REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
November 20, 2014
FROM: THOMAS C. ESQUEDA, Director
Department of Public Utilities
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION -- Amend the City's Water Shortage Contingency Plan to allow outdoor watering one-day per week during the winter season (December 1 to March 1)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve an amendment to the City's Water Shortage Contingency Plan to allow outdoor watering one day per week during the winter season (December 1 to March 1).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City currently uses a four-stage Water Shortage Contingency Plan that escalates water conservation measures based on supply, demand and emergency conditions. The City of Fresno enacted Stage 2 water conservation measures effective August 1, 2014. The Stage 2 water conservation measures limit summer outdoor irrigation to twice a week and prohibit all outdoor irrigation during winter months (December 1 to March 1).
After reviewing the water consumption data for the City's public water system, data indicates that the majority of the City's total water consumption is by the single-family residential customer class, and 96 percent of outdoor watering for single-family residential customers occurs between March 2 and November 30 of each year. Therefore, the Department of Public Utilities recommends that the City Council amend the City's Water Shortage Contingency Plan to allow one-day per week of outdoor watering during the winter season (December 1 to March 1).
BACKGROUND
The City of Fresno has been actively engaged in promoting water conservation practices since 1981. The City currently uses a four-stage Water Shortage Contingency Plan that escalates water conservation measures based on supply, demand and emergency conditions. The original Drought Contingency Plan was adopted in 1989; the Water Shortage Contingency Plan was adopted in 1994; and the 2010 Urban Water Management Pan updated the 1994 Water Shorta...
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