The Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) is our region's water provider and supplies nearly all of Santa Rosa's drinking water.  Our water supply comes from the Russian River and SCWA is responsible for managing and operating the Russian River system, which includes Lake Sonoma, Lake Mendocino and Dry Creek.  In addition to providing water supply, the SCWA must manage the Russian River system to meet the needs of the aquatic life living in the Russian River, including three endangered fish species, and to provide flows for recreational purposes.  The amount of water that can be taken from the Russian River system for water supply and the amount of flow that must remain in the Russian River for aquatic life and recreational purposes is governed by permits issued by the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board).

To help protect the three endangered fish species, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a Biological Opinion regarding the operation of the Russian River system, requiring SCWA to implement a number of measures to restore the fish population and habitat.  Included is a requirement for SCWA to petition the State Board every year to allow reduced flow in the Russian River during the months of June through October.

In April 2011, SCWA petitioned the State Board for a reduction in flows this summer. The State Board issued an Order approving the flow reduction from June 1st through October 15th and also requiring SCWA to work with its customers to provide an update on water conservation activities and to assign a more efficient water budget to dedicated irrigation customers.

How does the State Board Order affect Santa Rosa utility customers?
The Utilities Department is asking all customers to use water efficiently by continuing the same water use efficiency measures and habits that were implemented these last few years.  For potable water customers that have a dedicated irrigation meter, the State Board Order requires a 14% reduction in your billing period water budget.

Does the State Board Order require a reduction in water use this summer?
The State Board Order requires a 14% reduction in the billing period water budget for potable water customers with a dedicated irrigation meter.  This requirement does not apply to recycled water customers that use recycled water for landscape irrigation.  There is no additional percentage reduction requirement in this year's State Board Order.

How do I know if I have a Dedicated Irrigation Meter?
For potable water cutomers, a dedicated irrigation meter only provides ptoable water for outdoor water use.  Most businesses, apartment complexes, and common landscape areas of single family residential developments have a dedicated irrigation meter.  To determine if your site has a dedicated irrigation meter, you can check your monthly utility bill.  If your site has a dedicated irrigation meter, your monthly utility bill will have a section on page 2 of the bill entitled "Landscape Irrigation Details."  You can also call Utility Billing at 707-543-3150 to find out if your site has a dedicated irrigation meter.

What is a water budget?
The billing period water budget is the amount of water, in gallons, needed to irrigate the specific area of landscape served by a dedicated irrigation meter for the days covered by the billing period.

How is my site's water budget calculated?
Each billing period water budget is calculated in arrears using the site's landscape measurements, the evapotranspiration rate for the days covered by the billing period, the effective rainfall for the days covered by the billing period, and a conversion factor, converting square feet to gallons. The calculation is:

Billing Period Water Budget = {.7 x [ETo - EP] x [LAh + LAm] x CF}

Where ETo is the Reference Evapotranspiration Rate, EP is the Effective Precipitation, LAh is the square footage of high water use plants on the site, LAm is the square footage of moderate and low water use plants on the site, and CF is a conversion factor to convert square feet to gallons.  For additional information on the water budget calculation or the rates for dedicated irrigation customers, please click here.

How do I find out my site's billing period water budget?
Your site's billing period water budget as well as the billing period water use is provided on your site's utility bill every month in the "Landscape Irrigation Details" section on page 2 of the bill.  Click here for a sample bill showing the location of the billing period water budget.

Will the reduction in my site's water budget change my water rate?
No.  The reduction to the water budget as required by the State Board Order does not change the currently adopted water rates for dedicated irrigation customers nor does it affect how the water budget is calculated for billing purposes.  You will be able to save money on your irrigation water bill by reducing your site's irrigation to meet the reduced water budget.

How can I get assistance in reducing my water use?
The Water Use Efficiency Program offers many incentive and rebate programs to assist customers in reducing their outdoor water use.  Click here for information on these assistance programs.

How can I get more information on the State Board Order?
Click here for a copy of this year' State Board Order.  For additional information or to answer any questions regarding how the State Board Order affects Santa Rosa customers this summer, please call the Water Use Efficiency Hotline at 707-543-3985.