07-18-2014 BPU RPT 11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ISSUE& The issues for Board of Public Utilities consideration are', 1) approval of revisions to the City's Water Shortage Contingency Plan-, and 2) adoption of an emergency ordinance implementing mandatory water restrictions to comply therewith in response to the California State Water Resources Control Board's emerg k "SWRCB' . ency regulations related to the drought. That the Board of Public Utilities recommend that the City Council-. Adopt revisions to the City's Water Shortage Contingency Plan as outlined in the attached document; and 2. Implement an emergency ordinance in response to the State Water Resources Control Board's (SWRCB) ernergency drought regulations as approved July 15, 2014. California is currently in the third year of a significant drought resulting in severe impacts to California's water supplies and its ability to meet all of the demands for water in the State, On January 17, 2014, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. declared a drought state of emergency, On April 25, 2014, the Governor signed an Executive Order stating, among things;, "...that severe drought conditions continue to present urgent challenges: water shortages in communities across the state, greatly increased wildfire activity, diminished water for agricultural production, degraded habitat for many fish and wildlife species, threat of saltwater contamination of 'large fresh water supplies conveyed through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta, and additional water scarcity if drought conditions continue into 2016'. The April 25, 2014, Executive Order directs the SWRCB to adopt emergency regulations as it deems necessany, pursuant to Water Code section 1058.5, to -ensure, that urban water suppliers implement drought response plans to limit outdoor irrigation and other wasteful water practices. Waller Code section 1058.55 grants the SWRCB the authority to adopt emergency regulations in years when the Governor has issued a proclamation of emergency based upon drought conditions or when in response to drought conditions that exist, or are thre t ned,> in a critically dry year immediately preceded by two or more consecutive below normal, dry, or critically dry years.