During Tuesdays Oakley City Council Meeting, Diablo Water District General Manager Mike Yeraka provided an update about the District.
Note – Yeraka’s report focuses on actions taken prior to the State Water Boards updated restrictions which will be finalized on May 5 by the State.
Yeraka stated what they knew today was the state board has put the District in a 25% reduction from 2013 along with multiple prohibitions.
The governors prohibitions include:
- washing down sidewalks and driveways;
- watering outdoor landscapes in a manner that causes excess runoff;
- washing a motor vehicle with a hose, unless the hose is fitted with a shut-off nozzle;
- operating a fountain or decorative water feature, unless the water is part of a recirculating system; and
- irrigating turf or ornamental landscapes during and 48 hours following measurable precipitation (new).
(New) Prohibitions affecting commercial businesses include:
- restaurants and other food service establishments can only serve water to customers on request; and
- operators of hotels and motels must provide guests with the option of choosing not to have towels and linens laundered daily and prominently display notice of this option.
According to Yeraka, although some agencies limit watering to just two-days a week, it’s a relaxed policy and up to each individual agency. Diablo Water feels that two-days a week may cause greater water use because they feel people will over water so they thought three days was better in the long run—the caveat is no one is supposed to water excessively.
“If someone decides to water their lawn all day long, that is considered excessive water use and face penalties,” said Yeraka. “Water fountains that are not re-circulated are prohibited and the Governor is imposing fines of up to $500 per day.”
Yeraka said the District really does not want to fine anyone, but instead when they see violations they want to educate customers.
Yeraka then explained how Diablo Water is hoping that through education, they can get customers to a 28% reduction.
“We are asking everyone who has an irrigation service or meter to cut back the outdoor water by 40%. On the inside, we are asking customers to cut back by 10%,” explained Yeraka. “It’s a lot more difficult to cut back in the inside.”
He then highlighted if people are already conserving and low usage, why should someone further cut back.
“The proposal before our board is on someone like that (low usage) to cut back 10% or as much as possible,” said Yeraka. “If you can only cut back 5% because you already cut down to 100 gallons person day that is fine. But if you can reduce by 15%, we are asking for that.”
There are some really simple things people can do to conserve such as shorter showers, 2 ½ gallon buckets in the sink to collect water. Another idea was a bucket in the sink for when people wash food, use the water for one’s garden or lawn. While showing, place a 5 ½ gallon bucket to collect the water and use it on your yard or indoor plants.
He also highlighted the rebate to replace the front lawn—up to $1000. There is also a plan for drought tolerant plants as well as getting a water audit.
Yeraka stated that on June 3, the Contra Costa Water District will host a meeting about increasing rates. This will impact water purchased by Diablo Water. Based on the rate model, Diablo Water is anticipating a rate increase for its customers of about 11.9%, however, the service charge of $10.42 will not change.
Yeraka noted that someone who is using 200 gallons of water per day, if they can conserve just 10%, they will see no change in their rate. Those who use 750 gallons per day, if they can save the 28%, they will see their water bill go down.
“We want to reward people for conserving, so this is the way we are doing that,” said Yeraka.
Yeraka also highlighted that the District is putting $700k to the program so that the burden does not fall on the ratepayers and they are not overly burdened by the drought. He did say that they are asking the ratepayers that the more they use the more they will pay to encourage water conservation.
Yeraka closed by explaining the District is in a year-by-year circumstance where they are hoping by 2018, things get better and the water is back to normal levels.
Coucilman Randy Pope asked about a recent case law decision for tiered pricing in Southern California and how that may impact the District. Yeraka noted that the water rates down south were “somewhat arbitrary and no justification because no comparison was created and you cannot exceed the cost of service between he tiers. He says the district looked at their expenses and analyzed rates.
Councilwoman Vanessa Perry asked about newer homes being built and how they are supposed to reduce 28%, however, they did not exist in 2013. Yeraka said they have encouraged developers not to include turf in their front yard landscaping—he said its been very well received because they are now using low water usage plants.
Water Conservation:
For more information on Water Conservation from the Diablo Water District, click here.
