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New extended water conservation goals for urban water suppliers and users have been released by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) reflecting the modifications suppliers sought earlier this year–based on specific adjustments and credits–to modify their conservation standard from the original May 2015 Emergency Regulation.
The state water board adopted a revised emergency regulation in February essentially extending the May 2015 Emergency Regulation through October 2016. However, the February 2016 Emergency Regulation also provided suppliers with the opportunity for more flexibility in meeting their targets by applying for adjustments and credits based on detailed criteria from the SWRCB.
Water suppliers were able to able to apply for a modification of their original conservation standard from February 8 through May 15. The SWRCB individually reviewed each urban water supply request and issued revisions to the original May 2015 mandate based on the following:
- Climate Adjustment: considers the climatic differences experienced throughout the state;
- Growth Adjustment: considers water-efficient growth experienced by urban areas; and
- New, Local, Drought-Resilient Supply Credit: considers significant investments that have been made by some suppliers toward creating new, local, drought-resilient sources of potable water supply.
The adjustments in the standards are based on supplier-submitted data that the State Water Board received by March 15 from 180 suppliers. If a supplier did not apply for the in-lieu climate adjustment or the in-lieu climate adjustment was denied, then the default climate adjustment was applied.
Suppliers’ modifications to May 2015 Emergency Regulation based on the climate adjustment, growth adjustment and the credit for new, local, drought-resilient sources for potable water has been capped at eight percent; no supplier’s conservation standard has dropped more than eight percent. Seventy-two districts that missed their target would have met their new standard, had it been in place.
More than 200 water suppliers throughout California applied for the revised water conservation standards and numerous water suppliers achieved the eight percent reduction including:
- Phelon Pinon Hills Community Services
- City of Pismo Beach
- Suisan-Solano Water Authority
- Rubidoux Community Services District
- Sacramento County Water Agency
The newly-announced targets apply to water use beginning on March 1 of this year and they could be revised again this year. The State Water Board has sought input on potential modifications of the current Emergency Regulation for Statewide Urban Water Conservation and an informal workshop is scheduled for April 20 at 1 p.m.
The State Water Resources Control Board is anticipated to issue their recommendations regarding new emergency regulations to Gov. Jerry Brown after the April 20 meeting.
