1 Climate Action Subcommittee Meeting
August 10, 2022
Peter Martin – Deputy Director Water Resources
Drought Update
2 • The region is experiencing a third consecutive dry year • 2019-20 & 2020-21 were two of the driest years for the region in 128 years of record keeping
• Since July 2021, Santa Rosa has instituted stage 3 of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan
• 20% community-wide reduction in water use
• Corresponding restrictions on water use
• Sonoma Water has 3-4 years of storage for their
contractors in Lake Sonoma
• Santa Rosa Water has received allocations from
Sonoma Water in 2021 & 2022
Current Drought - Summary
3 Regional Drought Response Timeline 2021-22
3 Winter
2020-2021 Spring 2021
Summer
2021 Fall 2021
Winter
2021-2022 Spring 2022
Summer
2022
April 21 - Governor
declares drought
emergency in Sonoma
and Mendocino Counties
Upper Russian
River challenges
and Dry Winter
Campaign begins
Sonoma
Water Files
TUCP
Sonoma Water
institutes
allocations for
contractors
May 18 - Santa Rosa City
Council adopts resolution
requesting 20% voluntary
water use reduction
June – SWRCB
Order allowing
reduced flows and
mandating reduced
diversions (Jul-Dec)
June 29 - Santa Rosa
City Council adopts
resolution declaring
emergency, requiring
20% community-wide
water use reduction
October 2021
Atmospheric
River
2nd driest Jan
and Feb on
record in N. CA
Sonoma Water
files TUCP June – SWRCB
Order allowing
reduced flows
and mandating
reduced
diversions (Jul-
Dec)
Sonoma Water
institutes
allocations for
contractors
State Water Resources Control
Board (SWRCB) Emergency
Conservation Regulations
adopted May 24th
• Effective June 16th, commercial, industrial
and institutional (CII) “non-functional turf” is
no longer allowed to be irrigated.
• Some limited exceptions
• Enforcement authority resides with
SWRCB
• Direct outreach to CII by Santa Rosa
Water ongoing
• Urban water suppliers to implement all
conservation actions in their locally adopted
plans meant to address at least a water
shortage level of 10 to 20 percent (Level 2)
by June 16, 2022.
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
• Required by law for urban water suppliers
• Defines shortage levels corresponding stages of
action
• Identifies corresponding stages of action
Water
shortages &
emergencies
• Outreach & education
• Customer service & assistance
• Prohibitions & restrictions
• Compliance & enforcement
• Monitoring and reporting
Planned
response
actions to
reduce demand
Drought Response: Outreach and Education
Since 2021, the Sonoma Marin Saving
Water Partnership has coordinated on a
“co-branded” campaign
• 13 utilities = consistent messaging
• Outreach tool-kits
• Advertisements
• Radio, social media
• Events
• Workshops
Drought Response: Events and Workshops
• Santa Rosa Water has
participated in more than 30
events
• Hosted 3 drought “drop-by”
events (COVID restrictions)
• Hosted 15 workshops in
partnership with Daily Acts and
UC Master Gardeners
srcity.org/popups
Srcity.org/workshops
Drought Response:
Customer Service and
assistance
• Increased the “Cash for Grass”
rebate
• $1.50 per square foot
• Added pool cover and pool
removal rebates
• Offering in-person home and
business audits
• DIY audit kits – virtual follow up
• Calls and e-mails up 800%
compared to 2019
Drought Response:
Compliance and
Enforcement
• Advanced Metering
Infrastructure has allowed staff
to follow up on continuous use
cases
• Water Waste Patrols continue in
the summer months
• Educate customers about their
water use and leaks
• In June, Santa Rosa residents reduced water use by 17% compared to June 2020 • From July 2021 - June 2022, water use has been reduced by 17% compared to 2020 0 5
10 15
20 25
JUL
2021
AUG
2021
SEP
2021
OCT
2021
NOV
2021
DEC
2021
JAN
2022
FEB
2022
MAR
2022
APR
2022
MAY
2022
JUN
2022
Million Gallons Per Day
2020 Water Use Recent Water Use Target
Santa Rosa Cumulative Drought Reductions
Drought Response: Monitoring and Reporting
Drought Response: WUE Program Metrics
Water Use Efficiency Measures 2019 2020 2021
2022 (so
far)
Water Waste Reports 59 46 720 226
Devices distributed N/A 331 18,400 4,385
Cash for Grass rebates issued 21 34 143 84
Cash for Grass rebates sq. ft. removed 9,359 26,027 154,414 108,707 WaterSmart Checkups 239 269 236 113
Graywater rebates issued - - 1 2
Recirculating hot water pump rebates
issued 3 4 9 9
Clothes washer rebates issued 37 47 52 29
Rainwater harvesting capacity installed
(gals) 1,730 12,413 8,366 2,570
2012 Santa Rosa Climate
Action Plan Review:
Water Conservation
12 13
Implementation of Water Conservation Measures Performance Targets Measure # Description 2015 2020 2035
7.1 Conserve water X
7.1.1 Require reduction in potable
water for new development
X
7.1.2 Expand water conservation
efforts
X
7.1.3 Use water meters which
track real-time water use
X
7.1.4 Utilize smart water meters to
save water and costs
X
WUE TARGETS Total gallons per capita per
day (GPCD)
125 122 110
EMISSIONS
REDUCTION
metric tons of carbon dioxide
equivalents (MTCO
2e)
-1,170 -1,700 -2,210
2012 Climate Action Plan Implementation:
Performance Targets
14 WUE TARGETS TOTAL gallons per capita per day (GPCD) 2015 2020 2035 125 122 110
2015 = 125
2020 = 122
2035 = 110
2020 SB 7x-7 Conservation Mandate – Regional
Alliance
Water Supply Alternatives
Plan
• Purpose: Enhance the City’s long-term water
supply resiliency and reliability, to adapt to
climate change and reduce vulnerability to
shortages in very dry periods.
• Proposed Approach: Conduct a study and
develop a plan
• Study the feasibility of a wide range of
potential water supply sources.
• Study the feasibility of achieving the City’s
initial water supply goals. Refine the goals
as needed.
• Develop and adopt a plan with portfolios of
options to achieve the goals by 2045.
Likely Award Fall 2022, Completion 2023
17 For WaterSmart Resources, visit:
srcity.org/WaterSmart
For the latest drought updates, visit:
srcity.org/SaveWater
Santa Rosa Water is here to help you save!