05-04-12 BPU RPT 07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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W A T E R E N E R G Y I i F RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Board Memorandum PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: May 4, 2012 ITEM NO: 7 SUBJECT: SEIZING OUR DESTINY -CREATION OF WATER USE EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS ISSUE: That the Board of Public Utilities consider approval of the creation of a new water innovations grant program and approve changing three pilot programs into on-going Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) incentive programs. RECOMMENDATIONS: That the Board of Public Utilities recommend that the City Council: 1. Approve changing the "FreeSprinklerNozzles.com" High Efficiency Sprinkler Nozzle Distribution Pilot Program into an on-going RPU free nozzle program; 2. Approve changing the Smart Irrigation Pilot Program into an on-going RPU direct installation program; 3. Approve changing the High Efficiency Toilet and Ultra High Efficiency Toilet Direct Installation Pilot Program into an on-going RPU direct installation program; and 4. Approve the creation and funding of a Water Innovations Grant Program, with initial funding in the amount of$50,000. BACKGROUND: In November 2009, the Governor and State Legislature approved a comprehensive water package that set ambitious water conservation policy and goals. Included in this package, Senate Bill SBX7-7 mandates urban water suppliers lower per capita water usage 20% by the year 2020. RPU currently offers a variety of water conservation rebate programs for high efficiency toilets, high efficiency clothes washers, weather-based irrigation controllers, high-efficiency sprinkler nozzles, artificial turf and water wise landscaping. To further RPU's efforts toward compliance with water efficiency mandates, staff launched several new innovative pilot water use efficiency programs targeted at both residential and commercial customers in order to achieve large water savings. The existing pilot programs are as follows: FreeSprinklerNozzles.com High Efrciency Sprinkler Nozzle Distribution Program The Precision Landscape irrigation Nozzle Distribution Program enables City of Riverside residents and businesses to use the website FreeSprinklerNozzles.com to obtain a voucher for free Precision Irrigation Nozzles. Western Municipal Water District (WMWD) is an active partner in the program, thus opening it to all residents and businesses within City of Riverside boundaries. Program caps are currently set at 25 nozzles per residential customer and 100 nozzles per commercial customer.