Res 21-025RESOLUTION NO 21-025
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
POWAY, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE CITY OF POWAY'S
WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
WHEREAS, the City of Poway, due to the geographic and climatic conditions within its
region and its dependence upon water imported may experience shortages due to drought
conditions, regulatory restrictions enacted upon imported supplies and other factors,
WHEREAS, California Water Code section 375 et seq authorize water suppliers to adopt
and enforce a comprehensive water conservation program;
WHEREAS, on December 2, 2008, the City Council of Poway adopted a water
conservation plan by Ordinance 682, which specifies the procedural and administrative
requirements for implementing a water shortage condition within four progressive levels,
WHEREAS, on May 31, 2018, Senate Bill 606 was signed into law and amended California
Water Code to require a water shortage contingency plan with specific elements,
WHEREAS, California Water Code was also amended to require six standard water
shortage levels within the water code for all water agencies (Water Code §10632(a)(3)),
WHEREAS, the City has prepared the Poway Water Shortage Contingency Plan, attached
hereto as "Exhibit A", which aligns with Poway's Water Conservation Plan and complies with
California Water Code requirements,
WHEREAS, the Poway Water Shortage Contingency Plan provides certainty to water
users and enables the City of Poway to manage water use, address local water supply challenges,
and report to the State in a manner consistent with its six standard stages; and
WHEREAS, the Poway Water Shortage Contingency Plan was on file at the Public Works
Administration Building, on the City's website, and available for review by the public prior to a
properly noticed public hearing held by the Poway City Council regarding said Plan on May 18,
2021.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Poway as
follows.
SECTION 1. In accordance with California Water Code §10620, each urban water
supplier shall develop its own water shortage contingency plan
SECTION 2- The City of Poway Water Shortage Contingency Plan is hereby approved
and adopted effective immediately.
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Resolution No 21-025
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SECTION 3: The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to implement the
Poway Water Shortage Contingency Plan, which includes aligns with the City's Water
Conservation Plan (Poway Municipal Code Chapter 8 94) to address local water supply
challenges and comply with California Water Code requirements.
PASSED, ADOPTED AND APPROVED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the
City of Poway, California on the 18th day of May, 2021 by the following vote, to wit.
AYES. MULLIN, FRANK, GROSCH, LEONARD, VAUS
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
DISQUALIFIED. NONE
Steve Vaus, Mayor
ATTEST
Vaida avolas CMC, ity Clerk
Exhibit A
Resolution No. 21-025
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City of Poway
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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Resolution No. 21-025
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City of Poway
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Prepared by:
Jessica Parks, City of Poway
Angelina Martinez, City of Poway
Andree Johnson, Woodard & Curran
Stephanie Hubli, Woodard & Curran
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City of Poway
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Table of Contents
WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN 1
1.1. INTRODUCTION 1
Water Shortage Contingency Legislation 1
1.2. ANNUAL WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND ASSESSMENT 2
1.3. STAGES OF ACTION 3
1.4. SHORTAGE RESPONSE ACTIONS 7
1.5. COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS 10
1.6. PENALTIES, CHARGES, OTHER ENFORCEMENT OF PROHIBITIONS 10
1.7. CONSUMPTION REDUCTION METHODS 11
1.8. DETERMINING WATER SHORTAGE REDUCTIONS 11
1.9. REFINEMENT PROCEDURES 12
1.10. REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE IMPACTS 12
1.11. CATASTROPHIC SUPPLY INTERRUPTION 13
Local Supply Reliability Planning 13
Emergency Storage Project and Supply Reliability 14
Seismic Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan 15
List of Tables
Table 1-1: Annual Assessment Process and Timeline 3
Table 1-2: Stages of Water Shortage Contingency Plan 4
Table 1-3: Restrictions and Prohibitions on End Users 7
Table 1-4: Summary of Water Conservation Plan Enforcement Provisions 10
Table 1-5: Consumption Reduction Methods 11
Table 1-6: Catastrophic Supply Interruption Plan 13
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Water Shortage Contingency Plan
List of Abbreviations
AF acre-feet
AFY acre-feet per year
AWIA American Water Infrastructure Act
CII Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional
City City of Poway
CWC California Water Code
DWR California Department of Water Resources
ESP Emergency Storage Project
MG million gallons
MGD million gallons per day
MHM Plan Multi -Hazard Mitigation Plan for San Diego County
MWD Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Plan Water Shortage Contingency Plan
PMC Poway Municipal Code
Poway City of Poway
SDCWA San Diego County Water Authority
UWMP Urban Water Management Plan
UWMP Act Urban Water Management Planning Act
WSCP Water Shortage Contingency Plan
WTP Water Treatment Plant
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City of Poway
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
1.1. Introduction
This Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP or Plan) addresses water supply contingency planning
and drought planning for the City of Poway (City or Poway). Poway currently obtains all of its potable
water supply from the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA), which is expected to continue
into the future. Therefore, the City's WSCP and its subsequent response actions are directly linked to
SDCWA's water supply reliability.
It should be noted that the DWR requires water suppliers use their standardized submittal tables in
the Plan. Some of the tables provided in this WSCP have titles that are designated by DWR to ensure
compliance with Water Code Section 10644 (a) (2), which states "The plan, or amendments to the plan,
submitted to the department ... shall include any standardized forms, tables, or displays specified by the
department".
Water Shortage Contingency Legislation
Poway's Water Conservation Plan, Chapter 8.94 of the Poway Municipal Code (PMC), was adopted by
the City Council on November 18, 2008, as Ordinance 682. Poway is creating this WSCP to
supplement its Water Conservation Plan in order to comply with the new 2018 legislation that was
adopted in response to the 2015 drought. This WSCP was adopted May 18, 2021.
Pursuant to the new 2018 legislation, water suppliers must address several requirements with
prescriptive elements in their WSCPs, which include, but are not limited to:
• Describe key attributes and procedures for conducting an annual water supply reliability
assessment;
• Adjust to six standard water shortage response levels (progressive ranges of 10%, 20%, 30%,
40%, 50%, and greater than 50% shortage) or crosswalk the six standard stages to the
supplier's existing four stages;
• Quantify estimated water savings associated with each shortage response action;
• Describe communication protocols and public outreach measures;
• Identify monitoring and reporting procedures to track compliance; and
• Discuss methods to reevaluate and improve the WSCP.
The purpose of a WSCP is to establish water management requirements necessary to conserve water,
enable effective water supply planning, and assure reasonable and beneficial use of water. The WSCP
is also meant to prevent waste of water, unreasonable use of water, and unreasonable methods of
water use. Additionally, the WSCP aims to assure adequate supplies of water are available to meet
the needs of the public, and to further public health, safety, and welfare, while also recognizing that
water is a scarce natural resource that requires careful management not only in times of drought, but
at all times.
Poway's Water Conservation Plan identifies four levels of action in response to a water supply
shortage (Levels 1 through 4). To meet the new WSCP requirement outlined above, Poway elected to
crosswalk its existing four stages (or levels) of action with the six standard stages. Poway's Water
Conservation Plan defines the water use efficiency measures that are applicable at all times to all
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Water Shortage Contingency Plan
persons or businesses using City water, though these measures are not mandatory until Level 2 (or
by separate, specific action of the Poway City Council at Level 1). Level 1 water conservation
measures are voluntary and will be promoted through local and regional public education and
awareness measures. During water conservation Levels 2 through 4, conservation measures and
water -use restrictions are mandatory and become progressively restrictive in order to attain
escalating conservation goals. Level 4 includes the City's strictest mandatory use restrictions to
achieve a conservation target above 40%. Violations of the City's WSCP may be subject to
administrative, civil, and criminal penalties and remedies as specified in the Water Conservation Plan
and as provided elsewhere in the PMC.
The City's Water Conservation Plan specifies the procedural and administrative requirements for
implementing a water shortage condition. Examples of situations that could trigger determination of
a water shortage condition include:
• General water supply shortage;
• Limited capacity in the SDCWA's distribution facilities;
• Potential for a major failure of the supply or distribution facilities belonging to the
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), SDCWA, and/or the City; or
• Conditions prevailing in San Diego County that require available water resources be put to
maximum beneficial use.
1.2. Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment
Beginning in 2022, pursuant to the new requirements discussed in California Water Code (CWC)
10632.1, water suppliers will be required to submit a water supply and demand assessment report
(Annual Assessment) to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) on or before July 1st of each year.
The Annual Assessment will be used to evaluate short-term water supply reliability for the upcoming
fiscal year. Poway's Annual Assessment will consider existing and projected water supply sources
(including imported water from SDCWA), unconstrained customer demand, planned water use for
the current year assuming that the following year will be dry, infrastructure capabilities and
constraints, and any other local factors that may influence or disrupt water supplies. Because Poway
obtains all of its potable water supply from the SDCWA, evaluation criteria and procedures for
conducting Poway's Annual Assessment will be aligned with the criteria and procedures used for
SDCWA's annual assessment. The City's timeline for developing its Annual Assessment is presented
in Table 1-1.
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Table 1-1: Annual Assessment Process and Timeline
Time Frame
Step
Action
March - April
1(a)
Poway estimates available local supplies.
1(b)
Poway coordinates with SDCWA to gather necessary information for SDCWA to
conduct its wholesaler assessment.
April - May
2(a)
SDCWA announces member agency allocation determination for current year.
2(b)
SDCWA determines carryover (and emergency storage apportionments if under
emergency).
2(c)
Poway conducts its Annual Assessment:
(i)
Poway determines total available supply — inclusive of imported water supply.
(ii)
Poway determines infrastructure constraints (including water quality conditions
limiting local sources).
(iii)
Poway determines expected demand for current year and one subsequent dry
year, anticipated to be based on regional projections from SDCWA.
(iv)
Poway compares supply and demand and makes a determination of the water
supply reliability.
June
3(a)
Poway City Council reviews and approves Annual Assessment determination.
3(b)
Poway coordinates with SDCWA on submittal of the report. Annual Assessment
report to be submitted to the state by July 1.
NOTES: The process outlined above is provided as a guideline and may be modified based on conditions present
during the evaluation period.
Poway will perform its water supply and demand assessment annually in spring each year to assess
short-term reliability for the upcoming fiscal year. Results of the analysis will be discussed in a report
and presented to the City Council in June. If the analysis projects a supply deficit, the City Council will
vote to determine the appropriate shortage response level and associated actions necessary to
reduce demand to ensure adequate supply. Because the City purchases water from the SDCWA, the
Annual Assessment will be conducted in coordination with the SDCWA's annual assessment. As such,
the timeline for conducting the City's Annual Assessment is based on the SDCWA's timeline.
1.3. Stages of Action
In 2008, SDCWA developed a Model Drought Response Conservation Program Ordinance for use by
SDCWA Member Agencies. DWR's 2008 Updated Urban Drought Guidebook was used as a reference.
SDCWA's model drought ordinance is an appendix to its 2015 Urban Water Management Plan
(UWMP). Poway used the 2008 SDCWA model ordinance to develop its Water Conservation Plan,
which was first adopted by the Poway City Council on December 2, 2008 as PMC Chapter 8.94. The
current version of Chapter 8.94 is provided as an attachment to this WSCP. Poway's ordinance
identifies four water shortage response levels, which are described in detail below.
The Water Conservation Plan encourages efficient water use, discourages wasteful water use
practices, and establishes water use efficiency measures. Water use efficiency measures apply on a
voluntary basis at all times and are mandatory upon declaration of a Water Shortage Response Level
1, based on separate action by the City Council, and automatically remain mandatory with the
declaration of a Response Level 2, 3, or 4. The water use efficiency measures that are encouraged at
all times as listed in the PMC Section 8.94.040 are as follows:
• Do not wash down paved surfaces
• Do not allow water waste from inefficient landscape irrigation
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• Irrigate residential and commercial landscapes before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. only
• Use a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle or bucket for watering
landscaped areas not irrigated by a landscape irrigation system
• Irrigate nursery and commercial grower's products before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. only.
Water is permitted at any time using a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shut-off
nozzle or bucket
• Use only recirculated water to operate ornamental fountains
• Wash vehicles only using a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle and a
bucket, or a high pressure/low volume wash system
• Offer guests in hotels the option of not laundering towels and linens daily
• Do not use single -pass cooling equipment in new commercial applications
• Use a water recirculation system for commercial conveyor car washes and all new
commercial laundry systems
• Run only fully loaded dishwashers and washing machines
• Repair all water leaks within five days of notification by the City of Poway
• Use recycled or non -potable water for construction purposes when available
Table 1-2 presents the six standard water shortage response levels and connects them to the stages
outlined in Poway's Water Conservation Plan.
Table 1-2: Stages of Water Shortage Contingency Plan
DWR Table 8=il - Stages
of Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Standard
Level
Percent Supply
Reduction
Poway
Level
Shortage Response Actions
Level 1
up to 10%
Level 1
(up to
10%)
Level 1 corresponds to Poway Level 1. Includes voluntary
water shortage actions to achieve demand reductions,
such as providing refills at restaurants and laundering at
hotels upon request only.
Level 2
up to 20%
Level 2
(up to
20%)
Level 2 corresponds to Poway Level 2. Mandates the
voluntary actions included under Level 1 and includes
additional measures focused on reducing outdoor water
use such as limiting landscape irrigation for residential and
commercial properties to a schedule, imposing time limits
for lawn watering, and requiring covers for pools and spas.
Level 3
up to 30%
Level 3
(up to
40%)
Level 3 corresponds to Poway Level 3. Includes
mandatory Level 1 and 2 actions and additional actions
focused on reducing outdoor water use such as further
limiting landscape irrigation for residential and commercial
properties, prohibiting emptying and refilling of swimming
pools and spas, and prohibiting vehicle washing except at
facilities using recycled or recirculating water.
Level 4
°
up to 40%
Level 3
(up to
40%)
Level 4 corresponds to Poway Level 3. Refer to the
description provided for Level 3 above.
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Igki
DWR Table 8-1:
Retail - Stages
of Water Shortage Continge
Standard
Level
Percent Supply
Reduction
Poway
Level
Shortage Response Actions
Level 5
up to 50%
Level 4
(above
40%)
Level 5 corresponds to Poway Level 4. Includes
mandatory Level 1, 2, 3, and 4 actions and additional
actions focused on reducing outdoor water use such as
prohibiting all landscape irrigation (with exceptions for
commercial growers, nurseries, and other listed uses).
Level 6
above 50%
Level 4
(above
40%)
Level 6 corresponds to Poway Level 4. Refer to the
description provided for Level 5 above.
Each of Poway's four shortage response levels are discussed in more detail below.
Level 1 - Water Shortage Watch (up to 10% reduction)
The City of Poway will enter into a Water Shortage Response Level 1 when SDCWA notifies its
member agencies that a demand reduction of up to 10% is required due to water supply shortages
resulting from drought in order to ensure sufficient supplies will be available to meet anticipated
demands. The City Manager may declare a Level 1 condition upon a written determination of the
existence of facts and circumstances supporting the determination. During a Water Shortage
Response Level 1, the City of Poway will increase public outreach efforts to encourage the following
voluntary water conservation measures:
• Reset irrigation clocks as necessary to water once per week in winter and not more than three
times per week in summer.
• Add water to maintain the level of water in swimming pools and spas only when necessary.
A pool cover shall be installed on all single-family residential pools and spas.
• Serve and refill water in restaurants only upon request.
Additionally, the water use efficiency measures in PMC Section 8.94.040, and additional measures
under the Level 1 Response may become mandatory upon separate action by the City Council.
Level 2 - Water Shortage Alert (up to 20% reduction)
The City of Poway will enter into a Water Shortage Response Level 2 when SDCWA notifies its
member agencies that a demand reduction of up to 20% is required due to water supply shortages
resulting from drought in order to ensure sufficient supplies will be available to meet anticipated
demands. The City Manager may declare a Level 2 Response, implementing mandatory water use
restrictions, with ratification by the City Council by resolution. During a Water Shortage Response
Level 2, all water conservation measures under PMC section 8.94.040, and under Level 1, become
mandatory with the addition of the following measures:
• Landscape watering shall be conducted only in conformance with landscape watering
schedules and restrictions for commercial and residential properties as approved by the City
Manager.
• All leaks must be repaired within 72 hours of notification by the City of Poway.
• If the mandatory reduction level is less than 15 percent, ornamental fountains or similar
water features shall not be operated for more than six hours per day. If the mandatory
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reduction level is more than 15 percent, ornamental fountains shall not be operated unless
reclaimed water is used.
• If the mandatory reduction level is less than 15 percent, pool covers shall be encouraged but
not required. If the mandatory reduction level is more than 15 percent, pool covers will be
required.
During a Level 2 condition, the City of Poway's City Council may establish a water allocation for
property receiving water service from the City of Poway. Additionally, the City Council may
implement a conservation rate structure designed to encourage water conservation.
Level 3 - Water Shortage Critical (up to 40% reduction)
The City of Poway will enter into a Water Shortage Response Level 3 when SDCWA notifies its
member agencies that a demand reduction of up to 40% is required due to water supply shortages
resulting from drought in order to ensure sufficient supplies will be available to meet anticipated
demands. The City Manager may declare a Level 3 Response with ratification by the City Council by
resolution. During a Water Shortage Response Level 3, all water conservation measures under PMC
Section 8.94.040, Level 1 and Level 2 are mandatory with the addition of the following mandatory
measures:
• Landscape watering shall be conducted only in conformance with landscape watering
schedules and restrictions for commercial and residential properties as approved by the City
Manager.
• Vehicles shall not be washed except at commercial carwashes that recirculate water or by
high pressure/low volume wash systems.
• Emptying and refilling of swimming pools and spas is prohibited.
• All leaks must be repaired within 48 hours of notification by the City of Poway.
Upon declaration of a Water Shortage Response Level 3 and by separate action of the City Council,
the City of Poway may suspend consideration of annexation to its service area. The City Council may
establish a water allocation for property receiving water service from the City of Poway and the City
is authorized to implement a conservation rate structure, including penalties for using water in
excess of set allocations. Additionally, the City can, by separate Council action, mandate that no new
water service shall be provided, and no new meters will be installed.
Level 4 - Water Shortage Emergency (above 40% reduction}
The City of Poway will enter into a Water Shortage Response Level 4 when SDCWA notifies its
member agencies that a demand reduction greater than 40% is required due to water supply
shortages resulting from drought in order to ensure sufficient supplies will be available to meet
anticipated demands. The City of Poway may declare a Level 4 condition in the manner and on the
grounds provided in CWC Section 350. All conservation measures under Levels 1-3 must be adhered
to with the addition of the following measures:
• All landscape irrigation is prohibited with the exception of crops and landscape products of
commercial growers and nurseries.
• All leaks must be repaired within 24 hours of notification by the City of Poway.
Upon declaration of a water shortage emergency, the City Council may establish a water allocation
for property receiving water service from the City of Poway. Additionally, the City Council may
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implement a conservation rate structure, including penalties for using water in excess of set
allocations.
1.4. Shortage Response Actions
Poway's Municipal Code includes mandatory prohibitions on the waste of water. Table 1-3 provides
the response actions associated with each water shortage response level, a quantitative estimate of
how much each action is anticipated to reduce demands, and whether the City of Poway enforces the
measure with a penalty or charge. Each of the four water shortage response levels identified in
Poway's Water Conservation Plan identifies water use restrictions of increasing severity. As described
above, measures under a Level 1 condition are voluntary with no penalty, unless a separate action is
taken by the City Council to make the measures mandatory and enforceable by penalty or fines as
described under Section 1.5.
Table 1-3: Restrictions and Prohibitions on End Users
1 .
: : • •
, , s - . ' ... .. 1 • , IA -
Level2
Demand Reduction
Actions
Shortage Gap
Reduction
Additional Explanation or
Reference (optional)
Penalty,
Charge, or
Other
Enforcement?
Level 1
Other - Prohibit use
of potable water for
washing hard
surfaces
1%
No'
Level 1
Landscape - Restrict
or prohibit runoff
from landscape
irrigation
0.1%
No
Level 1
Landscape - Limit
landscape irrigation
to specific times
4%
Irrigate residential and
commercial landscapes, and
nursery or commercial grower's
products before 10 a.m. and
after 6 p.m. only.
No
Level 1
Other - Require
automatic shut of
hoses
1 %
No
Level 1
Water Features -
Restrict water use
for decorative water
features, such as
fountains
2%
No
Level 1
Wash vehicles only
using a hand-held
hose equipped with
a positive shut-off
nozzle and a bucket,
or a high
pressure/low volume
wash system
< 0.1 %
No
Level 1
CII - Lodging
establishment must
offer opt out of linen
service
0.2%
No
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DWR Table 8-2
Retail: Restrictions
and Prohibitions on End Uses
Level 2
Demand Reduction
Actions
Shortage Gap
Reduction
Additional Explanation or
Reference (optional)
Penalty,
Charge, or
Other
Enforcement?
Level 1
CII - Other CII
restriction or
prohibition
0.2%
Do not use single -pass cooling
equipment in new commercial
applications
No
Level 1
CII - Other CII
restriction or
prohibition
0.2%
Use a water recirculation system
for commercial conveyor car
washes and all new commercial
laundry systems
No
Level 1
Other
1 °A)
Run only fully loaded
dishwashers and washing
machines
No
Level 1
Other - Customers
must repair leaks,
breaks, and
malfunctions in a
timely manner
1 %
Repair all water leaks within five
days of notification by the City of
Poway
No
Level 1
Other -Prohibit use
of potable water for
construction and
dust control
< 0.1 %
Use recycled or non -potable
water for construction purposes
when available
No
Level 1
Landscape - Limit
landscape irrigation
to specific days
6%
Reset irrigation clocks as
necessary to water once per
week in winter and not more
than three times per week in
summer
No
Level 1
Pools - Allow filling
of swimming pools
only when an
appropriate cover is
in place.
1 %
Add water to maintain the level
of water in swimming pools and
spas only when necessary. A
pool cover shall be installed on
all single-family residential pools
and spas
No
Level 1
CII - Restaurants
may only serve
water upon request
0.2%
No
Level 2
Landscape - Limit
landscape irrigation
to specific days
°
8%
Landscape watering shall be
conducted only in conformance
with landscape watering
schedules and restrictions for
residential and commercial
properties
Yes
Level 2
Other - Customers
must repair leaks,
breaks, and
malfunctions in a
timely manner
°
1%
All leaks must be repaired within
72 hours of notification
Yes
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DWR Table 8-2
Retail: Restrictions
and Prohibitions on End Uses
Level 2
Demand Reduction
Actions
Shortage Gap
Reduction
Additional Explanation or
Reference (optional)
Penalty,
Charge, or
Other
Enforcement?
Level 2
Water Features -
Restrict water use
for decorative water
features, such as
fountains
0.2%
If the mandatory reduction level
is less than 15 percent,
ornamental fountains or similar
water features shall not be
operated for more than six hours
per day. If the mandatory
reduction level is more than 15
percent, ornamental fountains
shall not be operated unless
reclaimed water is used
Yes
Level 2
Pools and Spas -
Require covers for
pools and spas
1 %
If the mandatory reduction level
is less than 15 percent, pool
covers shall be encouraged but
not required. If the mandatory
reduction level is more than 15
percent, pool covers will be
required
Yes
Level 3
Landscape - Limit
landscape irrigation
to specific days
12%
Landscape watering shall be
conducted only in conformance
with landscape watering
schedules and restrictions for
residential and commercial
properties
Yes
Level 3
Other - Prohibit
vehicle washing
except at facilities
using recycled or
recirculating water
1 %
Vehicles shall not be washed
except at commercial
carwashes that recirculate water
or by high pressure/low volume
wash systems
Yes
Level 3
Other water feature
or swimming pool
restriction
2%
Emptying and refilling of
swimming pools and spas is
prohibited
Yes
Level 3
Other - Customers
must repair leaks,
breaks, and
malfunctions in a
timely manner
°
2%
All leaks must be repaired within
48 hours of notification
Yes
Level 4
Landscape -Prohibit
all landscape
irrigation
24%
With the exception of crops and
landscape products of
commercial growers or
nurseries
Yes
Level 4
Other - Customers
must repair leaks,
breaks, and
malfunctions in a
timely manner
°
4%
All leaks must be repaired within
24 hours of notification
Yes
NOTES: 1 Level 1 measures may be mandatory with a penalty when separate action is taken by City Council.
Level 1 measures are mandatory under Level 2 through 4 water supply conditions.2 Mandatory water shortage
restrictions enforced in previous stages also apply to the current stage unless the current stage includes an
equivalent action to reflect stricter measures, in which case the stricter measure would apply.
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1.5. Communication Protocols
Upon a water shortage declaration action by the City Manager (Level 1), the City will increase its
public education and outreach efforts to expand public awareness of the need to implement the
voluntary water conservation practices. Upon a water shortage declaration action by the City Council
(Levels 2-4), the City will expand its public information campaign to notify the public of the
mandatory water conservation measures. Poway will provide notice of the water shortage rules and
regulations to all residents and businesses within its service area, in addition to its customers of
record, through a variety of media and communications methods, such as print or internet.
Upon declaration of a Level 1 shortage, the City Manager may publish a notice of the determination
in one or more newspapers, including a newspaper of general circulation within the City. Upon
declaration of a Level 2-4 shortage or Water Shortage Emergency, Poway shall coordinate with the
City Manager and shall publish a copy or summary of the resolution in a newspaper used for
publication of official notices at least one time within five (5) days of the declaration. If Poway
establishes a water allocation under Water Shortage Response Levels 3-4, the City will provide notice
of the allocation by including it in the regular billing statement for water service fees or charges or
by any other mailing to the address to which the City customarily mails the billing statement for fees
or charges for ongoing water service. Upon declaration of any water shortage condition level, the City
may also post notice on its website.
If possible, Poway may activate its public information campaign prior to a formal water shortage
declaration to provide customers with advanced notice of impending water use restrictions. The City
could continually update its webpage to notify residents of current and planned shortage levels and
modify and expand the webpage, as necessary. During the 2015 drought, the City utilized bill inserts
to inform its customers of water shortage levels and the associated mandatory demand reduction
actions. Other actions that Poway may take to increase public outreach are contacting large water
users and businesses that are most likely to be seriously affected directly in writing and/or providing
public notifications for non-English speakers.
Poway's shortage response actions are similarly aligned to the SDCWA's actions; therefore, any
public outreach and messaging campaigns conducted by SDCWA will also benefit the City as it
triggers different levels.
1.6. Penalties, Charges, Other Enforcement of Prohibitions
PMC Chapter 8.94 Section 140 addresses enforcement provisions associated with the City's Water
Conservation Plan, including penalties for violating the water use restrictions. A summary of the
penalties for violation of any provisions of the Water Conservation Plan is provided in Table 1-4.
Additional penalties for violation of a City ordinance may apply, as set forth in Chapters 1.08 and 1.10
of the PMC.
Table 1-4: Summary of Water Conservation Plan Enforcement Provisions
s
Violation
Penalty
First
Letter of Warning
Second
$100 fine
Third
$200 fine
Fourth and above
$500 fine and possible installation of a flow restrictor
Further Violation
Termination of water service
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Resolution No. 21-025
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City of Poway
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
1.7. Consumption Reduction Methods
The Water Conservation Plan includes water use efficiency measures applicable at all times to all
persons or businesses using City of Poway water, though the measures are not mandatory until Level
2 (or by separate, specific action of the Poway City Council at Level 1). Table 1-5 provides the
consumption reduction measure implemented by the Poway to reduce water demands throughout
its service area.
Table 1-5: Consumption Reduction Methods
DWR Table
Level
8-3: Stages of Water Shortage Contingency Plan - Consumption Reduction Methods
Supply
Augmentation
Methods by Water
Supplier
Shortage Gap
Reduction
Additional Explanation or Reference
(optional)
All Levels
Offer Water Use
Surveys
1%
All Levels
Provide Rebates on
Plumbing Fixtures and
Devices
1%
All Levels
Provide Rebates for
Landscape Irrigation
Efficiency
2%
All Levels
Provide Rebates for
Turf Replacement
1%
Level 1
Expand Public
Information Campaign
o
4%
Ask customers to voluntarily reduce water by
10 percent, inform customers of the water use
efficiency measures, and encourage customers
to utilize the water conservation incentives and
programs offered by the City of Poway.
Levels 2, 3,
and 4
Other
Variable
The City Council may establish water
allocations for property receiving water service
from the City of Poway.
Levels 2, 3,
and 4
Implement or Modify
Drought Rate Structure
or Surcharge
o
2 /°
The City Council may implement a
conservation rate structure
Levels 3,
and 4
Moratorium or Net Zero
Demand Increase on
New Connections
Variable
1.8. Determining Water Shortage Reductions
Should Poway need to implement measures to reduce water use, an analysis of water use data would
be completed, including an assessment of metered water deliveries by customer sector (i.e., customer
water sales). Customer water meters are read bi-monthly, divided throughout the City into four
billing cycles. Other ways to measure water use include comparisons of the amount of water
purchased monthly from SDCWA and the volume of water treated at the City's Water Treatment Plant
(WTP) and placed into the distribution system.
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Resolution No. 21-025
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City of Poway
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
1.9. Refinement Procedures
Poway's WSCP is a living document, and as such can be responsive to the effectiveness of
conservation measures in the midst of a water shortage. During declared shortage levels, Poway will
analyze monthly monitoring data and convene the City Council to determine if adaptive measures
need to be taken to achieve the necessary shortage reduction levels. In the case that the measures
are not working as desired, the City will add new actions or refine current actions to achieve greater
savings. Measures from a higher stage could be adopted into the current stage, such as requiring leak
repairs within 24 hours for Stage 3 rather than 48 hours. When updates are needed, Poway will
coordinate with all appropriate City departments to refine the plan and provide updated information
and measures to City Council for approval.
1.10.Revenue and Expenditure Impacts
Water shortages in Poway would likely impact revenues and implementation of a water shortage
program would impact expenditures for additional supply of raw water, changes to computer
programs, and changes to the billing process.
Poway's Water Conservation Plan includes four water shortage response levels, including three levels
of mandatory conservation, from up to 20% to more than 40%. Reductions in potable water sales
would result in a reduction in revenue. The impact would depend on the amount of sales reduction
and the length of water shortage conditions. For example, if sales declined by 10% for several months,
the impact on revenue and operations would be mild. If a severe water shortage occurred,
necessitating that the City declare a Level 4 Water Shortage Emergency, requiring mandatory
reduced water use of greater than 40%, the revenue impact would be substantial, particularly during
high water usage times of the year and for an extended duration.
Measures to overcome revenue impacts would include purchasing less raw water from SDCWA and
processing less water at the WTP (potentially resulting in decreased chemical and energy costs).
Potable water in reservoirs would be sold first, and the raw water in the Lake Poway reservoir would
be accessed for treatment. The City Council could consider adjustments to water rates and billing
strategy. Rates are adopted by Resolution of the City Council following an extensive public
notification process as required by Proposition 218.
All water sales in Poway, both potable and recycled, are metered. Customers receive water bills bi-
monthly and are charged based on metered use. The rate includes components for treatment,
delivery, pumping, capital replacement, debt service, and administration. Millions of dollars have
been invested in the WTP, reservoirs, and distribution system. Fixed costs and maintenance expenses
occur regardless of customer usage. The "capacity" and "commodity" billing structure provide
financial stability for the water system even in times of drought or heavy rain. Conservation, even
during a water shortage, will not have a long-term significant financial impact because the City
Council adjusts rates to balance "capacity" costs and "commodity" costs. As a result, use of financial
reserves to address decreased water sales during a water shortage is minimized. Often, use of
financial reserves are not necessary; however, during the 2015 prolonged drought, reserves were
used. To replenish the depleted financial reserves, the City Council adopted Ordinance 784 in January
2016. Ordinance 784 increased water and sewer rates and included a temporary "drought surcharge"
of $0.75 per unit of water used. This temporary surcharge restored the reserve to pre-2015 drought
levels and was eliminated in December 2018.
Financial analysis of revenues and expenditures associated with the City's water system occurs
continuously in several ways, including:
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City of Poway
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
• Rate Adjustments - Periodically the City conducts a thorough analysis of water system
revenues and expenditures related to establishing water rates. Water rates must be set to
recover operating and capital costs, while at the same time, not over -collecting revenue.
When the City's cost to purchase water from SDCWA is adjusted, the rate model must be
evaluated to determine if any adjustments are necessary. The process of reviewing rates
includes detailed analysis of water sales. The financial impact of significantly decreased water
sales as a result of a water shortage would be evaluated.
• Annual Operating Budget, Capital Infrastructure Plan, and Water Fund Reserves -
Annually as the City prepares the operating budget for the water system and manages the
budget during the year, staff assesses the current water supply situation and consumption
patterns to assess revenue impacts. Based on reduced water sales, City staff adjusts capital,
replacement and rehabilitation, and operation and maintenance expenditures. The City also
establishes reserve funds which may be accessed in an emergency or other type of
unexpected financial situation. The City's formally adopted reserve policy calls for
maintaining a Water Fund reserve balance at 20% of the total Water Operating budget.
During years when the City experiences higher than average rainfall, water sales tend to decrease,
which also impacts actual revenue compared to projections.
1.11. Catastrophic Supply Interruption
This section discusses Poway's local contingency planning efforts to prepare for a catastrophic water
supply interruption, including the City's interruption plan, Water Conservation Plan, and its specific
methods to reduce water use by 50% or more if necessary. This section also discusses the measures
that SDCWA has taken to increase supply reliability for its member agencies.
Local Supply Reliability Planning
The City of Poway meets federal and state guidelines for planning for potential hazards. CWC Section
10632 (a)(3) requires the UWMP to describe actions that would be taken by the water supplier to
prepare for a catastrophic interruption of water supply including, but not limited to, a regional power
outage, earthquake, or other disaster. Poway has a catastrophic supply interruption plan that
includes interruption of raw water from SDCWA, interruption of Poway's delivery and distribution
systems, and non -drought related events. A summary of the City's catastrophic supply interruption
plan is provided below in Table 1-6.
Table 1-6: Catastrophic Supply Interruption Plan
Catastrophic Event
Plan
Regional Power Outage
Use emergency generators at critical facilities.
Earthquake affecting Poway's Raw
Water Supply
Use stored water in Lake Poway and implement the Water
Conservation Plan
System Failure affecting Poway's Raw
Water Supply
Use stored water in Lake Poway and implement the Water
Conservation Plan
System Failure at Poway Water
Treatment Plant
Isolate problem areas of plant and operate plant manually
System Failure in Poway Distribution
System
Isolate problem areas and restore service outward from the
Treatment Plant
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Resolution No. 21-025
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City of Poway
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
In 1970-1971, the Poway Municipal Water District constructed Lake Poway to store 3,300 AF (about
1,075 MG) of raw water for catastrophic interruptions of the water supply. The dam is inspected and
monitored on a regular basis. This volume is approximately 32% of the City's average annual
deliveries over the past 10 years and would provide the City with adequate water supplies for
approximately three to six months, depending on the season and conservation levels.
If a major catastrophe affected the ability of SDCWA to provide Poway with raw water, Poway would
still have raw water in Lake Poway and some potable water in storage reservoirs. For example,
assuming Lake Poway is at its maximum operating level, and the City Council activated the 20% level
of the Water Conservation Plan, the City could provide water to its customers for up to four months
(6 MGD). If major regional raw water supply deficiencies occurred, the extent to which Poway could
meet water demand from its customers would be proportional to conservation. For example, if
Poway's supply of imported raw water was totally disrupted and Poway instituted 50% conservation,
it is estimated that the City could supply potable water to Poway customers for up to six months (4
MGD).
Currently, Poway's WTP is its only source of potable water. The City is currently working with the
SDCWA to establish a treated water connection along the Ramona Aqueduct. At the March 25, 2021
SDCWA Board meeting, Poway's formal request for a new treated water connection was approved.
Poway is currently working on the design of the treated water connection and estimates completion
of construction by 2025.
In response to regional wildfires in 2003 and 2007, Poway implemented a comprehensive plan to
ensure backup power and redundant water sources for pumped zones. Every pump station now has
provisions to operate using mobile and stationary generators purchased by the City. Poway also
maintains diesel generators at the WTP so it can continue operating in the event of a power outage.
Poway is currently updating its Emergency Response Plan pursuant to Section 2013(b) of the
American Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) of 2018, which requires that community water suppliers
serving populations greater than 3,300 develop or update an Emergency Response Plan that
incorporates the findings of their risk and resilience assessments.
Emergency Storage Project and Supply Reliability
In order to provide sufficient emergency water storage to supply to its member agencies during an
extended period, the SDCWA implemented the Emergency Storage Project (ESP) in 2014. The ESP is
a system of reservoirs, pipelines, pump stations, and other conveyance facilities intended to improve
San Diego's regional water storage capacity and allow stored emergency water to be delivered to
SDCWA's member agencies within San Diego County during a prolonged regional interruption. The
pipelines that carry imported water from MWD to San Diego cross several major fault lines on their
way to San Diego County. Consequently, an earthquake, drought, or other disaster could interrupt
San Diego County's imported water supply for up to six months. The ESP facilities can be used to help
deliver emergency water supplies to member agencies during two- and six-month emergency events
in which the region is either completely unable or only partially able to receive imported water
deliveries due to a disaster that renders their transmission system inoperable. By providing
interconnections within regional facilities, the ESP is designed to make water available to the San
Diego region even during catastrophic conditions when there is an interruption in imported water
deliveries.
The regional emergency water supply reservoirs (with their ESP capacity) are Olivenhain (18,000
AF), Lake Hodges (20,000 AF), and San Vicente (52,100 AF). The actual amount of ESP water to be
delivered to a particular member agency during an emergency event will depend on many factors
such as member agency demands, local supplies, infrastructure, availability of MWD supplies, and
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City of Poway
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
duration of emergency. The ESP was designed to provide a total of 90,100 AF of stored water to meet
the region's emergency needs through at least 2030 and recent trends in regional water demand
indicate this volume of emergency storage will serve the region beyond 2045. SDCWA's Board of
Directors may also authorize that supplies from the ESP be used in a prolonged drought or other
water shortage situations where imported and local supplies do not meet 75% of the SDCWA's
member agencies urban demands.
As discussed in the SDCWA's Draft UWMP, SDCWA anticipates that it will have more than enough
available supply to meet its own demands and the demands of its member agencies under a five-year
multi -year drought scenario. Therefore, if Poway anticipates a shortage, it can augment supply and
offset the anticipated deficit by purchasing more water from the SDCWA.
Seismic Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan
CWC 10632.5 requires an urban water supplier to include within its UWMP 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. Pursuant to CWC 10632.5(c), an urban water supplier may comply
with this requirement by submitting a copy of the most recently adopted multi -hazard mitigation
plan under the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390) if the multi -hazard
mitigation plan addresses seismic risk.
In 2004, the City completed a Hazard Mitigation Plan as part of the County of San Diego's Hazard
Mitigation Plan submitted to the State of California Office of Emergency Services. The City of Poway
also completed a vulnerability assessment of its water system and submitted it and the emergency
response plan to the Environmental Protection Agency and the State of California.
Excerpts of the Multi -Hazard Mitigation Plan for San Diego County (MHM Plan) are provided in
Appendix H of the 2020 UWMP, including a hazard assessment specific to Poway and a general
evaluation of regional seismic risks. The MHM Plan was prepared with input from SDCWA and under
the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000.
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