HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11051991 - S.1 5. 1
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
;Contra
FROM: SUNNE WRIGHT MC PEAK ;Costa
DATE: Introduced. October 21, 1991, County
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For Action on . November 5, 1991
SUBJECT:
Authorize Signing Memorandum elorclndum of Understanding Regarding Urban eater
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
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RECOMMENDATION
Endorse and authorize signing the Memorandum of Understanding
Regarding Urban Water Conservation in California as requested by
the Committee for Water Policy Consensus .
BACKGROUND
See attached Summary. As of October 14, 1991, a total of almost
65 water districts and environmental and public interest ', groups
statewide had endorsed the MOU. A signing ceremony with Governor
Wilson is being scheduled in the early part of November, and Contra
Costa County' s endorsement will allow representation at this
historic event.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON November 5. 1991 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X _ OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT - - - ) 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
C C: Supervisor McPeak ATTESTED November 5, 1991
Committee for Water Policy Consensus Phil Batchelor,Clerk of the Board of
1485 Enea Court, Suite 1330, Supervisors&WCounty Administratnr
Concord 94520
M382/7-83 ' BY �' -0• DEPUTY
STATE WATER CONSERVATION COALITION
Ajoin!project of the
Southern California Water Committee, Inc. and Committee for Water Policy Consensus
Coalition Co-Chairs:
Supervisor John K Flynn Supervisor Sunne Wright McPeak
County of Ventura County of Contra Costa
Chairman, SCWC Spry of Chair, CWPC
Urban Water Conservation Program:
Best Management Practices
and
Memorandum of Understanding
Backuound
In March 1989, the Southern California Water Committee and the northern California-based
Committee for Water Policy Consensus joined together in a historic partnership: the State Water
Conservation Coalition. One of the Coalition's four task forces,the Urban Water Conservation Task
Force, has been working since July 1989 on a process to resolve urban water conservation issues
.in the State Water Resources Control Board's Bay-Delta Hearings. (The Department of Water
Resources has an Urban Water Conservation Subgroup that has been working in a separate but
parallel effort.) The process developed is called urban water conservation "Best Management
Practices" (BMP).
Under the BMP process,urban water suppliers would agree to implement proven water conservation
measures, and to study additional water conservation measures and implement those that prove to
be effective.
The process would be implemented through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by
urban water suppliers, public interest groups, and environmental organizations. The conservation
measures which would be implemented and studied are divided into two categories: 1) BMPs; and
2) Potential BMPs. (See page 2 for definitions.) An ongoing organization made up of signatories
to the MOU would be formed. This organization, called the"Urban Water Conservation,Council,"
would be responsible for reviewing and making recommendations on the BMP process, and for
submitting annual reports on the process to the State Water Resources Control Board and governing
bodies of the MOU signatory agencies.
The process of studying and implementing BMPs would be a continuous one. In return for the
commitment to implement the BMP process, public interest and environmental groups would
support this conservation program and agree to recommend to the regulatory agencies involved in
the Bay-Delta Hearings (including the SWRCB and the Environmental Protection Agency)that these
agencies use only reliable estimates of water conservation savings from the list of Quantifiable
BMPs, and that the SWRCB include this policy in its water rights decisions.
If adopted by the SWRCB,the BMP process has several potential benefits for urban water.suppliers,
including: 1) increased water reliability; 2) establishment of a statewide water conservation
standard; 3) elimination of unreasonably high water conservation quotas; and 4) a more orderly
process for implementing proven water conservation measures.
(OVER)
Southern California Water Committee, Inc. Committee for Water Policy consensus
34 Executive Park, Suite 200 1485 Enea Court, Suite 1330
Irvine, CA 92714 Concord, CA 94520
(714) 261-7466 (415) 682-6633
Summary
Urban Water Conservation Program Page 2
Best Management Practices
Under the BMP process, water conservation.practices are divided into two categories:
1. BMPs: Accepted or long-standing conservation practices for which past experience indicates
statewide implementation is warranted and for which there is no reason for water suppliers not
to pursue through either large-scale demonstration projects or full implementation.
2. Potential BMPs: Those practices for which data is insufficient to justify I large-scale
demonstration projects or full implementation at this time. Water agencies.would agree to
study the possible effectiveness of these conservation measures and it is anticipated that some
Potential BMPs will be identified for future large-scale demonstration projects and,if they prove
cost-effective, for widespread implementation. }
MOU Principles of Agreement
The main provisions of the MOU agreed to by the parties include: ,
1. Agreement by signatory urban water suppliers to implement the BMP process.
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2. Agreement by all signatories to recommend to the SWRCB that only reliable water conservation
estimates be included in the Bay-Delta Hearing regulatory decisions.
3. Agreement that signatories to the MOU continue to participate in the BMP process.
4. Recognition that the MOU gives no new or additional authority to any agency or organization,
5. Recognition that implementing additional water conservation measures will make it more
g� m P
difficult to conserve water in the future.
6. Recognition of the need to provide reliable water supplies for urban uses.
A process for water supplier exemption from a BMP has been established.
April 1991