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Item # 28
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
June 1, 2021
TOPIC: Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan
AGENDA TITLE
Hold a Public Hearing to Adopt Resolutions Approving the 2020 Urban Water
Management Plan, the 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan and Amend the 2015
Urban Water Management Plan
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Adopt a resolution approving the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan.
2. Adopt a resolution approving the 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
3. Adopt a resolution amending the 2015 Urban Water Management Plan to add
Appendix J, Reduced Delta Reliance Reporting.
DISCUSSION
The City of Santa Ana, as an urban water supplier, is required by the Urban Water
Management Plan Act of 1983 (Act) to update and submit an Urban Water Management
Plan (UWMP) to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) every five years
(Exhibit 1). UWMPs are comprehensive documents that present an evaluation of a water
supplier’s reliability over a long-term horizon. The 2020 UWMP provides an assessment
of the present and future water supply sources and demands within the City’s service
area. It presents an update to the 2015 UWMP on the City’s water resource needs, water-
use efficiency programs, water reliability assessment and strategies to mitigate water
shortage conditions. It also presents a new 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
designed to prepare for, and respond to, water shortages (Exhibit 2). The 2020 UWMP
contains all elements to meet compliance of the new requirements of the Act as amended
since 2015.
Delta Plan Policy WR P1, Reduce Reliance on the Delta Through Improved Regional
Water Self-Reliance (WR P1), is one of fourteen regulatory policies in the Delta Plan, and
identifies UWMPs as the tool to demonstrate consistency with state policy to reduce
reliance on the Delta for water suppliers that anticipates receiving water supply benefits
from the Delta. The 2015 UWMP did not include information regarding Delta Plan Policy
WR P1 as it was not required at that time. The 2020 UWMP Guidebook now recommends
Adopt the 2020 UWMP and WSCP, and Amend 2015 UWMP
June 1, 2021
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5
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that water suppliers prepare and submit this information as an appendix to their 2015 and
2020 UWMPs (Exhibit 3).
The Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) is a strategic planning document
designed to prepare for and respond to water shortages. The WSCP provides the steps
and water shortage response actions to be taken in times of water shortage conditions.
The WSCP has prescriptive elements, such as an analysis of water supply reliability; the
water shortage response actions for each of the six standard water shortage levels; an
estimate of potential to close supply gap for each measure; protocols and procedures to
communicate identified actions for any current or predicted water shortage conditions;
procedures for an Annual Assessment; monitoring and reporting requirements to
determine customer compliance; and reevaluation and improvement procedures for
evaluating the WSCP. This level of detailed planning and preparation is intended to help
maintain reliable supplies and reduce the impacts of supply interruptions. Although an
appendix to the UWMP, DWR requires the WSCP be treated as a stand-alone document
with its own public hearing and adoption.
As part of the existing agreement for programs and services with the Municipal Water
District of Orange County (MWDOC), the City elected to utilize a MWDOC-led team of
regionally-focused consultants to assist in the preparation of the 2020 UWMP. This
approach ensured that all requirements of the plans were met in a manner consistent with
other water suppliers in Orange County.
The final draft of the plans and notices were sent to officials at the County of Orange, the
City of Garden Grove and the City of Orange, in accordance with the Act. Copies of the
2020 UWMP, 2020 WSCP and 2015 UWMP Appendix J, were made available for review
in the Clerk of the Council’s office, at the Public Works Counter in City Hall, and on the
City’s website. Staff recommends the adoption of the resolutions approving the final draft
of the City’s 2020 UWMP (Exhibit 4) and the 2020 WSCP (Exhibit 5), and amending the
2015 UWMP (Exhibit 6).
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
In accordance with Section 15282 of the CEQA Guidelines, preparation and adoption of
urban water management plans are statutorily exempt from further environmental
review.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. 2020 Urban Water Management Plan
2. 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
3. 2015 Urban Water Management Plan Appendix J, Reduced Delta Reliance
Reporting
Adopt the 2020 UWMP and WSCP, and Amend 2015 UWMP
June 1, 2021
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4. Resolution to Adopt the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan Update
5. Resolution to Adopt the 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
6. Resolution to Amend the 2015 Urban Water Management Plan
Submitted By: Nabil Saba, P.E., Executive Director – Public Works Agency
Approved By: Kristine Ridge, City Manager
2020 Urban Water
Management Plan
Final Draft
May 2021
EXHIBIT 1
Santa Ana 2020 Urban Water Management Plan
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2020 URBAN WATER
MANAGEMENT PLAN
Prepared for:
City of Santa Ana
Public Works Agency
Water Resources Division
20 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, California 92701
Prepared by:
Arcadis U.S., Inc.
320 Commerce
Suite 200
Irvine
California 92602
Tel 714 730 9052
Fax 714 730 9345
Our Ref:
30055240
Date:
May 2021
Sarina Sriboonlue, P.E.
Project Manager
Santa Ana 2020 Urban Water Management Plan
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CONTENTS
Acronyms and Abbreviations ....................................................................................................................... ix
Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ ES-1
1 Introduction and UWMP Overview ..................................................................................................... 1-1
Overview of Urban Water Management Plan Requirements ...................................................... 1-1
UWMP Organization .................................................................................................................... 1-2
2 UWMP Preparation ............................................................................................................................ 2-1
Individual Planning and Compliance ........................................................................................... 2-1
Coordination and Outreach ......................................................................................................... 2-2
2.2.1 Integration with Other Planning Efforts .................................................................................. 2-2
2.2.2 Wholesale and Retail Coordination ........................................................................................ 2-3
2.2.3 Public Participation ................................................................................................................. 2-4
3 System Description ............................................................................................................................ 3-1
Agency Overview ......................................................................................................................... 3-1
3.1.1 Formation and Purpose .......................................................................................................... 3-1
3.1.2 City Council ............................................................................................................................ 3-3
Water Service Area and Facilities ............................................................................................... 3-3
3.2.1 Water Service Area ................................................................................................................ 3-3
3.2.2 Water Facilities ....................................................................................................................... 3-4
Climate ......................................................................................................................................... 3-6
Population, Demographics, and Socioeconomics ....................................................................... 3-7
3.4.1 Population .............................................................................................................................. 3-7
3.4.2 Demographics and Socioeconomics ...................................................................................... 3-7
3.4.3 CDR Projection Methodology ................................................................................................. 3-8
Land Uses .................................................................................................................................... 3-8
3.5.1 Current Land Uses ................................................................................................................. 3-8
3.5.2 Projected Land Uses .............................................................................................................. 3-9
4 Water Use Characterization ............................................................................................................... 4-1
Water Use Overview .................................................................................................................... 4-1
Past and Current Water Use ....................................................................................................... 4-1
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Water Use Projections ................................................................................................................. 4-3
4.3.1 Water Use Projection Methodology........................................................................................ 4-3
4.3.1.1 Weather Variability and Long-Term Climate Change Impacts ....................................... 4-5
4.3.2 25-Year Water Use Projection ............................................................................................... 4-5
4.3.2.1 Water Use Projections for 2021-2025 ............................................................................ 4-6
4.3.2.2 Water Use Projections for 2025-2045 ............................................................................ 4-6
4.3.2.3 Water Use Projections for Lower Income Households .................................................. 4-8
Water Loss ................................................................................................................................. 4-10
5 Conservation Target Compliance..................................................................................................... 5-13
Baseline Water Use ................................................................................................................... 5-13
5.1.1 Ten to 15-Year Baseline Period (Baseline GPCD) .............................................................. 5-14
5.1.2 Five-Year Baseline Period (Target Confirmation) ................................................................ 5-14
5.1.3 Service Area Population ....................................................................................................... 5-14
SBx7-7 Water Use Targets ........................................................................................................ 5-14
5.2.1 SBx7-7 Target Methods ....................................................................................................... 5-15
5.2.2 2020 Targets and Compliance ............................................................................................. 5-15
Orange County 20x2020 Regional Alliance .............................................................................. 5-17
6 Water Supply Characterization .......................................................................................................... 6-1
Water Supply Overview ............................................................................................................... 6-1
Imported Water ............................................................................................................................ 6-4
6.2.1 Colorado River Supplies ........................................................................................................ 6-5
6.2.2 State Water Project Supplies ................................................................................................. 6-7
6.2.3 Storage ................................................................................................................................. 6-11
6.2.4 Planned Future Sources ...................................................................................................... 6-12
Groundwater .............................................................................................................................. 6-12
6.3.1 Historical Groundwater Production ...................................................................................... 6-13
6.3.2 Basin Characteristics ........................................................................................................... 6-14
6.3.3 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act ........................................................................ 6-17
6.3.4 Basin Production Percentage ............................................................................................... 6-17
6.3.4.1 2020 OCWD Groundwater Reliability Plan .................................................................. 6-19
6.3.4.2 OCWD Engineer’s Report ............................................................................................ 6-19
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6.3.5 Recharge Management ........................................................................................................ 6-20
6.3.6 MET Groundwater Replenishment Program ........................................................................ 6-20
6.3.7 MET Conjunctive Use Program / Cyclic Storage Program with OCWD .............................. 6-21
6.3.8 Overdraft Conditions ............................................................................................................ 6-21
6.3.9 Planned Future Sources ...................................................................................................... 6-22
Surface Water ............................................................................................................................ 6-22
6.4.1 Existing Sources................................................................................................................... 6-22
6.4.2 Planned Future Sources ...................................................................................................... 6-22
Stormwater ................................................................................................................................ 6-23
6.5.1 Existing Sources................................................................................................................... 6-23
6.5.2 Planned Future Sources ...................................................................................................... 6-23
Wastewater and Recycled Water .............................................................................................. 6-23
6.6.1 Agency Coordination ............................................................................................................ 6-23
6.6.1.1 OCWD Green Acres Project ........................................................................................ 6-23
6.6.1.2 OCWD Groundwater Replenishment System .............................................................. 6-24
6.6.2 Wastewater Description and Disposal ................................................................................. 6-24
6.6.3 Current Recycled Water Uses .............................................................................................. 6-26
6.6.4 Projected Recycled Water Uses .......................................................................................... 6-26
6.6.5 Potential Recycled Water Uses ............................................................................................ 6-28
6.6.6 Optimization Plan ................................................................................................................. 6-28
Desalination Opportunities ........................................................................................................ 6-29
6.7.1 Ocean Water Desalination ................................................................................................... 6-30
6.7.2 Groundwater Desalination .................................................................................................... 6-31
Water Exchanges and Transfers ............................................................................................... 6-31
6.8.1 Existing Exchanges and Transfers ....................................................................................... 6-31
6.8.2 Planned and Potential Exchanges and Transfers ................................................................ 6-32
Summary of Future Water Projects ........................................................................................... 6-33
6.9.1 City Initiatives ....................................................................................................................... 6-33
6.9.2 Regional Initiatives ............................................................................................................... 6-33
Energy Intensity.................................................................................................................... 6-35
6.10.1 Water Supply Energy Intensity ......................................................................................... 6-35
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6.10.1.1 Operational Control and Reporting Period ............................................................... 6-38
6.10.1.2 Volume of Water Entering Processes ...................................................................... 6-38
6.10.1.3 Energy Consumption and Generation ...................................................................... 6-38
6.10.2 Wastewater and Recycled Water Energy Intensity .......................................................... 6-38
6.10.2.1 Operational Control and Reporting Period ............................................................... 6-41
6.10.2.2 Volume of Wastewater Entering Processes ............................................................. 6-41
6.10.2.3 Energy Consumption and Generation ...................................................................... 6-41
6.10.3 Key Findings and Next Steps ........................................................................................... 6-41
7 Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessment .................................................................. 7-1
Water Service Reliability Overview .............................................................................................. 7-1
Factors Affecting Reliability ......................................................................................................... 7-3
7.2.1 Climate Change and the Environment ................................................................................... 7-3
7.2.2 Regulatory and Legal ............................................................................................................. 7-4
7.2.3 Water Quality .......................................................................................................................... 7-4
7.2.3.1 Imported Water ............................................................................................................... 7-5
7.2.3.2 Groundwater ................................................................................................................... 7-5
7.2.4 Locally Applicable Criteria ...................................................................................................... 7-8
Water Service Reliability Assessment ......................................................................................... 7-8
7.3.1 Normal Year Reliability ........................................................................................................... 7-8
7.3.2 Single Dry Year Reliability ...................................................................................................... 7-9
DWR Submittal Table 7-3 Retail: Single Dry Year Supply and Demand Comparison ................................... 7-10
7.3.3 Multiple Dry Year Reliability ................................................................................................. 7-10
Management Tools and Options ............................................................................................... 7-12
Drought Risk Assessment ......................................................................................................... 7-13
7.5.1 DRA Methodology ................................................................................................................ 7-13
7.5.2 Total Water Supply and Use Comparison ............................................................................ 7-15
7.5.3 Water Source Reliability ....................................................................................................... 7-17
8 Water Shortage Contingency Planning .............................................................................................. 8-1
Layperson Description ................................................................................................................. 8-1
Overview of the WSCP ................................................................................................................ 8-1
Summary of Water Shortage Response Strategy and Required DWR Tables ........................... 8-2
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9 Demand Management Measures ....................................................................................................... 9-1
Demand Management Measures for Retail Suppliers ................................................................. 9-1
9.1.1 Water Waste Prevention Ordinances ..................................................................................... 9-1
9.1.2 Metering ................................................................................................................................. 9-3
9.1.3 Conservation Pricing .............................................................................................................. 9-3
9.1.4 Public Education and Outreach .............................................................................................. 9-4
9.1.5 Programs to Assess and Manage Distribution System Real Loss ....................................... 9-10
9.1.6 Water Conservation Program Coordination and Staffing Support ....................................... 9-11
9.1.7 Other Demand Management Measures (DMMs) ................................................................. 9-11
9.1.7.1 Residential Program ..................................................................................................... 9-11
9.1.7.2 Commercial, Industrial and Institutional (CII) Programs .............................................. 9-12
9.1.7.3 Landscape Programs ................................................................................................... 9-12
Implementation over the Past Five Years.................................................................................. 9-14
Water Use Objectives (Future Requirements) .......................................................................... 9-15
10 Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Implementation ................................................................................ 10-1
Overview .............................................................................................................................. 10-1
Agency Coordination ............................................................................................................ 10-2
Public Participation ............................................................................................................... 10-3
UWMP Submittal .................................................................................................................. 10-3
Amending the Adopted UWMP or WSCP ............................................................................ 10-3
11 References ....................................................................................................................................... 11-1
TABLES
Table 2-1: Plan Identification...................................................................................................................... 2-1
Table 2-2: Supplier Identification ............................................................................................................... 2-2
Table 2-3 Retail: Water Supplier Information Exchange ............................................................................ 2-4
Table 3-1: Retail Only: Public Water Systems ........................................................................................... 3-6
Table 3-2: Retail: Population - Current and Projected ............................................................................... 3-7
Table 3-3: City of Santa Ana Service Area Dwelling Units by Type .......................................................... 3-8
Table 3-4: Buildout Potential of the City ................................................................................................... 3-12
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Table 4-1 Retail: Demands for Potable and Non-Potable Water – Actual ................................................. 4-2
Table 4-2: Water Use Projections for 2021 to 2025 ................................................................................... 4-6
Table 4-3: Retail: Use for Potable and Non-Potable Water – Projected .................................................... 4-7
Table 4-4 Retail: Total Water Use (Potable and Non-Potable) .................................................................. 4-8
Table 4-5 Retail Only: Inclusion in Water Use Projections ....................................................................... 4-8
Table 4-6: SCAG 6th Cycle Household Allocation Based on Median Household Income ........................ 4-9
Table 4-7: Projected Water Use Needed for Low Income Households (AF) ........................................... 4-10
Table 4-8: Retail: Last Five Years of Water Loss Audit Reporting .......................................................... 4-11
Table 5-1: Baselines and Targets Summary ............................................................................................ 5-16
Table 5-2: 2020 Compliance .................................................................................................................... 5-17
Table 6-1: Retail: Water Supplies – Actual ................................................................................................ 6-2
Table 6-2: Retail: Water Supplies – Projected ........................................................................................... 6-3
Table 6-3: MET SWP Program Capabilities ............................................................................................... 6-9
Table 6-4: Retail: Groundwater Volume Pumped .................................................................................... 6-14
Table 6-5: Management Actions Based on Changes in Groundwater Storage ....................................... 6-18
Table 6-6: Retail: Wastewater Collected Within Service Area in 2020 ................................................... 6-25
Table 6-7: Retail: Recycled Water Direct Beneficial Uses Within Service Area ...................................... 6-27
Table 6-8: Retail: 2015 UWMP Recycled Water Use Projection Compared to 2020 Actual ................... 6-28
Table 6-9: Recommended Energy Intensity – Multiple Water Delivery Products .................................... 6-36
Table 6-10: Recommended Energy Intensity – Wastewater & Recycled Water ..................................... 6-39
Table 7-1 Retail: Basis of Water Year Data (Reliability Assessment) ....................................................... 7-2
Table 7-2: Retail: Normal Year Supply and Demand Comparison ............................................................ 7-9
Table 7-3: Retail: Single Dry Year Supply and Demand Comparison ..................................................... 7-10
Table 7-4: Retail: Multiple Dry Years Supply and Demand Comparison ................................................. 7-11
Table 7-5: Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment Tables to Address Water Code Section 10635(b) ....... 7-15
Table 8-1: Water Shortage Contingency Plan Levels ................................................................................ 8-4
Table 9-1: Water Rates Effective January 1, 2020 .................................................................................... 9-3
Table 9-2: Water Tier Allocations Effective January 1, 2020 ..................................................................... 9-4
Table 9-3: City of Santa Ana Water Conservation Efficiency Program Participation .............................. 9-14
Table 9-4: MET Programs to Assist in Meeting WUO ............................................................................. 9-16
Table 9-5: CII BMP Implementation Programs Offered ........................................................................... 9-18
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Table 10-1: External Coordination and Outreach .................................................................................... 10-1
Table 10-2: Retail: Notification to Cities and Counties ............................................................................ 10-2
FIGURES
Figure 3-1: Regional Location of City of Santa Ana ................................................................................... 3-2
Figure 3-2: City of Santa Ana Water Service Area .................................................................................... 3-4
Figure 3-3: Water System Facilities ........................................................................................................... 3-5
Figure 3-4: Special Planning Areas of the City of Santa Ana .................................................................. 3-11
Figure 4-1: Water Use Projection Methodology Diagram .......................................................................... 4-4
Figure 4-2: Water Loss Audit for FY 2015/16 to FY 2019/20 ................................................................... 4-11
Figure 4-3: Water Loss Performance Indicators for FY 2015/16 to FY 2019/20 ..................................... 4-12
Figure 6-1: City’s Projected Water Supply Sources (AF) ........................................................................... 6-4
Figure 6-2: Map of the OC Basin ............................................................................................................. 6-16
Figure 8-1: UWMP Overview ..................................................................................................................... 8-2
Figure 9-1: Youth Outreach Flyer .............................................................................................................. 9-5
Figure 9-2: Outreach and Education Material ............................................................................................ 9-5
Figure 9-3: Outreach Event Photo 1 .......................................................................................................... 9-6
Figure 9-4: Outreach Event Photo 2 .......................................................................................................... 9-6
Figure 9-5: Outreach Event Photo 3 .......................................................................................................... 9-7
Figure 9-6: Outreach Event Photo 4 .......................................................................................................... 9-7
Figure 9-7: Landscape Transformation Program Outreach Flyer, Page 1 ................................................ 9-8
Figure 9-8: Landscape Transformation Program Outreach Flyer, Page 2 ................................................ 9-8
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APPENDICES
Appendix A. UWMP Water Code Checklist
Appendix B. DWR Standardized Tables
Appendix C. Reduced Delta Reliance
Appendix D. SBx7-7 Verification and Compliance Forms
Appendix E. 2021 OC Water Demand Forecast for MWDOC and OCWD Technical Memorandum
Appendix F. AWWA Water Loss Audits
Appendix G. 2017 Basin 8-1 Alternative
Appendix H. Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Appendix I. Water Use Efficiency Implementation Report
Appendix J. Demand Management Measures
Appendix K. Notice of Public Hearing
Appendix L. Adopted UWMP and WSCP Resolutions
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ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
% Percent
20x2020 20% water use reduction in GPCD by year 2020
ADU Accessory Dwelling Unit
Act Urban Water Management Planning Act of 1983
AF Acre-Feet
AFY Acre-Feet per Year
AWWA American Water Works Association
BEA Basin Equity Assessment
Biops Biological Opinions
BPP Basin Production Percentage
CCC California Coastal Commission
CDR Center for Demographic Research at California State Fullerton
CEC Constituents of Emerging Concern
CEE Consortium for Energy Efficiency
CII Commercial/Industrial/Institutional
CIP Capital Improvement Program
City City of Westminster
CPTP Coastal Pumping Transfer Program
CRA Colorado River Aqueduct
CTE Career Technical Education
CUP Conjunctive Use Program
CVP Central Valley Project
DAC Disadvantaged Communities
DCP Delta Conveyance Project
DDW California State Division of Drinking Water
Delta Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
DRA Drought Risk Assessment
DMM Demand Management Measure
DOF Department of Finance
DVL Diamond Valley Lake
DWR Department of Water Resources
FIRO Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations
FY Fiscal Year
GAP Green Acres Project
GHG Greenhouse Gas
GPCD Gallons per Capita per Day
gpf Gallons per Flush
GSA Groundwater Sustainability Agency
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GSP Groundwater Sustainability Plan
GWRS Groundwater Replenishment System
GWRSFE Groundwater Replenishment System Final Expansion
H2O2 Hydrogen Peroxide
HECW High Efficiency Clothes Washer
HEN High Efficiency Nozzle
HET High Efficiency Toilet
HOA Home Owners Association
IPR Indirect Potable Reuse
IRP Integrated Water Resources Plan
JADU Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit
kWh Kilowatt-Hour
LRP Local Resources Program
LTFP Long-Term Facilities Plan
MAF Million Acre-Feet
MCL Maximum Contaminant Level
MET Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
MF Microfiltration
MG Million Gallon
MGD Million Gallons per Day
MHI Median Household Income
MNWD Moulton Niguel Water District
MTBE Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether
MWDOC Municipal Water District of Orange County
MWELO Model Water Use Efficiency Landscape Ordinance
NDMA N-nitrosodimethylamine
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NRW Non-Revenue Water
OC Orange County
OC Basin Orange County Groundwater Basin
OC San Orange County Sanitation District
OCWD Orange County Water District
ORP On-Site Retrofit Program
PFAS Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
PFOA perfluorooctanoic acid
PFOS perfluorooctane sulfanate
Poseidon Poseidon Resources LLC
PPCP Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Product
PPT Parts Per Trillion
PSA Public Service Announcement
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QWEL Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper
RA Replenishment Assessment
RHNA Regional Housing Needs Assessment
RO Reverse Osmosis
RUWMP Regional Urban Water Management Plan
SBx7-7 Senate Bill 7 as part of the Seventh Extraordinary Session
SCAB South Coast Air Basin
SCAG Southern California Association of Governments
SCWD South Coast Water District
SMWD Santa Margarita Water District
SDP Seawater Desalination Program
sf Square Feet
STEAM Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics
SWP State Water Project
SWRCB California State Water Resources Control Board
TAF Thousand Acre-Feet
TDS Total Dissolved Solids
USBR United States Bureau of Reclamation
UV Ultraviolet
UWMP Urban Water Management Plan
UWMP Act Urban Water Management Planning Act of 1983
VOC Volatile Organic Compound
Water Code California Water Code
WBIC Weather-Based Irrigation Controller
WF-21 Water Factory 21
WSAP Water Supply Allocation Plan
WSCP Water Shortage Contingency Plan
WSIP Water Savings Inventory Program
WUO Water Use Objective
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION AND UWMP OVERVIEW
The City of Santa Ana prepared this 2020 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) to submit to the
California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to satisfy the UWMP Act of 1983 (UWMP Act or Act)
and subsequent California Water Code (Water Code) requirements. The City is a retail water supplier that
provides water to its residents and other customers using the imported potable water supply obtained
from its regional wholesaler, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET), local groundwater
from the Orange County Groundwater Basin (OC Basin), and recycled water from the Orange County
Water District (OCWD).
UWMPs are comprehensive documents that present an evaluation of a water supplier’s reliability over a
long-term (20-25 year) horizon. This 2020 UWMP provides an assessment of the present and future
water supply sources and demands within the City’s service area. It presents an update to the 2015
UWMP on the City’s water resource needs, water use efficiency programs, water reliability assessment
and strategies to mitigate water shortage conditions. It also presents a new 2020 Water Shortage
Contingency Plan (WSCP) designed to prepare for and respond to water shortages. This 2020 UWMP
contains all elements to meet compliance of the new requirements of the Act as amended since 2015.
UWMP PREPARATION
The City coordinated the preparation of this 2020 UWMP with other key entities, including MET (regional
wholesaler for Southern California and the direct supplier of imported water to the City, Municipal Water
District of Orange County ([MWDOC] (regional wholesale supplier for OC)), and OCWD (OC Basin
manager and provider of recycled water in north OC). While the City is not a member agency of MWDOC,
the City developed this UWMP in conjunction with other MWDOC-led efforts such as population projection
from the Center for Demographic Research at California State University Fullerton (CDR).
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
Governed by a non-partisan seven-member City Council, the City is one of the oldest cities in Orange
County, incorporated in 1886 and became an original member agency of the MET on February 27, 1931.
The City’s water service area covers 27.5 square miles and includes the City of Santa Ana and a small
neighborhood in the City of Orange, near Tustin Avenue and Fairhaven by the northeast corner of Santa
Ana. The City operates ten reservoirs with a storage capacity of 49 million gallons (MG), seven pumping
stations, 21 groundwater wells, four pressure regulating stations and seven import water connections and
manages 510-mile water mains system with 45,037 service connections.
Situated in the South Coast Air Basin (SCAB), the City’s climate is characterized by Southern California’s
“Mediterranean” climate with mild winters, warm summers and moderate rainfall. Regarding land use, the
City is predominantly single and multi-family residential community. Moving forward, the City will continue
planning for its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation and future planned
developments beyond 2020 will primarily be multiuse projects, in the ‘focus areas’ identified in the City’s
General Plan. The current population of 335,086 is projected to increase by 2.9% over the next 25 years.
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WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION
Water use within the City’s service area has been relatively stable in the past decade with an annual
average of 36,245 AF. Potable and non-potable water use accounts for an average of 99% and 1% of
total City water use, respectively. In fiscal year (FY) 2019/20, the City’s water use was 33,240 AF of
potable water (groundwater and imported) and 249 AF of direct recycled water for landscape irrigation. In
FY 2019-20, the City’s potable water use profile comprised of 65.5% residential use, 24.5% commercial,
industrial, and institutional (CII), and 4.0% large landscape/irrigation. Non-revenue water and other uses
account for 5.9% of City’s water demand.
Water Use Projections: 5-year and 25-year
The City’s service area is almost completely built-out and is projected to add minimum land use and small
population increase. Water demand is likely to increase by 1.2% over the next 5 years. In the longer term,
water demand is projected to be stable from 2025 through 2045 (a slight decrease of 0.2% over the
20-year period). The projected potable and non-potable water use for 2045 is 33,578 AF and 249 AF,
respectively.
This demand projection considers such factors as current and future demographics, future water use
efficiency measures, and long-term weather variability.
CONSERVATION TARGET COMPLIANCE
Retail water suppliers are required to comply with the requirements of Water Conservation Act of 2009,
also known as SBx7-7 (Senate Bill 7 as part of the Seventh Extraordinary Session), which was signed
into law in 2010 and requires the State of California to reduce urban water use by 20% by 2020 from a
2013 baseline.
The retail water suppliers can comply individually or as a region in collaboration with other retail water
suppliers, in order to be eligible for water related state grants and loans. The City is part of the Orange
County 20x2020 Regional Alliance created in collaboration with MWDOC, its retail member agencies as
well as the Cities of Anaheim and Fullerton. The Alliance was created to assist OC retail agencies in
complying with SBx7-7.
The City met its 2020 water use target and is in compliance with SBx7-7; the actual 2020 consumption
was 66 gallons per capita per day (GPCD), which is below its 2020 target of 116 GPCD.
WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION
The City meets all of its demands with a combination of local groundwater, imported water, and recycled
water. The City works together with two primary agencies, MET and OCWD, to ensure a safe and reliable
water supply that will continue to serve the community in periods of drought and shortage. The sources of
imported water supplies include water from the Colorado River and the State Water Project (SWP)
provided by MET.
The City’s main source of water supply is groundwater from the OC Basin. Imported water and recycled
water supplement the City’s water supply portfolio. In FY 2019-20, the City’s water supplies consisted of
76% groundwater, 23% imported water, and 1% recycled water.
It is projected that by 2045, the City’s water supply portfolio will shift to 84% groundwater, 15% imported
water, and 1% recycled water. Note that these representations of supply match the projected demand.
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The City also has a ten-year purchase agreement with MET that allows the City to purchase significantly
more imported water, should the need arise.
The City does not own or operate wastewater treatment facilities but owns and operates the wastewater
collection system in its service area that sends all wastewater to OC San for treatment and disposal. The
City benefits from its direct and indirect uses of recycled water. OCWD’s Green Acres Project (GAP)
produces recycled water for direct non-potable reuses such as landscape irrigation. OCWD’s
Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) produces recycled water for indirect potable reuse (IPR)
through the replenishment of the OC Basin.
WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY AND DROUGHT RISK ASSESSMENT
Every urban water supplier is required to assess the reliability of their water service to its customers under
a normal year, a single dry year, and a drought period lasting five consecutive years. The water service
reliability assessment compares projected supply to projected demand for the three hydrological
conditions between 2025 and 2045. Factors affecting reliability, such as climate change and regulatory
impacts, are accounted for as part of the assessment.
The City depends on a combination of imported and local supplies to meet its water demands and has
taken numerous steps to ensure it has adequate supplies. MET’s 2020 UWMP concludes that they can
meet full-service demands of their member agencies through 2045 during normal years, single-dry years,
and multiple-dry years. Consequently, the City is projected to meet full-service demands through 2045 for
all scenarios, due to diversified supply and conservation measures.
The Drought Risk Assessment (DRA) evaluates the City’s near-term ability to supply water assuming the
City is experiencing a drought over the next five years. Even under the assumption of a drought over the
next five years, MET’s 2020 UWMP concludes a surplus of water supplies would be available to all of its
Member Agencies, including the City, should the need for additional supplies arise to close any local
supply gap. Additionally, the City partakes in various efforts to reduce its reliance on imported water
supplies such as increasing the use of local groundwater and recycled water supplies.
WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLANNING
Water shortage contingency planning (WSCP) is a strategic planning process that the City engages in to
prepare for and respond to water shortages. A water shortage, when water supply available is insufficient
to meet the normally expected customer water use at a given point in time, may occur due to a number of
reasons, such as water supply quality changes, climate change, drought, and catastrophic events
(e.g., earthquake). The City’s WSCP provides real-time water supply availability assessment and
structured steps designed to respond to actual conditions. This level of detailed planning and preparation
will help maintain reliable supplies and reduce the impacts of supply interruptions.
The WSCP serves as the operating manual that the City will use to prevent catastrophic service
disruptions through proactive, rather than reactive, mitigation of water shortages. The WSCP contains the
processes and procedures that will be deployed when shortage conditions arise so that the City’s
governing body, its staff, and its retail agencies can easily identify and efficiently implement
pre-determined steps to mitigate a water shortage to the level appropriate to the degree of water shortfall
anticipated.
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DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES
The City, along with other retail water agencies in Orange County, recognizes the need to use existing
water supplies efficiently. This ethic of efficient use of water has evolved as a result of the development
and implementation of water use efficiency programs that make good economic sense and reflect
responsible stewardship of the region’s water resources. The City participate in regional water savings
programs and works closely with MET and MWDOC to promote regional efficiency.
PLAN ADOPTION, SUBMITTAL, AND IMPLEMENTATION
The Water Code requires the UWMP to be adopted by the Supplier’s governing body. Before the
adoption of the UWMP, the City notified the public and the cities and counties within its service area per
the Water Code and held a public hearing to receive input from the public on the UWMP. Post adoption,
the City submitted the UWMP to DWR and other key agencies and made the document available for
public review no later than 30 days after filing with DWR.
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1 INTRODUCTION AND UWMP OVERVIEW
The City of Santa Ana (City) prepared this 2020 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP or Plan) to
submit to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to satisfy the UWMP Act of 1983
(Act or UWMP Act) and subsequent California Water Code (Water Code) requirements. The City is a
retail water supplier that provides water to its residents and other customers using the imported potable
water supply obtained from its regional wholesaler, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
(MET), local groundwater from the Orange County Groundwater Basin (OC Basin), and recycled water
from the Orange County Water District (OCWD). The City, as one of MET’s 26 member agencies,
prepared this 2020 UWMP in collaboration with MET, Municipal Water District of Orange County
(MWDOC), OCWD, and other key agencies.
UWMPs are comprehensive documents that present an evaluation of a water supplier’s reliability over a
long-term (20-25 year) horizon. In response to the changing climatic conditions and regulatory updates
since the 2015 UWMP, the City has been proactively managing its water supply and demand. The water
loss audit program, water conservation measures and efforts for increased self-reliance in order to reduce
dependency on imported water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (Delta) are some of the
water management efforts that the City is a part of to maintain the reliability of water supply for its service
area.
This 2020 UWMP provides an assessment of the present and future water supply sources and demands
within the City’s service area. It presents an update to the 2015 UWMP on City’s water resource needs,
water use efficiency programs, water reliability assessment and strategies to mitigate water shortage
conditions. It presents a new 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) designed to prepare for
and respond to water shortages. This 2020 UWMP contains all elements to meet compliance of the new
requirements of the Act as amended since 2015.
Overview of Urban Water Management Plan Requirements
The UWMP Act enacted by California legislature requires every urban water supplier (Supplier) providing
water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 customers or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet (AF)
of water annually to prepare, adopt, and file an UWMP with the California DWR every five years in the
years ending in zero and five.
For this 2020 UWMP cycle, DWR placed emphasis on achieving improvements for long term reliability
and resilience to drought and climate change in California. Legislation related to water supply planning in
California has evolved to address these issues, namely Making Conservation a Way of Life [Assembly
Bill (AB) 1668 and Senate Bill (SB) 606] and Water Loss Performance Standard SB555. New UWMP
requirements in 2020 are a direct result of these new water regulations. Two complementary components
were added to the 2020 UWMP. First is the WSCP to assess the Supplier’s near term 5-year drought risk
assessment (DRA) and provide a structured guide for the Supplier to deal with water shortages. Second
is the Annual Water Supply Demand Assessment (WSDA) to assess the current year plus one dry year
i.e., short-term demand/supply outlook. Analyses over near- and long-term horizons together will provide
a more complete picture of Supplier’s reliability and will serve to inform appropriate actions it needs to
take to build up capacity over the long term.
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The various key new additions in the 2020 UWMP included as a result of the most recent water
regulations are:
Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) – WSCP helps a Supplier to better prepare for
drought conditions and provides the steps and water use efficiency measures to be taken in times
of water shortage conditions. WSCP now has more prescriptive elements, including an analysis
of water supply reliability; the water use efficiency measures for each of the six standard water
shortage levels, that correspond to water shortage percentages ranging from 0 - 10% to greater
than 50%; an estimate of potential to close supply gap for each measure; protocols and
procedures to communicate identified actions for any current or predicted water shortage
conditions; procedures for an annual water supply and demand assessment; monitoring and
reporting requirements to determine customer compliance; reevaluation and improvement
procedures for evaluating the WSCP.
Drought Risk Assessment – The Suppliers are now required to compare their total water use
and supply projections and conduct a reliability assessment of all their sources for a consecutive
five-year drought period beginning 2021.
Five Consecutive Dry-Year Water Reliability Assessment - The three-year multiple dry year
reliability assessment in previous UWMPs has now been extended from three to five consecutive
dry years to include a more comprehensive assessment of the reliability of the water sources to
improve preparedness of Suppliers for extended drought conditions.
Seismic Risk – The UWMP now includes a seismic risk assessment of the water supply
infrastructure and a plan to mitigate any seismic risks on the water supply assets.
Groundwater Supplies Coordination – The UWMP should be in accordance with the
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 and consistent with the Groundwater
Sustainability Plans, wherever applicable.
Lay Description – To provide a better understanding of the UWMP to the general public, a lay
description of the UWMP is included, especially summarizing the Supplier’s detailed water
service reliability assessment and the planned management steps and actions to mitigate any
possible shortage scenarios.
UWMP Organization
This UWMP is organized into 10 main sections aligned with the DWR Guidebook recommendations.
The subsections are customized to tell the City’s story of water supply reliability and ways to overcome
any water shortages over a planning horizon of the next 25 years.
Section 1 Introduction and UWMP Overview gives an overview of the UWMP fundamentals and briefly
describes the new additional requirements passed by the Legislature for 2020 UWMP.
Section 2 UWMP Preparation identifies this UWMP as an individual planning effort of the City, lists the
type of year and units of measure used and introduces the coordination and outreach activities conducted
by the City to develop this UWMP.
Section 3 System Description gives a background on the City’s water system and its climate
characteristics, population projection, demographics, socioeconomics, and predominant current and
projected land uses of its service area.
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Section 4 Water Use Characterization provides historical, current, and projected water use by customer
category for the next 25 years within the City’s service area and the projection methodology used by
MWDOC to develop the 25-year projections.
Section 5 Conservation Target Compliance reports the SB X7-7 water use conservation target
compliance of the City (individually and as a member of the OC 20x2020 Regional Alliance).
Section 6 Water Supply Characterization describes the current water supply portfolio of the City as well
as the planned and potential water supply projects and water exchange and transfer opportunities.
Section 7 Water Service Reliability and Drought Risk Assessment assesses the reliability of the
City’s water supply service to its customers for a normal year, single dry year, and five consecutive dry
years scenarios. This section also includes a DRA of all the supply sources for a consecutive five-year
drought period beginning 2021.
Section 8 Water Shortage Contingency Planning is a brief summary of the standalone WSCP
document (Appendix H) which provides a structured guide for the City to deal with water shortages,
incorporating prescriptive information and standardized action levels, lists the appropriate actions and
water use efficiency measures to be taken to ensure water supply reliability in times of water shortage
conditions, along with implementation actions in the event of a catastrophic supply interruption.
Section 9 Demand Management Measures provides a comprehensive description of the water
conservation programs that the City has implemented, is currently implementing, and plans to implement
in order to meet its urban water use reduction targets.
Section 10 Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Implementation provides a record of the process the City
followed to adopt and implement its UWMP.
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2 UWMP PREPARATION
The City’s 2020 UWMP is an individual UWMP for the City to meet the Water Code compliance as a retail
water supplier. While the City opted to prepare its own UWMP and meet Water Code compliance
individually, the development of this UWMP involved close coordination with its whole supplier, MET and
the regional whole supplier for Orange County (OC), MWDOC along with other key entities within the
region.
Individual Planning and Compliance
The City opted to prepare its own UWMP (Table 2-1) and comply with the Water Code individually, while
closely coordinating with MET, MWDOC and various key entities as discussed in Section 2.2 to ensure
regional integration. The UWMP Checklist was completed to confirm the compliance of this UWMP with
the Water Code (Appendix A).
One consistency with MWDOC and the majority of its retail member agencies that are part of the
OC 20x2020 Regional Alliance is that the City selected to report demands and supplies using fiscal
year (FY) basis (Table 2-2).
Table 2-1: Plan Identification
DWR Submittal Table 2-2: Plan Identification
Select
Only One Type of Plan Name of RUWMP or Regional Alliance
if applicable
Individual UWMP
Water Supplier is also a
member of a RUWMP
Water Supplier is also a
member of a Regional
Alliance
Orange County 20x2020 Regional Alliance
Regional Urban Water Management
Plan (RUWMP)
NOTES:
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Table 2-2: Supplier Identification
DWR Submittal Table 2-3: Supplier Identification
Type of Supplier (select one or both)
Supplier is a wholesaler
Supplier is a retailer
Fiscal or Calendar Year (select one)
UWMP Tables are in calendar years
UWMP Tables are in fiscal years
If using fiscal years provide month and date that the fiscal
year begins (mm/dd)
7/1
Units of measure used in UWMP (select from drop down)
Unit AF
NOTES:
The energy intensity data is reported in calendar year
consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
Coordination and Outreach
2.2.1 Integration with Other Planning Efforts
The City, as a retail water supplier, coordinated this UWMP preparation effort with other key entities,
including MET (regional wholesaler for Southern California and the direct supplier of imported water to the
City and MWDOC), MWDOC (regional wholesale supplier for OC), and OCWD (OC Basin manager and
provider of recycled water in north OC). While the City is not a member agency of MWDOC, the City
developed this Plan in conjunction with other MWDOC-led efforts such as population projection from the
Center for Demographic Research at California State University Fullerton (CDR).
Some of the key planning and reporting documents that were used to develop this UWMP are:
MET’s 2020 UWMP was developed as a part of the 2020 IRP planning process and provides the
basis for the projections of the imported supply availability over the next 25 years for the City’s
service area.
MET’s 2020 WSCP provides a water supply assessment and guide for MET’s intended actions
during water shortage conditions.
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2021 OC Water Demand Forecast for MWDOC and OCWD Technical Memorandum
(Demand Forecast TM) provides the basis for water demand projections for the City, MWDOC’s
member agencies as well as Anaheim and Fullerton.
MET’s 2020 Integrated Water Resources Plan (IRP) is a long-term planning document to
ensure water supply availability in Southern California and provides a basis for water supply
reliability in Orange County.
OCWD’s Groundwater Reliability Plan (to be finalized after July 2021) provides the latest
information on groundwater management and supply projection for the OC Basin, the primary
source of groundwater for 19 retail water suppliers in OC.
OCWD’s 2019-20 Engineer’s Report provides information on the groundwater conditions and
basin utilization of the OC Basin.
OCWD’s 2017 Basin 8-1 Alternative is an alternative to the Groundwater Sustainability Plan
(GSP) for the OC Basin and provides significant information related to sustainable management
of the basin in the past and hydrogeology of the basin, including groundwater quality and basin
characteristics.
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan provides the basis for the seismic risk analysis of the water
system facilities.
Water Master Plan of the City provides information on water infrastructure planning projects and
plans to address any required water system improvements.
Statewide Water Planning
In addition to regional coordination with various agencies described above, the City as a MET member
agency is currently a part of MET’s statewide planning effort to reduce reliance on the water imported
from the Delta.
It is the policy of the State of California to reduce reliance on the Delta in meeting California’s future water
supply needs through a statewide strategy of investing in improved regional supplies, conservation, and
water use efficiency. This policy is codified through the Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Plan Policy WR
P1 and is measured through Supplier reporting in each Urban Water Management Planning cycle. WR P1
is relevant to water suppliers that plan to participate in multi-year water transfers, conveyance facilities, or
new diversions in the Delta.
Through significant local and regional investment in water use efficiency, water recycling, advanced water
technologies, local and regional water supply projects, and improved regional coordination of local and
regional water supply efforts, the City has demonstrated a reduction in Delta reliance and a subsequent
improvement in regional self-reliance. For a detailed description and documentation of the City’s
consistency with Delta Plan Policy WR P1 see Section 7.4 and Appendix C.
2.2.2 Wholesale and Retail Coordination
The City developed its UWMP in conjunction with the MET’s 2020 UWMP. As part of the 2020 UWMP
coordination process, the City provided its water demand projections over the next 25 years to MET
(Table 2-3). The projections of the City’s water demand over the next 25 years were facilitated by
MWDOC, the wholesale member of the OC 20x2020 Regional Alliance, by using the historical water use
and initial water use projections provided to MWDOC by the City.
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Table 2-3 Retail: Water Supplier Information Exchange
DWR Submittal Table 2-4 Retail: Water Supplier Information Exchange
The retail Supplier has informed the following wholesale supplier(s) of projected water
use in accordance with Water Code Section 10631.
Wholesale Water Supplier Name
MET
NOTES:
2.2.3 Public Participation
For further coordination with other key agencies and to encourage public participation in the review and
update of this Plan, the City held a public hearing and notified key entities and the public per the Water
Code requirements. Sections 10.2 and 10.3 describe these efforts in detail.
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3 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
Governed by a non-partisan seven-member City Council, the City is one of the oldest cities in Orange
County, incorporated in 1886 and became an original member agency of the MET on February 27, 1931.
The City’s water service area covers 27.5 square miles and includes the City of Santa Ana and a small
neighborhood in the City of Orange, near Tustin Avenue and Fairhaven by the northeast corner of Santa
Ana. The City operates ten reservoirs with a storage capacity of 49 million gallons (MG), seven pumping
stations, 21 groundwater wells, four pressure regulating stations and seven import water connections and
manages 510.1-mile water mains system with 45,037 service connections.
Lying in the South Coast Air Basin (SCAB), its climate is characterized by Southern California’s
“Mediterranean” climate with mild winters, warm summers and moderate rainfall. In terms of land use, the
City is a predominantly single and multi-family residential community. Moving forward, the City will
continue planning for its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) allocation and future planned
developments beyond 2020 will primarily be multiuse projects, in the ‘focus areas’ listed in the General
Plan of the City. The current population of 335,086 is projected to increase by only 2.9% over the next
25 years.
Agency Overview
This section provides information on the formation and history of the City, its organizational structure,
roles, objectives and relationship to MET.
3.1.1 Formation and Purpose
The City is one of the oldest cities in Orange County incorporated in 1886. The City was, for many years,
a ranching community with some farming. To serve this growing agricultural and domestic community, a
municipal water system was formed in 1886. The original source of water supply for the City was from
shallow irrigation wells. As the City continued to grow and change from agriculture to an urban
community, the need for additional sources of water was recognized if economic development were to
continue.
To tap into water sources from outside the area, the City joined with 12 other Southern California cities to
form and be an original member agency of the MET on February 27, 1931. MET, as a regional
wholesaler, supplies imported water to Southern California from the Colorado River and from the State
Water Project from Northern California. MET’s primary purpose is to develop, store and distribute water at
wholesale rates to its member public agencies for domestic and municipal uses. The City’s location is
shown on Figure 3-1.
In 1933, the OCWD was formed by a special act of the State Legislature to manage Orange County’s
groundwater supply and protection of the County’s rights to water in the Santa Ana River. In 1953, the
City became a member of OCWD.
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Figure 3-1: Regional Location of City of Santa Ana
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3.1.2 City Council
The City is governed by a non-partisan seven-member City Council, elected to serve staggered four-year
terms, except for the Mayor, who serves a two-year term. The City Council appoints the City Manager and
various members of commissions, committees, and citizen advisory groups, all of which may weigh in on
water management issues and decisions for the City. The current Council members are:
Vicente Sarmiento, Mayor
Thai Viet Phan (Ward 1)
David Penaloza, Mayor Pro Tem (Ward 2)
Jessie Lopez (Ward 3)
Phil Bacerra (Ward 4)
Johnathan Ryan Hernandez (Ward 5)
Nelida Mendoza (Ward 6)
Water Service Area and Facilities
3.2.1 Water Service Area
The City is in the heart of Orange County and is the eleventh largest City in California. The City’s Water
Utility provides water service within a 27.5 square mile service area. The service area includes the City of
Santa Ana and a small neighborhood in the City of Orange, near Tustin Avenue and Fairhaven by the
northeast corner of Santa Ana. A map of the City's water service area is shown as Figure 3-2.
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Figure 3-2: City of Santa Ana Water Service Area
3.2.2 Water Facilities
The City maintains 510.1 miles of water mains, ten reservoirs with a storage capacity of 49 MG,
seven pumping stations, 21 groundwater wells, four pressure regulating stations and seven import water
connections. Figure 3-3 shows the City’s water system facilities.
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Figure 3-3: Water System Facilities
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Fourteen of the City Wells pump into surface reservoirs with booster stations pumping the water into the
distribution system. The remaining seven wells pump directly into the City’s distribution system. Water
pumped from all of the wells has been naturally filtered as it passes through underlying aquifers of sand,
gravel, and soil. This well water only requires disinfectant treatment for system distribution.
The City maintains seven imported water connections to receive water through MET’s Orange County
and East Orange County Feeder pipelines. These seven metered connections with a total capacity of
60,580 gallons per minute (gpm) transfer water into the City’s distribution system.
System Pressures – Reducing distribution system pressures will, to a certain degree, conserve water
and pumping energy by reducing leaking in water and plumbing systems, as well as reducing waste or
water when turning water fixtures on and off. The City continually reviews the pressure zones to
determine the feasibility of reducing system pressures by lowering settings on distribution system
pressure regulators. The reviews have indicated that potential fire protection requirement deficiencies
occur when pressures are reduced. Therefore, the City maintains safe yet efficient system pressures.
Peak Demand – Water system demand patterns are a result of climatological, land use, sociological, and
institutional factors, all of which affect the amount of water consumed. Reduction in peak demands can
reduce the need for construction of new water storage and conveyance facilities and, in certain instances,
the development of new water sources. The City’s computerized telemetry system allows water system
operators to operate the system more efficiently through the ability to stage and prioritize water
production facilities usage to meet these ever-changing demand patterns.
The system connections and water volume supplied are summarized in Table 3-1.
Table 3-1: Retail Only: Public Water Systems
DWR Submittal Table 2-1 Retail Only: Public Water Systems
Public Water System
Number
Public Water System
Name
Number of Municipal
Connections 2020
Volume of
Water Supplied
2020
CA3010038 City of Santa Ana 45,037 33,489
TOTAL 45,037 33,489
NOTES:
Climate
The City is located within the SCAB that encompasses all of OC, and the urban areas of Los Angeles,
San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. The SCAB climate is characterized by Southern California’s
“Mediterranean” climate: a semi-arid environment with mild winters, warm summers, and moderate
rainfall.
Local rainfall has limited impacts on reducing water demand in the City, except for landscape irrigation
demand. Water that infiltrates into the soil may enter groundwater supplies depending on the local
geography. However, due to the large extent of impervious cover in Southern California, rainfall runoff
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quickly flows to a system of concrete storm drains and channels that lead directly to the ocean. OCWD is
one agency that has successfully captured stormwater along the Santa Ana River and in recharge basins
for years and used it as an additional source of supply for groundwater recharge. Based on the
2017 Basin 8-1 Alternative Plan, OCWD captured an average annual stormwater volume of
approximately 44,000 AF over the period of ten years, from Water Year 2006-07 to 2015-16; however,
this period’s rainfall was 17% below the long term average using San Bernardino precipitation data.
Based on a longer period (1989-2015) of rainfall and captured stormwater records, the average year
water budget of OCWD assumes a stormwater capture volume of 52,000 AF.
Population, Demographics, and Socioeconomics
3.4.1 Population
According to CDR, the City’s service area has a 2020 population of 335,086, a decrease from the
2015 population of 338,336. Overall, the population increases with a moderate growth of 2.9% over the
25-year period from 2020 to 2045. The growth is slightly higher in the first 15 years until 2035 and tapered
off from there. Table 3-2 shows the population projections in five-year increments out to 2045 within the
City’s service area.
Table 3-2: Retail: Population - Current and Projected
DWR Submittal Table 3-1 Retail: Population - Current and Projected
Population
Served
2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045(opt)
335,086 343,358 347,511 347,952 347,785 345,018
NOTES:
Source - Center for Demographic Research at California State University,
Fullerton, 2020
3.4.2 Demographics and Socioeconomics
As shown in Table 3-3 below, the total number of dwelling units in the City is expected to increase by
4.6% in the next 25 years from 78,650 in 2020 to 82,243 in 2045. Table 3-3 also shows a breakdown of
the total dwelling units by type for the 25-year period from 2020 to 2045.
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Table 3-3: City of Santa Ana Service Area Dwelling Units by Type
City of Santa Ana Service Area Dwelling Units by Type
Dwelling Units 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
Total 78,650 82,043 82,061 82,225 82,238 82,243
Single Family 34,133 34,329 34,329 34,333 34,337 34,341
All Other* 44,517 47,714 47,732 47,892 47,901 47,902
Source: Center for Demographic Research at California State University, Fullerton, 2020
*Includes duplex, triplex, apartment, condo, townhouse, mobile home, etc. Yachts, houseboats,
recreational vehicles, vans, etc. are included if is primary place of residence. Does not include group
quartered units, cars, railroad box cars, etc.
In addition to the types and proportions of dwelling units, various socio-economic factors such as age
distribution, education levels, general health status, income and poverty levels affect City’s water
management and planning. Based on U.S. Census Bureau's QuickFacts, the City has about 9% of
population of 65 years and over, 26.9% under the age of 18 years and 7.4% under the age of 5 years.
59.6% of the City’s population with an age of more than 25 years has a minimum of high school graduate
and 15% of this age group has at least a bachelor’s degree.
3.4.3 CDR Projection Methodology
The City obtains its services area population and dwelling unit data from MWDOC via CDR. MWDOC
contracts with CDR to update the historic population estimates for 2010 to the current year and provide
an annual estimate of population served by the water suppliers in OC. CDR uses GIS and data from the
2000 and 2010 U.S. Decennial Censuses, State Department of Finance (DOF) population estimates, and
the CDR annual population estimates. These annual estimates incorporate annual revisions to the
DOF annual population estimates, often for every year back to the most recent Decennial Census. As a
result, all previous estimates were set aside and replaced with the most current set of annual estimates.
Annexations and boundary changes for water suppliers are incorporated into these annual estimates.
In the summer of 2020, projections by water supplier for population and dwelling units by type were
estimated using the 2018 Orange County Projections dataset. Growth for each of the five-year increments
was allocated using GIS and a review of the traffic analysis zones (TAZ) with a 2019 aerial photo.
The growth was added to the 2020 estimates by the water supplier.
Land Uses
3.5.1 Current Land Uses
The City’s service area can best be described as a predominantly single and multi-family residential
community located in central Orange County.
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Based on the zoning designation collected and aggregated by Southern California Association of
Governments (SCAG) around 2018, the current land use within the City’s service area can be categorized
as follows:
Single family residential – 48%
Multi-family residential – 14.1%
Commercial – 10.8%
Industrial – 7.1%
Institutional/Governmental – 10.3%
Open space and parks – 8.4%
Other – 1.1% (e.g., Undevelopable or Protected Land, Water, and Vacant)
No land use designations – 0.2%
3.5.2 Projected Land Uses
Moving forward, the City will continue planning for its RHNA allocation and new developments may
potentially include Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
RHNA - State law requires jurisdictions to provide their share of the RHNA allocation. SCAG determines
the housing growth needs by income for local jurisdictions through RHNA. The City’s RHNA allocation for
the 2021 - 2029 is 3,095 units. This includes 586 units for very low-income households, 362 units for
low-income households, 523 units for moderate-income households, and 1,624 units for above
moderate-income households.
Accessory Dwelling Units – ADUs are separate small dwellings embedded within residential properties.
There has been an increase in the construction of ADUs in California in response to the rise in interest to
provide affordable housing supply. The Legislature updated the ADU law effective January 1, 2020 to
clarify and improve various provisions to promote the development of ADUs. (AB-881, "Accessory
dwelling units," and AB-68, "Land use: accessory dwelling units”) These include:
allowing ADUs and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) to be built concurrently with a
single-family dwelling. JADUs max size is 500 square feet (sf).
opening areas where ADUs can be created to include all zoning districts that allow single-family
and multi-family uses
maximum size cannot be less than 850 sf for a one-bedroom ADU or 1,000 sf for more than one
bedroom (California Department of Housing and Community Development, 2020)
About 92% of the ADUs in California are being built in the single family zoned parcels (University of
California Berkeley, 2020). The increase in ADUs implies an increase in number of people per dwelling
unit which potentially translates to higher water demand.
In coordination with the General Plan Advisory Group, the City identified the following five focus areas
suitable for new growth and development in the October 2020 Public Hearing Draft General Plan:
South Main Street
Grand Avenue/17th Street
West Santa Ana Boulevard
55 Freeway/Dyer Road
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South Bristol Street
These five areas are along major travel corridors, the Orange County Streetcar line, and/or linked to the
Downtown. The intent is to expand opportunities for development through a transition to multiuse land
use designations near transit corridors. The Industrial Flex designation is being introduced on areas
already designated for industrial land uses in order to allow for cleaner industrial and commercial uses,
professional office, and creative live-work spaces.
Additionally, the City has seven planning areas including specific plans and other special zoning areas,
that were adopted before the General Plan and have remaining development capacity:
Adaptive Reuse Overlay (2014)
Bristol Street Corridor Specific Plan (1991/2018)
Harbor Mixed Use Corridor Specific Plan (2014)
MainPlace Specific Plan (2019)
Metro East Overlay Zone (2007/2018)
Midtown Specific Plan (1996)
Transit Zoning Code Specific Devt (2010)
Figure 3-4 below shows the above listed five focus areas and the seven planning areas of the City.
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Figure 3-4: Special Planning Areas of the City of Santa Ana
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Table 3-4 lists the buildout potential of the City based on the City’s October 2020 Public Hearing Draft
General Plan.
Table 3-4: Buildout Potential of the City
Planning Area
Existing1 Buildout
Dwelling Units Building
(square feet)2 Dwelling Units Building
(square feet)2
Specific Plan / Special Zoning 4,685 13,924,891 20,524 16,958,445
Adaptive Reuse Overlay Zone3 260 976,935 1,260 976,935
Bristol Street Corridor Specific Plan 136 140,348 135 143,139
Harbor Corridor Specific Plan 1,324 1,767,937 4,622 1,967,982
MainPlace Specific Plan 0 1,108,080 1,900 2,426,923
Metro East Overlay Zone 844 2,516,056 5,551 4,685,947
Midtown Specific Plan 607 1,885,065 607 1,818,253
Transit Zoning Code 1,514 5,530,470 6,449 4,939,266
Focus Areas 6,380 13,421,155 23,955 15,684,285
South Main Street 1,720 1,685,978 2,308 946,662
Grand Avenue/17th Street 561 1,400,741 2,283 703,894
West Santa Ana Boulevard 2,658 3,090,472 3,920 2,808,805
55 Freeway/Dyer Road 1,221 5,666,453 9,952 6,142,283
South Bristol Street 220 1,577,511 5,492 5,082,641
All Other Areas of the City4 67,727 39,772,550 70,574 40,325,086
Citywide Total 78,792 67,118,596 115,053 72,967,816
Source: City of Santa Ana with assistance from PlaceWorks, 2020.
Notes:
1."Existing" represents conditions as of December 2019 as derived from the City of Santa Ana Planning
Information Network and projects already under construction per the January 2020 monthly development
project report.
2.Only includes nonresidential building square footage.
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Planning Area
Existing1 Buildout
Dwelling Units Building
(square feet)2 Dwelling Units Building
(square feet)2
3.The figures shown on the row for the Adaptive Reuse Overlay represent parcels that are exclusively in the
Adaptive Reuse Overlay boundary. Figures for parcels that are within the boundaries of both the Adaptive
Reuse Overlay Zone and a specific plan, other special zoning, or focus area boundary are accounted for in the
respective specific plan, other special zoning, or focus area.
4.The City has included an assumption for growth on a small portion (5%) of residential parcels through the
construction of second units, which is distributed throughout the City and is not concentrated in a subset of
neighborhoods. Additional growth includes known projects in the pipeline and an increase of 10% in building
square footage and employment for the professional office surrounding the Orange County Global Medical Center
and along Broadway north of the Midtown Specific Plan as well as the commercial and retail along 1st Street south
of the West Santa Ana Boulevard focus area.
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4 WATER USE CHARACTERIZATION
Water Use Overview
Water use within the City’s service area has been relatively stable in the past decade with an annual
average of 36,245 AF. The potable and non-potable water use accounts for an average of 99% and 1% of
total City water use, respectively. In FY2019/20, the City’s water use was 33,240 AF of potable water
(groundwater and imported) and 249 AF of direct recycled water for landscape irrigation. In FY2019-20,
the City’s potable water use profile was comprised of 65.5% residential use, 24.5% commercial, industrial,
and institutional (CII), and 4.0% large landscape/irrigation, with non-revenue water and other uses
comprising about 5.9%. As described in Section 3, the City’s service area is almost completely built-out
and is projected to add minimum land use and small population increase. Water demand is likely to
increase ~1.2% over the next 5 years. In the longer term, water demand is projected to decrease
~0.2% from 2025 through 2045. The projected potable and non-potable water use for 2045 is 33,578 AF
and 249 AF, respectively. The passive savings are anticipated to continue for the next 25 years and are
considered in the water use projections. Permanent water conservation requirements and water
conservation strategies are discussed in Section 8 and 9 of this document.
Past and Current Water Use
Water use within the City’s service area has been relatively stable in the past decade with an annual
average of 36,245 AF. A stable trend is expected because the city is essentially built-out and the rate of
population growth is expected to average less than 0.12% per year for the next 25 years. Water
conservation efforts also kept per capita water use down.
As a result of Governor Jerry Brown’s mandatory water conservation order in 2014, the City’s water use in
the last five years decreased below the 10-year average. Between FY2015/16 and FY2019/20, water use
within the City’s service area ranged from 33,148 to 35,343 acre-feet per year (AFY) (potable and
non-potable combined). In the past decade, between FY2010/11 and FY 2019/20, potable and
non-potable water use accounts for an average of 99% and 1% of total City water use, respectively.
Potable water uses include demands from residential, CII, and large landscape irrigation. Non-potable
use includes the use of recycled water for large landscape and golf course irrigation.
As of FY2019/20 there are 45,037 active service connections in the City’s water distribution system. Of
these, 18 are recycled water accounts. Table 4-1 summarizes the City’s total water demand for potable
and non-potable water for FY2019-20. The City has a mix of commercial uses (markets, restaurants,
etc.), public entities (schools, fire stations and government offices), industrial uses and office complexes.
Single and multi- family residential water demand combined accounts for 65.5% of the total water
demand. Commercial use, governmental/institutional, and industrial account for 16.1%, 5.4%, and 3.0%
of total demand, respectively. Large landscape (irrigation) accounts for 4.0% of total demand. Other uses
and non-revenue water account for 5.9%.
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Table 4-1 Retail: Demands for Potable and Non-Potable Water – Actual
DWR Submittal Table 4-1 Retail: Demands for Potable and Non-Potable1 Water - Actual
Use Type 2020 Actual
Additional Description
(as needed)
Level of Treatment
When Delivered Volume2
Single Family Drinking Water 11,916
Multi-Family Drinking Water 9,872
Commercial Drinking Water 5,364
Industrial Drinking Water 987
Institutional/Governmental Drinking Water 1,788
Landscape
Represents large landscape
(with irrigation meters)
served by potable water
and not recycled water
Drinking Water 1,349
Losses Non-revenue water Drinking Water 1,940
Other Water-only customer
outside of City boundary Drinking Water 24
TOTAL 33,240
1 Recycled water demands are NOT reported in this table. Recycled water demands are reported in Table 6-4.
2 Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Table 2-3.
NOTES: Volumes reported in AF. This table only represents potable water; recycled water
projections are shown in Table 4-4 (DWR Submittal Tables 4-3) and Table 6-8 (DWR Submittal
Tables 6-4).
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Water Use Projections
A key component of this 2020 UWMP is to provide an insight into the City’s future water demand outlook.
This section discusses the considerations and methodology used to estimate the 25-year water use
projection. Overall, total water demand is projected to increase 1.0% between 2020 and 2045. While
both single residential use is projected to decrease, multifamily residential use and usage by CII are
projected to increase. Demands for large landscape applications are projected to increase. Non-revenue
water is projected to decrease in the same period.
4.3.1 Water Use Projection Methodology
In 2021, MWDOC and OCWD, in collaboration with member agencies and MET member agencies, led
the effort to update water demand projections originally done as part of the 2021 OC Water Demand
Forecast for MWDOC and OCWD. The updated demand projections, prepared by CDM Smith, were for
the Orange County region as a whole, and provided retail agency specific demands. The projections span
the years of 2025-2050 and are based upon information surveyed from each Orange County water
agency.
The forecast methodology began with a retail water agency survey that asked for FY 2017-18,
FY 2018-19 and FY 2019-20 water use by major sector, including number of accounts. If an agency
provided recycled water to customers that information was also requested. Given that FY 2017-18 was a
slightly above-normal demand year (warmer/drier than average) and FY 2018-19 was a slightly
below-normal demand year (cooler/wetter than average), water use from these two years were averaged
to represent an average-year base water demand.
For the residential sectors (single-family and multifamily) the base year water demand was divided by
households in order to get a total per unit water use (gallons per home per day). In order to split
household water use into indoor and outdoor uses, three sources of information were used, along with
CDM Smith’s expertise. The sources of information included: (1) the Residential End Uses of Water
(Water Research Foundation, 2016); (2) California’s plumbing codes and landscape ordinances; and
(3) CA DWR’s Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) calculator.
Three different periods of residential end uses of water were analyzed as follows:
Pre-2010 efficiency levels – Has an average indoor water use that is considered to be
moderately efficient, also does not include the most recent requirements for MWELO.
High-efficiency levels – Includes the most recent plumbing codes that are considered to be
highly efficient, and also includes the most recent requirements for MWELO.
Current average efficiency levels – Represents the weighted average between pre-2010
efficiency and high efficiency levels, based on average age of homes for each retail water
agency.
For outdoor residential water use, the indoor per capita total was multiplied by each agency-specific
persons per household in order to get an indoor residential household water use (gallons per day per
home), and then was subtracted from the base year total household water use for single-family and
multifamily for each agency based on actual water use as reported by the agency surveys.
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For existing residential homes, the current average indoor and outdoor water use for each agency were
used for the year 2020. It was assumed that indoor water uses would reach the high efficiency level by
2040. Based on current age of homes, replacement/remodeling rates, and water utility rebate programs it
is believed this assumption is very achievable. It was also assumed that current outdoor water use would
be reduced by 5% by 2050.
For new homes, the indoor high efficiency level was assumed for the years 2025 through 2050. Outdoor
uses for new homes were assumed to be 25% and 30% lower than current household water use for
single-family and multifamily homes, respectively. This methodology is illustrated in Figure 4-1 below.
Figure 4-1: Water Use Projection Methodology Diagram
Existing and projected population, single-family and multifamily households for each retail water agency
were provided by CDR under contract by MWDOC and OCWD. CDR provides historical and future
demographics by census tracts for all of Orange County (Section 3.4). Census tract data is then clipped
to retail water agency service boundaries in order to produce historical and projected demographic data
by agency.
For the CII water demands, which have been fairly stable from a unit use perspective
(gallons/account/day), it was assumed that the unit demand in FY 2019-20 would remain the same from
2020-2025 to represent COVID-19 impacts. Reviewing agency water use data from FY 2017-18 through
FY2019-20 revealed that residential water use increased slightly in FY 2019-20 while CII demands
decreased slightly as a result of COVID-19. From 2030 to 2050, the average CII unit use from
FY 2017-18 and 2018-19 was used. These unit use factors were then multiplied by an assumed growth
of CII accounts under three broad scenarios:
Low Scenario – assuming no growth in CII accounts
Mid Scenario – assuming 0.5% annual growth in CII accounts
High Scenario – assuming 1.5% annual growth in CII accounts
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For most retail agencies, the Mid Scenario of CII account growth was used, but for those retail agencies
that have had faster historical growth the High Scenario was used. For those retail agencies that have
had relatively stable CII water demand, the Low Scenario was used. For Santa Ana, the mid-scenario
was used.
For those agencies that supply recycled water for non-potable demands, MWDOC used agency-specified
growth assumptions. Most agencies have already maximized their recycled water and thus are not
expecting for this category of demand to grow. However, a few agencies in South Orange County do
expect moderate growth in recycled water customers.
For large landscape customers served currently by potable water use, MWDOC assumed these demands
to be constant through 2050, except for agencies that have growing recycled water demands. For the
agencies that have growing recycled water demands, large landscape demands served by potable water
reduced accordingly. For non-revenue water, which represents the difference in total water production
less all water billed to customers, this percentage was held constant through 2050. Note that 2050 data
was not presented in the UWMP.
An agency’s water use demand projection is the summation of their residential water demand, CII
demands, large landscape and recycled water demands, and water losses all projected over the 25-year
time horizon. These demands were provided to each of the Orange County water agencies for their
review, feedback, and revision before being finalized.
4.3.1.1 Weather Variability and Long-Term Climate Change Impacts
In any given year water demands can vary substantially due to weather. In addition, long-term climate
change can have an impact on water demands into the future. For the 2014 OC Water Reliability Study,
CDM Smith developed a statistical model of total water monthly production from 1990 to 2014 from a
sample of retail water agencies. This model removed impacts from population growth, the economy and
drought restrictions in order to estimate the impact on water use from temperature and precipitation.
The results of this statistical analysis are:
Hot/dry weather demands will be 5.5% greater than current average weather demands
Cooler/wet weather demands will be 6% lower than current average weather demands
Climate change impacts will increase current average weather demands by:
o 2% in 2030
o 4% in 2040
o 6% in 2050
4.3.2 25-Year Water Use Projection
The projected demand values were provided by MWDOC and reviewed by the City as part of the UWMP
effort. As the regional wholesale supplier for much of Orange County, MWDOC works in collaboration
with each of its retail agencies as well as MET (its wholesaler), and the City (who is a direct Member
Agency of MET) to develop demand projections for imported water. The City has been proactively
decreasing its reliance on imported water by pursuing a variety of water conservation strategies within the
service area. Future water savings and low-income water use are included in these projected values.
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4.3.2.1 Water Use Projections for 2021-2025
The water use projection for normal year conditions without drought for 2021-2025 is presented in Table
4-2. This table will be adjusted to estimate the five-years’ cumulative drought effects as described in the
five-year DRA in Section 7. A linear increase in total water demand is expected between 2021 and 2025.
Table 4-2: Water Use Projections for 2021 to 2025
Retail: Total Water Demand
FY Ending 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Total Water Demand (AF) 33,568 33,647 33,725 33,804 33,882
NOTES:
4.3.2.2 Water Use Projections for 2025-2045
Table 4-3 is a projection of the City’s water demand for 2025-2045. While single and multifamily
residential use is projected to decrease due to water use efficiency measures, usage by CII is projected
to increase. CII projections for 2025 through 2045 were broken down into commercial, industrial, and
institutional/governmental using proportions reported for each billing sector in FY 2019-20. Demands for
large landscape applications are projected to stay consistent, as are projections for non-revenue water.
The demand data presented in this section accounts for passive savings in the future. Passive savings
are water savings as a result of codes, standards, ordinances and public outreach on water conservation
and higher efficiency fixtures. Passive savings are anticipated to continue through 2045 and will result in
continued water saving and reduced consumption levels. Permanent water conservation requirements
and water conservation strategies are discussed in Section 8 and 9 of this document.
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Table 4-3: Retail: Use for Potable and Non-Potable Water – Projected
DWR Submittal Table 4-2 Retail: Use for Potable and Non-Potable1 Water - Projected
Use Type Additional
Description
(as needed)
Projected Water Use2
Report To the Extent that Records are
Available
2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
Add additional rows as needed
Single Family 11,961 11,675 11,390 11,105 11,101
Multi-Family 10,648 10,415 10,211 9,976 9,967
Commercial 5,486 6,155 6,309 6,466 6,466
Industrial 1,009 1,132 1,161 1,190 1,190
Institutional/Governmental 1,828 2,051 2,102 2,155 2,155
Landscape 1,501 1,501 1,501 1,501 1,501
Losses Non-revenue water 1,198 1,217 1,207 1,197 1,196
TOTAL 33,633 34,146 33,881 33,589 33,578
1 Recycled water demands are NOT reported in this table. Recycled water demands are reported in
Table 6-4.
2 Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Table
2-3.
NOTES: Volumes reported in AF. This table only represents potable water; recycled water projections
are shown in Table 4-4 (DWR Submittal Tables 4-3) and Table 6-8 (DWR Submittal Tables 6-4).
Source - CDM Smith, 2021
Based on the information provided above, the total demand for potable water is listed below in (Table
4-4). The City currently provides recycled water in its service area and is projected to grow its use.
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Table 4-4 Retail: Total Water Use (Potable and Non-Potable)
DWR Submittal Table 4-3 Retail: Total Water Use (Potable and Non-Potable)
2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 (opt)
Potable Water, Raw, Other
Non-potable 33,240 33,633 34,146 33,881 33,589 33,578
Recycled Water Demand1 249 249 249 249 249 249
Optional Deduction of
Recycled Water Put Into
Long-Term Storage2
TOTAL WATER USE 33,489 33,882 34,395 34,130 33,838 33,827
1Recycled water demand fields will be blank until Table 6-4 is complete 2
Long term storage means water placed into groundwater or surface storage that is not removed from
storage in the same year. Supplier may deduct recycled water placed in long-term storage from their
reported demand. This value is manually entered into Table 4-3.
NOTES: Volumes in AF
Future water savings and low-income water use are included in these projected values (Table 4-5).
Table 4-5 Retail Only: Inclusion in Water Use Projections
DWR Submittal Table 4-5 Retail Only: Inclusion in Water Use Projections
Are Future Water Savings Included in Projections?
(Refer to Appendix K of UWMP Guidebook) Yes
If "Yes" to above, state the section or page number, in the cell to
the right, where citations of the codes, ordinances, or otherwise
are utilized in demand projections are found.
Section 8 and 9
Are Lower Income Residential Demands Included In Projections? Yes
NOTES:
4.3.2.3 Water Use Projections for Lower Income Households
Since 2010, the UWMP Act has required retail water suppliers to include water use projections for
single-family and multi-family residential housing for lower income and affordable households. This will
assist the City in complying with the requirement under Government Code Section 65589.7 granting
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priority for providing water service to lower income households. A lower income household is defined as a
household earning below 80% of the MHI.
DWR recommends retail suppliers rely on the housing elements of city or county general plans to quantify
planned lower income housing with the City's service area (DWR, 2020). RHNA assists jurisdictions in
updating general plan's housing elements section. The RHNA identifies additional housing needs and
assesses households by income level for the City through 2010 decennial Census and 2005-2009
American Community Survey data. The sixth cycle of the RHNA covers the planning period of October
2021 to October 2029. The SCAG adopted the RHNA Allocation Plan for this cycle on March 4, 2021.
The California Department of Housing and Community Development reviewed the housing elements data
submitted by jurisdictions in the SCAG region and concluded the data meets statutory requirements for
the assessment of current housing needs.
Under the assumption that the RHNA household allocations adequately represent ratios of the City’s
overall future income categories (not the exact ratio of all household by income but a conservative one for
low-income household estimates), the RHNA low-income percentage can be used to estimate future low
income demands. One objective of RHNA is to increase affordable housing, therefore RHNA has been
allocating additional low-income households to various regions. Because relying on the RHNA distribution
of households by income category is likely to produce an overestimate of low-income water demands, this
approach represents a conservative projection of future low-income water use.
Table 4-6 presents the City’s RHNA housing allocation. RHNA classifies low income housing into two
categories: very low income (<30% - 50% MHI), and low income (51% - 80% MHI). Altogether 30.6% of
the City’s allocated housing need for the planning period of October 2021 to October 2029 are considered
low-income housing (SCAG, 2021).
Table 4-6: SCAG 6th Cycle Household Allocation Based on Median Household Income
Household Category by Income Number of
Households
% of Total
Allocated
Households
Very Low Income 586 18.9%
Low Income 362 11.7%
Moderate Income 523 16.9%
Above Moderate Income 1,624 52.5%
Total Future Allocated Households 3,095 100.0%
By applying the percentage of low-income housing from the SCAG report to the total projected SF/MF
residential demand calculated in Table 4-3 above, low-income demand can be conservatively estimated
for both SF and MF through 2045. For example, the total low-income single family residential demand is
projected to be 3,664 AF in 2025 and 3,400 AF in 2045 (Table 4-7).
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Table 4-7: Projected Water Use Needed for Low Income Households (AF)
Water Use Sector FY Ending
2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
Total Residential Demand (AF) 22,609 22,090 21,601 21,081 21,068
Single-Family Residential Demand -
Low Income Households (AF) 3,664 3,576 3,489 3,401 3,400
Multi-Family Residential Demand -
Low Income Households (AF) 3262 3190 3128 3056 3053
Total Low Income Households
Demand (AF) 6,925 6,766 6,616 6,457 6,453
Water Loss
The City has conducted annual water loss audit since 2015 per the American Water Works Association
(AWWA) methodology per SB 555 to understand the relationship between water loss, operating costs,
and revenue losses. Non-revenue water for FY2015/16 – FY2019/20 (Figure 4-2) consists of three
components: real losses (e.g., leakage in mains and service lines, and storage tank overflows), apparent
losses (unauthorized consumption, customer metering inaccuracies and systematic data handling errors),
and unbilled water (e.g., hydrant flushing, firefighting, and blow-off water from well start-ups). The City’s
real losses ranged from 157 AFY to 1,007 AFY and apparent losses ranged from 803 AFY to 858 AFY
between FY2015/16 – FY2019/20. The unbilled water ranged from 82 AFY to 411 AFY in the same
timeframe.
In the latest water loss audit (FY2019/20), the City’s total water loss was 1856 AFY (Table 4-8), compared
to the total water use of 33,489 AF in FY2019/20. The total water loss consists of real loss of 1,007 AFY
and apparent loss of 849 AFY in FY2019/20. The non-revenue water was 1,940 AFY. The active and
inactive service connections were relatively consistent in the last five years with 45,037 connections in
FY2019/20. The real loss performance indicator was 20 gals/connection/day in FY2019/20. Figure 4-3
presents the performance indicators of gallons of real and apparent loss per connection per day.
Understanding and controlling water loss from a distribution system is an effective way for the City to
achieve regulatory standards and manage their existing resources. The California State Water Resources
Control Board (SWRCB) is still developing water loss performance standards; these standards have not
yet been adopted.
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Table 4-8: Retail: Last Five Years of Water Loss Audit Reporting
Submittal Table 4-4 Retail: Last Five Years of Water Loss Audit Reporting
Reporting Period Start Date (mm/yyyy) Volume of Water Loss 1,2
07/2015 961
07/2016 1236
07/2017 1638
07/2018 1649
07/2019 1856
1 Taken from the field "Water Losses" (a combination of apparent losses and real losses) from
the AWWA worksheet. 2 Units of measure (AF, CCF, MG) must
remain consistent throughout the UWMP as reported in Table 2-3.
NOTES: Water Loss in AFY
Figure 4-2: Water Loss Audit for FY 2015/16 to FY 2019/20
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020Water Loss (AFY)Year
Real Loss Apparent Loss Unbilled Water
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Figure 4-3: Water Loss Performance Indicators for FY 2015/16 to FY 2019/20
0
5
10
15
20
25
2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020Gal/connection/dayYear
Real Loss Apparent Loss
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5 CONSERVATION TARGET COMPLIANCE
The Water Conservation Act of 2009, also known as SBx7-7 (Senate Bill 7 as part of the Seventh
Extraordinary Session), signed into law on February 3, 2010, requires the State of California to reduce
urban water use by 20% by the year 2020 (20x2020). To achieve this each retail urban water supplier
must determine baseline water use during their baseline period and target water use for the years
2015 and 2020 to meet the state’s water reduction goal. Retail water suppliers are required to comply
with SBx7-7 individually or as a region in collaboration with other retail water suppliers, or demonstrate
they have a plan or have secured funding to be in compliance, in order to be eligible for water related
state grants and loans on or after July 16, 2016.
The City’s actual 2020 water use is lower than its 2020 water use target, therefore, demonstrating
compliance with SBx7-7. In its 2015 UWMP, the City revised its baseline per capita water use calculations
using 2010 U.S. Census data. Changes in the baseline calculations resulted in updated per capita water
use targets.
The following sections describe the efforts by the City to comply with the requirements of SBx7-7 and
efforts by MWDOC to assist retail agencies, including the formation of a Regional Alliance to provide
additional flexibility to all water suppliers in Orange County. A discussion of programs implemented to
support retail agencies in achieving their per capita water reduction goals is covered in Section 8 –
Demand Management Measures of this UWMP.
Complimentary to information presented in this section are SBx7-7 Verification and Compliance Forms, a
set of standardized tables required by DWR to demonstrate compliance with the Water Conservation Act
in this 2020 UWMP (Appendix D) including calculations of recycled water used for groundwater recharge
(indirect reuse) to offset a portion of the agency’s potable demand when meeting the regional as well as
individual water use targets.
Baseline Water Use
The baseline water use is the City’s gross water use divided by its service area population, reported in
GPCD. Gross water use is a measure of water that enters the distribution system of the supplier over a
12-month period with certain allowable exclusions. These exclusions are:
Recycled water delivered within the service area
Indirect recycled water
Water placed in long term storage
Water conveyed to another urban supplier
Water delivered for agricultural use
Process water
Water suppliers within the OCWD Groundwater Basin, including the City, have the option of choosing to
deduct recycled water used for indirect potable reuse (IPR) from their gross water use to account for the
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recharge of recycled water into the OC Basin by OCWD, historically through Water Factory 21 (WF-21),
and now by the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS).
Water suppliers must report baseline water use for two baseline periods, the 10- to 15-year baseline
(baseline GPCD) and the five-year baseline (target confirmation) as described below.
5.1.1 Ten to 15-Year Baseline Period (Baseline GPCD)
The first step to calculating the City’s water use targets is to determine its base daily per capita water use
(baseline water use). The baseline water use is calculated as a continuous (rolling) 10-year average
during a period, which ends no earlier than December 31, 2004 and no later than December 31, 2010.
Water suppliers whose recycled water made up 10% or more of their 2008 retail water delivery can use
up to a 15-year average for the calculation. The City did not have recycled water use in 2008; therefore, a
10-year baseline period is used.
The City’s baseline water use is 130 GPCD, obtained from the 10-year period July 1, 1995 to
June 30, 2005.
5.1.2 Five-Year Baseline Period (Target Confirmation)
Water suppliers are required to calculate water use, in GPCD, for a five-year baseline period.
This number is used to confirm that the selected 2020 target meets the minimum water use reduction
requirements. Regardless of the compliance option adopted by the City, it will need to meet a minimum
water use target of 5% reduction from the five-year baseline water use. This five-year baseline water use
is calculated as a continuous five-year average during a period, which ends no earlier than December 31,
2007 and no later than December 31, 2010. The City’s five-year baseline water use is 122 GPCD,
obtained from the five-year period July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2008.
5.1.3 Service Area Population
The City’s service area boundaries correspond with the boundaries for a city or census designated place.
This allows the City to use service area population estimates prepared by the DOF. CDR is the entity
which compiles population data for Orange County based on DOF data. The calculation of the City’s
baseline water use and water use targets in the 2010 UWMP was based on the 2000 U.S. Census
population numbers obtained from CDR. The baseline water use and water use targets in the
2015 UWMP were revised based on the 2010 U.S. Census population obtained from CDR in 2012.
That baseline remained in use in the 2020 calculations.
SBx7-7 Water Use Targets
In the 2020 UWMP, the City may update its 2020 water use target by selecting a different target method
than what was used previously. The target methods and determination of the 2015 and 2020 targets are
described below. The City selected Option 3 consistent with 2015 and maintained the same 2015 and
2020 target water uses as reported in its 2015 UWMP.
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5.2.1 SBx7-7 Target Methods
DWR has established four target calculation methods for urban retail water suppliers to choose from.
The City is required to adopt one of the four options to comply with SBx7-7 requirements. The four
options include:
Option 1 requires a simple 20% reduction from the baseline by 2020 and 10% by 2015.
Option 2 employs a budget-based approach by requiring an agency to achieve a performance
standard based on three metrics
o Residential indoor water use of 55 GPCD
o Landscape water use commensurate with the Model Landscape Ordinance
o 10% reduction in baseline CII water use
Option 3 is to achieve 95% of the applicable state hydrologic region target as set forth in the
State’s 202020 Water Conservation Plan.
Option 4 requires the subtraction of Total Savings from the baseline GPCD:
o Total savings includes indoor residential savings, meter savings, CII savings, and landscape
and water loss savings.
With MWDOC’s assistance in the calculation of the City’s base daily per capita use and water use targets,
the City selected to comply with Option 3 consistent with the option selected in 2010 and 2015.
5.2.2 2020 Targets and Compliance
Under Compliance Option 3, to achieve 95% of the South Coast Hydrologic Region target as set forth in
the State’s 20x2020 Water Conservation Plan, the City’s 2020 target is 142 GPCD. In addition, the
confirmed 2020 target needs to meet a minimum of 5% reduction from the five-year baseline water use
which is 116 GPCD. Therefore, the City’s confirmed 2020 target is 116 GPCD as summarized in Table
5-1.
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Table 5-1: Baselines and Targets Summary
DWR Submittal Table 5-1 Baselines and Targets Summary from SB X7-7 Verification Form
Retail Supplier or Regional Alliance Only
Baseline
Period Start Year * End Year * Average Baseline
GPCD*
Confirmed 2020
Target*
10-15 year 1996 2005 130
116
5 Year 2004 2008 122
*All cells in this table should be populated manually from the supplier's SBX7-7 Verification Form and reported
in Gallons per Capita per Day (GPCD)
NOTES:
The City’s actual 2020 consumption is 66 GPCD which is below its 2020 target of 116 GPCD (Table 5-2).
The City met its 2020 water use target and is in compliance with SBx7-7. As shown in Table 5-2, the City
did not make any adjustments in its compliance for GPCD using weather normalization, economic
adjustment, or extraordinary events.
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Table 5-2: 2020 Compliance
DWR Submittal Table 5-2: 2020 Compliance from SB X7-7 2020 Compliance Form
Retail Supplier or Regional Alliance Only
2020 GPCD
2020 Confirmed
Target GPCD*
Did Supplier
Achieve Targeted
Reduction for
2020? Y/N
Actual 2020
GPCD*
2020 TOTAL
Adjustments*
Adjusted 2020
GPCD* (Adjusted if
applicable)
66 0 66 116 Y
*All cells in this table should be populated manually from the supplier's SBX7-7 2020 Compliance Form and reported
in Gallons per Capita per Day (GPCD)
NOTES:
Orange County 20x2020 Regional Alliance
A retail supplier may choose to meet the SBx7-7 targets on its own or it may form a regional alliance with
other retail suppliers to meet the water use target as a region. Within a Regional Alliance, each retail
water supplier will have an additional opportunity to achieve compliance under both an individual target
and a regional target.
If the Regional Alliance meets its water use target on a regional basis, all agencies in the alliance
are deemed compliant.
If the Regional Alliance fails to meet its water use target, each individual supplier will have an
opportunity to meet their water use targets individually.
The City is a member of the Orange County 20x2020 Regional Alliance formed by MWDOC, its
wholesaler. This regional alliance consists of 29 retail agencies in Orange County as described in
MWDOC’s 2020 UWMP. MWDOC provides assistance in the calculation of each retail agency’s baseline
water use and water use targets.
In 2020, the regional baseline and targets were revised from 2015 to account for any revisions made by
the retail agencies to their individual 2015 and 2020 targets. The regional water use target is the weighted
average of the individual retail agencies’ targets (by population). The Orange County 20x2020 Regional
Alliance weighted 2020 target is 159 GPCD. The actual 2020 water use in the region is 109 GPCD,
i.e., the region met its 2020 GPCD goal.
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6 WATER SUPPLY CHARACTERIZATION
As a counterpart to Section 4’s Water Use Characterization, this section characterizes the City’s water
supply. This section includes identification and quantification of water supply sources through 2045,
descriptions of each water supply source and their management, opportunities for exchanges and
transfers, and discussion regarding any planned future water supply projects. This section also includes
the energy intensity of the water service, a new UWMP requirement.
Water Supply Overview
The City meets all of its demands with a combination of imported water, local groundwater, and recycled
water. The City works together with two primary agencies, MET and OCWD, to ensure a safe and reliable
water supply that will continue to serve the community in periods of drought and shortage. The sources of
imported water supplies include water from the Colorado River and the State Water Project (SWP)
provided by MET.
The City’s main source of water supply is groundwater from the Orange County Groundwater Basin.
Imported water and recycled water make up the rest of the City’s water supply portfolio. In FY 2019-20,
the City relied on 76% groundwater, 23% imported water, and 1% recycled water (Table 6-1).
It is projected that by 2045, the water supply portfolio will change to approximately to 84% groundwater,
15% imported water, and 1% recycled water (Table 6-2 and Figure 6-1). Note that these representations
of supply match the projected demand. However, the City has a ten-year purchase agreement with
MET that allows the City to purchase significantly more MET water, should the need arise.
This agreement is further discussed is Section 6.2 Additionally, GWRS supplies are included as part of
groundwater pumping numbers.
The following subsections provide a detailed discussion of the City’s water sources as well as the future
water supply portfolio for the next 25 years.
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Table 6-1: Retail: Water Supplies – Actual
DWR Submittal Table 6-8 Retail: Water Supplies — Actual
Water Supply Additional Detail on
Water Supply
2020
Actual Volume
(AF) Water Quality
Groundwater (not desalinated) Orange County
Groundwater Basin 25,591 Drinking Water
Purchased or Imported Water MET 7,649 Drinking Water
Recycled Water Green Acres Project
(OCWD) 249 Recycled Water
Total 33,489
NOTES:
Source - MWDOC, 2020
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Table 6-2: Retail: Water Supplies – Projected
DWR Submittal Table 6-9 Retail: Water Supplies — Projected
Water Supply Additional Detail
on Water Supply
Projected Water Supply (AF)
Report To the Extent Practicable
2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
Reasonably
Available
Volume
Reasonably
Available
Volume
Reasonably
Available
Volume
Reasonably
Available
Volume
Reasonably
Available
Volume
Groundwater (not
desalinated)
Orange County
Groundwater Basin 28,588 29,024 28,799 28,551 28,541
Purchased or
Imported Water MET 5,045 5,122 5,082 5,038 5,037
Recycled Water OCWD 249 249 249 249 249
Total 33,882 34,395 34,130 33,838 33,827
NOTES:
Source - CDM Smith, 2021
Groundwater volumes assume OCWD’s basin production percentage (BPP) to be 85% for all years. Volumes of
groundwater and imported water may vary depending on OCWD's actual BPP projections, which are established
annually. This table only considers direct use of recycled water - this does not include indirect potable recharge.
Per the ten-year (CY 2015 through CY 2024) purchase agreement with MET, the City is contractually able to
purchase more MET water, should the need arise.
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Figure 6-1: City’s Projected Water Supply Sources (AF)
Imported Water
The City supplements its local water supply with imported water purchased from MET. In FY 2019-20,
the City relied on approximately 7,649 AFY – approximately 23% of the City’s water supply portfolio for
FY 2019-20 – of imported water from MET to meet its demands. MET’s principal sources of water are the
Colorado River via the Colorado River Aqueduct (CRA) and the Lake Oroville watershed in Northern
California through the SWP. For Orange County, the water obtained from these sources is treated at the
Robert B. Diemer Filtration Plant located in Yorba Linda. Typically, the Diemer Filtration Plant receives a
blend of Colorado River water from Lake Mathews through the MET Lower Feeder and SWP water
through the Yorba Linda Feeder. The City currently maintains seven imported water connections to the
MET system.
In December 2002, the City entered into a 10-year water purchase agreement with MET. This water
purchase agreement is a 10-year commitment to purchase a minimum quantity of water on an annual
basis and a minimum quantity of water over the course of the 10-year commitment. In return, the City is
able to purchase a greater percentage of MET water at a lower, Tier 1 rate. This purchase agreement
was renewed, and the current ten-year term is effective January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2024.
The City’s annual purchase commitment average is 8,086 AF, with a maximum average annual value set
at 19,617 AF.
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6.2.1 Colorado River Supplies
Background
The Colorado River was MET’s original source of water after MET’s establishment in 1928. The CRA,
which is owned and operated by MET, transports water from the Colorado River to its terminus Lake
Mathews, in Riverside County. The actual amount of water per year that may be conveyed through the
CRA to MET’s member agencies is subject to the availability of Colorado River water. Approximately
40 million people rely on the Colorado River and its tributaries for water with 5.5 million acres of land
using Colorado River water for irrigation. The CRA includes supplies from the implementation of the
Quantification Settlement Agreement and its related agreements to transfer water from agricultural
agencies to urban uses. The 2003 Quantification Settlement Agreement enabled California to implement
major Colorado River water conservation and transfer programs, in order to stabilize water supplies and
reduce the state’s demand on the river to its 4.4 million acre-feet (MAF) entitlement. Colorado River
transactions are potentially available to supply additional water up to the CRA capacity of 1.25 MAF on an
as-needed basis. Water from the Colorado River or its tributaries is available to users in California,
Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and Mexico. California is apportioned the use
of 4.4 MAF of water from the Colorado River each year plus one-half of any surplus that may be available
for use collectively in Arizona, California, and Nevada. In addition, California has historically been allowed
to use Colorado River water apportioned to, but not used by, Arizona or Nevada. MET has a basic
entitlement of 550,000 AFY of Colorado River water, plus surplus water up to an additional 662,000 AFY
when the following conditions exists (MET, 2021):
Water is unused by the California holders of priorities 1 through 3
Water is saved by the Palo Verde land management, crop rotation, and water supply program
When the U.S. Secretary of the Interior makes available either one or both of the following:
o Surplus water
o Colorado River water that is apportioned to but unused by Arizona and/or Nevada.
Current Conditions and Supply
MET has not received surplus water for a number of years. The Colorado River supply faces current and
future imbalances between water supply and demand in the Colorado River Basin due to long-term
drought conditions. Analysis of historical records suggests a potential change in the relationship between
precipitation and runoff in the Colorado River Basin. The past 21 years (1999-2020) have seen an overall
drying trend, even though the period included several wet or average years. The river basin has
substantial storage capacity, but the significant reduction in system reservoir storage in the last two
decades is great enough to consider the period a drought (DWR, 2020a). At the close of 2020, system
storage was at or near its lowest since 2000, so there is very little buffer to avoid a shortage from any
future period of reduced precipitation and runoff (MET, 2021). Looking ahead, the long-term imbalance in
the Colorado River Basin’s future supply and demand is projected to be approximately 3.2 MAF by the
year 2060 (USBR, 2012).
Over the years, MET has helped fund and implement various programs to improve Colorado River supply
reliability and help resolve the imbalance between supply and demand. Implementation of such programs
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have contributed to achievements like achieving a record low diversion of the Colorado River in 2019, a
level not seen since the 1950s. Colorado River water management programs include:
Imperial Irrigation District / MET Conservation Program – Under agreements executed in
1988 and 1989, this program allows MET to fund water efficiency improvements within Imperial
Irrigation District’s service area in return for the right to divert the water conserved by those
investments. An average of 105,000 AFY of water has been conserved since the program’s
implementation.
Palo Verde Land Management, Crop Rotation, and Water Supply Program – Authorized in
2004, this 35-year program allows MET to pay participating farmers to reduce their water use,
and for MET to receive the saved water. Over the life of the program, an average of 84,500 AFY
has been saved and made available to MET.
Bard Seasonal Fallowing Program – Authorized in 2019, this program allows MET to pay
participating farmers in Bard to reduce their water use between the late spring and summer
months of selected years, which provides up to 6,000 AF of water to be available to MET in
certain years.
Management of MET-Owned Land in Palo Verde – Since 2001, MET has acquired
approximately 21,000 acres of irrigable farmland that are leased to growers, with incentives to
grow low water-using crops and experiment with low water-consumption practices. If long-term
water savings are realized, MET may explore ways to formally account them for Colorado River
supplies.
Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and MET Storage and Interstate Release
Agreement – Entered in 2004, this agreement allows SNWA to store its unused, conserved
water with MET, in exchange for MET to receive additional Colorado River water supply. MET
has relied on the additional water during dry years, especially during the 2011-2016 California
drought, and SNWA is not expected to call upon MET to return water until after 2026.
Lower Colorado Water Supply Projects – Authorized in 1980s, this project provides up to
10,000 AFY of water to certain entities that do not have or have insufficient rights to use Colorado
River water. A contract executed in 2007 allowed MET to receive project water left unused by the
project contractors along the River – nearly 10,000 AF was received by MET in 2019 and is
estimated for 2020.
Exchange Programs – MET is involved in separate exchange programs with the United States
Bureau of Reclamation, which takes place at the Colorado River Intake and with San Diego
County Water Authority (SDCWA), which exchanges conserved Colorado River water.
Lake Mead Storage Program – Executed in 2006, this program allows MET to leave excessively
conserved water in Lake Mead, for exclusive use by MET in later years.
Quagga Mussel Control Program – Developed in 2007, this program introduced surveillance
activities and control measures to combat quagga mussels, an invasive species that impact the
Colorado River’s water quality.
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Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan – Signed in 2019, this agreement incentivizes storage
in Lake Mead through 2026 and overall, it increases MET’s flexibility to fill the CRA as needed
(MET, 2021).
Future Programs / Plans
The Colorado River faces long-term challenges of water demands exceeding available supply with
additional uncertainties due to climate change. Climate change impacts expected in the Colorado River
Basin include the following:
More frequent, more intense, and longer lasting droughts, which will result in water deficits
Continued dryness in the Colorado River Basin, which will increase the likelihood of triggering a
first-ever shortage in the Lower Basin
Increased temperatures, which will affect the percentage of precipitation that falls as rain or snow,
as well as the amount and timing of mountain snowpack (DWR, 2020b)
Acknowledging the various uncertainties regarding reliability, MET plans to continue ongoing programs,
such as those listed earlier in this section. Additionally, MET supports increasing water recycling in the
Colorado River Basin and is in the process of developing additional transfer programs for the future
(MET, 2021).
6.2.2 State Water Project Supplies
Background
The SWP consists of a series of pump stations, reservoirs, aqueducts, tunnels, and power plants
operated by DWR and is an integral part of the effort to ensure that business and industry, urban and
suburban residents, and farmers throughout much of California have sufficient water. Water from the
SWP originates at Lake Oroville, which is located on the Feather River in Northern California. Much of the
SWP water supply passes through the Delta. The SWP is the largest state-built, multipurpose,
user-financed water project in the United States. Nearly two-thirds of residents in California receive at
least part of their water from the SWP, with approximately 70% of SWP’s contracted water supply going
to urban users and 30% to agricultural users. The primary purpose of the SWP is to divert and store water
during wet periods in Northern and Central California and distribute it to areas of need in Northern
California, the San Francisco Bay area, the San Joaquin Valley, the Central Coast, and SSouthern
California (MET, 2021).
The Delta is key to the SWP’s ability to deliver water to its agricultural and urban contractors. All but five
of the 29 SWP contractors receive water deliveries below the Delta (pumped via the Harvey O. Banks or
Barker Slough pumping plants). However, the Delta faces many challenges concerning its long-term
sustainability such as climate change posing a threat of increased variability in floods and droughts.
Sea level rise complicates efforts in managing salinity levels and preserving water quality in the Delta to
ensure a suitable water supply for urban and agricultural use. Furthermore, other challenges include
continued subsidence of Delta islands, many of which are below sea level, and the related threat of a
catastrophic levee failure as the water pressure increases, or as a result of a major seismic event.
Current Conditions and Supply
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“Table A” water is the maximum entitlement of SWP water for each water contracting agency. Currently,
the combined maximum Table A amount is 4.17 million acre-feet per year (MAFY). Of this amount,
4.13 MAFY is the maximum Table A water available for delivery from the Delta. On average, deliveries
are approximately 60% of the maximum Table A amount (DWR, 2020b).
SWP contractors may receive Article 21 water on a short-term basis in addition to Table A water if
requested. Article 21 of SWP contracts allows contractors to receive additional water deliveries only
under specific conditions, generally during wet months of the year (December through March). Because a
SWP contractor must have an immediate use for Article 21 supply or a place to store it outside of the
SWP, there are few contractors like MET that can access such supplies.
Carryover water is SWP water allocated to an SWP contractor and approved for delivery to the contractor
in a given year, but not used by the end of the year. The unused water is stored in the SWP’s share of
San Luis Reservoir, when space is available, for the contractor to use in the following year.
Turnback pool water is Table A water that has been allocated to SWP contractors that has exceeded their
demands. This water can then be purchased by another contractor depending on its availability.
SWP Delta exports are the water supplies that are transferred directly to SWP contractors or to San Luis
Reservoir storage south of the Delta via the Harvey O. Banks pumping plant. Estimated average annual
Delta exports and SWP Table A water deliveries have generally decreased since 2005, when Delta
export regulations affecting SWP pumping operations became more restrictive due to federal biological
opinions (Biops). The Biops protect species listed as threatened or endangered under the federal and
state Endangered Species Acts (ESAs) and affect the SWP’s water delivery capability because they
restrict SWP exports in the Delta and include Delta outflow requirements during certain times of the year,
thus reducing the available supply for export or storage.
Before being updated by the 2019 Long-Term Operations Plan, the prior 2008 and 2009 Biops resulted in
an estimated reduction in SWP deliveries of 0.3 MAF during critically dry years to 1.3 MAF in above
normal water years as compared to the previous baseline. However, the 2019 Long-Term Operations
Plan and Biops are expected to increase SWP deliveries by an annual average of 20,000 AF as
compared to the previous Biops (MET, 2021). Average Table A deliveries decreased in the 2019 SWP
Final Delivery Capability Report compared to 2017, mainly due to the 2018 Coordinated Operation
Agreement (COA) Addendum and the increase in the end of September storage target for Lake Oroville.
Other factors that also affected deliveries included changes in regulations associated with the Incidental
Take Permit (ITP) and the Reinitiation of Consultation for Long-Term Operations (RoC on LTO), a shift in
Table A to Article 21 deliveries which occurred due to higher storage in SWP San Luis, and other
operational updates to the SWP and federal Central Valley Project (CVP) (DWR, 2020b). Since 2005,
there are similar decreasing trends for both the average annual Delta exports and the average annual
Table A deliveries (Table 6-3).
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Table 6-3: MET SWP Program Capabilities
Year Average Annual Delta
Exports (MAF)
Average Annual Table A
Deliveries (MAF)
2005 2.96 2.82
2013 2.61 2.55
2019 2.52 2.41
Percent Change*-14.8% -14.3%
*Percent change is between the years 2019 and 2005.
Ongoing regulatory restrictions, such as those imposed by the Biops on the effects of SWP and the
CVP operations on certain marine life, also contribute to the challenge of determining the SWP’s water
delivery reliability. In dry, below-normal conditions, MET has increased the supplies delivered through the
California Aqueduct by developing flexible CVP/SWP storage and transfer programs. The goal of the
storage/transfer programs is to develop additional dry-year supplies that can be conveyed through the
available Harvey O. Banks pumping plant capacity to maximize deliveries through the California Aqueduct
during dry hydrologic conditions and regulatory restrictions. In addition, SWRCB has set water quality
objectives that must be met by the SWP including minimum Delta outflows, limits on SWP and CVP Delta
exports, and maximum allowable salinity level.
The following factors affect the ability to estimate existing and future water delivery reliability:
Water availability at the source: Availability can be highly variable and depends on the amount
and timing of rain and snow that fall in any given year. Generally, during a single-dry year or two,
surface and groundwater storage can supply most water deliveries, but multiple-dry years can
result in critically low water reserves. Fisheries issues can also restrict the operations of the
export pumps even when water supplies are available.
Water rights with priority over the SWP: Water users with prior water rights are assigned
higher priority in DWR’s modeling of the SWP’s water delivery reliability, even ahead of
SWP Table A water.
Climate change: Mean temperatures are predicted to vary more significantly than previously
expected. This change in climate is anticipated to bring warmer winter storms that result in less
snowfall at lower elevations, reducing total snowpack. From historical data, DWR projects that by
2050, the Sierra snowpack will be reduced from its historical average by 25 to 40%. Increased
precipitation as rain could result in a larger number of “rain-on-snow” events, causing snow to
melt earlier in the year and over fewer days than historically, affecting the availability of water for
pumping by the SWP during summer. Furthermore, water quality may be adversely affected due
to the anticipated increase in wildfires. Rising sea levels may result in potential pumping cutbacks
on the SWP and CVP.
Regulatory restrictions on SWP Delta exports: The Biops protect special-status species such
as delta smelt and spring- and winter-run Chinook salmon and imposed substantial constraints on
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Delta water supply operations through requirements for Delta inflow and outflow and export
pumping restrictions. Restrictions on SWP operations imposed by state and federal agencies
contribute substantially to the challenge of accurately determining the SWP’s water delivery
reliability in any given year (DWR, 2020b).
Ongoing environmental and policy planning efforts: Governor Gavin Newsom ended
California WaterFix in May 2019 and announced a new approach to modernize Delta
Conveyance through a single tunnel alternative. The EcoRestore Program aims to restore at least
30,000 acres of Delta habitat, with the near-term goal of making significant strides toward that
objective by 2020 (DWR, 2020b).
Delta levee failure: The levees are vulnerable to failure because most original levees were
simply built with soils dredged from nearby channels and were not engineered. A breach of one
or more levees and island flooding could affect Delta water quality and SWP operations for
several months. When islands are flooded, DWR may need to drastically decrease or even cease
SWP Delta exports to evaluate damage caused by salinity in the Delta.
Operational constraints likely will continue until a long-term solution to the problems in the Bay-Delta is
identified and implemented. New Biops for listed species under the Federal ESA or by the California
Department of Fish and Game’s issuance of incidental take authorizations under the Federal ESA and
California ESA might further adversely affect SWP and CVP operations. Additionally, new litigation,
listings of additional species or new regulatory requirements could further adversely affect SWP
operations in the future by requiring additional export reductions, releases of additional water from
storage or other operational changes impacting water supply operations.
Future Programs / Plans
MET’s Board approved a Delta Action Plan in June 2007 that provides a framework for staff to pursue
actions with other agencies and stakeholders to build a sustainable Delta and reduce conflicts between
water supply conveyance and the environment. The Delta Action Plan aims to prioritize immediate
short-term actions to stabilize the Delta while an ultimate solution is selected, and mid-term steps to
maintain the Delta while a long-term solution is implemented. Currently, MET is working towards
addressing four elements: Delta ecosystem restoration, water supply conveyance, flood control,
protection and storage development.
In May 2019, Governor Newsom ended California WaterFix, announced a new approach to modernize
Delta Conveyance through a single tunnel alternative, and released Executive Order 10-19 that directed
state agencies to inventory and assess new planning for the project. DWR then withdrew all project
approvals and permit applications for California WaterFix, effectively ending the project. The purpose of
the Delta Conveyance Project (DCP) gives rise to several project objectives (MET, 2021). In proposing to
make physical improvements to the SWP Delta conveyance system, the project objectives are:
To address anticipated rising sea levels and other reasonably foreseeable consequences of
climate change and extreme weather events.
To minimize the potential for public health and safety impacts from reduced quantity and quality
of SWP water deliveries, and potentially CVP water deliveries, south of the Delta resulting from a
major earthquake that causes breaching of Delta levees and the inundation of brackish water into
the areas in which existing pumping plants operate.
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To protect the ability of the SWP, and potentially the CVP, to deliver water when hydrologic
conditions result in the availability of sufficient amounts, consistent with the requirements of state
and federal law.
To provide operational flexibility to improve aquatic conditions in the Delta and better manage
risks of further regulatory constraints on project operations.
6.2.3 Storage
Storage is a major component of MET’s dry year resource management strategy. MET’s likelihood of
having adequate supply capability to meet projected demands, without implementing its Water Supply
Allocation Plan (WSAP), is dependent on its storage resources. Due to the pattern of generally drier
hydrology, the groundwater basins and local reservoirs have dropped to low operating levels and remain
below healthy storage levels. For example, the Colorado River Basin’s system storage at the close of
2020, was at or near its lowest since 2000, so there is very little buffer to avoid a shortage from any future
period of reduced precipitation and runoff (MET, 2021).
MET stores water in both DWR and MET surface water reservoirs. MET’s surface water reservoirs are
Lake Mathews, Lake Skinner, and Diamond Valley Lake, which have a combined storage capacity of over
1 MAF. Approximately 650,000 AF are stored for seasonal, regulatory, and drought use, while
approximately 370,000 AF are stored for emergency use.
MET also has contractual rights to DWR surface Reservoirs, such as 65 TAF of flexible storage at
Lake Perris (East Branch terminal reservoir) and 154 TAF of flexible storage at Castaic Lake
(West Branch terminal reservoir) that provides MET with additional options for managing SWP deliveries
to maximize the yield from the project. This storage can provide MET with up to 44 TAF of additional
supply over multiple dry years, or up to 219 TAF to Southern California in a single dry year (MET, 2021).
MET endeavors to increase the reliability of water supplies through the development of flexible storage
and transfer programs including groundwater storage (MET, 2021). These include:
Lake Mead Storage Program: Executed in 2006, this program allows MET to leave excessively
conserved water in Lake Mead, for exclusive use by MET in later years. MET created
“Intentionally Created Surplus” (ICS) water in 2006-2007, 2009-2012, and 2016-2019, and
withdrew ICS water in 2008 and 2013-2015. As of January 1, 2021, MET had a total of 1.3 MAF
of Extraordinary Conservation ICS water.
Semitropic Storage Program: The maximum storage capacity of the program is 350 TAF, and
the minimum and maximum annual yields available to MET are 34.7 TAF and 236.2 TAF,
respectively. The specific amount of water MET can expect to store in and subsequently receive
from the program depends on hydrologic conditions, any regulatory requirements restricting
MET’s ability to export water for storage and demands placed by other program participants.
During wet years, MET has the discretion to use the program to store portions of its SWP
supplies which are in excess, and during dry years, the Semitropic Water Storage District returns
MET’s previously stored water to MET by direct groundwater pump-in or by exchange of surface
water supplies.
Arvin-Edison Storage Program: The storage program is estimated to deliver 75 TAF, and the
specific amount of water MET can expect to store in and subsequently receive from the program
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depends on hydrologic conditions and any regulatory requirements restricting MET’s ability to
export water for storage. During wet years, MET has the discretion to use to program to store
portions of its SWP supplies which are in excess, and during dry years, the Arvin-Edison Water
Storage District returns MET’s previously stored water to MET by direct groundwater pump-in or
by exchange of surface water supplies.
Antelope Valley-East Kern (AVEK) Water Agency Exchange and Storage Program: Under
the exchange program, for every two AF MET receives, MET returns 1 AF back to AVEK, and
MET will also be able to store up to 30 TAF in the AVEK’s groundwater basin, with a dry-year
return capability of 10 TAF.
High Desert Water Bank Program: Under this program, MET will have the ability to store up to
280 TAF of its SWP Table A or other supplies in the Antelope Valley groundwater basin, and in
exchange will provide funding for the construction of monitoring and production wells, turnouts
from the California Aqueduct, pipelines, recharge basins, water storage, and booster pump
facilities. The project is anticipated to be in operation by 2025.
Kern-Delta Water District Storage Program: This groundwater storage program has 250 TAF
of storage capacity, and water for storage can either be directly recharged into the groundwater
basin or delivered to Kern-Delta Water District farmers in lieu of pumping groundwater. During dry
years, the Kern-Delta Water District returns MET’s previously stored water to MET by direct
groundwater pump-in return or by exchange of surface water supplies.
Mojave Storage Program: MET entered into a groundwater banking and exchange transfer
agreement with Mojave Water Agency that allows for the cumulative storage of up to 390 TAF.
The agreement allows for MET to store water in an exchange account for later return.
6.2.4 Planned Future Sources
Beyond the programs highlighted in Sections 6.2.1 through 6.2.3, MET continues to invest in efforts to
meet its goal of long-term regional water supply reliability, focusing on the following:
Continuing water conservation
Developing water supply management programs outside of the region
Developing storage programs related to the Colorado River and the SWP
Developing storage and groundwater management programs within the Southern California
region
Increasing water recycling, groundwater recovery, stormwater and seawater desalination
Pursuing long-term solutions for the ecosystem, regulatory and water supply issues in the
California Bay-Delta (MET, 2021)
Groundwater
Historically, local groundwater has been the cheapest and most reliable source of supply for the City.
The City draws water from the Basin. In FY 2019-20, the City relied on approximately 25,591 AFY –
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approximately 76% of the City’s water supply portfolio for FY 2019-20 – from the OC Basin to meet its
demands.
This section describes the OC Basin and the management measures taken by OCWD, the basin
manager to optimize local supply and minimize overdraft. This section also provides information on
historical groundwater production as well as a 25-year projection of the City's groundwater supply.
The OCWD was formed in 1933 by a special legislative act of the California State Legislature to protect
and manage the County's vast, natural, groundwater supply using the best available technology and
defend its water rights to the OC Basin. This legislation is found in the State of California Statutes, Water
– Uncodified Acts, Act 5683, as amended. The OC Basin is managed by OCWD under the Act, which
functions as a statutorily-imposed physical solution. The OCWD Management Area includes
approximately 89% of the land area of the OC Basin, and 98% of all groundwater production occurs
within the area. OCWD monitors the basin by collecting groundwater elevation and quality data from wells
and manages an electronic database that stores water elevation, water quality, production, recharge, and
other data on over 2,000 wells and facilities within and outside OCWD boundaries (City of La Habra
et al., 2017).
Groundwater levels are managed within a safe basin operating range to protect the long-term
sustainability of the OC Basin and to protect against land subsidence. OCWD regulates groundwater
levels in the OC Basin by regulating the annual amount of pumping and setting the Basin Production
Percentage (BPP) for the water year. As defined in the District Act, the BPP is the ratio of water produced
from groundwater supplies within the district to all water produced within the district from both
supplemental sources and groundwater within the district (OCWD, 2020). On a per agency basis
including the City, the BPP is the total percentage amount of groundwater allowed to be produced
towards that agency’s or city’s demand. For the City, the remaining percentage of potable water demand
is achieved through MET water.
6.3.1 Historical Groundwater Production
The City pumps groundwater through its 21 active operating groundwater wells. One of the City’s wells is
currently offline but is being rehabilitated with goals to be completed by the end of 2021. The City has
experienced relative stability in the groundwater volume pumped for the last five years (Table 6-4).
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Table 6-4: Retail: Groundwater Volume Pumped
DWR Submittal Table 6-1 Retail: Groundwater Volume Pumped
Supplier does not pump groundwater.
The supplier will not complete the table below.
All or part of the groundwater described below is desalinated.
Groundwater Type Location or Basin Name 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Alluvial Basin Orange County
Groundwater Basin 24,722 24,357 21,327 25,505 25,591
TOTAL 24,722 24,357 21,327 25,505 25,591
NOTES:
Source: MWDOC, 2020
6.3.2 Basin Characteristics
The OC Basin underlies the northerly half of Orange County beneath broad lowlands. The OC Basin,
managed by OCWD, covers an area of approximately 350 square miles, bordered by the Coyote and
Chino Hills to the north, the Santa Ana Mountains to the northeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the
southwest. The OC Basin boundary extends to the Orange County-Los Angeles Line to the northwest,
where groundwater flows across the county line into the Central Groundwater Basin of Los Angeles
County. A map of the OC Basin is shown on Figure 6-2. The total thickness of sedimentary rocks in the
OC Basin is over 20,000 feet, with only the upper 2,000 to 4,000 feet containing fresh water.
The OC Basin’s full volume is approximately 66 MAF.
There are three major aquifer systems that have been subdivided by OCWD, the Shallow Aquifer System,
the Principal Aquifer System, and the Deep Aquifer System. These three aquifer systems are
hydraulically connected as groundwater is able to flow between each other through intervening aquitards
or discontinuities in the aquitards. The Shallow Aquifer system occurs from the surface to approximately
250 feet below ground surface. Most of the groundwater from this aquifer system is pumped by small
water systems for industrial and agricultural use. The Principal Aquifer system occurs at depths between
200 and 1,300 feet below ground surface. Over 90% of groundwater production is from wells that are
screened within the Principal Aquifer system. Only a minor amount of groundwater is pumped from the
Deep Aquifer system, which underlies the Principal Aquifer system and is up to 2,000 feet deep in the
center of the OC Basin.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of thousands of manmade chemicals that
includes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). PFAS compounds were
once commonly used in many products including, among many others, stain- and water-repellent fabrics,
nonstick products (e.g., Teflon), polishes, waxes, paints, cleaning products, and fire-fighting foams.
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Beginning in the summer of 2019, the California State Division of Drinking Water (DDW) began requiring
testing for PFAS compounds in some groundwater production wells in the OCWD area.
Groundwater production in FY 2019-20 was expected to be approximately 325,000 AF but declined to
286,550 AF primarily due to PFAS impacted wells being turned off around February 2020.
OCWD expects groundwater production to be in the area of 245,000 AF in FY 2020-21 due to the
currently idled wells and additional wells being impacted by PFAS and turned off. As PFAS treatment
systems are constructed, OCWD expects total annual groundwater production to slowly increase back to
normal levels (310,000 to 330,000 AF) (OCWD, 2020).
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Figure 6-2: Map of the OC Basin
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6.3.3 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
In 2014, the State of California adopted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) to help
manage its groundwater sustainably, and limit adverse effects such as significant groundwater-level
declines, land subsidence, and water quality degradation. SGMA requires all high- and medium-priority
basins, as designated by DWR, be sustainably managed. DWR designated the non-adjudicated Coastal
Plain of OC Basin (“Basin 8-1” or “Basin”) as a medium-priority basin, primarily due to heavy reliance on
the Basin’s groundwater as a source of water supply. Compliance with SGMA can be achieved in one of
two ways:
1) A Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) is formed, and a Groundwater Sustainability Plan
(GSP) is adopted, or
2) Special Act Districts created by statute, such as OCWD, and other agencies may prepare and
submit an Alternative to a GSP (City of La Habra et al., 2017)
The agencies within Basin 8-1, led by OCWD collaborated to submit an Alternative to a GSP in 2017,
titled the “Basin 8-1 Alternative” to meet SGMA compliance. This document will be updated every
five years. The current (2017) version is included in Appendix G.
6.3.4 Basin Production Percentage
Background
The OC Basin is not adjudicated and as such, pumping from the OC Basin is managed through a process
that uses financial incentives to encourage groundwater producers to pump a sustainable amount of
water. The framework for the financial incentives is based on establishing the BPP, the percentage of
each Producer’s total water supply that comes from groundwater pumped from the OC Basin.
Groundwater production at or below the BPP is assessed the Replenishment Assessment (RA).
While there is no legal limit as to how much an agency pumps from the OC Basin, there is a financial
disincentive to pump above the BPP. The BPP is set uniformly for all Producers by OCWD on an annual
basis. Agencies that pump above the BPP are charged the RA plus the Basin Equity Assessment (BEA).
The BEA is presently calculated so that the cost of groundwater production is equivalent to the cost of
importing potable water supplies. This approach serves to discourage, but not eliminate, production
above the BPP, and the BEA can be increased to discourage production above the BPP if necessary.
The BPP is set based on groundwater conditions, availability of imported water supplies, and Basin
management objectives. The supplies available for recharge must be estimated for a given year.
The supplies of recharge water that are estimated are: 1) Santa Ana River stormflow, 2) Natural incidental
recharge, 3) Santa Ana River baseflow, 4) GWRS supplies, and 5) other supplies such as imported water
and recycled water purchased for the Alamitos Barrier. The BPP is a major factor in determining the cost
of groundwater production from the OC Basin for that year. The BPP set for Water Year 2021-22 is 77%.
BPP Adjustments for Basin Management
OCWD has established management guidelines that are used to establish future BPPs, as seen in Table
6-5. Raising or lowering the BPP allows OCWD to manage the amount of pumping from the basin. OCWD
has a policy to manage the groundwater basin within a sustainable range to avoid adverse impacts to the
basin. OCWD seeks to maintain some available storage space in the basin to maximize surface water
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recharge when such supplies are available, especially in relatively wet years. By keeping the basin
relatively full during wet years, and for as long as possible in years with near-normal recharge, the
maximum amount of groundwater could be maintained in storage to support pumping in future drought
conditions. During dry hydrologic years when less water would be available for recharge, the BPP could
be lowered to maintain groundwater storage levels. A component of OCWD’s BPP policy is to manage
the groundwater basin so that the BPP will not fluctuate more that 5 percent from year to year.
Based on most recent modeling of water supplies available for groundwater recharge and water demand
forecasts, OCWD anticipates being able to sustain the BPP at 85% starting in 2025. The primary reasons
for the higher BPP are the expected completion of the GWRS Final Expansion (GWRSFE) in 2023 and
the relatively low water demands of approximately 400,000 AFY.
Modeling and forecasts generate estimates based on historical averages. Consequently, forecasts use
average hydrologic conditions which smooth the dynamic and unpredictable local hydrology. Variations in
local hydrology are the most significant impact to supplies of water available to recharge the groundwater
basin.The BPP projection of 85% is provided based upon average annual rainfall weather patterns. If the
City were to experience a relatively dry period, the BPP could be reduced to maintain water storage
levels, by as much as five percent.
Table 6-5: Management Actions Based on Changes in Groundwater Storage
Available Storage Space
(amount below full basin
condition, AF)
Considered Basin Management Action
Less than 100,000 Raise BPP
100,000 to 300,000 Maintain and / or raise BPP towards 75% goal
300,000 to 350,000 Seek additional supplies to refill basin and / or lower the BPP
Greater than 350,000 Seek additional supplies to refill basin and lower the BPP
BPP Exemptions
In some cases, OCWD encourages pumping and treating groundwater that does not meet drinking water
standards in order to protect water quality. This is achieved by using a financial incentive called the
BEA Exemption. A BEA Exemption is used to promote beneficial uses of poor-quality groundwater and
reduce or prevent the spread of poor-quality groundwater into non-degraded aquifer zones. OCWD uses
a partial or total exemption of the BEA to compensate a qualified participating agency or Producer for the
costs of treating poor quality groundwater, which typically include capital, interest and operations and
maintenance costs for treatment facilities. When OCWD authorizes a BEA exemption for a project, it is
obligated to provide the replenishment water for the production above the BPP and forgo the BEA
revenue that OCWD would otherwise receive from the producer (City of La Habra et al., 2017).
Similarly, for proactive water quality management, OCWD exempts a portion of the BEA for their Coastal
Pumping Transfer Program (CPTP). The CPTP encourages inland groundwater producers to increase
pumping and coastal producers to decrease pumping in order to reduce the groundwater basin drawdown
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at the coast and protect against seawater intrusion. Inland pumpers can pump above the BPP without
having to pay the full BEA for the amount pumped above the BPP (OCWD, 2015). Coastal pumpers
receive BEA revenue from OCWD to assist in offsetting their additional water supply cost from taking less
groundwater.
6.3.4.1 2020 OCWD Groundwater Reliability Plan
In order to adapt to the substantial growth in water demands in OCWD’s management area, it is
paramount to anticipate and understand future water demands and develop projects to increase future
water supplies proactively to match demands. The GRP is a continuation of these planning efforts that
estimates the OC Basin’s sustainable average annual production and extrapolates water needs of the OC
Basin by combining recently completed water demand projections and modeling of Santa Ana River flows
available for recharge. These data will be used to evaluate future water supply projects and guide
management of the OC Basin. OCWD is currently developing the GRP, and the first public draft is
expected to be available May 2021.
Current water demand projections show a relatively slow increase over the 25-year planning horizon,
which is generally of similar magnitude as the additional production from the GWRSFE in early 2023.
Once complete, the GWRSFE will increase capacity from 100,000 to 134,000 AFY of high-quality
recycled water. This locally controlled, drought proof supply of water reduces the region’s dependance on
imported water.
Historically, the Santa Ana River has served as the primary source of water to recharge the OC Basin.
To determine the availability of future Santa Ana River flows, OCWD utilized surface water flow modeling
of the upper watershed. Modeling was developed to predict the impacts future stormwater capture and
wastewater recycling projects in the upper watershed would have on future Santa Ana River flow rates at
Prado Dam. Santa Ana River base flows are expected to decrease as more water recycling projects are
built in the upper watershed. OCWD continues to work closely with the US Army Corps of Engineers to
temporarily impound and slowly release up to approximately 20,000 AF of stormwater in the Prado Dam
Conservation Pool. To some extent, the losses in baseflow are partially offset through the capture of
additional stormwater held in the Prado Dam Conservation Pool. When available, OCWD will continue to
augment groundwater recharge through the purchase of imported water through MET. OCWD will
diligently monitor and evaluate future water supply projects to sustainably manage and protect the OC
Basin for future generations.
6.3.4.2 OCWD Engineer’s Report
The OCWD Engineer’s Report reports on the groundwater conditions and investigates information related
to water supply and groundwater basin usage within OCWD’s service area.
The overall BPP achieved in the 2019 to 2020 water year within OCWD for non-irrigation use was 75.9%.
The achieved pumping was less than the BPP established for the 2019 to 2020 water year primarily due
to the water quality impacts of PFAS. As indicated in Section 6.3.4, a BPP of 77% was established for
water year 2021-22. Analysis of the groundwater basin’s projected accumulated overdraft, the available
supplies to the OC Basin (assuming average hydrology) and the projected pumping demands indicate
that this level of pumping can be sustained for 2021-22 without detriment to the OC Basin (OCWD, 2021).
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In FY 2021-22 additional production of approximately 22,000 AF above the BPP will be undertaken by the
City of Tustin, City of Garden Grove, City of Huntington Beach, Mesa Water District, and IRWD.
These agencies use the additional pumping allowance in order to accommodate groundwater quality
improvement projects. As in prior years, production above the BPP from these projects would be partially
or fully exempt from the BEA as a result of the benefit provided to the OC Basin by removing poor-quality
groundwater and treating it for beneficial use (OCWD, 2021).
6.3.5 Recharge Management
Recharging water into the OC Basin through natural and artificial means is essential to support pumping
from the OC Basin. Active recharge of groundwater began in 1949, in response to increasing drawdown
of the OC Basin and, consequently, the threat of seawater intrusion. The OC Basin’s primary source of
recharge is flow from the Santa Ana River, which is diverted into recharge basins and its main Orange
County tributary, Santiago Creek. Other sources of recharge water include natural infiltration, recycled
water, and imported water. Natural recharge consists of subsurface inflow from local hills and mountains,
infiltration of precipitation and irrigation water, recharge in small flood control channels, and groundwater
underflow to and from Los Angeles County and the ocean.
Recycled water for the OC Basin recharge is from two sources. The main source of recycled water is from
the GWRS, which is injected into the Talbert Seawater Barrier and recharged in the Kraemer, Miller and
Miraloma Basins (City of La Habra et al., 2017). The second source of recycled water is water purified at
the Water Replenishment District’s Leo J. Vander Lans Treatment Facility, which supplies water to the
Alamitos Seawater Barrier (owned and operated by the Los Angeles County Department of Public
Works). OCWD’s share of the Alamitos Barrier injection total for water year 2018-19 was less than half of
the total injection, based on barrier wells located within Orange County. The Water Replenishment District
of Southern California (WRD) also works closely with OCWD to ensure that the water demands at the
Alamitos Barrier are fulfilled through the use of recycled water as opposed to imported water, however the
recycled portion was less than 33% for the last six years due to operational issues and wastewater supply
interruptions (OCWD, 2020a). Injection of recycled water into these barriers is an effort by OCWD to
control seawater intrusion into the OC Basin. Operation of the injection wells forms a hydraulic barrier to
seawater intrusion.
OCWD purchases imported water for recharge from MWDOC. Untreated imported water can be used to
recharge the OC Basin through the surface water recharge system in multiple locations, such as Anaheim
Lake, Santa Ana River, Irvine Lake, and San Antonio Creek. Treated imported water can be used for
in-lieu recharge, as was performed extensively from 1977 to 2007 (City of La Habra et al., 2017).
For detailed recharge management efforts from OCWD, refer to OCWD’s 2017 “Basin 8-1 Alternative
Plan” (Appendix G).
6.3.6 MET Groundwater Replenishment Program
In the past, OCWD, MWDOC, and MET have coordinated water management to increase storage in the
OC Basin when imported supplies are available for this purpose. MET’s groundwater replenishment
program was discontinued on January 1, 2013, and currently MET via MWDOC sells replenishment water
to OCWD at the full service untreated MET rate.
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MWDOC’s imported water sales to OCWD since FY 1990-91 averages approximately 31,200 AF per
year. Recently, due to low Santa Ana River flows as a result of low precipitation and increased use along
the river, OCWD has needed to purchase more imported replenishment water per year than the average
of 31,200 AFY over the last 25 years (this does not include water amounts from MET’s Conjunctive Use
Program (CUP) or its Cyclic Storage Account). However, with the emergence of PFAS affecting
groundwater production, the need to purchase imported water has been temporary suspended.
Until PFAS treatment is in place for most groundwater producers in the region, imported replenishment
water will be significantly reduced.
6.3.7 MET Conjunctive Use Program / Cyclic Storage Program with OCWD
Since 2004, OCWD, MWDOC, and certain groundwater producers have participated in MET’s CUP.
This program allows for the storage of MET water in the OC Basin. The existing MET program provides
storage up to 66,000 AF of water in the OC Basin to be pumped by participating producers in place of
receiving imported supplies during water shortage events in exchange for MET’s contribution to
improvements in basin management facilities and an annual administrative fee. These improvements
include eight new groundwater production wells, improvements to the seawater intrusion barrier, and
construction of the Diemer Bypass Pipeline. The water is accounted for via the CUP program
administered by the wholesale agencies and is controlled by MET such that it can be withdrawn over a
three-year time period (OCWD, 2020). As of 2021, the CUP has not been in use since 2014. The CUP
contract ends in 2028.
The Cyclic Storage account is an alternative storage account with MET. However, unlike the CUP
program, OCWD controls when the water is used. The Cyclic Water Storage Program allows MET to
store water in a local groundwater basin during surplus conditions, where MET has limited space in its
regional storage locations. Once the water is stored via direct delivery or In-lieu the groundwater agency
has the ability to purchase this water at a future date or over a 5-year period.
6.3.8 Overdraft Conditions
Annual groundwater basin overdraft, as defined in OCWD's Act, is the quantity by which production of
groundwater supplies exceeds natural replenishment of groundwater supplies during a water year.
This difference between extraction and replenishment can be estimated by determining the change in
volume of groundwater in storage that would have occurred had supplemental water not been used for
any groundwater recharge purpose, including seawater intrusion protection, advanced water reclamation,
and the in-Lieu Program.
The annual analysis of basin storage change and accumulated overdraft for water year 2019-20 has been
completed. Based on the three-layer methodology, an accumulated overdraft of 200,000 AF was
calculated for the water year ending June 30, 2020. The accumulated overdraft for the water year ending
June 30, 2019 was 236,000 AF, which was also calculated using the three-layer storage method.
Therefore, an annual increase of 36,000 AF in stored groundwater was calculated as the difference
between the June 2019 and June 2020 accumulated overdrafts (OCWD, 2021).
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6.3.9 Planned Future Sources
The City plans to build two new future wells, build three new wells at existing sites, and rehabilitate
two wells to ensure reliable local groundwater and continued drinking water safety. These well projects
are further described in Section 6.9.
On a regional scale, OCWD regularly evaluates potential projects and conducts studies to improve the
existing facilities and build new facilities to include in their Long-Term Facilities Plans (LTFP).
OCWD’s 2014 LTFP evaluated 65 potential projects for water supply, basin management, recharge
facilities, operational improvements, and operational efficiency. Some of OCWD’s planned water projects
that would increase supply are listed below. For a more detailed list of projects, refer to the 2014 LTFP
(OCWD).
GWRSFE – The Final Expansion of the GWRS is currently underway and is the third and final phase
of the project. When the Final Expansion is completed in early 2023, the plant’s treatment capacity
will increase from 100 to 130 MGD. To produce 130 MGD, additional treated wastewater from Orange
County Sanitation District (OC San)’s Treatment Plant 2 is required. This recycled water represents a
high quality, drought-proof source of water to protect and enhance the OC Basin. The Final
Expansion project will include expanding the existing GWRS treatment facilities, constructing new
conveyance facilities at OC San Plant 2, and rehabilitating an existing pipeline between OC San Plant
2 and the GWRS. Once completed, the GWRS plant will recycle 100% of OC San’s reclaimable
sources and produce enough water to meet the needs of over one million people.
Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) at Prado Dam – Stormwater represents a
significant source of water used by OCWD to recharge the OC Basin. Much of this recharge is made
possible by the capture of Santa Ana River stormflows behind Prado Dam in the Conservation Pool.
FIRO represents the next generation of operating water reservoirs using the best available
technology. Advances in weather and stormwater runoff forecasting hold promise to allow USACE to
safety impound more stormwater while maintaining equivalent flood risk management capability
behind Prado Dam. Preliminary modeling show that by expanding the Conservation Pool from
elevation 505 to 512 ft msl, annual recharge to the groundwater basin could increase by as much as
4,500 to 7,000 AFY.
Surface Water
6.4.1 Existing Sources
There are, currently, no direct surface water uses in the City’s service area.
6.4.2 Planned Future Sources
As of 2021, there are no planned direct uses of surface water in the City’s service area.
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Stormwater
6.5.1 Existing Sources
There are, currently, no direct stormwater uses in the City’s Service area.
6.5.2 Planned Future Sources
As of 2021, there are no planned stormwater uses in the City’s service area.
Wastewater and Recycled Water
The City is directly involved in wastewater services through its ownership and operation of the wastewater
collection system in its service area. However, the City does not own or operate wastewater treatment
facilities. The sewer system service area encompasses about 27.2 square miles and includes
approximately 390 miles of sewer main. The wastewater system serves about 335,605 residents
(Santa Ana’s Sewer Master Plan, 2016). For additional details on the City’s wastewater services, refer to
the 2016 Santa Ana Sewer Master Plan.
Recycled water is wastewater that is treated through primary, secondary, and tertiary processes and is
acceptable for most non-potable water purposes such as irrigation, and commercial and industrial
process water per Title 22 requirements. Recycled water opportunities have continued to grow in
Southern California as public acceptance and the need to expand local water resources continues to be a
priority. Recycled water also provides a degree of flexibility and added reliability during drought conditions
when imported water supplies are restricted. The City is indirectly involved in recycled water production,
through its supply of wastewater for IPR. The following sections expand on the existing agency
collaboration involved in these efforts as well as the City’s projected recycled water use over the next
25 years.
6.6.1 Agency Coordination
The City does not own or operate wastewater treatment facilities and sends all collected wastewater to
Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) for treatment and disposal. OC San provides treated water to
OCWD, the manager of the Orange County Groundwater Basin. OCWD strives to maintain and increase
the reliability of the Orange County Groundwater Basin through replenishment with imported water,
stormwater, and advanced treated wastewater. A full description of the Orange County Groundwater
Basin is available in Section 6.3.2. OCWD and OC San have jointly constructed and expanded
two water recycling projects to meet this goal including: 1) OCWD GAP, and 2) OCWD GWRS.
6.6.1.1 OCWD Green Acres Project
OCWD owns and operates the GAP, a water recycling system that provides up to 8,400 AFY of recycled
water for irrigation and industrial uses. GAP provides an alternate source of water that is mainly delivered
to parks, golf courses, greenbelts, cemeteries, and nurseries in the cities of Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley,
Newport Beach, and Santa Ana. OCWD produces and distributes GAP water for purchase by the City,
which sells and distributes the water to recycled water customers. Approximately 100 sites use
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GAP water, current recycled water users include Mile Square Park and Golf Courses in Fountain Valley,
Costa Mesa Country Club, Chroma Systems carpet dyeing, Kaiser Permanente, and Caltrans. The City
maintains an agreement with OCWD to supply GAP water to customers where available.
6.6.1.2 OCWD Groundwater Replenishment System
OCWD’s GWRS allows Southern California to decrease its dependency on imported water and creates a
local and reliable source of water. OCWD’s GWRS purifies secondary treated wastewater from OC San to
levels that meet and exceed all state and federal drinking water standards. The GWRS Phase 1 plant has
been operational since January 2008 and uses a three-step advanced treatment process consisting of
microfiltration (MF), reverse osmosis (RO), and ultraviolet (UV) light with hydrogen peroxide. A portion of
the treated water is injected into the seawater barrier to prevent seawater intrusion into the groundwater
basin. The other portion of the water is pumped to ponds where the water percolates into deep aquifers
and becomes part of Orange County’s water supply. The treatment process described on OCWD’s
website is provided below (OCWD, GWRS, 2020).
The GWRS first began operating in 2008 producing 70 million gallons of water per day (MGD) and in
2015, it underwent a 30 MGD expansion. Approximately 39,200 AFY of the highly purified water is
pumped into the injection wells and 72,900 AFY is pumped to the percolation ponds in the City of
Anaheim where the water is naturally filtered through sand and gravel to deep aquifers of the
groundwater basin. The Orange County Groundwater Basin provides approximately 72% of the potable
water supply for north and central Orange County. The design and construction of the first phase
(78,500 AFY) of the GWRS project was jointly funded by OCWD and OC San; Phase 2 expansion
(33,600 AFY) was funded solely by OCWD.
The Final Expansion of the GWRS is currently underway and is the third and final phase of the project.
When the Final Expansion is completed in 2023, the plant will produce 130 MGD. To produce 130 MGD,
additional treated wastewater from OC San is required. This additional water will come from OC San’s
Treatment Plant 2, which is in the City of Huntington Beach approximately 3.5 miles south of the GWRS.
The Final Expansion project will include expanding the existing GWRS treatment facilities, constructing
new conveyance facilities at OC San Plant 2 and rehabilitating an existing pipeline between OC San Plant
2 and the GWRS. Once completed, the GWRS plant will recycle 100% of OC San’s reclaimable sources
and produce enough water to meet the needs of over one million people.
6.6.2 Wastewater Description and Disposal
The City operates and maintains the local sewer system consisting of over 390 miles of pipeline,
7,630 manholes, and two lift stations that connect to OC San's trunk system to convey wastewater to
OC San's treatment plants. OC San has an extensive system of gravity flow sewers, pump stations, and
pressurized sewers. Collected wastewater is sent to OC San's plants located in the Cities of Huntington
Beach and Fountain Valley. OC San’s Plant No. 1 in Fountain Valley has a capacity of 320 million gallons
per day (MGD) and Plant No. 2 in Huntington Beach has a capacity of 312 MGD. Both plants share a
common ocean outfall, but Plant No. 1 currently provides all its secondary treated wastewater to
OCWD’s GWRS for beneficial reuse. The 120-inch diameter ocean outfall extends 4 miles off the coast of
Huntington Beach. A 78-inch diameter emergency outfall also extends 1.3 miles off the coast. Table 6-6
summarizes the wastewater collected by the City and transported to OC San's system in 2020.
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Table 6-6: Retail: Wastewater Collected Within Service Area in 2020
DWR Submittal Table 6-2 Retail: Wastewater Collected Within Service Area in 2020
There is no wastewater collection system. The supplier will not complete the table below.
Percentage of 2020 service area covered by wastewater collection system (optional)
Percentage of 2020 service area population covered by wastewater collection system (optional)
Wastewater Collection Recipient of Collected Wastewater
Name of
Wastewater
Collection Agency
Wastewater
Volume Metered
or Estimated?
Volume of
Wastewater
Collected from
UWMP Service
Area 2020
Name of Wastewater
Treatment Agency
Receiving Collected
Wastewater
Treatment
Plant Name
Is WWTP
Located Within
UWMP Area?
Is WWTP Operation
Contracted to a Third
Party? (optional)
Add additional rows as needed
City of Santa Ana Estimated 21,768 OC San Plant No. 1 /
Plant No. 2 No No
Total Wastewater Collected from
Service Area in 2020: 21,768
NOTES:
Assumed a return rate of 65% (City of Santa Ana, 2015)
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6.6.3 Current Recycled Water Uses
The City provides OCWD GAP recycled water to the southern part of the City. In FY 2019-20,
approximately 249 AF of GAP water was used in the City’s service area. The current users/uses of
recycled water are as follows:
Centennial Park and Soccer Fields
Bomo Koral Park
Flower Street Bike Trail
McFadden Intermediate School
Adams Park
Chroma Systems- Carpet Dyeing
Chroma Systems- Landscape
Kaiser Medical Office Landscape
Chick-fil-A Landscape
Santa Ana River Trail Landscape
Godinez High School Landscape
MacArthur Boulevard Median Landscape
Bear Street Median Landscape
Thornton Park
Harbor Boulevard Median Landscape
Santa Ana Valley High School Sports Complex Landscape
Griset Park
South Coast Park Plaza
For indirect use, the City also benefits from OCWD’s GWRS system that provides IPR through
replenishment of Orange County Groundwater Basin with water that meets state and federal drinking
water standards.
6.6.4 Projected Recycled Water Uses
The City will continue to receive recycled water from GAP and supply it to the various landscape irrigation
sites mentioned in Section 9. The City will continue to supply wastewater to support the region’s IPR via
GWRS. Current and projected recycled water use through 2045 are shown in Table 6-7 and are expected
to remain constant. Although the 2015 UWMP acknowledged IPR of wastewater, it did not quantify
projections. These projections will be prepared moving forward. The projected 2020 recycled water use
from the City's 2015 UWMP are compared to the 2020 actual use in Table 6-8, where the actual use is
slightly less than the projected.
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Table 6-7: Retail: Recycled Water Direct Beneficial Uses Within Service Area
DWR Submittal Table 6-4 Retail: Recycled Water Direct Beneficial Uses Within Service Area
Recycled water is not used and is not planned for use within the service area of the supplier.
The supplier will not complete the table below.
Name of Supplier Producing (Treating) the Recycled Water:
Name of Supplier Operating the Recycled Water Distribution System:
Supplemental Water Added in 2020 (volume)Include units
Source of 2020 Supplemental Water
Beneficial Use Type Potential Beneficial Uses of
Recycled Water (Describe)
Amount of Potential Uses of
Recycled Water (Quantity)
General Description of 2020
Uses
Level of
Treatment 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 (opt)
Landscape irrigation (excludes golf courses) 249 AF
Parks, street medians,
institutional and commercial
landscapes
Tertiary 249 249 249 249 249 249
Total:249 249 249 249 249 249
*IPR - Indirect Potable Reuse
NOTES:
Table does not include groundwater recharge (IPR) numbers as they are not separate from OCWD's supply
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Table 6-8: Retail: 2015 UWMP Recycled Water Use Projection Compared to 2020 Actual
DWR Submittal Table 6-5 Retail: 2015 UWMP Recycled Water Use Projection Compared to 2020 Actual
Recycled water was not used in 2015 nor projected for use in 2020.
The Supplier will not complete the table below.
Use Type 2015 Projection for 2020 2020 Actual Use
Landscape irrigation (excludes golf courses) 320 249
Groundwater recharge (IPR) N/A 8,528
Total 320 8,777
NOTES:
Groundwater recharge (IPR) estimated based on OCWD Groundwater Basin Production x Percent of Total Basin
Production for 2020 (33.3%)
6.6.5 Potential Recycled Water Uses
Potential recycled water users are locations where recycled water could replace potable water use.
Since OCWD is limited in GAP plant capacity, additional users do not exist at the time and the City does
not expect additional GAP use in the future. However, the City will continue to convey its wastewater to
OC San's regional treatment facilities where the wastewater is treated and recycled for IPR.
6.6.6 Optimization Plan
Studies of water recycling opportunities within Southern California provide a context for promoting the
development of water recycling plans. It is recognized that broad public acceptance of recycled water
requires continued education and public involvement. Currently, most of the recycled water available is
being directed toward replenishment of the groundwater basin and improvements in groundwater quality.
As a user of groundwater, the City supports the efforts of OCWD and OC San to use recycled water as a
primary resource for groundwater recharge in Orange County.
Financial Incentives
The implementation of recycled water projects involves a substantial upfront capital investment for
planning studies, Environmental Impact Reports (EIR), engineering design and construction before there
is any recycled water to market. In some cases, these capital costs exceed the short-term expense of
purchasing additional imported water supplies from MET.
The establishment of new supplemental funding sources through federal, state, and regional programs
now provides significant financial incentives for water agencies to develop and make use of recycled
water locally. Potential sources of funding include federal, state, and local funding opportunities.
These funding sources include the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), California
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Proposition 13 Water Bond, Proposition 84 and MET LRP. These funding opportunities may be sought by
the City or possibly more appropriately by regional agencies. The City will continue to support seeking
funding for regional water recycling projects and programs.
Optimizing Recycled Water Use
In Orange County, recycled water is used for irrigating golf courses, parks, schools, businesses, and
communal landscaping, as well as for groundwater recharge. Recycled water users in the City receive
their water from OCWD’s GAP. Analyses have indicated that present worth costs to expand recycled
water within other areas of the City are not cost effective as compared to purchasing imported water from
MET or using groundwater. The City will continue to conduct feasibility studies for recycled water and
seek out creative solutions such as funding, regulatory requirements, institutional arrangement, and
public acceptance for recycled water use with OCWD, MET, and other cooperative agencies.
Desalination Opportunities
In 2001, MET developed a Seawater Desalination Program (SDP) to provide incentives for developing
new seawater desalination projects in MET’s service area. In 2014, MET modified the provisions of their
LRP to include incentives for locally produced seawater desalination projects that reduce the need for
imported supplies. To qualify for the incentive, proposed projects must replace an existing demand or
prevent new demand on MET’s imported water supplies. In return, MET offers three incentive formulas
under the program:
Sliding scale incentive up to $340 per AF for a 25-year agreement term, depending on the unit
cost of seawater produced compared to the cost of MET supplies.
Sliding scale incentive up to $475 per AF for a 15-year agreement term, depending on the unit
cost of seawater produced compared to the cost of MET supplies.
Fixed incentive up to $305 per AF for a 25-year agreement term.
Developing local supplies within MET's service area is part of their IRP goal of improving water supply
reliability in the region. Creating new local supplies reduce pressure on imported supplies from the
SWP and Colorado River.
On May 6th, 2015, the SWRCB approved an amendment to the state’s Water Quality Control Plan for the
Ocean Waters of California (California Ocean Plan) to address effects associated with the construction
and operation of seawater desalination facilities (Desalination Amendment). The amendment supports the
use of ocean water as a reliable supplement to traditional water supplies while protecting marine life and
water quality. The California Ocean Plan now formally acknowledges seawater desalination as a
beneficial use of the Pacific Ocean and the Desalination Amendment provides a uniform, consistent
process for permitting seawater desalination facilities statewide.
If the following projects are developed, MET's imported water deliveries to Orange County could be
reduced. These projects include the Huntington Beach Seawater Desalination Project and the Doheny
Desalination Project.
As for City-led initiatives, the City has not investigated seawater desalination as a result of economic and
physical impediments.
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Brackish groundwater is groundwater with a salinity higher than freshwater, but lower than seawater.
Brackish groundwater typically requires treatment using desalters.
6.7.1 Ocean Water Desalination
Huntington Beach Seawater Desalination Project – Poseidon Resources LLC (Poseidon), a private
company, is developing the Huntington Beach Seawater Desalination Project to be co-located at the
AES Power Plant in the City of Huntington Beach along Pacific Coast Highway and Newland Street.
The proposed project would produce up to 50 MGD (56,000 AFY) of drinking water to provide
approximately 10% of Orange County’s water supply needs.
Over the past several years, Poseidon has been working with OCWD on the general terms and conditions
for selling the water to OCWD. OCWD and MWDOC have proposed a few distribution options to agencies
in Orange County. The northern option proposes the water be distributed to the northern agencies closer
to the plant within OCWD’s service area with the possibility of recharging/injecting a portion of the product
water into the OC Basin. The southern option builds on the northern option by delivering a portion of the
product water through the existing OC-44 pipeline for conveyance to the south Orange County water
agencies. A third option is also being explored, which includes all of the product water to be recharged
into the OC Basin. Currently, a combination of these options could be pursued.
The Huntington Beach Seawater Desalination project plant capacity of 56,000 AFY would be the single
largest source of new, local drinking water available to the region. In addition to offsetting imported
demand, water from this project could provide OCWD with management flexibility in the OC Basin by
augmenting supplies into the Talbert Seawater Barrier to prevent seawater intrusion.
In May 2015, OCWD and Poseidon entered into a non-binding Term Sheet that provided the overall
partner structure in order to advance the project. Based on the initial Term Sheet, which was updated in
2018, Poseidon would be responsible for permitting, financing, design, construction, and operations of the
treatment plant while OCWD would purchase the production volume, assuming the product water quality
and quantity meet specific contract parameters and criteria. Furthermore, OCWD would then distribute
the water in Orange County using one of the proposed distribution options described above.
Currently, the project is in the regulatory permit approval process with the Regional Water Quality Control
Board and the California Coastal Commission. Once all of the required permits are approved, Poseidon
will then work with OCWD and interested member agencies in developing a plan to distribute the water.
Subsequent to the regulatory permit approval process, and agreement with interested parties, Poseidon
estimates that the project could be online as early as 2027.
Under guidance provided by DWR, the Huntington Beach Seawater Desalination Plant’s projected water
supplies are not included in the supply projections due to its current status within the criteria established
by State guidelines (DWR, 2020c).
Doheny Desalination Project – South Coast Water District (SCWD) is proposing to develop an ocean
water desalination facility in Dana Point. SCWD intends to construct a facility with an initial capacity of up
to 5 million gallons per day (MGD). The initial up to 5 MGD capacity would be available for SCWD and
potential partnering water agencies to provide a high quality, locally-controlled, drought-proof water
supply. The desalination facility would also provide emergency backup water supplies, should an
earthquake, system shutdown, or other event disrupt the delivery of imported water to the area. The
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Project would consist of a subsurface slant well intake system (constructed within Doheny Beach State
Park), raw (sea) water conveyance to the desalination facility site (located on SCWD owned property), a
seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination facility, brine disposal through an existing wastewater
ocean outfall, solids handling facilities, storage, and potable water conveyance interties to adjacent local
and regional distribution infrastructure.
The Doheny Ocean Desalination Project has been determined as the best water supply option to meet
reliability needs of SCWD and south Orange County. SCWD is pursuing the Project to ensure it meets
the water use needs of its customers and the region by providing a drought-proof potable water supply,
which diversifies SCWD’s supply portfolio and protects against long-term imported water emergency
outages and supply shortfalls that could have significant impact to our coastal communities, public health,
and local economy. Phase I of the Project (aka, the “Local” Project) will provide SCWD and the region
with up to 5 MGD of critical potable water supply that, together with recycled water, groundwater, and
conservation, will provide the majority of SCWD’s water supply through local reliable sources. An up to
15 MGD capacity project has been identified as a potential future “regional” project that could be phased
incrementally, depending on regional needs.
On June 27, 2019, SCWD certified the final EIR and approved the Project. The Final EIR included
considerable additional information provided at the request of the Coastal Commission and the Regional
Board, including an updated coastal hazard analysis, updated brine discharge modeling, and updated
groundwater modeling, updated hydrology analysis. The approval of the Project also included a
commitment to 100 percent carbon neutrality through a 100 percent offset of emissions through the
expansion of Project mitigation and use of renewable energy sources. SCWD is currently in the
permitting process and finalizing additional due diligence studies. If implemented, SCWD anticipates an
online date of 2025.
Under guidance provided by DWR, the Doheny Seawater Desalination Project’s projected water supplies
are not included in the supply projections due to its current status within the criteria established by State
guidelines (DWR, 2020c).
6.7.2 Groundwater Desalination
There are currently no brackish groundwater opportunities within the City’s service area.
Water Exchanges and Transfers
Interconnections with other agencies result in the ability to share water supplies during short term
emergency situations or planned shutdowns of major imported water systems. However, beyond short
term outages, transfers can also be involved with longer term water exchanges to deal with droughts or
water allocation situations. The following subsections describe the City’s existing and planned exchanges
and transfers.
6.8.1 Existing Exchanges and Transfers
Interconnections with other agencies result in the ability to share water supplies during short term
emergency situations or planned shutdowns of major imported systems. The City maintains seven
connections to MET's system and nine emergency connections with surrounding agencies, including the
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Cities of Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Orange, Tustin, and Southern California Water
Company. These connections can provide a total supply of 60,580 gpm into the City's distribution system.
The MET connections are typically operating as constant flow sources.
6.8.2 Planned and Potential Exchanges and Transfers
The City does not currently have plans to introduce new exchanges and transfers. However,
MET continues to help its retail agencies develop transfer and exchange opportunities that promote
reliability within their systems. Therefore, MET will look to help its retail agencies navigate the operational
and administrative issues of transfers within the MET distribution system.
In an indirect regional scale, the Santa Ana River Conservation and Conjunctive Use Project (SARCCUP)
is a joint project established by five regional water agencies within the Santa Ana River Watershed
(Eastern Municipal Water District, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, Western Municipal Water District,
OCWD, and San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District).
In 2016, SARCCUP was successful in receiving $55 million in grant funds from Proposition 84 through
DWR. The overall SARCCUP program awarded by Proposition 84, consists of three main program
elements:
Watershed-Scale Cooperative Water Banking Program
Water Use Efficiency: Landscape Design and Irrigation Improvements and Water Budget
Assistance for Agencies
Habitat Creation and Arundo Donax Removal from the Santa Ana River
The Watershed-Scale Cooperative Water Banking Program is the largest component of SARCCUP and
since 2016, Valley, MET, and the four SARCCUP-MWD Member Agencies, with MWDOC representing
OCWD, have been discussing terms and conditions for the ability to purchase surplus water from Valley
to be stored in the Santa Ana River watershed. With the Valley and MET surplus water purchase
agreement due for renewal, it was the desire of Valley to establish a new agreement with MET that allows
a portion of its surplus water to be stored within the Santa Ana River watershed.
An agreement between MET and four SARCCUP-MWD Member Agencies was approved earlier this year
that gives the SARCCUP agencies the ability to purchase a portion (up to 50%) of the surplus water that
San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (Valley), a SWP Contractor, sells to MET. Such water will
be stored in local groundwater basins throughout the Santa Ana River watershed and extract during dry
years to reduce the impacts from multiyear droughts. In Orange County, 36,000 AF can be stored in the
OC Basin for use during dry years. More importantly, this stored SARCCUP water can be categorized as
“extraordinary supplies”, if used during a MET allocation, and can enhance a participating agencies’
reliability during a drought. Moreover, if excess water is available MWDOC can purchase additional water
for its service area.
Further details remain to be developed between OCWD, retail agencies, and MWDOC in how the water
will be distributed in Orange County and who participates.
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Summary of Future Water Projects
The City continually reviews practices that will provide its customers with adequate and reliable supplies.
Trained staff continue to ensure the water quality is safe and the water supply will meet present and
future needs in an environmentally and economically responsible manner.
Although the City has various projects planned to maintain and improve the water system (Section 6.9.1),
there are currently no City-specific planned projects that have both a concrete timeline and a quantifiable
increase in supply.
6.9.1 City Initiatives
The City anticipates water demand in the City to remain relatively constant over the next 25 years.
Any new water sources developed will primarily be to better manage the groundwater basin and replace
or upgrade inefficient wells, rather than support population growth and new development. The projects
that have been identified by the City to improve the City’s water supply reliability and enhance the
operations of the City include major well rehabilitation and refurbishment, well casing rehabilitation, minor
motor control center refurbishment, pump station rehabilitation, water main replacements,
MET connection upgrades, emergency power projects, and miscellaneous improvements such as
SCADA improvements. A Capital Improvement Program identified water projects to implement between
FY 2017-18 through FY 2039-40. Those related to increasing the water supply are listed below – for a
more detailed list of projects, refer to the City’s 2017 Water Master Plan (TetraTech, 2017).
New Well Construction – The City has identified projects to build New Wells No. 1 and 2, as well as drill
new wells for Wells No. 16, 22, and 24. These new wells will provide the City with further redundancy and
allow the City to continue achieving pumping capacity for higher BPP rates.
Major Well Rehabilitation – The City has identified projects for major well rehabilitation for Wells 29
and 32.
6.9.2 Regional Initiatives
Beyond City-specific projects, the City consistently coordinates its long-term water shortage planning
with MET and OCWD. MWDOC has identified the following future regional projects, some of which
can indirectly benefit the City to further increase local supplies and offset imported supplies
(CDM Smith, 2019):
Poseidon Huntington Beach Ocean Desalination Project – Poseidon proposes to construct and
operate the Huntington Beach Ocean Desalination Plant on a 12-acre parcel adjacent to the
AES Huntington Beach Generating Station. The facility would have a capacity of 50 MGD and
56,000 AFY, with its main components consisting of a water intake system, a desalination facility, a
concentrate disposal system, and a product water storage tank. This project would provide both system
and supply reliability benefits to the SOC, the OC Basin, and Huntington Beach. The capital cost in the
initial year for the plant is $1.22 billion.
Doheny Ocean Desalination Project – SCWD is proposing to construct an ocean water desalination
facility in Dana Point at Doheny State Beach. The facility would have an initial up to 5 MGD capacity, with
the potential for future expansions up to 15 MGD. The project’s main components are a subsurface water
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intake system, a raw ocean water conveyance pipeline, a desalination facility, a seawater reverse
osmosis (SWRO) desalination facility, a brine disposal system, and a product water storage tank.
San Juan Watershed Project – Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) and other project partners have
proposed a multi-phased project within the San Juan Creek Watershed to capture local stormwater and
develop, convey, and recharge recycled water into the San Juan Groundwater Basin and treat the water
upon pumping it out of the basin. The first phase includes the installation of three rubber dams within
San Juan Creek to promote in-stream recharge of the basin, with an anticipated production of 700 AFY
on average. The second phase would develop additional surface water and groundwater management
practices by using stormwater and introducing recycled water for infiltration into the basin and has an
anticipated production of 2,660 to 4,920 AFY. The third phase will introduce recycled water directly into
San Juan Creek through live stream recharge, with an anticipated production of up to 2,660 AFY (SMWD,
2021).
Cadiz Water Bank – SMWD and Cadiz, Inc. are developing this project to create a new water supply by
conserving groundwater that is currently being lost to evaporation and recovering the conserved water by
pumping it out of the Fenner Valley Groundwater Basin to convey to MET’s CRA. The project consists of
a groundwater pumping component that includes an average of 50 TAFY of groundwater that can be
pumped from the basin over a 50-year period, and a water storage component that allows participants to
send surplus water supplies to be recharged in spreading basins and held in storage.
South Orange County Emergency Interconnection Expansion – MWDOC has been working with the
South Orange County (SOC) agencies on improvements for system reliability primarily due to the risk of
earthquakes causing outages of the MET imported water system as well as extended grid outages.
Existing regional interconnection agreements between IRWD and SOC agencies provides for the delivery
of water through the IRWWD system to participating SOC agencies in times of emergency. MWDOC and
IRWD are currently studying an expansion of the program, including the potential East Orange County
Feeder No. 2 pipeline and an expanded and scalable emergency groundwater program, with a capital
cost of $867,451.
SARCCUP – SARCCUP is a joint project established between MET, MWDOC, Eastern MWD, Western
MWD, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, and OCWD that can provide significant benefits in the form of
additional supplies during dry years for Orange County. Surplus SWP water from San Bernardino Valley
Water District (SBVMWD) can be purchased and stored for use during dry years. This water can even be
considered an extraordinary supply under MET allocation Plan, if qualified under MET’s extraordinary
supply guidelines. OCWD has the ability to store 36,000 AF of SARCCUP water and if excess water is
available MWDOC has the ability to purchase additional water. Further details remain to be developed
between OCWD, retail agencies, and MWDOC in how the water will be distributed in Orange County and
who participates.
Moulton Niquel Water District (MNWD) / OCWD Pilot Storage Program - OCWD entered into an
agreement with MNWD to develop a pilot program to explore the opportunity to store water in the OC
Basin. The purpose of such a storage account would provide MNWD water during emergencies and/or
provide additional water during dry periods. As part of the agreement, OCWD hired consultants to
evaluate where and how to extract groundwater from the OC Basin with several options to pump the
water to MNWD via the East Orange County Feeder No. 2; as well as a review of existing
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banking/exchange programs in California to determine what compensation methodologies could OCWD
assess for a storage/banking program.
Energy Intensity
A new requirement for this 2020 UWMP is an energy intensity analysis of the Supplier’s water,
wastewater, and recycled water systems, where applicable for a 12-month period. The City owns and
operates a water distribution system and a wastewater collection system. This section reports the energy
intensity for each system using data from CY2019.
Water and energy resources are inextricably connected. Known as the "water-energy nexus", the
California Energy Commission estimates the transport and treatment of water, treatment and disposal of
wastewater, and the energy used to heat and consume water account for nearly 20% of the total
electricity and 30% of non-power plant related natural gas consumed in California. In 2015, California
issued new rules requiring 50% of its power to come from renewables, along with a reduction in
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. Consistent with energy and water
conservation, renewable energy production, and GHG mitigation initiatives, the City reports the energy
intensity of its water and wastewater operations.
The methodology for calculating water energy intensity outlined in Appendix O of the UWMP Guidebook
was adapted from the California Institute for Energy Efficiency exploratory research study titled
“Methodology for Analysis of the Energy Intensity of California’s Water Systems” (Wilkinson 2000).
The study defines water energy intensity as the total amount of energy, calculated on a whole‐system
basis, required for the use of a given amount of water in a specific location.
UWMP reporting is limited to available energy intensity information associated with water processes
occurring within an urban water supplier’s direct operational control. Operational control is defined as
authority over normal business operations at the operational level. Any energy embedded in water
supplies imparted by an upstream water supplier (e.g., water wholesaler) or consequently by a
downstream water purveyor (e.g., retail water provider) is not included in the UWMP energy intensity
tables. The City’s calculations conform to methodologies outlined in the UWMP Guidebook and Wilkinson
study.
6.10.1 Water Supply Energy Intensity
In CY 2019, the City consumed 496.9 kWh per AF for water extraction and distribution services (Table
6-9). The basis for calculations is provided in more detail in the following subsections.
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Table 6-9: Recommended Energy Intensity – Multiple Water Delivery Products
Urban Water Supplier: City of Santa Ana
Water Delivery Product (If delivering more than one type of product use Table O-1C)
dropdown menu
Table O-1A: Recommended Energy Reporting - Water Supply Process Approach
Enter Start Date for
Reporting Period 1/1/2019
Urban Water Supplier Operational Control
End Date 12/31/2019
Water Management Process
Non-Consequential
Hydropower
(if applicable)
Is upstream embedded in the values reported?
Water
Volume
Units
Used
Extract
and
Divert
Place
into
Storage
Convey-
ance
Treat-
ment
Distrib-
ution
Total
Utility
Hydrop
ower Net Utility
Volume of Water Entering Process 25504.78 0 0 0 31784.5 31784.5 0 31784.5
Energy Consumed (kWh)N/A 7142733 0 0 0 8650011 15792744 15792744
Energy Intensity (kWh/vol.)N/A 280.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 272.1 496.9 0.0 496.9
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Quantity of Self-Generated
Renewable Energy
0 kWh
Data Quality (Estimate, Metered Data, Combination of
Estimates and Metered Data)
Combination of
Estimates and Metered
Data
Data Quality Narrative:
Volume of Water Entering Process: Extraction data based on MWDOC Compiled Water Audits “Volume From Own Sources” and Distribution data based
on MWDOC Compiled Water Audits “Authorized Consumption.” Non-Revenue Water is not considered in this calculation – the energy efficiency is
based on water delivered to customers.
Energy consumption from Southern California Edison electric bills.
Narrative:
The City of Santa Ana relies on imported water and local groundwater to meet their customers' water needs. Operational control is limited to
groundwater wells and potable water booster stations. This table does not include upstream embedded energy consumed prior to Santa Ana taking
control.
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6.10.1.1 Operational Control and Reporting Period
As described throughout the report, the City is a retail agency that relies on groundwater and imported
water.
Water supply energy intensity was calculated for the CY 2019. This is a standard for energy and GHG
reporting to the Climate Registry, California Air Resources Board and the United States Environmental
Protection Agency. Calendar year reporting provides consistency when assessing direct and indirect
energy consumption within a larger geographical context, as fiscal year starting dates can vary between
utilities and organizations.
6.10.1.2 Volume of Water Entering Processes
According to the City water audits, the City extracted 25,504 AF of groundwater from the OC Basin and
distributed 31,785 AF of both groundwater and imported water. Water volume is based on metered data.
6.10.1.3 Energy Consumption and Generation
According to Southern California Edison Electricity Bills, groundwater wells consumed 7,142,733 kilowatt
hours (kWh) of electricity and booster pumps and MET Connections along the distribution system
consumed 8,650,011 kWh of electricity. Currently, the City does not generate renewable energy. In the
process of writing this report, the City discovered that the consumption amounts on SCE meters did not
match the consumption amounts listed in SCE bills. The City is in the process of establishing why the
meters and bills do not match but for this report, the Energy Consumption listed in the tables reflects the
consumption noted in SCE bills that the City receives.
6.10.2 Wastewater and Recycled Water Energy Intensity
In CY 2019, the City consumed 2.8 KWh per AF for wastewater services (Table 6-10). The basis for
calculations is provided in more detail in the following subsections.
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Table 6-10: Recommended Energy Intensity – Wastewater & Recycled Water
Urban Water Supplier: City of Santa Ana
Table O-2: Recommended Energy Reporting - Wastewater & Recycled Water
Enter Start Date for Reporting Period 1/1/2019 Urban Water Supplier Operational Control End Date 12/31/2019
Water Management Process
Is upstream embedded in the values reported? Collection /
Conveyance Treatment Discharge /
Distribution Total
Volume of Water Units Used
Volume of Wastewater Entering Process (volume units selected above)21768 0 0 0
Wastewater Energy Consumed (kWh)60245 0 0 60245
Wastewater Energy Intensity (kWh/volume)2.8 0.0 0.0 0.0
Volume of Recycled Water Entering Process (volume units selected above)0 0 0 0
Recycled Water Energy Consumed (kWh)0 0 0 0
Recycled Water Energy Intensity (kWh/volume)0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Quantity of Self-Generated Renewable Energy
related to recycled water and wastewater
operations
kWh
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Data Quality (Estimate, Metered Data,
Combination of Estimates and Metered Data)
Combination of Estimates and Metered Data
Data Quality Narrative:
Wastewater volume is an estimate based on water consumption in the service area. Energy is based on billed consumption.
Narrative:
Santa Ana operates the local wastewater collection system but does not operate treatment facilities. Operational control is limited
to a wastewater lift station in the local collection system. This table does not include downstream energy consumed to treat the
wastewater, after Santa Ana's control.
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6.10.2.1 Operational Control and Reporting Period
The City’s existing sewer system is made up of a network of gravity sewers. As explained in Section 6.6,
the City owns and operates two wastewater lift stations but no treatment facilities. Similar to the water
supply energy intensity, wastewater energy intensity was calculated for the 2019 calendar year. This is a
standard for energy and GHG reporting.
6.10.2.2 Volume of Wastewater Entering Processes
In CY 2019, the City collected and conveyed 21,768 AF of wastewater to OC San. The City provides
water for indirect potable reuse but the City does not have operational control over any part of the
recycled water system.
6.10.2.3 Energy Consumption and Generation
According to estimates referencing Southern California Edison Electricity Bills, the City’s two wastewater
lift stations consumed 60,245 kWh of electricity. There are no other wastewater facilities that are owned
and operated by the City. Currently, the City does not generate renewable energy. Energy consumption
data was estimated, based on pump hours.
6.10.3 Key Findings and Next Steps
Calculating and disclosing direct operationally-controlled energy intensities is another step towards
understanding the water-energy nexus. However, much work is still needed to better understand
upstream and downstream (indirect) water-energy impacts. When assessing water supply energy
intensities or comparing intensities between providers, it is important to consider reporting boundaries as
they do not convey the upstream embedded energy or impacts energy intensity has on downstream
users. Engaging one’s upstream and downstream supply chain can guide more informed decisions that
holistically benefit the environment and are mutually beneficial to engaged parties. Suggestions for further
study include:
Supply-chain engagement – The City relies on a variety of water sources for their customers.
While some studies have used life cycle assessment tools to estimate energy intensities, there is
a need to confirm this data. The 2020 UWMP requirement for all agencies to calculate energy
intensity will help the City and neighboring agencies make more informed decisions that would
benefit the region as a whole regarding the energy and water nexus. A similar analysis could be
performed with upstream supply chain energy, for example, with State Project Water.
Internal benchmarking and goal setting – With a focus on energy conservation and a projected
increase in water demand despite energy conservation efforts, the City’s energy intensities will
likely decrease with time. Conceivably, in a case where water demand decreases, energy
intensities may rise as the energy required to pump or treat is not always proportional to water
delivered. In the course of exploring the water-energy nexus and pursuing renewable energy
goals, there is a need to assess whether energy intensity is a meaningful indicator or if it makes
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sense to use a different indicator to reflect the City’s commitment to energy and water
conservation.
Regional sustainability – Water and energy efficiency are two components of a sustainable future.
Efforts to conserve water and energy, however, may impact the social, environmental, and
economic livelihood of the region. In addition to the relationship between water and energy, over
time, it may also be important to consider and assess the connection these resources have on
other aspects of a sustainable future.
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7 WATER SERVICE RELIABILITY AND DROUGHT RISK
ASSESSMENT
Building upon the water supply identified and projected in Section 6, this key section of the
UWMP examines the City’s water supplies, water uses, and the resulting water supply reliability. Water
service reliability reflects the City’s ability to meet the water needs of its customers under varying
conditions. For the UWMP, water supply reliability is evaluated in two assessments: 1) the Water Service
Reliability Assessment and 2) the DRA. The Water Service reliability assessment compares projected
supply to projected demand in 2025 through 2045 for three hydrological conditions: a normal year, a
single dry year, and a drought period lasting five consecutive years. The DRA, a new UWMP requirement,
assesses near-term water supply reliability. It compares projected water supply and demand assuming
the City’ experiences a drought period for the next five consecutive years. Factors affecting reliability,
such as climate change and regulatory impacts, are accounted for.
Water Service Reliability Overview
Every urban water supplier is required to assess the reliability of their water service to their customers
under normal, single-dry, and multiple dry water years. The City depends on a combination of imported
and local supplies to meet its water demands and has taken numerous steps to ensure it has adequate
supplies. Development of local supplies augments the reliability of the water system. There are various
factors that may impact reliability of supplies such as legal, environmental, water quality and climatic
which are discussed below. MET’s 2020 UWMP concludes that they can meet full-service demands of
their member agencies starting 2025 through 2045 during normal years, single-dry year, and multiple-dry
years. Consequently, the City is projected to meet full-service demands through 2045 for the same
scenarios, due to diversified supply and conservation measures.
MET’s 2020 IRP update describes the core water resources that will be used to meet full-service
demands at the retail level under all foreseeable hydrologic conditions from 2025 through 2045.
The foundation of MET’s resource strategy for achieving regional water supply reliability has been to
develop and implement water resources programs and activities through its IRP preferred resource mix.
This preferred resource mix includes conservation, local resources such as water recycling and
groundwater recovery, Colorado River supplies and transfers, SWP supplies and transfers, in-region
surface reservoir storage, in-region groundwater storage, out-of-region banking, treatment, conveyance,
and infrastructure improvements.
Table 7-1 shows the basis of water year data used to predict drought supply availability. Per the Demand
Forecast TM, the average (normal) hydrologic condition for the Orange County region is represented by
FY 2017-18 and FY 2018-19 and the single-dry year hydrologic condition by FY 2013-14. The five
consecutive years of FY 2011-12 to FY 2015-16 represent the driest five consecutive year historic
sequence for the region. Locally, Orange County rainfall for the five-year period totaled 36 inches, the
driest on record.
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Table 7-1 Retail: Basis of Water Year Data (Reliability Assessment)
DWR Submittal Table 7-1 Retail: Basis of Water Year Data (Reliability Assessment)
Year Type Base Year
Available Supplies if
Year Type Repeats
Quantification of available supplies is not
compatible with this table and is provided
elsewhere in the UWMP.
Location __________________________
Quantification of available supplies is
provided in this table as either volume only,
percent only, or both.
Volume
Available % of Average Supply
Average Year 2018-2019 - 100%
Single-Dry Year 2014 - 106%
Consecutive Dry Years 1st Year 2012 - 106%
Consecutive Dry Years 2nd Year 2013 - 106%
Consecutive Dry Years 3rd Year 2014 - 106%
Consecutive Dry Years 4th Year 2015 - 106%
Consecutive Dry Years 5th Year 2016 - 106%
NOTES:
Assumes an increase of 6% above average year demands in dry and multiple dry years based on the Demand
Forecast TM (CDM Smith, 2021). 106% represents the percent of average supply needed to meet demands of
a single-dry and multiple-dry years. Since the City is able to meet all of its demand with imported water from
MET (on top of local groundwater and recycled water) the percent of average supply value reported is
equivalent to the percent of average demand under the corresponding hydrologic condition.
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The following sections provide a detailed discussion of the City’s water source reliability. Additionally, the
following sections compare the City’s projected supply and demand under various hydrological
conditions, to determine the City’s supply reliability for the 25-year planning horizon.
Factors Affecting Reliability
In order to prepare realistic water supply reliability assessments, various factors affecting reliability were
accounted for. These include climate change and environmental requirements, regulatory changes, water
quality impacts, and locally applicable criteria.
7.2.1 Climate Change and the Environment
Changing climate patterns are expected to shift precipitation patterns and affect water supply availability.
Unpredictable weather patterns will make water supply planning more challenging. Although climate
change impacts are associated with exact timing, magnitude, and regional impacts of these temperature
and precipitation changes, researchers have identified several areas of concern for California water
planners (MET, 2021). These areas include:
A reduction in Sierra Nevada Mountain snowpack.
Increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events.
Prolonged drought periods.
Water quality issues associated with increase in wildfires.
Changes in runoff pattern and amount.
Rising sea levels resulting in:
o Impacts to coastal groundwater basins due to seawater intrusion.
o Increased risk of damage from storms, high-tide events, and the erosion of levees.
o Potential pumping cutbacks to the SWP and CVP.
Other important issues of concern due to global climate change include:
Effects on local supplies such as groundwater.
Changes in urban and agricultural demand levels and patterns.
Increased evapotranspiration from higher temperatures.
Impacts to human health from water-borne pathogens and water quality degradation.
Declines in ecosystem health and function.
Alterations to power generation and pumping regime.
Increases in ocean algal blooms affected seawater desalination supplies.
The major impact in California is that without additional surface storage, the earlier and heavier runoff
(rather than snowpack retaining water in storage in the mountains), will result in more water being lost to
the oceans. A heavy emphasis on storage is needed in California.
In addition, the Colorado River Basin supplies have been inconsistent since about the year 2000, with
precipitation near normal while runoff has been less than average in two out of every three years.
Climate models are predicting a continuation of this pattern whereby hotter and drier weather conditions
will result in continuing lower runoff, pushing the system toward a drying trend that is often characterized
as long term drought.
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Dramatic swings in annual hydrologic conditions have impacted water supplies available from the
SWP over the last decade. The declining ecosystem in the Delta has also led to a reduction in water
supply deliveries, and operational constraints, which will likely continue until a long-term solution to these
problems is identified and implemented (MET, 2021).
Legal, environmental, and water quality issues may have impacts on MET supplies. It is felt, however,
that climatic factors would have more of an impact than legal, water quality, and environmental factors.
Climatic conditions have been projected based on historical patterns but severe pattern changes are still
a possibility in the future (MET, 2021).
7.2.2 Regulatory and Legal
Ongoing regulatory restrictions, such as those imposed by the Biops on the effects of SWP and the
federal CVP operations on certain marine life, also contributes to the challenge of determining water
delivery reliability. Endangered species protection and conveyance needs in the Delta have resulted in
operational constraints that are particularly important because pumping restrictions impact many water
resources programs – SWP supplies and additional voluntary transfers, Central Valley storage and
transfers, and in-region groundwater and surface water storage. Biops protect special-status species
listed as threatened or endangered under the ESAs and imposed substantial constraints on Delta water
supply operations through requirements for Delta inflow and outflow and export pumping restrictions.
In addition, the SWRCB has set water quality objectives that must be met by the SWP including minimum
Delta outflows, limits on SWP and CVP Delta exports, and maximum allowable salinity level. SWRCB
plans to fully implement the new Lower San Joaquin River (LSJR) flow objectives from the Phase 1 Delta
Plan amendments through adjudicatory (water rights) and regulatory (water quality) processes by 2022.
These LSJR flow objectives are estimated to reduce water available for human consumptive use.
New litigation, listings of additional species under the ESAs, or regulatory requirements imposed by the
SWRCB could further adversely affect SWP operations in the future by requiring additional export
reductions, releases of additional water from storage, or other operational changes impacting water
supply operations.
The difficulty and implications of environmental review, documentation, and permitting pose challenges
for multi-year transfer agreements, recycled water projects, and seawater desalination plants.
The timeline and roadmap for getting a permit for recycled water projects are challenging and
inconsistently implemented in different regions of the state. Indirect potable reuse projects face regulatory
restraints such as treatment, blend water, retention time, and Basin Plan Objectives, which may limit how
much recycled water can feasibly be recharged into the groundwater basins. New regulations and
permitting uncertainty are also barriers to seawater desalination supplies, including updated Ocean Plan
Regulations, Marine Life Protected Areas, and Once-Through Cooling Regulations (MET, 2021).
7.2.3 Water Quality
The following sub-sections include narratives on water quality issues experienced in various water
supplies, if any, and the measures being taken to improve the water quality of these sources.
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7.2.3.1 Imported Water
MET is responsible for providing high quality potable water throughout its service area. Over
300,000 water quality tests are performed per year on MET’s water to test for regulated contaminants and
additional contaminants of concern to ensure the safety of its waters. MET’s supplies originate primarily
from the CRA and from the SWP. A blend of these two sources, proportional to each year’s availability of
the source, is then delivered throughout MET’s service area.
MET’s primary water sources face individual water quality issues of concern. The CRA water source
contains higher total dissolved solids (TDS) and the SWP contains higher levels of organic matter,
lending to the formation of disinfection byproducts. To remediate the CRA’s high level of salinity and the
SWP’s high level of organic matter, MET blends CRA and SWP supplies and has upgraded all of its
treatment facilities to include ozone treatment processes. In addition, MET has been engaged in efforts
to protect its Colorado River supplies from threats of uranium, perchlorate, and chromium VI while
also investigating the potential water quality impact of the following emerging contaminants:
N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCP), microplastics,
PFAS, and 1,4-dioxane (MET, 2021). While unforeseeable water quality issues could alter reliability,
MET’s current strategies ensure the delivery of high-quality water.
The presence of quagga mussels in water sources is a water quality concern. Quagga mussels are an
invasive species that was first discovered in 2007 at Lake Mead, on the Colorado River. This species of
mussels forms massive colonies in short periods of time, disrupting ecosystems and blocking water
intakes. They can cause significant disruption and damage to water distribution systems. MET has had
success in controlling the spread and impacts of the quagga mussels within the CRA, however the future
could require more extensive maintenance and reduced operational flexibility than current operations
allow. It also resulted in MET eliminating deliveries of CRA water into Diamond Valley Lake to keep the
reservoir free from quagga mussels (MET, 2021).
7.2.3.2 Groundwater
OCWD is responsible for managing the OC Basin. To maintain groundwater quality, OCWD conducts an
extensive monitoring program that serves to manage the OC Basin’s groundwater production, control
groundwater contamination, and comply with all required laws and regulations. A network of nearly
700 wells provides OCWD a source for samples, which are tested for a variety of purposes.
OCWD collects samples each month to monitor Basin water quality. The total number of water samples
analyzed varies year-to-year due to regulatory requirements, conditions in the basin and applied research
and/or special study demands. These samples are collected and tested according to approved federal
and state procedures as well as industry-recognized quality assurance and control protocols (City of
La Habra et al., 2017).
PFAS are of particular concern for groundwater quality, and since the summer of 2019, DDW requires
testing for PFAS compounds in some groundwater production wells in the OCWD area. In February 2020,
the DDW lowered its Response Levels (RL) for PFOA and PFOS to 10 and 40 parts per trillion (ppt)
respectively. The DDW recommends Producers not serve any water exceeding the RL – effectively
making the RL an interim Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) while DDW undertakes administrative
action to set a MCL. In response to DDW’s issuance of the revised RL, as of December 2020,
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approximately 45 wells in the OCWD service area have been temporarily turned off until treatment
systems can be constructed. As additional wells are tested, OCWD expects this figure may increase to at
least 70 to 80 wells. The state has begun the process of establishing MCLs for PFOA and PFOS and
anticipates these MCLs to be in effect by the Fall of 2023. OCWD anticipates the MCLs will be set at or
below the RLs.
In April 2020, OCWD as the groundwater basin manager, executed an agreement with the impacted
Producers to fund and construct the necessary treatment systems for production wells impacted by
PFAS compounds. The PFAS treatment projects includes the design, permitting, construction, and
operation of PFAS removal systems for impacted Producer production wells. Each well treatment system
will be evaluated for use with either granular activated carbon (GAC) or ion exchange (IX) for the removal
of PFAS compounds. These treatment systems utilize vessels in a lead-lag configuration to remove
PFOA and PFOS to less than 2 ppt (the current non-detect limit). Use of these PFAS treatment systems
are designed to ensure the groundwater supplied by Producer wells can be served in compliance with
current and future PFAS regulations. With financial assistance from OCWD, the Producers will operate
and maintain the new treatment systems once they are constructed.
To minimize expenses and provide maximum protection to the public water supply, OCWD initiated
design, permitting, and construction of the PFAS treatment projects on a schedule that allows rapid
deployment of treatment systems. Construction contracts were awarded for treatment systems for
production wells in the City of Fullerton and Serrano Water District in Year 2020. Additional construction
contracts will likely be awarded in the first and second quarters of 2021. OCWD expects the treatment
systems to be constructed for most of the initial 45 wells above the RL within the next 2 to 3 years.
As additional data are collected and new wells experience PFAS detections at or near the current RL,
and/or above a future MCL, and are turned off, OCWD will continue to partner with the affected Producers
and take action to design and construct necessary treatment systems to bring the impacted wells back
online as quickly as possible.
Groundwater production in FY 2019-20 was expected to be approximately 325,000 AF but declined
to 286,550 AF primarily due to PFAS impacted wells being turned off around February 2020.
OCWD expects groundwater production to be in the area of 245,000 AF in FY 2020-21 due to the
currently idled wells and additional wells being impacted by PFAS and turned off. As PFAS treatment
systems are constructed, OCWD expects total annual groundwater production to slowly increase back
to normal levels (310,000 to 330,000 AF) (OCWD, 2020).
Salinity is a significant water quality problem in many parts of Southern California, including Orange
County. Salinity is a measure of the dissolved minerals in water including both TDS and nitrates.
OCWD continuously monitors the levels of TDS in wells throughout the OC Basin. TDS currently has a
California Secondary MCL of 500 mg/L. The portions of the OC Basin with the highest levels are
generally located in the cities of Irvine, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Anaheim, and Fullerton. There is also a broad
area in the central portion of the OC Basin where TDS ranges from 500 to 700 mg/L. Sources of
TDS include the water supplies used to recharge the OC Basin and from onsite wastewater treatment
systems, also known as septic systems. The TDS concentration in the OC Basin is expected to decrease
over time as the TDS concentration of GWRS water used to recharge the OC Basin is approximately
50 mg/L (City of La Habra et al., 2017).
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Nitrates are one of the most common and widespread contaminants in groundwater supplies, originating
from fertilizer use, animal feedlots, wastewater disposal systems, and other sources. The MCL for nitrate
in drinking water is set at 10 mg/L. OCWD regularly monitors nitrate levels in groundwater and works with
producers to treat wells that have exceeded safe levels of nitrate concentrations. OCWD manages the
nitrate concentration of water recharged by its facilities to reduce nitrate concentrations in groundwater.
This includes the operation of the Prado Wetlands, which was designed to remove nitrogen and other
pollutants from the Santa Ana River before the water is diverted to be percolated into OCWD’s surface
water recharge system.
Although water from the Deep Aquifer System is of very high quality, it is amber-colored and contains a
sulfuric odor due to buried natural organic material. These negative aesthetic qualities require treatment
before use as a source of drinking water. The total volume of the amber-colored groundwater is estimated
to be approximately 1 MAF.
There are other potential contaminants that are of concern to and are monitored by OCWD.
These include:
Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) – MTBE is an additive to gasoline that increases octane
ratings but became a widespread contaminant in groundwater supplies. The greatest source of
MTBE contamination comes from underground fuel tank releases. The primary MCL for MTBE in
drinking water is 13 µg/L.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) – VOCs come from a variety of sources including industrial
degreasers, paint thinners, and dry cleaning solvents. Locations of VOC contamination within the
OC Basin include the former El Toro marine Corps Air Station, the Shallow Aquifer System, and
portions of the Principal Aquifer System in the Cities of Fullerton and Anaheim.
NDMA – NDMA is a compound that can occur in wastewater that contains its precursors and is
disinfected via chlorination and/or chloramination. It is also found in food products such as cured
meat, fish, beer, milk, and tobacco smoke. The California Notification Level for NDMA is 10 ng/L
and the RL is 300 ng/L. In the past, NDMA has been found in groundwater near the Talbert
Barrier, which was traced to industrial wastewater dischargers.
1,4-Dioxane – 1,4-Dioxane is a suspected human carcinogen. It is used as a solvent in various
industrial processes such as the manufacture of adhesive products and membranes.
Perchlorate – Perchlorate enters groundwater through application of fertilizer containing
perchlorate, water imported from the Colorado River, industrial or military sites that have
perchlorate, and natural occurrence. Perchlorate was not detected in 84% of the 219 production
wells tested between the years 2010 through 2014.
Selenium – Selenium is a naturally occurring micronutrient found in soils and groundwater in the
Newport Bay watershed. The bio-accumulation of selenium in the food chain may result in
deformities, stunted growth, reduced hatching success, and suppression of immune systems in
fish and wildlife. Management of selenium is difficult as there is no off-the-shelf treatment
technology available.
Constituents of Emerging Concern (CEC) – CECs are either synthetic or naturally occurring
substances that are not currently regulated in water supplies or wastewater discharged but can
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be detected using very sensitive analytical techniques. The newest group of CECs include
pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and endocrine disruptors. OCWD’s laboratory is one of
a few in the state of California that continuously develops capabilities to analyze for new
compounds (City of La Habra et al., 2017).
7.2.4 Locally Applicable Criteria
Within Orange County, there are no significant local applicable criteria that directly affect reliability.
Through the years, the water agencies in Orange County have made tremendous efforts to integrate their
systems to provide flexibility to interchange with different sources of supplies. There are emergency
agreements in place to ensure all parts of the County have an adequate supply of water. In the northern
part of the County, agencies are able to meet a majority of their demands through groundwater with very
little limitation, except for the OCWD BPP. For the agencies in southern Orange County, most of their
demands are met with imported water where their limitation is based on the capacity of their system,
which is very robust.
However, if a major earthquake on the San Andreas Fault occurs, it will be damaging to all three key
regional water aqueducts and disrupt imported supplies for up to six months. The region would likely
impose a water use reduction ranging from 10-25% until the system is repaired. However, MET has taken
proactive steps to handle such disruption, such as constructing DVL, which mitigates potential impacts.
DVL, along with other local reservoirs, can store a six to twelve-month supply of emergency water (MET,
2021).
Water Service Reliability Assessment
This Section assesses the City’s reliability to provide water services to its customers under various
hydrological conditions. This is completed by comparing the projected long-term water demand
(Section 4), to the projected water supply sources available to the City (Section 6), in five-year
increments, for a normal water year, a single dry water year, and a drought lasting five consecutive
water years.
7.3.1 Normal Year Reliability
The water demand forecasting model developed for the Demand Forecast TM (described in Section 4.3),
to project the 25-year demand for Orange County water agencies, also isolated the impacts that weather
and future climate can have on water demand through the use of a statistical model. The explanatory
variables of population, temperature, precipitation, unemployment rate, drought restrictions, and
conservation measures were used to create the statistical model. The impacts of hot/dry weather
condition are reflected as a percentage increase in water demands from the average condition. The
average (normal) demand is represented by the average water demand of FY 2017-18 and FY 2018-19
(CDM Smith, 2021).
The City is 100 percent reliable for normal year demands from 2025 through 2045 (Table 7-2) due to
diversified supply and conservation measures. For simplicity, the table shows supply to balance demand
in the table. However, based on the purchase agreement the City has with MET (Section 6.2), the City is
contractually able to purchase more water from MET, should the need arise. The City has entitlements to
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receive imported water from MET via connections to MET's regional distribution system. All imported
water supplies are assumed available to the City from existing water transmission facilities, as per MET’s
2020 UWMP. The demand and supplies listed in Table 7-2 also include local groundwater supplies that
are available to the City through OCWD by an assumed BPP of 85%, per Section 6.3.4.
Table 7-2: Retail: Normal Year Supply and Demand Comparison
DWR Submittal Table 7-2 Retail: Normal Year Supply and Demand Comparison
2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
Supply totals (AF) 33,882 34,395 34,130 33,838 33,827
Demand totals (AF) 33,882 34,395 34,130 33,838 33,827
Difference (AF) 0 0 0 0 0
NOTES:
This table compares the projected demand and supply volumes determined in Sections
4.3.2 and 6.1, respectively.
7.3.2 Single Dry Year Reliability
A single dry year is defined as a single year of minimal to no rainfall within a period where average
precipitation is expected to occur. The water demand forecasting model developed for the Demand
Forecast TM (described in Section 4.3) isolated the impacts that weather and future climate can have on
water demand through the use of a statistical model. The impacts of hot/dry weather condition are
reflected as a percentage increase in water demands from the normal year condition (average of FY
2017-18 and FY 2018-19). For a single dry year condition (FY 2013-14), the model projects a six percent
increase in demand for the OC Basin area where the City’s service area is located (CDM Smith, 2021).
Detailed information of the model is included in Appendix E.
The City has documented that it is 100 percent reliable for single dry year demands from 2025 through
2045 with a demand increase of 6% from normal demand with significant reserves held by MET, local
groundwater supplies, and conservation. A comparison between the supply and the demand in a single
dry year is shown in (Table 7-3). For simplicity, the table shows supply to balance the modeled demand in
the table. However, based on the purchase agreement the City has with MET (Section 6.2), the City is
contractually able to purchase more water from MET, should the need arise.
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Table 7-3: Retail: Single Dry Year Supply and Demand Comparison
DWR Submittal Table 7-3 Retail: Single Dry Year Supply and Demand Comparison
2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
Supply totals (AF) 35,915 36,459 36,178 35,868 35,857
Demand totals (AF) 35,915 36,459 36,178 35,868 35,857
Difference (AF) 0 0 0 0 0
NOTES:
It is conservatively assumed that a single dry year demand is 6% greater than each respective
year's normally projected total water demand. Groundwater is sustainably managed through the
BPP and robust management measures (Section 6.3.4 and Appendix G), direct and indirect recycled
water uses provides additional local supply (Section 6.6), and based on MET’s UWMP, imported
water is available to close any potable water supply gap that local sources cannot meet (Section
7.5.1).
7.3.3 Multiple Dry Year Reliability
Assessing the reliability to meet demand for five consecutive dry years is a new requirement for the
2020 UWMP, as compared to the previous requirement of assessing three or more consecutive dry years.
Multiple dry years are defined as five or more consecutive dry years with minimal rainfall within a period of
average precipitation. The water demand forecasting model developed for the Demand Forecast TM
(described in Section 4.3) isolated the impacts that weather and future climate can have on water
demand through the use of a statistical model. The impacts of hot/dry weather condition are reflected as a
percentage increase in water demands from the normal year condition (average of FY 2017-18 and
FY 2018-19). For a single dry year condition (FY 2013-14), the model projects a six percent increase in
demand for the OC Basin area where the City’s service area is located (CDM Smith, 2021). It is
conservatively assumed that a five consecutive dry year scenario is a repeat of the single dry year over
five consecutive years.
Even with a conservative demand increase of 6% each year for five consecutive years, the City is
capable of meeting all customers’ demands from 2025 through 2045 (Table 7-4), with significant reserves
held by MET and conservation. For simplicity, the table shows supply to balance the modeled demand in
the table. However, based on the purchase agreement the City has with MET (Section 6.2), the City is
contractually able to purchase more water from MET, should the need arise.
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Table 7-4: Retail: Multiple Dry Years Supply and Demand Comparison
DWR Submittal Table 7-4 Retail: Multiple Dry Years Supply and Demand Comparison
2025* 2030* 2035* 2040* 2045*
(Opt)
First year
Supply totals 35,581 36,024 36,403 36,116 35,866
Demand
totals 35,581 36,024 36,403 36,116 35,866
Difference 0 0 0 0 0
Second year
Supply totals 35,665 36,133 36,347 36,054 35,864
Demand
totals 35,665 36,133 36,347 36,054 35,864
Difference 0 0 0 0 0
Third year
Supply totals 35,748 36,241 36,290 35,992 35,861
Demand
totals 35,748 36,241 36,290 35,992 35,861
Difference 0 0 0 0 0
Fourth year
Supply totals 35,831 36,350 36,234 35,930 35,859
Demand
totals 35,831 36,350 36,234 35,930 35,859
Difference 0 0 0 0 0
Fifth year
Supply totals 35,915 36,459 36,178 35,868 35,857
Demand
totals 35,915 36,459 36,178 35,868 35,857
Difference 0 0 0 0 0
NOTES:
It is conservatively assumed that a five consecutive dry year scenario is a repeat of the single dry year
(106% of projected normal year values) over five consecutive years. The 2025 column assesses supply
and demand for FY 2020-21 through FY 2024-25; the 2030 column assesses FY 2025-26 through FY
2029-30 and so forth, in order to end the water service reliability assessment in FY 2044-45.
Groundwater is sustainably managed through the BPP and robust management measures (Section
6.3.4 and Appendix G), direct and indirect recycled water uses provide additional local supply (Section
6.6), and based on MET's UWMP, imported water is available to close any potable water supply gap
that local sources cannot meet (Section 7.5.1).
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Management Tools and Options
Existing and planned water management tools and options for the City, OCWD, and MWDOC’s service
area that seek to maximize local resources and result in minimizing the need to import water are
described below. Although they are a direct MET Member Agency, the City benefits from collaboration
between MWDOC and OCWD to maximize local resources.
Reduced Delta Reliance: MET has demonstrated consistency with Reduced Reliance on the
Delta Through Improved Regional Water Self-Reliance (Delta Plan policy WR P1) by reporting
the expected outcomes for measurable reductions in supplies from the Delta. MET has improved
its self-reliance through methods including water use efficiency, water recycling, stormwater
capture and reuse, advanced water technologies, conjunctive use projects, local and regional
water supply and storage programs, and other programs and projects. In 2020, MET had a
602,000 AF change in supplies contributing to regional-self-reliance, corresponding to a
15.3% change, and this amount is projected to increase through 2045 (MET, 2021). For detailed
information on the Delta Plan Policy WR P1, refer to Appendix C.
The continued and planned use of groundwater: The water supply resources within the City’s
service area are enhanced by the existence of groundwater basins that account for the majority of
local supplies available and are used as reservoirs to store water during wet years and draw from
storage during dry years, subsequently minimizing the City’s reliance on imported water.
Groundwater basins are managed within a safe basin operating range so that groundwater wells
are only pumped as needed to meet water use. The City supports and partners in recycled water
efforts, including groundwater recharge, through its coordination with OCWD and OC San.
The City is currently planning for new well construction and major well rehabilitation at seven well
sites, described in Section 6.9.
Groundwater storage and transfer programs: MET and OCWD’s involvement in
SARCCUP includes participation in a CUP that improves water supply resiliency and increases
available dry-year yield from local groundwater basins. The groundwater bank has 137,000 AF of
storage (OCWD, 2020b). Additionally, MET has numerous groundwater storage and transfer
programs in which MET endeavors to increase the reliability of water supplies, including the
AVEK Waster Agency Exchange and Storage Program and the High Desert Water Bank
Program. The IRWD Strand Ranch Water Banking Program has approximately 23,000 AF stored
for IRWD’s benefit, and by agreement, the water is defined to be an "Extraordinary Supply" by
MET and counts essentially 1:1 during a drought/water shortage condition under MET’s Water
Supply Allocation Plan. In addition, MET has encouraged storage through its cyclic and
conjunctive use programs that allow MET to deliver water into a groundwater basin in advance of
agency demands, such as the Cyclic Storage Agreements under the Main San Gabriel Basin
Judgement.
Water Loss Program: The water loss audit program reduces MET’s dependency on imported
water from the Delta by implementing water loss control technologies after assessing audit data
and leak detection.
Increased use of recycled water: The City partners with OCWD in recycled water efforts to
identify opportunities for the use of recycled water for irrigation purposes, groundwater recharge
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and some non-irrigation applications. OCWD’s GWRS and GAP allow Southern California to
decrease its dependency on imported water and create a local and reliable source of water that
meet or exceed all federal and state drinking level standards. Expansion of the GWRS is currently
underway to increase the plant’s production to 130 MGD, and further reduce reliance on imported
water.
Implementation of demand management measures during dry periods: During dry periods,
water reduction methods to be applied to the public through the retail agencies, will in turn reduce
the City’s overall demands on MET and reliance on imported water. The City’s specific demand
management measures are further discussed in Section 9.
Drought Risk Assessment
Water Code Section 10635(b) requires every urban water supplier include, as part of its UWMP, a
DRA for its water service as part of information considered in developing its DMMs and water supply
projects and programs. The DRA is a specific planning action that assumes the City is experiencing a
drought over the next five years and addresses the City’s reliability in the context of presumed drought
conditions. Together, the water service reliability assessment (Sections 7.1 through 7.3), DRA, and
WSCP (Section 8 and Appendix H) allow the City to have a comprehensive picture of its short-term and
long-term water service reliability and to identify the tools to address any perceived or actual shortage
conditions.
Water Code Section 10612 requires the DRA to be based on the driest five-year historic sequence of the
City’s water supply. However, Water Code Section 10635 also requires that the analysis consider
plausible changes on projected supplies and demands due to climate change, anticipated regulatory
changes, and other locally applicable criteria.
The following sections describe the City’s methodology and results of its DRA.
7.5.1 DRA Methodology
The water demand forecasting model developed for the Demand Forecast TM (described in Section 4.3
isolated the impacts that weather and future climate can have on water demand through the use of a
statistical model. The impacts of hot/dry weather condition are reflected as a percentage increase in
water demands from the average condition (average of FY 2017-18 and FY 2018-19). For a single dry
year condition (FY 2013-14), the model projects a 6% increase in demand for the region encompassing
the City’s service area (CDM Smith, 2021).
Locally, the five-consecutive years of FY 2011-12 through FY 2015-16 represent the driest five
consecutive year historic sequence for the City’s water supply. This period that spanned water years
2012 through 2016 included the driest four-year statewide precipitation on record (2012-2015) and the
smallest Sierra Cascades snowpack on record (2015, with 5% of average). It was marked by
extraordinary heat: 2014, 2015 and 2016 were California’s first, second and third warmest year in terms
of statewide average temperatures. Locally, Orange County rainfall for the five year period totaled
36 inches, the driest on record.
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As explained in Section 6, the City currently relies on, and will continue to rely on, three main water
sources: local groundwater, recycled water, and imported water supply from MET. The City maximizes
local water groundwater supply use before the purchase of imported water. The difference between total
forecasted demands and local supply projections is the demand on MET’s imported water supplies from
the Colorado River, SWP, and in-region storage. Local groundwater supply for the City comes from the
OC Basin and is dictated by the BPP set annually by OCWD. Therefore, the City’s DRA focuses on the
assessment of imported water from MET, which will be used to close any potable water supply gap local
groundwater does not fill.
Water Demand Characterization
Beyond local supplies, the City’s water supplies are purchased from MET, regardless of hydrologic
conditions. As described in Section 6.2, MET’s supplies are from the Colorado River, SWP, and in-region
storage. In their 2020 UWMP, MET’s DRA concluded that even without activating WSCP actions, MET
can reliably provide water to all of their member agencies, including the City, through 2045, assuming a
five-year drought from FY 2020-21 through FY 2024-25. Beyond this, MET’s DRA indicated a surplus of
supplies that would be available to all of its member agencies, including the City, should the need arise.
Therefore, any increase in demand that is experienced in the City's service area will be met by MET's
water supplies.
Based on the Demand Forecast TM, in a single dry year, demand is expected to increase by 6% above a
normal year. The City’s DRA conservatively assumes a drought from FY 2020-21 through FY 2024-25 is
a repeat of the single dry year over five consecutive years.
The City’s demand projections were developed as part of the Demand Forecast TM, led by MWDOC.
As part of the study, MWDOC first estimated total retail demands for its service area. This was based on
estimated future demands using historical water use trends, future expected water use efficiency
measures, additional projected land-use development, and changes in population. The City’s projected
water use, linearly interpolated per the demand forecast, is presented annually for the next five years in
Table 4-2. Next, MWDOC estimated the projections of local supplies derived from current and expected
local supply programs from the participating agencies. Finally, the demand model calculated the
difference between total forecasted demands and local supply projections. The resulting difference
between total demands net of savings from conservation and local supplies is the expected regional
demands on MET supply.
Water Supply Characterization
The City’s assumptions for its supply capabilities are discussed and presented in 5-year increments under
its UWMP water reliability assessment. For the City’s DRA, these supply capabilities are further refined
and presented annually for the years 2021 to 2025 by assuming a repeat of historic conditions from
FY 2011-12 to FY 2015-16. For its DRA, the City assessed the reliability of supplies available from MET
using historical supply availability under dry-year conditions. MET’s supply sources under the Colorado
River, SWP, and in-region supply categories are individually listed and discussed in detail in MET’s
UWMP. Future supply capabilities for each of these supply sources are also individually tabulated in
Appendix 3 of MET’s UWMP, with consideration for plausible changes on projected supplies under
climate change conditions, anticipated regulatory changes, and other factors. In addition, the City has
access to supply augmentation actions through MET. MET may exercise these actions based on regional
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need, and in accordance with their WSCP, and may include the use of supplies and storage programs
within the Colorado River, SWP, and In-Region.
7.5.2 Total Water Supply and Use Comparison
The City’s DRA concludes that water supplies meet total water demand, assuming a five-year
consecutive drought from FY 2020-21 through FY 2024-25 (Table 7-5). For simplicity, the table shows
supply to balance the modeled demand in the table. However, based on the purchase agreement the City
has with MET (Section 6.2), the City is contractually able to purchase more water from MET, should the
need arise.
Table 7-5: Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment Tables to Address Water Code Section 10635(b)
DWR Submittal Table 7-5: Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment Tables to
address Water Code Section 10635(b)
2021 Total
Total Water Use 35,581
Total Supplies 35,581
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation)
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit 0
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit 0
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)0
Resulting % Use Reduction from WSCP action 0%
2022 Total
Total Water Use 35,665
Total Supplies 35,665
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation)
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit 0
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit 0
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)0
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DWR Submittal Table 7-5: Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment Tables to
address Water Code Section 10635(b)
Resulting % Use Reduction from WSCP action 0%
2023 Total
Total Water Use 35,748
Total Supplies 35,748
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation)
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit 0
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit 0
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)0
Resulting % Use Reduction from WSCP action 0%
2024 Total
Total Water Use 35,831
Total Supplies 35,831
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation)
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit 0
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit 0
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)0
Resulting % Use Reduction from WSCP action 0%
2025 Total
Total Water Use 35,915
Total Supplies 35,915
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DWR Submittal Table 7-5: Five-Year Drought Risk Assessment Tables to
address Water Code Section 10635(b)
Surplus/Shortfall w/o WSCP Action 0
Planned WSCP Actions (use reduction and supply augmentation)
WSCP - supply augmentation benefit 0
WSCP - use reduction savings benefit 0
Revised Surplus/(shortfall)0
Resulting % Use Reduction from WSCP action 0%
Note: Groundwater is sustainably managed through the BPP and robust management measures (Section
6.3.4 and Appendix G), direct and indirect recycled water uses provide additional local supply (Section
6.6), and based on MET’s UWMP, imported water is available to close any potable water supply gap that
local sources cannot meet (Section 7.5.1).
7.5.3 Water Source Reliability
Locally, approximately 77% (BPP for Water Year 2021-22) of the City’s total water supply can rely on
OC Basin groundwater through FY 2024-25. The BPP is projected to increase to 85% starting in
FY 2024-25. Based on various storage thresholds and hydrologic conditions, OCWD, who manages the
OC Basin, has numerous management measures that can be taken, such as adjusting the BPP or
seeking additional supplies to refill the basin, to ensure the reliability of the Basin. For more information
on the OC Basin’s management efforts, refer to Section 6.3.
Additionally, the City’s use of direct (OCWD GAP) and indirect recycled water (OCWD GWRS) should
also be considered. The ability to continue producing water locally greatly improves the City’s water
reliability. More detail on these programs is available in Section 6.6 .
Furthermore, as discussed in Section 6.2 the City has a 10-year purchase agreement with MET that sets
a minimum and maximum volume of water to be purchased from MET annually, and over the 10-year
contract term. Currently, the City is not currently purchasing near the maximum levels. As so, the City is
contractually able to purchase significantly more MET water should the need arise.
Moreover, although they would not normally be considered part of the City’s water portfolio, the
emergency interconnections the City has with the surrounding Cities of Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley,
Garden Grove, Orange, Tustin, and Southern California Water Company could help mitigate any water
supply shortages, though shortages are not expected. Emergency interconnections are described in
Section 6.8.
The City’s DRA concludes that its water supplies meet total water demand, assuming a five-year
consecutive drought from FY 2020-21 through FY 2024-25 (Table 7-5). For simplicity, the table shows
supply to balance the modeled demand in the table. However, based on the purchase agreement the City
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has with MET (Section 6.2), the City is contractually able to purchase more water from MET, should the
need arise.
As detailed in Section 8, the City has in place a robust WSCP and comprehensive shortage response
planning efforts that include demand reduction measures and supply augmentation actions. However,
since the City’s DRA shows a balance between water supply and demand, no water service reliability
concern is anticipated, and no shortfall mitigation measures are expected to be exercised over the next
five years. The City will periodically revisit its representation of the supply sources and of the gross water
use estimated for each year and will revise its DRA if needed.
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8 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLANNING
Layperson Description
Water shortage contingency planning is a strategic planning process that the City engages to prepare
for and respond to water shortages. A water shortage, when water supply available is insufficient to meet
the normally expected customer water use at a given point in time, may occur due to a number of
reasons, such as water supply quality changes, climate change, drought, and catastrophic events
(e.g., earthquake). The City’s WSCP provides real-time water supply availability assessment and
structured steps designed to respond to actual conditions. This level of detailed planning and preparation
will help maintain reliable supplies and reduce the impacts of supply interruptions.
Water Code Section 10632 requires that every urban water supplier that serves more than 3,000 AFY or
have more than 3,000 connections prepared and adopt a standalone WSCP as part of its UWMP. The
WSCP is required to plan for a greater than 50% supply shortage. This WSCP due to be updated based
on new requirements every five years and will be adopted as a current update for submission to DWR by
July 1, 2021.
Overview of the WSCP
The WSCP serves as the operating manual that the City will use to prevent catastrophic service
disruptions through proactive, rather than reactive, mitigation of water shortages. The WSCP contains
processes and procedures documented in the WSCP, which are given legal authority through the WSCP
Response Ordinance. This way, when shortage conditions arise, the City’s governing body, its staff, and
the public can easily identify and efficiently implement pre-determined steps to mitigate a water shortage
to the level appropriate to the degree of water shortfall anticipated. Figure 8-1 illustrates the
interdependent relationship between the three procedural documents related to planning for and
responding to water shortages.
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Figure 8-1: UWMP Overview
A copy of the City’s WSCP is provided in Appendix H and includes the steps to assess if a water shortage
is occurring, and what level of shortage drought actions to trigger the best response as appropriate to the
water shortage conditions. WSCP has prescriptive elements, including an analysis of water supply
reliability; the drought shortage actions for each of the six standard water shortage levels, that correspond
to water shortage percentages ranging from 10% to greater than 50%; an estimate of potential to close
supply gap for each measure; protocols and procedures to communicate identified actions for any current
or predicted water shortage conditions; procedures for an annual water supply and demand assessment;
monitoring and reporting requirements to determine customer compliance; reevaluation and improvement
procedures for evaluating the WSCP.
Summary of Water Shortage Response Strategy and Required
DWR Tables
This WSCP is organized into three main sections, with Section 3 aligned with the Water Code Section
16032 requirements.
Section 1 Introduction and WSCP Overview gives an overview of the WSCP fundamentals.
Section 2 Background provides a background on the City’s water service area.
Section 3.1 Water Supply Reliability Analysis provides a summary of the water supply analysis and
water reliability findings from the 2020 UWMP.
Section 3.2 Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment Procedures provide a description of
procedures to conduct and approve the Annual Assessment.
Section 3.3 Six Standard Water Shortage Stages explains the WSCP’s six standard water shortage
levels corresponding to progressive ranges of up to 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and more than 50% shortages.
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Section 3.4 Shortage Response Actions describes the WSCP’s shortage response actions that align
with the defined shortage levels.
Section 3.5 Communication Protocols addresses communication protocols and procedures to inform
customers, the public, interested parties, and local, regional, and state governments, regarding any
current or predicted shortages and any resulting shortage response actions.
Section 3.6 Compliance and Enforcement describes customer compliance, enforcement, appeal, and
exemption procedures for triggered shortage response actions.
Section 3.7 Legal Authorities is a description of the legal authorities that enable the City to implement
and enforce its shortage response actions.
Section 3.8 Financial Consequences of the WSCP provides a description of the financial
consequences of and responses for drought conditions.
Section 3.9 Monitoring and Reporting describes monitoring and reporting requirements and procedures
that ensure appropriate data is collected, tracked, and analyzed for purposes of monitoring customer
compliance and to meet state reporting requirements.
Section 3.10 WSCP Refinement Procedures addresses reevaluation and improvement procedures for
monitoring and evaluating the functionality of the WSCP.
Section 3.11 Special Water Feature Distinction.
Section 3.12 Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Implementation provides a record of the process the City
followed to adopt and implement its WSCP.
The WSCP is based on adequate details of demand reduction and supply augmentation measures that
are structured to match varying degrees of shortage will ensure the relevant stakeholders understand
what to expect during a water shortage situation. The City has adopted water shortage levels consistent
with the requirements identified in Water Code Section 10632 (a)(3)(A) (Table 8-1).
The supply augmentation actions that align with each shortage level are described in DWR Table 8-3
(Appendix B). These augmentations represent short-term management objectives triggered by the WSCP
and do not overlap with the long-term new water supply development or supply reliability enhancement
projects.
The demand reduction measures that align with each shortage level are described in DWR Table 8-2
(Appendix B). This table also estimates the extent to which that action will reduce the gap between
supplies and demands to demonstrate to the that choose suite of shortage response actions can be
expected to deliver the expected outcomes necessary to meet the requirements of a given shortage level.
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Table 8-1: Water Shortage Contingency Plan Levels
Submittal Table 8-1 Water Shortage Contingency Plan Levels
Shortage
Level
Percent
Shortage Range Shortage Response Actions
0 0% (Normal)
A Level 0 Water Supply Shortage – Condition exists when the City notifies its water
users that no supply reductions are anticipated in this year. The City proceeds with
planned water efficiency best practices to support consumer demand reduction in line
with state mandated requirements and local City goals for water supply
reliability. Permanent water waste prohibitions are in place as stipulated in the City’s
Water Shortage Response Ordinance.
1 Up to 10%
A Level 1 Water Supply Shortage – Condition exists when the City notifies its water
users that due to drought or other supply reductions, a consumer demand reduction
of up to 10% is necessary to make more efficient use of water and respond to existing
water conditions. Upon the declaration of a Water Aware condition, the City
shall implement the mandatory Level 1 conservation measures identified in this
ordinance. The type of event that may prompt the City to declare a Level 1 Water
Supply Shortage may include, among other factors, a finding that its wholesale water
provider calls for extraordinary water conservation.
2 11% to 20%
A Level 2 Water Supply Shortage – Condition exists when the City notifies its water
users that due to drought or other supply reductions, a consumer demand reduction
of up to 20% is necessary to make more efficient use of water and respond to existing
water conditions. Upon declaration of a Level 2 Water Supply Shortage condition,
the City shall implement the mandatory Level 2 conservation measures identified in
this ordinance.
3 21% to 30%
A Level 3 Water Supply Shortage – Condition exists when the City declares a water
shortage emergency condition pursuant to California Water Code section 350 and
notifies its residents and businesses that up to 30% consumer demand reduction is
required to ensure sufficient supplies for human consumption, sanitation and fire
protection. The City must declare a Water Supply Shortage Emergency in the manner
and on the grounds provided in California Water Code section 350.
4 31% to 40%
A Level 4 Water Supply Shortage – Condition exists when the City declares a water
shortage emergency condition pursuant to California Water Code section 350 and
notifies its residents and businesses that up to 40% consumer demand reduction is
required to ensure sufficient supplies for human consumption, sanitation and fire
protection. The City must declare a Water Supply Shortage Emergency in the manner
and on the grounds provided in California Water Code section 350.
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Submittal Table 8-1 Water Shortage Contingency Plan Levels
5 41% to 50%
A Level 5 Water Supply Shortage – Condition exists when the City declares a water
shortage emergency condition pursuant to California Water Code section 350 and
notifies its residents and businesses that up to 50% or more consumer demand
reduction is required to ensure sufficient supplies for human consumption, sanitation
and fire protection. The City must declare a Water Supply Shortage Emergency in the
manner and on the grounds provided in California Water Code section 350.
6 >50%
A Level 6 Water Supply Shortage – Condition exists when the City declares a water
shortage emergency condition pursuant to California Water Code section 350 and
notifies its residents and businesses that greater than 50% or more consumer demand
reduction is required to ensure sufficient supplies for human consumption, sanitation
and fire protection. The City must declare a Water Supply Shortage Emergency in the
manner and on the grounds provided in California Water Code section 350.
NOTES:
Water shortage contingency planning is a strategic planning process to prepare for and respond to water
shortages. Detailed planning and preparation can help maintain reliable supplies and reduce the impacts
of supply interruptions. This chapter provides a structured plan for dealing with water shortages,
incorporating prescriptive information and standardized action levels, along with implementation actions in
the event of a catastrophic supply interruption.
A well-structured WSCP allows real-time water supply availability assessment and structured steps
designed to respond to actual conditions, to allow for efficient management of any shortage with
predictability and accountability. A water shortage, when water supply available is insufficient to meet the
normally expected customer water use at a given point in time, may occur due to a number of reasons,
such as population growth, climate change, drought, and catastrophic events. The WSCP is the City’s
operating manual that is used to prevent catastrophic service disruptions through proactive, rather than
reactive, management. This way, if and when shortage conditions arise, the City’s governing body, its
staff, and the public can easily identify and efficiently implement pre-determined steps to manage a water
shortage.
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9 DEMAND MANAGEMENT MEASURES
The City, along with other Retail water agencies throughout Orange County, recognizes the need to use
existing water supplies efficiently. This ethic of efficient use of water has evolved as a result of the
development and implementation of water use efficiency programs that make good economic sense and
reflect responsible stewardship of the region’s water resources. The City works closely with MET and
MWDOC to promote regional efficiency by participating in the MET regional water savings programs. This
chapter communicates the City’s efforts to promote conservation and to reduce demand on water
supplies. A detailed description of demand management measures is available in Appendix J.
Demand Management Measures for Retail Suppliers
The goal of the Demand Management Measures (DMM) section is to provide a comprehensive
description of the water conservation programs that a supplier has implemented, is currently
implementing, and plans to implement in order to meet its urban water use reduction targets. The
reporting requirements for DMM has been significantly modified and streamlined in 2014 by Assembly Bill
2067. This section of the UWMP will report on the role of the City’s programs in meeting new state
regulations for complying with the SWRCB’s new Conservation Framework. These categories of demand
management measures are as follows:
Water waste prevention ordinances;
Metering;
Conservation pricing;
Public education and outreach;
Programs to assess and manage distribution system real loss;
Water conservation program coordination and staffing support;
Other demand management measures that have a significant impact on water use as
measured in gallons per capita per day, including innovative measures, if implemented;
Programs to assist retailers with Conservation Framework Compliance
9.1.1 Water Waste Prevention Ordinances
The City Council adopted the Water Conservation and Supply Shortage Program Ordinance No. NS-2877
on May 19, 2015. Ordinance No. NS-2877 establishes permanent water conservation requirements and
prohibition against waste that are effective at all times and is not dependent upon a water shortage for
implementation, as follows:
No washing down hard or paved surfaces
Limit on watering hours
Re-circulating water required for water fountains and decorative water features
Drinking water served upon request only
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Limits on washing vehicles
Commercial lodging establishments must provide guests option to decline daily linen services
Restaurants required to use water conserving dish wash spray valves
Obligation to fix leaks, break, or malfunctions
No installation of single pass cooling systems
Commercial car wash systems
No excessive water flow or runoff
No installation of non-recirculating water systems in commercial car wash and laundry
systems
No watering during or within 48 hours of measurable rainfall
No irrigation of ornamental turf on public street medians with potable water
Limit on irrigation with potable water of landscapes outside of new construction
In an event of a water supply shortage, the ordinance further establishes six levels of water supply
shortage response actions to be implemented during times of declared water shortage or declared water
shortage emergency, with increasing restrictions on water use in response to worsening drought or
emergency conditions and decreasing supplies. The provisions and water conservation measures to be
implemented in response to each shortage level are described in the Water Shortage Contingency Plan
(WSCP) located in Appendix H of this 2020 UWMP. The City’s water conservation ordinance is included
in Appendix D of the WSCP. The City maintains active water wasting prohibition measures at all times
and has the ability to implement additional measures as water conservation needs dictate
The City maintains active water wasting prohibition measures at all times and has the ability to implement
additional measures as water conservation needs dictate. In 2015, as a result of the Governor’s drought
mandates, the City began to track its water wasting prohibition enforcement activities. On June 2, 2015
the City declared a Phase 2 water supply shortage in Resolution No. 2015-025 by formally requiring all
water consumers to reduce use by 12% relative to their 2013 consumption. Additionally, on August 4,
2015, a water wasting penalty rate was established by Resolution No. 2015-047. This new penalty rate
permits City staff to penalize those users not meeting their water use reduction targets of 12%. The City
of Santa Ana as a whole has been meeting its State mandated target; as a result the City has yet to
impose any monetary penalties on any of its users. The City has communicated the water wasting
prohibitions and water conservation measures via various communication outlets available including
messaging on water bills, bill inserts, bill envelopes, the City website, bus shelter advertisements, City
newsletters, pole banners across the City, and a water conservation booth at community events. As a
result, in 2015 the City received 1,064 water waster complaints: a dramatic increase from prior years. The
City intends to continue both its water waste enforcement efforts and water conservation messaging in
the future; however, the intensity of both activities will be directly related to the level of water conservation
required to meet stated use reductions.
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9.1.2 Metering
The City requires individual metering for all new connections and bills by volume-of-use. All existing
connections are metered.
The City has a meter replacement and calibration program in place. Over the past 5 years, the program
focused on replacing aging meters and those with high use, replacing approximately 500-1,000 meters
per year. In 2020, the City Council approved a project proposal to expand the meter replacement and
calibration program by implementing and deploying Automated Meter Infrastructure (AMI) and a proactive
calibration and testing program focused on periodically testing high use meters. The City will replace all
meters to the AMI system over a 42 month period. The City is also upgrading the billing system software
and customer portals, etc.
In accordance with the City’s municipal code, all new development with over 1,000 square feet of
landscape requires the installation of dedicated landscape meters. The City has also adopted a policy
requiring individual metering of all users such as individual tenants of commercial plazas, residential
condominiums, and apartments.
9.1.3 Conservation Pricing
There are two parts to the City’s water service charges: a fixed Basic Service Charge and a variable
Commodity Charge. The Basic Service Charge is a fixed amount based on the connection’s meter size
and is billed bi-monthly. The Commodity Charge is determined by the amount of water served to the
property and is measured in hundred cubic feet (HCF). The City also provides private fire water service
and recycled water to specific customers and also has a Private Fire Service Charge and a Recycled
Water Commodity Charge.
The City’s current Commodity Charge rate schedule and Tier Allocation, effective from January 1, 2020,
was approved in 2019 and is shown in Table 9-1 and Table 9-2, respectively.
Table 9-1: Water Rates Effective January 1, 2020
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Table 9-2: Water Tier Allocations Effective January 1, 2020
9.1.4 Public Education and Outreach
The City administers its own public education and outreach program and develops, coordinates,
and delivers a substantial number of public information, education, and outreach events aimed at
elevating consumer awareness and understanding of current water issues as well as efficient wat
er use and watersaving practices, sound policy, and water reliability investments that are in the b
est interest of the region. These efforts encourage good water stewardship that benefit all City res
idents, businesses, and industries across all demographics. The City also collaborates with MWD
OC and their educational programming. Several examples are shown in Figures 91 to 98.
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Figure 9-1: Youth Outreach Flyer
Figure 9-2: Outreach and Education Material
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Figure 9-3: Outreach Event Photo 1
Figure 9-4: Outreach Event Photo 2
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Figure 9-5: Outreach Event Photo 3
Figure 9-6: Outreach Event Photo 4
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Figure 9-7: Landscape Transformation Program Outreach Flyer, Page 1
Figure 9-8: Landscape Transformation Program Outreach Flyer, Page 2
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Print and Electronic Materials
The City of Santa Ana offers a variety of print and electronic materials that are designed to assist City’s
water users of all ages in discovering where their water comes from, what the water industry
professionals are doing to address water challenges, how to use water most efficiently, and more.
Through the City’s social media presence, its website, Santa Ana Green newsletter, public service
announcements, flyers, brochures, and other outreach materials, The City ensures that its residents are
equipped with sufficient information and subject knowledge to assist them in making good behavioral and
civic choices that ultimately affect the quality and quantity of the region’s water supply.
Public Events
Each year, the City of Santa Ana participates in an array of public events intended to engage and educate
a diverse range of water users in water use efficiency and water quality topics. Some of these public
events include:
Children’s Water Education Festival the largest festival of its kind, takes place every March at
the University of California, Irvine.
The Festival presents a unique opportunity to educate students about local water issues and help
them understand how they can protect and preserve water and their environment. Approximately
7,000 third, fourth and fifth grade students attend the event, presented by the Orange County
Water District (OCWD), the Disneyland Resort, the National Water Research Institute and the
OCWD Groundwater Guardian Team.
This two-day event brings students and their teachers together to learn about the importance of
our natural resources. Students who attend the Festival are presented with a unique opportunity
to learn about their local water issues and what they can do in their homes and community to
protect and conserve water and the environment. Organizations and public agencies from Orange
County and throughout California dedicate their time to help educate these young environmental
stewards. Since its inception, more than 135,000 children from schools throughout Orange
County have been able to experience the Festival and all it has to offer.
City-Sponsored or Private Events provide opportunities to interact with the City’s water users
in a fun and friendly way, offer useful water-related information and education to engage them in
important discussions about the value of water and how their decisions at home, at work, and as
tax- or ratepayers may impact the City’s quality and quantity of water for generations to come.
Education Programs and Initiatives
Over the past several years, the City of Santa Ana has amplified its efforts in water education programs
and activities throughout its service area. This is accomplished by continuing to grow professional
networks and partnerships that consist of education groups, advisories, Communication Linkage Forums
and SAUSD teachers’ groups for watercentric learning. Several key water education programs and
initiatives include:
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Landscape Training Classes provide Santa Ana’s residents with an opportunity to learn about
rainwater capture, gardening practices that build a healthy soil, proper plant selection that are
consistent with our local environment. These classes educate City’s customers to conserve water
in their landscapes through sound practices and water-wise choices.
Choice School Programs The City of Santa Ana collaborates with MWDOC to provide
educational programs and activities for the City’s youngest water users. Through this
collaboration, the City has supplied its K-12 students with water-focused learning experiences for
nearly five (5) decades. Interactive, grade-specific lessons invite students to connect with, and
learn from, their local ecosystems, guiding them to identify and solve local water-related
environmental challenges affecting their communities. Choice School Programs are aligned with
state standards, and participation includes a dynamic in-class or virtual presentation, and pre-
and post-activities that encourage and support Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and
Mathematics (STEAM)-based learning and good water stewardship.
City of Santa Ana’s Annual Youth Water Poster Contest is an annual activity developed to
encourage City’s K-12 students to investigate and explore their relationship to water, connect the
importance of good water stewardship to their daily lives, and express their conclusions creatively
through art. Each year, the City of Santa Ana receives hundreds of entries, and 12 winners from
across the City are invited to attend a special awards ceremony with their parents and teachers.
9.1.5 Programs to Assess and Manage Distribution System Real Loss
Senate Bill 1420 signed into law in September 2014 requires urban water suppliers that submit
UWMPs to calculate annual system water losses using the water audit methodology developed by the
AWWA. SB 1420 requires the water loss audit be submitted to DWR every five years as part of the urban
water supplier’s UWMP. Water auditing is the basis for effective water loss control. DWR’s UWMP
Guidebook include a water audit manual intended to help water utilities complete the AWWA Water
Audit on an annual basis.
A Water Loss Audit was completed for the City which identified areas for improvement and quantified total
loss. Based on the data presented, the three priority areas identified were water imported, billed metered,
and unauthorized consumption. Multiple criteria are a part of each validity score and a system wide
approach will need to be implemented for the City’s improvement. The City completes a system water
audit to calculate water losses on an annual basis. As part of the AMI project, the City will be adding the
customer leak detection and system leak detection sensors system-wide. Expressing water loss audit
results in terms of Real Losses per Service Connection per Day allows for standardized comparison
across retailer agencies and is a metric consistent with the Water Board’s forthcoming economic model.
The Real Losses per Service Connection per Day for calendar year 2019 was 19.59 gal/connection/day.
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9.1.6 Water Conservation Program Coordination and Staffing Support
The City’s Water Service Quality Coordinator, a position created in 1991, acts as the water conservation
coordinator. The conservation coordinator is responsible for conservation program activities and acts as a
liaison with MWDOC, MET, California Water Efficiency Partnership (CalWEP), and others.
The City’s conservation coordinator’s duties include the following:
Administer the contracts that the City has with MET and MWDOC regarding rebate programs.
Conduct surveys at the request of residential and business customers (or designate a staff
member to do so).
Coordinate with other agencies and public groups’ displays on conservation information and
provide free water conservation materials to the public.
Monitor the recycled water program for the City.
Administer the City’s education program using contractors or staff to educate children of City
schools or other locations.
The City’s water conservation programs are funded by the water ratepayers. The conservation program
efforts are factored into the City’s existing and future water rates as currently adopted.
9.1.7 Other Demand Management Measures (DMMs)
9.1.7.1 Residential Program
As a direct member of MET, residential DMMs are made available to City water users through the SoCal
WaterSmart Program.to increase landscape and indoor water use efficiency for residential customers.
High Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate Program
The High Efficiency Clothes Washer (HECW) Rebate Program provides residential customers with
rebates for purchasing and installing HECWs that. Approximately 15% of home water use goes towards
laundry, and HECWs use 35-50% less water than standard washer models, with savings of approximately
10,500 gallons per year, per device. Devices must meet or exceed the Consortium for Energy Efficiency
(CEE) Tier 1 Standard, and a listing of qualified products can be found at socalwatersmart.com. There is
a maximum of one rebate per home.
Premium High Efficiency Toilet Rebate Program
The largest amount of water used inside a home, 30%, goes toward flushing the toilet. The Premium High
Efficiency Toilet (HET) Rebate Program offers incentives to residential customers for replacing their toilets
using 1.6 gallons per flush or more. Premium HETs use just 1.1 gallons of water or less per flush, which is
20% less water than WaterSense standard toilets. In addition, Premium HETS save an average of
9 gallons of water per day while maintaining high performance standards.
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9.1.7.2 Commercial, Industrial and Institutional (CII) Programs
MET provides a variety of financial incentives to help City businesses, restaurants, institutions, hotels,
hospitals, industrial facilities, and public sector sites achieve their efficiency goals. Water users in these
sectors have options to choose from a standardized list of water efficient equipment/devices or may
complete customized projects through a pay-for-performance where the incentive is proportional to the
amount of water saved. Such projects include high efficiency commercial equipment installation and
manufacturing process improvements.
Water Savings Incentive Program
The Water Savings Incentive Program (WSIP) is designed for non-residential customers to improve their
water efficiency through upgraded equipment or services that do not qualify for standard rebates. WSIP is
unique because it provides an incentive based on the amount of water customers actually save.
This “pay-for-performance” design lets customers implement custom projects for their sites.
Projects must save at least 10 million gallons of water to qualify for the Program and are offered from
$195 to $390 per acre foot of water saved. Examples of successfully projects include but are not limited
to changing industrial process system water, capturing condensation and using it to supplement cooling
tower supply, and replacing water-using equipment with more efficient products.
On-site Retrofit Program
The On-site Retrofit Program provides another pay-for-performance financial incentive to commercial,
industrial and institutional property owners, including Homeowner Associations, who convert potable
water irrigation or industrial water systems to recycled water use.
Projects commonly include the conversion of mixed or dedicated irrigation meters using potable water to
irrigate with reclaimed water, or convert industrial processes use to recycled water, such as a cooling
towers. Financial incentives of up to $1,300 per AF of potable water saved are available for customer-side
on the meter retrofits. Funding is provided by MET, USBR, and DWR.
Device Retrofits
The City offers financial incentives under the Socal Water$mart Rebate Program which offers rebates for
various water efficient devices to CII customers.
9.1.7.3 Landscape Programs
One of the most active and exciting water use efficiency sectors MET provides services for are those
programs that target the reduction of outdoor water use. With close to 60% of water consumed outdoors,
this sector has been and will continue to be a focus for MET and the City.
Turf Removal Program
The Orange County Turf Removal Program offers incentives to remove turf grass from residential,
commercial, and public properties throughout the County. This program is a partnership between
MWDOC, MET, and local retail water agencies. The goals of this program are to increase water use
efficiency through sustainable landscaping practices that result in multi-benefit projects across Orange
County. Participants replace their turf grass with drought-tolerant, CA Friendly, or CA Native landscaping,
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and retrofit their irrigation systems to high efficiency equipment, such as drip, or remove it entirely, and
are encouraged to utilize smart irrigation timers. Furthermore, projects are required to include a
stormwater capture feature, such as a rain garden or dry stream bed, and have a minimum of three plants
per 100 square feet to increase plant density and promote healthy soils. These projects save water and
also reduce dry and wet weather runoff, increase urban biomass, and sequester more carbon than turf
landscapes.
Smart Timer Rebate Program
Smart Timers are irrigation clocks that are either weather-based irrigation controllers (WBICs) or soil
moisture sensor systems. WBICs adjust automatically to reflect changes in local weather and site-specific
landscape needs, such as soil type, slopes, and plant material. When WBICs are programmed properly,
turf and plants receive the proper amount of water throughout the year. During the fall months, when
property owners and landscape professionals often overwater, Smart Timers can save significant
amounts of water.
Rotating Nozzles Rebate Program
The Rotating Nozzle Rebate Program provides incentives to residential and commercial properties for
the replacement of high-precipitation rate spray nozzles with low-precipitation rate multi-stream,
multi-trajectory rotating nozzles. The rebate offered through this Program aims to offset the cost of the
device and installation.
Socal Water$mart Rebate Program for Landscape
The City also offers financial incentives under the SoCal Water$mart Rebate Program for a variety of
water efficient landscape devices, such as Central Computer Irrigation Controllers, large rotary nozzles,
and in-stem flow regulators.
Landscape Training Classes
The California Friendly and Native Landscape Training and the Turf Removal and Garden Transformation
Workshops provide education to residential homeowners, property managers, and professional
landscape contractors on a variety of landscape water efficiency practices that they can employ and use
to help design a beautiful garden using California Friendly and native plant landscaping principles.
The California Friendly and Native Landscape Class demonstrates how to: implement storm water
capture features in the landscape; create a living soil sponge that holds water; treat rainwater by a
resource; select and arrange plants to maximize biodiversity and minimize water use; and control
irrigation to minimize water waste, runoff and non-point source pollution.
The Turf Removal and Garden Transformation Workshop teaches participants how to transform thirsty
turfgrass into a beautiful, climate-appropriate water efficient garden. This class teaches how to: evaluate
the landscape’s potential; plan for garden transformation; identify the type of turfgrass in the yard; remove
grass without chemicals; build healthy, living soils; select climate-appropriate plants that minimize water
use and maximize beauty and biodiversity; and implement a maintenance schedule to maintain the
garden.
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Implementation over the Past Five Years
During the past five years, FY 2015-16 to 2020-21, the City, with the assistance of MET, has continued
water use efficiency programs for its residential, CII, and landscape customers as described in Table 9-3.
Implementation data is provided in Appendix I. The City will continue to implement all applicable
programs in the next five years.
Table 9-3: City of Santa Ana Water Conservation Efficiency Program Participation
Measure Metric FY15/16 FY16/17 FY17/18 FY18/19 FY19/20
Central Computer
Irrigation Controllers computer controllers - - - - 9
Flow Restrictor restrictors 4 91 - - -
HECWs washers 260 197 151 149 96
HETs toilets 441 2 - 4 8
Rain Barrels barrels 177 40 9 3 7
Cisterns cisterns - - - - -
Premium HETs toilets 1,163 158 582 7 920
Rotating Nozzles nozzles 208 2,356 - - 64
CII WBICs clocks 26 3 - 20 120
Residential WBICs clocks 22 16 32 25 22
Zero Water Urinals urinals - - - - -
Plumbing Flow
Control valves - - - - -
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Measure Metric FY15/16 FY16/17 FY17/18 FY18/19 FY19/20
Soil Moisture Sensor controllers - - - - -
Ice-Making Machine machines - 4 - - -
Ultra Low Water
Urinal urinals - 3 - - -
Turf sf 368,012 197,651 720 1,700 6,775
Spray-to-Drip sf Not
eligible
WSIP projects 1 0 0 0 0
Recycled Water projects; sf irrigated
Large Landscape
Survey surveys 1
Water Use Objectives (Future Requirements)
To support Orange County retailers with SB 606 and AB 1668 compliance (Conservation Framework),
MET provides support to members agencies to ensure they meet the primary goals of the legislation
including to Use Water More Wisely and to Eliminate Water Waste. Beginning in 2023, Urban water
suppliers are required to calculate and report their annual urban water use objective (WUO), submit
validated water audits annually, and to implement and report BMP CII performance measures.
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Urban Water Use Objective
An Urban Water Supplier’s urban WUO is based on efficient water use of the following:
Aggregate estimated efficient indoor residential water use;
Aggregate estimated efficient outdoor residential water use;
Aggregate estimated efficient outdoor irrigation landscape areas with dedicated irrigation
meters or equivalent technology in connection with CII water use;
Aggregate estimated efficient water losses;
Aggregate estimated water use for variances approved the State Water Board;
Allowable potable reuse water bonus incentive adjustments.
Table 9-4 describes MET’s programs that will assist the City in meeting their WUO through both direct
measures: programs/activities that result in directly quantifiable water savings; and indirectly: programs
that provide resources promoting water efficiencies to the public that are impactful but not directly
measurable.
Table 9-4: MET Programs to Assist in Meeting WUO
WUO
Component Calculation Program Impact
Indoor
Residential
Population and
GPCD standard
Direct Impact
HECW
HET
Multi-Family HET (DAC/
non-DAC)
Direct Impact: Increase
of indoor residential
efficiencies and
reductions of GPCD use
Outdoor
Residential
Irrigated/irrigable
area measurement
and a percent
factor of local ETo
Direct Impact
Turf Removal
Smart Timer
HEN
Rain Barrels/Cisterns
Direct Impact: Increase
outdoor residential
efficiencies and
reductions of gallons
per ft2 of irrigated/
irrigable area used
Outdoor
Dedicated
Irrigation
Meters
Irrigated/irrigable
area measurement
and a percent
factor of local ETo
Direct Impact
Turf Removal
Smart Timer
HEN
Direct Impact: Increase
outdoor residential
efficiencies and
reductions of gallons
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WUO
Component Calculation Program Impact
Central Computer Irrigation
Controllers
Large Rotary Nozzles
In-Stem Flow Regulators
per ft2 of irrigated/
irrigable area used
Indirect Impact:
Provide information,
resources, and
education to promote
efficiencies in the
landscape
Water Loss Following the
AWWA M36 Water
Audits and Water
Loss Control
Program, Fourth
Edition and AWWA
Water Audit
Software V5
Direct Impact
Water Balance Validation
Customer Meter Accuracy
Testing
Distribution System
Pressure Surveys
Distribution System Leak
Detection
No-Discharge Distribution
System Flushing
Water Audit Compilation
Component Analysis
Direct Impact: Identify
areas of the distribution
system that need repair,
replacement or other
action
CII Performance Measures
Urban water supplies are expected to report BMPs and more for CII customers. Through MET, the City
offers a broad variety of programs and incentives to help CII customers implement BMPs and increase
their water efficiencies.
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Table 9-5: CII BMP Implementation Programs Offered
Component Program Offered Impact
CII Performance Measures Water Savings Incentive
Program (WSIP)
On-Site Retrofit
Program (ORP)
HETs
HE Urinals
Plumbing Flow Control
Valves
Connectionless Food
Steamers
Air-cooled Ice Machines
Cooling Tower
Conductivity controllers
Cooling Tower pH
Controllers
Dry Vacuum Pumps
Laminar Flow
Restrictors
WSIP incentivizes customized
CII water efficiency projects that
utilize BMPs.
ORP incentivizes the conversion
of potable to recycled water,
and is applicable to CII
dedicated irrigation meters or
CII mixed-use meters that may
be split to utilize recycled water
for irrigation.
Additional CII rebates based on
BMPS increase the economic
feasibility of increasing water
efficiencies.
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10 PLAN ADOPTION, SUBMITTAL, AND IMPLEMENTATION
The Water Code requires the UWMP to be adopted by the Supplier’s governing body. Before the
adoption of the UWMP, the Supplier has to notify the public and the cities and counties within its service
area per the Water Code and hold a public hearing to receive input from the public on the UWMP.
Post adoption, the Supplier submits the UWMP to DWR and the other key agencies and makes it
available for public review.
This section provides a record of the process the City followed to adopt and implement its UWMP.
Overview
Recognizing that close coordination among other relevant public agencies is key to the success of its
UWMP, the City worked closely with many other entities, including representation from diverse social,
cultural, and economic elements of the population within the City’s service area, to develop and update
this planning document. The City also encouraged public involvement through its public hearing process,
which provided residents with an opportunity to learn and ask questions about their water supply
management and reliability. Through the public hearing, the public has an opportunity to comment and
put forward any suggestions for revisions of the Plan.
Table 10-1 summarizes external coordination and outreach activities carried out by the City and their
corresponding dates. The UWMP checklist to confirm compliance with the Water Code is provided in
Appendix A.
Table 10-1: External Coordination and Outreach
External Coordination and Outreach Date Reference
Notified the cities and counties within the Supplier’s service area
that Supplier is preparing an updated UWMP (at least 60 days
prior to public hearing)
3/8/2021 Appendix K
Public Hearing Notice 5/19/2021 &
5/26/2021 Appendix K
Held Public Hearing 6/1/2021 Appendix K
Adopted UWMP 6/1/2021 Appendix L
Submitted UWMP to DWR (no later than 30 days after adoption) 7/1/2021 -
Submitted UWMP to the California State Library (no later than 30
days after adoption) 7/1/2021 -
Submitted UWMP to the cities and counties within the Supplier’s
service area (no later than 30 days after adoption) 7/1/2021 -
Made UWMP available for public review (no later than 30 days
after filing with DWR) 8/1/2021 -
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This UWMP was adopted by the City Council on June 1, 2021. A copy of the adopted resolution is
provided in Appendix L.
Agency Coordination
The Water Code requires the Suppliers preparing UWMPs to notify any city or county within their service
area at least 60 days prior to the public hearing. As shown in Table 10-2, the City sent a Letter of
Notification to the County of Orange and the City of Orange on March 8, 2021 to state that it was in the
process of preparing an updated UWMP (Appendix K).
Table 10-2: Retail: Notification to Cities and Counties
DWR Submittal Table 10-1 Retail: Notification to Cities
and Counties
City Name 60 Day Notice Notice of Public
Hearing
Orange
County Name 60 Day Notice Notice of Public
Hearing
Orange County
The City's water supply planning relates to the policies, rules, and regulations of its regional and local
water providers. The City is dependent on imported water from MET, its regional wholesaler. The City is
also dependent on groundwater from OCWD, the agency that manages the OC Basin and provides
recycled water in partnership with the OC San. As such, the City involved the relevant agencies in this
2020 UWMP at various levels of contribution as described below.
This 2020 UWMP was developed in collaboration with MET’s 2020 UWMP to ensure consistency
between the two documents. MET provided the information quantifying water availability to meet the
City’s projected demands for the next 25 years, in five-year increments.
MWDOC provided assistance to the City’s 2020 UWMP development by providing much of the data and
analysis such as population projections from the California State University at Fullerton CDR and demand
projections for the next 25 years. Additionally, MWDOC led the effort to develop a Model Water Shortage
Ordinance that its retail agencies as well as the City, Anaheim and Fullerton can adopt as is or customize
and adopt as part of developing their WSCPs. The City also takes part in many regional programs
administered by MWDOC to assist retail agencies meet various State compliance, such as the OC
Regional Alliance for SB x7-7 compliance, regional water loss program for SB555 compliance, and
regional water conservation programs.
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As a groundwater producer who relies on supplies from the OCWD-managed OC Basin, the City
coordinated the preparation of this 2020 UWMP with OCWD. Several OCWD documents, such as the
Groundwater Reliability Plan, Engineer’s Report, and 2017 Basin 8-1 Alternative were used to retrieve the
required relevant information, including the projections of the amount of groundwater the City is allowed
to extract in the 25-year planning horizon.
The various planning documents of the key agencies that were used to develop this UWMP are listed in
Section 2.2.1.
Public Participation
The City encouraged community and public interest involvement in the Plan update through a public
hearing and inspection of the draft document on June 1, 2021. As part of the public hearing, the City
discussed adoption of the UWMP, SBx7-7 baseline values, compliance with the water use targets
(Section 5), implementation, and economic impacts of the water use targets (Section 9).
Copies of the draft plan were made available for public inspection at the City Clerk’s and Utilities
Department offices.
Public hearing notifications were published in local newspapers. A copy of the published Notice of Public
Hearing is included in Appendix K.
The hearing was conducted during a regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council.
UWMP Submittal
The City Council reviewed and approved the 2020 UWMP at its June 1, 2021 meeting after the public
hearing. See Appendix L for the resolution approving the Plan.
By July 1, 2021, the City’s adopted 2020 UWMP was filed with DWR, California State Library, the County
of Orange and the City of Orange. The submission to DWR was done electronically through the online
submittal tool – WUE Data Portal. The City will make the Plan available for public review on its website no
later than 30 days after filing with DWR.
Amending the Adopted UWMP or WSCP
Based on DWR’s review of the UWMP, the City will make any amendments in its adopted UWMP, as
required and directed by DWR and will follow each of the steps for notification, public hearing, adoption,
and submittal for the amending the adopted UWMP.
If the City revises its WSCP after UWMP is approved by DWR, then an electronic copy of the revised
WSCP will be submitted to DWR within 30 days of its adoption.
Santa Ana 2020 Urban Water Management Plan
arcadis.com
11-1
11 REFERENCES
California Department of Housing and Community Development. (2020). Accessory Dwelling Units
(ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs). https://www.hcd.ca.gov/policy-
research/accessorydwellingunits.shtml
California Department of Water Resources (DWR). (2020a, January). California’s Most Significant
Droughts: Comparing Historical and Recent Conditions. https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-
Website/Web-Pages/What-We-Do/Drought-Mitigation/Files/Publications-And-
Reports/a6022_CalSigDroughts19_v9_ay11.pdf. Accessed on October 12, 2020.
California Department of Water Resources (DWR). (2020b, August 26). The Final State Water Project
Delivery Capability Report (DCR) 2019. https://data.cnra.ca.gov/dataset/state-water-project-
delivery-capability-report-dcr-2019. Accessed on December 28, 2020.
California Department of Water Resources (DWR). (2020c, August). Draft Urban Water Management
Plan Guidebook 2020. https://water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Programs/Water-
Use-And-Efficiency/Urban-Water-Use-Efficiency/Urban-Water-Management-Plans/Draft-2020-
UWMP-Guidebook.pdf?la=en&hash=266FE747760481ACF779F0F2AAEE615314693456.
Accessed on December 28, 2020.
CDM Smith. (2021, March 30). Orange County Water Demand Forecast for MWDOC and OCWD
Technical Memorandum.
City of La Habra, Irvine Ranch Water District, & Orange County Water District. (2017, January 1). Basin
8-1 Alternative. https://www.ocwd.com/media/4918/basin-8-1-alternative-final-report-1.pdf.
Accessed on December 29, 2020.
City of Santa Ana. (2015). Urban Water Management Plan.
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET). (2021, June). 2020 Urban Water
Management Plan.
Orange County Water District. (2021, February). 2019-2020 Engineer’s Report on the Groundwater
Conditions, Water Supply and Basin Utilization in the Orange County Water District.
https://www.ocwd.com/media/8791/2018-19-engineers-report-final.pdf. Accessed on December
30, 2020.
Orange County Water District. (2020). 2018-2019 Engineer’s Report on the Groundwater Conditions,
Water Supply and Basin Utilization in the Orange County Water District.
Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD). (2021). San Juan Watershed Project. About the Project: Phases.
http://sanjuanwatershed.com/about-the-project/eir/phases/. Accessed on April 20, 2021.
Tetra Tech. 2017 Water Master Plan: City of Santa Ana. January 2018. https://www.santa-
ana.org/sites/default/files/Documents/2017WaterMasterPlan.pdf
The Metropolitan Water District Act. (1969).
http://www.mwdh2o.com/Who%20We%20Are%20%20Fact%20Sheets/1.2_Metropolitan_Act.pdf
Santa Ana 2020 Urban Water Management Plan
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11-2
United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR). (2012, December). Colorado River Basin Water
Supply and Demand Study: Study Report.
https://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/programs/crbstudy/finalreport/Study%20Report/CRBS_Study_Rep
ort_FINAL.pdf. Accessed on December 29, 2020.
University of California Berkeley. (2020). About Accessory Dwelling Units. https://www.aducalifornia.org/.
Accessed on December 9, 2020.
APPENDICES
Appendix A. UWMP Water Code Checklist
Appendix B. DWR Standardized Tables
Appendix C. Reduced Delta Reliance
Appendix D. SBx7-7 Verification and Compliance Forms
Appendix E. 2021 OC Water Demand Forecast for MWDOC and OCWD
Technical Memorandum
Appendix F. AWWA Water Loss Audits
Appendix G. 2017 Basin 8-1 Alternative
Appendix H. Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Appendix I. Water Use Efficiency Implementation Report
Appendix J. Demand Management Measures
Appendix K. Notice of Public Hearing
Appendix L. Adopted UWMP and WSCP Resolutions
arcadis.com
Arcadis U.S., Inc.
320 Commerce
Suite 200
Irvine, California 92602
Tel 714 730 9052
Fax 714 730 9345
www.arcadis.com
Maddaus Water Management, Inc.
105 Zephyr Place
Danville
California 94526
www.maddauswater.com
2020 Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
May 2021
Final Draft
EXHIBIT 2
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
i
2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
May 2021
Prepared By: Prepared For:
Arcadis U.S., Inc. City of Santa Ana
320 Commerce, Suite 200 Public Works Agency
Irvine Water Resources Division
California 92602 20 Civic Center Plaza
Phone: 714 730 9052 Santa Ana, California 92701
https://www.arcadis.com https://www.santa-ana.org
Maddaus Water Management Inc.
Danville, California 94526
Sacramento, California 95816
www.maddauswater.com
Our Ref:
30055240
________________________________________
Lisa Maddaus, PE
Technical Lead
Maddaus Water Management Inc.
________________________________________
Sarina Sriboonlue, PE
Project Manager
Arcadis U.S., Inc.
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
ii
Contents
Acronyms and Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................. v
1 INTRODUCTION AND WSCP OVERVIEW ................................................................................................... 1-1
1.1 Water Shortage Contingency Plan Requirements and Organization .............................................. 1-1
1.2 Integration with Other Planning Efforts ............................................................................................. 1-2
2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ................................................................................................................... 2-1
2.1 City Service Area .................................................................................................................................. 2-1
2.2 Relationship to Wholesalers ............................................................................................................... 2-3
2.3 Relationship with Wholesaler Water Shortage Planning .................................................................. 2-5
2.3.1 MET Water Surplus and Drought Management Plan .................................................................... 2-5
2.3.2 MET Water Supply Allocation Plan ................................................................................................. 2-6
3 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PLANNING ........................ 3-1
3.1 Water Supply Reliability Analysis ....................................................................................................... 3-1
3.2 Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment Procedures.......................................................... 3-1
3.2.1 Decision-Making Process ................................................................................................................ 3-2
City Steps to Approve the Annual Assessment Determination ........................................... 3-2
3.2.2 Data and Methodologies .................................................................................................................. 3-3
Assessment Methodology ....................................................................................................... 3-3
Locally Applicable Evaluation Criteria ................................................................................... 3-4
Water Supply ............................................................................................................................. 3-4
Unconstrained Customer Demand ......................................................................................... 3-5
Planned Water Use for Current Year Considering Dry Subsequent Year ........................... 3-5
Infrastructure Considerations ................................................................................................. 3-6
Other Factors ............................................................................................................................ 3-6
3.3 Six Standard Water Shortage Levels .................................................................................................. 3-7
3.4 Shortage Response Actions ................................................................................................................ 3-9
3.4.1 Demand Reduction ........................................................................................................................... 3-9
3.4.2 Supply Augmentation ..................................................................................................................... 3-10
3.4.3 Operational Changes ...................................................................................................................... 3-10
3.4.4 Additional Mandatory Restrictions ............................................................................................... 3-10
3.4.5 Emergency Response Plan (Hazard Mitigation Plan) ................................................................. 3-10
MET’s WSDM and WSAP ........................................................................................................ 3-10
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
iii
Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County Emergency Operations Plan
3-11
City of Santa Ana Emergency Response Plan..................................................................... 3-12
3.4.6 Seismic Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan ........................................................................... 3-12
3.4.7 Shortage Response Action Effectiveness ................................................................................... 3-13
3.5 Communication Protocols ................................................................................................................. 3-13
3.6 Compliance and Enforcement ........................................................................................................... 3-14
3.7 Legal Authorities ................................................................................................................................ 3-14
3.8 Financial Consequences of WSCP ................................................................................................... 3-14
3.9 Monitoring and Reporting .................................................................................................................. 3-18
3.10 WSCP Refinement Procedures ......................................................................................................... 3-18
3.11 Special Water Feature Distinction .................................................................................................... 3-19
3.12 Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Availability ...................................................................................... 3-19
4 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................... 4-1
Tables
Table 3-1: Retail: Water Shortage Contingency Plan Levels ........................................................................... 3-8
Table 3-2: Agency Contacts and Coordination Protocols .............................................................................. 3-14
Table 3-3: Revenue Impacts Analysis .............................................................................................................. 3-18
Figures
Figure 2-1: City Service Area ............................................................................................................................... 2-2
Figure 2-2: Regional Location of the City and Other MET Member Agencies................................................ 2-4
Figure 2-3: Resource Stages, Anticipated Actions, and Supply Declarations ............................................... 2-6
Figure 3-1: Annual Assessment Reporting Timeline ....................................................................................... 3-3
Figure 3-2: Water Shortage Contingency Plan Annual Assessment Framework .......................................... 3-4
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
iv
Appendices
DWR Submittal Tables
Table 8-1: Water Shortage Contingency Plan Levels
Table 8-2: Demand Reduction Actions
Table 8-3: Supply Augmentation and Other Actions
Santa Ana Municipal Code Chapter 39 Article VI Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Water Shortage Communication Plan
Notice of Public Hearing
Adopted WSCP Resolution
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
v
Acronyms and Abbreviations
% Percent
Act Urban Water Management Planning Act
AF Acre-Feet
Annual Assessment Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment
BPP Basin Production Percentage
City City of Santa Ana
CRA Colorado River Aqueduct
DDW Division of Drinking Water
Delta Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
DRA Drought Risk Assessment
DVL Diamond Valley Lake
DWR California Department of Water Resources
EOC Emergency Operation Center
EOP Emergency Operations Plan
ERP Emergency Response Plan
FY Fiscal Year
GAP Green Acres Project
GSP Groundwater Sustainability Plan
HMP Hazard Mitigation Plan
IRP Integrated Water Resource Plan
M&I Municipal and industrial
MCL Maximum Contaminant Level
MET Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Metropolitan Act Metropolitan Water District Act
MGD Million Gallons per Day
MWDOC Municipal Water District of Orange County
NIMS National Incident Management System
OC Orange County
OC Basin Orange County Groundwater Basin
OC San Orange County Sanitation District
OCWD Orange County Water District
PFAS Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic Acid
PFOS Perfluorooctane Sulfonate
PPT Parts Per Trillion
Producer Groundwater Producer
RL Response Level
SEMS California Standardized Emergency Management System
Supplier Urban Water Supplier
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
vi
SWP State Water Project
SWRCB California State Water Resources Control Board
UWMP Urban Water Management Plan
WARN Water Agency Response Network
Water Code California Water Code
WEROC Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County
WSAP Water Supply Allocation Plan
WSCP Water Shortage Contingency Plan
WSDM Water Surplus and Drought Management Plan
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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1 INTRODUCTION AND WSCP OVERVIEW
The Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) is a strategic planning document designed to prepare for
and respond to water shortages. This WSCP complies with California Water Code (Water Code) Section
10632, which requires that every urban water supplier (Supplier) shall prepare and adopt a WSCP as part
of its Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP). This level of detailed planning and preparation is intended
to help maintain reliable supplies and reduce the impacts of supply interruptions.
The WSCP is the City of Santa Ana (City)’s operating manual that is used to prevent catastrophic service
disruptions through proactive, rather than reactive, management. A water shortage, when water supply
available is insufficient to meet the normally expected customer water use at a given point in time, may
occur due to a number of reasons, such as drought, climate change, and catastrophic events. This plan
provides a structured guide for the City to deal with water shortages, incorporating prescriptive
information and standardized action levels, along with implementation actions in the event of a
catastrophic supply interruption. This way, if and when shortage conditions arise, the City’s governing
body, its staff, and the public can easily identify and efficiently implement pre-determined steps to
manage a water shortage. A well-structured WSCP allows real-time water supply availability assessment
and structured steps designed to respond to actual conditions, to allow for efficient management of any
shortage with predictability and accountability.
The WSCP also describes the City’s procedures for conducting an Annual Water Supply and Demand
Assessment (Annual Assessment) that is required by Water Code Section 10632.1 and is to be submitted
to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) on or before July 1 of each year, or within 14
days of receiving final allocations from the State Water Project (SWP), whichever is later. The City’s 2020
WSCP is included as an appendix to its 2020 UWMP, which will be submitted to DWR by July 1, 2021.
However, this WSCP is created separately from the City’s 2020 UWMP and can be amended, as needed,
without amending the UWMP. Furthermore, the Water Code does not prohibit a Supplier from taking
actions not specified in its WSCP, if needed, without having to formally amend its UWMP or WSCP.
1.1 Water Shortage Contingency Plan Requirements and
Organization
The WSCP provides the steps and water shortage response actions to be taken in times of water
shortage conditions. WSCP has prescriptive elements, such as an analysis of water supply reliability; the
water shortage response actions for each of the six standard water shortage levels that correspond to
water shortage percentages ranging from 10% to greater than 50%; an estimate of potential to close
supply gap for each measure; protocols and procedures to communicate identified actions for any current
or predicted water shortage conditions; procedures for an Annual Assessment; monitoring and reporting
requirements to determine customer compliance; reevaluation and improvement procedures for
evaluating the WSCP.
This WSCP is organized into three main sections, with Section 3 aligned with Water Code Section 16032
requirements.
Section 1 Introduction and WSCP Overview gives an overview of the WSCP fundamentals.
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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Section 2 Background provides a background on the City’s water service area.
Section 3 Water Shortage Contingency Preparedness and Response Planning.
Section 3.1 Water Supply Reliability Analysis provides a summary of the water supply analysis and
water reliability findings from the 2020 UWMP.
Section 3.2 Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment Procedures provide a description of
procedures to conduct and approve the Annual Assessment.
Section 3.3 Six Standard Water Shortage Stages explains the WSCP’s six standard water shortage
levels corresponding to progressive ranges of up to 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and more than 50% shortages.
Section 3.4 Shortage Response Actions describes the WSCP’s shortage response actions that align
with the defined shortage levels.
Section 3.5 Communication Protocols addresses communication protocols and procedures to inform
customers, the public, interested parties, and local, regional, and state governments, regarding any
current or predicted shortages and any resulting shortage response actions.
Section 3.6 Compliance and Enforcement describes customer compliance, enforcement, appeal, and
exemption procedures for triggered shortage response actions.
Section 3.7 Legal Authorities is a description of the legal authorities that enable the City to implement
and enforce its shortage response actions.
Section 3.8 Financial Consequences of the WSCP provides a description of the financial
consequences of and responses for drought conditions.
Section 3.9 Monitoring and Reporting describes monitoring and reporting requirements and procedures
that ensure appropriate data is collected, tracked, and analyzed for purposes of monitoring customer
compliance and to meet state reporting requirements.
Section 3.10 WSCP Refinement Procedures addresses reevaluation and improvement procedures for
monitoring and evaluating the functionality of the WSCP.
Section 3.11 Special Water Feature Distinction is a required definition for inclusion in a WSCP per the
Water Code.
Section 3.12 Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Implementation provides a record of the process the City
followed to adopt and implement its WSCP.
1.2 Integration with Other Planning Efforts
As a retail water supplier in Orange County, the City considered other key entities in the development of
this WSCP, including the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California ([MET] (regional wholesaler
for Southern California and the direct supplier of imported water to the City)) and Orange County Water
District ([OCWD] (Orange County Groundwater Basin manager and provider of recycled water in North
Orange County)).
Some of the key planning and reporting documents that were used to develop this WSCP are:
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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2021 Orange County Water Demand Forecast for the Municipal Water District of Orange
County (MWDOC) and OCWD Technical Memorandum (Demand Forecast TM) provides the
basis for water demand projections for MWDOC’s member agencies as well as the City and the
Cities of Anaheim and Fullerton.
MET’s 2020 Integrated Water Resources Plan (IRP) is a long-term planning document to
ensure water supply availability in Southern California and provides a basis for water supply
reliability in Orange County.
MET’s 2020 UWMP was developed as a part of the 2020 IRP planning process and was used by
MWDOC as another basis for the projections of supply capability of the imported water received
from MET.
MET’s 2020 WSCP provides a water supply assessment and guide for MET’s intended actions
during water shortage conditions.
OCWD’s 2019-20 Engineer’s Report provides information on the groundwater conditions and
basin utilization of the Orange County Groundwater Basin (OC Basin).
OCWD’s 2017 Basin 8-1 Alternative is an alternative to the Groundwater Sustainability Plan
(GSP) for the OC Basin and provides significant information related to sustainable management
of the basin in the past and hydrogeology of the basin, including groundwater quality and basin
characteristics.
2020 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) provides the basis for the seismic risk analysis of the
water system facilities.
Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission’s 2020 Municipal Service Review for
MWDOC Report provides a comprehensive service review of the municipal services provided by
MWDOC.
Water Master Plan and Sewer Master Plan of the City provide information on water
infrastructure planning projects and plans to address any required water system improvements.
Groundwater Management Plans provide the groundwater sustainability goals for the basins in
the MWDOC’s service area and the programs, actions, and strategies activities that support those
goals.
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The City is one of the oldest cities in Orange County that was incorporated in 1886 and became an
original member agency of MET on February 27, 1931. The City is governed by a non-partisan seven-
member City Council, elected to serve staggered four-year terms, except for the Mayor, who serves a
two-year term. The City Council appoints the City Manager and various members of commissions,
committees, and citizen advisory groups, all of which may weigh in on water management issues and
decisions for the City.
2.1 City Service Area
The City is in the heart of Orange County and rated eleventh largest in California. The City’s Water Utility
provides water service within a 27.5 square mile service area that includes the City of Santa Ana and a
small neighborhood in the City of Orange, near Tustin Avenue and Fairhaven by the northeast corner of
Santa Ana. The City’s water service area is shown in Figure 2-1. The City operates ten reservoirs with a
storage capacity of 49 million gallons, seven pumping stations, 21 groundwater wells, four pressure
regulating stations and seven import water connections and manages 510.1-mile water mains system
with 45,037 service connections.
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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Figure 2-1: City Service Area
Although the City supplements its water supply portfolio with recycled water, the WSCP only applies to its
potable water supply. The City is directly involved in wastewater services through its ownership and
operation of the wastewater collection system in its service area and sends all collected wastewater to
Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) for treatment and disposal. The City provides OCWD Green
Acres Project (GAP) recycled water to the southern part of the City, as detailed in Section 6.6 of the City’s
2020 UWMP (Santa Ana, 2021a). The City will determine the recycled water demand reduction actions
for recycled water based on the availability of supply and to meet necessary wastewater discharge permit
requirements.
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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2.2 Relationship to Wholesalers
MET: MET is the largest water wholesaler for domestic and municipal uses in California, serving
approximately 19 million customers. MET wholesales imported water supplies to 26 member cities and
water districts in six Southern California counties. Its service area covers the Southern California coastal
plain, extending approximately 200 miles along the Pacific Ocean from the City of Oxnard in the north to
the international boundary with Mexico in the south. This encompasses 5,200 square miles and includes
portions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties.
Approximately 85% of the population from the aforementioned counties reside within MET's boundaries.
MET is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of 38 appointed individuals with a minimum of one
representative from each of MET’s 26 member agencies. The allocation of directors and voting rights are
determined by each agency’s assessed valuation. Each member of the Board shall be entitled to cast one
vote for each ten million dollars ($10,000,000) of assessed valuation of property taxable for district
purposes, in accordance with Section 55 of the Metropolitan Water District Act (Metropolitan Act).
Directors can be appointed through the chief executive officer of the member agency or by a majority vote
of the governing board of the agency. Directors are not compensated by MET for their service.
MET is responsible for importing water into the region through its operation of the Colorado River
Aqueduct (CRA) and its contract with the State of California for SWP supplies. Member agencies receive
water from MET through various delivery points and pay for service through a rate structure made up of
volumetric rates, capacity charges and readiness to serve charges. Member agencies provide estimates
of imported water demand to MET annually in April regarding the amount of water they anticipate they will
need to meet their demands for the next five years.
The City is one of MET’s member agencies that purchases water directly from MET. The City’s location
within Orange County is shown on Figure 2-2.
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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Figure 2-2: Regional Location of the City and Other MET Member Agencies
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
2-5
2.3 Relationship with Wholesaler Water Shortage Planning
The WSCP is designed to be consistent with MET’s Water Shortage and Demand Management (WSDM)
Plan and Water Supply Allocation Plan (WSAP), and other emergency planning efforts as described
below. MET’s WSAP is integral to the WSCP’s shortage response strategy in the event that MET
determines that supply augmentation (including storage) and lesser demand reduction measures would
not be sufficient to meet a projected shortage levels needed to meet demands.
2.3.1 MET Water Surplus and Drought Management Plan
MET evaluates the level of supplies available and existing levels of water in storage to determine the
appropriate management stage annually. Each stage is associated with specific resource management
actions to avoid extreme shortages to the extent possible and minimize adverse impacts to retail
customers should an extreme shortage occur. The sequencing outlined in the WSDM Plan reflects
anticipated responses towards MET’s existing and expected resource mix.
Surplus stages occur when net annual deliveries can be made to water storage programs. Under the
WSDM Plan, there are four surplus management stages that provides a framework for actions to take for
surplus supplies. Deliveries in Diamond Valley Lake (DVL) and in SWP terminal reservoirs continue
through each surplus stage provided there is available storage capacity. Withdrawals from DVL for
regulatory purposes or to meet seasonal demands may occur in any stage.
The WSDM Plan distinguishes between shortages, severe shortages, and extreme shortages. The
differences between each term are listed below.
Shortage: MET can meet full-service demands and partially meet or fully meet interruptible demands
using stored water or water transfers as necessary.
Severe Shortage: MET can meet full-service demands only by using stored water, transfers, and
possibly calling for extraordinary conservation.
Extreme Shortage: MET must allocate available supply to full-service customers.
There are six shortage management stages to guide resource management activities. These stages are
defined by shortfalls in imported supply and water balances in MET’s storage programs. When MET must
make net withdrawals from storage to meet demands, it is considered to be in a shortage condition.
Figure 2-3 gives a summary of actions under each surplus and shortage stages when an allocation plan
is necessary to enforce mandatory cutbacks. The goal of the WSDM plan is to avoid Stage 6, an extreme
shortage (MET, 1999).
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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Figure 2-3: Resource Stages, Anticipated Actions, and Supply Declarations
Source: MET, 1999.
MET’s Board of Directors adopted a Water Supply Condition Framework in June 2008 in order to
communicate the urgency of the region’s water supply situation and the need for further water
conservation practices. The framework has four conditions, each calling increasing levels of conservation.
Descriptions for each of the four conditions are listed below:
Baseline Water Use Efficiency: Ongoing conservation, outreach, and recycling programs to achieve
permanent reductions in water use and build storage reserves.
Condition 1 Water Supply Watch: Local agency voluntary dry-year conservation measures and use of
regional storage reserves.
Condition 2 Water Supply Alert: Regional call for cities, counties, member agencies, and retail water
agencies to implement extraordinary conservation through drought ordinances and other measures to
mitigate use of storage reserves.
Condition 3 Water Supply Allocation: Implement MET’s WSAP.
As noted in Condition 3, should supplies become limited to the point where imported water demands
cannot be met, MET will allocate water through the WSAP (MET, 2021a).
2.3.2 MET Water Supply Allocation Plan
MET’s imported supplies have been impacted by a number of water supply challenges as noted earlier. In
case of extreme water shortage within the MET service area is the implementation of its WSAP.
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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MET’s Board of Directors originally adopted the WSAP in February 2008 to fairly distribute a limited
amount of water supply and applies it through a detailed methodology to reflect a range of local
conditions and needs of the region’s retail water consumers (MET, 2021a).
The WSAP includes the specific formula for calculating member agency supply allocations and the key
implementation elements needed for administering an allocation. MET’s WSAP is the foundation for the
urban water shortage contingency analysis required under Water Code Section 10632 and is part of
MET’s 2020 UWMP.
MET’s WSAP was developed in consideration of the principles and guidelines in MET’s 1999 WSDM Plan
with the core objective of creating an equitable “needs-based allocation.” The WSAP’s formula seeks to
balance the impacts of a shortage at the retail level while maintaining equity on the wholesale level for
shortages of MET supplies of up to greater than 50%. The formula takes into account a number of
factors, such as the impact on retail customers, growth in population, changes in supply conditions,
investments in local resources, demand hardening aspects of water conservation savings, recycled water,
extraordinary storage and transfer actions, and groundwater imported water needs.
The formula is calculated in three steps: 1) based period calculations, 2) allocation year calculations, and
3) supply allocation calculations. The first two steps involve standard computations, while the third step
contains specific methodology developed for the WSAP.
Step 1: Base Period Calculations –The first step in calculating a member agency’s water supply
allocation is to estimate their water supply and demand using a historical based period with established
water supply and delivery data. The base period for each of the different categories of supply and
demand is calculated using data from the two most recent non-shortage years.
Step 2: Allocation Year Calculations –The next step in calculating the member agency’s water supply
allocation is estimating water needs in the allocation year. This is done by adjusting the base period
estimates of retail demand for population growth and changes in local supplies.
Step 3: Supply Allocation Calculations –The final step is calculating the water supply allocation for
each member agency based on the allocation year water needs identified in Step 2.
In order to implement the WSAP, MET’s Board of Directors makes a determination on the level of the
regional shortage, based on specific criteria, typically in April. The criteria used by MET includes, current
levels of storage, estimated water supplies conditions, and projected imported water demands. The
allocations, if deemed necessary, go into effect in July of the same year and remain in effect for a 12-
month period. The schedule is made at the discretion of the Board of Directors (MET, 2021b).
As demonstrated by the findings in MET’s 2020 UWMP both the Water Reliability Assessment and the
Drought Risk Assessment (DRA) demonstrate that MET is able to mitigate the challenges posed by
hydrologic variability, potential climate change, and regulatory risk on its imported supply sources through
the significant storage capabilities it has developed over the last two decades, both dry-year and
emergency storage (MET, 2021a).
Although MET’s 2020 UWMP forecasts that MET will be able to meet projected imported demands
throughout the projected period from 2025 to 2045, uncertainty in supply conditions can result in MET
needing to implement its WSAP to preserve dry-year storage and curtail demands (MET, 2021b).
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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3 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND
RESPONSE PLANNING
The City’s WSCP is a detailed guide of how the City intends to act in the case of an actual water shortage
condition. The WSCP anticipates a water supply shortage and provides pre-planned guidance for managing and
mitigating a shortage. Regardless of the reason for the shortage, the WSCP is based on adequate details of
demand reduction and supply augmentation measures that are structured to match varying degrees of shortage
will ensure the relevant stakeholders understand what to expect during a water shortage situation.
3.1 Water Supply Reliability Analysis
Per Water Code Section 10632 (a)(1), the WSCP shall provide an analysis of water supply reliability conducted
pursuant to Water Code Section 10635, and the key issues that may create a shortage condition when looking at
the City’s water asset portfolio.
Understanding water supply reliability, factors that could contribute to water supply constraints, availability of
alternative supplies, and what effect these have on meeting customer demands provides the City with a solid
basis on which to develop appropriate and feasible response actions in the event of a water shortage. In the 2020
UWMP, the City conducted a Water Reliability Assessment to compare the total water supply sources available to
the water supplier with long-term projected water use over the next 20 years, in five-year increments, for a normal
water year, a single dry water year, and a drought lasting five consecutive water years (Santa Ana, 2021a).
The City also conducted a DRA to evaluate a drought period that lasts five consecutive water years starting from
the year following when the assessment is conducted. An analysis of both assessments determined that the City
is capable of meeting all customers’ demands from 2021 through 2045 for a normal year, a single dry year, and a
drought lasting five consecutive years with significant imported water supplemental drought supplies from MET
and ongoing conservation program efforts. The City receives the majority of its water supply from groundwater
from the OC Basin, as well as supplemental supplies from local recycled water from the OCWD GAP that adds
reliability for non-potable water demand.
As a result, there is no projected shortage condition due to drought that will trigger customer demand reduction
actions until MET notifies the City of insufficient imported supplies. More information is available in the City’s 2020
UWMP Sections 6 and 7 (Santa Ana, 2021a).
3.2 Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment Procedures
Per Water Code Section 10632.1, the City will conduct an Annual Assessment pursuant to subdivision (a) of
Section 10632 and by July 1st of each year, beginning in 2022, submit an Annual Assessment with information for
anticipated shortage, triggered shortage response actions, compliance and enforcement actions, and
communication actions consistent with the Supplier’s WSCP.
The City must include in its WSCP the procedures used for conducting an Annual Assessment. The Annual
Assessment is a determination of the near-term outlook for supplies and demands and how a perceived shortage
may relate to WSCP shortage stage response actions in the current calendar year. This determination is based
on information available to the City at the time of the analysis. Starting in 2022, the Annual Assessment will be
due by July 1 of every year.
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This section documents the decision-making process required for formal approval of the City’s Annual
Assessment determination of water supply reliability each year and the key data inputs and the methodologies
used to evaluate the water system reliability for the coming year, while considering that the year to follow would
be considered dry.
3.2.1 Decision-Making Process
The following decision-making process describes the functional steps that the City will take to formally approve
the Annual Assessment determination of water supply reliability each year.
City Steps to Approve the Annual Assessment Determination
The City receives groundwater from OCWD. The OC Basin is not adjudicated and as such, pumping from the OC
Basin is managed through a process that uses financial incentives to encourage groundwater producers
(Producer) to pump a sustainable amount of water. The framework for the financial incentives is based on
establishing the Basin Production Percentage (BPP), the percentage of each Producer’s total water supply that
comes from groundwater pumped from the OC Basin. The BPP is set uniformly for all Producers by OCWD on an
annual basis in by OCWD Board of Directors. Based on the projected water demand and water modeled water
supply, over the long-term, OCWD anticipates sustainably supporting a BPP of 85%; however, volumes of
groundwater and imported water may vary depending on OCWD's actual BPP projections.
While the City’s primary source of water is OCWD groundwater, any remaining source to meet retail demands
comes from the purchase of imported water from MET. As a direct MET member, the Annual Assessment will be
predicated on MET’s WSDM supply demand tracking, which is reported monthly to their Board of Directors. MET
WSDM planning involves the examination of developing demand and supply conditions for the calendar year, as
well as considerations of potential actions consistent with the WSDM Plan. Additionally, City staff simultaneously
provide water supply and demand reports to MET to inform them of emerging demand and supply conditions.
These monthly analyses provide key information for MET to manage resources to meet a range of estimated
demands and adjust to changing conditions throughout the year. Based on the year’s supply conditions and
WSDM actions, MET will present a completed Annual Assessment for its member agencies’ review from which
they will then seek Board approval in April of each year. Additionally, MET expects that any triggers or specific
shortage response actions that result from the Annual Assessment would be approved by their Board at that time
and this information will be incorporated into the City’s Annual Assessment.
The Executive Director of Public Works, or Designee (i.e., Water Resource Manager), will be responsible to
approve and Annual Assessment in June and formally submit to DWR prior to the July 1 deadline.
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Figure 3-1: Annual Assessment Reporting Timeline
3.2.2 Data and Methodologies
The following paragraphs document the key data inputs and methodologies that are used to evaluate the water
system reliability for the coming year, while considering that the year to follow would be considered dry.
Assessment Methodology
The City will evaluate water supply reliability for the current year and one dry year for the purpose of the Annual
Assessment. The Annual Assessment determination will be based on considerations of unconstrained water
demand, local water supplies, MET imported water supplies, planned water use, and infrastructure
considerations. The balance between projected in-service area supplies, coupled with MET imported supplies,
and anticipated unconstrained demand will be used to determine what, if any, shortage stage is expected under
the WSCP framework as presented in Figure 3-2. The WSCP’s standard shortage stages are defined in terms of
shortage percentages. Shortage percentages will be calculated by dividing the difference between water supplies
and unconstrained demand by total unconstrained demand. This calculation will be performed separately for
anticipated current year conditions and for assumed dry year conditions.
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Figure 3-2: Water Shortage Contingency Plan Annual Assessment Framework
Locally Applicable Evaluation Criteria
Within Orange County, there are no significant local applicable criteria that directly affect reliability. Through the
years, the water agencies in Orange County have made tremendous efforts to integrate their systems to provide
flexibility to interchange with different sources of supplies. There are emergency agreements in place to ensure all
parts of the County have an adequate supply of water. In the northern part of the County, agencies have the
ability to meet a majority of their demands through groundwater with very little limitation, except for the OCWD
BPP.
The City will also continue to monitor emerging supply and demand conditions related to supplemental imported
water from MET and take appropriate actions consistent with the flexibility and adaptiveness inherent to the WSCP.
The City’s Annual Assessment was based on the City’s service area, water sources, water supply reliability, and
water use as described in Water Code Section 10631, including available data from state, regional, or local agency
population, land use development, and climate change projections within the service area of the City. Some
conditions that affect MET’s wholesale supply and demand, such as groundwater replenishment, surface water and
local supply production, can differ significantly from earlier projections throughout the year.
However, if a major earthquake on the San Andreas Fault occurs, it has the potential to damage all three key
regional water aqueducts and disrupt imported supplies for up to six months. The region would likely impose a
water use reduction ranging from 10-25% until the system is repaired. However, MET and MWDOC have taken
proactive steps to handle such disruption, such as constructing DVL, which mitigates potential impacts. DVL,
along with other local reservoirs, can store a six to twelve-month supply of emergency water (MET, 2021b).
Water Supply
As detailed in the City’s 2020 UWMP, the City meets all of its customers’ demands with a combination of local
groundwater, imported water from MET, and local recycled water. The City’s main source of water supply is
groundwater from the OC Basin, with imported water from MET and recycled water making up the rest of the
City’s water supply portfolio. In fiscal year (FY) 2019-20, the City relied on 76% groundwater, 23% imported
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water, and 1% recycled water. It is projected that by 2045, the water supply portfolio will change to approximately
84% groundwater, 15% imported water, and 1% recycled water, reflecting the increase in OCWD’s BPP to 85%
beginning in 2025 (Santa Ana, 2021a).
Unconstrained Customer Demand
The WSCP and Annual Assessment define unconstrained demand as expected water use prior to any projected
shortage response actions that may be taken under the WSCP. Unconstrained demand is distinguished from
observed demand, which may be constrained by preceding, ongoing, or future actions, such as emergency supply
allocations during a multi-year drought. WSCP shortage response actions to constrain demand are inherently
extraordinary; routine activities such as ongoing conservation programs and regular operational adjustments are
not considered as constraints on demands.
The City’s DRA reveals that its supply capabilities are expected to balance anticipated total water use and supply,
assuming a five-year consecutive drought from FY 2020-21 through FY 2024-25 (Santa Ana, 2021a). Water
demands in a five-year consecutive drought are calculated as a six percent increase in water demand above a
normal year for each year of the drought (CDM Smith, 2021).
Planned Water Use for Current Year Considering Dry Subsequent Year
Water Code Section 10632(a)(2)(B)(ii) requires the Annual Assessment to determine “current year available
supply, considering hydrological and regulatory conditions in the current year and one dry year.” The Annual
Assessment will include two separate estimates of the City’s annual water supply and unconstrained demand
using: 1) current year conditions, and 2) assumed dry year conditions.
The Annual Assessment will include two separate estimates of City’s annual water supply and unconstrained
demand using: 1) current year conditions, and 2) assumed dry year conditions. Accordingly, the Annual
Assessment’s shortage analysis will present separate sets of findings for the current year and dry year scenarios.
The Water Code does not specify the characteristics of a dry year, allowing discretion to the Supplier. The City
will use its discretion to refine and update its assumptions for a dry year scenarios in each Annual Assessment as
information becomes available and in accordance with best management practices.
Supply and demand analyses for the single-dry year case was based on conditions affecting the SWP as this
supply availability fluctuates the most among MET’s, and therefore the City’s sources of supply. FY 2013-14 was
the single driest year for SWP supplies with an allocation of 5% to Municipal and Industrial (M&I) uses. Unique to
this year, the 5% SWP allocation was later reduced to 0%, before ending up at its final allocation of 5%, highlight
the stressed water supplies for the year. Furthermore, on January 17, 2014 Governor Brown declared the drought
State of Emergency citing 2014 as the driest year in California history. Additionally, within Orange County,
precipitation for FY 2013-14 was the second lowest on record, with 4.37 inches of rain, significantly impacting
water demands.
The water demand forecasting model developed for the Demand Forecast TM isolated the impacts that weather
and future climate can have on water demand through the use of a statistical model. The impacts of hot/dry
weather conditions are reflected as a percentage increase in water demands from the normal year condition
(average of FY 2017-18 and FY 2018-19). For a single dry year condition (FY 2013-14), the model projects a 6%
increase in demand for the OC Basin area where the City’s service area is located (CDM Smith, 2021). Detailed
information of the model is included in the City’s 2020 UWMP.
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The City has documented that it is 100% reliable for single dry year demands from 2025 through 2045 with a
demand increase of 6% from normal demand with significant reserves held by MET, local groundwater supplies,
and conservation (Santa Ana, 2021a).
Infrastructure Considerations
The Annual Assessment will include consideration of any infrastructure issues that may pertain to near-term water
supply reliability, including repairs, construction, and environmental mitigation measures that may temporarily
constrain capabilities, as well as any new projects that may add to system capacity.
Following is a list of considerations that have the potential to negatively impact water supply reliability and will be
considered in the Annual Assessment:
MWD pipeline outages (Orange County Feeder and/or East Orange County Feeder #2).
City currently has 5 groundwater wells placed out of service due to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS) contamination.
Planned well/pump station rehabilitation/construction projects including Well 32 and Garthe Pump Station.
Following is a list of considerations that have the potential to positively impact water supply reliability and will be
considered in the Annual Assessment:
Drilling of new wells currently planned for Washington Well & Flower Well.
Expansion of recycled water customers and system.
AMI project implementation (expected to result in lower water use and less system losses).
Other Factors
For the Annual Assessment, any known issues related to water quality would be considered for their potential
effects on water supply reliability.
PFAS are a group of thousands of manmade chemicals that includes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and
perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). PFAS compounds were once commonly used in many products including,
among many others, stain- and water-repellent fabrics, nonstick products (e.g., Teflon), polishes, waxes, paints,
cleaning products, and fire-fighting foams. Beginning in the summer of 2019, the California State Division of
Drinking Water (DDW) began requiring testing for PFAS compounds in some groundwater production wells in the
OCWD area.
The City has PFAS contamination in 5 wells. PFAS are of particular concern for groundwater quality, and since
the summer of 2019, DDW requires testing for PFAS compounds in some groundwater production wells in the
OCWD area. In February 2020, the DDW lowered its Response Levels (RL) for PFOA and PFOS to 10 and 40
parts per trillion (ppt) respectively. The DDW recommends Producers not serve any water exceeding the RL –
effectively making the RL an interim Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) while DDW undertakes administrative
action to set an MCL. In response to DDW’s issuance of the revised RL, as of December 2020, approximately 45
wells in the OCWD service area have been temporarily turned off until treatment systems can be constructed.
As additional wells are tested, OCWD expects this figure may increase to at least 70 to 80 wells. The state has
begun the process of establishing MCLs for PFOA and PFOS and anticipates these MCLs to be in effect by the
Fall of 2023. OCWD anticipates the MCLs will be set at or below the RLs.
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In April 2020, OCWD as the groundwater basin manager, executed an agreement with the impacted Producers to
fund and construct the necessary treatment systems for production wells impacted by PFAS compounds. The
PFAS treatment projects includes the design, permitting, construction, and operation of PFAS removal systems
for impacted Producer production wells. Each well treatment system will be evaluated for use with either granular
activated carbon or ion exchange for the removal of PFAS compounds. These treatment systems utilize vessels
in a lead-lag configuration to remove PFOA and PFOS to less than 2 ppt (the current non-detect limit). Use of
these PFAS treatment systems are designed to ensure the groundwater supplied by Producer wells can be
served in compliance with current and future PFAS regulations. With financial assistance from OCWD, the
Producers will operate and maintain the new treatment systems once they are constructed.
To minimize expenses and provide maximum protection to the public water supply, OCWD initiated design,
permitting, and construction of the PFAS treatment projects on a schedule that allows rapid deployment of
treatment systems. Construction contracts were awarded for treatment systems for production wells in the City of
Fullerton and Serrano Water District in Year 2020. Additional construction contracts will likely be awarded in the
first and second quarters of 2021. OCWD expects the treatment systems to be constructed for most of the initial
45 wells above the RL within the next 2 to 3 years.
As additional data are collected and new wells experience PFAS detections at or near the current RL, and/or
above a future MCL, and are turned off, OCWD will continue to partner with the affected Producers and take
action to design and construct necessary treatment systems to bring the impacted wells back online as quickly as
possible.
Groundwater production in FY 2019-20 was expected to be approximately 325,000 acre-feet (AF) but declined to
286,550 AF primarily due to PFAS impacted wells being turned off around February 2020. OCWD expects
groundwater production to be in the area of 245,000 AF in FY 2020-21 due to the currently idled wells and
additional wells being impacted by PFAS and turned off. As PFAS treatment systems are constructed, OCWD
expects total annual groundwater production to slowly increase back to normal levels (310,000 to 330,000 AF)
(OCWD, 2020).
3.3 Six Standard Water Shortage Levels
Per Water Code Section 10632 (a)(3)(A), the City must include the six standard water shortage levels that
represent shortages from the normal reliability as determined in the Annual Assessment. The shortage levels
have been standardized to provide a consistent regional and statewide approach to conveying the relative
severity of water supply shortage conditions. This is an outgrowth of the severe statewide drought of 2012-2016,
and the widely recognized public communication and state policy uncertainty associated with the many different
local definitions of water shortage Levels.
The six standard water shortage levels correspond to progressively increasing estimated shortage conditions (up
to 10, 20, 30, 40, 50%, and greater than 50% shortage compared to the normal reliability condition) and align with
the response actions the Supplier would implement to meet the severity of the impending shortages (Table 3-1).
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Table 3-1: Retail: Water Shortage Contingency Plan Levels
Submittal Table 8-1
Water Shortage Contingency Plan Levels
Shortage
Level
Percent
Shortage Range Shortage Response Actions
0 0% (Normal)
A Level 0 Water Supply Shortage – Condition exists when the City notifies its water
users that no supply reductions are anticipated in this year. The City proceeds with
planned water efficiency best practices to support consumer demand reduction in line
with state mandated requirements and local City goals for water supply
reliability. Permanent water waste prohibitions are in place as stipulated in the City’s
Water Shortage Response Ordinance.
1 Up to 10%
A Level 1 Water Supply Shortage – Condition exists when the City notifies its water
users that due to drought or other supply reductions, a consumer demand reduction of
up to 10% is necessary to make more efficient use of water and respond to existing
water conditions. Upon the declaration of a Water Aware condition, the City
shall implement the mandatory Level 1 conservation measures identified in this WSCP.
The type of event that may prompt the City to declare a Level 1 Water Supply Shortage
may include, among other factors, a finding that its wholesale water provider calls for
extraordinary water conservation.
2 11% to 20%
A Level 2 Water Supply Shortage – Condition exists when the City notifies its water
users that due to drought or other supply reductions, a consumer demand reduction of
up to 20% is necessary to make more efficient use of water and respond to existing
water conditions. Upon declaration of a Level 2 Water Supply Shortage condition,
the City shall implement the mandatory Level 2 conservation measures identified in this
WSCP.
3 21% to 30%
A Level 3 Water Supply Shortage – Condition exists when the City declares a water
shortage emergency condition pursuant to California Water Code section 350 and
notifies its residents and businesses that up to 30% consumer demand reduction is
required to ensure sufficient supplies for human consumption, sanitation and fire
protection. The City must declare a Water Supply Shortage Emergency in the manner
and on the grounds provided in California Water Code section 350.
4 31% to 40%
A Level 4 Water Supply Shortage - Condition exists when the City declares a water
shortage emergency condition pursuant to California Water Code section 350 and
notifies its residents and businesses that up to 40% consumer demand reduction is
required to ensure sufficient supplies for human consumption, sanitation and fire
protection. The City must declare a Water Supply Shortage Emergency in the manner
and on the grounds provided in California Water Code section 350.
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Submittal Table 8-1
Water Shortage Contingency Plan Levels
Shortage
Level
Percent
Shortage Range Shortage Response Actions
5 41% to 50%
A Level 5 Water Supply Shortage – Condition exists when the City declares a water
shortage emergency condition pursuant to California Water Code section 350 and
notifies its residents and businesses that up to 50% or more consumer demand
reduction is required to ensure sufficient supplies for human consumption, sanitation
and fire protection. The City must declare a Water Supply Shortage Emergency in the
manner and on the grounds provided in California Water Code section 350.
6 >50%
A Level 6 Water Supply Shortage – Condition exists when the City declares a water
shortage emergency condition pursuant to California Water Code section 350 and
notifies its residents and businesses that greater than 50% or more consumer demand
reduction is required to ensure sufficient supplies for human consumption, sanitation
and fire protection. The City must declare a Water Supply Shortage Emergency in the
manner and on the grounds provided in California Water Code section 350.
NOTES:
3.4 Shortage Response Actions
Water Code Section 10632 (a)(4) requires the WSCP to specify shortage response actions that align with the
defined shortage levels. The City has defined specific shortage response actions that align with the defined
shortage levels in DWR Tables 8-2 and 8-3 (Appendix A). These shortage response actions were developed with
consideration to the system infrastructure and operations changes, supply augmentation responses, customer-
class or water use-specific demand reduction initiatives, and increasingly stringent water use prohibitions.
3.4.1 Demand Reduction
The demand reduction measures that would be implemented to address shortage levels are described in DWR
Table 8-2 (Appendix A). This table indicates which actions align with specific defined shortage levels and
estimates the extent to which that action will reduce the gap between supplies and demands. DWR Table 8-2
(Appendix A) demonstrates to the that choose suite of shortage response actions can be expected to deliver the
expected outcomes necessary to meet the requirements of a given shortage level (e.g., target of an additional
10% water savings). This table also identifies the enforcement action, if any, associated with each demand
reduction measure.
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3.4.2 Supply Augmentation
The supply augmentation actions are described in DWR Table 8-3 (Appendix A). These augmentations represent
short-term management objectives triggered by the MET’s WSDM Plan and do not overlap with the long-term new
water supply development or supply reliability enhancement projects. Supply augmentation is made available to
the City through MET and OCWD. The City has the ability to pump additional groundwater from the OC Basin or
purchase additional imported water from MET as a MET member agency. However, both additional pumped
groundwater and purchased imported water are subject to rate penalties from OCWD and MET, respectively.
MET’s reliability portfolio of water supply programs including existing water transfers, storage and exchange
agreements to supplement gaps in the City’s supply/demand balance. MET has developed significant storage
capacity (over 5 million AF) in reservoirs and groundwater banking programs both within and outside of the
Southern California region. Additionally, MET can pursue additional water transfer and exchange programs with
other water agencies to help mitigate supply/demand imbalances and provide additional dry-year supply sources.
3.4.3 Operational Changes
During shortage conditions, operations may be affected by supply augmentation or demand reduction responses.
The City considered their operational procedures to identify changes that can be implemented to address water
shortage on a short-term basis, including:
Avoid hydrant flushing when possible.
Alter maintenance cycles.
Reduce pressure.
3.4.4 Additional Mandatory Restrictions
Water Code Section 10632(a)(4)(D) calls for “additional, mandatory prohibitions against specific water use
practices that are in addition to state-mandated prohibitions and appropriate to the local conditions” to be included
among the WSCP’s shortage response actions. The City will identify additional mandatory restrictions as needed
based on the existing Santa Ana Municipal Code Chapter 39 Article VI Water Shortage Contingency Plan
(Appendix B). The City intends to update any mandatory restrictions in a subsequently adopted ordinance which
will supersede the existing ordinance.
3.4.5 Emergency Response Plan (Hazard Mitigation Plan)
A catastrophic water shortage would be addressed according to the appropriate water shortage level and
response actions. It is likely that a catastrophic shortage would immediately trigger Shortage Level 6 and
response actions have been put in place to mitigate a catastrophic shortage. In addition, there are several Plans
that address catastrophic failures and align with the WSCP, including MET’s WSDM and WSAP, the City’s HMP,
and the Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County (WEROC)’s Emergency Operations Plan
(EOP).
MET’s WSDM and WSAP
MET has comprehensive plans for stages of actions it would undertake to address a catastrophic interruption in
water supplies through its WSDM and WSAP. MET also developed an Emergency Storage Requirement to
mitigate against potential interruption in water supplies resulting from catastrophic occurrences within the
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southern California region, including seismic events along the San Andreas Fault. In addition, MET is working with
the state to implement a comprehensive improvement plan to address catastrophic occurrences outside of the
southern California region, such as a maximum probable seismic event in the Delta that would cause levee failure
and disruption of SWP deliveries.
Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County Emergency
Operations Plan
In 1983, the Orange County water community identified a need to develop a plan on how agencies would respond
effectively to disasters impacting the regional water distribution system. The collective efforts of these agencies
resulted in the formation of WEROC to coordinate emergency response on behalf of all Orange County water and
wastewater agencies, develop an emergency plan to respond to disasters, and conduct disaster training
exercises for the Orange County water community. WEROC was established with the creation of an
indemnification agreement between its member agencies to protect each other against civil liabilities and to
facilitate the exchange of resources. WEROC is unique in its ability to provide a single point of contact for
representation of all water and wastewater utilities in Orange County during a disaster. This representation is to
the county, state, and federal disaster coordination agencies. Within the Orange County Operational Area,
WEROC is the recognized contact for emergency response for the water community, including the City.
As a member of WEROC, the City will follow WEROC’s EOP in the event of an emergency and coordinate with
WEROC to assess damage, initiate repairs, and request and coordinate mutual aid resources in the event that the
City is unable to provide the level of emergency response support required by the situation.
The EOP defines the actions to be taken by WEROC Emergency Operations Center (EOC) staff to reduce the
loss of water and wastewater infrastructure; to respond effectively to a disaster; and to coordinate recovery
operations in the aftermath of any emergency involving extensive damage to Orange County water and
wastewater utilities. The EOP includes activation notification protocol that will be used to contact partner agencies
to inform them of the situation, activation status of the EOC, known damage or impacts, or resource needs. The
EOP is a standalone document that is reviewed annually and approved by the Board every three years.
WEROC is organized on the basis that each member agency is responsible for developing its own EOP in
accordance with the California Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), National Incident
Management System (NIMS), and Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of
2002 to meet specific emergency needs within its service area.
The WEROC EOC is responsible for assessing the overall condition and status of the Orange County regional
water distribution and wastewater collection systems including MET facilities that serve Orange County.
The EOC can be activated during an emergency situation that can result from both natural and man-made
causes, and can be activated through automatic, manual, or standby for activation.
WEROC recognized four primary phases of emergency management, which include:
Preparedness: Planning, training, and exercises that are conducted prior to an emergency to support
and enhance response to an emergency or disaster.
Response: Activities and programs designed to address the immediate and short-term effects of the
onset of an emergency or disaster that helps to reduce effects to water infrastructure and speed recovery.
This includes alert and notification, EOC activation, direction and control, and mutual aid.
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Recovery: This phase involved restoring systems to normal, in which short-term recovery actions are
taken to assess the damage and return vital life-support systems to minimum operating standards, while
long-term recovery actions have the potential to continue for many years.
Mitigation/Prevention: These actions prevent the occurrence of an emergency or reduce the area’s
vulnerability in ways that minimize the adverse impacts of a disaster or emergency. MWDOC’s HMP
outlines threats and identifies mitigation projects.
The EOC Action Plans (EAP) provide frameworks for EOC staff to respond to different situations with the
objectives and steps required to complete them, which will in turn serve the WEROC member agencies. In the
event of an emergency which results in a catastrophic water shortage, the City will declare a water shortage
condition of up to Level 6 for the impacted area depending on the severity of the event, and coordination with
WEROC is anticipated to begin at Level 4 or greater (WEROC, 2018).
City of Santa Ana Emergency Response Plan
The City will also refer to its current American Water Infrastructure Act Risk and Resilience Assessment and
Emergency Response Plan in the event of a locally isolated catastrophic supply interruption (Santa Ana, 2020;
Santa Ana, 2021b).
3.4.6 Seismic Risk Assessment and Mitigation Plan
Per the Water Code Section 10632.5, Suppliers are required to assess seismic risk to water supplies as part of
their WSCP. The plan also must include the mitigation plan for the seismic risk(s). Given the great distances that
imported supplies travel to reach Orange County, the region is vulnerable to interruptions along hundreds of miles
aqueducts, pipelines and other facilities associated with delivering the supplies to the region. Additionally, the
infrastructure in place to deliver supplies are susceptible to damage from earthquakes and other disasters.
In lieu of conducting a seismic risk assessment specific to the City’s 2020 UWMP, the City has included the
previously prepared regional HMP by MWDOC as the regional imported water wholesaler that is required under
the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390).
MWDOC’s HMP identified that the overarching goals of the HMP were the same across the region, which include:
Goal 1: Minimize vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure to minimize damages and loss of life and injury to
human life caused by hazards.
Goal 2: Minimize security risks to water and wastewater infrastructure.
Goal 3: Minimize interruption to water and wastewater utilities.
Goal 4: Improve public outreach, awareness, education, and preparedness for hazards in order to
increase community resilience.
Goal 5: Eliminate or minimize wastewater spills and overflows.
Goal 6: Protect water quality and supply, critical aquatic resources, and habitat to ensure a safe water
supply.
Goal 7: Strengthen Emergency Response Services to ensure preparedness, response, and recovery
during any major or multi-hazard event.
MWDOC’s HMP evaluates hazards applicable to all jurisdictions in its entire planning area, prioritized based on
probability, location, maximum probable extent, and secondary impacts. The identification of hazards is highly
dependent on the location of facilities within the City’s jurisdiction and takes into consideration the history of the
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hazard and associated damage, information provided by agencies specializing in a specific hazard, and relies
upon the City’s expertise and knowledge.
Earthquake fault rupture and seismic hazards, including ground shaking and liquefaction, are among the highest
ranked hazards to the region as a whole because of its long history of earthquakes, with some resulting in
considerable damage. A significant earthquake along one of the major faults could cause substantial casualties,
extensive damage to infrastructure, fires, damages and outages of water and wastewater facilities, and other
threats to life and property.
Nearly all of Orange County is at risk of moderate to extreme ground shaking, with liquefaction possible
throughout much of Orange County but the most extensive liquefaction zones occur in coastal areas. Based on
the amount of seismic activity that occurs within the region, there is no doubt that communities within Orange
County will continue to experience future earthquake events, and it is a reasonable assumption that a major event
will occur within a 30-year timeframe.
The mitigation actions identify the hazard, proposed mitigation action, location/facility, local planning mechanism,
risk, cost, timeframe, possible funding sources, status, and status rationale, as applicable. Mitigation actions for
MWDOC’s member agencies for seismic risks may include (MWDOC, 2019):
Secure above ground assets in all buildings, booster stations, pressure reducing stations, emergency
interties, water systems, and pipelines.
Conduct assessment of infrastructure to ensure seismic retrofitting is in place.
Replace aging infrastructure throughout the City.
Install backup power for critical facilities to ensure operability during emergency events.
Enhance emergency operability by implementing communication infrastructure improvements.
3.4.7 Shortage Response Action Effectiveness
For each specific Shortage Response Action identified in the plan, the WSCP also estimates the extent to which
that action will reduce the gap between supplies and demands identified in DWR Table 8-2 (Appendix A). To the
extent feasible, the City has estimated percentage savings for the chosen suite of shortage response actions,
which can be anticipated to deliver the expected outcomes necessary to meet the requirements of a given
shortage level.
3.5 Communication Protocols
Timely and effective communication is a key element of the WSCP implementation. Per the Water Code Section
10632 (a)(5), the City has established communication protocols and procedures to inform customers, the public,
interested parties, and local, regional, and state governments regarding any current or predicted shortages as
determined by the Annual Assessment described pursuant to Section 10632.1; any shortage response actions
triggered or anticipated to be triggered by the Annual Assessment described pursuant to Section 10632.1; and
any other relevant communications. The City’s Water Shortage Communication Plan is documented in Appendix
C.
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3.6 Compliance and Enforcement
Per the Water Code Section 10632 (a)(6), the City has defined customer compliance, enforcement, appeal, and
exemption procedures for triggered shortage response actions. Procedures to ensure customer compliance are
described in Section 3.5 Communication Protocols and customer enforcement, appeal, and exemption procedures
as defined in the existing Santa Ana Municipal Code Chapter 39 Article VI Water Shortage Contingency Plan
(Appendix B). The City intends to update any enforcement procedures in a subsequently adopted ordinance which
will supersede the existing ordinance.
3.7 Legal Authorities
Per Water Code Section 10632 (a)(7)(A), the City has provided a description of the legal authorities that empower
the City to implement and enforce its shortage response in Water Shortage Response Ordinance (Appendix B).
Per Water Code Section 10632 (a)(7) (B), the City shall declare a water shortage emergency condition to prevail
within the area served by such wholesaler whenever it finds and determines that the ordinary demands and
requirements of water consumers cannot be satisfied without depleting the water supply of the distributor to the
extent that there would be insufficient water for human consumption, sanitation, and fire protection.
Per Water Code Section 10632 (a)(7)(C), the City shall coordinate with any agency or county within which it
provides water supply services for the possible proclamation of a local emergency under California Government
Code, California Emergency Services Act (Article 2, Section 8558). Table 3-2 identifies the contacts for all cities
or counties for which the Supplier provides service in the WSCP, along with developed coordination protocols,
can facilitate compliance with this section of the Water Code in the event of a local emergency as defined in
subpart (c) of Government Code Section 8558.
Table 3-2: Agency Contacts and Coordination Protocols
Contact Agency Coordination Protocols
City Manager City of Santa Ana Call/email/in person
City Council City of Santa Ana Memo/Council Meeting
Director of Public Works County of Orange Call/email
Director of Public Works City of Garden Grove Call/email
Director of Public Works City of Orange Call/email
3.8 Financial Consequences of WSCP
Per Water Code Section 10632(a)(8), Suppliers must include a description of the overall anticipated financial
consequences to the Supplier of implementing the WSCP. This description must include potential reductions in
revenue and increased expenses associated with implementation of the shortage response actions. This should
be coupled with an identification of the anticipated mitigation actions needed to address these financial impacts.
During a catastrophic interruption of water supplies, prolonged drought, or water shortage of any kind, the City will
experience a reduction in revenue due to reduced water sales. Throughout this period of time, expenditures may
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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increase or decrease with varying circumstances. Expenditures may increase in the event of significant damage
to the water system, resulting in emergency repairs. Expenditures may also decrease as less water is pumped
through the system, resulting in lower power costs. Water shortage mitigation actions will also impact revenues
and require additional costs for drought response activities such as increased staff costs for tracking, reporting,
and communications.
The City receives water revenue from a service charge and a commodity charge based on consumption. The
service charge recovers costs associated with providing water to the serviced property. The service charge does
not vary with consumption and the commodity charge is based on water usage. Rates have been designed to
recover the full cost of water service in the charges. Therefore, the total cost of purchasing water would decrease
as the usage or sale of water decreases. In the event of a drought emergency, the City will impose excessive
water use penalties on its customers, which may include additional costs associated with reduced water revenue,
staff time taken for penalty enforcement, and advertising the excessive use penalties. The excessive water use
penalties are further described in the City’s Municipal Code Chapter 39 Article VI Water Shortage Contingency
Plan (Appendix B).
However, there are significant fixed costs associated with maintaining a minimal level of service. The City will
monitor projected revenues and expenditures should an extreme shortage and a large reduction in water sales
occur for an extended period of time. To overcome these potential revenue losses and/or expenditure impacts,
the City may use reserves. If necessary, the City may reduce expenditures by delaying implementation of its
Capital Improvement Program and equipment purchases to reallocate funds to cover the cost of operations and
critical maintenance, adjust the work force, implement a drought surcharge, and/or make adjustments to its water
rate structure.
Based on current water rates, a volumetric cutback of up to 50% of water sales may lead to a range of reduction
in revenues from $4,111,774 to $20,558,870 (Table 3-3). The impacts to revenues will depend on a proportionate
reduction in variable costs related to supply, pumping, and treatment for the specific shortage event. The City
could mitigate these impacts by increasing water rate revenues and/or increasing fix charges.
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Table 3-3: Revenue Impacts Analysis
Revenue Impact Analysis (Tiered Rates)
Reduction in Sales
Demand Baseline 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Water Produced (HCF) 14,376,194 12938575 11500955 10063336 8625716 7188097
Water Sales (HCF) 13,565,101 12,208,591 10,852,081 9,495,571 8,139,061 6,782,551
Water Losses (HCF) 811,093 729,984 648,874 567,765 486,656 405,547
Potable (%) 99.5% 99.5% 99.5% 99.5% 99.5% 99.5%
Construction (%) 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Fire (%) 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Recycled (%) 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 0.5%
Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Potable (HCF) 13,565,101 12,208,591 10,852,081 9,495,571 8,139,061 6,782,551
Tier 1 (HCF) 10,173,826 9,156,443 8,139,061 7,121,678 6,104,295 5,086,913
Tier 2 (HCF) 3,391,275 3,052,148 2,713,020 2,373,893 2,034,765 1,695,638
Tier 3 (HCF) 0 0 0 0 0
Tier 4 (HCF) 0 0 0 0 0
Tier 5 (HCF) 0 0 0 0 0
Construction (HCF) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fire (HCF) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Recycled (HCF) 67,826 61,043 54,260 47,478 40,695 33,913
Total 27,198,028 24,478,225 21,758,422 19,038,619 16,318,817 13,599,014
Rate Schedule
Tiered Rate Potable ($/HCF)
Tier 1 rate ($/HCF) $2.03 $2.03 $2.03 $2.03 $2.03 $2.03
Tier 2 rate ($/HCF) $4.79 $4.79 $4.79 $4.79 $4.79 $4.79
Tier 3 rate ($/HCF) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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Revenue Impact Analysis (Tiered Rates)
Reduction in Sales
Demand Baseline 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Tier 4 rate ($/HCF) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Tier 5 rate ($/HCF) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Flat Rate Construction ($/HCF) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Flat Rate Fire ($/HCF) $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Flat Rate Recycled ($/HCF) $2.15 $2.15 $2.15 $2.15 $2.15 $2.15
Calculated Revenue
Calculated Potable Revenue ($) $36,897,075 $33,207,367 $29,517,660 $25,827,952 $22,138,245 $18,448,537
Calculated Construction Revenue ($) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Calculated Fire Revenue ($) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Calculated Recycled Revenue ($) $145,825 $131,242 $116,660 $102,077 $87,495 $72,912
Total Calculated Revenue ($) $37,042,900 $33,338,610 $29,634,320 $25,930,030 $22,225,740 $18,521,450
Actual Revenue
Potable Revenue ($) $40,903,906 $36,813,515 $32,723,125 $28,632,734 $24,542,344 $20,451,953
Construction Revenue ($) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Fire Revenue ($) $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Recycled Revenue ($) $213,834 $192,451 $171,067 $149,684 $128,300 $106,917
Total Rate Revenue ($) $41,117,740 $37,005,966 $32,894,192 $28,782,418 $24,670,644 $20,558,870
Fixed Monthly/Bimonthly Charge Revenue $13,329,831 $13,329,831 $13,329,831 $13,329,831 $13,329,831 $13,329,831
Total Revenue $54,447,571 $50,335,797 $46,224,023 $42,112,249 $38,000,475 $33,888,701
Revenue Lost $4,111,774 $8,223,548 $12,335,322 $16,447,096 $20,558,870
Variable Costs
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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Revenue Impact Analysis (Tiered Rates)
Reduction in Sales
Demand Baseline 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Sources of Supply, Pumping, Treatment ($) $21,195,164 $19,075,648 $16,956,131 $14,836,615 $12,717,098 $10,597,582
Calculated Unit Cost to Produce Water
($/HCF) 1.474323733 $1.47 $1.47 $1.47 $1.47 $1.47
Avoided Costs $2,119,516 $4,239,033 $6,358,549 $8,478,066 $10,597,582
Net Revenue Change $1,992,258 $3,984,515 $5,976,773 $7,969,030 $9,961,288
Rate Revenue Increase Required 5.38% 12.11% 20.77% 32.30% 48.45%
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3.9 Monitoring and Reporting
Per Water Code Section 10632(a)(9), the City is required to provide a description of the monitoring and reporting
requirements and procedures that have been implemented to ensure appropriate data is collected, tracked, and
analyzed for purposes of monitoring customer compliance and to meet state reporting requirements.
Monitoring and reporting key water use metrics is fundamental to water supply planning and management.
Monitoring is also essential in times of water shortage to ensure that the response actions are achieving their
intended water use reduction purposes, or if improvements or new actions need to be considered (see Section
3.10). Monitoring for customer compliance tracking is also useful in enforcement actions.
Under normal water supply conditions, potable water production figures are recorded daily. Weekly and monthly
reports are prepared and monitored. In addition, once the Advanced Meter Infrastructure project is complete, the
City will be able to monitor the consumption of various customer classes. This data will be used to measure the
effectiveness of any water shortage contingency level that may be implemented. As levels of water shortage are
declared by MET, the City will follow implementation of those levels as appropriate based on the City’s risk profile
provided in UWMP Chapter 6 and continue to monitor water demand levels. When MET calls for extraordinary
conservation, MET’s Drought Program Officer will coordinate public information activities with the City and monitor
the effectiveness of ongoing conservation programs.
The City will participate in monthly member agency manager meetings with both MET and OCWD to monitor and
discuss monthly water allocation charts. This will enable the City to be aware of import and groundwater use on a
timely basis as a result of specific actions taken responding to the City’s WSCP.
3.10 WSCP Refinement Procedures
Per Water Code Section 10632 (a)(10), the City must provide reevaluation and improvement procedures for
systematically monitoring and evaluating the functionality of the water shortage contingency plan in order to
ensure shortage risk tolerance is adequate and appropriate water shortage mitigation strategies are implemented
as needed.
The City’s WSCP is prepared and implemented as an adaptive management plan. The City will use the
monitoring and reporting process defined in Section 3.9 to refine the WSCP. In addition, if certain procedural
refinements or new actions are identified by City staff, or suggested by customers or other interested parties, the
City will evaluate their effectiveness, incorporate them into the WSCP, and implement them quickly at the
appropriate water shortage level.
It is envisioned that the WSCP will be periodically re-evaluated to ensure that its shortage risk tolerance is
adequate and the shortage response actions are effective and up to date based on lessons learned from
implementing the WSCP. The WSCP will be revised and updated during the UWMP update cycle to incorporate
updated and new information. For example, new supply augmentation actions will be added, and actions that are
no longer applicable for reasons such as program expiration will be removed. However, if revisions to the WSCP
are warranted before the UWMP is updated, the WSCP will be updated outside of the UWMP update cycle. In the
course of preparing the Annual Assessment each year, City staff will routinely consider the functionality the
overall WSCP and will prepare recommendations for the Director of Public Works if changes are found to be
needed.
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3-19
3.11 Special Water Feature Distinction
Per Water Code Section 10632 (b), the City has defined water features in that are artificially supplied with water,
including ponds, lakes, waterfalls, and fountains, separately from swimming pools and spas, as defined in
subdivision (a) of Section 115921 of the Health and Safety Code, in the City’s Municipal Code Chapter 39 Article
VI Water Shortage Contingency Plan (Appendix B).
3.12 Plan Adoption, Submittal, and Availability
Per Water Code Section 10632 (a)(c), City provided notice of the availability of the draft 2020 UWMP and draft
2020 WSCP and notice of the public hearing to consider adoption of the WSCP. The public review drafts of the
2020 UWMP and the 2020 WSCP were posted prominently on City’s website in advance of the public hearing on
June 1, 2021. Copies of the draft WSCP were also made available for public inspection at the City Clerk’s and
Utilities Department offices and public hearing notifications were published in local newspapers. A copy of the
published Notice of Public Hearing is included in Appendix D.
The City held the public hearing for the draft 2020 UWMP and draft WSCP on June 1, 2021 at the City Council
meeting. The City Council reviewed and approved the 2020 UWMP and the WSCP at its June 1, 2021 meeting
after the public hearing. See Appendix E for the resolution approving the WSCP.
By July 1, 2021, the City’s adopted 2020 UWMP and WSCP was filed with DWR, California State Library, and the
County of Orange. The City will make the WSCP available for public review on its website no later than 30 days
after filing with DWR.
Based on DWR’s review of the WSCP, the City will make any amendments in its adopted WSCP, as required and
directed by DWR.
If the City revises its WSCP after UWMP is approved by DWR, then an electronic copy of the revised WSCP will
be submitted to DWR within 30 days of its adoption.
Santa Ana 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
4-1
4 REFERENCES
CDM Smith. (2021, March 30). Orange County Water Demand Forecast for MWDOC and OCWD Technical
Memorandum.
City of Santa Ana. (2021a, July). 2020 Urban Water Management Plan.
City of Santa Ana. (2021b, January). City of Santa Ana Water Resources Division Emergency Response Plan.
City of Santa Ana (2020, March). City of Santa Ana, Water Resources Division Water System Risk and Resilience
Assessment.
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET). (2021a, March). Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
http://www.mwdh2o.com/PDF_About_Your_Water/Draft_Metropolitan_WSCP_March_2021.pdf
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET). (2021b, June). 2020 Urban Water Management Plan.
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MET). (1999, August). Water Surplus and Drought
Management Plan.
http://www.mwdh2o.com/PDF_About_Your_Water/2.4_Water_Supply_Drought_Management_Plan.pdf
Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC). (2019, August). Orange County Regional Water and
Wastewater Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County (WEROC). (2018, March). WEROC Emergency
Operations Plan (EOP).
APPENDICES
DWR Submittal Tables
Table 8-1: Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Levels
Table 8-2: Demand Reduction Actions
Table 8-3: Supply Augmentation and Other
Actions
Santa Ana Municipal Code Chapter 39 Article VI
Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Water Shortage Communication Plan
Notice of Public Hearing
Adopted WSCP Resolution
Arcadis. Improving quality of life.
Arcadis U.S., Inc.
320 Commerce, Suite 200
Irvine
California 92602
Phone: 714 730 9052
www.arcadis.com
Maddaus Water Management, Inc.
105 Zephyr Place
Danville
California 94526
www.maddauswater.com
The City of Santa Ana
REDUCED DELTA RELIANCE REPORTING
C.1 Background
Under the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Reform Act of 2009, state and local public agencies proposing a covered
action in the Delta, prior to initiating the implementation of that action, must prepare a written certification of
consistency with detailed findings as to whether the covered action is consistent with applicable Delta Plan policies
and submit that certification to the Delta Stewardship Council.Anyone may appeal a certification of consistency, and
if the Delta Stewardship Council grants the appeal, the covered action may not be implemented until the agency
proposing the covered action submits a revised certification of consistency, and either no appeal is filed, or the Delta
Stewardship Council denies the subsequent appeal.
An urban water supplier that anticipates participating in or receiving water from a proposed covered action such as
a multi-year water transfer, conveyance facility, or new diversion that involves transferring water through, exporting
water from, or using water in the Delta should provide information in their 2015 and 2020 Urban Water Management
Plans (UWMPs) that can then be used in the covered action process to demonstrate consistency with Delta Plan
Policy WR P1, Reduce Reliance on the Delta Through Improved Regional Water Self-Reliance (WR P1).
WR P1 details what is needed for a covered action to demonstrate consistency with reduced reliance on the Delta
and improved regional self-reliance. WR P1 subsection (a) states that:
(a)Water shall not be exported from, transferred through, or used in the Delta if all of the following apply:
(1)One or more water suppliers that would receive water as a result of the export, transfer, or use have failed
to adequately contribute to reduced reliance on the Delta and improved regional self-reliance consistent with
all of the requirements listed in paragraph
(1)of subsection (c);
(2)That failure has significantly caused the need for the export, transfer, or use; and
(3)The export, transfer, or use would have a significant adverse environmental impact in the Delta.
WR P1 subsection (c)(1) further defines what adequately contributing to reduced reliance on the Delta means in terms
of (a)(1) above.
(c)(1) Water suppliers that have done all the following are contributing to reduced reliance on the Delta and improved
regional self-reliance and are therefore consistent with this policy:
(A)Completed a current Urban or Agricultural Water Management Plan (Plan) which has been reviewed by
the California Department of Water Resources for compliance with the applicable requirements of Water Code
Division 6, Parts 2.55, 2.6, and 2.8;
(B)Identified, evaluated, and commenced implementation, consistent with the implementation
schedule set forth in the Plan, of all programs and projects included in the Plan that are locally cost
effective and technically feasible which reduce reliance on the Delta; and
(C)Included in the Plan, commencing in 2015, the expected outcome for measurable reduction in Delta
reliance and improvement in regional self-reliance. The expected outcome for measurable reduction in
Delta reliance and improvement in regional self- reliance shall be reported in the Plan as the reduction in
the amount of water used, or in the percentage of water used, from the Delta watershed. For the
purposes of reporting, water efficiency is considered a new source of water supply, consistent with Water
Code section 1011(a).
The analysis and documentation provided below include all of the elements described in WR P1(c)(1) that need to
be included in a water supplier’s UWMP to support a certification of consistency for a future covered action.
EXHIBIT 3
C.2 Summary of Expected Outcomes for Reduced Reliance on the Delta
As stated in WR P1 (c)(1)(C), the policy requires that, commencing in 2015, UWMPs include expected outcomes for
measurable reduction in Delta reliance and improved regional self- reliance. WR P1 further states that those
outcomes shall be reported in the UWMP as the reduction in the amount of water used, or in the percentage of
water used, from the Delta.
The expected outcomes for the City of Santa Ana (hereafter referred to as ‘City’) regional self-reliance were
developed using the approach and guidance described in Appendix C of DWR’s Urban Water Management Plan
Guidebook 2020 – Final Draft (Guidebook Appendix C) issued in March 2021. The data used in this analysis represent
the total regional efforts of Metropolitan, the city, and its member agencies and were developed in conjunction with
Metropolitan as part of the UWMP coordination process.
The following provides a summary of the near-term (2025) and long-term (2045) expected outcomes for the city’s
Delta reliance and regional self-reliance. The results show that as a region, the City, Metropolitan, and its member
agencies are measurably reducing reliance on the Delta and improving regional self-reliance, both as an amount of
water used and as a percentage of water used.
Expected Outcomes for Regional Self-Reliance for the City
Near-term (2025) – Normal water year regional self-reliance is expected to increase by 25,806 AF from the
2010 baseline; this represents an increase of about 48.4 percent of 2025 normal water year retail demands
(Table C-2).
Long-term (2040) – Normal water year regional self-reliance is expected to increase by nearly 28,706 AF
from the 2010 baseline, this represents an increase of about 53.1 percent of 2045 normal water year retail
demands (Table C-2).
C.3 Demonstration of Reduced Reliance on the Delta
The methodology used to determine the City’s reduced Delta reliance and improved regional self-reliance is
consistent with the approach detailed in DWR’s UWMP Guidebook Appendix C, including the use of narrative
justifications for the accounting of supplies and the documentation of specific data sources. Some of the key
assumptions underlying the City’s demonstration of reduced reliance include:
All data were obtained from the current 2020 UWMP or previously adopted UWMPs and represent
average or normal water year conditions.
All analyses were conducted at the service area level, and all data reflect the total contributions of the
City and MWDOC, in conjunction with information provided by Metropolitan.
No projects or programs that are described in the UWMPs as “Projects Under Development” were
included in the accounting of supplies.
Baseline and Expected Outcomes
In order to calculate the expected outcomes for measurable reduction in Delta reliance and improved regional
self-reliance, a baseline is needed to compare against. This analysis uses a normal water year representation of
2010 as the baseline, which is consistent with the approach described in the Guidebook Appendix C. Data for the
2010 baseline were taken from the city’s 2005 UWMP as the UWMPs generally do not provide normal water
year data for the year that they are adopted (i.e., 2005 UWMP forecasts begin in 2010, 2010 UWMP forecasts
begin in 2015, and so on).
Consistent with the 2010 baseline data approach, the expected outcomes for reduced Delta reliance and
improved regional self-reliance for 2015 and 2020 were taken from the City’s 2010 and 2015 UWMPs
respectively. Expected outcomes for 2025-2040 are from the current 2020 UWMP. Documentation of the specific
data sources and assumptions are included in the discussions below.
Service Area Demands without Water Use Efficiency
In alignment with the Guidebook Appendix C, this analysis uses normal water year demands, rather than normal
water year supplies to calculate expected outcomes in terms of the percentage of water used. Using normal
water year demands serves as a proxy for the amount of supplies that would be used in a normal water year,
which helps alleviate issues associated with how supply capability is presented to fulfill requirements of the UWMP
Act versus how supplies might be accounted for to demonstrate consistency with WR P1.
Because WR P1 considers water use efficiency savings a source of water supply, water suppliers such as the City
need to explicitly calculate and report water use efficiency savings separate from service area demands to
properly reflect normal water year demands in the calculation of reduced reliance. As explained in the Guidebook
Appendix C, water use efficiency savings must be added back to the normal year demands to represent demands
without water use efficiency savings accounted for; otherwise the effect of water use efficiency savings on
regional self-reliance would be overestimated. Table C-1 shows the results of this adjustment for the City.
Supporting narratives and documentation for the all of the data shown in Table C-1 are provided below.
Table C -1 – Calculation of Water Use Efficiency
Service Area Water Use Efficiency
Demands
Baseline
(2010) 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Service Area Water Demands with Water
Use Efficiency 50,190 47,800 37,007 33,633 34,146 33,881 33,589
Non-Potable Water Demands 190 300 320 249 249 249 249
Potable Service Area Demands with Water
Use Efficiency 50,000 47,500 36,687 33,384 33,897 33,632 33,340
Total Service Area Population Baseline
(2010) 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Service Area Population 324,924 338,336 335,086 343,358 347,511 347,952 347,785
Water Use Efficiency Since Baseline Baseline
(2010) 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Per Capita Water Use (GPCD) 137 125 98 87 87 86 86
Change in Per Capita Water Use from
Baseline (GPCD) (12) (40) (51) (50) (51) (52)
Estimated Water Use Efficiency Since
Baseline 4,564 14,877 19,453 19,579 19,912 20,178
Total Service Area Water Demands Baseline
(2010) 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Service Area Water Demands with Water
Use Efficiency 50,190 47,800 37,007 33,633 34,146 33,881 33,589
Estimated Water Use Efficiency Since
Baseline 4,564 14,877 19,453 19,579 19,912 20,178
Service Area Water Demands without
Water Use Efficiency 50,190 52,364 51,884 53,086 53,725 53,793 53,767
Service Area Demands with Water Use Efficiency
The service area demands shown in Table C-1 represent the total retail water demands for the City’s service area and may
include municipal and industrial demands, agricultural demands, recycled, seawater barrier demands, and storage
replenishment demands. These demand types and the modeling methodologies used to calculate them are described in
Section 4-3 of the City’s UWMP.
Non-Potable Water Demands
Any non-potable water demands shown in Table C-1 represent demands for non-potable recycled water, water used for
purposes such as surface reservoir storage, and replenishment water for groundwater basin recharge and sweater barrier
demands. Additionally, non-potable supplies have a demand hardening effect due to the inability to shift non-potable
supplies to meet potable water demands. When water use efficiency or conservation measures are implemented, they fall
solely on the potable water users. This is consistent with the approach for water conservation reporting used by the State
Water Resources Control Board.
Total Service Area Population
The City’s total service area population as shown in Table C-1 come from the Center for Demographic Research, with actuals
and projections further described in Section 3.4 of the City’s 2020 UWMP.
Water Use Efficiency Since Baseline
The water use efficiency numbers shown in Table C-1 represent the formulation that City utilized, consistent with Appendix
C of the UWMP Guidebook approach.
Service area demands, excluding non-potable demands, are divided by the service area population to get per capita water
use in the service area in gallons per capita per day (GPCD) for each five-year period. The change in per capita water use
from the baseline is the comparative GPCD from that five-year period compared to the 2010 baseline. Changes in per capita
water use over time are then applied back to the City’s service area population to calculate the estimated WUE Supply. This
estimated WUE Supply is considered an additional supply that may be used to show reduced reliance on Delta water
supplies.
The demand and water use efficiency data shown in Table C-1 were collected from the following sources:
Baseline (2010) values – City’s 2005 UWMP
2015 values – City’s 2010 UWMP
2020 values – City’s 2015 UWMP
2025-2040 values – City’s 2020 UWMP
It should be noted that the results of this calculation differ from what the City calculated under section 5.2 pertaining to
the Water Conservation Act of 2009 (SB X7-7) due to differing formulas.
C.4 Supplies Contributing to Regional Self-Reliance
For a covered action to demonstrate consistency with the Delta Plan, WR P1 subsection (c)(1)(C) states that water suppliers
must report the expected outcomes for measurable improvement in regional self-reliance. Table C-2 shows expected
outcomes for supplies contributing to regional self-reliance both in amount and as a percentage. The numbers shown in
Table C-2 represent efforts to improve regional self-reliance for the City’s entire service area and include the total
contributions of the City. Supporting narratives and documentation for the all of the data shown in Table C-2 are provided
below.
The results shown in Table C-2 demonstrate that the City’s service area is measurably improving its regional self-
reliance. In the near-term (2025), the expected outcome for normal water year regional self-reliance increases by
25,806 AF from the 2010 baseline; this represents an increase of about 48.4 percent of 2025 normal water year retail
demands. In the long-term (2040), normal water year regional self-reliance is expected to increase by more than
28,706 AF from the 2010 baseline; this represents an increase of about 53.1 percent of 2040 normal water year
retail demands.
Table C-2 – Supplies Contributing to Regional Self Reliance
Water Supplies Contributing to Regional Self-
Reliance (Acre-Feet)
Baseline
(2010) 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Water Use Efficiency - 4,564 14,877 19,453 19,579 19,912 20,178
Water Recycling 196 352 249 249 249 249 249
Stormwater Capture and Use
Advanced Water Technologies 1,639 5,931 8,528 7,940 10,282 10,203 10,115
Conjunctive Use Projects
Local and Regional Water Supply and Storage
Projects
Other Programs and Projects the Contribute to
Regional Self-Reliance
Water Supplies Contributing to Regional Self-
Reliance 1,835 10,847 23,654 27,641 30,110 30,363 30,542
Service Area Water Demands without Water
Use Efficiency
Baseline
(2010) 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Service Area Water Demands without Water Use
Efficiency 50,190 52,364 51,884 53,086 53,725 53,793 53,767
Change in Regional Self Reliance (Acre-Feet) Baseline
(2010) 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Water Supplies Contributing to Regional Self-
Reliance 1,835 10,847 23,654 27,641 30,110 30,363 30,542
Change in Water Supplies Contributing to
Regional Self-Reliance 9,012 21,818 25,806 28,275 28,528 28,706
Change in Regional Self Reliance (As a Percent
of Water Demand w/out WUE)
Baseline
(2010) 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040
Water Supplies Contributing to Regional Self-
Reliance 3.7% 20.7% 45.6% 52.1% 56.0% 56.4% 56.8%
Change in Water Supplies Contributing to
Regional Self-Reliance 17.1% 41.9% 48.4% 52.4% 52.8% 53.1%
Water Use Efficiency
The water use efficiency information shown in Table C-2 is taken directly from Table C-1 above.
Water Recycling
The water recycling values shown in Table C-2 reflect the total recycled water production in the service area as
described in Section 4.3 of City’s UWMP.
Advanced Water Technologies (AWT)
AWT is calculated by multiplying the estimated GW production for that year (Section 6.1 of the City’s UWMP) with the
percentage of Total Basin Production for that year.
C.5 Reliance on Water Supplies from the Delta Watershed
Metropolitan’s service area as a whole, reduces reliance on the Delta through investments in non-Delta water supplies,
local water supplies and demand management measures. Quantifying the City’s investments in self-reliance, locally,
regionally, and throughout Southern California is infeasible for the reasons as noted in Section C.6. Due to the regional
nature of these investments, the City is relying on Metropolitan’s regional accounting of measurable reductions in supplies
from the Delta Watershed.
The results shown in Table A.11-3 demonstrate that Metropolitan’s service area, including the City, is measurably reducing
its Delta reliance. In the near-term (2025), the expected outcome for normal water year reliance on supplies from the
Delta watershed decreased by 301 TAF from the 2010 baseline; this represents a decrease of 3 percent of 2025 normal
water year retail demands. In the long- term (2045), normal water year reliance on supplies from the Delta watershed
decreased by 314 TAF from the 2010 baseline; this represents a decrease of just over 5 percent of 2045 normal water year
retail demands.
Table C-3
Metropolitan Reliance on Water Supplies from the Delta
Watershed
Water Supplies from the Delta Watershed
(Acre-Feet)
Baseline
(2010)2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
CVP/SWP Contract Supplies 1,472,000 1,029,000 984,000 1,133,000 1,130,000 1,128,000 1,126,000 1,126,000
Delta/Delta Tributary Diversions --------
Transfers and Exchanges of Supplies from the Delta Watershed 20,000 44,000 91,000 58,000 52,000 52,000 52,000 52,000
Other Water Supplies from the Delta Watershed --------
Total Water Supplies from the Delta Watershed 1,492,000 1,073,000 1,075,000 1,191,000 1,182,000 1,180,000 1,178,000 1,178,000
Service Area Demands without Water Use Efficiency
(Acre-Feet)
Baseline
(2010)2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
Service Area Demands without Water Use Efficiency Accounted For 5,493,000 5,499,000 5,219,000 4,925,000 5,032,000 5,156,000 5,261,000 5,374,000
Change in Supplies from the Delta Watershed
(Acre-Feet)
Baseline
(2010)2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
Water Supplies from the Delta Watershed 1,492,000 1,073,000 1,075,000 1,191,000 1,182,000 1,180,000 1,178,000 1,178,000
Change in Supplies from the Delta Watershed NA (419,000)(417,000)(301,000)(310,000)(312,000)(314,000)(314,000)
Percent Change in Supplies from the Delta Watershed
(As a Percent of Demand w/out WUE)
Baseline
(2010)2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
Percent of Supplies from the Delta Watershed 27.2%19.5%20.6%24.2%23.5%22.9%22.4%21.9%
Change in Percent of Supplies from the Delta Watershed NA -7.6%-6.6%-3.0%-3.7%-4.3%-4.8%-5.2%
C.6 Infeasibility of Accounting Supplies from the Delta Watershed for Metropolitan’s
Member Agencies and their Customers
Metropolitan’s service area, as a whole, reduces reliance on the Delta through investments in non-Delta water
supplies, local water supplies, and regional and local demand management measures. Metropolitan’s member
agencies coordinate reliance on the Delta through their membership in Metropolitan, a regional cooperative
providing wholesale water service to its 26 member agencies. Accordingly, regional reliance on the Delta can only be
measured regionally—not by individual Metropolitan member agencies and not by the customers of those member
agencies.
Metropolitan’s member agencies, and those agencies’ customers, indirectly reduce reliance on the Delta through
their collective efforts as a cooperative. Metropolitan’s member agencies do not control the amount of Delta water
they receive from Metropolitan. Metropolitan manages a statewide integrated conveyance system consisting of its
participation in the State Water Project (SWP), its Colorado River Aqueduct (CRA) including Colorado River water
resources, programs and water exchanges, and its regional storage portfolio. Along with the SWP, CRA, storage
programs, and Metropolitan’s conveyance and distribution facilities, demand management programs increase the
future reliability of water resources for the region. In addition, demand management programs provide system-wide
benefits by decreasing the demand for imported water, which helps to decrease the burden on the district’s
infrastructure and reduce system costs, and free up conveyance capacity to the benefit of all member agencies.
Metropolitan’s costs are funded almost entirely from its service area, with the exception of grants and other
assistance from government programs. Most of Metropolitan’s revenues are collected directly from its member
agencies. Properties within Metropolitan’s service area pay a property tax that currently provides approximately 8
percent of the fiscal year 2021 annual budgeted revenues. The rest of Metropolitan’s costs are funded through rates
and charges paid by Metropolitan’s member agencies for the wholesale services it provides to them.1 Thus,
Metropolitan’s member agencies fund nearly all operations Metropolitan undertakes to reduce reliance on the Delta,
including Colorado River Programs, storage facilities, Local Resources Programs and Conservation Programs within
Metropolitan’s service area.
Because of the integrated nature of Metropolitan’s systems and operations, and the collective nature of
Metropolitan’s regional efforts, it is infeasible to quantify each of Metropolitan member agencies’ individual reliance
on the Delta. It is infeasible to attempt to segregate an entity and a system that were designed to work as an
integrated regional cooperative.
In addition to the member agencies funding Metropolitan’s regional efforts, they also invest in their own local
programs to reduce their reliance on any imported water. Moreover, the customers of those member agencies may
also invest in their own local programs to reduce water demand. However, to the extent those efforts result in
reduction of demands on Metropolitan, that reduction does not equate to a like reduction of reliance on the Delta.
Demands on Metropolitan are not commensurate with demands on the Delta because most of Metropolitan member
agencies receive blended resources from Metropolitan as determined by Metropolitan—not the individual member
agency—and for most member agencies, the blend varies from month-to-month and year-to-year due to hydrology,
operational constraints, use of storage and other factors.
Colorado River Programs
As a regional cooperative of member agencies, Metropolitan invests in programs to ensure the continued reliability
and sustainability of Colorado River supplies. Metropolitan was established to obtain an allotment of Colorado River
water, and its first mission was to construct and operate the CRA. The CRA consists of five pumping plants, 450 miles
of high voltage power lines, one electric substation, four regulating reservoirs, and 242 miles of aqueducts, siphons,
canals, conduits and pipelines terminating at Lake Mathews in Riverside County. Metropolitan owns, operates, and
manages the CRA. Metropolitan is responsible for operating, maintaining, rehabilitating, and repairing the CRA, and
is responsible for obtaining and scheduling energy resources adequate to power pumps at the CRA’s five pumping
stations.
Colorado River supplies include Metropolitan’s basic Colorado River apportionment, along with supplies that result
from existing and committed programs, including supplies from the Imperial Irrigation District (IID)-Metropolitan
Conservation Program, the implementation of the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA) and related
agreements, and the exchange agreement with San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA). The QSA established
the baseline water use for each of the agreement parties and facilitates the transfer of water from agricultural
agencies to urban uses. Since the QSA, additional programs have been implemented to increase Metropolitan’s CRA
supplies. These include the PVID Land Management, Crop Rotation, and Water Supply Program, as well as the Lower
Colorado River Water Supply Project. The 2007 Interim Guidelines provided for the coordinated operation of Lake
Powell and Lake Mead, as well as the Intentionally Created Surplus (ICS) program that allows Metropolitan to store
water in Lake Mead.
1 A standby charge is collected from properties within the service areas of 21 of Metropolitan’s 26 member agencies, ranging from
$5 to $14.20 per acre annually, or per parcel if smaller than an acre. Standby charges go towards those member agencies’
obligations to Metropolitan for the Readiness-to-Serve Charge. The total amount collected annually is approximately $43.8 million,
approximately 2 percent of Metropolitan’s fiscal year 2021 annual budgeted revenues.
Storage Investments/Facilities
Surface and groundwater storage are critical elements of Southern California’s water resources strategy and help
Metropolitan reduce its reliance on the Delta. Because California experiences dramatic swings in weather and
hydrology, storage is important to regulate those swings and mitigate possible supply shortages. Surface and
groundwater storage provide a means of storing water during normal and wet years for later use during dry years,
when imported supplies are limited. The Metropolitan system, for purposes of meeting demands during times of
shortage, regulating system flows, and ensuring system reliability in the event of a system outage, provides over
1,000,000 acre-feet of system storage capacity. Diamond Valley Lake provides 810,000 acre-feet of that storage
capacity, effectively doubling Southern California’s previous surface water storage capacity. Other existing imported
water storage available to the region consists of Metropolitan’s raw water reservoirs, a share of the SWP’s raw water
reservoirs in and near the service area, and the portion of the groundwater basins used for conjunctive‐use storage.
Since the early twentieth century, DWR and Metropolitan have constructed surface water reservoirs to meet
emergency, drought/seasonal, and regulatory water needs for Southern California. These reservoirs include Pyramid
Lake, Castaic Lake, Elderberry Forebay, Silverwood Lake, Lake Perris, Lake Skinner, Lake Mathews, Live Oak Reservoir,
Garvey Reservoir, Palos Verdes Reservoir, Orange County Reservoir, and Metropolitan’s Diamond Valley Lake (DVL).
Some reservoirs such as Live Oak Reservoir, Garvey Reservoir, Palos Verdes Reservoir, and Orange County Reservoir,
which have a total combined capacity of about 3,500 AF, are used solely for regulating purposes. The total gross
storage capacity for the larger remaining reservoirs is 1,757,600 AF. However, not all of the gross storage capacity is
available to Metropolitan; dead storage and storage allocated to others reduce the amount of storage that is
available to Metropolitan to 1,665,200 AF.
Conjunctive use of the aquifers offers another important source of dry year supplies. Unused storage in Southern
California groundwater basins can be used to optimize imported water supplies, and the development of
groundwater storage projects allows effective management and regulation of the region’s major imported supplies
from the Colorado River and SWP. Over the years, Metropolitan has implemented conjunctive use through various
programs in the service area; the following table lists the groundwater conjunctive use programs that have been
developed in the region.
Metropolitan Demand Management Programs
Demand management costs are Metropolitan’s expenditures for funding local water resource development
programs and water conservation programs. These Demand Management Programs incentivize the development of
local water supplies and the conservation of water to reduce the need to import water to deliver to Metropolitan’s
member agencies. These programs are implemented below the delivery points between Metropolitan’s and its
member agencies’ distribution systems and, as such, do not add any water to Metropolitan’s supplies. Rather, the
effect of these downstream programs is to produce a local supply of water for the local agencies and to reduce
demands by member agencies for water imported through Metropolitan’s system. The following discussions outline
how Metropolitan funds local resources and conservation programs for the benefit of all of its member agencies and
the entire Metropolitan service area. Notably, the history of demand management by Metropolitan’s member
agencies and the local agencies that purchase water from Metropolitan’s members has spanned more than four
decades. The significant history of the programs is another reason it would be difficult to attempt to assign a portion
of such funding to any one individual member agency.
Local Resources Programs
In 1982, Metropolitan began providing financial incentives to its member agencies to develop new local supplies to
assist in meeting the region’s water needs. Because of Metropolitan’s regional distribution system, these programs
benefit all member agencies regardless of project location because they help to increase regional water supply
reliability, reduce demands for imported water supplies, decrease the burden on Metropolitan’s infrastructure,
reduce system costs and free up conveyance capacity to the benefit of all the agencies that rely on water from
Metropolitan.
For example, the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) operated by the Orange County Water District is the
world’s largest water purification system for indirect potable reuse. It was funded, in part, by Metropolitan’s member
agencies through the Local Resources Program. Annually, the GWRS produces approximately 103,000 acre-feet of
reliable, locally controlled, drought-proof supply of high-quality water to recharge the Orange County Groundwater
Basin and protect it from seawater intrusion. The GWRS is a premier example of a regional project that significantly
reduced the need to utilize imported water for groundwater replenishment in Metropolitan’s service area, increasing
regional and local supply reliability and reducing the region’s reliance on imported supplies, including supplies from
the State Water Project.
Metropolitan’s local resource programs have evolved through the years to better assist Metropolitan’s member
agencies in increasing local supply production. The following is a description and history of the local supply incentive
programs.
Local Projects Program
In 1982, Metropolitan initiated the Local Projects Program (LPP), which provided funding to member agencies to
facilitate the development of recycled water projects. Under this approach, Metropolitan contributed a negotiated
up-front funding amount to help finance project capital costs. Participating member agencies were obligated to
reimburse Metropolitan over time. In 1986, the LPP was revised, changing the up-front funding approach to an
incentive-based approach. Metropolitan contributed an amount equal to the avoided State Water Project pumping
costs for each acre-foot of recycled water delivered to end-use consumers. This funding incentive was based on the
premise that local projects resulted in the reduction of water imported from the Delta and the associated pumping
cost. The incentive amount varied from year to year depending on the actual variable power cost paid for State Water
Project imports. In 1990, Metropolitan’s Board increased the LPP contribution to a fixed rate of $154 per acre-foot,
which was calculated based on Metropolitan’s avoided capital and operational costs to convey, treat, and distribute
water, and included considerations of reliability and service area demands.
Groundwater Recovery Program
The drought of the early 1990s sparked the need to develop additional local water resources, aside from recycled
water, to meet regional demand and increase regional water supply reliability. In 1991, Metropolitan conducted the
Brackish Groundwater Reclamation Study which determined that large amounts of degraded groundwater in the
region were not being utilized. Subsequently, the Groundwater Recovery Program (GRP) was established to assist
the recovery of otherwise unusable groundwater degraded by minerals and other contaminants, provide access to
the storage assets of the degraded groundwater, and maintain the quality of groundwater resources by reducing the
spread of degraded plumes.
Local Resources Program
In 1995, Metropolitan’s Board adopted the Local Resources Program (LRP), which combined the LPP and GRP into
one program. The Board allowed for existing LPP agreements with a fixed incentive rate to convert to the sliding
scale up to $250 per acre-foot, similar to GRP incentive terms. Those agreements that were converted to LRP are
known as “LRP Conversions.”
Competitive Local Projects Program
In 1998, the Competitive Local Resources Program (Competitive Program) was established. The Competitive Program
encouraged the development of recycled water and recovered groundwater through a process that emphasized cost-
efficiency to Metropolitan, timing new production according to regional need while minimizing program
administration cost. Under the Competitive Program, agencies requested an incentive rate up to $250 per acre-foot
of production over 25 years under a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of up to 53,000 acre-feet per
year of new water recycling and groundwater recovery projects. In 2003, a second RFP was issued for the
development of an additional 65,000 acre-feet of new recycled water and recovered groundwater projects through
the LRP.
Seawater Desalination Program
Metropolitan established the Seawater Desalination Program (SDP) in 2001 to provide financial incentives to member
agencies for the development of seawater desalination projects. In 2014, seawater desalination projects became
eligible for funding under the LRP, and the SDP was ended.
2007 Local Resources Program
In 2006, a task force comprised of member agency representatives was formed to identify and recommend program
improvements to the LRP. As a result of the task force process, the 2007 LRP was established with a goal of 174,000
acre-feet per year of additional local water resource development. The new program allowed for an open application
process and eliminated the previous competitive process. This program offered sliding scale incentives of up to $250
per acre-foot, calculated annually based on a member agency’s actual local resource project costs exceeding
Metropolitan’s prevailing water rate.
2014 Local Resources Program
A series of workgroup meetings with member agencies was held to identify the reasons why there was a lack of new
LRP applications coming into the program. The main constraint identified by the member agencies was that the $250
per acre-foot was not providing enough of an incentive for developing new projects due to higher construction costs
to meet water quality requirements and to develop the infrastructure to reach end-use consumers located further
from treatment plants. As a result, in 2014, the Board authorized an increase in the maximum incentive amount,
provided alternative payment structures, included onsite retrofit costs and reimbursable services as part of the LRP,
and added eligibility for seawater desalination projects. The current LRP incentive payment options are structured
as follows:
Option 1 – Sliding scale incentive up to $340/AF for a 25-year agreement term
Option 2 – Sliding scale incentive up to $475/AF for a 15-year agreement term
Option 3 – Fixed incentive up to $305/AF for a 25-year agreement term
On-site Retrofit Programs
In 2014, Metropolitan’s Board also approved the On-site Retrofit Pilot Program which provided financial incentives
to public or private entities toward the cost of small-scale improvements to their existing irrigation and industrial
systems to allow connection to existing recycled water pipelines. The On-site Retrofit Pilot Program helped reduce
recycled water retrofit costs to the end-use consumer which is a key constraint that limited recycled water LRP
projects from reaching full production capacity. The program incentive was equal to the actual eligible costs of the
on-site retrofit, or $975 per acre-foot of up-front cost, which equates to $195 per acre-foot for an estimated five
years of water savings ($195/AF x 5 years) multiplied by the average annual water use in previous three years,
whichever is less. The Pilot Program lasted two years and was successful in meeting its goal of accelerating the use
of recycled water.
In 2016, Metropolitan’s Board authorized the On-site Retrofit Program (ORP), with an additional budget of $10
million. This program encompassed lessons learned from the Pilot Program and feedback from member agencies to
make the program more streamlined and improve its efficiency. As of fiscal year 2019/20, the ORP has successfully
converted 440 sites, increasing the use of recycled water by 12,691 acre-feet per year.
Stormwater Pilot Programs
In 2019, Metropolitan’s Board authorized both the Stormwater for Direct Use Pilot Program and a Stormwater for
Recharge Pilot Program to study the feasibility of reusing stormwater to help meet regional demands in Southern
California. These pilot programs are intended to encourage the development, monitoring, and study of new and
existing stormwater projects by providing financial incentives for their construction/retrofit and
monitoring/reporting costs. These pilot programs will help evaluate the potential benefits delivered by stormwater
capture projects and provide a basis for potential future funding approaches. Metropolitan’s Board authorized a total
of $12.5 million for the stormwater pilot programs ($5 million for the District Use Pilot and $7.5 million for the
Recharge Pilot).
Current Status and Results of Metropolitan’s Local Resource Programs
Today, nearly one-half of the total recycled water and groundwater recovery production in the region has been
developed with an incentive from one or more of Metropolitan’s local resource programs. During fiscal year 2020,
Metropolitan provided about $13 million for production of 71,000 acre-feet of recycled water for non-potable and
indirect potable uses. Metropolitan provided about $4 million to support projects that produced about 50,000 acre-
feet of recovered groundwater for municipal use. Since 1982, Metropolitan has invested $680 million to fund 85
recycled water projects and 27 groundwater recovery projects that have produced a cumulative total of about 4
million acre-feet.
Conservation Programs
Metropolitan’s regional conservation programs and approaches have a long history. Decades ago, Metropolitan
recognized that demand management at the consumer level would be an important part of balancing regional
supplies and demands. Water conservation efforts were seen as a way to reduce the need for imported supplies and
offset the need to transport or store additional water into or within the Metropolitan service area. The actual
conservation of water takes place at the retail consumer level. Regional conservation approaches have proven to be
effective at reaching retail consumers throughout Metropolitan’s service area and successfully implementing water
saving devices, programs and practices. Through the pooling of funding by Metropolitan’s member agencies,
Metropolitan is able to engage in regional campaigns with wide-reaching impact. Regional investments in demand
management programs, of which conservation is a key part along with local supply programs, benefit all member
agencies regardless of project location. These programs help to increase regional water supply reliability, reduce
demands for imported water supplies, decrease the burden on Metropolitan’s infrastructure, reduce system costs,
and free up conveyance capacity to the benefit of all member agencies.
Incentive-Based Conservation Programs
Conservation Credits Program
In 1988, Metropolitan’s Board approved the Water Conservation Credits Program (Credits Program). The Credits
Program is similar in concept to the Local Projects Program (LPP). The purpose of the Credits Program is to encourage
local water agencies to implement effective water conservation projects through the use of financial incentives. The
Credits Program provides financial assistance for water conservation projects that reduce demands on
Metropolitan’s imported water supplies and require Metropolitan’s assistance to be financially feasible.
Initially, the Credits Program provided 50 percent of a member agency’s program cost, up to a maximum of $75 per
acre-foot of estimated water savings. The $75 Base Conservation Rate was established based Metropolitan’s avoided
cost of pumping SWP supplies. The Base Conservation Rate has been revisited by Metropolitan’s Board and revised
twice since 1988, from $75 to $154 per acre-foot in 1990 and from $154 to $195 per acre-foot in 2005.
In fiscal year 2020 Metropolitan processed more than 30,400 rebate applications totaling $18.9 million.
Member Agency Administered Program
Some member agencies also have unique programs within their service areas that provide local rebates that may
differ from Metropolitan’s regional program. Metropolitan continues to support these local efforts through a
member agency administered funding program that adheres to the same funding guidelines as the Credits Program.
The Member Agency Administered Program allows member agencies to receive funding for local conservation efforts
that supplement, but do not duplicate, the rebates offered through Metropolitan’s regional rebate program.
Water Savings Incentive Program
There are numerous commercial entities and industries within Metropolitan’s service area that pursue unique
savings opportunities that do not fall within the general rebate programs that Metropolitan provides. In 2012,
Metropolitan designed the Water Savings Incentive Program (WSIP) to target these unique commercial and industrial
projects. In addition to rebates for devices, under this program, Metropolitan provides financial incentives to
businesses and industries that created their own custom water efficiency projects. Qualifying custom projects can
receive funding for permanent water efficiency changes that result in reduced potable demand.
Non-Incentive Conservation Programs
In addition to its incentive-based conservation programs, Metropolitan also undertakes additional efforts throughout
its service area that help achieve water savings without the use of rebates. Metropolitan’s non-incentive
conservation efforts include:
residential and professional water efficient landscape training classes
water audits for large landscapes
research, development and studies of new water saving technologies
advertising and outreach campaigns
community outreach and education programs
advocacy for legislation, codes, and standards that lead to increased water savings
Current Status and Results of Metropolitan’s Conservation Programs
Since 1990, Metropolitan has invested $824 million in conservation rebates that have resulted in a cumulative savings
of 3.27 million acre-feet of water. These investments include $450 million in turf removal and other rebates during
the last drought which resulted in 175 million square feet of lawn turf removed. During fiscal year 2020, 1.06 million
acre-feet of water is estimated to have been conserved. This annual total includes Metropolitan’s Conservation
Credits Program; code-based conservation achieved through Metropolitan-sponsored legislation; building plumbing
codes and ordinances; reduced consumption resulting from changes in water pricing; and pre-1990 device retrofits.
Infeasibility of Accounting Regional Investments in Reduced Reliance Below the Regional Level
The accounting of regional investments that contribute to reduced reliance on supplies from the Delta watershed is
straightforward to calculate and report at the regional aggregate level. However, any similar accounting is infeasible
for the individual member agencies or their customers. As described above, the region (through Metropolitan) makes
significant investments in projects, programs and other resources that reduce reliance on the Delta. In fact, all of
Metropolitan’s investments in Colorado River supplies, groundwater and surface storage, local resources
development and demand management measures that reduce reliance on the Delta are collectively funded by
revenues generated from the member agencies through rates and charges.
Metropolitan’s revenues cannot be matched to the demands or supply production history of an individual agency,
or consistently across the agencies within the service area. Each project or program funded by the region has a
different online date, useful life, incentive rate and structure, and production schedule. It is infeasible to account for
all these things over the life of each project or program and provide a nexus to each member agency’s contributions
to Metropolitan’s revenue stream over time. Accounting at the regional level allows for the incorporation of the local
supplies and water use efficiency programs done by member agencies and their customers through both the regional
programs and through their own specific local programs. As shown above, despite the infeasibility of accounting
reduced Delta reliance below the regional level, Metropolitan’s member agencies and their customers have together
made substantial contributions to the region’s reduced reliance.
References
http://www.mwdh2o.com/WhoWeAre/Board/Board-Meeting/Board%20Archives/2017/12-
Dec/Reports/064863458.pdf
http://www.mwdh2o.com/PDF_About_Your_Water/Annual_Achievement_Report.pdf
http://www.mwdh2o.com/WhoWeAre/Board/Board-Meeting/Board%20Archives/2016/12-
Dec/Reports/064845868.pdf
http://www.mwdh2o.com/WhoWeAre/Board/Board-Meeting/Board%20Archives/2012/05%20-
%20May/Letters/064774100.pdf
http://www.mwdh2o.com/WhoWeAre/Board/Board-Meeting/Board%20Archives/2020/10%20-
%20Oct/Letters/10132020%20BOD%209-3%20B-L.pdf
http://www.mwdh2o.com/WhoWeAre/Board/Board-Meeting/Board%20Archives/2001/10-
October/Letters/003909849.pdf
jmf 5/15/21
Resolution No. 2021-XXX
Page 1 of 2
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
ANA ADOPTING THE 2020 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
FOR THE CITY OF SANTA ANA
WHEREAS, Sections 10610 through 10657 of the California Water Code, known
as the Urban Water Management Planning Act, require that every urban water supplier
providing water for municipal purposes either directly or indirectly to more than 3,000
customers or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet of water annually, prepare an Urban
Water Management Plan (“UWMP”) at least once every five years; and
WHEREAS, these plans support suppliers’ long-term resource planning to ensure
that adequate water supplies are available to meet existing and future water needs; and
WHEREAS, each UWMP must be adopted by the supplier’s governing body and
submitted to the California Department of Water Resources; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana is an urban water supplier subject to this
requirement; and
WHEREAS, on June 7, 2016, by Resolution No. 2106-040, the City Council
adopted the City’s 2015 UWMP; and
WHEREAS, the City has prepared the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan as an
update to the 2015 UWMP on the City’s water resource needs, water use efficiency
programs, water reliability assessments, and strategies to mitigate water shortage
conditions; and
WHEREAS, the City’s 2020 UWMP contains all elements to satisfy compliance
with the Urban Water Management Planning Act as amended since 2015; and
WHEREAS, the City has given the legally required notices for the 2020 UWMP
and conducted a public hearing on June 1, 2021 to consider the approval of the 2020
UWMP.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa
Ana as follows:
Section 1. The 2020 Urban Water Management Plan is hereby adopted.
Section 2. The City Manager or his or her designee is directed to file a copy of
the City’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan with the California Department of Water
Resources, the California State Library, and any city or county within which the City
provides water supplies within 30 days but no later than July 1, 2021.
EXHIBIT 4
jmf 5/15/21
Resolution No. 2021-XXX
Page 2 of 2
Section 3. The 2020 Urban Water Management Plan shall be available for
public review during the City’s normal business hours no later than 30 days after filing a
copy of the plan.
Section 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by
the City Council, and the Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting
this Resolution.
ADOPTED this _____ day of ____________, 2021.
________________________________
Vicente Sarmiento
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney
By:
John M. Funk
Sr. Assistant City Attorney
AYES: Councilmembers
NOES: Councilmembers
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers
NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers _
CERTIFICATION OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, DAISY GOMEZ, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify the attached
Resolution No. 2021-XXX to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the
City of Santa Ana on _______________.
Date: ______________________ ________________________________
Clerk of the Council
City of Santa Ana
jmf 5/15/21
Resolution No. 2021-XXX
Page 1 of 3
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
ANA ADOPTING THE 2020 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY
PLAN FOR THE CITY OF SANTA ANA
WHEREAS, Sections 10610 through 10657 of the California Water Code, known
as the Urban Water Management Planning Act, require that every urban water supplier
providing water for municipal purposes either directly or indirectly to more than 3,000
customers or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet of water annually, prepare an Urban
Water Management Plan (“UWMP”) at least once every five years; and
WHEREAS, these plans support suppliers’ long-term resource planning to ensure
that adequate water supplies are available to meet existing and future water needs; and
WHEREAS, each UWMP must be adopted by the supplier’s governing body and
submitted to the California Department of Water Resources; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana is an urban water supplier subject to this
requirement; and
WHEREAS, on June 7, 2016, by Resolution No. 2106-040, the City Council
adopted the City’s 2015 UWMP; and
WHEREAS, the City has prepared the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan as an
update to the 2015 UWMP on the City’s water resource needs, water use efficiency
programs, water reliability assessments, and strategies to mitigate water shortage
conditions; and
WHEREAS, the City’s 2020 UWMP contains all elements to satisfy compliance
with the Urban Water Management Planning Act as amended since 2015; and
WHEREAS, the City’s 2020 UWMP contains a Water Shortage Contingency Plan
(“WSCP”), a detailed proposal for how a supplier intends to act in the case of an actual
water shortage condition, as required by Water Code Section 10632; and
WHEREAS, the WSCP must be treated as a standalone plan for public hearing
and adoption procedures; and
WHEREAS, the City has given the legally required notices for the 2020 WSCP and
conducted a public hearing on June 1, 2021 to consider the approval of the 2020 WSCP;
and
EXHIBIT 5
jmf 5/15/21
Resolution No. 2021-XXX
Page 2 of 3
WHEREAS, the City separately gave the legally required notices for the 2020
UWMP and conducted a public hearing on June 1, 2021 to consider the approval of the
2020 UWMP.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa
Ana as follows:
Section 1. The 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan is hereby adopted.
Section 2. The City Manager or his or her designee is directed to file a copy of
the City’s 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan with the California Department of Water
Resources, the California State Library, and any city or county within which the City
provides water supplies within 30 days but no later than July 1, 2021.
Section 3. The 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan shall be available for
public review during the City’s normal business hours no later than 30 days after filing a
copy of the plan.
Section 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by
the City Council, and the Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting
this Resolution.
ADOPTED this _____ day of ____________, 2021.
________________________________
Vicente Sarmiento
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney
By:
John M. Funk
Sr. Assistant City Attorney
AYES: Councilmembers
NOES: Councilmembers
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers
NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers _
jmf 5/15/21
Resolution No. 2021-XXX
Page 3 of 3
CERTIFICATION OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, DAISY GOMEZ, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify the attached
Resolution No. 2021-XXX to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the
City of Santa Ana on _______________.
Date: ______________________ ________________________________
Clerk of the Council
City of Santa Ana
jmf 5/15/21
Resolution No. 2021-XXX
Page 1 of 3
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
ANA AMENDING THE 2015 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT
PLAN FOR THE CITY OF SANTA ANA
WHEREAS, Sections 10610 through 10657 of the California Water Code, known
as the Urban Water Management Planning Act, require that every urban water supplier
providing water for municipal purposes either directly or indirectly to more than 3,000
customers or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet of water annually, prepare an Urban
Water Management Plan (“UWMP”) at least once every five years; and
WHEREAS, these plans support suppliers’ long-term resource planning to ensure
that adequate water supplies are available to meet existing and future water needs; and
WHEREAS, each UWMP must be adopted by the supplier’s governing body and
submitted to the California Department of Water Resources; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana is an urban water supplier subject to this
requirement; and
WHEREAS, on June 7, 2016, by Resolution No. 2106-040, the City Council
approved the City’s 2015 UWMP; and
WHEREAS, the City’s 2015 UWMP did not include information regarding Delta
Plan Policy WR P1, Reduce Reliance on the Delta Through Improved Regional Water
Self-Reliance; and
WHEREAS, Delta Plan Policy WR P1 is one of fourteen regulatory policies in the
Delta Plan, which is a comprehensive, long-term, legally enforceable plan guiding how
federal, state, and local agencies manage the Delta’s water and environmental resources,
and identifies UWMPs as the tool to demonstrate consistency with state policy to reduce
reliance on the Delta for suppliers that anticipate receiving water supply benefits from the
Delta; and
WHEREAS, it is recommended by the California Department of Water Resources
2020 Urban Water Management Plan Guidebook that urban water suppliers prepare and
submit this information as an appendix or other attachment to their UWMPs; and
WHEREAS, the City therefore desires to amend its 2015 UWMP to include
Appendix J, entitled “Reduced Delta Reliance Reporting”; and
WHEREAS, the City has given the legally required notices for the Amended 2015
UWMP and conducted a public hearing on June 1, 2021 to consider the approval of the
Amended 2015 UWMP.
EXHIBIT 6
jmf 5/15/21
Resolution No. 2021-XXX
Page 2 of 3
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa
Ana as follows:
Section 1. The City Council hereby approves the Amended 2015 Urban Water
Management Plan, which as amended shall include Appendix J, entitled “Reduced Delta
Reliance Reporting.”
Section 2. The City Manager or his or her designee is directed to file a copy of
the City’s Amended 2015 Urban Water Management Plan with the California Department
of Water Resources, the California State Library, and any city or county within which the
City provides water supplies within 30 days but no later than July 1, 2021.
Section 3. The Amended 2015 Urban Water Management Plan shall be
available for public review during the City’s normal business hours no later than 30 days
after filing a copy of the plan.
Section 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by
the City Council, and the Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting
this Resolution.
ADOPTED this _____ day of ____________, 2021.
________________________________
Vicente Sarmiento
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney
By:
John M. Funk
Sr. Assistant City Attorney
AYES: Councilmembers
NOES: Councilmembers
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers
NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers _
jmf 5/15/21
Resolution No. 2021-XXX
Page 3 of 3
CERTIFICATION OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, DAISY GOMEZ, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify the attached
Resolution No. 2021-XXX to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the
City of Santa Ana on _______________.
Date: ______________________ ________________________________
Clerk of the Council
City of Santa Ana
Public Hearing
for the City of Santa Ana's
2020 Urban Water Management Plan
2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Appendix J Addendum to the 2015 Urban Water Management Plan
June 1, 2021
Public Hearing Items
Represents the City's planning elements to satisfy the UWMP Act
I
Provides the City's planned actions to respond to water shortage conditions
Provides Reduced Delta Reliance reporting to satisfy Delta Plan Policy WR P1
2020 Urban Water
Management Plan
2020 UWMP Background
Purpose: To ensure, and demonstrate to the State, that there are adequate water supplies for
existing and future demands under various hydrologic scenarios
Every urban water supplier providing water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000
customers or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet of water annually
2020 UWMP is the 8th reporting cycle since inception of the Act
I *
Deadline: July 1, 2021
2020 UWMP — Assessment Overview
Reliability Assessments
Long-term (20-25 years)
Near -term (5 years) NEW
Annual
New Items in the City's 2020 UWMP
City's Water Use and Supply Overview
1.2% increase now to 2025
0.2% increase from 2025 — 2045
In 2020 — 76% of City's supply
In 2045 — 84% of City's supply
In 2020 —23% of City's supply
In 2045 —15% of City's supply
1% of City's supply now & future
City's Reliability Assessment
Key Findings of City's 2020 UWMP
City has long-term water service reliability under average year, single
dry year, five consecutive drought years
City has near -term supply capabilities sufficient for a drought period
lasting five consecutive years
City has plans for supply implementation and water use efficiency
investments to meet its projected water demands
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
WSCP Overview
Included in 2020 UWMP but also a standalone
document
Annual Water Supply and Demand Assessment
Six Standard Water Shortage Levels
Shortage Response Actions
Communication Protocols
Six Shortage Levels & Response Actions
0% (Normal) No supply reductions are anticipated in this year. The City proceeds with planned water efficiency best practices
Up to 10%
City notifies its water users, a consumer demand reduction of up to 10% is necessary to make more efficient use of water and respond to
existing water conditions.
11% to 20%
City notifies its water users, a consumer demand reduction of up to 20% is necessary to make more efficient use of water and respond to
existing water conditions. City shall implement the mandatory Level 2 conservation measures identified in the WSCP.
21% to 30%
City declares a water shortage emergency condition pursuant to California Water Code section 350 and notifies its residents and businesses
that up to 30% consumer demand reduction is required to ensure sufficient supplies for human consumption, sanitation and fire protection.
31% to 40%
City declares a water shortage emergency condition pursuant to California Water Code section 350 and notifies its residents and businesses
that up to 40% consumer demand reduction is required to ensure sufficient supplies for human consumption, sanitation and fire protection.
City declares a water shortage emergency condition pursuant to California Water Code section 350 and notifies its residents and businesses
41% to 50% that up to 50% or more consumer demand reduction is required to ensure sufficient supplies for human consumption, sanitation and fire
protection.
City declares a water shortage emergency condition pursuant to California Water Code section 350 and notifies its residents and businesses
50% that greater than 50% or more consumer demand reduction is required to ensure sufficient supplies for human consumption, sanitation and
fire protection.
Appendix J
Addendum to 2015 UWMP
Reduced Delta Reliance Reporting
The Delta Plan Background
Delta Plan policy WR P1 details what is needed to demonstrate consistency with reduced reliance on the Delta and
improved regional self-reliance.
Projects undertaken by state or local agencies
Occur in whole or in part in the Delta
Involves transferring water through, exporting water from, or using water in the Delta
Should provide information in our 2015 and 2020 UWMP
Details near -term (2025) and long term (2040) regional self reliance of the City
DWR Issued New Guidance on WR P1
Set a baseline (2010)
Calculate water use efficiency since baseline
Calculate supplies contributing to regional self-reliance (local supplies, water recycling,
advanced water technologies (AWTs)
Calculate reliance on supplies from the Delta watershed
Developed in conjunction with Metropolitan as part of the UWMP coordination process
Presentation Summary
Draft 2020 UWMP and draft WSCP satisfy all UWMP Act requirements
Draft Appendix J Reduced Delta Reliance report consistent with guidance
Draft plans prepared in coordination with appropriate agencies
Draft plans posted for public review
Notification requirements completed for the Public Hearing
Public Hearing today
Recommend City Council adopt plans today
Submission on track to meet July 1 deadline
Recommended Actions
City Council to adopt the City's
2020 Urban Water Management Plan
2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Appendix J Addendum to 2015 Urban Water Management Plan
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