SR 04-26-2022 9B
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: April 26, 2022
Agenda Item: 9.B
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works, Water Resources
Subject: Public Hearing and Adoption of Resolution for the 2022 Annual Water
Shortage Assessment Report
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Hold a public hearing and receive public comment for the proposed 2022 Annual
Water Shortage Assessment Report; and
2. Approve the attached resolution adopting the 2022 Annual Water Shortage
Assessment Report.
Executive Summary
The California Water Code requires the City, as an urban water supplier, to conduct an
annual water supply and demand assessment, and that assessment is summarized in
the 2022 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report. The annual assessment analyzes
current water supply and demand conditions for the utility to project water supply
reliability over the next year, identify potential shortages and, if necessary, implement
water shortage response actions to mitigate potential water supply shortage conditions.
Based on the findings from the annual assessment, staff recommends remaining in a
Stage 2 Water Shortage Stage (20% reduction in water use compared to each
customer’s 2013 baseline), per the City’s 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan that
outlines water conservation measures to be implemented to align with regional and
statewide water conservation targets and to maintain a reliable water supply for the
community. The City has remained in the Stage 2 Water Shortage Stage since the 2014
drought and continues to maintain 20% water demand reduction from the baseline year.
In addition, the City continues to invest in water conservation measures to permanently
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reduce water demand and will be developing a water conservation master plan to
enhance water use efficiency efforts across the City.
Background
New regulations in the California Water Code require urban water suppliers to conduct
an annual water supply and demand assessment and submit an Annual Water Shortage
Assessment Report to the Department of Water Resources on or before July 1 of each
year. The annual assessment must be conducted according to a written decision-
making process determined by individual water suppliers. The City’s written decision-
making process is found in the City’s 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan, which
was adopted by City Council on June 8, 2021.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date
6/8/2021 (Attachment A) Public Hearing and Adoption of the City of Santa Monica's
2020 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
Discussion
The Water Shortage Contingency Plan serves as an action plan for the City during an
actual or predicted drought or a catastrophic water supply shortage. As required by the
California Water Code, the Water Shortage Contingency Plan includes: 1) key data
inputs and the assessment methodology used to evaluate the urban water supplier’s
water supply reliability, and 2) the City’s written decision-making process for performing
annual water supply and demand assessments.
Water Demand
One of the key data inputs for the annual water supply and demand assessment is
water billing data used to quantify annual water demand (or water use). Table 1
provides a summary of water use in acre-feet (AF) over the past five calendar years.
Table 1: Five-year Summary of the City’s Water Usage
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2017
(AF)
2018
(AF)
2019
(AF)
2020
(AF)
2021
(AF)
Single Family
Residential 2,641 2,773 2,556 2,756 2,845
Multi-Family
Residential 4,987 4,917 4,752 4,944 4,752
Industrial/
Commercial 3,030 3,028 2,914 2,100 2,131
Institutional 399 474 356 273 267
Landscape
Irrigation 440 456 450 438 576
Fire Service 5 3 3 2 3
Water Loss - - - 66 661
Demand 11,502 11,651 11,030 10,580 10,641
1Water Loss Audit has yet to be completed for 2021, 2020 water loss figure is assumed for 2021.
2Demand summarized in this table are actual water demand (or constrained water demand as defined by
DWR), which includes water demand reduction from water conservation efforts.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, overall water use in the City in 2020 and 2021
declined approximately eight percent compared to average water use from 2017 to
2019. The City experienced a substantial decrease in water use by
commercial/industrial and institutional users during the COVID-19 pandemic by
approximately 30 and 40 percent, respectively, while single-family residential use
increased five percent and multi-family residential use remained about the same.
Water Conservation and Unconstrained Demand
On August 12, 2014, City Council adopted a resolution declaring a Stage 2 Water
Supply Shortage thereby requiring mandatory water conservation to achieve a 20%
reduction in water use compared to 2013. Subsequently, on October 28, 2014, Council
also authorized additional staffing and funding to augment the City’s water conservation
efforts to address the state-wide drought and help the City meet its water self-
sufficiency goal. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted staffing and funding
levels for water conservation and staff is consequently working on a Water
Conservation Master Plan to realign water conservation efforts with current staffing
levels. The City has remained in a Stage 2 Water Shortage since 2014, which has
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contributed to a water demand reduction of about 20 percent or approximately 2,500 AF
per year.
The California Water Code requires water suppliers to estimate the current year’s
unconstrained demand as part of the annual water supply and demand assessment.
Unconstrained demand is water demand absent of any water supply or demand
restrictions such as mandatory water conservation efforts while factoring in weather and
population growth, to project demand for the period of July 1 to June 30.
Table 2 summarizes the current year and projected year unconstrained demands as
well as constrained demands, derived by subtracting an estimated 20 percent
conservation savings. Constrained demands are included for ease of comparison with
the five-year summary of the City’s water usage presented in Table 1. As previously
noted, overall water use after COVID-19 decreased by approximately 8 percent when
comparing the average annual water use between 2017 and 2019 (pre-COVID-19
pandemic) to the average water use between 2020 and 2021 (during the COVID-19
pandemic). However, as a conservative approach for the annual water supply and
demand assessment, the estimated water use for the next year (July 1, 2022 through
June 30, 2023) was increased by 10 percent as it assumes a full economic recovery
from COVID-19 (e.g., industrial/commercial and institutional water use returning to pre-
pandemic levels), an increase in population (higher single- and multi-family residential
use), and continued dry weather over the next year (higher irrigation use). Additionally,
the projected constrained demand of 11,779 AF is higher than any of the three years
preceding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Table 2: Current and Projected Year Demand
Current Year
July 2021 – June 2022
(AF)
Projected Year
July 2022 – June 2023
(AF)
Single Family Residential 3,557 3,939
Multi-Family Residential 5,941 6,580
Industrial/Commercial 2,664 2,951
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Institutional 333 369
Landscape Irrigation 720 798
Fire Service 3 4
Water Loss 66 66
Unconstrained Demand 13,284 14,707
Estimated 20% Conservation
Savings 2,643 2,928
Constrained Demand 10,641 11,779
Water Supply
The City currently obtains its potable water supply from a combination of local
groundwater and imported water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California (MWD). Local groundwater is supplied through the Santa Monica
Groundwater Basin, primarily from the Charnock Well Field, Olympic Well Field, and
Arcadia Well Field. Imported water from MWD is purchased to supplement the City’s
local groundwater supplies to meet the community’s water demand.
The California Water Code requires annual water supply and demand assessments to
evaluate water supply reliability for the current year and one single dry year. Relative to
previous years, the local groundwater supply in 2021 was lower than average due to: 1)
extended outage of three groundwater wells where replacement parts were delayed due
to supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and 2) the Arcadia Water
Treatment Plant was taken offline for three to four weeks in November/December 2021
during construction of the Arcadia Water Treatment Plant Expansion Project.
To assess available water supplies under a single dry year, staff used the water supply
analysis included in a drought risk assessment performed as part of the 2020 Urban
Water Management Plan that was adopted by City Council on June 8, 2021. For that
assessment, the local groundwater supply available for a single, worst-case drought
year (or dry year) was 6,755 AF.
In addition to evaluating water supply reliability for the current year and single dry year,
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the California Water Code also requires urban water suppliers to consider existing
infrastructure capabilities and plausible constraints. As previously mentioned,
construction will be occurring at the City’s Arcadia Water Treatment Plant through 2023
and it is estimated that this could result in a decrease in the local groundwater supply of
approximately 1,454 AF due to various plant shutdowns needed during construction to
add new facilities for the expansion.
Table 3 presents the current year and projected year supplies assuming the next year is
dry. As a conservative approach, the annual water supply and demand assessment
assumes that only MWD’s Tier 1 supply is available.
Table 3: Current Year and Projected Year Supply
Current Year (AF) Projected Year (AF)
Local Groundwater 5,236 5,301*
MWD Tier 1 7,406 7,406
Total Supply 12,642 12,707
*Derived from subtracting the 1,454 AF decrease in groundwater supply during Arcadia WTP construction
from the 6,755 AF water supply used in the drought risk assessment.
Assessment Results
The results of the annual water supply and demand assessment show that without
water shortage response actions (e.g., 20% water conservation target), a 13% water
supply shortage is projected for the next year. A 13% water supply shortage equates to
the State’s Standard Shortage Level 2 (10-20% shortage).
Table 4: Assessment Results without Water Shortage Response Actions
Total (AF)
Anticipated Unconstrained Demand 14,707
Anticipated Total Water Supply 12,707
Surplus/Shortage w/out Water Shortage Response Actions -2,000
% Surplus/Shortage w/out Water Shortage Response Actions -14%
State Standard Shortage Level 2
The City’s Water Shortage Contingency Plan utilizes the same shortage levels as the
State and includes water shortage response actions for a Stage 2 Shortage. The goal of
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these actions (e.g., water use allowance on bills, restriction/enforcement on irrigation
runoff or water waste, water use efficiency public outreach through social media and
other media outlets, water conservation rebates such as turf replacement, and water
use efficiency consultations) is to reduce water demand by 20 percent. Additional
details could be found in Section 5 of the 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan in
Attachment A. As previously mentioned, the City has been in a Stage 2 water shortage
stage since 2014 and has consistently achieved and maintained 20 percent reductions
in water demand from 2013 water usage levels. Incorporating these benefits yields a
positive water supply for the projected year. Based on these results, staff recommends
remaining in a Stage 2 Water Shortage Stage.
Table 5: Assessment Results with Stage 2 Water Shortage Response Actions
Total (AF)
Anticipated Constrained Demand 11,779
Anticipated Total Water Supply 12,707
Revised Surplus/Shortage w/ Water Shortage Response Actions 928
Revised % Surplus/Shortage w/ Water Shortage Response Actions 7%
Commission Action and Public Outreach
The annual water supply and demand assessment written decision-making procedures
include a presentation of the annual assessment to the Commission on Sustainability,
Environmental Justice, and the Environment. On February 28, 2022, staff presented the
annual water supply and demand assessment findings to the Commission on
Sustainability, Environmental Justice, and the Environment and the Commission
approved a motion in support of adopting the annual water supply and demand
assessment findings and for the City to remain in a Stage 2 Water Shortage.
Public participation is required as part of the annual water supply and demand
assessment procedures which include a public hearing and comment period. Public
notification regarding a public hearing for the 2022 Annual Water Shortage Assessment
Report was made through an advertisement in the Santa Monica Daily Press on April 5,
2022 and April 13, 2022. A copy of the draft 2022 Annual Water Shortage Assessment
Report was made available on the Water Resources Division website on April 7, 2022.
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Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the
recommended action.
Prepared By: Sunny Wang, Water Resources Manager
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. June 8, 2021 Staff Report (Web Link)
B. Draft 2022 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report
C. Draft Resolution
D. PowerPoint Presentation
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DRAFT ANNUAL WATER SHORTAGE
ASSESSMENT REPORT
MAY 2022
City of Santa Monica
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ii
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1-1
1.1 California Water Code Requirements ........................................................................... 1-1
1.2 Water System Overview .................................................................................................... 1-2
2 ANNUAL WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND ASSESSMENT ............................................ 2-1
2.1 Decision-making process................................................................................................... 2-1
2.2 Key Data Inputs ..................................................................................................................... 2-2
2.2.1 Demand ................................................................................................................... 2-3
2.2.2 Supply ................................................................................................................... 2-10
3 Supply and Demand Assessment Results And Recommendations ...................... 3-1
3.1 Recommended Water Shortage Response Stage ...................................................... 3-1
3.2 Ongoing Reassessments ..................................................................................................... 3-4
Figures
Figure 1. Potable Water System Overview .............................................................................................. 1-3
Figure 2. Components of the 2018 Sustainable Water Master Plan ............................................. 1-1
Tables
Table 2-1. Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment Process ............................................. 2-2
Table 2-2. Water Demand by Sector in Acre-Feet (2017-2021) ..................................................... 2-3
Table 2-3. Current Year and Projected Year Demands (Non-Potable) ......................................... 2-9
Table 2-4. Current Year and Projected Year Demands (Potable) ................................................ 2-10
Table 2-5. Current Year and Projected Year Potable Supply ........................................................ 2-12
Table 2-6. Current Year and Projected Year Non-Potable Supply .............................................. 2-13
Table 3-1. Assessment Results without Water Shortage Response Actions .............................. 3-1
Table 3-2. Assessment Results with Stage 2 Water Shortage Response Actions ..................... 3-2
Table 3-3. Water Shortage Stages and Reduction Targets ................................................................ 3-2
Table 3-4. Summary of Water Shortage Response Actions .............................................................. 3-3
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List of Acronyms Page iii
List of Acronyms
AF Acre-Feet
AFY Acre-Feet Per Year
AMI Advanced Metering Infrastructure
AWSDA Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment
AWWA American Water Works Association
BMP Best Management Practice
CWC California Water Code
DRINC Drinking Water Information Clearinghouse
DWR Department of Water Resources
GAC Granular Activated Carbon
GSP Groundwater Sustainability Plan
MCL Maximum Contaminant Level
MG Million Gallons
MGD Million Gallons Per Day
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
MTBE Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether
MWD Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
ND Non Detect
NOV Notice of Violation
PFAS Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
SGMA Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014
SMB Santa Monica Basin
SMBGSA Santa Groundwater Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency
SMURRF Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility
SWIP Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project
SWMP Sustainable Water Management Plan
SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board
RO Reverse Osmosis
TBA Tert-Butyl Alcohol
WCU Water Conservation Unit
WSCP Water Shortage Contingency Plan
WSIP Water Savings Incentive Program
WRD Water Resources Division
WTP Water Treatment Plant
WUA Water Use Allowance
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1 INTRODUCTION
This report presents findings from the City of Santa Monica (City) 2022 Annual Water
Supply and Demand Assessment (AWSDA). The AWSDA is required by the California Water
Code to analyze current water supply and demand conditions as well as project water
supply reliability over the next year. In doing so, AWSDA’s serve as a tool to help identify
potential water supply shortages and to implement water shortage response actions to
mitigate possible supply gaps.
Beginning in 2022, the California Water Code (§10632.1) requires urban water suppliers to
conduct an AWSDA and submit an annual water shortage assessment report to the
California Department of Water Resources (DWR) on or before July 1 of each year. The
annual water shortage assessment report evaluates water supply reliability over the
following year and provides an explanation of the process, data, and results of the
assessment.
1.1 CALIFORNIA WATER CODE REQUIREMENTS
The 2022 AWSDA was performed in compliance with California Water Code (CWC)
requirements. Guidelines for the AWSDA can be found in CWC Section 10632 and include
the following:
CWC §10632.1 An urban water supplier shall conduct an annual water supply and demand
assessment pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10632 and, on or before July 1 of each
year, submit an annual water shortage assessment report to the department with
information for anticipated shortage, triggered shortage response actions, compliance and
enforcement actions, and communication actions consistent with the supplier’s water
shortage contingency plan. An urban water supplier that relies on imported water from the
State Water Project or the Bureau of Reclamation shall submit its annual water supply and
demand assessment within 14 days of receiving its final allocations, or by July 1 of each
year, whichever is later.
CWC §10632(a)(2) The procedures used in conducting an annual water supply and
demand assessment that include, at a minimum, both of the following:
(A) The written decision-making process that an urban water supplier will use each year to
determine its water supply reliability.
(B) The key data inputs and assessment methodology used to evaluate the urban water
supplier’s water supply reliability for the current year and one dry year, including all of the
following:
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(i) Current year unconstrained demand, considering weather, growth, and other
influencing factors, such as policies to manage current supplies to meet demand
objectives in future years, as applicable.
(ii) Current year available supply, considering hydrological and regulatory
conditions in the current year and one dry year. The annual supply and demand
assessment may consider more than one dry year solely at the discretion of the
urban water supplier.
(iii) Existing infrastructure capabilities and plausible constraints.
(iv) A defined set of locally applicable evaluation criteria that are consistently relied
upon for each annual water supply and demand assessment.
(v) A description and quantification of each source of water supply.
The written decision-making process used to determine water supply reliability and key
data inputs and assessment methodology used for the 2022 AWSDA are detailed in Section
2 of this report, Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment.
1.2 WATER SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The City’s current domestic water supply consists of local groundwater and purchased
imported water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD).
Currently, the City extracts groundwater from ten active groundwater wells. Five of these
wells are located in the Charnock subbasin, two are located in the Olympic subbasin, and
three are located in the Arcadia subbasin. Three of the five wells located in the Charnock
subbasin are treated at the Charnock Water Treatment Plant (Charnock WTP) and then
blended with the two other Charnock wells prior to being pumped to the Arcadia Water
Treatment Plant (Arcadia WTP) for further treatment. The Arcadia WTP provides multi-
barrier treatment to all of the City’s groundwater wells to reduce hardness in the
groundwater and meet all federal and state drinking water regulations. Only one
groundwater well, SM-1, located in the Arcadia subbasin is distributed, after disinfection at
the well head, directly into the water distribution system as it does not require any
additional treatment to meet federal and state drinking water regulations. Final treated
water from the Arcadia WTP is sent to the 5-million-gallon (MG) Arcadia Reservoir and
distributed for potable water use. In addition to the Arcadia Reservoir, the City also owns
and operates three additional water storage reservoirs: Riviera Reservoir, Mt. Olivette
Reservoir, and San Vincente Reservoir.
The City supplements its local groundwater supply with imported water purchased from
MWD. The City, along with 12 other local governments, formed the MWD in 1928. MWD
was originally created to build the Colorado River Aqueduct to supplement the water
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supplies of the original founding members in Southern California. Water was first
delivered to the City in 1941 via the Colorado River Aqueduct. In 1972, MWD augmented its
supply sources to include deliveries from the State Water Project via the California
Aqueduct. Today, MWD serves more than 145 cities and 94 unincorporated communities
across Southern California. An overview of the existing domestic potable water system is
shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Potable Water System Overview
The City also has a dedicated recycled water system that provides service to 30 metered
locations. The primary use of recycled water is for landscape irrigation, but it is also used
for street sweeping, sewer jetting, and for lavatories at two facilities. Recycled water is
distributed from the Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility (SMURRF), which
captures and treats urban runoff from the storm drain system. Prior to SMURRF
operations, the runoff discharged to Santa Monica Bay and adversely impacted water
quality.
In November 2018, City Council adopted an updated Sustainable Water Master Plan
(SWMP). The intent of the 2018 SWMP update was to refine the pathway for the City to
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reach its goal of becoming water self-sufficient on local water resources and reducing its
use of imported water. The refined pathway to achieve water self-sufficiency by 2023 also
considered impacts of on-going drought conditions as well as new regulations that
required additional treatment for restoring local groundwater supplies. The SWMP builds
on the City’s previous successes by continuing to develop projects and programs at the
local level to enhance the reliability and resiliency of the City’s water supply.
When fully implemented, the projects outlined in the 2018 SWMP will provide a diversified,
drought-resilient water supply portfolio that leverages all available water resources to the
City. The key components of the SWMP are listed below and shown in Figure 2.
• Component 1 – Increasing water conservation efforts to permanently reduce water
demand.
• Component 2 – Developing sustainable and drought resilient alternative water
supplies.
• Component 3 – Expanding local groundwater production within sustainable yield
limits.
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Figure 2. Components of the 2018 Sustainable Water Master Plan
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2 ANNUAL WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND ASSESSMENT
AWSDAs analyze current water demand and supply conditions and project water supply
reliability over the next year. To analyze current water demand and supply, City staff
compiled water use and water supply data over the previous calendar year (i.e., January 1,
2021 to December 31, 2021) to project the current year’s trends for water demand and
supply. This information, in combination with other considerations such as anticipated
growth, weather patterns, and other plausible factors, were then used to project demand
and supply over the next year. It is assumed that it will be a dry year for the next projected
year. Because annual water shortage assessment reports are due by July 1st of each year,
the projected water demand and supply is for the period from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.
The following sections detail the decision-making process and data inputs used for the
AWSDA and water shortage assessment report.
2.1 DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
CWC §10632 requires AWSDAs to be conducted according to a written decision-making
process. The City’s written decision-making process is outlined in the City’s Water Shortage
Contingency Plan (WSCP), which serves as the City’s action plan during an actual or
predicted drought or a catastrophic water supply shortage. The process includes
presenting the findings to the City’s Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice,
and the Environment (formerly the Task Force on the Environment); public notification
regarding the proposed water supply shortage stage, water shortage response actions, and
upcoming City Council meeting for the Public Hearing; and formal adoption of the annual
water shortage assessment report findings and proposed water supply shortage stage by
City Council. A timeline for the decision-making process is provided in Table 2-1.
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Table 2-1. Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment Process
Month Activity
January Water Resources Division (WRD) and Water Conservation Unit
(WCU) commence the annual water supply and demand assessment
February WRD and WCU present annual assessment findings and proposed
water supply shortage stage to the Task Force on the Environment
March WRD and WCU prepare an annual water shortage assessment
report and proposed water supply shortage stage, if any, to the
Public Works Department Head for approval
April Public notification regarding proposed water supply shortage stage,
water shortage response actions, and upcoming City Council
meeting
May WRD and WCU present annual water shortage assessment report
findings and proposed water supply shortage stage to City Council
for formal adoption by resolution
On or before
July 1st
WRD submits a final water shortage assessment report to the State
of California Department of Water Resources
2.2 KEY DATA INPUTS
CWC §10632 requires the following data inputs and assessment methodology to be used to
evaluate the urban water supplier’s water supply reliability for the current year and one
dry year:
• Current year unconstrained demand, considering weather, growth, and other
influencing factors, such as policies to manage current supplies to meet demand
objectives in future years, as applicable.
• Current year available supply, considering hydrological and regulatory conditions in
the current year and one dry year. The annual supply and demand assessment may
consider more than one dry year solely at the discretion of the urban water supplier.
• Existing infrastructure capabilities and plausible constraints.
• A defined set of locally applicable evaluation criteria that are consistently relied
upon for each annual water supply and demand assessment.
• A description and quantification of each source of water supply.
The following sections describe these inputs in detail.
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2.2.1 Water Demand
Water usage for the City is tracked by six of the water sectors including Single-Family
Residential, Multi-Family Residential, Commercial/Industrial, Institutional, Landscape, and
Fire Service. The predominate water usage within the City is by residential users, which
account for more than two-thirds of the City’s total water consumption. Total water usage
in the multi-family residential category is about double compared to single-family
residential. Commercial/industrial water consumption is similar in magnitude to the
single-family residential sector and is approximately 25% of the total water usage within
the City. The other three sectors (institutional, landscape, and fire service) combined
account for approximately 7 percent of water use. Table 2-2 summarizes the constrained
water demand in the City over the last five years in acre-feet (AF). Constrained demand
includes water reduction from water conservation efforts or approximately 18-20% water
reduction for the City.
Table 2-2. Water Demand by Sector in Acre-Feet (2017-2021)
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Single Family
Residential 2,641 2,773 2,556 2,756 2,845
Multi-Family
Residential 4,987 4,917 4,752 4,944 4,752
Industrial/
Commercial 3,030 3,028 2,914 2,100 2,131
Institutional 399 474 356 273 267
Landscape
Irrigation 440 456 450 438 576
Fire Service 5 3 3 2 3
Water Loss - - - 66 661
Constrained
Demand2 11,502 11,651 11,030 10,580 10,641
1Water Loss Audit has yet to be completed for 2021, 2020 water loss figure is assumed for 2021.
2Demand summarized in this table are actual water demand (or constrained water demand as defined by
DWR), which includes water demand reduction from water conservation efforts.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, overall water use in the City declined approximately
7.7 percent compared to average from 2017 to 2019 (pre-pandemic). The City experienced
a substantial decrease in water use by commercial/industrial and institutional users during
the COVID-19 pandemic of 30 and 40 percent, respectively, while single-family residential
use increased 5 percent and multi-family residential use remained about the same.
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The water demand summarized in Table 2-2 also considered water loss in the water
distribution system. Distribution system water loss, defined as the difference between
water supplied to the system less authorized consumption, has declined linearly during
this entire reporting period. The City meets the Water Loss Audit Standard through its
participation in annual water audits. The audits are validated by an independent third-
party according to American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards. In 2015 the
total water loss was approximately 3.8% and in 2016 it was 1.6%. However, subsequent
years (2017-2019) have yielded water consumption exceeding water supplied and thus it
is assumed that water loss was 0% during the 2017-2019 period.
The discrepancy for water consumption exceeding water supplied has been attributed to
several factors. First, there is a timing issue with the manual meter reading. The City
maintains a 60-day billing cycle so there is a lag in consumption data relative to source
water entering the system. Second, the metering of the source water entering the City’s
distribution system are in multiple locations. The City’s water system has four sources
entering the system; two MWD feeder services, Santa Monica Well 1 and the Arcadia Water
WP. MWD’s two feeder service lines both have meters and are maintained by MWD. Santa
Monica Well 1 has a dedicated magnetic flowmeter. The Arcadia WTP does not have a
single flowmeter for the potable water produced. Rather, potable water effluent flow from
the Arcadia Water Treatment Plant is a composite of multiple internal plant flowmeters.
These internal flows originate from internal bypass flows and reverse osmosis product
flows. It is likely that the discrepancies in reporting are due to variations in accuracy from
the various flow meters when tabulated.
The City is in the process of installing flow meters at the Arcadia WTP and installing water
meters on the customer’s end with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) throughout the
distribution system. The new meters at the Arcadia WTP will allow for more accurate flow
accounting while the AMI smart meters provide for real-time water demand monitoring in
the distribution system, as opposed to the current 60-day meter reading cycle.
2.2.1.1 Water Conservation
The City has a long history of promoting water conservation. In 2002, the City initiated its
Water Efficiency Strategic Plan and in 2004 began implementing various conservation
programs including the No Water Waste and Green Building Ordinances. On August 12,
2014, City Council adopted a resolution declaring a Stage 2 Water Supply Shortage thereby
requiring mandatory water conservation to achieve a 20% reduction in water use
compared to 2013. Subsequently, on October 28, 2014, Council also authorized the
significant expansion of staffing and funding to augment the City’s water conservation
efforts to address the state-wide drought and help the City meet its water self-sufficiency
goal. The City has remained in a Stage 2 Water Shortage since 2014, which has contributed
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to a water demand reduction of about 20 percent or approximately 2,500 acre-feet per year
(AFY).
Water Demand Management is achieved through implementation of various water
conservation and efficiency programs designed to permanently reduce residential and
commercial potable water use. Continuation of existing, and implementation of proposed
conservation measures are essential for the City to reduce overall use in the face of
increased demand pressures from new housing and from the commercial and institutional
sectors of the local economy. Below is a list of some of the key conservation measures
currently being implemented:
• Water Neutrality Ordinance (SMMC 7.16.050): On July 1, 2017, the City’s Water
Neutrality Ordinance went into effect and capped water use for new developments
to the average five-year historical water use for that individual parcel. If the
projected annual water use for the development is greater than existing parcel’s
annual average over the past five years, the increased amount must be offset by
funding water-efficient retrofits of existing buildings elsewhere in the City. Offset
retrofits currently include low-flow indoor fixtures (toilets, urinals, showerheads,
aerators). The ordinance applies to pools, ponds, spas and other water features as
well. This ordinance was developed and is implemented by WCU staff.
Implementation includes performing over 500 development project plan checks
each year along with determining fees and managing a full-scale Water Neutrality
Direct Install program.
• Water Use Allowances (WUAs): The WUA is a component of the WSCP and is the
mechanism to implement the mandatory reduction required by a Water Supply
Shortage. WUAs represent the amount of water that can be used by a water
customer without risk of receiving an exceedance citation (see below). The WUA for
the current Stage 2 Water Supply Shortage is 20% below the amount of water used
in 2013. Every water customer in the City receives a WUA uniquely calculated for
each billing period.
• Water Use Allowance Exceedance Citations: A water customer can receive an
administrative citation for exceeding their WUA for any given billing period. Citation
fees are $250 for the first exceedance, $500 for the second exceedance (within 12
months of the first) and $1,000 for the third exceedance (within 12 months of the
second). Since 2015, over 1,300 WUA Exceedance Citations have been issued.
• Water Use Consultations: WCU staff make onsite visits to customers to
comprehensively audit indoor water use (measuring flush and flow fixtures,
appliances, checking for leaks, behaviors), outdoor water use (irrigation system,
checking for leaks, behaviors), along with a meter check. Recommendations for
saving water are documented and sent to the customer. Consultations have resulted
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in the discovery and repair of major leaks, adjustment of irrigation system timers,
installation of low-flow devices (aerators and showerheads (free), toilets and
urinals (rebates), and water-use behavior changes. This program is free of charge
for any Santa Monica water customer. Since 2015, over 650 consultations have been
provided to City water customers.
• Enhanced Landscape Rebate Program: The City’s most successful rebate program
provides rebates for customers that replace their turf grass and overhead spray
irrigation with sustainable, drought tolerant, low-water using landscapes with no or
drip irrigation only. Santa Monica’s unique landscape rebate requirements establish
effective water conservation, provide successful and maintainable projects, and
ensure an aesthetically pleasing landscape. Since 2015, over 675 rebate projects
have been completed removing over 1.1 million square feet of turf at a program
cost of $2.2 million.
• Landscape Consultants: The WCU has partnered with professional landscape
professionals who meet with potential landscape rebate customers at their property
and provide expert advice on sustainable landscaping and completing a rebate. This
service is $50 for a two-hour consultation. Since 2015 over 600 Landscape
Consultations have been completed. Since 2015, over 620 Landscape Consultations
have been completed. Note: This program was temporarily halted in 2020 due to
Covid-19 budget cuts.
• Water Waste Patrols: WCU staff enforces SMMC 7.16.020, the "No Water Waste”
ordinance. Responses to inbound water waste complaints are handled immediately,
and proactive patrols in the community provide on-site detection of water waste.
Notices of Violations (NOVs) are issued to ensure resolution of water waste issues
with Citations issued as needed. Since 2015, over 1,500 NOVs have been issued.
• Enhanced MWD Water Conservation Rebates: As a member-agency of the
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), the City of Santa Monica
participates in their program to provide rebates for high efficiency toilets, urinals,
clothes washers, restaurant appliances, irrigation devices and other devices. Since
2015, the WCU has increased the supplemental funding added to MWD’s base rebate
amounts to further incentivize installation of these water-conserving devices. Since
2015, over 7,200 devices have been rebated at a cost to the City of $137,000.
• Free Water Saving Items: WCU staff has distributed thousands of water saving items
to Santa Monica water customers since 2015. These items include low-flow faucet
aerators, low-flow showerheads, automatic shut-off hose nozzles, toilet leak-
detection dye tabs, shower buckets, flow-rate bags, and reusable canvas bags. The
WCU also provides free tent cards and door hangers for hotels/motels to encourage
water conservation by guests through reusing towels and sheets. These free items
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are available in the OSE office and are also distributed at outreach events. Since
2015, over 17,000 water saving devices have been distributed.
• Customer Support: WCU staff provides excellent customer phone and email support
every workday regarding any water conservation issue or program. Approximately
300 phone calls and emails from Santa Monica water customers are received and
responded to each year.
Depending on funding, additional conservation measures that are planned for
implementation over the next five years include:
• Water Conservation Programs Master Plan: An overall master plan will be
developed to provide a more detailed water conservation framework and
benefit/cost analysis of existing and proposed programs. An outside consultant will
be retained to provide guidance and support for developing this plan.
• Marketing/Messaging Program for “Conservation as a Way of Life” and Potential
Drought Resurgence: Working with the Office of Sustainability’s contracted
marketing agency, a new water conservation marketing campaign will be created
with messaging aligned with the State’s “Making Water Conservation a California
Way of Life.” Depending on conditions, drought-related information this may also
become part of the messaging.
• Targeted Commercial Sector Programs: Restaurants, hotels, and medical facilities
are the highest commercial users of water in the City. As such, outreach and support
program will be developed for one-on-one audits, evaluations, process
recommendations, and rebate incentives for fixtures/devices to provide meaningful
water savings in these specific sectors. An outside contractor may be used to
develop and implement these programs.
• Expanded School Education Program: Building upon the pilot program described
above, the City will again partner with the Discovery Science Center to expand the
pilot school program to all fifth-grade Santa Monica students to provide education
on water conservation and the impacts on our water supply and local watershed.
• Performance Pays: This effort will leverage Metropolitan Water District’s Water
Savings Incentive Program (WSIP) for unique, innovative water conservation
programs. Potential projects include pump pods for fire department trainings and
cooling tower retrofits with new technology.
• School District Retrofits via Water Neutrality Direct Install Program: The scope of
properties where the Water Neutrality Direct Install program retrofits fixtures will
be expanded from residential and CII to include all City campuses of the Santa
Monica-Malibu Unified School District.
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• Greywater System Permitting Guidebook: The use of graywater onsite is less energy
intensive than treating wastewater and can be a cost-effective alternative water
supply for irrigation and other non-potable uses at the property. Santa Monica
residents and businesses can currently install Laundry-to-Landscape greywater
systems without a permit, but more complex systems require a permit. To assist
those that would like to install advanced onsite greywater systems, the City intends
to provide a guidebook to help developers navigate the permitting process to help
incentive these systems.
• Flow Measuring and Irrigation Controller Devices Incentives: As a bridge to
advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), and to realize the potential water savings
from customers having real-time water use data (including leak alerts), an incentive
program will be developed for customers to obtain and install a flow measuring
device on their water meter. In addition, incentives for installing and properly
programming a smart irrigation controller will potentially be developed to address
outdoor water efficiency.
• Clothes Washer Incentive for Multi-Family: Clothes washers are among the highest
uses of indoor water. Typically, in multi-family shared laundry rooms, the machines
are older, top-loading, water-inefficient models that use 25-40 gallons per load. A
program will be developed to incentivize property owners to lease or purchase
newer, high efficiency clothes washing machines that use approximately 15
gallons/load.
• Irrigation System Audit and Repair: Much of the outdoor water waste occurs due to
incorrect watering schedules programmed in customer’s irrigation
timers/controllers (i.e. overwatering). In addition, leaks and broken sprinklers
heads go unnoticed as irrigation is typically run at night and not observed. This new
program will utilize a contractor to provide extensive outdoor audits and make
necessary timer adjustments and simple repairs to save water.
2.2.1.2 Non-potable Water Demand
The City has a dedicated recycled water system that provides service to 30 metered
locations. The primary use of recycled water is for landscape irrigation, but it is also used
for street sweeping, sewer jetting, and for lavatories at two facilities. Projected water
demand is expected to increase over the coming year as new developments requiring
recycled water come online. Aquifer injection of advanced treated recycled water is also
estimated to commence in March 2023.
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Table 2-3. Current Year and Projected Year Demands (Non-Potable)
Current Year
(AF)
Projected Year
(AF)
Non-Potable Reuse 65 235
Aquifer Recharge (Direct Injection)* 0 90
Total Demand 65 325
*200 GPM aquifer injection estimated to begin in March 2023
2.2.1.3 Unconstrained Demand
The CWC requires water suppliers to estimate the current year’s unconstrained demand as
part of the AWSDA. Unconstrained demand is water demand absent any water supply or
demand restrictions (e.g., mandatory conservation). Water suppliers then use the current
year unconstrained demand, while also considering other factors such as weather and
population growth, to project demand for the twelve-month period following the July 1st
AWSDA deadline (i.e., July 1 to June 30).
Table 2-4 summarizes the current year and projected year unconstrained demands as well
as constrained demands, derived by subtracting an estimated 20 percent conservation
savings. Constrained demands are included for ease of comparison with the five-year
summary of the City’s water usage presented in Table 2-2. As previously mentioned, overall
water use after COVID-19 decreased by approximately 7.7 percent. However, as a
conservative approach for the AWSDA, the estimated water use over the next year was
increased by 10 percent. This increase is conservative because it assumes a full economic
recovery from COVID-19 (higher industrial/commercial and institutional use), an increase
in population (higher single- and multi-family residential use), and dry weather over the
next year (higher irrigation use). Additionally, the projected constrained demand of 11,713
AF is higher than any of the three years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Table 2-4. Current Year and Projected Year Demands (Potable)
Current Year
(AF)
Projected Year
(AF)
Single Family Residential 3,557 3,939
Multi-Family Residential 5,941 6,580
Industrial/Commercial 2,664 2,951
Institutional 333 369
Landscape Irrigation 720 798
Fire Service 3 4
Water Loss 66 66
Unconstrained Demand 13,284 14,707
Estimated 20% Conservation Savings 2,643 2,928
Constrained Demand 10,641 11,779
2.2.2 Water Supply
The City currently purchases imported water from MWD to supplement its local water
supplies. The City is one of 15 Retail agencies served by MWD and receives imported water
at two locations: the Arcadia WTP and the Charnock WTP. Both of these connections are 24
inches in size and are capable of serving 100 percent of the City's water needs. The City’s
Tier 1 imported water supply limit from MWD has been 7,406 AFY since 2016 and the City
has been well under this limit in the past 10 years since the Charnock Well Field
Restoration Project was completed in 2010 to restore local groundwater supplies.
Additional MWD supply beyond the Tier 1 limit is also available to the City at a higher Tier
2 water supply rate.
The California Water Code requires AWSDAs to evaluate water supply reliability for the
current year and one dry year. Relative to previous years, the local groundwater supply in
2021 was lower than average. The lower local production was a result of two factors. First,
two groundwater wells were taken offline due to operational issues. One of the wells,
Charnock 13 (CH-13), is located in the City’s largest producing groundwater aquifer, the
Charnock Well Field. The other well, Santa Monica 4 (SM-4), is the highest producing well
in the City’s second largest producing groundwater aquifer, the Olympic Well Field. CH-13
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began operating again in September 2021 and SM-4 is anticipated to be back in operation
by the fall of 2022.
The other factor that contributed to lower groundwater supply in 2021 was the Arcadia
WTP temporarily being taken offline during construction of the Arcadia WTP expansion
project. The Arcadia WTP is the City’s primary drinking water treatment facility. The
expansion project would upgrade the Arcadia Water Treatment Plant and increase the
production capacity from 11 million gallons per day (MGD) to 13 MGD. This project is
scheduled to be completed in 2023.
To assess supplies under a single dry year, the City used the available water supply
estimate from the drought risk assessment performed as part of the 2020 Urban Water
Management Plan. The drought risk assessment projected that under a single, worst-case
dry year, the City’s local groundwater supply was approximately 6,755 AF, which equates
the lowest five-year running average for the City’s water supply from 2010 to 2020. The
2010-2020 time period was chosen because it is after the City completed the Charnock
Well Field Restoration Project in 2010 and is more representative of existing operating
conditions (e.g., available groundwater supply and annual MWD imported water use).
2.2.2.1 Existing Infrastructure Capabilities and Plausible Constraints
In addition to evaluating water supply reliability for the current year and one dry year, the
California Water Code also requires suppliers to consider existing infrastructure
capabilities and plausible constraints. As previously mentioned, construction will be
occurring at the City’s Arcadia Water Treatment Plant through 2023. It is estimated that
this could result in a decrease in the local groundwater supply of approximately 1,454 AF
due to plant shutdowns during construction.
2.2.2.2 Regulatory Considerations
Over 20 years ago, Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) and Tert-Butyl Alcohol (TBA),
compounds once used as gasoline additives, were detected in three of the Charnock Sub-
basin wells. These contaminants shutdown production from the Charnock Sub-basin, the
City’s largest groundwater supply, until the completion of the Charnock Well Field
Restoration Project. The treatment from this project uses Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)
filtration, from coconut shells, to successfully treat MTBE and TBA concentrations to levels
well below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 5 ppb. As a part of the Charnock Well
Field Restoration Project, additional treatment processes were also added at the Arcadia
WTP including reverse osmosis (RO) and aeration to provide multi-barrier treatment for
the local groundwater.
More recently in April 2019, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)
investigated source water wells in California most vulnerable to Per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS) contamination. This included those near airports and landfills, and later
those near secondary sources of PFAS activities. The SWRCB did not require Santa Monica
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to sample its sources. However, the City proactively sampled the City’s Drinking Water
sources in August/September of 2019, and PFAS was not detected in the City’s drinking
water supply. All PFAS samples analyzed by an outside laboratory were Non-Detect (ND).
Additionally, GAC and RO, both part of the City’s treatment process, are effective at
removing many PFAS compounds.
In May 2017, the Cities of Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Culver City, and Los
Angeles County signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form the Santa Monica
Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SMBGSA). The SMBGSA is tasked with
implementing an ongoing sustainable groundwater management program for the SMGB in
conformance with California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014.
A key piece of this program is the development of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP),
which was approved by the SMBGSA in January 2022.
The GSP is the first comprehensive groundwater assessment and management plan specific
to the SMB, which has been identified as a medium-priority groundwater basin by the
California DWR. The SMBGSA is required to provide a description of the sustainable
management criteria that will be used for the basin. As part of the GSP, sustainable
management criteria (e.g., sustainable yield) and interfaces with neighboring groundwater
basins (e.g., West Coast Basin and Central Basin) for the Santa Monica Basin (SMB) was
assessed. Projected groundwater levels calculated using a calibrated groundwater model
indicate that at a production rate of 9,000 AFY, groundwater elevations will decline and
recover based on the volume of recharge available in the SMB.
2.2.2.3 Projected Available Water Supply
Current year and projected year supply used for the AWSDA are provided in Table 2-5. The
projected year water supply includes existing infrastructure capabilities, plausible
constraints, and regulatory considerations described above. As a conservative approach,
the projected supply assumes that only MWD’s Tier 1 supply is available.
Table 2-5. Current Year and Projected Year Potable Supply
Current Year
(AF)
Projected Year
(AF)
Local Groundwater 5,236 5,301*
MWD Tier 1 7,406 7,406
Total Supply 12,642 12,707
*Derived from subtracting the 1,454 AF decrease in groundwater supply during Arcadia WTP construction
from the 6,755 AF water supply used in the drought risk assessment.
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2.2.2.4 Projected Available Non-Potable Supply
In 2001, the City began operating the SMURRF to treat dry-weather urban runoff that was
previously discharged into Santa Monica Bay from the Pier and Pico-Kenter storm drains.
The SMURRF is operated by Santa Monica, though operating costs and revenues are shared
jointly with the City of Los Angeles, as a Best Management Practice (BMP) facility. Treated
water from SMURRF is sent through a City-wide non-potable water distribution system
that serves parks, medians, Woodlawn Cemetery, and dual-plumbed buildings for toilet
flushing. The non-potable water is also used by City operations for street sweeping, sewer
jetting, and pressure washing.
In addition to SMURRF, the City will be completing the Sustainable Water Infrastructure
(SWIP) Advanced Water Treatment Facility (AWTF) toward the end of 2022. The SWIP
AWTF will be the City’s first wastewater treatment facility and will be able to produce up to
1 million MGD of advanced treated recycled water on average (approximately 10 percent of
the City’s total wastewater flow). Initially, advanced treated recycled water would be used
to meet non-potable reuse demands. Ultimately the advanced treated recycled water would
also be used to augment the groundwater aquifer at the Olympic Well Field via direct
aquifer injection. The City is also exploring the potential for direct potable reuse in the
future when regulatory guidelines are available in 2023. Table 2-6 summarizes the current
year and projected year non-potable supplies available to the City.
Table 2-6. Current Year and Projected Year Non-Potable Supply
Current Year
(AF)
Projected Year
(AF)
SMURRF 65 Up to 500
SWIP 0 Up to 1,100
Total Non-Potable Supply 65 Up to 1,600
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3 Supply and Demand Assessment Results and
Recommendations
The results of the AWSDA indicate that without water shortage response actions, a 13%
water supply shortage is projected for the next year (see Table 3-1 below). A 13% water
supply shortage equates to the State’s Standard Shortage Level 2 (10-20% shortage) where
necessary actions (e.g., water conservation) need to be taken to enhance the reliability and
resiliency of the available water supply.
Table 3-1. Assessment Results without Water Shortage Response Actions
Total (AF)
Anticipated Unconstrained Demand 14,707
Anticipated Total Water Supply 12,707
Surplus/Shortage w/out Water Shortage Response Actions -2,000
% Surplus/Shortage w/out Water Shortage Response Actions -14%
State Standard Shortage Level 2
3.1 RECOMMENDED WATER SHORTAGE RESPONSE STAGE
The City’s WSCP utilizes the same water shortage levels as the State and includes water
shortage response actions for a Stage 2 Shortage. The goal of these water shortage
response actions is to reduce water demand to enhance the reliability of the water supply.
For a Stage 2 Storage, water supply shortage actions are needed to reduce water demand
by 20 percent. The City has been in a Stage 2 water shortage stage since 2014 and has
consistently achieved 20 percent reductions in water demand. Incorporating Stage 2
Shortage response actions to reduce water demand by 20 percent yields a positive water
supply balance for the projected year. Based on these results, the City will remain in a Stage
2 Water Shortage Stage and continued to implement necessary water conservation
measures to maintain 20 percent water demand reduction.
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Table 3-2. Assessment Results with Stage 2 Water Shortage Response Actions
Total (AF)
Anticipated Unconstrained Demand 14,707
Benefit from Water Shortage Response Actions -2,928
Adjusted Water Demand from Water Shortage Response Actions 11,779
Anticipated Total Water Supply 12,707
Revised Surplus/Shortage w/Water Shortage Response Actions 928
Revised % Surplus/Shortage w/ Water Shortage Response Actions 7%
As future non-potable water supply capability far exceeds projected demand, it is
anticipated that the SMURRF and SWIP AWTF will operate to meet non-potable demand
and aquifer recharge demand at one injection well. To maximize the use of advanced
treated recycled water, the City is analyzing potential sites for two additional injection
wells and exploring the potential for direct potable reuse in the future to further enhance
the reliability and resiliency of the City’s water supply portfolio.
The City’s water shortage stages and associated water use reduction targets from the City’s
WSCP are provided in Table 3-3. The recommended Stage 2 Water Shortage Stage includes
mandatory water use restrictions with a City-wide use reduction goal of 20% compared to
the 2013 water use baseline. Water shortage actions implemented as part of a Stage 2
Water Shortage Stage are provided in Table 3-4.
Table 3-3. Water Shortage Stages and Reduction Targets
Water
Shortage
Stage
Shortage
Level
Water Shortage
Condition
Water Use
Restrictions
City-wide Use
Reduction Goal
Stage 1 ≤10% Minimal Voluntary 10%
Stage 2* 10-20% Moderate Mandatory 20%
Stage 3 20-30% Significant Mandatory 30%
Stage 4 30-40% Severe Mandatory 40%
Stage 5 40-50% Critical Mandatory 50%
Stage 6 >50% Catastrophic Mandatory >50%
*Recommended Water Shortage Stage
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Table 3-4. Summary of Water Shortage Response Actions
Water
Shortage
Stage Action
Estimated
Reduction
Stage 1 Offer Water Use Surveys 1% - 2%
Stage 1 Provide Rebates on Plumbing Fixtures and Devices 1% - 2%
Stage 1 Provide Rebates for Landscape Irrigation Efficiency 1% - 2%
Stage 1 Provide Rebates for Turf Replacement 1% - 2%
Stage 1 Landscape - Restrict or prohibit runoff from landscape
irrigation
1% - 2%
Stage 1 Landscape - Limit landscape irrigation to specific times 1% - 2%
Stage 1 CII - Restaurants may only serve water upon request 1% - 2%
Stage 1 Water Features - Restrict water use for decorative water
features, such as fountains
1% - 2%
Stage 1 Pools and Spas - Require covers for pools and spas 1% - 2%
Stage 1 Other - Customers must repair leaks, breaks, and
malfunctions in a timely manner
1% - 2%
Stage 1 Other - additional conservation measures by City staff 1% - 2%
Stage 1 Other - Irrigation Association’s Best Management
Practices for all City landscaped areas
1% - 2%
Stage 1 Other – immediate notification by City staff of any leaks
seen on City property or private property
1% - 2%
Stage 1 Other – immediate notification by City staff of any leaks
seen on City property or private property
1% - 2%
Stage 2 Other – continued implementation of Stage 1 actions 10% - 20%
Stage 2 Other - Implement Water Use Allowances (WUAs) for a
20% reduction from the amount of water used in 2013.
10% - 20%
Stage 2 Expand Public Information Campaign 1% - 10%
Stage 2 Increase Water Waste Patrols 1% - 10%
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3.2 ONGOING REASSESSMENTS
The City has been providing monthly water production and conservation reports to the
SWRCB since July 2014 to comply with the statewide drought emergency water
conservation regulation. While the emergency regulation expired in November 2017, the
City continues to report voluntarily. Monthly reports became mandatory again in October
2020 after the SWRCB adopted a new regulation on Monthly Urban Water Conservation
Reporting. The new reporting regulation requires monthly reporting of key elements and
additional information during water shortages. The reports, compiled by the City, include
information on residential water use, total potable water production, measures
implemented to conserve water and improve efficiency, and local enforcement actions. The
reports are submitted to the SWRCB’s Drinking Water Information Clearinghouse online
portal.
Over the next few years, the City will also be upgrading its water meters with AMI, which
will allow real-time water demand monitoring as opposed to the current 60-day meter
reading cycle. The City is also working on two master planning documents: a Water Master
Plan and a Water Conservation Master Plan. These master plans will help identify water
system improvements over the next ten years and will help refine the implementation of
water conservation measures to further reduce water demand.
On the water supply side, the City’s WRD provides monthly water production reports to
interested parties within the City. The reports include information on well production,
finished local water production and imported water purchased. Staff will continue monthly
monitoring of water supplies to assess water shortage conditions.
As an adaptive management plan, the WSCP will be refined as needed to ensure it
continues to effectively address potential water shortage conditions. On an ongoing basis,
using the reports and compliance tracking process described above, any necessary changes
to the WSCP will be identified. In addition, as a part of annual demand and supply
assessments, the WSCP will be reviewed with refinements incorporated as needed.
9.B.b
Packet Pg. 2727 Attachment: Draft 2022 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report [Revision 1] (4966 : Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment (20
Page 1 of 2
City Council Meeting: April 26, 2022 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA ADOPTING THE 2022
ANNUAL WATER SHORTAGE ASSESSMENT REPORT
WHEREAS, the California Legislature enacted Assembly Bill 1414 amending
Sections 10608.34, 10609.20, 10609.22, 10609.24, 10609.26, 10621, 10631, and
10632.1 of, and to add Section 10609.25 to, the California Water Code; and
WHEREAS, Section 10632.1 of the California Water Code requires an urban
water supplier to conduct an annual water supply and demand assessment and submit
an annual water shortage assessment report to the California Department of Water
Resources consistent with the supplier’s water shortage contingency plan by July 1 of
each year; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica is an urban supplier of water; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica water shortage contingency plan requires
annual water shortage assessment reports to be adopted by City Council after public
review and a public hearing, and filed with the California Department of Water Resources
by July 1, 2022; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica has prepared and circulated for public review a
draft 2022 annual water shortage assessment report, and a noticed public hearing regarding
the report was held by City Council on April 26, 2022.
9.B.c
Packet Pg. 2728 Attachment: Draft Resolution [Revision 1] (4966 : Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment (20 mins))
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed and considered the contents of the draft
2022 annual water shortage assessment report and determined that it complies with Section
10632 of the California Water Code.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES
HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Recitals above are incorporated herein by this reference.
SECTION 2. The City Council finds that the City is in conformance with all applicable
requirements of Section 10632 of the California Water Code.
SECTION 3. The City Council hereby adopts the City's 2022 annual water shortage
assessment report.
SECTION 4. The Water Resources Manager is hereby authorized and directed to file
the 2022 annual water shortage assessment report with the California Department of Water
Resources by July 1, 2022.
SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution of the
City Council, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
SUSAN Y. COLA
Interim City Attorney
9.B.c
Packet Pg. 2729 Attachment: Draft Resolution [Revision 1] (4966 : Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment (20 mins))
2022Water Shortage Assessment Report
4/26/2022
9.B.d
Packet Pg. 2730 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (4966 : Annual Water Supply and Demand
•New requirement under the California Water Code
•Procedures outlined in the Water Shortage Contingency Plan
•Presentation to Commission on Sustainability, Environmental Justice, and the Environment (2/28/2022)
•Hold Public Hearing for Annual Assessment
•Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report
•Due each year by July 1 to the California Department of Water Resources
•Formal adoption by City Council
Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment
2
9.B.d
Packet Pg. 2731 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (4966 : Annual Water Supply and Demand
•2015-2019 Average Annual Demand: ~11,400 AF
•2020-2021 Average Annual Demand: ~10,500 AF
•Projected Annual Demand:11,779 AF
•Projected Unconstrained Demand:14,707 AF
•Unconstrained Demand is without water conservation efforts
•Estimated Water Savings w/Stage 2 Water Shortage Tragets for Water Conservation: 2,928 AF (20%)
•City has been in Stage 2 Water Shortage since 2014
Water Demand Assessment
3
9.B.d
Packet Pg. 2732 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (4966 : Annual Water Supply and Demand
Imported Water MWD Tier 1 Allocation: 7,406 AF
Local Supplies (2020 UWMP Drought Risk Assessment): 6,755 AF
Arcadia shutdowns due to plant expansion project: (-1,454 AF)____________________________________________________
Imported + Local Supplies –Arcadia Shutdowns = 12,707 AF
Available Supply Assessment
4
9.B.d
Packet Pg. 2733 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (4966 : Annual Water Supply and Demand
Summary of Annual Assessment
5
•Projected Annual Water Demand: 11,779 AF
•Projected Available Water Supply: 12,707 AF
•Projected Unconstrained Demand:14,707 AF
•Unconstrained Demand is without water conservation efforts
•To remain in Stage 2 Water Shortage to maintain water conservation of 2,928 AF (20%)
9.B.d
Packet Pg. 2734 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (4966 : Annual Water Supply and Demand
Recommendations
6
•Remain in a Stage 2 Water Shortage (20% water conservation)
•Continue implementation of Stage 2 Water Shortage Response Actions also align with latest Executive Order from the Governor
•Adopt 2022 Annual Water Shortage Assessment Report
9.B.d
Packet Pg. 2735 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (4966 : Annual Water Supply and Demand
THANK YOU
9.B.d
Packet Pg. 2736 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (4966 : Annual Water Supply and Demand
Assessment Results
8
9.B.d
Packet Pg. 2737 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (4966 : Annual Water Supply and Demand