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Water Conservation

Water Conservation. Mary Lou Cotton, C.C.P. Senior Water Resources Manager Kennedy/Jenks Consultants. in the San Joaquin Valley. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley. Historical water supply sources and water management strategies Groundwater Local surface water

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Water Conservation

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  1. Water Conservation Mary Lou Cotton, C.C.P. Senior Water Resources Manager Kennedy/Jenks Consultants in the San Joaquin Valley

  2. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley • Historical water supply sources and water management strategies • Groundwater • Local surface water • Conjunctive use (since late 1800s) • Central Valley Project (1930s) • State Water Project (1970s) • Water Banking • Water Transfers

  3. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley Historical water supply sources and water management strategies (cont’d.) Supplies were reliable and inexpensive Strategies, especially conjunctive use, worked well (had good access to surface water) Little regulatory oversight Changes began with 1987-92 drought due to environmental impacts to in-stream flows, especially in Delta

  4. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley • Past conservation efforts • Urban: fairly minimal • Public outreach (including kit distribution) • School education • Some rebate programs (mainly ULFTs) • Mainly drought response based • Agriculture: better, due to farm input costs • On-farm irrigation efficiency surveys • Satellite/laser land leveling, water distribution systems • Drip irrigation

  5. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley • Impact of legislation: driver of change • UWMP Act and Urban MOU • AWMP Act and Ag MOU (AB 3616) • AB 2572 (Urban metering) • AB 1420 (Urban requirements) • SB 407 (Urban universal retrofit) • SBX7-7 (Ag and Urban requirements)

  6. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley • UWMP Act: statute, California Water Code • Many components required, but not “enforced” until recently • Urban MOU: since 1991, completely voluntary • 14 Best Management Practices (BMPs) • SJV agencies slow to sign, area not well-represented • Low participation levels due to lack of local cost-effectiveness • Many SJV signatories not in compliance

  7. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley • AWMP Act and Ag MOU (AB 3616): statute, California Water Code • Required acreage threshold: 2 million acres of irrigated farmland as signatories to MOU, voluntary • Several Efficient Water Management Practices (EWMPs), three lists • SJV ag water districts are major participants

  8. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley AB 1420: requires detailed demonstration of water conservation measures in UWMPs AB 2572: Urban metering is mandatory, all UWMP agencies must be fully metered (and reading meters) by 2025 SB 407: Urban universal retrofit, all real estate transactions require verification of low water use plumbing fixtures by 2014

  9. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley • SBX7-7: significant requirements for all water suppliers • 20% mandatory reduction in statewide urban water use by 2020 • All Ag suppliers irrigating more than 25,000 acres must complete Ag Water Management Plan and carry out EWMPs • Penalties: no access to state funding; potential litigation and waste/unreasonable use filings with SWRCB

  10. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley • Future water supply sources and strategies (“What’s changing?”) • More focus on conjunctive use and banking, less on surface diversions • Increased interest in recycled water from both sectors: many parts of SJV have no waste outlet to ocean, so represents a major new supply source for irrigation • Recognition of conservation as part of water supply portfolio, rather than public outreach • Conservation not just for droughts any more

  11. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley • Future water supply sources and strategies (“What’s changing?”) (cont’d.) • Increased interest in integrated regional water management planning: new state directive; means to access funding • Conservation programs are a significant component • All regions need to use water more efficiently in all sectors

  12. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley • Future water conservation efforts, Urban: • Meters: major capital investments • Pricing structures that bill by volume of use (no more flat rates or declining block rates) • System water loss control: required AWWA protocol • Focus on landscape sector due to high SJV evapotranspiration rates, “low-hanging fruit”

  13. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley • Future water conservation efforts, Ag: • Measurement with accuracy (major capital investments if meters are used) • Pricing structures based on quantity of water delivered • Recycled water as appropriate • Incentive pricing for various practices, including conjunctive use • Many other water supplier and on-farm measures • However, recent survey shows that water decisions are based on crop rotation and cost

  14. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley • Conclusion: major changes in SJV over the next 10-15 years • Public attitudes changing (especially about meters) • Outreach to disadvantaged communities • Water agencies want to do a good job, but costs remain a concern for this part of California due to economics

  15. Water Conservation in the San Joaquin Valley Questions/Discussion

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