New Sewer Cap | Improved Utility Billing | Rainy Season is Coming

Fall 2014 Volume 18, Issue 4

On a final note, be confident you have sufficient water to provide for your needs in this drought. We have lots of information about water to share with you, way more than we have space for, and we love to talk about it. Feel free to call our helpful Utilities Services team at (805) 781-7215 at any time.

Thank you for being part of what makes this such a wonderful community in which to live and work.

Sincerely,Carrie MattinglyUtilities Director

P.S. We’re updating our website to make it more helpful and informative. Let us know what you’d like to see on the site by contacting Ron Munds at rmunds@slocity.org.

HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE:Mandatory Drought Restrictions | Drought Q & A

Based on all the information going around, are you struggling with trying to understand what is going on with the City’s water supply? If so, you’re not alone. Mixed messages, conflicting stories and sensational statistics are everywhere, even as I’m writing this piece.

First of all, congratulations City of San Luis Obispo. You are doing an outstanding job using water wisely in this drought. Keep it up. The statewide water use statistics are painted with a broad brush; our community continues to conserve this life-giving resource and has reduced use from 187 gallons per person per day in the late 1980s to 105 gallons during 2013. We have already exceeded the state mandate to reduce water use by 20 percent by the year 2020.

Despite the fact we are not experiencing a water supply emergency and have seven years of supply remaining in reservoirs, you are cutting back on water use. You’re using water as if we’re in Stage Two mandatory rationing. Normally, Stage Two happens when there’s two years of water supply left in our reservoirs. All of this conservation is taking place without the City mandating you to do so. This is a wonderful example of community members taking responsibility and doing what they believe is best for everyone.

There are many communities who, despite their planning efforts, have water supplies that are drying up while our supplies are in relatively good shape. That said, the California State Water Resources Control Board is mandating that all water suppliers in the state implement mandatory outdoor watering restrictions regardless of their water supply availability. In this issue is the information you’ll need to understand the new water restrictions and what impact they'll have on watering habits.

San Luis Obispo is Weathering the Drought Well Thanks to YouMessage from the Director

STATE MANDATED WATER RESTRICTIONS

Effective Immediately:

• No washing down driveways• Excess irrigation runoff prohibited• Shut-off nozzle required when washing vehicles• Fountains must recirculate potable water

Effective October 2:

• Landscape irrigation limited to three days/week

FULL DETAILS INSIDE

MANDATORY DROUGHT RESTRICTIONSThis past rainy season was about as dry as it gets; in fact, it was the driest since rainfall records have been kept. In response to the ongoing severe drought, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted emergency regulations that apply to all water agencies and their customers. The intent of the regulations is to reduce outdoor water use statewide. Though the City of San Luis Obispo’s water supply remains in relatively good shape, these

regulations apply to all city residents and businesses.

The regulation mandates actions to conserve water supplies both for this year and into 2015. All Californians will be expected to stop:

• Washing down driveways, sidewalks and other hardscapes (exceptions can be made for health and safety reasons)

• Watering of outdoor landscapes that cause excess runoff

• Using a hose to wash a motor vehicle, unless the hose is fitted with a shut-off nozzle

• Using potable water in a fountain or decorative water feature, unless the water is recirculated

Mandatory outdoor watering restrictions will be in place to limit all customers’ irrigation to three days a week beginning October 2, 2014.

Questions You May HaveHow do I know when I can water my landscape?To address the mandatory three-day-a-week irrigation restrictions, the City Council adopted the following water schedule:

• If your address ends with an even number, you will be able to irrigate on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

• If your address ends with an odd number, you will be able to irrigate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

How will the regulations be enforced?The enforcement of the new rules will be handled by the Utilities Services section of the Utilities Department. Concerned citizens should call the Water Conservation Hotline at (805) 783-7776 to report any issues for follow up by City staff. There is also an online reporting form that can be found at slowater.org. It will be the staff’s goal to provide any necessary action within 24 hours of the initial contact.

Are there fines or other penalties for violating the regulations?The State Water Board’s regulations give a local agency the ability to fine water wasters up to $500 per day for failure to comply with the requirements. It is not the intent of the City to fine citizens, but rather to provide information and assistance to resolve any issues they may have. The last resort would be to cite water customers that ignore warnings and offers of assistance.

How long will the drought measure be in effect?According to the state, the emergency regulations remain in effect for 270 days, unless extended by the State Water Board due to ongoing drought conditions. The City will be monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates to the community as new information is received.

What type of assistance is the City offering?The Utilities Department website has many online resources available at slowater.org to help you with your indoor and outdoor water use. If you have limited or no access to the internet, give us a call and we will accommodate your requests for information. If you are experiencing consistently high water bills, utilities services technicians are available to answer your questions over the telephone or in person. Please call (805) 781-7215 for more information.

I thought the city has enough water this year to weather the drought conditions; is this true?

While it is true that the city’s water supply is in good shape (see following information), the state regulations are mandatory and all water agencies in the state must implement them no matter what the local water conditions are or face possible $10,000-a-day fines for failing to comply.

Where are we at with our water supply?Assuming the historical worst-case drought conditions, including this year’s historically low rainfall, the city’s water projection computer model estimates about seven years of water are still currently available, with the last three of those years being a period where allocation-based manda-tory water rationing would occur. This is good news for a community that has worked hard to conserve water for so many years! Your investments in a multi-source water supply allow for responsible use even during a dry year, but as always, remember to use water wisely and efficiently.

Will there be any additional regulations in the future?If drought conditions continue, the State Water Board has indicated that they may revisit the regulations and consider other measures to enhance the conservation efforts throughout the state.

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Month Irrigation Minutes per Week 20% Reduction

September 45 minutes/week 35 minutes/week

October 30 minutes/week 25 minutes/week

November As needed (check soil moisture) As needed (check soil moisture)

FALL LAWN IRRIGATION GUIDE

A SLO WATER CONSERVATION HISTORY LESSON By Ron Munds, Utilities Services Manager

In 1989 when I started working for the City of San Luis Obispo’s Utilities Department, we were in the third year of drought, which turned out to be the worst on record until this day. Mandatory water rationing was in place, lasting until 1992. Citywide water use was over 180 gallons per person per day and the city water supply was in severe overdraft. By the end of 1990, citywide water use was down to an incredibly low level of 86 gallons per person per day; an accomplishment to this day and an example of the community's resolve to attack water shortage problems head on.

Since that time, the City has played a major role in establishing the best practices in water conservation program implementation, both locally and statewide. We had the most aggressive toilet and water hardware replacement programs in the state for many years, provided an extensive outdoor conservation program including

sprinkler head and irrigation timer replacement incentives, water audits for customers experiencing high water bills and a high efficiency washing machine rebate program. All of this resulted in the citywide water use dropping to 105 gallons per person per day during the calendar year 2013. Every citizen in the city has played an important role in achieving the water conservation ethic that is firmly in place in our community.

As we face these new challenges, let’s remember our past achievements and embrace the future, remembering that there are many unknowns regarding the impacts changing climate conditions and the influence on the city’s water supplies moving forward. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me via email at rmunds@slocity.org.

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Ready… Set… Reduce!

With the mandatory three-day-a-week irrigation requirement taking effect on October 2, you may be wondering how to cut back. The good news is that even though it’s September and the days are still warm, your lawn, trees and shrubs are already sensing a change in the seasons and do not require as much water as they did a month ago.

That said, you can easily cut back on water usage by irrigating for slightly longer periods of time on your irrigation days while

paying close attention not to allow water runoff in the process. Many irrigation timers have multiple start times to help control runoff problems by applying water for a few minutes, turning off the system to allow for infiltration, then starting again. By this time of year, most turf varieties can handle a little stress until winter rains return. Established trees, shrubs and bushes may be situated in deep water and experience little or no effect from limited irrigation.

Santa Margarita Lake during the drought in 1990

Designed by: Verdin Printed on recycled paper

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ECRWSS

REMINDER: REQUESTING A SEWER CAP ADJUSTMENT MIGHT LOWER YOUR BILL How much water you use during the average winter water use period determines the maximum amount you pay for sewer service. Since November 2013 through March 2014 was an unusually dry period, you may have used more water for landscape irrigation, resulting in a higher than normal “sewer cap” on your bill. In response, the City Council has decided to allow customers who believe their sewer cap is too high to request an adjustment. To submit your request, please email the Utility Billing Adjustment Committee at ubac@slocity.org.

USE CAUTION WITH GARDEN CHEMICALS

It is common practice for a homeowner to pick up fertilizers and pesticides from the local garden store to boost a garden’s appearance or keep those pesky bugs at bay. They are easy to apply, relatively inexpensive and quite effective. However, if applied incorrectly, fertilizers and pesticides can pollute our natural creeks, harming both the plants and wildlife that live in this environment.

Fertilizer contains high levels of nutrients, which plants use as food to help them grow. Excess fertilizer washed into a creek boosts the growth of plants that live in water, such as algae. Algae blooms throw off the balance in our streams because they remove the necessary dissolved oxygen that fish and other aquatic organisms need to survive.

So, when you’re breaking out the gardening equipment this fall, try to be as eco-conscious as possible. For starters, select pesticides carefully before you buy them and use only the recommended amounts. If a pesticide is needed, select one that is both effective against your pest and poses the least risk to human health and the environment. Most importantly, plan your gardening with the rain and try to prevent runoff so fertilizer and pesticides are contained on your property.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Water & Sewer Problems8 am to 5 pm(805) 781-7220

After Hours & Weekends(805) 781-7312