When in Drought- Conserve!
Madeline Ward
City of Santa Barbara
Acting Water Conservation Coordinator
Drought in Santa Barbara
 1987-1991 - Last Major
Drought
 Driest 3 years on record
 February 11, 2014 –
Stage One Drought
 May 20, 2014 – Stage
Two Drought
City of Santa Barbara • Public Works Department
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Water Supply Outlook
 National Weather Service
Forecast - Weak El Nino
for the coming 3 months
– equal chances of
above, normal, and
below average rainfall
 Planning for continued
dry conditions
City of Santa Barbara • Public Works Department
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Eric Boldt, NOAA, ENSO Update 11/6/14
City of Santa Barbara • Public Works Department
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Current Supply Strategy
(based on no reservoir inflows, no State Water)
16,000
14,000
20%
20%
20%
Acre-feet per year (AFY)
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
Extraordinary Conservation
Desalination
4,000
Water Purchases
Groundwater
State Water
2,000
Gibraltar/Mission Tunnel
Cachuma Carryover/MWD
0
Cachuma
Year 1
(2012)
Year 2
(2013)
Year 3
(2014)
Year 4
(2015)
Year 5
(2016)
Year 6
(2017)
Recycled
Water Year
Current
Water
City of Santa Barbara • Public Works Department
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Desalination Timeline
(based on no reservoir inflows, no State Water)
16,000
14,000
20%
20%
20%
Acre-feet per year (AFY)
12,000
10,000
8,000
Desalination Facility
Online
6,000
Extraordinary Conservation
Consider Award of
DBO Contract
4,000
Desalination
Water Purchases
Groundwater
2,000
State Water
Pre-Design
Gibraltar/Mission Tunnel
Cachuma Carryover/MWD
0
Cachuma
Year 1
(2012)
Year 2
(2013)
Year 3
(2014)
Year 4
(2015)
Year 5
(2016)
Year 6
(2017)
City of Santa Barbara • Public Works Department
Desalination Critical
to meeting Demand
Recycled Water
WY 14 Monthly Demands
WY 2014 Planned
Drought Target
WY 2014 Actual
WY 2013 Actual
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
June:15%
July: 20%
Aug: 25%
Sep: 26%
600
400
200
City of Santa Barbara • Public Works Department
Sep
Aug
Jul
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
Dec
Nov
-
Oct
System Demand (AF/mth)
1,800
7
WY 15 Monthly Demands
WY 2015 Planned
Drought Target
WY 2013 Actual
WY 2015 Actual
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
Oct: 20%
200
City of Santa Barbara • Public Works Department
Sep
Aug
Jul
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
Dec
Nov
Oct
System Demand (AF/mth)
1,800
8
Water Use by Customer/Tier
July Water Use
700
% Total Water Use Reduction (2013-2014)
• SF Residential: 29%
•MF Residential: 18%
• Commercial/Industrial: 18%
• Irrigation – Res./Comm.: 25%
•Irrigation – Rec./Parks/Schools: 34%
• Irrigation – Agriculture: 11%
• Recycled Water: 29%
600
Acre-feet (AF)
500
400
300
Tier 3
Tier 2
200
Tier 1
100
0
SF Res.
MF Res.
Comm.
/ Indust.
Irr. – Res.
/ Comm.
Irr. –
Rec.
/Park
/School
City of Santa Barbara • Public Works Department
Irr. – Ag.
Recycled
9
Conservation Outreach
Leverage the Influencer Groups:
 Partners in Water
Conservation advisory group
 Collaborate with irrigation
manufacturers, irrigation
supply stores, nurseries,
botanic garden
 Workshops, signage,
newsletters
Conservation Outreach
Focus on Markets with Most Savings:
 HOAs and large turf
landscapes – irrigation
evaluations, rebate
opportunities
 CII Survey and Incentive
Program
 Drought Forum with property
management companies and
landscapers
Conservation Outreach
 Water Wise Citizen Spotlight
 Profile success stories of
residents and businesses
 Release one per month via
press release, bill insert,
website, social media, etc.
 Promote where you want to go
City of Santa Barbara • Public Works Department
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Action Oriented Advertising
 Specific, simple ways
to save water
 Emotional connection
 Easy to apply
Get a Free Water Checkup
City staff will visit your
home or business and:
 Evaluate water use indoor
and out
 Check efficiency of irrigation
system and scheduling
 Provide information on
rebates and programs
Smart Landscape Rebate Program
 For City of Santa Barbara Water Customers
 Rebate Covers:





Irrigation equipment
Water wise plants and mulch
Smart irrigation controller
Graywater materials
Pool covers- up to $300
 50% of the cost of materials
 Up to $1,000 for single family homes
 Up to $2,000 per meter serving irrigated area
($4,000 per site) for commercial, multi-family,
and HOAs.
Before and After
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City of Santa Barbara • Public Works Department
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Low Precipitation Nozzles
 Easily retrofit for generic
pop-up spray heads
 Apply water more
efficiently and evenly
 Reduces water use by
~20%
 Part of the landscape
rebate program
 FreeSprinklerNozzles.com
Graywater
 Laundry to landscape
systems do not require
a permit and are simple
to install
 Part of the Smart
Landscape Rebate
 Sponsored workshops
through Sweetwater
Collaborative
Rain Gardens
 Slow, sink, spread
Spencer Adams Park, 1216 De La
Vina
SBOAR, 1415 Chapala St
Next Week:
Rainwater Lecture Nov 18th at 6:00
For More Information
(805) 564-5460
SantaBarbaraCA.gov/WaterWise
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Vision for a Wetter Tomorrow
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