Laserfiche WebLink
REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 <br />TITLE: <br />RESOLUTION DECLARING A WATER <br />CONSERVATION LEVEL 1 WATER <br />SHORTAGE <br />CITY ANA R <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />❑ As Recommended <br />❑ As Amended <br />❑ Ordinance on 10 Reading <br />❑ Ordinance on 2n° Reading <br />❑ Implementing Resolution <br />❑ Set Public Hearing For <br />CONTINUED TO <br />FILE NUMBER <br />Adopt a resolution declaring a Water Conservation Level 1 Water Shortage and implement <br />mandatory Level 1 conservation measures. <br />DISCUSSION <br />California is in the midst of one of its worst droughts in history. On January 17, 2014, Governor <br />Brown proclaimed a Drought State of Emergency and directed all state officials to take necessary <br />actions to alleviate and prepare for the drought. In addition, the Governor called for accelerated <br />water conservation efforts throughout the state. <br />The water supply situation throughout most of the state remained so dire that in early February <br />2014, due to extremely low snowpack levels in the Sierra watershed, the California Department of <br />Water Resources (DWR) declared an unprecedented zero water supply allocation from the State <br />Water Project (SWP). The SWP provides approximately one -fourth of all water used in Southern <br />California. Additionally, on February 11, 2014, the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) Board of <br />Directors declared a Water Supply Alert throughout Southern California in response to the <br />statewide drought, and urged all water agencies in the region to achieve extraordinary <br />conservation during this unprecedented dry period. As part of this action, MWD requested that all <br />water agencies activate their conservation ordinances to an appropriate stage and actively <br />promote additional voluntary customer conservation. <br />On July 15, 2014, the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) passed <br />Resolution 2014 -0038 adopting emergency regulations for statewide urban water conservation. <br />These regulations apply to all urban water suppliers, which include the City of Santa Ana, and <br />require that urban water suppliers activate conservation plans to the level that imposes mandatory <br />outdoor irrigation restrictions. <br />While most of the state is experiencing major supply deficiencies, the City of Santa Ana is fortunate <br />to supply water from a well- managed aquifer with sufficient reserves to avert formal water <br />55C -1 <br />