To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Mark Marlowe, P.E., Director of Castle Rock Water
Title
Resolution Adopting the 2019 Water Use Management Plan
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
The purpose of this memorandum is to request Town Council approval of a Resolution (Attachment A) adopting the 2019 Water Use Management Plan (WUMP). Several minor changes, revisions, and administrative updates are proposed (Attachment B).
Notification and Outreach Efforts
As defined in Chapter 13.15 of the Town’s Municipal Code, all customers will receive the 2019 watering schedule via United States Mail within 30 days (approximately April 1, 2019) of the commencement of the irrigation schedule (May through September). Additionally, this information will be available on the Town’s websites (CRgov.com and CRconserve.com) and promoted through Community Relations’ outreach avenues, such as Facebook, Twitter, Town Talk, and press releases.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
On January 23, 2019, the Castle Rock Water Commission unanimously voted to recommend Town Council approve the 2019 Water Use Management Plan.
Discussion
The Town of Castle Rock has used mandatory water demand management for landscape irrigation since 1985. Peak season demands for residential customers are staggered on an every-third-day format. This is the traditional circle, diamond, square schedule that is familiar to our customers.
New for 2019, we are proposing to expand the irrigation schedule to include May and September. Non-residential watering hours will begin at 10 p.m. on the designated day and must be complete by 6 a.m. the following morning. Other than hand watering, no watering during the daytime hours of 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. is allowed. This format helps ensure our customers use irrigation water when it is most efficient and effective, ultimately saving customer’s money. In addition, it allows positive pressures to be maintained throughout the water distribution system while maintaining appropriate fire flows. It also allocates time for the finished water storage tanks to recover volume.
Another way to maximize the efficient use of water is to limit the issuance of irrigation exemptions during the hottest and driest part of the year. Castle Rock Water typically issues 515 on average per year, and in 2018 issued 563. July is typically the hottest month of the year, and as such, it takes significantly more water to establish new plant material during this period. As implemented in 2018, irrigation exemptions will not be issued or applicable from July 1 - July 31.
The full plan is available on the website, and can be found at CRgov.com/waterplans.
The Watering Violations Summary is included (Attachment C). For the last several years, the focus of the monitoring program has undergone a philosophical shift. Primarily for residential customers, the program has been transitioning from a punitive violations role to a more educational role. While the monitors have always issued violations, their direction is to contact the customer, explain the problem, and provide a solution whenever reasonable and possible.
Budget Impact
The budget for 2019 seasonal water conservation staff is $48,772 and is covered under account number 211-4330-443.10-30. The seasonal water conservation salaries will exceed the budget amount due to the additional two months of monitoring proposed. Any expense in excess of the budget will be handled through a budget amendment.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approving the Water Use Management Plan as presented.
Proposed Motion
“I move to approve the Resolution as introduced by title.”
Attachments
Attachment A: Resolution
Exhibit 1: Water Use Management Plan
Attachment B: Summary of proposed changes
Attachment C: Watering violations summary