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W A T E R I E N E R 5 Y , L I F E RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Board Memorandum P U B L I C U T I L I T I E S BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: May 7, 2010 ITEM NO: 8 SUBJECT: PROPOSED HOTEL/MOTEL AND MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING HIGH EFFICIENCY TOILET DIRECT INSTALLATION PROGRAM ISSUE: To request Board of Public Utilities approval for the implementation and funding of the Hotel/Motel and Multi-Family Housing High Efficiency Toilet (HET) Direct Installation Program, a two-year program. RECOMMENDATIONS: That the Board of Public Utilities recommend that the City Council: 1. Approve the two-year Hotel/Motel and Multi-Family Housing High Efficiency Toilet (HET) Direct Installation Program; 2. Approve funding in the amount of $100,000 for the fiscal years 2010-11 and 2011-12 HET Program; 3. Authorize the Public Utilities General Manager, or his designee, to make any minor, non- substantive changes necessary to implement this program; and 4. Authorize Public Utilities staff to market the HET Program similar to other Riverside Public Utilities' direct installation programs. BACKGROUND: In November 2009, the Governor and State Legislature approved a comprehensive water package that sets an ambitious water conservation policy. Included within this package, SB 7 mandates urban water suppliers lower per capita water usage 20% by the year 2020. Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) currently offers water conservation rebate programs for high efficiency toilets, high efficiency clothes washers, weather-based irrigation controllers, rotating sprinkler nozzles, synthetic turf, and water wise landscaping. In an effort to achieve the mandated goal of 20% per capita water savings by 2020, RPU staff recommends implementation of a two-year Hotel/Motel and Multi-Family Housing HET Direct Installation Program. The HET Program would begin July 1, 2010, and be administered in partnership with Western Municipal Water District (WMWD). Program targets include multi-family residential and hospitality related commercial properties such as apartments, dormitories, townhomes and condominiums, as well as hotels and motels. A licensed contractor would inspect and replace all 3.5 gallon per-flush or higher toilets with 1.28 gallon per-flush high efficiency toilets.