Report Prepared by: Stan Murdock, Director of Public Works Operations
Title
SUBJECT: City of Merced Water Conservation Efforts Update
REPORT IN BRIEF
Report on the efforts made to date by City forces for water conservation.
RECOMMENDATION
Information Only
Body
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Water Conservation
DISCUSSION
In response to the Governor's Executive Order and the resulting regulations from the State Water Resources Board, the City of Merced Public Works Department has undertaken several steps to conserve our underground water supply. Based on those efforts and the water savings our citizens have accomplished, it is appropriate to update Council on conditions to date.
Council will recall the regulations which arose from the Governor's Executive Order mandated that Merced (along with many other agencies throughout California) reduce monthly water consumption by 36% when compared to the same month in 2013. Merced has exceeded the mandated reduction every month since reporting began in June 2013.
Urban water suppliers that failed to meet the regulatory mandate imposed upon them have been contacted by the State. State intervention can range from a warning letter to a $10,000 per day fine should an agency violate a Cease and Desist Order.
City Water Use
* Water pumped in millions of gallons in the month of July from 2012 to 2015
o July 2012 1,163 MGD
o July 2013 1,197 MGD
o July 2014 1,090 MGD
o July 2015 666 MGD
City Staff Conservation Efforts
Sports Fields and Parks
* Sports fields irrigated twice per week
* Neighborhood Parks - with no organized sports activity
o 1 time per week irrigation beginning in late June
o 2 times per week irrigation beginning in mid-August
Medians and Park Strips
* Olive Avenue Median was constructed with drip irrigation system
* Areas converted to drip irrigation (as required in the Executive Order)
o Yosemite Avenue, R Street to El Redondo
o Yosem...
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