ORD-2009-028- Water Conservation Standards Orange Co Water Ord Affecting OWASA Service Area

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19 OWASA 's Reirised OFYA,SA 's .Ajater Conservation Standards March 26, 2009 Page 2 Stakeholders indicated that certain restrictions caused undue economic hardships to businesses such as landscapers, nurseries, power washers and house painters without achieving commensurate water savings. Similarly, it was noted that the marginal conservation benefits of not filling or topping off public swimming pools and not irrigating public recreational fields failed to justify the loss of these public resources to the community or the health and safety risks of improperly maintained athletic fields. • Many stakeholders noted the different values and replacement costs of grass lawns versus trees, shrubbery, and gardens. With proper turf selection and soil preparation, most grass lawns become dormant and will survive severe drought conditions, unlike certain trees and shrubs, which may die without sufficient water and then require years of growing tune to replace. OWASA believes that turf grass irrigation represents a low priority, non- essential use of drinking water. . • OWASA believes that an effective local conservation program should provide a mix of actual conservation benefits, customer information/education as well as a sense of. individual and community empowerment, and that no set of restrictions or rates can be perfectly effective, fair, and practical. Hiahli~hts of Revisions to the Standards 1. The "Water Supply Advisory" stage has been eliminated from the Standards. From past experience, the Advisory stage has little beneficial effect and is confusing to the public. 2. The high "cut-off' limits on monthly water use by residential customers are removed, because they were confusing to the public. Based on our experience during the 2007-2008 drought, the increasing block rates and Water Shortage rate surcharges reduce excessive residential water use without need for further incentives or customer-specific use reduction requirements. 3. Allowances are made for irrigating "Public Purpose Athletic and Recreational Fields" and "Public Purpose Botanical Sites". at different times and frequencies than generally specified for spray irrigation; provided that such exceptions comply with an.OWASA-approved Water Conservation Plan for each site. 4. Spray irrigation restrictions for turf grass remain unchanged except that hours during which spray irrigation is allowed are slightly extended to promote consistency with other communities' ordinances. Spray irrigation restrictions are relaxed for non-turf vegetation, such as trees, shrubs, and gardens. Drip irrigation, underground hose emitters, soaker hose, hand-watering, and other non-spray methods are allowed at any time, duration, or frequency except during a Water Supply Emergency, when all irrigation is prohibited. OWASA recognizes that it is impractical for customers to know whether these irrigation methods comply with the %2 or 1 inch per. week limits specified in the prior Standards and which are continued for spray irrigation.