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REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />FEBRUARY 4, 2008 <br />TITLE: <br />RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING VOLUNTARY <br />WATER CONSERVATION BY RESIDENTS <br />AND BUSINESSES <br />~' .'`.c <br />r ~ CITY MANAGER <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />APPROVED <br />^ As Recommended <br />^ As Amended <br />^ Ordinance on 151 Reading <br />^ Ordinance on 2"d Reading <br />^ Implementing Resolution <br />^ Set Public Hearing For_ <br />CONTINUED TO <br />FILE NUMBER <br />Adopt a resolution encouraging voluntary water conservation by residents <br />and businesses. <br />DISCUSSION <br />The City of Santa Ana depends on imported water from the Metropolitan <br />Water District (MWD) for approximately one fourth of its water supply. <br />The balance of the City's water demands is met by local groundwater <br />production from City wells. <br />Imported water supplies from Northern California have been severely <br />impacted by recent developments, including a lower than normal Sierra <br />snow pack and court decisions that will restrict pumping from the <br />Sacramento River Delta by 30~. Supplies from the Colorado River have <br />also been impacted by a drought that is now entering its eighth year. <br />The Orange County groundwater basin is being impacted by a record low <br />rainfall season in the Santa Ana River watershed last year. The Orange <br />County Water District (OCWD) is allowing agencies (including the City of <br />Santa Ana) to continue producing ground water from wells at a higher rate <br />to help lessen the impacts on the MWD imported water system. This level <br />of groundwater pumping cannot be sustained indefinitely. <br />The near and long term forecasts suggest that water supply conditions <br />will probably not improve significantly and could remain at critical <br />levels for some time. If the drought and imported supply restrictions <br />continue, mandatory water conservation measures may become necessary. It <br />is therefore imperative that voluntary water conservation efforts be <br />encouraged to help preserve the remaining stored water reserves. The <br />proposed resolution is intended to encourage on-going voluntary water <br />conservation by City residents and businesses. <br />55C-1 <br />