Agencies’ water conservation targets could change

South Coast and Laguna Beach County water districts, along with other agencies throughout California, could learn soon whether the amount of water their customers must conserve to meet state requirements for combating the state’s drought will change.

Gov. Jerry Brown originally set February as the final month for agencies to have to meet targets, but two months ago the State Water Resources Control Board extended the conservation period through October.

On April 20, the state board will hold a public workshop in Sacramento to discuss possible adjustments to conservation targets, depending on agencies’ efforts to reduce water use.

The board tentatively scheduled a public hearing May 17, when it could take formal action on the matter, board spokesman George Kostyrko wrote in an email.

Meanwhile, the state board this week released water usage figures for February that look strikingly similar to past reports for the local agencies. February is the ninth month that agencies have had to cut usage after Brown last year declared a mandatory statewide 25% reduction because of the multi-year drought.

South Coast, which covers South Laguna and portions of San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point and San Clemente, exceeded its conservation target by 2.8%, for a 26.8% average savings since June compared with the same period in 2013. District customers reduced water use by 11% in February compared with the same month in 2013.

Laguna Beach County fell short of its goal by 3.9%, tallying a 20.1% average savings since June. District ratepayers trimmed use 2.4% in February compared to the same month in 2013.

South Coast and Laguna Beach County both have 24% water reduction targets.

Several factors contributed to South Coast eclipsing its conservation goal, district General Manager Andy Brunhart wrote in an email.

“We have a multi-faceted conservation program including identifying in-home leaks to our customers, a conservation grant providing rebates for fixture replacements, monthly score cards provided to our top users, among many more,” Brunhart said. “Most importantly, our community has heeded the call and responded enthusiastically.”

Laguna Beach County’s assistant general manager, Christopher Regan, said he knew customers were facing an uphill battle the last few months, including dry conditions and above-average temperatures in February.

“The last couple of months were some of the hottest on record,” Regan said. “February 2013 was one of the lowest [water] usage months.”

Laguna Beach County applied for a credit to the state board that Regan said would reduce its conservation goal by 7% to 17%. The district is arguing for the credit based on the groundwater that officials expect to extract beginning this summer.

District customers are still limited to once-a-week outdoor watering using irrigation systems such as sprinklers, and Regan said Laguna Beach County’s message to customers remains unchanged.

“If the mandate continues, we’re going to have to kick up our game during the summer,” Regan said.

South Coast staff reviewed the criteria for credits and the district does not qualify, Brunhart said.

The board did not fine Laguna Beach County for failing to meet its target, but will contact district officials to discuss strategies to achieve the 24% standard, Kostyrko said.

The state fell short of the 25% target over the nine months, seeing a 23.9% savings during that time.

California ratepayers saved nearly 1.19 million acre-feet of water, enough to serve 6 million customers, according to a board news release.