Waste Ordinances
The City has maintained a Water Conservation Ordinance (Santa Monica Municipal Code [SMMC] Section 7.16.020) since 1992, which has been amended several times to strengthen its requirements. The ordinance prohibits spray irrigation between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, with exceptions for drip irrigation systems approved by the City Manager; restricts landscape irrigation to two assigned wearing days per week; prohibits irrigation overspray or runoff onto any impermeable surface, including walkways, driveways, sidewalks, alleys, and streets; prohibits washing down paved or hard-surfaced areas with potable water; requires water leaks to be repaired immediately, prohibits washing vehicles with a running hose except with a hand-held bucket or approved self-closing nozzle; and mandates restaurants to serve water only upon request. The Water Conservation Unit (WCU) staff assesses penalties in accordance with the ordinance and assists residents with voluntary compliance.
The City’s Water Neutrality Ordinance (SMMC 7.16.050) caps water use for new developments, pools, ponds, spas, and other water features to the average five-year historical water use for the parcel. If projected annual water use for development exceeds the parcel’s five-year annual water use average, the difference must be offset by funding water-efficient retrofits of existing buildings elsewhere in the City. Offset retrofits currently include low-flow indoor fixtures (e.g., toilets, urinals, showerheads, and aerators). The WCU staff conducts over 500 development project plan checks each year, determines fees, and manages the direct install program for retrofits.
The City’s Bay Saver Fee Ordinance (SMMC 7.12.030), imposes a conservation incentive fee on residential water bills until water-wasting fixtures are replaced with water-conserving fixtures. The WCU staff conducts a free water-saving assessment to verify that waterefficient fixtures have been installed prior to removing the Bay Saver fee from the customer’s water bill.
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On January 1, 2023, the City’s Recycled Water Ordinance (SMMC 7.12.170) went into effect, requiring all new development within the City’s recycled water service area with a total floor area of 7,500 square-feet or more to utilize 100 percent recycled water for all nonpotable water demand within the development. Eligible applications include surface irrigation and dual-plumbing applications such as landscaping, water features, toilet flushing, and cooling towers.
The City has a Good Housekeeping Ordinance (SMMC 7.10.040), which establishes good housekeeping requirements for the reduction of urban runoff at existing properties. These requirements include prohibiting irrigation runoff from leaving a site and prohibiting the washing down of paved areas unless necessary for health or safety purposes.
9.1.2 Metering
The City meters all service connection, including residential, commercial, institutional, fire service and dedicated landscape irrigation accounts. The City owns and maintains approximately 17,000 water meters throughout its water distribution system. The City is fully metered and in compliance with Water Code Section 525. All of the meters are read on a maximum 60-day cycle. The City maintains meter integrity by individually testing every meter in accordance with American Water Works Association (AWWA) guidelines before being placed into service. Testing is conducted by the Water Resources Metering Group, and all documentation is retained electronically. Customers have the option of challenging the accuracy of their water meter at a nominal cost; if the meter is found to be out of specification, the testing fee is waived.
The City participated in an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) pilot program with Aclara Technologies, in partnership with Southern California Gas Company (SCG), to test the reliability and feasibility of receiving water meter data wirelessly through radio transmission. The pilot demonstrated that radio signals were a viable option and could be transmitted over a shared network. Following the successful pilot, the City contracted with Badger Meter as its AMI partner.
In early 2025, the City completed deployment of the Badger cellular AMI system across its 18,000-plus water service connections. Installation was carried out by Concord Utility Services as subcontractor to Badger Meter, beginning in summer 2023 and funded by a Water Revenue Bond issued in 2022 at an initial project cost of $13.5 million. The AMI meters collect water usage data at 15-minute intervals and transmit this data wirelessly up to four times per day over a secure cellular network, replacing the previous bi-monthly manual meter reading process and providing customers with near real-time visibility into their water usage, including leak detection alerts and improved billing accuracy.
All new meters are sourced AMI-ready and compatible with cellular technology. The City's standard meter replacement schedule for aging meters is approximately 30 years; DRAFT
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however, the AMI implementation program accelerated replacements where needed to achieve full system coverage. With deployment completed, the City is focused on integrating AMI data into its systems and operating the customer portal, which provides customers with insights into their daily water usage and alerts them if a water leak is detected.
The City’s Water Efficient Landscape and Irrigation Standard (WELIS) places metering requirements on new landscape irrigation. New residential development projects require dedicated landscape water meters for irrigated areas greater than 5,000 square feet. New commercial developments require dedicated water meters on landscape areas unless the area is completely contained in a planters or containers. The City also imposes a water meter requirement for all new public landscaped areas.
The City implemented a submetering requirement for all new multi-residential residential developments. Submeters allow property managers to locate and track high water usage within individual units or common areas, supporting more effective conservation management and accountability at the property level.
9.1.3 Drought Rate Structure
On June 10, 2025, the Santa Monica City Council adopted a new five-year water, sewer, and recycled water rate structure covering fiscal years (FYs) 2025/26 through 2029/30, with the new rates having taken effect on July 1, 2025. The adopted rate schedule calls for water rate increases of 20 percent in FY 2025/2026, followed by increases of 16, 9, 9, and 6 percent in each subsequent year through FY 2029/30. The rate adjustments are intended to maintain funding for routine capital improvement projects (CIPs), keep pace with inflation, and support the City’s efforts to rehabilitate its potable water reservoirs and replace its aging water operations center and water quality laboratory.
The adopted rate structure also includes a drought rate structure that may be activated should the City Council mandate conservation increases beyond currently expected levels.
The purpose of the drought rate structure is to ensure that the Water Enterprise Fund continues to meet its annual revenue requirements and maintains utility operations during periods when mandatory conservation reduces water sales below normal projections. The drought rate structure would only be in effect upon direction of the City Council and only for the duration of any mandated conservation period. The level of conservation mandated will determine the adjusted three-tier water commodity rate adjustments. The City’s drought rate schedule for FY 2025/2026 through 2029/30, applicable to all customers, is summarized in Table
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Table 9-1. Summary of the City's Drought Rate Structure for FY 2025/26 through FY 2029/30 ($/hundred cubic feet [CCF])
Mandated Level of
Conservation
FY
2025/26
FY
2026/27
FY
2027/28
FY
2028/29
FY
2029/30
10%
Tier 1 $6.81 $7.90 $8.62 $9.39 $9.96
Tier 2 $9.17 $10.64 $11.59 $12.64 $13.40
Tier 3 $13.78 $15.98 $17.42 $18.99 $20.13
20%
Tier 1 $7.65 $8.87 $9.67 $10.54 $11.17
Tier 2 $10.29 $11.94 $13.01 $14.18 $15.03
Tier 3 $15.46 $17.94 $19.55 $21.31 $22.59
30%
Tier 1 $8.72 $10.11 $11.02 $12.02 $12.74
Tier 2 $11.73 $13.61 $14.83 $16.17 $17.14
Tier 3 $17.63 $20.45 $22.29 $24.30 $25.75
40%
Tier 1 $10.15 $11.77 $12.83 $13.98 $14.82
Tier 2 $13.65 $15.84 $17.26 $18.82 $19.95
Tier 3 $20.52 $23.80 $25.94 $28.28 $29.97
50%
Tier 1 $12.15 $14.09 $15.36 $16.74 $17.74
Tier 2 $16.35 $18.96 $20.67 $22.53 $23.88
Tier 3 $24.56 $28.49 $31.05 $33.85 $35.88
60%
Tier 1 $15.15 $17.57 $19.15 $20.87 $22.13
Tier 2 $20.38 $23.64 $25.77 $28.09 $29.78
Tier 3 $30.62 $35.52 $38.72 $42.21 $44.74
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9.1.4 Public Education and Outreach
The City implements a broad range of public education and outreach activities to support water conservation awareness and program participation. Current and ongoing activities are described below.
◼ Conservation Marketing Campaign: The City launched a water conservation marketing campaign in 2015 under the theme “We Love Santa Monica: Save Water.
Show Your Love.” The campaign featured engaging, community-focused messaging and was distributed across print and digital collateral, bus banners, and outdoor hanging banners. A dedicated water conservation website (santamonica.gov - Water Conservation) provides a central online resource for conservation recommendations, rebate program information, and watering restriction details.
Elements of this campaign continue to be used, and the Water Conservation Unit (WCU) intends to develop an updated marketing campaign aligned with the State’s “Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life” framework established under Senate Bill 606 (Hertzberg) and Assembly Bill 1668 (Friedman). ◼ Water Use Allowances (WUA): Every water customer receives a WUA uniquely calculated for each billing period. The WUA is displayed in tables and on a graph that compares the customer’s actual usage to their allowance, encouraging awareness and accountability. Further detail on the WUA program is provided in Section 9.3.1.
◼ Customer Engagement Online Portal: As part of the City’s completed AMI deployment, customers now have access to the Eye on Water customer engagement portal, which provides near real-time water usage data at 15-minute intervals, customizable leak detection alerts, and tools to support informed water use decisions. The utility-side Badger Beacon portal supports the City’s operational monitoring and customer service functions. The WCU actively promotes the portal and assists customers with enrollment and use.
◼ Irrigation Reminder Notifications: Automated phone calls are made to customers and social media items are posted prior to and during wet weather events, reminding onwers to turn off their irrigation systems to avoid water waste and ordinance violations.
◼ Sustainability Digital Newsletters: Water conservation tips, rebate programs, and conservation-related updates are communicated regularly through the Office of Sustainability and the Environment’s monthly digital newsletter, reaching a broad cross-section of the community.
◼ Social Media: Water conservation messaging is promoted regularly across City’s social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), to reach residents and businesses through channels they actively use.
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◼ City’s Seascape Print Newsletters: The City’s Seascape print newsletter devotes one issue per year is devoted to sustainability, highlighting water conservation programs, rebates opportunities, and related initiatives. ◼ Print Advertising and Material: Water conservation events, ordinances, and messaging are announced through local print outlets including the SantaMonica Daily Press, Santa Monica Observer, Santa Monica Mirror, and theArgonaut.
Customized tip sheets have been developed for residents, businesses, and homeowners. Print materials are also obtained from MWD and made available at City Hall counters and outreach events.
◼ Water Bill Inserts: Water conservation messaging is periodically included as inserts with customer utility bills, providing a direct communication channel to all water customers.
◼ Community Events: WCU staff participates in public eventsthroughout the year, engaging residents in person to discuss conservation, distribute print materials, and provide free water-saving devices including showerheads, faucet aerators, shower buckets, hose nozzles, and toilet dye strips. The City’s annual Coast Festival, an open-streets community sustainability event is among the most prominent of these engagements.
◼ Landscape Outreach: The WCU conducts direct outreach to gardeners and landscapers approximately two times per year, delivering conservation print materials describing watering restrictions and landscape rebate programs. This targeted approach reaches the people actively managing landscapes in the City and has been effective in building awareness of the Cash for Grass and Spray to Drip rebate programs
◼ Sustainable Landscape Trainings: The WCU partners with Sustainable Works, a local nonprofit organization, to conduct hands-on sustainable landscape workshops at the City’s community gardens. These workshops, which has been held since 2015, promote both the Cash-for-Grass and the Spray to Drip Landscape rebate programs and have attracted hundreds of participants.
◼ Customer Service: The WCU staff engage with customers by phone and email every workday to answer water conservation questions and provide program assistance.
Approximately 300 inquiries are received and responded to each year.
9.1.5 Programs to Assess and Manage Distribution System Real Loss The City manages distribution system water loss through a structured capital improvement program (CIP) for water main replacement, supplemented by condition assessment and operational monitoring. The program uses three criteria to evaluate and prioritize pipeline DRAFT
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replacement: asset age, maintenance and failure history, and internal condition inspection findings.
The first criterion is the design lifespan of the water main, which the City has established at 100 years. With approximately 200 miles of water main in the distribution system, the City has budgeted for approximately 2 miles of water main replacement annually to systematically work through the network over time. The second criterion is the documented history of water main failures and repairs, which is recorded in the City’s computerized maintenance management system, Infor Hansen. Field staff input, repair records, and observations made during emergency repairs, including the condition of the pipe wall when exposed, are used to inform replacement recommendations. This approach has been validated by subsequent failures along segments with prior repair histories, confirming the predictive value of maintenance records. The third criterion is the results of internal condition inspections. The City has contracted with an inspection service to conduct visual inspections of the interior of suspect water mains using a pressurized camera system inserted via fire hydrants. Inspection findings are used to support or confirm replacement prioritization. All three criteria are reviewed jointly by engineering and field operations staff before final replacement selections are made.
The completed AMI deployment further strengthens the City’s ability to identify and respond to distribution system losses. The AMI system’s 15-minute interval metering and continuous leak detection alerts enable the City and its customers to identify unusual consumption patterns that may indicate unreported leaks or real losses within the distribution system, complementing the physical pipeline replacement program.
California’s water loss performance standards, adopted under SB 555 (Wolk), require urban water suppliers to report non-revenue water and real losses using the AWWA Water Audit methodology and to meet applicable performance standards. The City addresses these requirements through the installation of meters at appropriate points where source water enters the distribution system, enabling accurate quantification of system input volume and the calculation of water loss in accordance with state requirements. The City’s broader conservation framework, including regulations and programs implemented under SB 606 and AB 1668, further supports the City’s ability to meet its urban water use objectives and manage demand-side losses over the planning horizon.
9.2 WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM COORDINATION AND STAFFING
SUPPORT
The City’s water conservation programs are developed, implemented and coordinated by the WCU. For questions regarding the City’s water conservation programs, please contact:
◼ Thomas Fleming, Sustainability Analyst - [email protected] DRAFT
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◼ Salvador Gonzalez, Water Resources Specialist - [email protected] The WCU conducts ongoing assessments of the current level of water fixture saturation levels and consumption patterns across the services area to identify the greatest opportunities for reducing water use. Based on this continual analysis, conservation programs are developed and modified to advance the City’s long-term water efficiency objectives. Further detail on specific measures is provided in Sections 9.3.1 and 9.3.2.
In response to statewide drought conditions beginning in 2015, the WCU augmented existing programs and implemented additional water conservation measures that have resulted in a sustained reduction in citywide water demand of approximately 21 percent, equivalent to approximately 3,000 acre-feet per year (AFY). Average annual water consumption has been reduced from approximately 109 gallons per capita per day (GPCD) in 2015 to approximately 95 GPCD in 2025, reflecting both the effectiveness of active conservation programs and the broader trend of increased water use efficiency across the service area.
The WCU continues to implement the City’s overall water conservation strategies, policies, incentive programs, and demand management measures in support of the City’s long-term goal of water self-sufficiency, as further described in Section 9.2.7. Existing conservation efforts will be enhanced through implementation of the recommendations contained in the 2024 Water Conservation Master Plan, which evaluated 16 conservation measures and identified a Strategic Program capable of achieving additional savings of approximately 301 million gallons per year by 2045.
The WCU is also responsible for ensuring the City’s compliance with the “Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life” regulatory framework, which was formally adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board in July 2024 and took effect January 1, 2025.
This regulation implements the requirements of AB 1668 and SB 606, signed into law in 2018, and establishes the individualized urban water use objectives for each urban retail water supplier based on the unique characteristics of its service area. The City’s conservation programs, demand management measures, and water use reporting obligations are coordinated to meet these requirements on an ongoing basis.
9.3 WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES, IMPLEMENTATION TO
ACHIEVE WATER USE TARGETS, AND WATER USE OBJECTIVES (FUTURE
REQUIREMENTS)
Water demand management is achieved through implementation of various water conservation and efficiency programs designed to permanently reduce residential, institutional, and commercial potable water use. The City has been actively implementing water conservation programs since 1988, investing significantly in resources to retrofit plumbing fixtures in commercial, single-family, and multi-family buildings with waterDRAFT City of Santa Monica
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saving products. The City initiated its Water Efficiency Strategic Plan in 2002 to further formalize and coordinate these efforts.
Continuation of existing programs and implementation of new and enhance conservation measures are essential to the City’s long-term water management strategy. These measures serve three interconnected objectives: reducing overall potable water demand in the face of increasing pressures from new housing development and growth in the commercial institutional sectors; supporting the City’s progress toward water self- sufficiency by reducing dependence on imported water; and meeting the City’s compliance obligation under the “Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life” regulatory framework, formally adopted by the SWRCB in July 2024 and effective January 1, 2025, which implements the requirements of SB 606 and AB 1668.
9.3.1 Ongoing Conservation Activities
The following summarizes the City’s ongoing conservation programs and activities. ◼ Water Neutrality Ordinance: The Water Neutrality Ordinance (SMMC Section
7.16.050), took effect on July 1, 2017, caps potable water use for new developments to the average five-year historical water use for the subject parcel. Where projected annual water use for the development exceeds the parcel’s five-year baseline average, the difference must be offset by funding water-efficient retrofits of existing buildings elsewhere in the City. Eligible offset retrofits include low-flow indoor fixtures such as toilets, urinals, showerheads, and aerators. The ordinance also applies to new pools, ponds, spas and other water features. The WCU administers the program, conducting over 500 development project plan checks annually, determining and invoicing offset fees, and managing the Water Neutrality Direct Install Program described below.
◼ Water Neutrality Direct Install Program: The Water Neutrality Direct Install Program retrofits water-wasting fixtures with high-efficiency water-saving devices, funded entirely by Water Neutrality offset fees collected from developers at the time of permit issuance. Since the program's inception in 2017, it has retrofitted over 2,035 toilets, 45 urinals, 1,152 showerheads, and 2,417 faucet aerators, at a total program cost of approximately $1.59 million.
◼ Water Efficient Landscape and Irrigation Standards: The Water Efficient Landscape and Irrigation Standards (WELIS), codified in SMMC Section 8.108, is a component of the City’s Green Building Ordinance and establishes requirements for water-efficient plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems, and landscaping in new construction, major remodels, and new or remodeled landscapes . In December 2016, the ordinance was significantly updated to ban overhead spray irrigation for all new developments and for new landscapes on existing developments. Turf grass is prohibited on new commercial developments and is limited to 20 percent of DRAFT
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landscaped areas for new residential developments. The WCU reviews every building permit requiring new landscaping for WELIS compliance and conducts field inspections of installed landscaping and irrigation at both the open-trench and final inspection stages. A certificate of occupancy cannot be issued until all landscape inspections have been passed.
◼ Water Use Allowances: The WUA program is a component of the City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) and is the primary mechanism for implementing mandatory water reductions during declared water supply shortages. WUAs represent the maximum volume of water a customer may use during a given billing period without risk of receiving an exceedance citation. Under the current Stage 2 Water Supply Shortage, each customer’s WUA is set at 20 percent below their 2013 water use and is uniquely calculated for each billing period. ◼ Water Use Allowance Exceedance Citations: Customers who exceed their WUA for any given billing period may receive an administrative citation. Citation fees are $250 for the first exceedance, $500 for the second exceedance within 12 months of the first, $1,000 for a third exceedance within 12 months of the second. ◼ Water Use Consultations: WCU staff conducts free onsite water use consultation for any City water customer. Consultations include a comprehensive audit indoor water use such as measuring flush and flow fixtures, checking appliances for leaks, assessing water use behaviors, as well as outdoor water use, including irrigation system performance, leak detection, and meter verification. Recommendations are documented and provided to the customer. Consultations have led to the discovery and repair of significant leaks, adjustment of irrigation timers, installation of lowflow devices, and lasting changes in water use behavior changes. ◼ Cash for Grass Landscape Rebate Program: The City’s Cash for Grass program is its most successful and popular rebate offering, providing financial incentives to customers who replace turf grass and overhead spray irrigation with sustainable, drought tolerant, low-water using landscapes with noor drip irrigation only. The program is available to sign-family, multi-family, and commercial properties. The current rebate is $3.50 per square foot of turf removed, up to program maximums.
In March 2026, the City increased the rebate to $5.00 per square foot to further incentivize the removal of non-functional turfgrass, subject to budget approval. ◼ Spray to Drip Irrigation Conversion Rebate: The Spray to Drip program provides rebates for customers who replace operational sprinklers in planter beds and hedges with highly efficient drip irrigation that delivers water directly to the plants. The program does not apply to existing lawn areas, which are addressed through the Cash for Grass program.
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◼ Sustainable Landscape Trainings: The WCU partners with Sustainable Works, a local nonprofit organization, to conduct hands-on sustainable landscape workshops the City’s community gardens. The workshops promote both the Cash-for-Grass and Spray to Drip Landscape rebate programs and have been held since 2015, with hundreds of residents having participated.
◼ Water Waste Enforcement: The WCU enforces the City's Water Conservation Ordinance (SMMC Section 7.16.020) through a combination of responsive and proactive enforcement (see Section 9.2.1). Inbound water waste complaints are addressed promptly, and Notices of Violation (NOVs) are issued to ensure resolution, with administrative citations issued as needed. Since 2015, over 1,500 NOVs have been issued.
◼ Enhanced MWD Water Conservation Rebates: As a member agency of the MWD, the City participates in MWD’s rebate programs for high-efficiency toilets, urinals, washing machines, restaurant appliances, irrigation devices, and other water-saving devices. Since 2015, the WCU has supplemented MWD’s base rebate amounts with additional City funding to further incentivize the installation of water-conserving fixtures and equipment through the service area.
◼ Free Water-Saving Devices: The WCU has distributed thousands of free watersavingdevices to City water customers since 2015, including low-flow faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads, automatic shut-off hose nozzles, toilet leakdetection dye tabs, shower buckets, flow-rate bags, and reusable canvas bags. The WCU also provides free tent cards and door hangers for hotels and motels to encourage water conservation by guests. These items are available by contacting the WCU ([email protected] or 310-458-8972) and are also distributed at community outreach events.
◼ Customer Support: WCU staff provides phone and email support every business day on water conservation questions and programs. Approximately 300 inquiries from City water customers are received and responded to each year.
9.3.2 Future Conservation Activities
The following additional conservation activities are planned for implementation during the 2026-2030 timeframe, subject to budget and staffing approvals. ◼ Water Conservation Programs Master Plan: The 2024 Water Conservation Master Plan provides a comprehensive water conservation framework and benefitcost analysis of existing and proposed programs. The selected Strategic Program (Program B), which includes 13 conservation measures projected to achieve savings of approximately 301 million gallons per year by 2045, will be implemented depending on available budget and staffing resources.
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◼ Updated Conservation Marketing Campaign: In coordination with the City’s Communication group, new water conservation materials will be developed with messaging aligned with the SWRCB’s “Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life” regulatory framework. Drought-related messaging will be incorporated as conditions warrant.
◼ Non-Functional Turf Program: Consistent with the requirements of SB 606 and AB 1668, the City will adopt a regulation, ordinance, or policy to prohibit potable water irrigation of non-functional turf at non-residential properties. In parallel, the Cash for Grass rebate has been increased to further incentivize removal of non-functional turf ahead of any mandatory compliance deadlines.
◼ Targeted Commercial Sector Programs: Restaurants, hotels, and medical facilities are the highest water users in the commercial sector. The City will develop targeted outreach and support programs for these industries, including one-on-one water audits, evaluations, process evaluations, operational recommendations, and fixture and equipment rebate incentives. An outside contractor may engaged to develop and implement these programs.
◼ Performance-Based Incentives: The City will promote MWD’s Water Savings Incentive Program (WSIP) to fund unique and innovative conservation programs.
Potential projects include pump pod systems for fire department training activities and cooling tower retrofits incorporating advanced water-saving technology. ◼ Irrigation System Audit and Repair Program: A significant proportion of outdoor water waste results from incorrectly programmed irrigation timers and undetected leaks or broken sprinkler heads. The City will implement a contractor-assisted program to conduct comprehensive outdoor irrigation audits, adjust irrigation schedules, and perform simple repairs to eliminate water waste and reduce outdoor consumption.
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Appendices
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
Appendix A
Urban Water Management Plan
Checklist
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2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
APPENDIX A: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN CHECKLIST PAGE 1 OF 6 Retail
(x = required)
Wholesale
(x = required) Order 2025 Guidebook Location Water Code Section Summary as Applies to UWMP Subject Relevant
Submittal Table
2025 UWMP
Location
x x 1 Chapter 1 10615 A plan shall describe and evaluate sources of supply, reasonable and practical efficient uses, reclamation and demand management activities.
Introduction and
overview n/a
Section 1.2,
Section 4, Section
6, Section 9
x x 1 Chapter 1 10630.5
Each plan shall include a simple description of the Supplier’s plan including water availability, future requirements, a strategy for meeting needs, and other pertinent information. Additionally, a Supplier may also choose to include a simple description at the beginning of each chapter.
Plan preparation n/a Section 6
x x 2.1 Section 2.1 10620(b) Every person that becomes a Supplier shall adopt UWMP within one year after it has become a Supplier. Plan preparation n/a Section 2.3
x n/a 2.5 Section 2.5 10644 Supplier shall report the Public Water Systems number, volume of delivered water, and number of connections that are included in this UWMP. Plan preparation 2-1 Section 2 x x 2.5 Section 2.5 10644 Supplier shall report if this UWMP is an individual UWMP and whether the Supplier belongs to a regional UWMP or regional alliance. Plan preparation 2-2 Section 2.1 x x 2.5 Section 2.5 10644 Supplier shall report whether the data is in fiscal or calendar years and the units of measure used for reporting water volumes. Plan preparation 2-3 Section 2.2 x x 2.4 Section 2.4 10642
Provide supporting documentation that the Supplier has encouraged active involvement of diverse social, cultural, and economic elements of the population within the service area prior to and during the preparation of the plan and contingency plan.
Plan preparation n/a
Section 2.3,
Appendix H
x x 2.4 Section 2.4.2 10620(d)(3)
Coordinate the preparation of its plan with other appropriate agencies in the area, including other Suppliers that share a common source, water management agencies, and relevant public agencies, to the extent practicable.
Plan preparation n/a Section 2.1
x n/a 2.4 Section 2.4.1 10631(h) Retail Suppliers will include documentation that they have provided their Wholesale Supplier(s)—if any—with water use projections from that source. Plan preparation 2-4 R Section 2.1 n/a x 2.4 Section 2.4.1 10631(h)
Wholesale Suppliers will provide their Suppliers with identification and quantification of the existing and planned sources of water available from the Wholesale Supplier to the Supplier during various water year types.
Plan preparation 2-4 W N/A
x x 3 Chapter 3.0 10631(a) Describe the Supplier service area. System description n/a Section 3.1 x x 3.3 Section 3.3 10631(a) Describe the climate of the Supplier’s service area. System description n/a Section 3.3 x x 3.4 Section 3.4.1 10631(a) Provide the current and projected service area populations for 2030, 2035, 2040, 2045 and optionally 2050. System description 3-1 Section 3.5
x x 3.4 Section 3.4.2 10631(a) Describe other social, economic, and demographic factors affecting the Supplier’s water management planning. System description n/a Section 3.4,3.5
x x 3.5 Section 3.5 10631(a)
Describe the land uses within the service area… include the current and projected land uses within the existing or anticipated service area affecting the Supplier’s water management planning. Describe the land uses within the service area.
System description
and baselines n/a Section 3.5.2
x Optional 4.2 Sections 4.2.3 and
4.2.4 10631(d)(1) Quantify past, current, and projected water use, identifying the uses among water use sectors. System water use 4-1 and 4-2 Section 4.1 x Optional 4.3 Section 4.3.1 10631(d)(3)(A) Report the distribution system water loss for each of the five years preceding the plan update. System water use 4-5 Section 4.1.4 x n/a 4.3 Section 4.3.2 10631(d)(3)(C) Retail Suppliers shall provide data to show the distribution loss standards were met. System water use 4-6 Section 4.1.4 x n/a 4.2 Section 4.2.5.4 10631.1(a) Include projected water use needed for lower income housing projected in the service area of the Supplier.
DRAFT
System water use 4-3 Section 4.3
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
APPENDIX A: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN CHECKLIST PAGE 2 OF 6 Retail
(x = required)
Wholesale
(x = required) Order 2025 Guidebook Location Water Code Section Summary as Applies to UWMP Subject Relevant
Submittal Table
2025 UWMP
Location
x n/a 4.2 Section 4.2.5.3 10631(d)(4)(A) In projected water use, include estimates of water savings from adopted codes, plans, and other policies or laws. System water use 4-3 Section 4.3
x n/a 4.2 Section 4.2.5.3 10631(d)(4)(B) Provide citations of codes, standards, ordinances, or plans used to make water use projections. System water use 4-3 Section 4.3,
Appendix G
Table 4-3
x n/a 4.2 Section 4.2.5.3 10631(d)(4)(B)(ii)
To the extent that a Supplier reports the information described in subparagraph (A), an urban water Supplier shall… Indicate the extent that the water use projections consider savings from codes, standards, ordinances, or transportation and land use plans. Water use projections that do not account for these water savings shall be noted of that fact.
System water use 4-3
Section 4.3,
Appendix G
Table 4-3
x x 4.2 Section 4.2.5.6 10635(b) Demands under climate change considerations must be included as part of the drought risk assessment. System water use n/a Section 4.3 n/a x 5.1 Section 5.1 10608.36 Wholesale Suppliers shall include an assessment of present and proposed future measures, programs, and policies to help their Retail Suppliers achieve targeted water use reductions.
Baselines and
targets
n/a N/A
x n/a 5.2 Section 5.2 10608.4
Retail Suppliers shall report on their compliance in meeting their water use targets. Reporting requirements will vary depending on whether the Supplier:
- Was considered an urban retail water supplier in 2020, - Met its 2020 target in 2020, or
- Was part of a merger or consolidation since 2020.
Chapter 5 Subsections 5.2.1, 5.2.2, and 5.2.3 address each of these situations.
Baselines and
targets
5-1 Section 5.2
x x 6.1 Section 6.1 10631(b)(2) When multiple sources of water supply are identified, describe the management of each supply in relationship to other identified supplies. System supplies n/a Section 6.1, 6.2 x x 6.1 Sections 6.1 and 6.2 10631(b)(1)
Provide a discussion of anticipated supply availability under a normal, single dry year, and a drought lasting five years, as well as more frequent and severe periods of drought, including changes in supply due to climate change.
System supplies n/a Section 6.1, 6.2
x x 6.2 Section 6.2.2 10631(b)(4)(C)
Indicate whether groundwater is an existing or planned source of water available to the Supplier. If groundwater is identified as an existing or planned source of water… (include) a detailed description and analysis of the location, amount and sufficiency of groundwater pumped by the Supplier for the past five years.
Water supplies and
recycled water 6-1 Section 6.2
x x 6.2 Section 6.2.2 10631(b)(4)(A)
Indicate whether a groundwater sustainability plan or groundwater management plan has been adopted by the Supplier or if there is any other specific authorization for groundwater management.
Include a copy of the plan or authorization.
System supplies n/a Section 6.2.1
x x 6.2 Section 6.2.2 10631(b)(4)(B) Describe the groundwater basin. System supplies n/a Section 6.1 x x 6.2 Section 6.2.2 10631(b)(4)(B) Indicate if the basin has been adjudicated and include a copy of the court order or decree and a description of the amount of water the Supplier has the legal right to pump. System supplies n/a Section 6.2.1 x x 6.2 Section 6.2.2 10631(b)(4)(B) For unadjudicated basins… (include) information as to whether DWR has identified the basin as a highor medium-priority basin in the most current official departmental bulletin… Water supplies and
recycled water n/a Section 6.2.1
x x 6.2 Section 6.2.2 10631(b)(4)(B) For unadjudicated basins… describe efforts by the Supplier to coordinate with sustainability or groundwater agencies to achieve sustainable groundwater conditions.
Water supplies and
recycled water n/a Section 6.2.1
x x 6.2 Section 6.2.2. 10631(b)(4)(C)
If groundwater is identified as an existing or planned source of water… (include) a detailed description and analysis of the location, amount and sufficiency of groundwater pumped by the Supplier for the past five years.
System supplies n/a Section 6.2.1
x x 6.2 Section 6.2.2 10631(b)(4)(D) Provide a detailed description and analysis of the amount and location of groundwater that is projected to be pumped.
DRAFT
System supplies 6-9 Section 6.4
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
APPENDIX A: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN CHECKLIST PAGE 3 OF 6 Retail
(x = required)
Wholesale
(x = required) Order 2025 Guidebook Location Water Code Section Summary as Applies to UWMP Subject Relevant
Submittal Table
2025 UWMP
Location
x x 6.1 Section 6.1 10631(b) Identify and quantify the existing and planned sources of water available for 2025, 2030, 2035, 2040, 2045 and optionally 2050. System supplies 6-8 and 6-9 Section 6.4 x x 6.2 Section 6.2.7 10631(c) Describe the opportunities for exchanges or transfers of water on a short-term or long-term basis. System supplies n/a Section 6.3, 6.4 x n/a 6.2 Section 6.2.5 10633(a) Describe the wastewater collection and treatment systems in the Supplier’s service area with quantified amount of collection and treatment and the disposal methods.
System supplies
(recycled water) 6-2 Section 6.3.1
x x 6.2 Section 6.2.5 10633(b) Describe the quantity of treated wastewater that meets recycled water standards, is being discharged, and is otherwise available for use in a recycled water project.
System supplies
(recycled water) 6-3 Section 6.3.1
x x 6.2 Section 6.2.5 10633(c) Describe the recycled water currently being used in the Supplier's service area. System supplies (recycled water) 6-4 Section 6.3.4
x x 6.2 Section 6.2.5 10633(d) Describe and quantify the potential uses of recycled water and provide a determination of the technical and economic feasibility of those uses.
System supplies
(recycled water) 6-4 Section 6.3.4
x x 6.2 Section 6.2.5 10633(e) Describe the projected use of recycled water within the Supplier's service area at the end of 5, 10, 15, and 20 years, and describe the actual use of recycled water in comparison to uses previously projected.
System supplies
(recycled water) 6-4 and 6-5
Section 6.3.2,
6.3.4 x x 6.2 Section 6.2.5 10633(f) Describe the actions that may be taken to encourage the use of recycled water and the projected results of these actions in terms of acre-feet of recycled water used per year.
System supplies
(recycled water) 6-6 Section 6.3.3
x x 6.2 Section 6.2.5 10633(g) Provide a plan for optimizing the use of recycled water in the Supplier's service area. System supplies (recycled water) n/a Section 6.3
x x 6.2 Section 6.2.6 10631(g) Describe desalinated water project opportunities for long-term supply. System supplies 6-7 Section 6.3.3 x x 6.2 Section 6.2.10 10631(f)
Describe the expected future water supply projects and programs that may be undertaken by the water Supplier to address water supply reliability in average, single-dry, and for a period of drought lasting five consecutive water years.
System supplies 6-7 Section 6.3.3
x x 6.3 Section 6.3 and
Appendix O 10631.2(a) The UWMP must include energy information, as stated in the code, that a Supplier can readily obtain. System suppliers, energy intensity O-1A, O-1B, O-1C,
and O-2
Section 6.5,
Appendix G
x 7.1 Section 7.1 10634 Provide information on the quality of existing sources of water available to the Supplier and the manner in which water quality affects water management strategies and supply reliability.
Water supply
reliability
assessment
n/a Section 7.2
x x 7.2 Section 7.2 10635(a)
Service Reliability Assessment: Assess the water supply reliability during normal, dry, and a drought lasting five consecutive water years by comparing the total water supply sources available to the Supplier with the total projected water use over the next 20 years.
Water supply
reliability
assessment
7-2, 7-3, and 7-4 Section 7.2
x x 7.2 Section 7.2.3 10620(f) Describe water management tools and options to maximize resources and minimize the need to import water from other regions.
Water supply
reliability
assessment
n/a Section 7.3
x x 7.3 Section 7.3 10635(b) Provide a drought risk assessment as part of information considered in developing the demand management measures and water supply projects.
Water supply
reliability
assessment
n/a Section 7.3
x x 7.3 Section 7.3 10635(b)(1)
Include a description of the data, methodology, and basis for one or more supply shortage conditions that are necessary to conduct a drought risk assessment for a drought period that lasts five consecutive years.
Water supply
reliability
assessment
n/a Section 7.3
x x 7.3 Section 7.3 10635(b)(2) Include a determination of the reliability of each source of supply under a variety of water shortage conditions.
Water supply
reliability
assessment
DRAFT
n/a Section 7.3
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
APPENDIX A: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN CHECKLIST PAGE 4 OF 6 Retail
(x = required)
Wholesale
(x = required) Order 2025 Guidebook Location Water Code Section Summary as Applies to UWMP Subject Relevant
Submittal Table
2025 UWMP
Location
x x 7.3 Section 7.3 10635(b)(3) Include a comparison of the total water supply sources available to the Supplier with the total projected water use for the drought period.
Water supply
reliability
assessment
7-5 Section 7.3.2
x x 7.3 Section 7.3 10635(b)(4)
Include considerations of the historical drought hydrology, plausible changes on projected supplies and demands under climate change conditions, anticipated regulatory changes, and other locally applicable criteria.
Water supply
reliability
assessment
n/a Section 7.2, 7.3
x x 8 Chapter 8 10632(a) Provide a water shortage contingency plan (WSCP) with specified elements below.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a Appendix C
x x 8 Chapter 8 10632(a)(1) Provide an analysis of water supply reliability (from Guidebook Chapter 7) in the WSCP.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a
Appendix C:
Section 2
x x 8.2 Section 8.2 10632(a)(2)(A) Provide the written decision-making process and other methods that the Supplier will use each year to determine its water reliability.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a
Appendix C:
Section 3
x x 8.2 Section 8.2 10632(a)(2)(B) Provide data and methodology to evaluate the Supplier’s water reliability for the current year and one dry year pursuant to factors in the code.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a
Appendix C:
Section 2
x x 8.3 Section 8.3 10632(a)(3)(A)
Define six standard water shortage levels of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% shortage, and greater than 50% shortage. These levels shall be based on supply conditions, including percent reductions in supply, changes in groundwater levels, changes in surface elevation, or other conditions. The shortage levels shall also apply to a catastrophic interruption of supply.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a
Appendix C:
Section 4
x x 8.3 Section 8.3 10632(a)(3)(B) Suppliers with an existing WSCP that uses different water shortage levels must cross reference their categories with the six standard categories.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
8-1 Section 8
x x 8.4 Section 8.4 10632(a)(4)(A) Suppliers with WSCPs that align with the defined shortage levels must specify locally appropriate supply augmentation actions.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
8-2 Section 8
x x 8.4 Section 8.4 10632(a)(4)(B) Specify locally appropriate demand reduction actions to adequately respond to shortages.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
8-3
Section 8,
Appendix C:
Section 4
x x 8.4 Section 8.4 10632(a)(4)(C) Specify locally appropriate operational changes.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
8-2
Section 8,
Appendix C:
Section 4
x x 8.4 Section 8.4 10632(a)(4)(D) Specify additional mandatory prohibitions against specific water use practices that are in addition to State-mandated prohibitions are appropriate to local conditions.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
Table 8-3
Section 8,
Appendix C:
Section 7
x x 8.4 Section 8.4 10632(a)(4)(E) Estimate the extent to which the gap between supplies and demand will be reduced by implementation of the action.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
8-2 and 8-3 Section 8
x x 8.4 Section 8.4.6 10632.5 The UWMP shall include a seismic risk assessment and mitigation plan. Water shortage contingency plan n/a
Appendix C:
DRAFT
Section 11
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
APPENDIX A: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN CHECKLIST PAGE 5 OF 6 Retail
(x = required)
Wholesale
(x = required) Order 2025 Guidebook Location Water Code Section Summary as Applies to UWMP Subject Relevant
Submittal Table
2025 UWMP
Location
x x 8.5 Section 8.5 10632(a)(5)(A) Suppliers must describe that they will inform customers, the public and others regarding any current or predicted water shortages.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a
Appendix C:
Section 6
x x 8.5 Section 8.5 10632(a)(5)(B),
10632(a)(5)(C)
Suppliers must describe that they will inform customers, the public and others regarding any shortage response actions triggered or anticipated to be triggered and other relevant communications.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a
Appendix C:
Section 6
x n/a 8.6 Section 8.6 10632(a)(6) Retail Supplier must describe how it will ensure compliance with and enforce provisions of the WSCP.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a
Appendix C:
Section 7
x x 8.7 Section 8.7 10632(a)(7)(A) Describe the legal authority that empowers the Supplier to enforce shortage response actions.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a
Appendix C:
Section 7
x x 8.7 Section 8.7 10632(a)(7)(B) Provide a statement that the Supplier will declare a water shortage emergency per Water Code Chapter 3. Water Shortage Emergencies.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a
Appendix C:
Section 8
x x 8.7 Section 8.7 10632(a)(7)(C) Provide a statement that the Supplier will coordinate with any city or county within which it provides water for the possible proclamation of a local emergency.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a
Appendix C:
Section 11
x x 8.8 Section 8.8 10632(a)(8)(A) Describe the potential revenue reductions and expense increases associated with activated shortage response actions.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a
Appendix C:
Section 9
x x 8.8 Section 8.8 10632(a)(8)(B) Provide a description of mitigation actions needed to address revenue reductions and expense increases associated with activated shortage response actions.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a
Appendix C:
Section 9
x n/a 8.8 Section 8.8 10632(a)(8)(C) Retail Suppliers must describe the cost of compliance with Water Code Chapter 3.3, Excessive Residential Water Use During Drought.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a
Appendix C:
Appendix B
x n/a 8.9 Section 8.9 10632(a)(9) Retail Suppliers must describe the monitoring and reporting requirements and procedures that ensure appropriate data are collected, tracked, and analyzed for purposes of monitoring customer compliance.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a
Appendix C:
Section 10
x x 8.10 Section 8.10 10632(a)(10) Describe reevaluation and improvement procedures for monitoring and evaluation the WSCP to ensure risk tolerance is adequate and appropriate water shortage mitigation strategies are implemented.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a
Appendix C:
Section 10
x n/a 8.11 Section 8.11 10632(b) Analyze and define water features that are artificially supplied with water, including ponds, lakes, waterfalls, and fountains, separately from swimming pools and spas.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a
Appendix C:
Section 13
x x 8.12 Section 8.12 10632(c) Make available the WSCP to customers and any city or county where it provides water within 30 days after adoption of the plan.
Water shortage
contingency
planning
n/a Section 8
x n/a 9.1 Sections 9.1 10631(e)(1)
Retail Suppliers shall provide a description of the nature and extent of each demand management measure implemented over the past five years. The description will address specific measures listed in code.
Demand
management
measures
DRAFT
n/a Section 9.1
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
APPENDIX A: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN CHECKLIST PAGE 6 OF 6 Retail
(x = required)
Wholesale
(x = required) Order 2025 Guidebook Location Water Code Section Summary as Applies to UWMP Subject Relevant
Submittal Table
2025 UWMP
Location
n/a x 9.2 Sections 9.2 10631(e)(2) Wholesale Suppliers shall describe specific demand management measures listed in code, their distribution system asset management program, and Supplier assistance program.
Demand
management
measures
n/a N/A
x n/a 10 Chapter 10 10608.26(a) Retail Suppliers shall conduct a public hearing to discuss adoption, implementation, and economic impact of water use targets (recommended to discuss compliance).
Plan adoption,
submittal, and
implementation
n/a Section 2.3
x x 10.2 Section 10.2.1 10621(b)
Notify, at least 60 days prior to the public hearing, any city or county within which the Supplier provides water that the Supplier will be reviewing the UWMP and considering amendments or changes to the plan.
Plan adoption,
submittal, and
implementation
10-1 Section 2.3
x x 10.4 Section 10.4 10621(f) Each urban water Supplier shall update and submit its 2025 plan to DWR by July 1, 202 6.
Plan adoption,
submittal, and
implementation
n/a Section 2.3
x x 10.2 Sections 10.2.2, 10.3,
and 10.5 10642
Provide supporting documentation that the Supplier made the UWMP and WSCP available for public inspection, published notice of the public hearing, and held a public hearing about the UWMP and WSCP.
Plan adoption,
submittal, and
implementation
n/a
Appendix D,
Section 2.3
x x 10.2 Section 10.2.2 10642 The Supplier is to provide the time and place of the hearing to any city or county within which the Supplier provides water.
Plan adoption,
submittal, and
implementation
10-1 Section 2.3
x x 10.3 Section 10.3.2 10642 Provide supporting documentation that the UWMP and WSCP has been adopted as prepared or modified.
Plan adoption,
submittal, and
implementation
n/a Appendix D
x x 10.4 Section 10.4 10644(a) Provide supporting documentation that the Supplier has submitted their UWMP to the California State Library.
Plan adoption,
submittal, and
implementation
n/a Section 2.3
x x 10.4 Section 10.4 10644(a)(1) Provide supporting documentation that the Supplier has submitted their UWMP to any city or county within which the Supplier provides water no later than 30 days after adoption.
Plan adoption,
submittal, and
implementation
n/a Section 2.3
x x 10.4 Sections 10.4.1 and
10.4.2 10644(a)(2) The UWMP, or amendments to the UWMP, submitted to DWR shall be submitted electronically.
Plan adoption,
submittal, and
implementation
n/a Section 2
x x 10.7 Section 10.7.2 10644(b) If revised, submit a copy of the WSCP to DWR within 30 days of adoption.
Plan adoption,
submittal, and
implementation
n/a Section 2
x x 10.5 Section 10.5 10645(a) Provide supporting documentation that, not later than 30 days after filing a copy of its UWMP with DWR, the Supplier has or will make the plan available for public review during normal business hours.
Plan adoption,
submittal, and
implementation
n/a Section 2
x x 10.5 Section 10.5 10645(b) Provide supporting documentation that, not later than 30 days after filing a copy of its WSCP with DWR, the Supplier has or will make the plan available for public review during normal business hours.
Plan adoption,
submittal, and
implementation
n/a Section 2
x x 10.6 Section 10.6 10621(c) If Supplier is regulated by the Public Utilities Commission, include its plan and contingency plan as part of its general rate case filings.
Plan adoption,
submittal, and
implementation
DRAFT
n/a Section 2
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
Appendix B
California Water Code – Urban
Water Management Planning
DRAFT
Informational Purposes Only
January 2026 A-1
Appendix A
California Water Code—Urban Water
Management Planning
This material is for informational purposes only and is not to be used in place of official California Water Code.
This appendix presents updated sections of California Water Code (Water Code) as of the publication of this Guidebook and as compiled by California Department of Water Resources (DWR) staff. The selection here focuses on the portions of Water Code directly relevant to preparation of an Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP), and sections of Water Code that are contextually relevant to urban water suppliers and DWR.
Water Code published here also concerns the Urban Water Management Planning Act, the Water Conservation Act of 2009 (SB X7-7), which covers sustainable water use and demand reduction, and more. Further legislative information is available on the California Legislative Information website.
Contents
Water Conservation Act of 2009 (SB X7‐7) ................................................. A-3 Chapter 1. General Declarations and Policy, Sections 10608– 10608.8 .................................................................................. A-3 Chapter 2. Definitions, Section 10608.12 ............................................. A-5 Chapter 2.5. Nonfunctional Turf .......................................................... A-9 Chapter 3. Urban Retail Water Suppliers, Sections 10608.16– 10608.44............................................................................... A-11 Chapter 5. Sustainable Water Management, Section 10608.50 .............. A-21 Chapter 6. Standardized Data Collection, Section 10608.52 .................. A-22 Chapter 7. Funding Provisions, Sections 10608.56–10608.60.................. A-23 Chapter 9. Urban Water Use Objectives and Water Use Reporting, Sections 10609–10609.38 ........................................................ A-24 Urban Water Management Planning Act.................................................... A-39 Chapter 1. General Declaration and Policy, Sections 10610– 10610.4................................................................................. A-39 Chapter 2. Definitions, Sections 10611–10618 ..................................... A-40 Chapter 3. Urban Water Management Plans........................................ A-42 Article 1. General Provisions, Sections 10620–10621 ................... A-42 Article 2. Contents of Plans, Sections 10630–10634 ..................... A-44 DRAFT
Appendix A
California Water Code—Urban Water Management Planning
Informational Purposes Only
January 2026 A-2
Article 2.5. Water Service Reliability, Section 10635 .................... A-54 Article 3. Adoption and Implementation of Plans,
Sections 10640–10645 ................................................. A-55 Chapter 4. Miscellaneous Provisions, Sections 10650–10657................. A-58 DRAFT
Appendix A
California Water Code—Urban Water Management Planning
Informational Purposes Only
January 2026 A-3
Water Conservation Act of 2009 (SB X7‐7)
This section contains information extracted from Water Code Division 6, Conservation, Development, and Utilization of State Water Resources, Part 2.55, Sustainable Water Use And Demand Reduction. Click on any section header below to read Water Code directly at the California Legislative Information website.
Chapter 1. General Declarations and Policy,
Sections 10608–10608.8
Section 10608.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Water is a public resource that the California Constitution protects against waste and unreasonable use.
(b) Growing population, climate change, and the need to protect and grow California’s economy while protecting and restoring our fish and wildlife habitats make it essential that the state manage its water resources as efficiently as possible.
(c) Diverse regional water supply portfolios will increase water supply reliability and reduce dependence on the Delta.
(d) Reduced water use through conservation provides significant energy and environmental benefits, and can help protect water quality, improve streamflows, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
(e) The success of state and local water conservation programs to increase efficiency of water use is best determined on the basis of measurable outcomes related to water use or efficiency.
(f) Improvements in technology and management practices offer the potential for increasing water efficiency in California over time, providing an essential water management tool to meet the need for water for urban, agricultural, and environmental uses.
(g) The Governor has called for a 20 percent per capita reduction in urban water use statewide by 2020.
(h) The factors used to formulate water use efficiency targets can vary significantly from location to location based on factors including weather, patterns of urban and suburban development, and past efforts to enhance water use efficiency.
(i) Per capita water use is a valid measure of a water provider’s efforts to reduce urban water use within its service area. However, per capita water use is less DRAFT
Appendix A
California Water Code—Urban Water Management Planning
Informational Purposes Only
January 2026 A-4
useful for measuring relative water use efficiency between different water providers. Differences in weather, historical patterns of urban and suburban development, and density of housing in a particular location need to be considered when assessing per capita water use as a measure of efficiency.
Section 10608.4.
It is the intent of the Legislature, by the enactment of this part, to do all of the following:
(a) Require all water suppliers to increase the efficiency of use of this essential resource.
(b) Establish a framework to meet the state targets for urban water conservation identified in this part and called for by the Governor. (c) Measure increased efficiency of urban water use on a per capita basis. (d) Establish a method or methods for urban retail water suppliers to determine targets for achieving increased water use efficiency by the year 2020, in accordance with the Governor’s goal of a 20- percent reduction. (e) Establish consistent water use efficiency planning and implementation standards for urban water suppliers and agricultural water suppliers. (f) Promote urban water conservation standards that are consistent with the California Urban Water Conservation Council’s adopted best management practices and the requirements for demand management in Section 10631. (g) Establish standards that recognize and provide credit to water suppliers that made substantial capital investments in urban water conservation since the drought of the early 1990s.
(h) Recognize and account for the investment of urban retail water suppliers in providing recycled water for beneficial uses.
(i) Require implementation of specified efficient water management practices for agricultural water suppliers.
(k) Support the economic productivity of California’s agricultural, commercial, and industrial sectors.
(l) Advance regional water resources management.
Section 10608.8.
(a)
(1) Water use efficiency measures adopted and implemented pursuant to this part or Part 2.8 (commencing with Section 10800) are water conservation measures subject to the protections provided under Section 1011.
DRAFT
Appendix A
California Water Code—Urban Water Management Planning
Informational Purposes Only
January 2026 A-5
(2) Because an urban agency is not required to meet its urban water use target until 2020 pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 10608.24, an urban retail water supplier’s failure to meet those targets shall not establish a violation of law for purposes of any state administrative or judicial proceeding prior to January 1, 2021. Nothing in this paragraph limits the use of data reported to the department or the board in litigation or an administrative proceeding. This paragraph shall become inoperative on January 1, 2021.
(3) To the extent feasible, the department and the board shall provide for the use of water conservation reports required under this part to meet the requirements of Section 1011 for water conservation reporting. (b) This part does not limit or otherwise affect the application of Chapter 3.5 commencing with Section 11340), Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 11370), Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 11400), and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(c) This part does not require a reduction in the total water used in the agricultural or urban sectors, because other factors, including, but not limited to, changes in agricultural economics or population growth may have greater effects on water use. This part does not limit the economic productivity of California’s agricultural, commercial, or industrial sectors.
(d) The requirements of this part do not apply to an agricultural water supplier that is a party to the Quantification Settlement Agreement, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1 of Chapter 617 of the Statutes of 2002, during the period within which the Quantification Settlement Agreement remains in effect.
After the expiration of the Quantification Settlement Agreement, to the extent conservation water projects implemented as part of the Quantification Settlement Agreement remain in effect, the conserved water created as part of those projects shall be credited against the obligations of the agricultural water supplier pursuant to this part.
Chapter 2. Definitions, Section 10608.12
Section 10608.12.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions govern the construction of this part:
(a) “Affordable housing” has the same meaning as defined in Section 34191.30 of the Health and Safety Code.
(b) “Agricultural water supplier” means a water supplier, either publicly or privately owned, providing water to 10,000 or more irrigated acres, excluding recycled water. “Agricultural water supplier” includes a supplier or contractor DRAFT
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for water, regardless of the basis of right, that distributes or sells water for ultimate resale to customers. “Agricultural water supplier” does not include the department.
(c) “Base daily per capita water use” means any of the following:
(1) The urban retail water supplier’s estimate of its average gross water use, reported in gallons per capita per day and calculated over a continuous 10-year period ending no earlier than December 31, 2004, and no later than December 31, 2010.
(2) For an urban retail water supplier that meets at least 10 percent of its 2008 measured retail water demand through recycled water that is delivered within the service area of an urban retail water supplier or its urban wholesale water supplier, the urban retail water supplier may extend the
(3) calculation described in paragraph (1) up to an additional five years to a maximum of a continuous 15-year period ending no earlier than December 31, 2004, and no later than December 31, 2010. (4) For the purposes of Section 10608.22, the urban retail water supplier’s estimate of its average gross water use, reported in gallons per capita per day and calculated over a continuous five-year period ending no earlier than December 31, 2007, and no later than December 31, 2010. (d) Baseline commercial, industrial, and institutional water use” means an urban retail water supplier’s base daily per capita water use for commercial, industrial, and institutional users.
(e) “CII water use” means water used by commercial water users, industrial water users, institutional water users, and large landscape water users. (f) “Commercial water user” means a water user that provides or distributes a product or service.
(g) “Common area” means that portion of a common interest development or of a property owned or managed by a homeowners’ association or a community service organization or similar entity that is not assigned or allocated to the exclusive use of the occupants of an individual dwelling unit within the property.
(h) “Common interest development” has the same meaning as in Section 4100 of the Civil Code.
(i) “Community service organization or similar entity” has the same meaning as in Section 4110 of the Civil Code.
(j) “Community space” means an area designated by a property owner or a governmental agency to accommodate human foot traffic for civic, ceremonial, or other community events or social gatherings
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(k) Compliance daily per capita water use” means the gross water use during the final year of the reporting period, reported in gallons per capita per day. (l) “Disadvantaged community” means a community with an annual median household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median household income.
(m) “Functional turf” means a ground cover surface of turf located in a recreational use area or community space. Turf enclosed by fencing or other barriers to permanently preclude human access for recreation or assembly is not functional turf.
(n) “Gross water use” means the total volume of water, whether treated or untreated, entering the distribution system of an urban retail water supplier, excluding all of the following:
(1) Recycled water that is delivered within the service area of an urban retail water supplier or its urban wholesale water supplier.
(2) The net volume of water that the urban retail water supplier places into long-term storage.
(3) The volume of water the urban retail water supplier conveys for use by another urban water supplier.
(4) The volume of water delivered for agricultural use, except as otherwise provided in subdivision (f) of Section 10608.24.
(o) “Homeowners’ association” means an “association” as defined in Section 4080 of the Civil Code.
(p) “Industrial water user” means a water user that is primarily a manufacturer or processor of materials as defined by the North American Industry Classification System code sectors 31 to 33, inclusive, or an entity that is a water user primarily engaged in research and development.
(q) “Institutional water user” means a water user dedicated to public service. This type of user includes, among other users, higher education institutions, schools, courts, churches, hospitals, government facilities, and nonprofit research institutions.
(r) “Interim urban water use target” means the midpoint between the urban retail water supplier’s base daily per capita water use and the urban retail water supplier’s urban water use target for 2020.
(s) “Large landscape” means a nonresidential landscape as described in the performance measures for CII water use adopted pursuant to Section 10609.10.
(t) “Locally cost effective” means that the present value of the local benefits of implementing an agricultural efficiency water management practice is greater DRAFT
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than or equal to the present value of the local cost of implementing that measure.
(u) “Nonfunctional turf” means any turf that is not functional turf, and includes turf located within street rights-of-way and parking lots. (v) “Performance measures” means actions to be taken by urban retail water suppliers that will result in increased water use efficiency by CII water users.
Performance measures may include, but are not limited to, educating CII water users on best management practices, conducting water use audits, and preparing water management plans. Performance measures do not include process water.
(w) “Potable reuse” means direct potable reuse, indirect potable reuse for groundwater recharge, and reservoir water augmentation as those terms are defined in Section 13561.
(x) “Potable water” means water that is suitable for human consumption. (y) “Process water” means water used by industrial water users for producing a product or product content or water used for research and development.
Process water includes, but is not limited to, continuous manufacturing processes, and water used for testing, cleaning, and maintaining equipment.
Water used to cool machinery or buildings used in the manufacturing process or necessary to maintain product quality or chemical characteristics for product manufacturing or control rooms, data centers, laboratories, clean rooms, and other industrial facility units that are integral to the manufacturing or research and development process is process water. Water used in the manufacturing process that is necessary for complying with local, state, and federal health and safety laws, and is not incidental water, is process water. Process water does not mean incidental water uses.
(z) “Public water system” has the same meaning as defined in Section 116275 of the Health and Safety Code.
(aa) “Recreational use area” means an area designated by a property owner or a governmental agency to accommodate human foot traffic for recreation, including, but not limited to, sports fields, golf courses, playgrounds, picnic grounds, or pet exercise areas. This recreation may be either formal or informal.
(ab) “Recycled water” means recycled water, as defined in subdivision (n) of Section 13050.
(ac) “Regional water resources management” means sources of supply resulting from watershed-based planning for sustainable local water reliability or any of the following alternative sources of water:
(1) The capture and reuse of stormwater or rainwater.
(2) The use of recycled water.
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(3) The desalination of brackish groundwater.
(4) The conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater in a manner that is consistent with the safe yield of the groundwater basin. (ad) “Reporting period” means the years for which an urban retail water supplier reports compliance with the urban water use targets.
(ae) “Turf” has the same meaning as defined in Section 491 of Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations
(af) “Urban retail water supplier” means a water supplier, either publicly or privately owned, that directly provides potable municipal water to more than 3,000 end users or that supplies more than 3,000 acre-feet of potable water annually at retail for municipal purposes.
(ag) “Urban water supplier” has the same meaning as defined in Section 10617. (ah) “Urban water use objective” means an estimate of aggregate efficient water use for the previous year based on adopted water use efficiency standards and local service area characteristics for that year, as described in Section 10609.20.
(ai) “Urban water use target” means the urban retail water supplier’s targeted future daily per capita water use.
(aj) “Urban wholesale water supplier” means a water supplier, either publicly or privately owned, that provides more than 3,000 acre- feet of water annually at wholesale for potable municipal purposes.
Chapter 2.5. Nonfunctional Turf
Section 10608.14.
(a) The use of potable water for the irrigation of nonfunctional turf located on commercial, industrial, and institutional properties, other than a cemetery, and on properties of homeowners’ associations, common interest developments, and community service organizations or similar entities is prohibited as of the following dates:
(1) All properties owned by the Department of General Services, beginning January 1, 2027.
(2) All properties owned by local governments, local or regional public agencies, and public water systems, except those specified in paragraph (5), beginning January 1, 2027.
(3) All other institutional properties and all commercial and industrial properties, beginning January 1, 2028.
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(4) All common areas of properties of homeowners’ associations, common interest developments, and community service organizations or similar entities, beginning January 1, 2029.
(5) All properties owned by local governments, local public agencies, and public water systems in a disadvantaged community, beginning January 1, 2031, or the date upon which a state funding source is made available to fund conversion of nonfunctional turf on these properties to climateappropriate landscapes, whichever is later. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the use of potable water is not prohibited by this section to the extent necessary to ensure the health of trees and other perennial nonturf plantings, or to the extent necessary to address an immediate health and safety need.
(c) The board may, upon a showing of good cause for reasons including economic hardship, critical business need, and potential impacts to human health or safety, postpone a compliance deadline in subdivision (a) by up to three years for certain persons, institutions, and businesses, and may create a form to be used for compliance certification to the board by property owners. (d) Public water systems shall, by no later than January 1, 2027, revise their regulations, ordinances, or policies governing water service to include the requirements of subdivisions (a) and (b), as revised by the board pursuant to subdivision (c), and shall communicate the requirements to their customers on or before that date.
(e)
(1) An owner of commercial, industrial, or institutional property with more than 5,000 square feet of irrigated area other than a cemetery shall certify to the board, commencing June 30, 2030, and every three years thereafter through 2039, that their property is in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
(2) An owner of a property with more than 5,000 square feet of irrigated common area that is a homeowners’ association, common interest development, or community service organization or similar entity shall certify to the board, commencing June 30, 2031, and every three years thereafter through 2040, that their property is in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
(f) Noncompliance by a person or entity with this chapter or regulations adopted thereunder shall be subject to civil liability and penalties set forth in Section 1846, or to civil liability and penalties imposed by an urban retail water supplier pursuant to a locally adopted ordinance or policy.
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(g)
(1) A public water system, city, county, or city and county may enforce the provisions of this chapter.
(2) To avoid duplication of enforcement, any entity identified in paragraph (1) that is not a retail public water system shall notify the retail public water system 30 days prior to enforcement of the provisions of this chapter against a property served by such system.
(3) Nothing in paragraph (2) shall preclude enforcement by any entity identified in paragraph (1) once adequate notice is given. (h) The department shall, when using funds appropriated for water conservation for turf replacement, prioritize financial assistance for nonfunctional turf replacement to public water systems serving disadvantaged communities and to owners of affordable housing.
(i) The department shall utilize the saveourwater.com internet website and outreach campaign to provide information and resources on converting nonfunctional turf to native vegetation.
(j) The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development shall support small and minority-owned businesses that provide services that advance compliance with this chapter.
Chapter 3. Urban Retail Water Suppliers,
Sections 10608.16–10608.44
Section 10608.16.
(a) The state shall achieve a 20-percent reduction in urban per capita water use in California on or before December 31, 2020.
(1) The state shall make incremental progress towards the state target specified in subdivision (a) by reducing urban per capita water use by at least 10 percent on or before December 31, 2015.
Section 10608.20.
(a)
(1) Each urban retail water supplier shall develop urban water use targets and an interim urban water use target by July 1, 2011. Urban retail water suppliers may elect to determine and report progress toward achieving these targets on an individual or regional basis, as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 10608.28, and may determine the targets on a fiscal year or calendar year basis.
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(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that the urban water use targets described in paragraph (1) cumulatively result in a 20-percent reduction from the baseline daily per capita water use by December 31, 2020. (b) An urban retail water supplier shall adopt one of the following methods for determining its urban water use target pursuant to subdivision (a):
(1) Eighty percent of the urban retail water supplier’s baseline per capita daily water use.
(2) The per capita daily water use that is estimated using the sum of the following performance standards:
(A) For indoor residential water use, 55 gallons per capita daily water use as a provisional standard. Upon completion of the department’s 2017 report to the Legislature pursuant to Section 10608.42, this standard may be adjusted by the Legislature by statute. (B) For landscape irrigated through dedicated or residential meters or connections, water efficiency equivalent to the standards of the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance set forth in Chapter 2.7 (commencing with Section 490) of Division 2 of Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations, as in effect the later of the year of the landscape’s installation or 1992. An urban retail water supplier using the approach specified in this subparagraph shall use satellite imagery, site visits, or other best available technology to develop an accurate estimate of landscaped areas.
(C) For commercial, industrial, and institutional uses, a 10- percent reduction in water use from the baseline commercial, industrial, and institutional water use by 2020.
(3) Ninety-five percent of the applicable state hydrologic region target, as set forth in the state’s draft 20x2020 Water Conservation Plan (dated April 30, 2009). If the service area of an urban water supplier includes more than one hydrologic region, the supplier shall apportion its service area to each region based on population or area.
(4) A method that shall be identified and developed by the department, through a public process, and reported to the Legislature no later than December 31, 2010. The method developed by the department shall identify per capita targets that cumulatively result in a statewide 20- percent reduction in urban daily per capita water use by December 31, 2020. In developing urban daily per capita water use targets, the department shall do all of the following:
(A) Consider climatic differences within the state.
(B) Consider population density differences within the state. (C) Provide flexibility to communities and regions in meeting the targets.
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(D) Consider different levels of per capita water use according to plant water needs in different regions.
(E) Consider different levels of commercial, industrial, and institutional water use in different regions of the state.
(F) Avoid placing an undue hardship on communities that have implemented conservation measures or taken actions to keep per capita water use low.
(c) If the department adopts a regulation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) that results in a requirement that an urban retail water supplier achieve a reduction in daily per capita water use that is greater than 20 percent by December 31, 2020, an urban retail water supplier that adopted the method described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) may limit its urban water use target to a reduction of not more than 20 percent by December 31, 2020, by adopting the method described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b). (d) The department shall update the method described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) and report to the Legislature by December 31, 2014. An urban retail water supplier that adopted the method described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) may adopt a new urban daily per capita water use target pursuant to this updated method.
(e) An urban retail water supplier shall include in its urban water management plan due in 2010 pursuant to Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 10610) the baseline daily per capita water use, urban water use target, interim urban water use target, and compliance daily per capita water use, along with the bases for determining those estimates, including references to supporting data.
(f) When calculating per capita values for the purposes of this chapter, an urban retail water supplier shall determine population using federal, state, and local population reports and projections.
(g) An urban retail water supplier may update its 2020 urban water use target in its 2015 urban water management plan required pursuant to Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 10610).
(h)
(1) The department, through a public process and in consultation with the California Urban Water Conservation Council, shall develop technical methodologies and criteria for the consistent implementation of this part, including, but not limited to, both of the following:
(A) Methodologies for calculating base daily per capita water use, baseline commercial, industrial, and institutional water use, compliance daily per capita water use, gross water use, service area DRAFT
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population, indoor residential water use, and landscaped area water use.
(B) Criteria for adjustments pursuant to subdivisions (d) and (e) of Section 10608.24.
(2) The department shall post the methodologies and criteria developed pursuant to this subdivision on its internet website, and make written copies available, by October 1, 2010. An urban retail water supplier shall use the methods developed by the department in compliance with this part.
(h)
(1) The department shall adopt regulations for implementation of the provisions relating to process water in accordance with Section 10608.12, subdivision (e) of Section 10608.24, and subdivision (d) of Section 10608.26.
(2) The initial adoption of a regulation authorized by this subdivision is deemed to address an emergency, for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the department is hereby exempted for that purpose from the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 11346.1 of the Government Code. After the initial adoption of an emergency regulation pursuant to this subdivision, the department shall not request approval from the Office of Administrative Law to readopt the regulation as an emergency regulation pursuant to Section 11346.1 of the Government Code.
(j)
(1) An urban retail water supplier is granted an extension to July 1, 2011, for adoption of an urban water management plan pursuant to Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 10610) due in 2010 to allow the use of technical methodologies developed by the department pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) and subdivision (h). An urban retail water supplier that adopts an urban water management plan due in 2010 that does not use the methodologies developed by the department pursuant to subdivision (h) shall amend the plan by July 1, 2011, to comply with this part.
(2) An urban wholesale water supplier whose urban water management plan prepared pursuant to Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 10610) was due and not submitted in 2010 is granted an extension to July 1, 2011, to permit coordination between an urban wholesale water supplier and urban retail water suppliers.
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Section 10608.22.
Notwithstanding the method adopted by an urban retail water supplier pursuant to Section 10608.20, an urban retail water supplier’s per capita daily water use reduction shall be no less than 5 percent of base daily per capita water use as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 10608.12. This section does not apply to an urban retail water supplier with a base daily per capita water use at or below 100 gallons per capita per day.
Section 10608.24.
(a) Each urban retail water supplier shall meet its interim urban water use target by December 31, 2015.
(b) Each urban retail water supplier shall meet its urban water use target by December 31, 2020.
(c) An urban retail water supplier’s compliance daily per capita water use shall be the measure of progress toward achievement of its urban water use target. (d)
(1) When determining compliance daily per capita water use, an urban retail water supplier may consider the following factors:
(A) Differences in evapotranspiration and rainfall in the baseline period compared to the compliance reporting period.
(B) Substantial changes to commercial or industrial water use resulting from increased business output and economic development that have occurred during the reporting period.
(C) Substantial changes to institutional water use resulting from fire suppression services or other extraordinary events, or from new or expanded operations, that have occurred during the reporting period. (2) If the urban retail water supplier elects to adjust its estimate of compliance daily per capita water use due to one or more of the factors described in paragraph (1), it shall provide the basis for, and data supporting, the adjustment in the report required by Section 10608.40.
(e) When developing the urban water use target pursuant to Section 10608.20, an urban retail water supplier that has a substantial percentage of industrial water use in its service area may exclude process water from the calculation of gross water use to avoid a disproportionate burden on another customer sector. (f)
(1) An urban retail water supplier that includes agricultural water use in an urban water management plan pursuant to Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 10610) may include the agricultural water use in determining DRAFT
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gross water use. An urban retail water supplier that includes agricultural water use in determining gross water use and develops its urban water use target pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 10608.20 shall use a water efficient standard for agricultural irrigation of 100 percent of reference evapotranspiration multiplied by the crop coefficient for irrigated acres.
(2) An urban retail water supplier, that is also an agricultural water supplier, is not subject to the requirements of Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 10608.48), if the agricultural water use is incorporated into its urban water use target pursuant to paragraph (1).
Section 10608.26.
(a) In complying with this part, an urban retail water supplier shall conduct at least one public hearing to accomplish all of the following:
(1) Allow community input regarding the urban retail water supplier’s implementation plan for complying with this part.
(2) Consider the economic impacts of the urban retail water supplier’s implementation plan for complying with this part.
(3) Adopt a method, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 10608.20, for determining its urban water use target.
(b) In complying with this part, an urban retail water supplier may meet its urban water use target through efficiency improvements in any combination among its customer sectors. An urban retail water supplier shall avoid placing a disproportionate burden on any customer sector.
(c) For an urban retail water supplier that supplies water to a United States Department of Defense military installation, the urban retail water supplier’s implementation plan for complying with this part shall consider the conservation of that military installation under federal Executive Order 13514. (d)
(1) Any ordinance or resolution adopted by an urban retail water supplier after the effective date of this section shall not require existing customers as of the effective date of this section, to undertake changes in product formulation, operations, or equipment that would reduce process water use, but may provide technical assistance and financial incentives to those customers to implement efficiency measures for process water. This section shall not limit an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to a declaration of drought emergency by an urban retail water supplier. (2) This part shall not be construed or enforced so as to interfere with the requirements of Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 113980) to Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 114380), inclusive, of Part 7 of DRAFT
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Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code, or any requirement or standard for the protection of public health, public safety, or worker safety established by federal, state, or local government or recommended by recognized standard setting organizations or trade associations.
Section 10608.28.
(a) An urban retail water supplier may meet its urban water use target within its retail service area, or through mutual agreement, by any of the following:
(1) Through an urban wholesale water supplier.
(2) Through a regional agency authorized to plan and implement water conservation, including, but not limited to, an agency established under the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency Act (Division 31 (commencing with Section 81300)).
(3) Through a regional water management group as defined in Section 10537. (4) By an integrated regional water management funding area. (5) By hydrologic region.
(6) Through other appropriate geographic scales for which computation methods have been developed by the department.
(b) A regional water management group, with the written consent of its member agencies, may undertake any or all planning, reporting, and implementation functions under this chapter for the member agencies that consent to those activities. Any data or reports shall provide information both for the regional water management group and separately for each consenting urban retail water supplier and urban wholesale water supplier.
Section 10608.32.
All costs incurred pursuant to this part by a water utility regulated by the Public Utilities Commission may be recoverable in rates subject to review and approval by the Public Utilities Commission, and may be recorded in a memorandum account and reviewed for reasonableness by the Public Utilities Commission.
Section 10608.34.
(a)
(1) On or before January 1, 2017, the department shall adopt rules for all of the following:
(A) The conduct of standardized water loss audits by urban retail water suppliers in accordance with the method adopted by the American Water Works Association in the third edition of Water Audits and Loss DRAFT
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Control Programs, Manual M36 and in the Free Water Audit Software, version 5.0.
(B) The process for validating a water loss audit report prior to submitting the report to the department. For the purposes of this section, “validating” is a process whereby an urban retail water supplier uses a technical expert to confirm the basis of all data entries in the urban retail water supplier’s water loss audit report and to appropriately characterize the quality of the reported data. The validation process shall follow the principles and terminology laid out by the American Water Works Association in the third edition of Water Audits and Loss Control Programs, Manual M36 and in the Free Water Audit Software, version 5.0. A validated water loss audit report shall include the name and technical qualifications of the person engaged for validation.
(C) The technical qualifications required of a person to engage in validation, as described in subparagraph (B).
(D) The certification requirements for a person selected by an urban retail water supplier to provide validation of its own water loss audit report.
(E) The method of submitting a water loss audit report to the department.
(2) The department shall update rules adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) no later than six months after the release of subsequent editions of the American Water Works Association’s Water Audits and Loss Control Programs, Manual M36. Except as provided by the department, until the department adopts updated rules pursuant to this paragraph, an urban retail water supplier may rely upon a subsequent edition of the American Water Works Association’s Water Audits and Loss Control Programs, Manual M36 or the Free Water Audit Software.
(b)
(1) On or before October 1 of each year until October 1, 2023, each urban retail water supplier reporting on a calendar year basis shall submit a completed and validated water loss audit report for the previous calendar year or the previous fiscal year as prescribed by the department pursuant to subdivision (a).
(2) On or before January 1 of each year until January 1, 2024, each urban retail water supplier reporting on a fiscal year basis shall submit a completed and validated water loss audit report for the previous fiscal year as prescribed by the department pursuant to subdivision (a). (3) On or before January 1, 2024, and on or before January 1 of each year thereafter, each urban retail water supplier shall submit a completed and DRAFT
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validated water loss audit report for the previous calendar year or previous fiscal year as part of the report submitted to the department pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10609.24 and as prescribed by the department pursuant to subdivision (a).
(4) Water loss audit reports submitted on or before October 1, 2017, may be completed and validated with assistance as described in subdivision (c). (c) Using funds available for the 2016–17 fiscal year, the board shall contribute up to four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) towards procuring water loss audit report validation assistance for urban retail water suppliers. (d) Each water loss audit report submitted to the department shall be accompanied by information, in a form specified by the department, identifying steps taken in the preceding year to increase the validity of data entered into the final audit, reduce the volume of apparent losses, and reduce the volume of real losses.
(e) At least one of the following employees of an urban retail water supplier shall attest to each water loss audit report submitted to the department:
(1) The chief financial officer.
(2) The chief engineer.
(3) The general manager.
(f) The department shall deem incomplete and return to the urban retail water supplier any final water loss audit report found by the department to be incomplete, not validated, unattested, or incongruent with known characteristics of water system operations. A water supplier shall resubmit a completed water loss audit report within 90 days of an audit being returned by the department.
(g) The department shall post all validated water loss audit reports on its internet website in a manner that allows for comparisons across water suppliers. The department shall make the validated water loss audit reports available for public viewing in a timely manner after their receipt.
(h) Using available funds, the department shall provide technical assistance to guide urban retail water suppliers’ water loss detection programs, including, but not limited to, metering techniques, pressure management techniques, condition-based assessment techniques for transmission and distribution pipelines, and utilization of portable and permanent water loss detection devices.
(i) No earlier than January 1, 2019, and no later than July 1, 2020, the board shall adopt rules requiring urban retail water suppliers to meet performance standards for the volume of water losses. In adopting these rules, the board shall employ full life-cycle cost accounting to evaluate the costs of meeting the performance standards. The board may consider establishing a minimum DRAFT
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allowable water loss threshold that, if reached and maintained by an urban water supplier, would exempt the urban water supplier from further water loss reduction requirements.
Section 10608.35.
(a) The department, in coordination with the board, shall conduct necessary studies and investigations and make a recommendation to the Legislature, by January 1, 2020, on the feasibility of developing and enacting water loss reporting requirements for urban wholesale water suppliers. (b) The studies and investigations shall include an evaluation of the suitability of applying the processes and requirements of Section 10608.34 to urban wholesale water suppliers.
(c) In conducting necessary studies and investigations and developing its recommendation, the department shall solicit broad public participation from stakeholders and other interested persons.
Section 10608.36.
Urban wholesale water suppliers shall include in the urban water management plans required pursuant to Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 10610) an assessment of their present and proposed future measures, programs, and policies to help achieve the water use reductions required by this part.
Section 10608.40.
Urban water retail suppliers shall report to the department on their progress in meeting their urban water use targets as part of their urban water management plans submitted pursuant to Section 10631. The data shall be reported using a standardized form developed pursuant to Section 10608.52.
Section 10608.42.
(a) The department shall review the 2015 urban water management plans and report to the Legislature by July 1, 2017, on progress towards achieving a 20- percent reduction in urban water use by December 31, 2020. The report shall include recommendations on changes to water efficiency standards or urban water use targets to achieve the 20- percent reduction and to reflect updated efficiency information and technology changes.
(b) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
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Section 10608.43.
The department, in conjunction with the California Urban Water Conservation Council, by April 1, 2010, shall convene a representative task force consisting of academic experts, urban retail water suppliers, environmental organizations, commercial water users, industrial water users, and institutional water users to develop alternative best management practices for commercial, industrial, and institutional users and an assessment of the potential statewide water use efficiency improvement in the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors that would result from implementation of these best management practices. The taskforce, in conjunction with the department, shall submit a report to the Legislature by April 1, 2012, that shall include a review of multiple sectors within commercial, industrial, and institutional users and that shall recommend water use efficiency standards for commercial, industrial, and institutional users among various sectors of water use.
The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Appropriate metrics for evaluating commercial, industrial, and institutional water use.
(b) Evaluation of water demands for manufacturing processes, goods, and cooling. (c) Evaluation of public infrastructure necessary for delivery of recycled water to the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors.
(d) Evaluation of institutional and economic barriers to increased recycled water use within the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors. (e) Identification of technical feasibility and cost of the best management practices to achieve more efficient water use statewide in the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors that is consistent with the public interest and reflects past investments in water use efficiency.
Section 10608.44.
Each state agency shall reduce water use at facilities it operates to support urban retail water suppliers in meeting the target identified in Section 10608.16.
Chapter 5. Sustainable Water Management,
Section 10608.50
Section 10608.50.
(a) The department, in consultation with the board, shall promote implementation of regional water resources management practices through increased incentives and removal of barriers consistent with state and federal law.
Potential changes may include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
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(1) Revisions to the requirements for urban and agricultural water management plans.
(2) Revisions to the requirements for integrated regional water management plans.
(3) Revisions to the eligibility for state water management grants and loans. (4) Revisions to state or local permitting requirements that increase water supply opportunities, but do not weaken water quality protection under state and federal law.
(5) Increased funding for research, feasibility studies, and project construction.
(6) Expanding technical and educational support for local land use and water management agencies.
(b) No later than January 1, 2011, and updated as part of the California Water Plan, the department, in consultation with the board, and with public input, shall propose new statewide targets, or review and update existing statewide targets, for regional water resources management practices, including, but not limited to, recycled water, brackish groundwater desalination, and infiltration and direct use of urban stormwater runoff.
Chapter 6. Standardized Data Collection,
Section 10608.52
Section 10608.52.
(a) The department, in consultation with the board, the California Bay-Delta Authority or its successor agency, the State Department of Public Health, and the Public Utilities Commission, shall develop a single standardized water use reporting form to meet the water use information needs of each agency, including the needs of urban water suppliers that elect to determine and report progress toward achieving targets on a regional basis as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 10608.28.
(b) At a minimum, the form shall be developed to accommodate information sufficient to assess an urban water supplier’s compliance with conservation targets pursuant to Section 10608.24 and an agricultural water supplier’s compliance with implementation of efficient water management practices pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10608.48. The form shall accommodate reporting by urban water suppliers on an individual or regional basis as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 10608.28.
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Chapter 7. Funding Provisions, Sections 10608.56–
10608.60
Section 10608.56.
(a) On and after July 1, 2016, an urban retail water supplier is not eligible for a water grant or loan awarded or administered by the state unless the supplier complies with this part.
(b) On and after July 1, 2013, an agricultural water supplier is not eligible for a water grant or loan awarded or administered by the state unless the supplier complies with this part.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department shall determine that an urban retail water supplier is eligible for a water grant or loan even though the supplier has not met the per capita reductions required pursuant to Section 10608.24, if the urban retail water supplier has submitted to the department for approval a schedule, financing plan, and budget, to be included in the grant or loan agreement, for achieving the per capita reductions. The supplier may request grant or loan funds to achieve the per capita reductions to the extent the request is consistent with the eligibility requirements applicable to the water funds.
(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), the department shall determine that an agricultural water supplier is eligible for a water grant or loan even though the supplier is not implementing all of the efficient water management practices described in Section 10608.48, if the agricultural water supplier has submitted to the department for approval a schedule, financing plan, and budget, to be included in the grant or loan agreement, for implementation of the efficient water management practices. The supplier may request grant or loan funds to implement the efficient water management practices to the extent the request is consistent with the eligibility requirements applicable to the water funds. (e) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department shall determine that an urban retail water supplier is eligible for a water grant or loan even though the supplier has not met the per capita reductions required pursuant to Section 10608.24, if the urban retail water supplier has submitted to the department for approval documentation demonstrating that its entire service area qualifies as a disadvantaged community.
(f) The department shall not deny eligibility to an urban retail water supplier or agricultural water supplier in compliance with the requirements of this part and Part 2.8 (commencing with Section 10800), that is participating in a multiagency water project, or an integrated regional water management plan, developed pursuant to Section 75026 of the Public Resources Code, solely on the basis that one or more of the agencies participating in the project or plan DRAFT
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is not implementing all of the requirements of this part or Part 2.8 (commencing with Section 10800).
Section 10608.60.
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that funds made available by Section 75026 of the Public Resources Code should be expended, consistent with Division 43 (commencing with Section 75001) of the Public Resources Code and upon appropriation by the Legislature, for grants to implement this part. In the allocation of funding, it is the intent of the Legislature that the department give consideration to disadvantaged communities to assist in implementing the requirements of this part.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that funds made available by Section 75041 of the Public Resources Code, should be expended, consistent with Division 43 (commencing with Section 75001) of the Public Resources Code and upon appropriation by the Legislature, for direct expenditures to implement this part.
Chapter 9. Urban Water Use Objectives and Water Use
Reporting, Sections 10609–10609.38
Section 10609.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that this chapter establishes a method to estimate the aggregate amount of water that would have been delivered the previous year by an urban retail water supplier if all that water had been used efficiently. This estimated aggregate water use is the urban retail water supplier’s urban water use objective. The method is based on water use efficiency standards and local service area characteristics for that year. By comparing the amount of water actually used in the previous year with the urban water use objective, local urban water suppliers will be in a better position to help eliminate unnecessary use of water; that is, water used in excess of that needed to accomplish the intended beneficial use. (b) The Legislature further finds and declares all of the following:
(1) This chapter establishes standards and practices for the following water uses:
(A) Indoor residential use.
(B) Outdoor residential use.
(C) CII water use.
(D) Water losses.
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(E) Other unique local uses and situations that can have a material effect on an urban water supplier’s total water use.
(2) This chapter further does all of the following:
(A) Establishes a method to calculate each urban water use objective. (B) Considers recycled water quality in establishing efficient irrigation standards.
(C) Requires the department to provide or otherwise identify data regarding the unique local conditions to support the calculation of an urban water use objective.
(D) Provides for the use of alternative sources of data if alternative sources are shown to be as accurate as, or more accurate than, the data provided by the department.
(E) Requires annual reporting of the previous year’s water use with the urban water use objective.
(F) Provides a bonus incentive for the amount of potable recycled water used the previous year when comparing the previous year’s water use with the urban water use objective, of up to 10 percent of the urban water use objective.
(3) This chapter requires the department and the board to solicit broad public participation from stakeholders and other interested persons in the development of the standards and the adoption of regulations pursuant to this chapter.
(4) This chapter preserves the Legislature’s authority over long- term water use efficiency target setting and ensures appropriate legislative oversight of the implementation of this chapter by doing all of the following:
(A) Requiring the Legislative Analyst to conduct a review of the implementation of this chapter, including compliance with the adopted standards and regulations, accuracy of the data, use of alternate data, and other issues the Legislative Analyst deems appropriate.
(B) Stating legislative intent that the director of the department and the chairperson of the board appear before the appropriate Senate and Assembly policy committees to report on progress in implementing this chapter.
(C) Providing one-time-only authority to the department and board to adopt water use efficiency standards, except as explicitly provided in this chapter. Authorization to update the standards shall require separate legislation.
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(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the following principles apply to the development and implementation of long-term standards and urban water use objectives:
(1) Local urban retail water suppliers should have primary responsibility for meeting standards-based water use targets, and they shall retain the flexibility to develop their water supply portfolios, design and implement water conservation strategies, educate their customers, and enforce their rules.
(2) Long-term standards and urban water use objectives should advance the state’s goals to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
(3) Long-term standards and urban water use objectives should acknowledge the shade, air quality, and heat-island reduction benefits provided to communities by trees through the support of water-efficient irrigation practices that keep trees healthy.
(4) The state should identify opportunities for streamlined reporting, eliminate redundant data submissions, and incentivize open access to data collected by urban and agricultural water suppliers.
Section 10609.2.
(a) The board, in coordination with the department, shall adopt long-term standards for the efficient use of water pursuant to this chapter on or before June 30, 2022.
(b) Standards shall be adopted for all of the following:
(1) Outdoor residential water use.
(2) Outdoor irrigation of landscape areas with dedicated irrigation meters in connection with CII water use.
(3) A volume for water loss.
(c) When adopting the standards under this section, the board shall consider the policies of this chapter and the proposed efficiency standards’ effects on local wastewater management, developed and natural parklands, and urban tree health. The standards and potential effects shall be identified by May 30, 2022.
The board shall allow for public comment on potential effects identified by the board under this subdivision.
(d) The long-term standards shall be set at a level designed so that the water use objectives, together with other demands excluded from the long-term standards such as CII indoor water use and CII outdoor water use not connected to a dedicated landscape meter, would exceed the statewide conservation targets required pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 10608.16).
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(e) The board, in coordination with the department, shall adopt by regulation variances recommended by the department pursuant to Section 10609.14 and guidelines and methodologies pertaining to the calculation of an urban retail water supplier’s urban water use objective recommended by the department pursuant to Section 10609.16.
Section 10609.4.
(a)
(1) Until January 1, 2025, the standard for indoor residential water use shall be 55 gallons per capita daily.
(2) Beginning January 1, 2025, and until January 1, 2030, the standard for indoor residential water use shall be 47 gallons per capita daily. (3) Beginning January 1, 2030, the standard for indoor residential water use shall be 42 gallons per capita daily.
(b)
(1) The department, in coordination with the board, shall conduct necessary studies and investigations to assess and quantify the economic benefits and impacts of the 2030 indoor residential use standard on water, wastewater, and recycled water systems and shall include saturation enduse studies. The studies and investigations shall build on the standards and potential effects identified pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 10609.2 and shall also consider, and as appropriate incorporate, other regional and statewide studies that quantify the impacts on water, wastewater, and recycled water systems, and evaluate the long-term effects of telework. To facilitate these studies and investigations, the board may request necessary and relevant information from wastewater agencies, including monthly influent flow, actions taken to reassess treatment processes, and the impact of the implementation of this chapter on wastewater operations, maintenance, and capital investment.
The department, in coordination with the board, shall summarize the findings of these studies and investigations in a report to the Legislature on or before October 1, 2028. The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(2) If the department, in coordination with the board, determines that the 2030 indoor residential use standard is likely to unduly impact affordability of water and wastewater services, the department and the board may jointly recommend to the Legislature an alternate date on which the 2030 indoor residential use standard shall take effect. This determination shall be made using at least two years of data reflecting application of the 2025 indoor residential use standard.
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(3) Based upon the studies and investigations conducted pursuant to paragraph (1), the department shall consider whether to recommend, for adoption by the board, additional variances to accommodate unique challenges related to residential indoor water use pursuant to Section 10609.2. Variance options may include, but are not limited to, stranded assets, impacts on disadvantaged communities, impacts to environmental flows, or adverse impacts to wastewater or recycled water operations.
(4) The studies, investigations, and report described in paragraph (1) shall include timely and inclusive collaboration with, and input from, a broad group of stakeholders, including, but not limited to, environmental groups, experts in indoor plumbing, water, wastewater, and recycled water agencies.
(c) An urban retail water supplier shall not be subject to enforcement pursuant to this chapter solely for failing to meet the indoor residential use standard.
Section 10609.6.
(a)
(1) The department, in coordination with the board, shall conduct necessary studies and investigations and recommend, no later than October 1, 2021, standards for outdoor residential use for adoption by the board in accordance with this chapter.
(2)
(A) The standards shall incorporate the principles of the model water efficient landscape ordinance adopted by the department pursuant to the Water Conservation in Landscaping Act (Article 10.8 (commencing with Section 65591) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code).
(B) The standards shall apply to irrigable lands.
(C) The standards shall include provisions for swimming pools, spas, and other water features. Ornamental water features that are artificially supplied with water, including ponds, lakes, waterfalls, and fountains, shall be analyzed separately from swimming pools and spas. (b) The department shall, by January 1, 2021, provide each urban retail water supplier with data regarding the area of residential irrigable lands in a manner that can reasonably be applied to the standards adopted pursuant to this section.
(c) The department shall not recommend standards pursuant to this section until it has conducted pilot projects or studies, or some combination of the two, to ensure that the data provided to local agencies are reasonably accurate for the DRAFT
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data’s intended uses, taking into consideration California’s diverse landscapes and community characteristics.
Section 10609.8.
(a) The department, in coordination with the board, shall conduct necessary studies and investigations and recommend, no later than October 1, 2021, standards for outdoor irrigation of landscape areas with dedicated irrigation meters or other means of calculating outdoor irrigation use in connection with CII water use for adoption by the board in accordance with this chapter. (b) The standards shall incorporate the principles of the model water efficient landscape ordinance adopted by the department pursuant to the Water Conservation in Landscaping Act (Article 10.8 (commencing with Section 65591) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code). (c) The standards shall include an exclusion for water for commercial agricultural use meeting the definition of subdivision (b) of Section 51201 of the Government Code.
Section 10609.9.
For purposes of Sections 10609.6 and 10609.8, “principles of the model water efficient landscape ordinance” means those provisions of the model water efficient landscape ordinance applicable to the establishment or determination of the amount of water necessary to efficiently irrigate both new and existing landscapes.
These provisions include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(a) Evapotranspiration adjustment factors, as applicable. (b) Landscape area.
(c) Maximum applied water allowance.
(d) Reference evapotranspiration.
(e) Special landscape areas, including provisions governing evapotranspiration adjustment factors for different types of water used for irrigating the landscape.
Section 10609.10.
(a) The department, in coordination with the board, shall conduct necessary studies and investigations and recommend, no later than October 1, 2021, performance measures for CII water use for adoption by the board in accordance with this chapter.
(b) Prior to recommending performance measures for CII water use, the department shall solicit broad public participation from stakeholders and other interested persons relating to all of the following:
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(1) Recommendations for a CII water use classification system for California that address significant uses of water.
(2) Recommendations for setting minimum size thresholds for converting mixed CII meters to dedicated irrigation meters, and evaluation of, and recommendations for, technologies that could be used in lieu of requiring dedicated irrigation meters.
(3) Recommendations for CII water use best management practices, which may include, but are not limited to, water audits and water management plans for those CII customers that exceed a recommended size, volume of water use, or other threshold.
(c) Recommendations of appropriate performance measures for CII water use shall be consistent with the October 21, 2013, report to the Legislature by the Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Task Force entitled “Water Use Best Management Practices,” including the technical and financial feasibility recommendations provided in that report, and shall support the economic productivity of California’s commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors. (b)
(1) The board, in coordination with the department, shall adopt performance measures for CII water use on or before June 30, 2022.
(2) Each urban retail water supplier shall implement the performance measures adopted by the board pursuant to paragraph (1).
Section 10609.12.
The standards for water loss for urban retail water suppliers shall be the standards adopted by the board pursuant to subdivision (i) of Section 10608.34.
Section 10609.14.
(a) The department, in coordination with the board, shall conduct necessary studies and investigations and, no later than October 1, 2021, recommend for adoption by the board in accordance with this chapter appropriate variances for unique uses that can have a material effect on an urban retail water supplier’s urban water use objective.
(b) Appropriate variances may include, but are not limited to, allowances for the following:
(1) Significant use of evaporative coolers.
(2) Significant populations of horses and other livestock. (3) Significant fluctuations in seasonal populations.
(4) Significant landscaped areas irrigated with recycled water having high levels of total dissolved solids.
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(5) Significant use of water for soil compaction and dust control. (6) Significant use of water to supplement ponds and lakes to sustain wildlife. (7) Significant use of water to irrigate vegetation for fire protection. (8) Significant use of water for commercial or noncommercial agricultural use. (d) The department, in recommending variances for adoption by the board, shall also recommend a threshold of significance for each recommended variance. (e) Before including any specific variance in calculating an urban retail water supplier’s water use objective, the urban retail water supplier shall request and receive approval by the board for the inclusion of that variance. (f) The board shall post on its Internet Web site all of the following:
(1) A list of all urban retail water suppliers with approved variances. (2) The specific variance or variances approved for each urban retail water supplier.
(3) The data supporting approval of each variance.
Section 10609.15.
To help streamline water data reporting, the department and the board shall do all of the following:
(a) Identify urban water reporting requirements shared by both agencies, and post on each agency’s Internet Web site how the data is used for planning, regulatory, or other purposes.
(b) Analyze opportunities for more efficient publication of urban water reporting requirements within each agency, and analyze how each agency can integrate various data sets in a publicly accessible location, identify priority actions, and implement priority actions identified in the analysis.
(c) Make appropriate data pertaining to the urban water reporting requirements that are collected by either agency available to the public according to the principles and requirements of the Open and Transparent Water Data Act (Part 4.9 (commencing with Section 12400)).
Section 10609.16.
The department, in coordination with the board, shall conduct necessary studies and investigations and recommend, no later than October 1, 2021, guidelines and methodologies for the board to adopt that identify how an urban retail water supplier calculates its urban water use objective. The guidelines and methodologies shall address, as necessary, all of the following:
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(a) Determining the irrigable lands within the urban retail water supplier’s service area.
(b) Updating and revising methodologies described pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (h) of Section 10608.20, as appropriate, including methodologies for calculating the population in an urban retail water supplier’s service area.
(c) Using landscape area data provided by the department or alternative data. (d) Incorporating precipitation data and climate data into estimates of a urban retail water supplier’s outdoor irrigation budget for its urban water use objective.
(e) Estimating changes in outdoor landscape area and population, and calculating the urban water use objective, for years when updated landscape imagery is not available from the department.
(f) Determining acceptable levels of accuracy for the supporting data, the urban water use objective, and compliance with the urban water use objective.
Section 10609.18.
The department and the board shall solicit broad public participation from stakeholders and other interested persons in the development of the standards and the adoption of regulations pursuant to this chapter. The board shall hold at least one public meeting before taking any action on any standard or variance recommended by the department.
Section 10609.20.
(a) Each urban retail water supplier shall calculate its urban water use objective no later than January 1, 2024, and by January 1 every year thereafter. (b) The calculation shall be based on the urban retail water supplier’s water use conditions for the previous calendar or fiscal year.
(c) Each urban water supplier’s urban water use objective shall be composed of the sum of the following:
(1) Aggregate estimated efficient indoor residential water use. (2) Aggregate estimated efficient outdoor residential water use. (3) Aggregate estimated efficient outdoor irrigation of landscape areas with dedicated irrigation meters or equivalent technology in connection with CII water use.
(4) Aggregate estimated efficient water losses.
(5) Aggregate estimated water use in accordance with variances, as appropriate.
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(d)
(1) An urban retail water supplier that delivers water from a groundwater basin, reservoir, or other source that is augmented by potable reuse water may adjust its urban water use objective by a bonus incentive calculated pursuant to this subdivision.
(2) The water use objective bonus incentive shall be the volume of its potable reuse delivered to residential water users and to landscape areas with dedicated irrigation meters in connection with CII water use, on an acrefoot basis. (3) The bonus incentive pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be limited in accordance with one of the following:
(A) The bonus incentive shall not exceed 15 percent of the urban water supplier’s water use objective for any potable reuse water produced at an existing facility.
(B) The bonus incentive shall not exceed 10 percent of the urban water supplier’s water use objective for any potable reuse water produced at any facility that is not an existing facility.
(4) For purposes of this subdivision, “existing facility” means a facility that meets all of the following:
(A) The facility has a certified environmental impact report, mitigated negative declaration, or negative declaration on or before January 1, 2019.
(B) The facility begins producing and delivering potable reuse water on or before January 1, 2022.
(C) The facility uses microfiltration and reverse osmosis technologies to produce the potable reuse water.
(e)
(1) The calculation of the urban water use objective shall be made using landscape area and other data provided by the department and pursuant to the standards, guidelines, and methodologies adopted by the board.
The department shall provide data to the urban water supplier at a level of detail sufficient to allow the urban water supplier to verify its accuracy at the parcel level.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an urban retail water supplier may use alternative data in calculating the urban water use objective if the supplier demonstrates to the department that the alternative data are equivalent, or superior, in quality and accuracy to the data provided by the department. The department may provide technical assistance to an DRAFT
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urban retail water supplier in evaluating whether the alternative data are appropriate for use in calculating the supplier’s urban water use objective.
Section 10609.21.
(a) For purposes of Section 10609.20, and notwithstanding paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 10609.20, “existing facility” also includes the North City Project, phase one of the Pure Water San Diego Program, for which an environmental impact report was certified on April 10, 2018. (b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2019.
Section 10609.22.
(a) An urban retail water supplier shall calculate its actual urban water use no later than January 1, 2024, and by January 1 every year thereafter. (b) The calculation shall be based on the urban retail water supplier’s water use for the previous calendar or fiscal year.
(c) Each urban water supplier’s urban water use shall be composed of the sum of the following:
(1) Aggregate residential water use.
(2) Aggregate outdoor irrigation of landscape areas with dedicated irrigation meters in connection with CII water use.
(3) Aggregate water losses.
Section 10609.24.
(a) An urban retail water supplier shall submit a report to the department no later than January 1, 2024, and by January 1 every year thereafter. The report shall include all of the following:
(1) The urban water use objective calculated pursuant to Section 10609.20 along with relevant supporting data.
(2) The actual urban water use calculated pursuant to Section 10609.22 along with relevant supporting data.
(3) Documentation of the implementation of the performance measures for CII water use.
(4) A description of the progress made towards meeting the urban water use objective.
(5) The validated water loss audit report conducted pursuant to Section 10608.34.
(b) The department shall post the reports and information on its internet website.
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(c) The board may issue an information order or conservation order to, or impose civil liability on, an entity or individual for failure to submit a report required by this section.
Section 10609.25.
As part of the first report submitted to the department by an urban retail water supplier no later than January 1, 2024, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10609.24, each urban retail water supplier shall provide a narrative that describes the water demand management measures that the supplier plans to implement to achieve its urban water use objective by January 1, 2027.
Section 10609.26.
(a)
(1) On and after January 1, 2024, the board may issue informational orders pertaining to water production, water use, and water conservation to an urban retail water supplier that does not meet its urban water use objective required by this chapter. Informational orders are intended to obtain information on supplier activities, water production, and conservation efforts in order to identify technical assistance needs and assist urban water suppliers in meeting their urban water use objectives. (2) In determining whether to issue an informational order, the board shall consider the degree to which the urban retail water supplier is not meeting its urban water use objective, information provided in the report required by Section 10609.24, and actions the urban retail water supplier has implemented or will implement in order to help meet the urban water use objective.
(3) The board shall share information received pursuant to this subdivision with the department.
(4) An urban water supplier may request technical assistance from the department. The technical assistance may, to the extent available, include guidance documents, tools, and data.
(b) On and after January 1, 2025, the board may issue a written notice to an urban retail water supplier that does not meet its urban water use objective required by this chapter. The written notice may warn the urban retail water supplier that it is not meeting its urban water use objective described in Section 10609.20 and is not making adequate progress in meeting the urban water use objective, and may request that the urban retail water supplier address areas of concern in its next annual report required by Section 10609.24. In deciding whether to issue a written notice, the board may consider whether the urban retail water supplier has received an informational order, the degree to which the urban retail water supplier is not DRAFT
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meeting its urban water use objective, information provided in the report required by Section 10609.24, and actions the urban retail water supplier has implemented or will implement in order to help meet its urban water use objective.
(1) On and after January 1, 2026, the board may issue a conservation order to an urban retail water supplier that does not meet its urban water use objective. A conservation order may consist of, but is not limited to, referral to the department for technical assistance, requirements for education and outreach, requirements for local enforcement, and other efforts to assist urban retail water suppliers in meeting their urban water use objective.
(2) In issuing a conservation order, the board shall identify specific deficiencies in an urban retail water supplier’s progress towards meeting its urban water use objective, and identify specific actions to address the deficiencies.
(3) The board may request that the department provide an urban retail water supplier with technical assistance to support the urban retail water supplier’s actions to remedy the deficiencies.
(c) A conservation order issued in accordance with this chapter may include requiring actions intended to increase water-use efficiency, but shall not curtail or otherwise limit the exercise of a water right, nor shall it require the imposition of civil liability pursuant to Section 377.
Section 10609.27.
Notwithstanding Section 10609.26, the board shall not issue an information order, written notice, or conservation order pursuant to Section 10609.26 if both of the following conditions are met:
(a) The board determines that the urban retail water supplier is not meeting its urban water use objective solely because the volume of water loss exceeds the urban retail water supplier’s standard for water loss.
(b) Pursuant to Section 10608.34, the board is taking enforcement action against the urban retail water supplier for not meeting the performance standards for the volume of water losses.
Section 10609.28.
The board may issue a regulation or informational order requiring a wholesale water supplier, an urban retail water supplier, or a distributor of a public water supply, as that term is used in Section 350, to provide a monthly report relating to water production, water use, or water conservation.
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Section 10609.30.
On or before January 10, 2024, the Legislative Analyst shall provide to the appropriate policy committees of both houses of the Legislature and the public a report evaluating the implementation of the water use efficiency standards and water use reporting pursuant to this chapter. The board and the department shall provide the Legislative Analyst with the available data to complete this report. (a) The report shall describe all of the following:
(1) The rate at which urban retail water users are complying with the standards, and factors that might facilitate or impede their compliance. (2) The accuracy of the data and estimates being used to calculate urban water use objectives.
(3) Indications of the economic impacts, if any, of the implementation of this chapter on urban water suppliers and urban water users, including CII water users.
(4) The frequency of use of the bonus incentive, the volume of water associated with the bonus incentive, value to urban water suppliers of the bonus incentive, and any implications of the use of the bonus incentive on water use efficiency.
(5) The early indications of how implementing this chapter might impact the efficiency of statewide urban water use.
6) Recommendations, if any, for improving statewide urban water use efficiency and the standards and practices described in this chapter. (7) Any other issues the Legislative Analyst deems appropriate.
Section 10609.32.
It is the intent of the Legislature that the chairperson of the board and the director of the department appear before the appropriate policy committees of both houses of the Legislature on or around January 1, 2026, and report on the implementation of the water use efficiency standards and water use reporting pursuant to this chapter. It is the intent of the Legislature that the topics to be covered include all of the following:
(a) The rate at which urban retail water suppliers are complying with the standards, and factors that might facilitate or impede their compliance. (b) What enforcement actions have been taken, if any.
(c) The accuracy of the data and estimates being used to calculate urban water use objectives.
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(d) Indications of the economic impacts, if any, of the implementation of this chapter on urban water suppliers and urban water users, including CII water users.
(e) The frequency of use of the bonus incentive, the volume of water associated with the bonus incentive, value to urban water suppliers of the bonus incentive, and any implications of the use of the bonus incentive on water use efficiency.
(f) An assessment of how implementing this chapter is affecting the efficiency of statewide urban water use.
Section 10609.34.
Notwithstanding Section 15300.2 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, an action of the board taken under this chapter shall be deemed to be a Class 8 action, within the meaning of Section 15308 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, provided that the action does not involve relaxation of existing water conservation or water use standards.
Section 10609.36.
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to determine or alter water rights.
Sections 1010 and 1011 apply to water conserved through implementation of this chapter.
(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize the board to update or revise water use efficiency standards authorized by this chapter except as explicitly provided in this chapter. Authorization to update the standards beyond that explicitly provided in this chapter shall require separate legislation.
(c) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit or otherwise affect the use of recycled water as seawater barriers for groundwater salinity management.
Section 10609.38.
The board may waive the requirements of this chapter for a period of up to five years for any urban retail water supplier whose water deliveries are significantly affected by changes in water use as a result of damage from a disaster such as an earthquake or fire. In establishing the period of a waiver, the board shall take into consideration the breadth of the damage and the time necessary for the damaged areas to recover from the disaster.
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Urban Water Management Planning Act
This section contains information extracted from Water Code Division 6, Conservation, Development, and Utilization of State Water Resources, Part 2.6, Urban Water Management Planning. Click on any section header below to read Water Code directly at the California Legislative Information website.
Chapter 1. General Declaration and Policy,
Sections 10610–10610.4
Section 10610.
This part shall be known and may be cited as the “Urban Water Management Planning Act.”
Section 10610.2.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1) The waters of the state are a limited and renewable resource subject to ever-increasing demands.
(2) The conservation and efficient use of urban water supplies are of statewide concern; however, the planning for that use and the implementation of those plans can best be accomplished at the local level. (3) A long-term, reliable supply of water is essential to protect the productivity of California’s businesses and economic climate, and increasing long-term water conservation among Californians, improving water use efficiency within the state’s communities and agricultural production, and strengthening local and regional drought planning are critical to California’s resilience to drought and climate change. (4) As part of its long-range planning activities, every urban water supplier should make every effort to ensure the appropriate level of reliability in its water service sufficient to meet the needs of its various categories of customers during normal, dry, and multiple dry water years now and into the foreseeable future, and every urban water supplier should collaborate closely with local land-use authorities to ensure water demand forecasts are consistent with current land-use planning.
(5) Public health issues have been raised over a number of contaminants that have been identified in certain local and imported water supplies. (6) Implementing effective water management strategies, including groundwater storage projects and recycled water projects, may require DRAFT
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specific water quality and salinity targets for meeting groundwater basins water quality objectives and promoting beneficial use of recycled water. (7) Water quality regulations are becoming an increasingly important factor in water agencies’ selection of raw water sources, treatment alternatives, and modifications to existing treatment facilities.
(8) Changes in drinking water quality standards may also impact the usefulness of water supplies and may ultimately impact supply reliability. (9) The quality of source supplies can have a significant impact on water management strategies and supply reliability.
(b) This part is intended to provide assistance to water agencies in carrying out their long-term resource planning responsibilities to ensure adequate water supplies to meet existing and future demands for water.
Section 10610.4.
The Legislature finds and declares that it is the policy of the state as follows:
(a) The management of urban water demands and efficient use of water shall be actively pursued to protect both the people of the state and their water resources.
(b) The management of urban water demands and efficient use of urban water supplies shall be a guiding criterion in public decisions. (c) Urban water suppliers shall be required to develop water management plans to achieve the efficient use of available supplies and strengthen local drought planning.
Chapter 2. Definitions, Sections 10611–10618
Section 10611.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions of this chapter govern the construction of this part.
Section 10611.3.
“Customer” means a purchaser of water from a water supplier who uses the water for municipal purposes, including residential, commercial, governmental, and industrial uses.
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Section 10611.5.
“Demand management” means those water conservation measures, programs, and incentives that prevent the waste of water and promote the reasonable and efficient use and reuse of available supplies.
Section 10612.
“Drought risk assessment” means a method that examines water shortage risks based on the driest five-year historic sequence for the agency’s water supply, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 10635.
Section 10613.
“Efficient use” means those management measures that result in the most effective use of water so as to prevent its waste or unreasonable use or unreasonable method of use.
Section 10614.
“Person” means any individual, firm, association, organization, partnership, business, trust, corporation, company, public agency, or any agency of such an entity.
Section 10615.
“Plan” means an urban water management plan prepared pursuant to this part. A plan shall describe and evaluate sources of supply, reasonable and practical efficient uses, reclamation and demand management activities. The components of the plan may vary according to an individual community or area's characteristics and its capabilities to efficiently use and conserve water. The plan shall address measures for residential, commercial, governmental, and industrial water demand management as set forth in Article 2 (commencing with Section 10630) of Chapter 3. In addition, a strategy and time schedule for implementation shall be included in the plan.
Section 10616.
“Public agency” means any board, commission, county, city and county, city, regional agency, district, or other public entity.
Section 10616.5.
“Recycled water” means the reclamation and reuse of wastewater for beneficial use.
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Section 10617.
“Urban water supplier” means a supplier, either publicly or privately owned, providing water for municipal purposes either directly or indirectly to more than 3,000 customers or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet of water annually. An urban water supplier includes a supplier or contractor for water, regardless of the basis of right, which distributes or sells for ultimate resale to customers. This part applies only to water supplied from public water systems subject to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 116275) of Part 12 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code.
Section 10617.5.
“Water shortage contingency plan” means a document that incorporates the provisions detailed in subdivision (a) of Section 10632 and is subsequently adopted by an urban water supplier pursuant to this article.
Section 10618.
“Water supply and demand assessment” means a method that looks at current year and one or more dry year supplies and demands for determining water shortage risks, as described in Section 10632.1.
Chapter 3. Urban Water Management Plans
Article 1. General Provisions, Sections 10620–10621
Section 10620.
(a) Every urban water supplier shall prepare and adopt an urban water management plan in the manner set forth in Article 3 (commencing with Section 10640).
(b) Every person that becomes an urban water supplier shall adopt an urban water management plan within one year after it has become an urban water supplier.
(c) An urban water supplier indirectly providing water shall not include planning elements in its water management plan as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 10630) that would be applicable to urban water suppliers or public agencies directly providing water, or to their customers, without the consent of those suppliers or public agencies. (d)
(1) An urban water supplier may satisfy the requirements of this part by participation in areawide, regional, watershed, or basinwide urban water DRAFT
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management planning where those plans will reduce preparation costs and contribute to the achievement of conservation, efficient water use, and improved local drought resilience.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), each urban water supplier shall develop its own water shortage contingency plan, but an urban water supplier may incorporate, collaborate, and otherwise share information with other urban water suppliers or other governing entities participating in an areawide, regional, watershed, or basinwide urban water management plan, an agricultural management plan, or groundwater sustainability plan development.
(3) Each urban water supplier shall coordinate the preparation of its plan with other appropriate agencies in the area, including other water suppliers that share a common source, water management agencies, and relevant public agencies, to the extent practicable.
(e) The urban water supplier may prepare the plan with its own staff, by contract, or in cooperation with other governmental agencies.
(f) An urban water supplier shall describe in the plan water management tools and options used by that entity that will maximize resources and minimize the need to import water from other regions.
Section 10621.
(a) Each urban water supplier shall update its plan at least once every five years on or before July 1, in years ending in six and one, incorporating updated and new information from the five years preceding each update. (b) Every urban water supplier required to prepare a plan pursuant to this part shall, at least 60 days before the public hearing on the plan required by Section 10642, notify any city or county within which the supplier provides water supplies that the urban water supplier will be reviewing the plan and considering amendments or changes to the plan.
The urban water supplier may consult with, and obtain comments from, any city or county that receives notice pursuant to this subdivision. (c) An urban water supplier regulated by the Public Utilities Commission shall include its most recent plan and water shortage contingency plan as part of the supplier’s general rate case filings.
(d) The amendments to, or changes in, the plan shall be adopted and filed in the manner set forth in Article 3 (commencing with Section 10640). (e) Each urban water supplier shall update and submit its 2015 plan to the department by July 1, 2016.
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(f) Each urban water supplier shall update and submit its 2020 plan to the department by July 1, 2021.
Article 2. Contents of Plans, Sections 10630–10634
Section 10630.
It is the intention of the Legislature, in enacting this part, to permit levels of water management planning commensurate with the numbers of customers served and the volume of water supplied, while accounting for impacts from climate change.
Section 10630.5.
Each plan shall include a simple lay description of how much water the agency has on a reliable basis, how much it needs for the foreseeable future, what the agency’s strategy is for meeting its water needs, the challenges facing the agency, and any other information necessary to provide a general understanding of the agency’s plan.
Section 10631.
A plan shall be adopted in accordance with this chapter that shall do all of the following:
(a) Describe the service area of the supplier, including current and projected population, climate, and other social, economic, and demographic factors affecting the supplier’s water management planning. The projected population estimates shall be based upon data from the state, regional, or local service agency population projections within the service area of the urban water supplier and shall be in five-year increments to 20 years or as far as data is available. The description shall include the current and projected land uses within the existing or anticipated service area affecting the supplier’s water management planning. Urban water suppliers shall coordinate with local or regional land use authorities to determine the most appropriate land use information, including, where appropriate, land use information obtained from local or regional land use authorities, as developed pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 65300) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code.
(b) Identify and quantify, to the extent practicable, the existing and planned sources of water available to the supplier over the same five-year increments described in subdivision (a), providing supporting and related information, including all of the following:
(1) A detailed discussion of anticipated supply availability under a normal water year, single dry year, and droughts lasting at least five years, as well as more frequent and severe periods of drought, as described in the DRAFT
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drought risk assessment. For each source of water supply, consider any information pertinent to the reliability analysis conducted pursuant to Section 10635, including changes in supply due to climate change. (2) When multiple sources of water supply are identified, a description of the management of each supply in correlation with the other identified supplies.
(3) For any planned sources of water supply, a description of the measures that are being undertaken to acquire and develop those water supplies. (4) If groundwater is identified as an existing or planned source of water available to the supplier, all of the following information:
(A) The current version of any groundwater sustainability plan or alternative adopted pursuant to Part 2.74 (commencing with Section 10720), any groundwater management plan adopted by the urban water supplier, including plans adopted pursuant to Part 2.75 (commencing with Section 10750), or any other specific
authorization for groundwater management for basins underlying the urban water supplier’s service area.
(B) A description of any groundwater basin or basins from which the urban water supplier pumps groundwater.
(C) For basins that a court or the board has adjudicated the rights to pump groundwater, a copy of the order or decree adopted by the court or the board and a description of the amount of groundwater the urban water supplier has the legal right to pump under the order or decree. For a basin that has not been adjudicated, information as to whether the department has identified the basin as a high- or medium-priority basin in the most current official departmental bulletin that characterizes the condition of the groundwater basin, and a detailed description of the efforts being undertaken by the urban water supplier to coordinate with groundwater sustainability agencies or groundwater management agencies listed in subdivision (c) of Section 10723 to maintain or achieve sustainable groundwater conditions in accordance with a groundwater sustainability plan or alternative adopted pursuant to Part 2.74 (commencing with Section 10720).
(D) A detailed description and analysis of the location, amount, and sufficiency of groundwater pumped by the urban water supplier for the past five years. The description and analysis shall be based on information that is reasonably available, including, but not limited to, historic use records.
(E) A detailed description and analysis of the amount and location of groundwater that is projected to be pumped by the urban water DRAFT
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supplier. The description and analysis shall be based on information that is reasonably available, including, but not limited to, historic use records.
(c) Describe the opportunities for exchanges or transfers of water on a short-term or long-term basis.
(d)
(1) For an urban retail water supplier, quantify, to the extent records are available, past and current water use, over the same five-year increments described in subdivision (a), and projected water use, based upon information developed pursuant to subdivision (a), identifying the uses among water use sectors, including, but not necessarily limited to, all of the following:
(A) Single-family residential.
(B) Multifamily.
(C) Commercial.
(D) Industrial.
(E) Institutional and governmental.
(F) Landscape.
(G) Sales to other agencies.
(H) Saline water intrusion barriers, groundwater recharge, or conjunctive use, or any combination thereof.
(I) Agricultural.
(J) Distribution system water loss.
(2) The water use projections shall be in the same five-year increments described in subdivision (a).
(3)
(A) The distribution system water loss shall be quantified for each of the five years preceding the plan update, in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to Section 10608.34.
(B) The distribution system water loss quantification shall be reported in accordance with a worksheet approved or developed by the department through a public process. The water loss quantification worksheet shall be based on the water system balance methodology developed by the American Water Works Association.
(C) In the plan due July 1, 2021, and in each update thereafter, data shall be included to show whether the urban retail water supplier met DRAFT
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the distribution loss standards enacted by the board pursuant to Section 10608.34.
(4)
(A) Water use projections, where available, shall display and account for the water savings estimated to result from adopted codes, standards, ordinances, or transportation and land use plans identified by the urban water supplier, as applicable to the service area. (B) To the extent that an urban water supplier reports the information described in subparagraph (A), an urban water supplier shall do both of the following:
(i) Provide citations of the various codes, standards, ordinances, or transportation and land use plans utilized in making the projections.
(ii) Indicate the extent that the water use projections consider savings from codes, standards, ordinances, or transportation and land use plans. Water use projections that do not account for these water savings shall be noted of that fact.
(a) Provide a description of the supplier’s water demand management measures.
This description shall include all of the following:
(1)
(A) For an urban retail water supplier, as defined in Section 10608.12, a narrative description that addresses the nature and extent of each water demand management measure implemented over the past five years. The narrative shall describe the water demand management measures that the supplier plans to implement to achieve its water use targets pursuant to Section 10608.20.
(B) The narrative pursuant to this paragraph shall include descriptions of the following water demand management measures:
(i) Water waste prevention ordinances.
(ii) Metering.
(iii) Conservation pricing.
(iv) Public education and outreach.
(v) Programs to assess and manage distribution system real loss. (vi) Water conservation program coordination and staffing support. (vii) Other demand management measures that have a significant impact on water use as measured in gallons per capita per day, including innovative measures, if implemented.
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(2) For an urban wholesale water supplier, as defined in Section 10608.12, a narrative description of the items in clauses (ii), (iv), (vi), and (vii) of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1), and a narrative description of its distribution system asset management and wholesale supplier assistance programs.
(f) Include a description of all water supply projects and water supply programs that may be undertaken by the urban water supplier to meet the total projected water use, as established pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10635. The urban water supplier shall include a detailed description of expected future projects and programs that the urban water supplier may implement to increase the amount of the water supply available to the urban water supplier in normal and single-dry water years and for a period of drought lasting five consecutive water years. The description shall identify specific projects and include a description of the increase in water supply that is expected to be available from each project. The description shall include an estimate with regard to the implementation timeline for each project or program.
(g) Describe the opportunities for development of desalinated water, including, but not limited to, ocean water, brackish water, and groundwater, as a long-term supply.
(h) An urban water supplier that relies upon a wholesale agency for a source of water shall provide the wholesale agency with water use projections from that agency for that source of water in five-year increments to 20 years or as far as data is available. The wholesale agency shall provide information to the urban water supplier for inclusion in the urban water supplier’s plan that identifies and quantifies, to the extent practicable, the existing and planned sources of water as required by subdivision (b), available from the wholesale agency to the urban water supplier over the same five- year increments, and during various water-year types in accordance with subdivision (f). An urban water supplier may rely upon water supply information provided by the wholesale agency in fulfilling the plan informational requirements of subdivisions (b) and (f).
Section 10631.1.
(a) The water use projections required by Section 10631 shall include projected water use for single-family and multifamily residential housing needed for lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, as identified in the housing element of any city, county, or city and county in the service area of the supplier.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the identification of projected water use for single-family and multifamily residential housing for lower income households will assist a supplier in complying with the requirement under DRAFT
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Section 65589.7 of the Government Code to grant a priority for the provision of service to housing units affordable to lower income households.
Section 10631.2.
(a) In addition to the requirements of Section 10631, an urban water management plan shall include any of the following information that the urban water supplier can readily obtain:
(1) An estimate of the amount of energy used to extract or divert water supplies.
(2) An estimate of the amount of energy used to convey water supplies to the water treatment plants or distribution systems.
(3) An estimate of the amount of energy used to treat water supplies. (4) An estimate of the amount of energy used to distribute water supplies through its distribution systems.
(5) An estimate of the amount of energy used for treated water supplies in comparison to the amount used for nontreated water supplies. (6) An estimate of the amount of energy used to place water into or withdraw from storage.
(7) Any other energy-related information the urban water supplier deems appropriate.
(b) The department shall include in its guidance for the preparation of urban water management plans a methodology for the voluntary calculation or estimation of the energy intensity of urban water systems. The department may consider studies and calculations conducted by the Public Utilities Commission in developing the methodology.
(c) The Legislature finds and declares that energy use is only one factor in water supply planning and shall not be considered independently of other factors.
Section 10632.
(a) Every urban water supplier shall prepare and adopt a water shortage contingency plan as part of its urban water management plan that consists of each of the following elements:
(1) The analysis of water supply reliability conducted pursuant to Section 10635.
(2) The procedures used in conducting an annual water supply and demand assessment that include, at a minimum, both of the following:
(A) The written decision making process that an urban water supplier will use each year to determine its water supply reliability.
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(B) The key data inputs and assessment methodology used to evaluate the urban water supplier’s water supply reliability for the current year and one dry year, including all of the following:
(i) Current year unconstrained demand, considering weather, growth, and other influencing factors, such as policies to manage current supplies to meet demand objectives in future years, as applicable.
(ii) Current year available supply, considering hydrological and regulatory conditions in the current year and one dry year. The annual supply and demand assessment may consider more than one dry year solely at the discretion of the urban water supplier. (iii) Existing infrastructure capabilities and plausible constraints. (iv) A defined set of locally applicable evaluation criteria that are consistently relied upon for each annual water supply and demand assessment.
(v) A description and quantification of each source of water supply. (3)
(A) Six standard water shortage levels corresponding to progressive ranges of up to 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 percent shortages and greater than 50 percent shortage. Urban water suppliers shall define these shortage levels based on the suppliers’ water supply conditions, including percentage reductions in water supply, changes in groundwater levels, changes in surface elevation or level of subsidence, or other changes in hydrological or other local conditions indicative of the water supply available for use. Shortage levels shall also apply to catastrophic interruption of water supplies, including, but not limited to, a regional power outage, an earthquake, and other potential emergency events.
(B) An urban water supplier with an existing water shortage contingency plan that uses different water shortage levels may comply with the requirement in subparagraph (A) by developing and including a cross- reference relating its existing categories to the six standard water shortage levels.
(4) Shortage response actions that align with the defined shortage levels and include, at a minimum, all of the following:
(A) Locally appropriate supply augmentation actions.
(B) Locally appropriate demand reduction actions to adequately respond to shortages.
(C) Locally appropriate operational changes.
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(D) Additional, mandatory prohibitions against specific water use practices that are in addition to state- mandated prohibitions and appropriate to the local conditions.
(E) For each action, an estimate of the extent to which the gap between supplies and demand will be reduced by implementation of the action.
(5) Communication protocols and procedures to inform customers, the public, interested parties, and local, regional, and state governments, regarding, at a minimum, all of the following:
(A) Any current or predicted shortages as determined by the annual water supply and demand assessment described pursuant to Section 10632.1.
(B) Any shortage response actions triggered or anticipated to be triggered by the annual water supply and demand assessment described pursuant to Section 10632.1.
(C) Any other relevant communications.
(6) For an urban retail water supplier, customer compliance, enforcement, appeal, and exemption procedures for triggered shortage response actions as determined pursuant to Section 10632.2.
(7)
(A) A description of the legal authorities that empower the urban water supplier to implement and enforce its shortage response actions specified in paragraph (4) that may include, but are not limited to, statutory authorities, ordinances, resolutions, and contract provisions.
(B) A statement that an urban water supplier shall declare a water shortage emergency in accordance with Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 350) of Division 1.
(C) A statement that an urban water supplier shall coordinate with any city or county within which it provides water supply services for the possible proclamation of a local emergency, as defined in Section 8558 of the Government Code.
(8) A description of the financial consequences of, and responses for, drought conditions, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(A) A description of potential revenue reductions and expense increases associated with activated shortage response actions described in paragraph (4).
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(B) A description of mitigation actions needed to address revenue reductions and expense increases associated with activated shortage response actions described in paragraph (4).
(C) A description of the cost of compliance with Chapter 3.3 (commencing with Section 365) of Division 1.
(9) For an urban retail water supplier, monitoring and reporting requirements and procedures that ensure appropriate data is collected, tracked, and analyzed for purposes of monitoring customer compliance and to meet state reporting requirements.
(10) Reevaluation and improvement procedures for systematically monitoring and evaluating the functionality of the water shortage contingency plan in order to ensure shortage risk tolerance is adequate and appropriate water shortage mitigation strategies are implemented as needed. (b) For purposes of developing the water shortage contingency plan pursuant to subdivision (a), an urban water supplier shall analyze and define water features that are artificially supplied with water, including ponds, lakes, waterfalls, and fountains, separately from swimming pools and spas, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 115921 of the Health and Safety Code. (c) The urban water supplier shall make available the water shortage contingency plan prepared pursuant to this article to its customers and any city or county within which it provides water supplies no later than 30 days after adoption of the water shortage contingency plan.
Section 10632.1.
An urban water supplier shall conduct an annual water supply and demand assessment pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10632 and, on or before July 1 of each year, submit an annual water shortage assessment report to the department with information for anticipated shortage, triggered shortage response actions, compliance and enforcement actions, and communication actions consistent with the supplier’s water shortage contingency plan. An urban water supplier that relies on imported water from the State Water Project or the Bureau of Reclamation shall submit its annual water supply and demand assessment within 14 days of receiving its final allocations, or by July 1 of each year, whichever is later.
Section 10632.2.
An urban water supplier shall follow, where feasible and appropriate, the prescribed procedures and implement determined shortage response actions in its water shortage contingency plan, as identified in subdivision (a) of Section 10632, or reasonable alternative actions, provided that descriptions of the alternative actions are submitted with the annual water shortage assessment report pursuant to Section 10632.1. Nothing in this section prohibits an urban water supplier from DRAFT
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taking actions not specified in its water shortage contingency plan, if needed, without having to formally amend its urban water management plan or water shortage contingency plan.
Section 10632.3.
It is the intent of the Legislature that, upon proclamation by the Governor of a state of emergency under the California Emergency Services Act (Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 8550) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code) based on drought conditions, the board defer to implementation of locally adopted water shortage contingency plans to the extent practicable.
Section 10632.5.
(a) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (3) of subdivision of Section 10632, beginning January 1, 2020, the plan shall include a seismic risk assessment and mitigation plan to assess the vulnerability of each of the various facilities of a water system and mitigate those vulnerabilities. (b) An urban water supplier shall update the seismic risk assessment and mitigation plan when updating its urban water management plan as required by Section 10621.
(c) An urban water supplier may comply with this section by submitting, pursuant to Section 10644, a copy of the most recent adopted local hazard mitigation plan or multihazard mitigation plan under the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106- 390) if the local hazard mitigation plan or multihazard mitigation plan addresses seismic risk.
Section 10633.
The plan shall provide, to the extent available, information on recycled water and its potential for use as a water source in the service area of the urban water supplier. The preparation of the plan shall be coordinated with local water, wastewater, groundwater, and planning agencies that operate within the supplier’s service area, and shall include all of the following:
(a) A description of the wastewater collection and treatment systems in the supplier’s service area, including a quantification of the amount of wastewater collected and treated and the methods of wastewater disposal. (b) A description of the quantity of treated wastewater that meets recycled water standards, is being discharged, and is otherwise available for use in a recycled water project.
(c) A description of the recycled water currently being used in the supplier’s service area, including, but not limited to, the type, place, and quantity of use.
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(d) A description and quantification of the potential uses of recycled water, including, but not limited to, agricultural irrigation, landscape irrigation, wildlife habitat enhancement, wetlands, industrial reuse, groundwater recharge, indirect potable reuse, and other appropriate uses, and a determination with regard to the technical and economic feasibility of serving those uses. (e) The projected use of recycled water within the supplier’s service area at the end of 5, 10, 15, and 20 years, and a description of the actual use of recycled water in comparison to uses previously projected pursuant to this subdivision. (f) A description of actions, including financial incentives, which may be taken to encourage the use of recycled water, and the projected results of these actions in terms of acre-feet of recycled water used per year.
(g) A plan for optimizing the use of recycled water in the supplier’s service area, including actions to facilitate the installation of dual distribution systems, to promote recirculating uses, to facilitate the increased use of treated wastewater that meets recycled water standards, and to overcome any obstacles to achieving that increased use.
Section 10634.
The plan shall include information, to the extent practicable, relating to the quality of existing sources of water available to the supplier over the same five-year increments as described in subdivision (a) of Section 10631, and the manner in which water quality affects water management strategies and supply reliability.
Article 2.5. Water Service Reliability, Section 10635
Section 10635.
(a) Every urban water supplier shall include, as part of its urban water management plan, an assessment of the reliability of its water service to its customers during normal, dry, and multiple dry water years. This water supply and demand assessment shall compare the total water supply sources available to the water supplier with the long-term total projected water use over the next 20 years, in five-year increments, for a normal water year, a single dry water year, and a drought lasting five consecutive water years. The water service reliability assessment shall be based upon the information compiled pursuant to Section 10631, including available data from state, regional, or local agency population projections within the service area of the urban water supplier.
(b) Every urban water supplier shall include, as part of its urban water management plan, a drought risk assessment for its water service to its customers as part of information considered in developing the demand management measures and water supply projects and programs to be included DRAFT
Appendix A
California Water Code—Urban Water Management Planning
Informational Purposes Only
January 2026 A-55
in the urban water management plan. The urban water supplier may conduct an interim update or updates to this drought risk assessment within the fiveyear cycle of its urban water management plan update. The drought risk assessment shall include each of the following:
(1) A description of the data, methodology, and basis for one or more supply shortage conditions that are necessary to conduct a drought risk assessment for a drought period that lasts five consecutive water years, starting from the year following when the assessment is conducted. (2) A determination of the reliability of each source of supply under a variety of water shortage conditions. This may include a determination that a particular source of water supply is fully reliable under most, if not all, conditions.
(3) A comparison of the total water supply sources available to the water supplier with the total projected water use for the drought period. (4) Considerations of the historical drought hydrology, plausible changes on projected supplies and demands under climate change conditions, anticipated regulatory changes, and other locally applicable criteria. (c) The urban water supplier shall provide that portion of its urban water management plan prepared pursuant to this article to any city or county within which it provides water supplies no later than 60 days after the submission of its urban water management plan.
(d) Nothing in this article is intended to create a right or entitlement to water service or any specific level of water service.
(e) Nothing in this article is intended to change existing law concerning an urban water supplier’s obligation to provide water service to its existing customers or to any potential future customers.
Article 3. Adoption and Implementation of Plans,
Sections 10640–10645
Section 10640.
(a) Every urban water supplier required to prepare a plan pursuant to this part shall prepare its plan pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 10630).
The supplier shall likewise periodically review the plan as required by Section 10621, and any amendments or changes required as a result of that review shall be adopted pursuant to this article.
(b) Every urban water supplier required to prepare a water shortage contingency plan shall prepare a water shortage contingency plan pursuant to Section 10632. The supplier shall likewise periodically review the water shortage contingency plan as required by paragraph (10) of subdivision (a) of DRAFT
Appendix A
California Water Code—Urban Water Management Planning
Informational Purposes Only
January 2026 A-56
Section 10632 and any amendments or changes required as a result of that review shall be adopted pursuant to this article.
Section 10641.
An urban water supplier required to prepare a plan or a water shortage contingency plan may consult with, and obtain comments from, any public agency or state agency or any person who has special expertise with respect to water demand management methods and techniques.
Section 10642.
Each urban water supplier shall encourage the active involvement of diverse social, cultural, and economic elements of the population within the service area prior to and during the preparation of both the plan and the water shortage contingency plan. Prior to adopting either, the urban water supplier shall make both the plan and the water shortage contingency plan available for public inspection and shall hold a public hearing or hearings thereon. Prior to any of these hearings, notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be published within the jurisdiction of the publicly owned water supplier pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code.
The urban water supplier shall provide notice of the time and place of a hearing to any city or county within which the supplier provides water supplies. Notices by a local public agency pursuant to this section shall be provided pursuant to Chapter 17.5 (commencing with Section 7290) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code. A privately owned water supplier shall provide an equivalent notice within its service area. After the hearing or hearings, the plan or water shortage contingency plan shall be adopted as prepared or as modified after the hearing or hearings.
Section 10643.
An urban water supplier shall implement its plan adopted pursuant to this chapter in accordance with the schedule set forth in its plan.
Section 10644.
(a)
(1) An urban water supplier shall submit to the department, the California State Library, and any city or county within which the supplier provides water supplies a copy of its plan no later than 30 days after adoption.
Copies of amendments or changes to the plans shall be submitted to the department, the California State Library, and any city or county within which the supplier provides water supplies within 30 days after adoption. (2) The plan, or amendments to the plan, submitted to the department pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted electronically and shall DRAFT
Appendix A
California Water Code—Urban Water Management Planning
Informational Purposes Only
January 2026 A-57
include any standardized forms, tables, or displays specified by the department.
(b) If an urban water supplier revises its water shortage contingency plan, the supplier shall submit to the department a copy of its water shortage contingency plan prepared pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10632 no later than 30 days after adoption, in accordance with protocols for submission and using electronic reporting tools developed by the department. (c)
(1)
(A) Notwithstanding Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the department shall prepare and submit to the Legislature, on or before July 1, in the years ending in seven and two, a report summarizing the status of the plans and water shortage contingency plans adopted pursuant to this part. The report prepared by the department shall identify the exemplary elements of the individual plans and water shortage contingency plans. The department shall provide a copy of the report to each urban water supplier that has submitted its plan and water shortage contingency plan to the department. The department shall also prepare reports and provide data for any legislative hearings designed to consider the effectiveness of plans and water shortage contingency plans submitted pursuant to this part.
(B) The department shall prepare and submit to the board, on or before September 30 of each year, a report summarizing the submitted water supply and demand assessment results along with appropriate reported water shortage conditions and the regional and statewide analysis of water supply conditions developed by the department. As part of the report, the department shall provide a summary and, as appropriate, urban water supplier specific information regarding various shortage response actions implemented as a result of annual supplier-specific water supply and demand assessments performed pursuant to Section 10632.1.
(C) The department shall submit the report to the Legislature for the 2015 plans by July 1, 2017, and the report to the Legislature for the 2020 plans and water shortage contingency plans by July 1, 2022. (2) A report to be submitted pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(d) The department shall make available to the public the standard the department will use to identify exemplary water demand management measures.
DRAFT
Appendix A
California Water Code—Urban Water Management Planning
Informational Purposes Only
January 2026 A-58
Section 10645.
(a) Not later than 30 days after filing a copy of its plan with the department, the urban water supplier and the department shall make the plan available for public review during normal business hours.
(b) Not later than 30 days after filing a copy of its water shortage contingency plan with the department, the urban water supplier and the department shall make the plan available for public review during normal business hours.
Chapter 4. Miscellaneous Provisions, Sections 10650–
10657
Section 10650.
Any actions or proceedings, other than actions by the board, to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the acts or decisions of an urban water supplier on the grounds of noncompliance with this part shall be commenced as follows:
(a) An action or proceeding alleging failure to adopt a plan or a water shortage contingency plan shall be commenced within 18 months after that adoption is required by this part.
(b) Any action or proceeding alleging that a plan or water shortage contingency plan, or action taken pursuant to either, does not comply with this part shall be commenced within 90 days after filing of the plan or water shortage contingency plan or an amendment to either pursuant to Section 10644 or the taking of that action.
Section 10651.
In any action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul a plan or a water shortage contingency plan, or an action taken pursuant to either by an urban water supplier on the grounds of noncompliance with this part, the inquiry shall extend only to whether there was a prejudicial abuse of discretion. Abuse of discretion is established if the supplier has not proceeded in a manner required by law or if the action by the water supplier is not supported by substantial evidence.
Section 10652.
The California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code) does not apply to the preparation and adoption of plans pursuant to this part or to the implementation of actions taken pursuant to Section 10632. Nothing in this part shall be interpreted as exempting from the California Environmental Quality Act any project that would significantly affect water supplies for fish and wildlife, or any project for implementation of the DRAFT
Appendix A
California Water Code—Urban Water Management Planning
Informational Purposes Only
January 2026 A-59
plan, other than projects implementing Section 10632, or any project for expanded or additional water supplies.
Section 10653.
The adoption of a plan shall satisfy any requirements of state law, regulation, or order, including those of the board and the Public Utilities Commission, for the preparation of water management plans, water shortage contingency plans, or conservation plans; provided, that if the board or the Public Utilities Commission requires additional information concerning water conservation, drought response measures, or financial conditions to implement its existing authority, nothing in this part shall be deemed to limit the board or the commission in obtaining that information. The requirements of this part shall be satisfied by any urban water demand management plan that complies with analogous federal laws or regulations after the effective date of this part, and which substantially meets the requirements of this part, or by any existing urban water management plan which includes the contents of a plan required under this part.
Section 10654.
An urban water supplier may recover in its rates the costs incurred in preparing its urban water management plan, its drought risk assessment, its water supply and demand assessment, and its water shortage contingency plan and implementing the reasonable water conservation measures included in either of the plans.
Section 10655.
If any provision of this part or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this part which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application thereof, and to this end the provisions of this part are severable.
Section 10656.
An urban water supplier is not eligible for a water grant or loan awarded or administered by the state unless the urban water supplier complies with this part.
Section 10657.
The department may adopt regulations regarding the definitions of water, water use, and reporting periods, and may adopt any other regulations deemed necessary or desirable to implement this part. In developing regulations pursuant to this section, the department shall solicit broad public participation from stakeholders and other interested persons.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
Appendix C
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
DRAFT
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
WATER SHORTAGE
CONTINGENCY PLAN
May 2026
Department of Public Works
Water Resources Division
2500 Michigan Avenue Building 1
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 458-8975
www.smgov.net/water
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) i
Table of Contents
Section 1: Introduction............................................................................................................... 1 Section 2: Water Supply Reliability Assessments...................................................................... 2 Section 3: Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment ...................................................... 6 Section 4: Stages of Water Supply Shortages........................................................................... 8 Section 5: Shortage Response Actions ................................................................................... 10 Section 6: Communication Protocols....................................................................................... 12 Section 7: Compliance and Enforcement................................................................................. 14 Section 8: Legal Authorities ..................................................................................................... 16 Section 9: Financial Consequences of WSCP......................................................................... 17 Section 10: Monitoring and Reporting ..................................................................................... 17 Section 11: Emergency Response Planning............................................................................ 19 Section 12: WSCP Refinement Procedures ............................................................................ 20 Section 13: Special Water Feature Distinction......................................................................... 21 Section 14: Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Availability............................................................. 22 Appendix A: Definitions
Appendix B: Water Use Allowances, Penalties, and Adjustments Appendix C: Multi-hazard Functional Plan
Appendix D: All Hazards Mitigation Plan
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 1 Section 1: Introduction
Legislative changes to the California Water Code’s Urban Water Management Planning Act (Section 10632) require the City of Santa Monica (City) to prepare and adopt a Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP). This WSCP replaces the WSCP adopted by Santa Monica City Council on January 13, 2015. The WSCP serves as both an action plan during water shortage conditions and as the implementing regulations for water conservation as authorized by Santa Monica Municipal Code (SMMC) section 7.16.030.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 2 Section 2: Water Supply Reliability Assessments
The City assessed its water supply reliability as part of the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP). Two assessments were performed: a water service reliability assessment and a drought risk assessment (DRA). The water service reliability assessment analyzed the City’s water supply availability compared to long-term water use projections through 2045 in five-year increments under three scenarios: a normal year, a single-dry year, and multiple dry years.
The DRA assessed the City’s water supplies over the subsequent five years (2026-2030) under severe drought conditions. Key factors considered in both assessments included projected population growth, climate change, and implementation of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) as required by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). A summary of the assessments is provided below.
Currently, the City obtains its potable water supply from a combination of local groundwater and imported water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD). In 2011, Santa Monica City Council set a goal to obtain water self-sufficiency utilizing local water resources. The City is currently implementing water supply projects to reach this goal, which would provide additional resiliency to the water supply.
Historically, the City’s available groundwater supply has been less impacted by drought conditions but more by contamination. For example, the City’s lowest available local groundwater supply occurred in 2004, when only about 544 acre-feet (AF) of local groundwater was available due to groundwater contamination at the City’s Charnock Well Field. The City completed the Charnock Well Field Restoration Project in 2010, which included additional treatment processes such as biological granular activated carbon (GAC) and reverse osmosis (RO). As a result, the local groundwater supply was restored to approximately 8,000 to 10,000 acre-feet per year (AFY) (depending on age and conditions of the wells).
For the purpose of the water service reliability assessment and the DRA, the time period of 2010 through 2020 was used to establish Normal Year, Single Dry-Year, and Multiple Dry-Year to demonstrate its reliability. The period from 2010 through 2020 was selected for the assessments since it is more representative of the City’s water supply reliability and drought risk going forward as 2010 established the new baseline for local water supplies. In addition, the 2010-2020 time period also included one of the most severe single-year droughts as well as five-consecutive-year drought conditions in the Southern California region.
The City also analyzed imported supply from MWD as part of the reliability assessments. MWD imports water from Northern California and the Colorado River, which depend heavily on hydrologic conditions (e.g., snow pack in the Sierra Nevada in Northern California). Varying hydrologic conditions have led to wide variability in MWD’s water storage reserves in recent years. For instance, the recent drought from 2012 to 2016 depleted MWD’s dry year storage reserves. This was followed by the wettest year on record in 2017 and another wet year in 2019 that filled up MWD’s storage reservoirs. For the purposes of the Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessments, the lowest MWD Tier 1 allotment (7,406 AFY) available to the City between 2010 and 2020 was used. This assumption was considered reasonable due to large reserves MWD accumulated as a result of regional conservation efforts and several DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 3 above average wet seasons over the previous five years.
Based on the assessments, the City’s current and planned water supply portfolio is sufficient to meet the existing and projected potable and non-potable water use under all of the scenarios analyzed. The assessment findings from the 2025 UWMP are summarized in the tables below.
Table 1: Projected Water Supply and Demand for Normal Year (Acre-Feet) 2030 2035 2040 2045
Supply totals 21,004 21,004 21,004 21,004
Demand totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Difference 8,260 7,751 7,242 6,731
Table 2: Projected Water Supply and Demand for Single Dry Year (Acre-Feet) 2030 2035 2040 2045
Supply totals 15,508 15,508 15,508 15,508
Demand totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Difference 2,764 2,255 1,746 1,235
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 4 Table 3: Projected Water Supply and Demand for Multiple Dry Years (Acre-Feet) 2030 2035 2040 2045
FIRST YEAR
Supply totals 17,640 17,640 17,640 17,640
Demand totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Difference 4,896 4,387 3,878 3,367
SECOND YEAR
Supply totals 16,787 16,787 16,787 16,787
Demand totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Difference 4,043 3,534 3,025 2,514
THIRD YEAR
Supply totals 16,893 16,893 16,893 16,893
Demand totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Difference 4,149 3,640 3,131 2,620
FOURTH YEAR
Supply totals 17,000 17,000 17,000 17,000
Demand totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Difference 4,256 3,747 3,238 2,727
FIFTH YEAR
Supply totals 15,508 15,508 15,508 15,508
Demand totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273
Difference 2,764 2,255 1,746 1,235
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 5 Table 4: Drought Risk Assessment (2026 - 2030)
Calendar Year Water Demand
and Supply Projections
(Acre-Feet)
2026 2027 2028 2029 2030
Gross Water Use 10,960 11,406 11,852 12,298 12,744
Total Supplies 16,765 16,765 16,765 16,765 16,765
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP
Action 5,805 5,359 4,913 4,467 4,021
Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) WSCP - supply augmentation
benefit 0 0 0 0 0
WSCP - use reduction savings
benefit 2,740 2,852 2,963 3,075 3,186
Revised Surplus/(shortfall) 8,545 8,211 7,876 7,542 7,207 Resulting % Use Reduction from
WSCP action 20% 20% 20% 20% 20%
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 6 Section 3: Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment
Data Inputs
Water Code Section 10632(a)(2) requires water supply and demand assessments to be conducted annually. Beginning in 2022, water shortage assessment reports must be submitted to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) on or before July 1st each year.
The annual assessments will be conducted by staff from the City’s Water Resources Division (WRD) and Water Conservation Unit (WCU). For consistency, the approach used for the assessments described in Section 2 (Water Supply Reliability Assessments) will also be used to evaluate the water system reliability for the coming year, while considering that the year to follow would be considered dry. A summary of key tasks, data inputs, and roles for the assessments are provided in Table 5.
Table 5: Summary of Tasks for the Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment Task Description Conducted By
Quantification of water supplies: groundwater pumping,
imported water and potable water production volumes
Arcadia Water Treatment Plant
Quantification of groundwater injection, and non-potable treatment production volumes
Water Distribution
Wastewater Treatment
Identification of events that significantly impacted each water supply source during the current year
Arcadia Water Treatment Plant
Identification of anticipated events that have the
potential to impact each water supply source in
subsequent years
Arcadia Water Treatment Plant
Analysis of potential regulatory changes and possible
impacts on each water supply
Arcadia Water Treatment Plant
Assessment of infrastructure capabilities and plausible constraints
Arcadia Water Treatment Plant
Water Distribution
Description and quantification of annual water use
utilizing water billing data and water loss audit reports.
Water Distribution
Analysis and projection of how climate, population, the economy, and any applicable policies impacts water
demand.
Water Conservation Unit
Summary of water conservation activities and results for the current year.
Water Conservation Unit
Description of existing and planned water use policies to meet demand objectives in future years.
Water Conservation Unit
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 7 Decision Making Process
Following the initial assessment, findings will be presented to the City’s Task Force on the Environment for input on a proposed water shortage stage for the following fiscal year. WRD will then prepare a water shortage assessment report for approval by the Public Works Department. If a shortage was declared, formal approval of the water shortage assessment report will be made by City Council through adoption of a resolution after a hearing presenting staff’s findings and recommendations and receiving public comments. If a shortage is not declared, WRD will submit the final water shortage assessment report to the State of California Department of Water Resources on or before July 1st. A timeline for the decision-making process is provided in Table 6.
Table 6: Proposed Timeline for Annual Water Shortage Assessment Activity
January WRD and WCU commence the annual water supply and demand assessment
February
WRD and WCU present annual assessment findings and
proposed water supply shortage stage to the Task Force on the Environment
March
WRD and WCU prepare an annual water shortage assessment report and proposed water supply shortage stage, if any, to the Public Works Department Head for approval
April
If a shortage is declared, public notification regarding proposed water supply shortage stage, water shortage response actions, and upcoming City Council meeting
May
If a shortage is declared, WRD and WCU present annual water shortage assessment report findings and proposed water supply shortage stage to City Council for formal adoption by resolution On or before
July 1st
WRD submits a final water shortage assessment report to the State of California Department of Water Resources
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 8 Section 4: Stages of Water Supply Shortages
The WSCP establishes six standard water shortage supply shortage stages required by the Water Code. The stages are based on predicted or actual water shortage conditions. Each stage establishes water use reductions either through voluntary or mandatory measures.
Mandatory water restrictions include water use allowances for each water customer category.
The City Council may declare by resolution that a Stage 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 water supply shortage exists and that the actions outlined in this WSCP are necessary. Upon Council adoption by resolution, any Water Shortage Stage may be rescinded. The type of event which may prompt the City Council to declare a water supply shortage may include, among other factors:
• Drought;
• State or local emergency;
• A natural disaster that critically impacts the water treatment or water distribution system; • A localized event that critically impacts the water supply, water quality, water treatment or water distribution system;
• The City’s wholesale water agency requests extraordinary water conservation efforts in order to avoid mandatory water allocations;
• The City’s wholesale water agency implements a water allocation.
Table 7 and Table 8 below outline the Water Supply Shortage Stages, water use reduction targets, and the conditions that will be used to guide the determination of water shortage levels Table 7: Water Shortage Stages and Reduction Targets
Water
Shortage
Stage
Shortage
Level
Water Shortage
Condition
Water Use
Restrictions
City-wide Use
Reduction Goal
Stage 1 ≤10% Minimal Voluntary 10%
Stage 2 10-20% Moderate Mandatory 20%
Stage 3 20-30% Significant Mandatory 30%
Stage 4 30-40% Severe Mandatory 40%
Stage 5 40-50% Critical Mandatory 50%
Stage 6 >50%
DRAFT
Catastrophic Mandatory >50%
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 9 Table 8: Summary of Water Shortage Stages and Conditions Water
Shortage
Stage
Shortage Levels Water Shortage Condition
1 Up to 10% Using more than 50% of MWD Tier 1 allowance for imported/purchased water and/or MINIMAL
decrease in local ground water supply.
2 Up to 20%
Using more than 60% of MWD Tier 1 allowance
for imported/purchased water and/or
MODERATE decrease in local ground water
supply.
3 Up to 30%
Using more than 70% of MWD Tier 1 allowance
for imported/purchased water and/or
SIGNIFICANT decrease in local ground water
supply.
4 Up to 40%
Using more than 80% of MWD Tier 1 allowance
for imported/purchased water and/or
ADVANCED decrease in local ground water
supply.
5 Up to 50% Using more than 90% of MWD Tier 1 allowance for imported/purchased water and/or SEVERE
decrease in local ground water supply.
6 >50%
Exceeding MWD Tier 1 allowance for
imported/purchased water and/or
CATASTROPHIC decrease in local ground
water supply.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 10 Section 5: Shortage Response Actions
California Water Code requires water shortage response actions for each Water Shortage Stage. The response actions are provided in Table 9.
Table 9: Summary of Water Shortage Response Actions
Water
Shortage
Stage
Action Estimated
Reduction
Stage 1 Offer Water Use Surveys 1% - 2%
Stage 1 Provide Rebates on Plumbing Fixtures and Devices 1% - 2% Stage 1 Provide Rebates for Landscape Irrigation Efficiency 1% - 2% Stage 1 Provide Rebates for Turf Replacement 1% - 2%
Stage 1 Landscape - Restrict or prohibit runoff from landscape irrigation 1% - 2%
Stage 1 Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to specific times 1% - 2% Stage 1 CII - Restaurants may only serve water upon request 1% - 2% Stage 1 Water Features - Restrict water use for decorative water features, such as fountains 1% - 2%
Stage 1 Pools and Spas - Require covers for pools and spas 1% - 2% Stage 1 Other - Customers must repair leaks, breaks, and malfunctions in a timely manner 1% - 2%
Stage 1 Other - additional conservation measures by City staff 1% - 2% Stage 1 Other - Irrigation Association’s Best Management Practices for all City landscaped areas 1% - 2%
Stage 1 Other – immediate notification by City staff of any leaks seen on City property or private property 1% - 2%
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 11 Stage 2 Other – continued implementation of Stage 1 actions 10% - 20% Stage 2 Other - Implement Water Use Allowances (WUAs) for a 20% reduction from the amount of water used in 2013. 10% - 20% Stage 2 Expand Public Information Campaign 1% - 10%
Stage 2 Increase Water Waste Patrols 1% - 10%
Stage 3 Other - continued implementation of Stage 2 actions 20% - 30% Stage 3 Other - Implement Water Use Allowances (WUAs) for a 30% reduction from the amount of water used in 2013. 10% - 30% Stage 3 Implement or Modify Drought Rate Structure or
Surcharge 1% - 10%
Stage 4 Other - continued implementation of Stage 3 actions 20% - 30% Stage 4 Other - Implement Water Use Allowances (WUAs) for a 40% reduction from the amount of water used in 2013. 20% - 40% Stage 4 Implement or Modify Drought Rate Structure or
Surcharge 1% - 10%
Stage 5 Other- continued implementation of Stage 4 actions 30% - 40% Stage 5 Other - Implement Water Use Allowances (WUAs) for a 50% reduction from the amount of water used in 2013. 20% - 50% Stage 5 Implement or Modify Drought Rate Structure or
Surcharge 1% - 10%
Stage 6 Other- continued implementation of Stage 5 actions 40% - 50% Stage 6 Other - Implement Water Use Allowances (WUAs) for a 55% reduction from the amount of water used in 2013. 20% - 55% Stage 6 Implement or Modify Drought Rate Structure or
Surcharge
DRAFT
1% - 10%
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 12 Section 6: Communication Protocols
Public notification will be provided for any current, predicted, or declared shortage and for any shortage response actions triggered or anticipated by the annual demand and supply assessment. Communication will be coordinated and conducted by the Water Resources Division, the Office of Sustainability and the Environment, and the Office of Communications using the protocols in Table 10. To ensure regional coordination, the City will also communicate with regional partners including surrounding cities, Los Angeles County, and MWD, regarding shortage emergencies.
If there is no current, predicted, or declared shortage, public notification is not required; however, the City will still communicate with regional partners to ensure regional coordination is maintained.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 13 Table 10: Summary of Communication Protocol for Water Shortages What When Frequency Communication
Method Audience
Water
Shortage
Declaration
At time of
Declaration Once City Council Meeting
- Customers
- General Public
- Public Entities
- Public Officials
- Interested Parties
Water
Shortage
Announcement
Following
Declaration
of a Water
Shortage
Once each
minimum
City Council Meeting
Press Release
Websites
Social Media
Digital Newsletter,
Seascape Newsletter,
Print Advertising
- Customers
- General Public
- Public Entities
- Public Officials
- Interested Parties
Once each
minimum
Mass Phone Calls
Emails
Water Bill Inserts
- Customers
Water
Shortage
Actions
Following
Declaration
of a Water
Shortage
Ongoing
Conservation
Marketing Campaign,
Websites, Social
Media, Sustainability
Digital Newsletter,
City’s Seascape Print
Newsletter, Outdoor
Banner Advertising,
Print Advertising
- Customers
- General Public
- Interested Parties
Ongoing
Water Use
Allowances (WUAs),
Mass Phone Calls /
Emails, Water Bill
Inserts, Customer
Service
DRAFT
- Customers
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 14 Section 7: Compliance and Enforcement
Compliance with this WSCP will be achieved primarily through the permanent and increased (as necessary) enforcement of the existing water conservation codes contained in Chapter
7.16 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code (SMMC) and Chapter 8.108 (Subpart A - Landscape and Water Conservation).
SMMC 7.16.020 Water Conservation Requirements
What: This code defines core water conservation requirements:
- Prohibits irrigation between 9:00am and 5:00pm, with exceptions for drip irrigation systems approved by the City Manager
- Restricts landscape irrigation to two assigned watering days per week - Prohibits irrigation overspray or runoff onto any impermeable surface including walkways, driveways, sidewalks, alleys, and streets.
- Prohibits the watering down of paved or hard-surfaced areas. - Prohibits irrigation runoff.
- Prohibits the filling of decorative fountains.
- Prohibits the draining and re-filling of pools.
- Requires water leaks to be repaired immediately.
- Prohibits the washing of vehicles with a running hose. - Mandates that restaurants serve water only upon request.
Enforcement: The Water Conservation Unit staff enforces SMMC 7.16.020 as follows:
- Water Waste Patrols: Proactive patrols in the community provide on-site detection of water waste. Notices of Violations (NOVs) are issued to ensure resolution of water waste issues with Citations issued as justified.
- Responses to inbound water waste reports: These community-submitted reports are handled immediately by contacting the responsible party(s) to notify them of the situation and assist with voluntary compliance of the ordinance.
SMMC 7.16.030(c) Water Consumption Limits
What: Paragraph (c) of SMMC 7.16.030 authorizes the WSCP to implement Water Use Allowances aligned with a declared Water Shortage Stage. The Water Use Allowance consists of the following components. Please see Appendix B (Water Use Allowances, Penalties, and Adjustments) in this WSCP for complete details.
- Water use limitations, i.e. Water Use Allowances
- Administrative penalties for non-compliance
- Adjustment process
Enforcement: The Water Conservation Unit staff enforces SMMC 7.16.030(c) by:
- Weekly reviews of billed water usage.
- Determining and issuing administrative citations for customers that exceed their Water Use Allowance.
- Conducting on-site audits to waive the penalty fee for first-time recipients of DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 15 administrative citations for exceeding the Water Use Allowance. - Receiving Water Use Allowance adjustment requests and determining adjustments. - Providing requested information for the appeal process.
SMMC 7.16.050 Water consumption limits and in-lieu fees for new development What: This code implements the City’s Water Neutrality program which:
- Caps water use for new developments to the average five-year historical water use for that individual parcel.
- Requires projected water use for the development that is greater than existing parcel’s usage (i.e. New Water Demand) to be offset by funding water-efficient retrofits of existing buildings elsewhere in the City.
Enforcement: The code is enforced by the Water Conservation Unit staff as follows:
- Plan checks: Development project plans are reviewed annually to calculate New Water Demand, and, if any, determine the offset fees.
- Direct Installs: Water wasting fixtures are retrofitted with highly efficient water saving fixtures to offset the New Water Demand.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 16 Section 8: Legal Authorities
SMMC 7.16.030 authorizes City Council by resolution to require reductions in the use of water if such reductions are necessary in order for the City to comply with water use restrictions imposed by Federal, State or regional water agencies or to respond to emergency water shortage conditions. SMMC 7.16.030 also authorizes City Council to declare a water shortage advisory or water shortage emergency based on the actual or projected shortage of available potable water supplies for domestic, sanitary and public safety uses, and by resolution may adopt a Water Supply Shortage Response Plan. The City Council adopted the last WSCP on June 8, 2021.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 17 Section 9: Financial Consequences of WSCP
Should conservation increase beyond currently expected levels (e.g., Statewide conservation mandate), the City is still obligated to meet its annual net revenue requirements to keep the utility operating and functional. As part of the 2025 water rate study1, drought rates were developed so that if total consumption should decrease further due to an increase in conservation required by the state, another regulatory agency, or if the City Council declares that it is in more severe drought stages, the City’s Water Utility would still be kept whole, financially. In the event that consumption decreases beyond projected baseline consumption levels, some costs will also decrease, and the proposed drought rates have taken this reduced revenue need into consideration. In addition, the 2025 water rate study also recommended the City keep its 2019 reserve policy to maintain 90-days of operation (minimum of 60-day to be met at all times) and 3% of net capital assets.
The new rates that were adopted will be closely monitored over the next several years to ensure the revenue generated is sufficient to meet the annual revenue requirements.
Changing economic and water consumption patterns underscore the need for continued monitoring, as well as potential and unseen changing revenue requirements — particularly those related to environmental regulations that can significantly affect capital improvement projects as well as repair and replacement costs.
Section 10: Monitoring and Reporting
The City will monitor and report on water production and demand to ensure that WSCP response actions are achieving their intended water reductions. The following mechanisms provide the data and processes required to do so:
Monthly Monitoring and Reporting: State Water Resources Control Board The City of Santa Monica has been providing monthly water production and conservation reports to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) since July 2014 as required by the statewide drought emergency water conservation regulation. The emergency regulation expired in November 2017 and, since then, the City has continued to report voluntarily.
Monthly reports became mandatory again in October 2020 after the SWRCB adopted a new regulation on Monthly Urban Water Conservation Reporting. The new reporting regulation requires monthly reporting of key elements and additional information during water shortages.
The reports, compiled by the City’s Water Resources Division and the Office of Sustainability and the Environment, include information on residential water use, total potable water production, measures implemented to conserve water and improve efficiency, and local enforcement actions. The reports are submitted to the SWRCB’s Drinking Water Information Clearinghouse (DRINC) online portal.
Monthly Monitoring and Reporting: Internal
1 https://www.santamonica.gov/waterrates
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 18 The City’s Water Resources Division provides monthly water production reports to interested parties within the City. The reports, compiled by the City’s Water Resources Division, includes information on well production, finished local water, imported water, and million gallons per day (MGD) usage for the month.
Compliance Tracking
Agency Compliance Tracking: Using the above reports, water production and demand are tracked agency-wide. Water savings are calculated using 2013 as a baseline (to align with Water Use Allowances) to ensure reductions as specified by the WSCP are being achieved.
Customer Compliance Tracking: Using utility billing data, weekly reports are generated to identify those customers that exceeded their Water Use Allowance during the most recent billing period (as specified by the WSCP for a given Water Shortage Stage). Administrative citations may be issued to those customers that are consistently and significantly exceeding their Water Use Allowance. See Appendix B for details.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 19 Section 11: Emergency Response Planning
As the City receives imported water from MWD and extracts groundwater from the Santa Monica Basin, the City's response to an emergency will be a coordinated effort of its own staff in conjunction with other local and regional water agencies. During water shortage emergencies, the City will implement its WSCP, which may impose more than a 50 percent reduction in total water use for catastrophic disruptions to the water supply (Water Shortage Stage 6). The City’s Water Resources Division maintains an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) to respond to situations adversely impacting water supply, including catastrophic water shortages. The ERP is used in conjunction with the City of Santa Monica Standardized Emergency Management Systems (SEMS) Multi-hazard Functional Plan (Appendix C).
The City will also work in conjunction with MWD to implement water shortage plans on a regional level within the framework of MWD's Water Surplus and Drought Management (WSDM) Plan. The WSDM Plan was developed in 1999 by MWD with assistance and input from its member agencies. The plan addresses both surplus and shortage contingencies.
The WSDM Plan guiding principle is to minimize adverse impacts of water shortage and ensure regional reliability. The plan guides the operations of water resources to ensure regional reliability. It identifies the expected sequence of resource management actions MWD will take during surpluses and shortages of water to minimize the probability of severe shortages that require curtailment of full-service demands. Mandatory allocations are avoided to the extent practicable; however, in the event of an extreme shortage, an allocation plan will be adopted in accordance with the principles of the WSDM Plan.
Seismic Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan
Water Code Section 10632.5 requires water suppliers to assess seismic risk to water supplies as part of their WSCP. A seismic risk assessment for the City’s water system was performed as part of the City’s All Hazards Mitigation Plan (AHMP). The AHMP addresses numerous hazards including landslides, flooding, tsunamis, wildfires, severe windstorms/thunderstorms, and earthquakes. The AHMP is provided in Appendix D.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 20 Section 12: WSCP Refinement Procedures
As an adaptive management plan, the WSCP will be refined as needed to ensure it continues to effectively address potential water shortage conditions. On an ongoing basis, using the reports and compliance tracking process described in Section 10, any necessary changes to the WSCP will be identified. In addition, as a part of the annual demand and supply assessment, the WSCP will be reviewed with refinements identified as needed.
Updates to the WSCP will be incorporated via the following steps:
1. Identify updates
2. Create draft of updated WSCP
3. Release draft of updated WSCP for public review and comments
4. Present proposed updated WSCP to City Council
5. City Council approves updated WSCP
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 21 Section 13: Special Water Feature Distinction
WSCP water shortage actions are analyzed and enforced distinctly for Water Features. Water Features are defined in the City’s Water Efficient Landscape and Irrigation Standards (WELIS) as follows:
Water Feature. A design element in which open water performs an aesthetic or recreational function. Water features may include waterfalls, fountains, and streams, where water is artificially supplied. Constructed wetlands used for on-site wastewater treatment or stormwater best management practices that are not irrigated and are used solely for water treatment or stormwater retention are not water features. Ponds, hot tubs, spas, permanent swimming or wading pools are not considered water features.
The unique demand reduction actions for Water Features compared to Pools and Spas are as follows:
Water Features
• SMMC 7.16.020(c)(1) requires Water Features be constructed with a water recycling system.
• WELIS requirements include the following:
- Must use a water recirculation system (same as SMMC 7.16.020(c)(1)). - Must not have any water that is sprayed into the air visibly land outside the water features.
- Must not have any water spray or run onto surrounding landscape or impermeable hardscape areas.
- The total cumulative surface area of all water features on a site may not exceed 25 square feet unless the feature uses water from an approved alternative water source and delivery system.
- Existing water features may be repaired but the cumulative surface area may not increase.
Pools and Spas
• SMMC 7.16.020(c)(2) requires pools and spas be constructed, installed or equipped with a cover to reduce water loss due to evaporation.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) 22 Section 14: Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Availability Per Water Code Section 10632 (a)(c), the City shall make the WSCP available to its customers and any city or county within which it provides water supplies no later than 30 days after the submission of the WSCP to DWR. Should the WSCP be revised, the City shall hold a public hearing and provide notification at least 30 days prior to the hearing as required by California Water Code.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) A-1
Appendix A: Definitions
Billing Period. The billing period is approximately 60 days between water meter readings.
Commercial Water Customer. Any water customer whose property is not designated as single family, multi-family or landscape only. This may include mixed-use properties, schools, businesses.
HCF. The billing measurement for water in hundred cubic feet. One HCF is equal to 748 gallons.
Irrigation. Any system for distribution of pressurized water in the landscape, including but not limited to any system in which any portion is installed below grade or affixed to any structure.
Landscape. Modification of the ground surface with live planting materials such as trees, shrubs, turf, groundcover or other horticultural materials; as well as non-living materials such as mulch, synthetic turf, hardscape, or stone.
Landscape Only Account. Any water meter installed to measure the flow of water for irrigation and landscape purposes only.
Master Meter Account. A meter that serves multiple tenants in a building and may include but is not limited to water used for common areas such as toilets, urinals, laundry, irrigation equipment and pools.
Multi-Family. A residential property with two or more units on the premises. This may include master metered or individually metered units.
Multi-Family Individual Meter Account. A meter that serves only one unit and does not include outdoor or landscape water use.
New Water Account. A new water service connection where one was not previously installed.
Responsible Person or Party. Also referred to as the water customer or any other party responsible for the violation.
Potable Water. Water suitable or intended for human consumption.
Single-Family. A residential property with one unit.
Shortage. The actual or projected demand for water placed upon the water supply system by water customers which exceeds the actual supply, where the actual supply of water is the amount of water available for delivery from the municipal water supply system for subsequent delivery to water customers.
Water: All potable water supplied from the municipal water supply system to any water customer. Non-potable water that is metered separately is excluded.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) A-2
Water Customer. The person designated on the water account records maintained by the City as the person responsible for payment of charges incurred for the use of the water supply system.
Water Demand. The amount of water used by water customers.
Water Feature. A design element in which open water performs an aesthetic or recreational function. Water features may include waterfalls, fountains, and streams, where water is artificially supplied. Constructed wetlands used for on-site wastewater treatment or stormwater best management practices that are not irrigated and are used solely for water treatment or stormwater retention are not water features. Ponds, hot tubs, spas, permanent swimming or wading pools are not considered water features.
Water Use Allowance. The amount of water assigned to water customers based on a percentage of the baseline water usage.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) B-1
Appendix B: Water Use Allowances, Penalties, and Adjustments Summary of Allowances
A Water Use Allowance (WUA) is the maximum allowable amount of water that could be used by a water customer and it is calculated as a percent reduction in the amount of water available for each water customer in the City of Santa Monica for the duration of a declared water shortage.
The WUA is calculated as a percentage of the baseline year’s water usage. The baseline is calendar year 2013. Each water customer will receive a WUA for each billing period. A billing period is approximately 60-days.
Public agency, including but not limited to the City of Santa Monica, Caltrans, Santa MonicaMalibu Unified School District, individual landscape only accounts may be combined and receive one WUA. Water Use Allowances for new water accounts, new water customers, properties vacant in 2013, and water accounts with zero usage in 2013 will be based on the average usage of water customers in the same water customer class (single-family, multifamily, mixed-use, commercial, industrial, landscape, etc.) with the same meter size.
For example a single-family water customer whose home was vacant due to a remodel in 2013 and as a result of the remodel their meter size increased from ¾ inch to two inch because the house size increased significantly, shall get a WUA that is the average of other single-family homes with a two inch meter.
Applicability of Water Allowances for Stages 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 A Water Use Allowance (WUA) is established for each water customer. The WUA shall not apply to:
(A) Any water customer of the City of Santa Monica during a Stage 1 (Voluntary) water supply shortage stage.
(B) Any water customer account designated for municipal non-potable water.
Water Use Allowance Formulas
The Water Use Allowance formula for residential water customers is:
• The average daily baseline use per billing period x the % of water available or the residential threshold; whichever is higher
The Water Use Allowance formula for commercial and landscape water customers is:
• The average daily baseline use per billing period x the % of Water Available Water Available corresponds to the maximum shortage percent for each water shortage Stage.
For example, Stage 2 is for a shortage level of 10%-20%, so the Water Available is 80%.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) B-2
Table B-1: Water Use Allowances for all Water Customers (Per Billing Period) * Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6
90%
Water
Available
Per
Customer
80%
Water
Available
Per
Customer
70%
Water
Available
Per
Customer
60%
Water
Available
Per
Customer
50%
Water
Available
Per
Customer
45%
Water
Available
Per
Customer
SingleFamily
Ave. daily
baseline x
0.9 or 22
HCF;
whichever
is higher
Ave. daily
baseline x
0.8 or 22
HCF;
whichever
is higher
Ave. daily
baseline x
0.7 or 22
HCF;
whichever
is higher
Ave. daily
baseline x
0.6 or 16
HCF;
whichever
is higher
Ave. daily
baseline x
0.5 or 16
HCF;
whichever
is higher
Ave. daily
baseline x
0.45 or 16
HCF;
whichever is
higher
MultiFamily
Ave. daily
baseline x
0.9 or 11 HCF
per unit;
whichever
is higher
Ave. daily
baseline x
0.8 or 11 HCF
per unit;
whichever
is higher
Ave. daily
baseline x
0.7 or 11 HCF
per unit;
whichever
is higher
Ave. daily
baseline x
0.6 or 8 HCF
per unit;
whichever
is higher
Ave. daily
baseline x
0.5 or 8 HCF
per unit;
whichever
is higher
Ave. daily
baseline x
0.45 or 8 HCF
per unit;
whichever
is higher
Commercial
Ave. daily
baseline x
0.9 Ave. daily
baseline x
0.8 Ave. daily
baseline x
0.7 Ave. daily
baseline x
0.6 Ave. daily
baseline x
0.5 Ave. daily
baseline
use x
0.45 Landscape
Ave. daily
baseline
use x 0.9
Ave. daily
baseline
use x 0.8
Ave. daily
baseline
use x 0.7
Ave. daily
baseline
use x 0.6
Ave. daily
baseline
use x 0.5
Ave. daily
baseline
use x
0.45 *HCF is hundred cubic feet
Residential Water Conservation Thresholds
Thresholds for Water Shortage Supply Stages 2 & 3
• Penalties will not be imposed for single family customers using less than 22 HCF per bimonthly billing period and each multi-family unit per building using less than 11 HCF per bi-monthly billing period.
Thresholds for Water Shortage Supply Stages 4, 5 & 6
• Penalties will not be imposed for single family customers using less than 16 HCF per bimonthly billing period and each multi-family unit per building using less than 8 HCF per bi-monthly billing period.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) B-3
Water Use Allowance Exceedance Penalties
When a Responsible Party exceeds the applicable WUA during a billing period, a Penalty may be imposed through the issuance of an administrative citation. The citation fine amount will be calculated as set forth below.
• First violation penalty: $250
• Second violation penalty (within twelve months of the first violation): $500 • Third violation penalty (within twelve months of the second violation): $1,000 Any Responsible party that exceed the WUA three times may be required to have a water audit performed by a licensed engineering firm having water audit experience and all related expenses paid by the Responsible Party. The audit must be performed and a full report submitted to the City of Santa Monica within 30-days of notice. The audit report must include how the audit was administered, list all interior and exterior uses of domestic and non-domestic water uses, results of the audit, recommendations, and return on investment calculations. The City may require the implementation of the audit recommendations as a precondition to granting any request for a WUA Adjustment.
Any Responsible Party that exceed the WUA seven or more times may have a flow restrictor installed in the meter which restricts the flow of water going into the building, be charged with a Civil Penalty, and/or be charged with a criminal penalty.
Waiver of Penalty
Any Responsible Party that receives a first violation WUA exceedance penalty may choose to have a water use audit conducted by the City. Upon successful completion of the audit, the penalties associated with the first violation shall be waived. The City Manager or his or her designee is authorized to develop regulations to implement the audits consistent with the policies, objectives and priorities of this Plan.
Water Use Allowance Adjustment
Application for Water Use Allowance Adjustment
• Comply with requirements listed under Required Finding for an Adjustment. • Fill out a Water Use Allowance Adjustment Application available at 1685 Main Street, City Hall East, Santa Monica, CA 90401.
• Submit completed application and required supporting documentation (such as photographs, itemized receipts, maps, drawings, engineering reports, water audit reports, utility bill showing participation in any low income assistance program, or other pertinent information) by mail or in-person at 1685 Main Street, City Hall East, Santa Monica, CA 90401.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) B-4
Approval Authority
The Adjustment Administrator will exercise approval authority and act upon any completed Water Use Allowance Adjustment Application after submittal and may approve, conditionally approve, or deny the adjustment request. The applicant requesting the adjustment will be notified in writing of any action taken.
The decision of the Adjustment Administrator shall be issued within sixty days after the conclusion of the hearing or the submission of all written materials if no hearing is conducted.
The applicant may appeal any such decision pursuant to Chapter 7.16.060 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code. Unless specified otherwise at the time the adjustment is approved, the adjustment applies to the subject property during the term of the applicable stage of the WSCP.
Required Findings for an Adjustment
An application for an adjustment will be denied unless the approving authority finds, based on the information provided in the application, supporting documentation, and/or such additional information as may be requested, and on water use information for the property as shown by the records of the City of Santa Monica, all the following:
1) The subject property has implemented all practical water saving measures at minimum, unless unique circumstances that makes meeting these requirements impossible:
a) High-efficiency toilets (uses1.28 gallons per flush or less) b) High-efficiency urinals (uses 0.125 gallons or less per flush or is waterless) c) High-efficiency showerheads (uses 1.8 gallons per minute or less) d) High-efficiency faucets (uses 1.2 gallons per minute or less for residential or guest rooms; uses 0.5 gallons per minute or less for commercial) e) No leaks anywhere on the property
f) No irrigation runoff and overspray
2) That the adjustment does not constitute a grant of special privilege inconsistent with the limitations placed upon other City of Santa Monica water customers. 3) That because of special circumstances applicable to the property or its use, the requirements of the Water Shortage Response Plan would have a disproportionate impact on the property or use that exceeds the impacts to customers generally. 4) That the adjustment will not materially affect the ability of the City of Santa Monica to effectuate the purpose of the Water Shortage Response Plan and will not be detrimental to the public interest.
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) B-5
Residential Water Conservation Threshold Assumptions
The water use allowance is a percentage of 2013 water usage. Each water customer will receive a WUA for each billing period. Residential water customers that are at or below the residential water conservation threshold will not need to reduce water use.
Assumptions for Calculating the Residential Water Conservation Thresholds:
• Number of Single Family Residents per Home = 4 (based on 2010 Census data) • Number of Multi-Family Residents per Unit = 2 (based on 2010 Census data) • Gallons Per Capita per Day (GPCD) water usage (see tables below) Table B-2: Water Use Gallons Per Capita per Day Assumptions Stage 2 &3 (based on AWWA Residential End Uses Report and pre-2013 plumbing code standards) Allocated water use is 68 gallons GPCD
Toilets 5 flushes x 1.6 gallons per flush 8.0
Shower/bath 5 min x 2.5 gallons per minute 12.5
Clothes Washer 1/3 load 6.0
Kitchen/Dishwasher 4 GPCD 4.0
Bathroom Sinks 4 GPCD 4.0
Inside Total (GPCD) 34.5
Cleaning/outdoor Use 33.5
TOTAL 68.0 GPCD
Table B-3: Water Use Gallons Per Capita per Day Assumptions Stage 4, 5, & 6 (based on AWWA Residential End Uses Report and pre-2013 plumbing code standards) Allocated water use is 50 gallons per capita per day (GPCD) Toilets 5 flushes x 1.6 gallons per flush 8.0
Shower/bath 5 min x 2.5 gallons per minute 12.5
Clothes Washer 1/3 load 6.0
Kitchen/Dishwasher 4 GPCD 4.0
Bathroom Sinks 4 GPCD 4.0
Inside Total (GPCD) 34.5
Cleaning/outdoor Use 15.5
TOTAL 50.0 GPCD
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) B-6
Water Conservation Threshold Calculations
Single-family
Stage 2 & 3:
• 68 gallons GPCD x 4 people x 60 days (bi-monthly billing period) / 748 gallons (HCF) = 22 HCF Stage 4, 5 & 6:
• 50 gallons GPCD x 4 people x 60 days (bi-monthly billing period) / 748 gallons (HCF) = 16 HCF Multi-family:
Stage 2 & 3:
• 68 gallons GPCD x 2 people x 60 days (bi-monthly billing period) / 748 gallons (HCF) = 11 HCF Stage 4, 5 & 6:
• 50 gallons GPCD x 2 people x 60 days (bi-monthly billing period) / 748 gallons (HCF) = 8 HCF Table B-4: Threshold Water Use Billing Unit (HCF) Summary Stage 2 & 3 Stages 4, 5 & 6
Single Family Water Account 22 HCF/bi-monthly billing
period
16 HCF / bi-monthly billing
period
Multi-Family Master Meter
Water Account
11 HCF//unit/ bi-monthly
billing period
8 HCF / unit / bi-monthly
billing period
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) Appendix C: Multi-hazard Functional Plan
https://www.smgov.net/Departments/OEM/Preparedness/Multi-Hazard_Plan.aspx DRAFT
City of Santa Monica – Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) Appendix D: All Hazards Mitigation Plan
https://www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/Public_Works/Water/SantaMonica_ AHMP_FINAL_8May2014(1).pdf
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
Appendix D
City Council Resolution
DRAFT
City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
Appendix E
Urban Water Management Plan
Submittal Tables
DRAFT
CA1910146
Santa Monica-City,
Water Division
18,554 10,263
18,554 10,263
Submittal Table 2-1 Retail: Public Water Systems
Add additional rows as needed
NOTES:
Volume of Water
Supplied 2025 (AF)
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
Total
Public Water System
Number
Public Water System
Name
Number of Municipal
Connections 2025
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 1 OF 37 DRAFT Select One Name of Regional Alliance or
RUWMP (Drop Down List)
NOTES:
Type of Plan
Individual UWMP
If Water Supplier is also a member of a SB X7-7
Regional Alliance, select name from the drop-down.
Regional Urban Water Management Plan (RUWMP)
If Supplier selected RUWMP, select name from the
drop-down.
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 2 OF 37 DRAFT Supplier is a wholesale supplier
Supplier is a retail supplier
UWMP Tables are in calendar years
UWMP Tables are in fiscal years
Unit AF
Submittal Table 2-3: Supplier Identification
Type of Supplier (select one or both)
Fiscal or Calendar Year (select one)
If using fiscal years provide month and date that the fiscal year begins (mm/dd)
Units of measure used in UWMP
(Select from the drop down list).
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent
throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES:
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 3 OF 37 DRAFT Submittal Table 2-4 Retail: Water Supplier Information Exchange Water Code Section 10631(h)
The retail Supplier has informed the following wholesale supplier(s) of projected water use.
Wholesale Water Supplier Name
Add additional rows as needed
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
NOTES:
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 4 OF 37 DRAFT 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050(opt)
93,212 111,143 115,848 119,704 120,034
Submittal Table 3-1 Retail: Population - Current and Projected Water Code Section 10631(a)
Population
Served
NOTES: Demographic forecast from the City’s 2024 Water Conservation Master Plan.
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 5 OF 37 DRAFT Use Type
Drop down list
May select each use multiple times
These are the only use types that will be recognized by the WUEdata online submittal tool
Potable or Non-Potable
(OPTIONAL)
Drop down list
Volume (AF)
Single Family Potable 2,451
Multi-Family Potable 4,318
Commercial Includes Industrial water Potable 2,417
Institutional/Governmental Potable 275
Landscape Potable 455
Other (optional) Includes fire service water Potable 31 Other (optional) Recycled Water Non-Potable 91
9,946
91 Total 10,038
Submittal Table 4-1 Retail: Total Uses for Potable and Non-Potable Water — Actual Water Code Section 10631(d)(1)
NOTES: Data provided in units of HCF by the City in January 2026.
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3. 2025 Actual Water Use
Subtotal Potable
Subtotal Non-Potable
Additional Description
(as needed)
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 6 OF 37 DRAFT Use Type
Drop down list
May select each use multiple times
These are the only Use Types that will be recognized by the WUEdata online submittal tool
Potable or Non-Potable
(OPTIONAL)
Drop down list
2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 opt
Single Family Potable 2,642 2,645 2,649 2,652
Multi-Family Potable 5,708 5,844 5,980 6,117
Commercial Includes Industrial Water Potable 2,618 2,566 2,514 2,462 Institutional/Governmental Potable 306 300 294 288
Landscape Potable 759 1,147 1,535 1,924
Other (optional) Fire Service Water Potable 24 36 48 60 Distribution System Water Loss Potable 603 627 651 675
Other (optional) Recycled Water Non-Potable 84 88 91 95 12,660 13,165 13,671 14,178 0
84 88 91 95 0
12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273 0
Add additional rows as needed.
Submittal Table 4-2 Retail: Total Uses for Potable, and Non-Potable Water — Projected Water Code Section 10631(d)(1)
Projected Water Use
(Report To the Extent that Records are Available)
NOTES:
Additional Description
(as needed)
Total
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
Subtotal Non-Potable
Subtotal Potable
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 7 OF 37 DRAFT Are Future Water Savings Included in Projections?
Drop down list (y/n) No
If "Yes" to above, state the section or page number, in the cell to the right, where citations of the codes, ordinances, or otherwise are utilized in demand projections are found.
Optional Suppliers may complete Optional Submittal Table 4-4 R to quantify the expected savings.
Are Lower Income Residential Demands Included In Projections? Drop down list (y/n) Yes
Optional If the method for accounting Lower Income Residential Demands has been included, provide page number where this accounting can be found. Section 4.2
Submittal Table 4-3 Retail: Inclusion in Water Use Projections NOTES:
DWR NOTES: Additional guidance is provided in Appendix K.
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 8 OF 37 DRAFT 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 (opt)
NOTES:
Optional Submittal Table 4-4 Retail: Passive Water Savings Projections Water Code Section 10631(d)(4)(A)
Passive savings
Add additional rows as needed
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
Description
(Codes, Standards, Ordinances, or Plans)
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 9 OF 37 DRAFT Public Water System ID # Reported
in Table 2-1 R Reporting Period Submitted to DWR Water Loss Audit Program (yes/no) 2020 Yes
2021 Yes
2022 Yes
2023 Yes
2024 Yes
Submittal Table 4-5 Retail: Water Loss Audit Reporting
Water Code Section 10631(d)(3)(A)
CA1910146
DWR NOTES: Suppliers will provide a link to the WUEdata submittals of their Water Loss Audit Reports.
NOTES:
Report submittal status for all five years for each Public Water System as available.
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 10 OF 37 DRAFT 2028 Real Water Loss
Standard per Unit per
day
Units for Real
Water Loss
Drop down list
Number of Units
(Connections or Miles
corresponding with
units selected)
Volume of Total Real
Loss
(from AWWA Water
Loss Audit)
(AF)
2028 Apparent Water
Loss Standard per
Unit per Day
Units for
Apparent Water
Loss
Number of
Connections
Volume of Total
Apparent Loss
(from AWWA Water
Loss Audit)
(AF)
CA1910146 Yes 0
Gallons per
Service
Connection per
Day (GPSCD)
18,456 966 46.7 6.4
Gallons per
Service
Connection per
Day (GPSCD)
18,456 49 2.4
Submittal Table 4-6 Retail: Progress Towards 2028 Water Loss Standard Water Code Section 10631(d)(3)(C)
NOTES: Data obtained from CY 2024 Water Loss Audit.
Apparent Water Loss
Did the Water Board Calculate a
Water Loss Standard for this
Public Water System? (y/n)
If no, Supplier will not complete
this row.
Real Water Loss
Water Board's Calculated Water Loss Standards
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) for Water Loss MUST remain consistent with units reported in Submittal Table 2-3. The units reported in Submittal Table 2-3 are used in this table's calculations.
Public Water
System ID #
Reported in
Submittal Table 2-1
R
Add additional rows as needed.
Most Recent AWWA Water Loss Audit
Real Water
Loss Per Unit
per Day
Most Recent AWWA Water Loss Audit
Apparent Water
Loss Per Unit per
Day
State Water Board Standard State Water Board Standard
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 11 OF 37 DRAFT Actual 2025 GPCD
(From SB X7-7
Compliance Form)
Did Supplier meet
the 2020 Target in
2025?
No Individual Target 123 103 Yes NA
Submittal Table 5-1 Retail: SB X7-7 2020 Target Progress Water Code Section 10608.40
NOTES:
Did Supplier
Achieve Targeted
Reduction for
2020?
2020 Target Actual 2020 GPCD
Regional Alliance
Target or
Individual
Target?
Drop down list
DWR NOTES:
Suppliers calculating a 2025 GPCD will need to complete and submit SB X 7-7 Compliance Tables to verify the use of SB X7-7 Methodologies.
Suppliers that were part of a merger or consolidation since 2020 see Chapter 5 and Appendix P for guidance.
NA=Not Applicable
Check the box if the Supplier was not an Urban Water Supplier during or before the 2020 UWMP reporting cycle. Proceed to the next table.
Only for suppliers that did not meet the
Target in 2020
See DWR NOTES below.
Was Supplier part of a
merger or
consolidation since
2020?
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 12 OF 37 DRAFT Groundwater Type
Drop Down List
May use each category
multiple times
Potable or
Non-Potable
(OPTIONAL)
Drop down list
Location or Basin Name 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Alluvial Basin Potable Santa Monica Basin 6,337 4,837 914 3,072 3,442 6,337 4,837 914 3,072 3,442
Add additional rows as needed
Submittal Table 6-1 Retail: Groundwater Volume Pumped
Water Code Section 10631(4) and 10631(4)(c)
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES Data obtained from City's Water Production Reports from FY20-21 through FY25-26.
Total
The supplier does not pump groundwater.
The supplier will not complete the table below.
All or part of the groundwater described below is desalinated. (OPTIONAL) APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 13 OF 37 DRAFT Name of Wastewater
Collection Agency
Wastewater
Volume Metered
or Estimated?
OPTIONAL
Drop Down List
Volume of Wastewater
Collected from UWMP
Service Area 2025 (AF)
Name of Wastewater
Treatment Plant (WWTP) and
Place ID Number
Drop down list
Is WWTP Located
Within UWMP
Area?
Drop Down List
City of Santa Monica Metered 14,957
Hyperion WWTP, Place ID
232063
No
14,957
Check the box if there is no wastewater collection system.
Proceed to the next table.
NOTES:
Submittal Table 6-2 Retail: Wastewater Collected Within Service Area Water Code Section 10633(a)
Percentage of 2025 service area population served by wastewater collection system (OPTIONAL)
Percentage of 2025 service area served by wastewater collection system (OPTIONAL) DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
Additional Guidance: See Appendix M, Section M.21 for detailed guidance on this table.
Wastewater Collection Recipient of Collected Wastewater Total Wastewater Received from UWMP
Service Area in 2025:
Add additional rows as needed
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 14 OF 37 DRAFT Treatment Level
Drop down list
Volume
(AF)
Treatment Level
Drop down list
Volume
(AF)
Treatment Level
Drop down list
Volume
(AF)
Treatment Level
Drop down list
Volume
(AF)
Treatment Level
Drop down list
Volume
(AF)
Name of other
entity
0 - 0 0 0 0 0
Submittal Table 6-3 Retail: Wastewater Treatment and Outcomes Within UWMP Service Area Water Code Section 10633(b)
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
IPR: Indirect Potable Reuse would have the treatment level of its end use requirement in the Level of Treatment drop-down.
Additional Guidance: See Appendix M, Section M.21 for detailed guidance on this table.
Water Recycled Outside of
UWMP Service Area
(enter data as applicable)
Effluent Discharge that is
not a Permitted Recycled
Water Use
(enter data as applicable)
Required Discharge for
Instream Flow
(enter data as applicable)
Delivered to Another Entity for Additional
Treatment
(enter data as applicable)
Add additional rows as needed
2025 Outcomes of Treated Wastewater
No wastewater is treated or disposed of within the UWMP service area.
The supplier will not complete the table below.
Does This Plant
Treat
Wastewater
Generated
Outside the
UWMP Service
Area?
(OPTIONAL)
Drop down list
Wastewater Treatment
Plant Name and Place ID
Number
Drop down list
Total 2025
Volume of
Water
Treated
(AF)
NOTES: Not applicable. The City of Santa Monica does not currently have a wastewater treatment plant within its service area.
Total
2025 Volume of
Wastewater
Received from
UWMP Service
Area
(As Reported in
Submittal Table
6-2 R) (AF)
Water Recycled Within
UWMP Service Area
(enter data as applicable)
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 15 OF 37 DRAFT Volume Narrative page number
(OPTIONAL)
Other (Description Required) Non-Potable Non-potable reuse demands 69 392 392 392 392 392 392 Groundwater recharge (IPR) Potable 0 1,726 1,726 1,726 1,726 1,726 1,726 Direct potable reuse (DPR) Potable 662 662 662 662 662 662 0 2,388 2,388 2,388 2,388 2,388 2,388
69 392 392 392 392 392 392
Total 69 2,780 2,780 2,780 2,780 2,780 2,780 0
Use Type
Drop down list
Potable or Non-Potable
(after treatment if treated)
(OPTIONAL)
Drop down list
Additional Information
(as needed)
Add additional rows as needed
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
Additional Guidance: See Appendix M, Section M.21 for detailed guidance on this table.
Potential recycled water use: a description of the feasibility of these uses must be included in the narrative.
Multiple Producers: If you have multiple recycled water producers, submit a separate table for each.
NOTES: From the City of Santa Monica 2024 Recycled Water Master Plan. 2025 (AF) 2030 (AF) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF) Subtotal Potable
Subtotal Non-Potable
Check box if recycled water is not used and is not planned for use within the service area of the supplier. The supplier will only complete the column on "Potential Recycled Water Use" and submit an accompanying narrative on the feasibility of that potential recycled water use.
Submittal Table 6-4 Retail: Recycled Water Direct Beneficial Uses Within Service Area Water Code Section 10633 (c),(d),(e)
Potential Recycled Water Use
Name(s) of Facility/ies Producing (Treating) the Recycled Water (OPTIONAL) : Sustainable Water Infratructure Project Advanced Water Treatment Facility Name of Supplier Operating the Recycled Water Distribution System (OPTIONAL) : City of Santa Monica Volume of Supplemental Water Added in 2025 (OPTIONAL) :
Source of 2025 Supplemental Water (OPTIONAL) :
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 16 OF 37 DRAFT 2020 Projection
for 2025 (AF)
2025 Actual
Use (AF)
560 69
560 69
Submittal Table 6-5 Retail: 2020 UWMP Recycled Water Use Projection Compared to 2025 Actual
Water Code Section 10633(e)
Recycled water was not used in 2025 nor previously projected for use in 2020.
The supplier will not complete the table below.
Add additional rows as needed
Other (Description Required)
NOTES: In 2025, the City of Santa Monica used recycled water to meet non-potable reuse demands.
Total
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure reported in Submittal Table 2-3 Additional Guidance: See Appendix M, Section M.21 for detailed guidance on this table.
Use Type
Drop Down list
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 17 OF 37 DRAFT Name of Action Description
Expected Increase in Recycled Water
Use (AF)
Non-potable reuse Expand existing recycled water systems to include key developments 392
Indirect potable reuse Utilize two groundwater injection wells, SM-10i and SM-11i, to increase groundwater replenishment. 626
1,018
1,018
Total (AF)
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) MUST remain consistent with units reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
The unit conversion to Acre Feet addresses the Water Code's requirement that this value be provided in acre-feet.
NOTES: From the City of Santa Monica 2024 Recycled Water Master Plan.
Submittal Table 6-6 Retail: Methods to Encourage Future Recycled Water Use Water Code Section 10633(f)
Supplier does not plan to expand recycled water use in the future. Supplier will not complete the table below but will provide narrative explanation.
Provide page location of narrative in the UWMP
Add additional rows as needed
Unit Conversion to AF
Planned Implementation Year
2030
2030
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 18 OF 37 DRAFT Drop Down
List
(yes/no)
If Yes, Supplier Name
Direct Potable Reuse No
Raw water augmentation would combine
advanced treated water from SMURRF and
SWIP AWTF with extracted water from the
Olympic Well Field. The combined flow
would be conveyed to a new Olympic AWTF
that would feed into the Arcadia WTP prior
to distribution to the City’s drinking water
customers.
Potable 2030 All Year Types 662
Planned for Use in
Year Type
Drop Down List
NOTES: From the City of Santa Monica 2024 Recycled Water Master Plan.
Submittal Table 6-7 Retail: Expected Future Water Supply Projects or Programs Water Code Section 10631(f)
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
Check the box if some or all of the supplier's future water supply projects or programs are not compatible with this table and are described in a narrative format.
Check the box if there are no expected future water supply projects or programs that provide a quantifiable increase to the agency's water supply.
Proceed to the next table.
Planned
Implementation
Year
Add additional rows as needed
Joint Project with other suppliers? Expected
Increase in
Water Supply
to Supplier
(This may be a
range) (AF)
Provide page location of narrative in the UWMP
Name of Future Projects
or Programs
Additional Description
(as needed)
Potable or Non-Potable
(after treatment if treated)
(OPTIONAL)
Drop Down list
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 19 OF 37 DRAFT Water Supply
Drop down list
May use each category multiple times.
These are the only water supply
categories that will be recognized by the
WUEdata online submittal tool
Potable or Non-Potable
(after treatment if treated)
(OPTIONAL)
Drop Down list
Actual Volume
(AF)
Total Entitlement
(OPTIONAL)
See 'DWR Notes' below
(AF)
Groundwater (not desalinated) SM-1 Potable 0
Desalinated Water - Groundwater Arcadia, Charnock, Olympic Potable 3,442 Purchased Imported Water MWD Potable 6,086
Recycled Water SWIP AWTF Non-Potable 91
9,528 0
91 0
9,619 0
Submittal Table 6-8 Retail: Water Supplies — Actual
Water Code Section 10631(b)
2025
NOTES:
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table identifies the unit of measure selected in Submittal Table 2-3.
Total Entitlement: e.g. Water Right, Groundwater Allocation, Contracted Amount.
Add additional rows as needed
Total
Subtotal Potable
Subtotal Non-Potable
Additional Description
(as needed)
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 20 OF 37 DRAFT 2021 (AF) 2022 (AF) 2023 (AF) 2024 (AF) 2025 (AF)
Total 0 0 0 0 0
NOTES:
Optional Table 6-8DS: Source Water Desalination by Urban Water Supplier Supplier does not reduce salinity in either groundwater or surface water prior to distribution.
Volume of Water Desalinated
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submital Table 2-3. This table identifies the units of measure reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
Add additional rows as needed
Desalination Facility
Drop Down list
Plant
Capacity
Intake Type
Drop down list
Source Water Type
Drop down list
Influent
TDS
Brine Discharge
Drop down list
Name(s) of Agencies
that Receive this Water
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 21 OF 37 DRAFT Water Supply
Reasonably
Available
Volume (AF)
Total Entitlement
(OPTIONAL)
See 'DWR Notes'
below (AF)
Reasonably
Available
Volume (AF)
Total Entitlement
(OPTIONAL)
See 'DWR Notes'
below (AF)
Reasonably
Available
Volume (AF)
Total Entitlement
(OPTIONAL)
See 'DWR Notes'
below (AF)
Reasonably
Available
Volume (AF)
Total Entitlement
(OPTIONAL)
See 'DWR Notes'
below (AF)
Reasonably
Available
Volume (AF)
Total Entitlement
(OPTIONAL)
See 'DWR Notes'
below (AF)
Groundwater (not
desalinated) SM-1 Potable 400 400 400 400
Desalinated Water -
Groundwater
Arcadia,
Charnock,
Olympic
Potable 10,260 10,260 10,260 10,260
Purchased Imported Water MWD Potable 0 0 164 675
Recycled Water SMURRF,
SWIP
Non-Potable 1,650 1,650 1,650 1,650
Other (optional)
Indirectpotable
reuse
Potable 626 626 626 626
Other (optional)
Direct
potable
reuse
Potable 662 662 662 662
11,948 0 11,948 0 12,112 0 12,623 0 0 0
1,650 0 1,650 0 1,650 0 1,650 0 0 0
13,598 0 13,598 0 13,762 0 14,273 0 0 0
Submittal Table 6-9 Retail: Water Supplies — Projected
Water Code Section 10631 (b)
Projected Water Supply (Report to the Extent Practicable) Drop down list
May use each category multiple
times. These are the only water
supply categories that will be
recognized by the WUEdata online
submittal tool
Additional
Detail on
Water Supply
Potable or Non-Potable
(after treatment if treated)
(OPTIONAL)
Drop Down list
2050 (opt)
Add additional rows as needed
Total
NOTES: The Purchased Imported Water supply is the supply required to meet projected demands as the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's 2025 UWMP concluded reliable water supplies would be available for normal, single-dry, and five-year consecutive dry conditions. However, the City intends to maximize its local supplies first to be water self-sufficient to the extent possible and minimize reliance on imported water supplies. 2030 2035 2040 2045
Subtotal Non-Potable
Subtotal Potable
DWR NOTES:
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
Total Entitlement: e.g. Water Right, Groundwater Allocation, Contracted Amount.
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 22 OF 37 DRAFT Units for
Water
Volume
Extract and
Divert
Place into
Storage
Conveyance Treatment Distribution Total Utility
See DWR NOTES
Hydropower Net Utility
0 N/A 0 0
N/A 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.00
Quantity of Self-Generated Renewable Energy
0 kWh
Data Quality (Estimate, Metered Data, Combination of Estimates and Metered Data) Data Quality Narrative:
Narrative:
Optional Submittal Table O-1A: Recommended Energy Reporting - SINGLE DELIVERY PRODUCT - WATER SUPPLY PROCESS APPROACH Water Delivery Product
drop down list
(If delivering more than one type of product recommend using Table O1C) Only for Water Delivery Products Under the Urban Water Supplier's Operational Control Start Date of Reporting Period
Water Management Process
Non-Consequential Hydropower
(if applicable)
End Date of Reporting Period
Is upstream embedded energy included in the values reported? Volume of Water Entering Process
Energy Consumed (kWh)
Energy Intensity (kWh/vol. converted to MG)
DWR NOTES: Total Utility:The volume of water entered in the “Total Utility” column should equal the volume of water entering the distribution system (excluding recycled water); in most cases, this is the total volume calculated in UWMP Table 4-1: 2025 Actual Total Uses for Potable and Non-Potable Water. Note if recycled water is included in your Submittal Table 4-1, you must exclude it from your volume in this table.
NOTES:
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 23 OF 37 DRAFT Water Delivery Product
drop down list
(If delivering more than one type of product recommend using Table O-1C)
Retail Potable
Deliveries
Start Date of Reporting Period 01/01/2024
End Date of Reporting Period 12/31/2024
Is upstream embedded energy in the values reported? No
Units of Measure for Water AF
Total Utility
See DWR NOTES
Hydropower Net Utility
10,871 10,871
6,143,572 6,143,572
1,734 - 1,734
Quantity of Self-Generated Renewable Energy
0 kWh
Data Quality (Estimate, Metered Data, Combination of Estimates and Metered Data) Metered Data
Data Quality Narrative:
Narrative:
See section 6.5.1 below.
Only for Water Delivery Products Under the Urban Water Supplier's Operational Control Sum of All Water Management
Processes
Non-Consequential Hydropower
DWR NOTES:
Total Utility:The volume of water entered in the “Total Utility” column should equal the volume of water entering the distribution system (excluding recycled water); in most cases, this is the total volume calculated in UWMP Table 4-1: 2025 Actual Total Uses for Potable and Non-Potable Water. Note if recycled water is included in your Submittal Table 4-1, you must exclude it from your volume in this table.
NOTES:
See section 6.5.2 below.
Volume of Water Entering Process
Energy Consumed (kWh)
Energy Intensity (kWh/vol. converted to MG)
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 24 OF 37 DRAFT Start Date of Reporting Period
End Date of Reporting Period
Is upstream embedded energy in the
values reported?
Units of Measure for Water
Extract and Divert Place into Storage Conveyance Treatment Distribution Total Utility See DWR NOTES
Hydropower Net Utility
N/A
0% 0% 0% 0% 0% N/A 0% N/A
0 0
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 N/A 0.0 N/A
Delivery Volume
by Product
(volume units
defined above)
Total Energy
Intensity
(kWh/volume)
Net Energy
Intensity
(kWh/volume)
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
0 0.0 -
Quantity of Self-Generated Renewable Energy
kWh
Data Quality (drop down)
Data Quality Narrative:
Narrative:
Total of All Products
DWR NOTES: The volume of water entered in the “Total Utility” column should equal the volume of water entering the distribution system (excluding recycled water); in most cases, this is the total volume calculated in UWMP Table 4-1: 2025 Actual Total Uses for Potable and NonPotable Water. Note if recycled water is included in your Submittal Table 4-1, you must exclude it from the volume reported in Table O1-C..
NOTES:
Other
Total Percentage [must equal 100%]
Total Energy Consumed by Each Process for All Product Types (kWh) Energy Intensity (kWh/vol. converted to MG)
DWR NOTES: The volume of water entered in the “Total Utility” column should equal the volume of water entering the distribution system (excluding recycled water); in most cases, this is the total volume calculated in UWMP Table 4- 1: 2025 Actual Total Uses for Potable and Non-Potable Water. Note if recycled water is included in your Submittal Table 4-1, you must exclude it from your volume in this table.
Product Type
Retail Potable
Retail Non-Potable
Wholesale Potable
Wholesale Non-Potable
Agricultural
Environmental
Retail Potable Deliveries (%)
Enter in Column C
of table below
Retail Non-Potable Deliveries (%)
Wholesale Potable Deliveries(%)
Wholesale Non-Potable Deliveries (%)
Agricultural Deliveries (%)
Environmental Deliveries (%)
Other (%)
Total Volume of Water Entering Each Process for All Product Types Optional Submittal Table O-1C: Recommended Energy Reporting - MULTIPLE WATER DELIVERY PRODUCTS - WATER PROCESS APPROACH Only for Water Delivery Products Under the Urban Water Supplier's Operational Control Water Management Processes Non-Consequential Hydropower (if applicable)
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 25 OF 37 DRAFT Start Date of Reporting Period
End Date of Reporting Period
Is upstream embedded energy in the values reported?
Units of Measure for Water Collection /
Conveyance
Treatment
Discharge /
Distribution Total
0 0
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
0 0
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Quantity of Self-Generated Renewable Energy related to recycled water and wastewater operations
kWh
Data Quality (drop down)
Data Quality Narrative:
Narrative:
Optional Submittal Table O-2: Recommended Energy Reporting - WASTEWATER AND RECYCLED WATER Only for Water Delivery Products Under the Urban Water
Supplier's Operational Control
Water Management Process
NOTES:
Volume of Wastewater Entering Process (volume units selected above) Wastewater Energy Consumed (kWh)
Volume of Recycled Water Entering Process (volume units selected above) Recycled Water Energy Consumed (kWh)
Wastewater Energy Intensity (kWh/volume converted to MG) Recycled Water Energy Intensity (kWh/volume converted to MG) APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 26 OF 37 DRAFT % of Average Supply
Average Year 2010-2020 100%
Single-Dry Year 2020 76%
Consecutive Dry Years 1st Year 2016 96%
Consecutive Dry Years 2nd Year 2017 88%
Consecutive Dry Years 3rd Year 2018 89%
Consecutive Dry Years 4th Year 2019 90%
Consecutive Dry Years 5th Year 2020 76%
16,628
12,587
Year Type
Base Year
If not using a calendar
year, type in the last
year of the fiscal,
water year, or range
of years, for example,
water year 2024-
2025, use 2025
Optional Submittal Table 7-1 Retail: Basis of Water Year Data (Reliability Assessment) Available Supplies if
Year Type Repeats
Quantification of available supplies is not compatible
with this table and is provided elsewhere in the UWMP.
Location: [insert location from UWMP]
Volume Available (AF)
Quantification of available supplies is provided in this table as either volume only, percent only, or both.
15,948
14,683
NOTES: MWD Tier 1 Allotment was 11,407 AF for 2010-2012, 11,110 AFY for 2013-2014, and 7,406 AFY for 2016-2020. 14,796
15,034
12,587
DWR NOTES: Supplier may use multiple versions of Submittal Table 7-1 R if different water sources have different base years and the supplier chooses to report the base years for each water source separately. If a Supplier uses multiple versions of Submittal Table 7-1 R, in the "Note" section of each submittal table, state that multiple versions of Submittal Table 7-1 R are being used and identify the particular water source that is being reported in each submittal table.
Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3. This table reports the units of measure reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 27 OF 37 DRAFT 2030 (AF) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF)
Supply totals
(autofill from Submittal Table 6-
9 R)
13,598 13,598 13,762 14,273 0 2030 (AF) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF) 2030 (AF) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF) Use totals
(autofill from Submittal Table 4-
2 R)
12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273 0
Supply totals
(autofill from Submittal Table
6-9 R)
11,948 11,948 12,112 12,623 0
Supply totals
(autofill from Submittal Table
6-9 R)
1,650 1,650 1,650 1,650 0
Surplus/(shortfall) 854 345 (0) 0 0
Use totals
(autofill from Submittal Table
4-2 R)
12,660 13,165 13,671 14,178 0
Use totals
(autofill from Submittal Table
4-2 R)
84 88 91 95 0
Surplus/(shortfall) (712) (1,217) (1,559) (1,555) 0 Surplus/(shortfall) 1,566 1,562 1,559 1,555 0 WSCP - supply augmentation
benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings
benefit
WSCP - supply augmentation
benefit
WSCP - supply augmentation
benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall) WSCP - use reduction savings benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings
benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) OPTIONAL Submittal Table 7-2 Retail: Normal Year Supply and Use Comparison -
POTABLE
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
NOTES:
OPTIONAL Submittal Table 7-2 Retail: Normal Year Supply and Use Comparison -
NON-POTABLE
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
NOTES:
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
Submittal Table 7-2 Retail: Normal Year Supply and Use Comparison Water Code Section 10635 (a)
NOTES:
DWR NOTES : Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 28 OF 37 DRAFT Supply totals 15,508 15,508 15,508 15,508 0
Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273 0 Supply totals Supply totals Surplus/(shortfall) 2,764 2,255 1,746 1,235 0 Use totals Use totals Surplus/(shortfall) Surplus/(shortfall)
WSCP - supply
augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction
savings benefit
WSCP - supply
augmentation benefit
WSCP - supply
augmentation benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall) WSCP - use reduction
savings benefit
WSCP - use reduction
savings benefit
Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF)
2050 (AF)
2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF)
DWR NOTES : Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES
DWR NOTES : Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES DWR NOTES : Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES
Submittal Table 7-3 Retail: Single Dry Year Supply and Use Comparison Water Code Section 10635(a)
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
OPTIONAL Submittal Table 7-3 Retail: Single Dry Year Supply and Use Comparison - POTABLE
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
OPTIONAL Submittal Table 7-3 Retail: Single Dry Year Supply and Use Comparison - NON-POTABLE
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
2030 (AF)
2030 (AF) 2030 (AF)
2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF)
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 29 OF 37 DRAFT 2030 (AF) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF)
Supply totals 17,640 17,640 17,640 17,640 2030 (AF) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF) 2030 (AF) 2035 (AF) 2040 (AF) 2045 (AF) 2050 (AF) Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273 Supply totals Supply totals Surplus/(shortfall) 4,896 4,387 3,878 3,367 Use totals Use totals Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0 Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0 WSCP - supply augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit WSCP - supply augmentation benefit WSCP - supply augmentation benefit Revised Surplus/(shortfall) WSCP - use reduction savings benefit WSCP - use reduction savings benefit Supply totals 16,787 16,787 16,787 16,787 Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273 Supply totals Supply totals Surplus/(shortfall) 4,043 3,534 3,025 2,514 Use totals Use totals Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0 Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0 WSCP - supply augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit WSCP - supply augmentation benefit WSCP - supply augmentation benefit Revised Surplus/(shortfall) WSCP - use reduction savings benefit WSCP - use reduction savings benefit Supply totals 16,893 16,893 16,893 16,893 Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273 Supply totals Supply totals Surplus/(shortfall) 4,149 3,640 3,131 2,620 Use totals Use totals Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0 Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0 WSCP - supply augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit WSCP - supply augmentation benefit WSCP - supply augmentation benefit Revised Surplus/(shortfall) WSCP - use reduction savings benefit WSCP - use reduction savings benefit Supply totals 17,000 17,000 17,000 17,000 Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273 Supply totals Supply totals Surplus/(shortfall) 4,256 3,747 3,238 2,727 Use totals Use totals Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0 Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0 WSCP - supply augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit WSCP - supply augmentation benefit WSCP - supply augmentation benefit Revised Surplus/(shortfall) WSCP - use reduction savings benefit WSCP - use reduction savings benefit Supply totals 15,508 15,508 15,508 15,508 Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Use totals 12,744 13,253 13,762 14,273 Supply totals Supply totals Surplus/(shortfall) 2,764 2,255 1,746 1,235 Use totals Use totals Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0 Surplus/(shortfall) 0 0 0 0 0 WSCP - supply augmentation benefit
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit WSCP - supply augmentation benefit WSCP - supply augmentation benefit Revised Surplus/(shortfall) WSCP - use reduction savings benefit WSCP - use reduction savings benefit Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES:
Second
year
OPTIONAL WSCP Actions
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-
3. NOTES:
Third
year
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
Fourth
year
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
Fifth
year
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
Submittal Table 7-4 Retail: Multiple Dry Years Supply and Use Comparison Water Code Section 10635(a)
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
OPTIONAL Submittal Table 7-4 Retail: Multiple Dry Years Supply and Use Comparison - NON-POTABLE First year OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
Third year
Fifth year
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
Fourth year OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
NOTES:
OPTIONAL Submittal Table 7-4 Retail: Multiple Dry Years Supply and Use Comparison - POTABLE First year OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
First year
Second
year
OPTIONAL WSCP Actions
Third
year
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
Fourth
year
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
Fifth
year
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions
Second year OPTIONAL WSCP Actions
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 30 OF 37 DRAFT 2026 Total
Total Water Use (AF) 10,960 2026 Total 2026 Total
Total Supplies (AF) 10,960 Total Water Use (AF) Total Water Use (AF) Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0 Total Supplies (AF) Total Supplies (AF) Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0 Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0 WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF)
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 2,740 WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF) WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) 2,740 WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 2027 Total Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Total Water Use (AF) 11,406 2027 Total 2027 Total
Total Supplies (AF) 11,406 Total Water Use (AF) Total Water Use (AF) Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0 Total Supplies (AF) Total Supplies (AF) Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0 Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0 WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF)
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 2,852 WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF) WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) 2,852 WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 2028 Total Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Total Water Use (AF) 11,852 2028 Total 2028 Total
Total Supplies (AF) 11,852 Total Water Use (AF) Total Water Use (AF) Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0 Total Supplies (AF) Total Supplies (AF) Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0 Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0 WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF)
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 2,963 WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF) WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) 2,963 WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 2029 Total Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Total Water Use (AF) 12,298 2029 Total 2029 Total
Total Supplies (AF) 12,298 Total Water Use (AF) Total Water Use (AF) Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0 Total Supplies (AF) Total Supplies (AF) Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0 Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0 WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF)
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 3,075 WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF) WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) 3,075 WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 2030 Total Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Total Water Use (AF) 12,744 2030 Total 2030 Total
Total Supplies (AF) 12,744 Total Water Use (AF) Total Water Use (AF) Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0 Total Supplies (AF) Total Supplies (AF) Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0 Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0 WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF)
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) 3,186 WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF) WSCP - supply augmentation benefit (AF) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) 3,186 WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) WSCP - use reduction savings benefit (AF) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) Revised Surplus/(shortfall) OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) NOTES: MWD's 2025 UWMP concluded reliable water supplies would be available through 2050; therefore, it is assumed projected water use would be met for this five-year drought risk assessment.
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
Submittal Table 7-5 Retail: Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment Water Code Section 10635(b)(3)
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES:
OPTIONAL Submittal Table 7-5 Retail: Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment - OPTIONAL Submittal Table 7-5 Retail: Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment - OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
NOTES:
OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) OPTIONAL Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation) APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 31 OF 37 DRAFT Standard
Shortage
Levels
Percent
Shortage Range
Suppliers
Shortage Levels
Percent
Shortage Range
1 Up to 10%
2 Up to 20%
3 Up to 30%
4 Up to 40%
5 Up to 50%
6 >50%
Submittal Table 8-1: Cross-reference for Standard vs
Supplier Shortage Levels
Water Code Section 10632(a)(3)(B)
Supplier uses the Standard six levels of water
shortage.
The supplier will not complete this table.
NOTES:
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 32 OF 37 DRAFT Yes
Volume or
Percentage
Drop down
Shortage Gap
Reduction Value
(May be a range) (AF)
Submittal Table 8-2 Retail: Supply Augmentation and Other Actions Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(A),(C) and (E)
Add additional rows as needed
NOTES: The City currently does not participate in listed actions such as transfers or exchanges. Other supply augmentation methods listed including public information campaigns and implementing a drought rate structure are accounted for in Table 8-3.
Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) How much is this going to reduce the
shortage gap?
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
Shortage
Level
Supply Augmentation Methods and
Other Actions by Water Supplier
Drop down list
These are the only categories that will be
accepted by the WUEdata online submittal tool
Additional Explanation or Reference
(OPTIONAL)
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 33 OF 37 DRAFT Yes
Volume or Percentage
Drop down
Shortage Gap
Reduction Value
(May be a range) (AF)
Stage 1 Offer Water Use Surveys Percentage 1% - 2% No
Stage 1
Provide Rebates on Plumbing Fixtures
and Devices Percentage 1% - 2% No
Stage 1
Provide Rebates for Landscape
Irrigation Efficiency Percentage 1% - 2% No
Stage 1 Provide Rebates for Turf Replacement Percentage 1% - 2% No Stage 1
Landscape - Restrict or prohibit runoff
from landscape irrigation Percentage 1% - 2% Yes
Stage 1
Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation
to specific times Percentage 1% - 2% Yes
Stage 1
CII - Restaurants may only serve water
upon request
Percentage 1% - 2% Yes
Stage 1
Water Features - Restrict water use for
decorative water features, such as
fountains
Percentage 1% - 2% Yes
Stage 1
Pools and Spas - Require covers for
pools and spas Percentage 1% - 2% Yes
Stage 1
Other - Customers must repair leaks,
breaks, and malfunctions in a timely
manner
Percentage 1% - 2% Yes
Stage 1
Other - additional conservation
measures by City staff Percentage 1% - 2% No
Stage 1
Other - Irrigation Association’s Best
Management Practices for all City
landscaped areas
Percentage 1% - 2% No
Is the Supplier completing this table using the standard six levels? (yes/no) Submittal Table 8-3 Retail: Demand Reduction Actions
Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(B),(D), and (E)
Add additional rows as needed
How much is this going to reduce the shortage
gap?
Shortage
Level
Demand Reduction Actions
Drop down list
These are the only categories that will be
accepted by the WUEdata online submittal
tool. Select those that apply.
Additional Explanation or Reference
(OPTIONAL)
Penalty, Charge, or
Other
Enforcement?
For Retail Suppliers Only
Drop Down List
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 34 OF 37 DRAFT Stage 1
Other – immediate notification by City
staff of any leaks seen on City property
or private property
Percentage 1% - 2% No
Stage 2
Other – continued implementation of
Stage 1 actions
Percentage 10% - 20% Yes
Stage 2
Other - Implement Water Use
Allowances (WUAs) for a 20% reduction
from the amount of water used in
2013.
Percentage 10% - 20% Yes
Stage 2 Expand Public Information Campaign Percentage 1% - 10% No Stage 2 Increase Water Waste Patrols Percentage 1% - 10% Yes Stage 3
Other - continued implementation of
Stage 2 actions
Percentage 20% - 30% Yes
Stage 3
Other - Implement Water Use
Allowances (WUAs) for a 30% reduction
from the amount of water used in
2013.
Percentage 10% - 30% Yes
Stage 3
Implement or Modify Drought Rate
Structure or Surcharge Percentage 1% - 10% Yes
Stage 4
Other - continued implementation of
Stage 3 actions
Percentage 20% - 30% Yes
Stage 4
Other - Implement Water Use
Allowances (WUAs) for a 40% reduction
from the amount of water used in
2013.
Percentage 20% - 40% Yes
Stage 4
Implement or Modify Drought Rate
Structure or Surcharge Percentage 1% - 10% Yes
Stage 5
Other- continued implementation of
Stage 4 actions
Percentage 30% - 40% Yes
Stage 5
Other - Implement Water Use
Allowances (WUAs) for a 50% reduction
from the amount of water used in
2013.
Percentage 20% - 50% Yes
Stage 5
Implement or Modify Drought Rate
Structure or Surcharge Percentage 1% - 10% Yes
Stage 6
Other- continued implementation of
Stage 5 actions
Percentage 40% - 50% Yes
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 35 OF 37 DRAFT Stage 6
Other - Implement Water Use
Allowances (WUAs) for a 55% reduction
from the amount of water used in
2013.
Percentage 20% - 55% Yes
Stage 6
Implement or Modify Drought Rate
Structure or Surcharge Percentage 1% - 10% Yes
NOTES:
DWR NOTES: Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Submittal Table 2-3.
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 36 OF 37 DRAFT City Name 60 Day Notice
Drop Down (yes/no)
Notice of Public
Hearing
Drop Down (yes/no)
Santa Monica Yes Yes
Beverly Hills Yes Yes
Culver City Yes Yes
Los Angeles Yes Yes
Los Angeles 60 Day Notice
Drop Down (yes/no)
Notice of Public
Hearing
Drop Down (yes/no)
Los Angeles County Yes Yes
Submittal Table 10-1 Retail: Notification to Cities and Counties Water Code Section 10621(b) and 10642
Add additional rows as needed
Add additional rows as needed
NOTES:
APPENDIX E: URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN SUBMITTAL TABLES PAGE 37 OF 37 DRAFT City of Santa Monica
2025 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DRAFT)
Appendix F
Public Comments
DRAFT