2022/07/26 City Council Resolution 2022-086 RESOLUTION NO. 2022-086
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
DECLARING A WATER SHORTAGE EMERGENCY, ADOPTING AN AMENDED
2020 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN,APPROVING
IMPLEMENTATION OF STAGE 2 WATER SHORTAGE LEVEL OF THE CITY'S
2020 WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN, AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION
NO. 2021-053
WHEREAS; On November 9, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-131
in order to adopt the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan(2020 UWMP)and the 2020 Water
Shortage Contingency Plan (2020 WSCP); and
WHEREAS, on February 8, 2022, pursuant to its rate setting authority and in accordance
with all applicable requirements under California Constitution Article XIIID (Proposition 218),
the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-020 to approve a five-year schedule of water rates
and drought surcharges; and
WHEREAS; as a result of adoption of new water rates and drought surcharges, staff
recommends amending the 2020 WSCP to be in alignment with the new drought rate structure
currently adopted by the City of Rohnert Park; and
WHEREAS, notice of the public hearing and availability of the Water Shortage
Contingency Plan for public review has been provided in the manner required by law; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 10652 of the Water Code, the preparation and
adoption Water Shortage Contingency Plans are statutorily exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act; and
WHEREAS, on April 21, May 10, and July 8, 2021, Governor Newson issued
proclamations that a state of emergency exists in a total of 50 counties due to severe drought
conditions and directed state agencies to take immediate action to preserve critical water supplies
and mitigate the effects of drought and ensure the protection of health, safety, and the
environment; and
WHEREAS, on October 19, 2021, Governor Newsom's emergency drought
proclamation expanded the drought emergency statewide and encouraged the State Water Board
to supplement voluntary conservation measures by prohibiting certain wasteful water uses; and
WHEREAS, the State Water Board has issued an emergency regulations, set forth in 23
California Code of Regulations section 995, that prohibits wasteful water use practices statewide
and enables any agency that has authority to enforce infractions to enforce these prohibitions at
their discretion; and
WHEREAS, on March 28, 2022, the Governor adopted Executive Order N-7-22,
requiring among other things that the State Water Board consider imposing emergency
regulations that would require each urban water supplier implement, at a minimum, the Stage 2
shortage provisions of their adopted water shortage contingency plans and prohibiting irrigating
non-functional turf, and the State Water Board has adopted such regulations as now set forth in
23 California Code of Regulations section 996; and
WHEREAS, the 2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan provides that the City of
Rohnert Park shall follow the process set forth in Water Code section 350 to adopt and
implement regulations and restrictions related to the conservation measures set forth in its Water
Shortage Contingency Plan, including implementation of its drought stages; and
WHEREAS, California Water Code sections 350 et seq. authorizes the governing body
of any public water supply distributor to declare that water shortage emergency conditions
prevail within the area served by such distributor 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; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Water Code sections 351 and 352, a public hearing on
regarding declaration was duly noticed and held on July 26, 2022; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Water Code section 353,the City Council has authority to adopt
such regulations and restrictions on the delivery of water and the consumption within the service
area that in the sound discretion of the City Council shall conserve the water supply for the
greatest public benefit with regard to domestic use, sanitation, and fire protection; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Water Code section 356, adopted regulations and restrictions
may include the right to deny applications for new or additional service connections, and may
also include provision for their enforcement by discontinuing service to consumers who willfully
violate the regulations and restrictions; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends adopting the conservation measures for stage two of the
2020 WSCP, as amended,to respond to the water shortage emergency as required by 23
California Code of Regulations section 996; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Rohnert
Park as follows:
1. All of the above recitals are true and correct, and are adopted as findings of the City
Council in support of the actions in this resolution.
2. The City Council of the City of Rohnert Park hereby amends the Water Shortage
Contingency Plan, which shall be adopted as the Water Shortage Contingency Plan for the City
of Rohnert Park as fully set forth in Exhibit A.
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3. Pursuant to Water Code section 350, and for the reasons set forth in the recitals, the staff
report, and the testimony of staff,the City Council declares that a water shortage emergency now
exists throughout the area served by the City of Rohnert Park and that it is necessary to impose
conservation measures to take action to respond to an approximately 20 percent water supply
shortage.
4. In accordance with the State Water Board's emergency regulations as set forth in 23
California Code of Regulations, section 995, incorporated herein by reference, the following are
prohibited and subject to penalty as an infraction:
A. The application of potable water to outdoor landscapes in a manner that causes
more than incidental runoff such that water flows onto adjacent property, non-irrigated
areas, private and public walkways, roadways, parking lots, or structures;
B. The use of a hose that dispenses water to wash a motor vehicle, except where the
hose is fitted with a shut-off nozzle or device attached to it that causes it to cease
dispensing water immediately when not in use;
C. The use of potable water for washing sidewalks, driveways, buildings, structures,
patios, parking lots, or other hard surfaced areas, except in cases where health and safety
are at risk;
D. The use of potable water for street cleaning or construction site preparation
purposes, unless no other method can be used or as needed to protect the health and safety
of the public;
E. The use of potable water for decorative fountains or the filling or topping-off of
decorative lakes or ponds, with exceptions for those decorative fountains, lakes, or ponds
that use pumps to recirculate water and only require refilling to replace evaporative
losses;
F. The application of water to irrigate turf and ornamental landscapes during and
within 48 hours after measurable rainfall of at least one fourth of one inch of rain.
G. The use of potable water for irrigation of ornamental turf on public street medians.
These prohibitions shall be enforced in addition to any prohibitions set forth in Rohnert Park
Municipal Code section 13.05.020.
5. The following Stage 1 measures of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan are hereby
adopted:
A. Staff are directed to expand public education and outreach efforts regarding water
conservation.
B. Staff shall implement and/or increase water waste patrols, for enforcement against
prohibited water waste practices listed in Rohnert Park section 13.05.020 and the prohibitions set
forth in 23 California Code of Regulations, section 995.
6. The following Stage 2 measures of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan are hereby
adopted as mandatory requirements throughout the City of Rohnert Park:
Resolution 2022-086
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A. Landscape irrigation shall be prohibited except between 8p.m. and 6 a.m.
B. Lodging establishments shall offer an opt-out option for linen service.
C. Restaurants shall only serve water to customers upon request.
D. Filling of newly constructed pools shall be prohibited.
E. Prohibiting vehicle washing except at facilities using recycled or recirculating
water
E. No new water hauler accounts may be established, except where determined
necessary for health and safety reasons by the Director of Public Works.
7. Violations of the emergency regulations and the mandatory conservation measures set
forth herein shall be subject to penalty in accordance with Rohnert Park Municipal Code section
13.06.040, and may be punished as a misdemeanor or an infraction in accordance with Rohnert
Park Municipal Code section 1.16.010. Failure to correct violations shall subject any violator to
disconnection in accordance
8. Resolution No. 2021-053, adopted May 21, 2021, is hereby rescinded.
9. This resolution shall remain in effect until the supply of water available for distribution
within Rohnert Park's service area has been replenished or augmented, at which time the City
Council will declare an end to the water shortage emergency by resolution.
DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED this 261h day of July, 2022.
CITY OF ROHNERT PARK
S a Rodriguez, Vice M. or
ATTEST:
Elizabe h Machado, Assistant City Clerk
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Resolution 2022-086
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Exhibit A
City of Rohnert Park
Water Shortage
Contingency Plan
Initial Adoption 2020
Update 2022
Contents
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 1
SECTION 2: WATER SUPPLY RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................ 1
2.1 Water Use Characterization................................................................................................................................. 1
2.2 Water Supply Characterization ............................................................................................................................ 2
2.3 Water Service Reliability Findings ........................................................................................................................ 3
2.3.1 Drought Risk Assessment.............................................................................................................................. 4
2.4 Demand Management Tools and Options ........................................................................................................... 4
2.5 Emergency Response Planning ............................................................................................................................ 5
SECTION 3: ANNUAL WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND ASSESSMENT .............................................................................. 6
SECTION 4: WATER SHORTAGE LEVELS ......................................................................................................................... 7
SECTION 5: SHORTAGE RESPONSE ACTIONS ................................................................................................................. 8
5.1 Demand Reduction Actions ................................................................................................................................. 9
5.2 Supply Augmentation Actions ........................................................................................................................... 12
5.3 Operational Changes ......................................................................................................................................... 12
SECTION 6: COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS ............................................................................................................... 13
SECTION 7: COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT .......................................................................................................... 13
SECTION 8: LEGAL AUTHORITIES ................................................................................................................................. 13
SECTION 9: FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES AND RESPONSES ......................................................................................... 13
SECTION 10: MONITORING AND REPORTING .............................................................................................................. 14
SECTION 11 REEVALUATION AND IMPROVEMENT PROCEDURES ............................................................................... 14
SECTION 12: PLAN ADOPTION, SUBMITTAL AND AVAILABILITY .................................................................................. 14
List of Tables
Table 1 Total Past Water Use, AF .................................................................................................................................. 1
Table 2 (DWR Table 4-2) Projected Demands for Potable and Raw Water ................................................................... 2
Table 3 –Potable Water Supply Available through 2045 under Various Hydrologic Conditions ................................... 3
Table 4 – Potable Water Supply and Demand Comparison in 2045 Under Various Hydrologic Conditions ................. 4
Table 5 – Emergency Planning Actions .......................................................................................................................... 5
Table 6 (DWR Table 8-3) Supply Augmentation Actions ............................................................................................. 12
City of Rohnert Park
2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
The City of Rohnert Park’s (City’s) Water Shortage Contingency Plan (Shortage Plan) was first adopted by
Ordinance in 2004. The Ordinance was described and appended to the City’s 2005 and 2010 Urban Water
Management Plans. In both 2014 and 2015 the City found it necessary to adopt interim urgency ordinances to
respond to the State Water Resources Control Board’s emergency drought regulations, because its codified plan
was not sufficiently flexible to demonstrate comprehensive response to those emergency regulations. In 2016, the
City adopted a revised and updated Water Shortage Contingency Plan with its 2015 UWMP. In 2017, the City
undertook a comprehensive update of the water system provisions of its Municipal Code. Municipal Code Section
13.05.030 now refers to the City’ independently adopted Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
Additionally, in 2018, new water conservation legislation was signed into law (AB 1668 - Friedman and SB 606 -
Hertzberg), that among other things included enhanced drought preparedness and water shortage contingency
planning for urban water suppliers.
This Water Shortage Contingency Plan (Shortage Plan) takes into consideration the changes to the City’s Municipal
Code, and the requirements of the new of the new water conservation legislation described above. It will be
adopted with the City’s 2020 UWMP and serve as the current Shortage Plan required by the Municipal Code.
SECTION 2: WATER SUPPLY RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT
The City’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan includes a water supply reliability and drought risk assessment in
Chapter 7. The 2020 UWMP concludes that the City’s water supply is reliable under a range of hydrologic
conditions both in the near term and through 2045. This section summarizes the findings of the 2020 UWMP and
focuses on the City’s potable water demands and potable water supplies. While the City also has a significant non-
potable recycled water system, the recycled water only supplies non-essential irrigation uses and it is not analyzed
in this Shortage Plan.
2.1 Water Use Characterization
The City’s potable water use has ranged from 3,942 AFA to 5,375 AFA over the period from 2011 through 2020.
Potable water use in 2020 was 4,575 AF. Potable use declined from 2014 through 2016, likely influenced by the
historic drought conditions and mandatory state-wide restrictions. Potable water use remains below pre-drought
conditions but has been increasing since 2016. While growth in water use may be associated with a degree of
rebound following the drought, it is most likely the result of housing construction, including affordable housing
construction, as required to meet the City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), imposed by the state’s
Housing and Community Development agency. The City is one of the few agencies in California on track to meet its
RHNA. Table 1 summarizes the City’s historic water use pattern and illustrates that residential uses are the
preponderant water use in the City.
TABLE 1 TOTAL PAST WATER USE, AF
Water Use Sector 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Single Family Residential 2,017 2,238 2,229 1,768 1,572 1,577 1,817 1,761 1,816 1,966
Multi-Family Residential 1,561 1,608 1,535 1,489 1,332 1,329 1,466 1,481 1,448 1,462
Commercial/Industrial/Institutional 1,020 851 1,239 726 641 801 748 776 778 455
Dedicated irrigation 319 391 372 316 397 325 397 402 413 408
Total Potable Consumption 4,917 5,088 5,375 4,299 3,942 4,032 4,428 4,420 4,455 4,290
Non Revenue Water 356 562 1,123 674 380 430 333 478 434 284
Total Potable Use 5,273 5,650 6,498 4,973 4,322 4,462 4,761 4,898 4,889 4,575
Recycled Water 1,100 1,047 1,149 1,403 1,091 1,429
Total Water Use 5,273 5,650 6,498 4,973 5,422 5,509 5,910 6,301 5,980 6,004
Water Use (AFA)
City of Rohnert Park
2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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As required by the Urban Water Management Planning Act, the City projected water use through the year 2045
based on projections from the Association of Bay Area Government’s Plan Area and validated with land use
projections being developed as part of the City’s General Plan 2040 Update. Potable water use is projected to grow
from the current demand of 4,575 AF in 2020 to 5,879 AF in 2045. This is an average growth rate of a little over 1%
per year and is consistent with the City’s growth management ordinance that limits residential growth to 1% per
year. Table 2 illustrates the City’s projected potable water use as presented in its 2020 UWMP.
TABLE 2 (DWR TABLE 4-2) PROJECTED DEMANDS FOR P OTABLE AND RAW WATER
Use Type
Drop down list
May select each use multiple times
These are the only Use Types that will be recognized by
the WUEdata online submittal tool
2025 2030 2035 2040
2045
(opt)
Single Family 2,142 2,248 2,298 2,390 2,486
Multi-Family 1,640 1,722 1,760 1,830 1,904
Commercial see notes 1,045 1,059 1,073 1,088 1,103
Landscape Dedicated meters 442 448 454 460 467
Losses Estimated at 8.5%491 510 520 537 555
Other Passive Savings -221 -358 -458 -533 -636
5,539 5,629 5,647 5,772 5,879
Projected Water Use2
Report To the Extent that Records are Available
Submittal Table 4-2 Retail: Use for Potable and Non-Potable1 Water - Projected
Additional Description
(as needed)
NOTES: Commerical estimate includes industrial and institutional use
TOTAL
Add additional rows as needed
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.
2.2 Water Supply Characterization
The City currently has two potable water supply sources: a 7,500 acre-feet per year (AFY) entitlement from the
Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water), which the City discounts when analyzing reliability and 2,577 AFY
of groundwater from the City’s wells, which is highly reliable under all hydrologic conditions.
As described in the City’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan, the City’s supply from Sonoma Water is
constrained by the Agency’s water rights and by hydrologic and environmental constraints. While the City’s has a
7,500 AFY allocation under the Restructured Agreement for Water Supply the City considers its “reliable” supply
City of Rohnert Park
2020 Water Shortage Contingency Plan
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from the Agency to be approximately 6,250 AFY under normal and multiple dry year scenarios and 4,573 AFY
under single dry year conditions. The City uses these projections in its multi-year planning and drought risk
assessment.
The City’s groundwater supply is from the Santa Rosa Plain Subbasin of the Santa Rosa Valley Groundwater Basin.
The City has conducted a number of technical studies since the late 1990s which concluded that the reliable yield
from the City’s wellfield is 2,577 AFY. The City adopted this supply limit in its 2004 Water Policy Resolution and
manages its pumping to this limit. The USGS’s recent technical study, The Hydrologic and Geochemical
Characterization of the Santa Rosa Plain Watershed, Sonoma County California (U. S. Geological Survey Scientific
Investigations Report 2013-5118), confirms that this pumping rate is sustainable under a range of hydrologic
conditions based on both modelling work and analysis of ongoing groundwater level data. The developing
Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the basin also takes into account the City’s managed pumping practices.
Table 3 below, presents the City’s water supply that is available under normal, single dry and multiple dry year
conditions, which informed the reliability and drought risk analysis in the City’s UMWP.
TABLE 3 –POTABLE WATER SUPPLY AVAILABLE THROUGH 2045 UNDER VARIOUS HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS
Supply
Description Supply Available in AFY
2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
Normal Year
Sonoma Water 6,250 6,250 6,250 6,250 6,250
Groundwater 2,577 2,577 2,577 2,577 2,577
Total 8,827 8,827 8,827 8,827 8,827
Single Dry Year
Sonoma Water 4,573 4,573 4,573 4,573 4,573
Groundwater 2,577 2,577 2,577 2,577 2,577
Total 7,150 7,150 7,150 7,150 7,150
Multiple Dry Years
Sonoma Water 6,250 6,250 6,250 6,250 6,250
Groundwater 2,577 2,577 2,577 2,577 2,577
Total 8,827 8,827 8,827 8,827 8,827
2.3 Water Service Reliability Findings
The City’s 2020 UMWP concludes that both the potable water supply and the recycled water supply are sufficient
to meet demand through 2045. Table 4 summarizes the findings of the 2020 UWMP. While the City maintains this
Shortage Plan to assist it in responding to emergencies and regulatory requirements to reduce demands, the City
does not anticipate the need to utilize this Shortage Plan to manage hydrologic supply insufficiency before 2045.
City of Rohnert Park
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TABLE 4 – POTABLE WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND COMPARISON IN 2045 UNDER VARIOUS HYDROLOGIC CONDITIONS
Hydrologic
Condition Supply and Demand Comparison
2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
Normal Year
Water Supply 8,827 8,827 8,827 8,827 8,827
Water Demand 5,539 5,629 5,647 5,772 5,879
Surplus (Deficit) 3,288 3,198 3,180 3,055 2,948
Single Dry Year
Sonoma Water 7,150 7,150 7,150 7,150 7,150
Groundwater 5,539 5,269 5,647 5,772 5,879
Total
Multiple Dry Years
Sonoma Water 8,827 8,827 8,827 8,827 8,827
Groundwater 5,539 5,269 5,647 5,772 5,879
Total 3,288 3,198 3,180 3,055 2,948
2.3.1 Drought Risk Assessment
As required by state law, the City’s 2020 UWMP includes a comparison of multiple dry year supply versus projected
demands over the next five years. The 2020 UWMP concludes that supplies are sufficient to meet demand. While
the City maintains this Shortage Plan to assist it in responding to emergencies and regulatory requirements to
reduce demands, the City does not anticipate the need to utilize this Shortage Plan to manage hydrologic supply
insufficiency before 2025.
2.4 Demand Management Tools and Options
The City implements a range of demand management measures which are described below.
Water Waste Ordinance – the purpose of this ordinance is to promote the efficient use of the water and recycled
water supply provided by the city; to eliminate the intentional or unintentional waste of water when a reasonable
alternative solution is available; to prohibit the use of equipment that is wasteful and to outline the city's policy
with respect to water shortages.
Recycled Water Use Required – the City requires new development to connect to the recycled water system
where feasible, reducing new demands on its potable water supply.
Metering – the City requires that all active service connections be metered.
Conservation Pricing – the City has tiered utility rates for water customers which incentivizes customers to use less
than 4,000 gallons per month.
Public Education and Outreach – the City is a member of the Sonoma Marin Saving Water Partnership who
performs education and outreach to K-12 students. City staff performs education and outreach through social
media, print advertising and community events.
Water Loss Management – City staff is actively managing water loss by repairing leaks, breaks and faulty meters as
they are discovered.
Water Conservation Program Coordination and Staffing Support – the City has a dedicated Environmental
Coordinator who is tasked with implementing the City’s water conservation program.
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Rebate Programs – the City offers monetary rebates to customers who replace older toilets and clothes washers
with water efficient units. The City offers Green House Calls to residents who wish to have a technician evaluate
their home water use and receive water and energy efficient fixtures.
Development Standards – the City enforces building and plumbing codes and the model water efficient landscape
ordinance for new development.
2.5 Emergency Response Planning
In addition to responding to drought conditions, the City’s Shortage Plan can be used to respond to emergency
conditions that interrupt water supplies. Water supplies may be interrupted in the future due to water supply
contamination, major transmission pipeline break, regional power outage, or a natural disaster such as an
earthquake. In accordance with the Emergency Services Act, the City has developed an Emergency Operation Plan
(EOP). This EOP guides response to unpredicted catastrophic events that might impact water delivery including
regional power outages, earthquakes or other disasters. The EOP outlines standard operating procedures for all
levels of emergency, from minor accidents to major disasters. The EOP has been coordinated with the Agency and
neighboring water purveyors. Table 5 summarizes the City’s documented emergency planning actions.
TABLE 5 – EMERGENCY PLANNING ACTIONS
Possible Catastrophe Summary of Actions
Earthquake Shut-off isolation valves and use of spare piping for
ruptured
mains
Storage supplies for service interruption
Portable and emergency generators available for City
facilities
Procedures for assessing water quality, notifying
public and
disinfecting system
Flooding Portable and emergency generators available for City
facilities
Storage supplies for service interruption
Procedures for assessing water quality, notifying
public and
disinfecting system
Toxic Spill (interrupts Agency Supply) Use of local groundwater
Procedures for assessing water quality, notifying
public and
disinfecting system
Fire Storage supplies for fire flows
Mutual aid plans and responders identified
Portable and emergency generators available for City
facilities
Power outage or grid failure Portable and emergency generators available for City
facilities
Sever winter storms Portable and emergency generators available for City
facilities
Hot weather Portable and emergency generators available for City
facilities
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In addition to the EOP, the City also utilizes a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) to assess water system
vulnerabilities and mitigate those vulnerabilities. The City’s 2018 LHMP was adopted by City Council on September
10, 2019 by Resolution No. 2019-116.
SECTION 3: ANNUAL WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND ASSESSMENT
The Annual Assessment is required to be submitted annually to DWR beginning on July 1, 2022. The Annual
Assessment forecasts near-term water supply conditions (12 months) to ensure shortage response action are
triggered in a timely manner. The Annual Assessment will provide a description and quantification of each source
of the City’s water supply compared to water demands for the current year and on subsequent dry year. The
decision-making process and data and methodologies are described in this section. These procedures may be
modified overtime. While the City does not anticipate true hydrologic shortages, both emergencies and regulatory
requirements, particularly with respect to its Sonoma Water supply, could trigger the need to implement demand
management measures in any given year.
Decision-Making Process. This section presents the decision-making process and timeline that the City will
use each year to determine its water supply reliability. The assessment will be conducted annually and completed
by July 1 of each year.
Develop Annual Assessment. Sonoma Water staff will provide a draft of their Annual Assessment of water
supply conditions, considering demand projections for their contractors, by April. City staff will work with Sonoma
Water and its contractors to provide City demand projections and review Sonoma Water’s draft Annual
Assessment, which is to be released as final in June. City staff will complete the Annual Assessment based on
projected demands for the current year and one subsequent dry year, the availability of Sonoma Water supply and
the availability of groundwater supplies. City staff will present a draft of the Annual Assessment to the Director of
Public Works & Utilities (Director) for review and approval by June, or an earlier date determined by the release
date of the Agency’s final Annual Assessment. If the Annual Assessment determines that projected supply will not
meet projected demand, the Director may decide to present the Annual Assessment to the City Council, and
request input on the findings and staff recommendations for specific shortage response actions resulting from the
assessment.
Submit Annual Assessment to DWR. The City will submit the Annual Assessment to DWR by July 1 of each
year.
Data and Methodologies. Data and methodologies present the data inputs and assessment methodology
that will be used to evaluate the City’s water supply. The evaluation criteria, water supply, unconstrained demand,
water supply, planned water use, and infrastructure considerations are described.
Evaluation Criteria. Evaluation criteria are determined by forecasted demand and Sonoma Water’s supply
conditions and factors that may impact the City’s groundwater supply. The recycled water supply will be evaluated
informally to ensure the City’ remains in compliance with its allocation from Santa Rosa Water. The criteria include
the key data inputs and the constraints imposed on water supply and demand. Key data inputs used by the City to
forecast water supply and demand for the remainder of the current year and a subsequent dry year include the
items described below.
Unconstrained customer demand. Current and subsequent year unconstrained demand considering
growth, weather, prior-year conditions, anticipated new demands, policy, and other influencing factors.
Sonoma Water Supply. Sonoma Water’s Russian River system is controlled and influenced by a variety of
agreements and decisions. There are several constraints, requirements, and restrictions on water supply that will
be considered as part of Sonoma Water’s Annual Assessment.
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Groundwater Supply. Planned groundwater supply and quantity will be described and consistent with supply
projections in the UWMP, and will consider growth, weather, prior-year conditions, water quality, infrastructure,
coordination with the Santa Rosa Plain GSA, and other influencing factors.
Recycled Water Supply. Planned recycled water supply and quantity will be described and consistent with
supply projections in the UWMP, and will consider growth, weather, prior-year conditions, anticipated new
demand, infrastructure, and other influencing factors.
Water Supply. Water supply sources will be described, and estimates made of the availability of supply sources,
in the Annual Assessment. Water supply source and quantity will be consistent with the supply projections in the
UWMP and based on the Agency’s Annual Assessment results for the City of Rohnert Park. The City may adjust
water supply projections to account for weather, prior year conditions, Agency supply availability, water quality,
infrastructure, or other influencing factors.
Unconstrained Customer Demand. Unconstrained customer demand refers to anticipated customer water
needs for the year, prior to any water shortage response actions that might be necessary to ensure demand does
not exceed supply. Unconstrained customer demand projections will be consistent with the demand projections in
Chapter 4 of the City’s UWMP. The City may adjust water demand projections to account for weather, prior-year
conditions, Agency supply availability, infrastructure, or other influencing factors.
Planned Water Use for Current Year Considering Dry Subsequent Year. The Annual Assessment will
provide an evaluation of the amount of anticipated water supply for the current year as well as how supply will be
used, while anticipating that the following year will be dry. The assessment of planned water use will be based on
evaluating the key data inputs to determine availability and reliability of each water supply source.
Infrastructure Considerations. The Annual Assessment will include an evaluation of how infrastructure
capabilities and constraints may affect the City’s ability to deliver supply to meet expected customer water use
needs in the coming year. Evaluation will include anticipated capital projects that may influence capabilities, such
as repairs or new projects.
Other Factors. The City will describe any specific locally applicable factors that can influence or disrupt supply,
along with other unique local considerations that are considered as part of the Annual Assessment.
SECTION 4: 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. The six standard water shortage levels correspond to progressively increasing
estimated shortage conditions (up to 10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, 50-percent, and greater than 50-percent 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.
For each of the State’s standard shortage levels, Table 6 (DWR Table 8-1) summarizes the water shortage range
(i.e., percent shortage from normal supplies) and description of water shortage conditions and response actions.
These water shortage stages apply to both foreseeable and unforeseeable water supply shortage conditions.
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TABLE 6 (DWR 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 (Narrative description)
1 Up to 10% Voluntary compliance is sought. City will expand education and outreach,
increase water waste patrols and target high water users (top 100 users)
2 Up to 20%
Compliance is Mandatory. City will continue Stage 1 activities and expand
education and outreach, require restaurants to serve water on request,
require hotels to allow guests to opt out of linen service, prohibit filling
new pools, prohibit new water hauler accounts and consider implementing
rate surcharges, enact water waste ordinance, prohibit ornamental water
features without a circulating pump, limit landscaping to between 8pm
and 6am
3 Up to 30%
Compliance is Mandatory. City will continue Stage 1 and 2 activities and
expand education and outreach, prohibit potable water irrigation except
for Tuesdays and Saturdays between 8pm and 6am, implement a 5%
surcharge.
4 Up to 40%
Compliance is Mandatory. City will continue Stage 1, 2 and 3 activities and
expand education and outreach, prohibit new landscaping installation,
implement a 10% surcharge rate, prohibit replanting of any landscaping,
require street sweepers to use recycled water, require construction to use
recycled water for dust control.
5 Up to 50%
Compliance is Mandatory. City will continue Stage 1, 2, 3, and 4 activities
and expand education and outreach, prohibit landscaping irrigation except
for food gardens and mature trees, limit public irrigation, require no net
water increase for development, implement a surcharge of 15%.
6 >50%
Compliance is Mandatory. City will continue Stage 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 activities
and expand education and outreach, and prohibit all landscape irrigation
with minor public exceptions, implement a surcharge of 20%
Notes:
SECTION 5: SHORTAGE RESPONSE ACTIONS
Per Water Code Section 10632 (a)(4), the City must implement shortage response actions that align with the
defined shortage levels. These response actions include a combination of locally appropriate supply augmentation,
demand reduction, operational changes and mandatory prohibitions against specific water use practices that are in
addition to state-mandated prohibitions and appropriate to the local conditions. Each of these response actions
include an estimate, when feasible, of the extent to which the gap between supplies and demand will be reduced
by implementation of the action.
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5.1 Demand Reduction Actions
Table 7 (DWR Table 8-2) lists the demand reduction actions that the City may implement in response to water
shortage conditions and their corresponding estimated reduction in shortage gap between water supply and water
demand. In addition these demand reduction actions, the City may implement additional mandatory water
restrictions as they currently exist within the City’s municipal code.
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TABLE 7 (DWR TABLE 8-2) – DEMAND REDUCTION A CTIONS
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Shortage Level Additional Explanation
Penalty, Charge,
Other Enforcement?
1 Expand Public Information Campaign No
1 Increase Water Waste Patrols No
2 Limit Landscape Irrigation to between 8pm and 6am Yes
2 Lodging establishments must offer opt out of linen service Yes
2 Restaurants may only serve water upon request Yes
2 Prohibiting filling new pools Yes
2
Prohibiting vehicle washing except at facilities using recycled or recirculating
water Yes
2
No new potable water hauler accounts authorized except as required by state
regulations Yes
2 Level 1 actions remain Yes
3 Require no net water use for development Yes
3
Prohibit potable water irrigation except for Tuesdays and Saturdays between 8
pm and 6 am Yes
3 Implement 5% surcharge rate Yes
3 Level 1 and 2 actions remain Yes
4 Prohibit new landscape installation Yes
4 Implement 10% drought rate surcharge Yes
4
Recycled water must be used for construction dust control if it is available and
a filling
station is within one mile of the construction site Yes
4 Installation or replanting of any landscaping is prohibited.Yes
4 Level 1, 2, and 3 actions Yes
5
No landscape irrigation except for food gardens and mature trees. Public
ornamental irrigation limited to 2 days per week between 8pm and 6 am Yes
5 Require no net water use for development Yes
5 Public ornamental irrigation limited to 1 day per week Yes
5 Drought Surcharge of 15%No
5 Level 1,2,3, and4 actions No
6 Drought Surcharge of 20%No
6
Prohibit all landscaping irrigation except for parks for public use as determined
by the Director of Public Works Yes
6 Level 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 actions Yes
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5.2 Supply Augmentation Actions
Because the City has access to relatively reliable contract and groundwater supplies, the City uses these supplies
conjunctively to manage demand. In the event of constraints on the Sonoma Water supply, the City can expand its
groundwater pumping to meet demands. In the event that the City’s wellfield experiences disruptions, the City can
utilize Sonoma Water supply to meet demands. Table 8 (DWR Table 8-3) summarizes this strategy.
TABLE 8 (DWR TABLE 8-3) S UPPLY AUGMENTATION ACTIONS
Shortage Level
Supply Augmentation Methods and Other Actions by Water
Supplier
Drop down list
These are the only categories that will be accepted by the WUEdata online
submittal tool
How much is this going to reduce
the shortage gap? Include units
used (volume type or percentage)
Additional Explanation or Reference
(optional)
Any
Other Actions - utilize conjunctive use capacity to offset
Sonoma Water shortages with groundwater or groundwater
disruptions with Sonoma Water supply
Up to 100%
Groundwater can meet winter water demands in absense of Sonoma Water
Supply. Sonoma Water supply, when available, can meet all potable water
demands if groundwater supply is disrupted
Submittal Table 8-3: Supply Augmentation and Other Actions
Add additional rows as needed
NOTES:
5.3 Operational Changes
Because the City has two sources of potable water supply that it operates conjunctively, the City’s first response to
water shortage emergencies is often to modify its operational strategy.
Under normal circumstances, the City supplies baseline demands from water purchased from Sonoma Water and
utilizes its groundwater to manage peaking. When the Sonoma Water supply is constrain, the City will supply
baselines demands from groundwater and utilize its Sonoma Water supply only when necessary.
Other operational changes that the City can undertake include but may not be limited to the following:
• Minimize hydrant and line flushing
• Expand public information campaign
• Expand incentive programs for water users
• Increase frequency of water waste patrols
• Increase enforcement of municipal code and water waste ordinance
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SECTION 6: COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS
In accordance with the Water Code Section 10632 (a) (5), the City has well established communication protocols
and procedures to inform customers, the public, interested parties, and local, regional, and state governments,
regarding any current or predicted shortages, shortage response actions triggered or anticipated to be triggered by
the annual water supply and demand assessment, or any other relevant communications.
The City has a Public Information Officer and several other staff that routinely disseminate a variety of information
to the public through several mediums including digital, print, radio and interactive, and is available in both English
and Spanish. The City is a member of the Sonoma Marin Saving Water Partnership and is a Co-Permittee to the
Phase I MS4 Stormwater Permit for Sonoma and Mendocino counties and is thus frequently engaged in
collaborative outreach with our regional partners to ensure consistent messaging within the region.
In the event of a water shortage, the City and its partners in the region will initiate an expanded public outreach
campaign to alert the community of the water shortage and any response actions the City has implemented. The
public outreach campaign will include but is not limited to the following actions:
• Frequent postings on social media – Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor
• Updated information posted on the City website
• Targeted outreach to high water users
• Direct mailing to all water users – postcards, bill inserts, newsletters
• Informational articles in the local newspaper
• Information messaging on fixed signs throughout the City
• Information messaging on two digital billboards in the City
• Interactive outreach at local events – Farmers Markets, local events
• Presentations to community groups and City Council
SECTION 7: COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT
The City maintains the authority through its municipal code (RPMC) to enforce penalties for violations of the water
waste ordinance and the Shortage Plan. Customer compliance is initially sought through education and outreach
but ultimately the City has the ability to achieve compliance through RPMC. Chapter 13.05 – Water Waste and
Water Shortage Contingency Plan of RPMC provides the authority for enforcement as well as appeal procedures
and exemptions.
SECTION 8: LEGAL AUTHORITIES
The City of Rohnert Park maintains the authority through RPMC to implement and enforce its shortage response
actions and shall declare a water shortage emergency in accordance with Chapter 3 of Division 1 of the water
code. In the event of a water shortage emergency the City Council shall declare a water shortage emergency and
implement the Shortage Plan to respond to water shortages caused by drought or other natural or manmade
disaster.
SECTION 9: FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES AND RESPONSES
In the event the City declares a water shortage emergency and implements its Shortage Plan and associated
response actions, the City would potentially experience a temporary reduction in revenue from water sales,
however this would be balanced by some reduction in costs, since the City would be purchasing less water from
the Agency while relying more heavily on local groundwater supplies. Additionally, the City would have the option
of deferring planned capital expenditures and utilizing its utility system reserves to cover operational expenses.
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In 2015, the City adopted procedures to automatically adjust water rates each January to incorporate the effects of
changes in the Agency’s water rate and the cost of water supply purchases, and to counter the effects of general
inflation and appear adequate to meet the water utility’s financial needs for operating and maintenance and debt
service. The City has also established a Rate Stabilization Reserve which is intended to provide additional
protections for the water utility against financial risk that may be associated with drought-related water supply
shortages, earthquakes and related water system damage, or other emergency conditions.
Under modest shortage conditions and voluntary use restrictions, the City would rely on its Operating Reserve
and/or Rate Stabilization Reserve to bridge the deficit gap. Under more significant conditions with mandatory use
restrictions, the City would implement temporary water shortage rate surcharges to provide supplemental water
rate revenue, thereby minimizing the impact on reserves. By invoking the temporary water shortage surcharge
during periods of mandatory use restrictions the City would provide customers with a financial incentive for
meeting use reduction goals, and also preserve its water system reserves as protection against extended droughts
or other risks.
SECTION 10: MONITORING AND REPORTING
City staff has the capability through its metering and billing systems to monitor, track and analyze water
consumption data for all customer classes for the purposes of customer compliance and to meet state reporting
requirements. The City provides monthly reporting to both the state and the Agency as required by law. City staff
regularly ensures that the appropriate water supply and demand data is gathered, stored and reported when
necessary. During a water shortage emergency, the frequency of monitoring is increased in order to assess the
effectiveness of demand reduction response actions and to consider implementing other mitigation strategies.
SECTION 11 REEVALUATION AND IMPROVEMENT PROCEDURES
The City’s Shortage Plan is intended to be an adaptively managed plan that allows for changes to be made if
needed. Based on the effectiveness of the City’s demand reduction response actions and through the monitoring
process, the City may elect to adjust its methods in order to achieve greater demand reduction. Any revisions to
the Shortage Plan would be reviewed by the City Council prior to adoption.
For the purposes of this Shortage Plan, the City defines water features that are artificially supplied with potable
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.
SECTION 12: PLAN ADOPTION, SUBMITTAL AND AVAILABILITY
This Water Shortage Contingency plan was made available with the City’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan. All
notices and public hearings for the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan included information on this Updated
Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
This Water Shortage Contingency Plan was submitted to state agencies together with the 2020 Urban Water
Management Plan.