Western Municipal Water District Pam Pavela

Western MWD background Mission: To provide water supply, wastewater disposal, and water resource management to the public in a safe, reliable, environmentally sensitive and financially responsible manner. Wholesaler and retailer Water Use Efficiency section: defined but collaborative roles, supportive board Pam’s role is regional collaboration and public education of landscape water use efficiency: Water Saving Garden Friendly / Inland Empire Garden Friendly DWR Prop. 84 grant – Customer “Handbook” UCCE and Master Gardener Program California Native Plant Society WUCOLS Advisory Committee for South Inland Region ANSI/ASABE S623 – Determining Landscape Plant Water Requirements University affiliated organizations – CA TLF and Cal Poly Pomona State and County Water Efficient Landscape Ordinances

Western’s approach to landscape water conservation Water Budget / Conservation Rates Retail: 84% compliance in non-penalty tiers Unique Incentive Programs Free Irrigation Evaluations Turf Replacement Program with design assistance FreeSprinklerNozzles.com FreeIrrigationRebates.com Rebate Programs Education

How is Conservation communication delivered to membership and affected stakeholders? Bill inserts Web sites, social media Newsletters Workshops Speaking engagements Regional networking within organizations Word-of-mouth

Achieving landscape water conservation goals and objectives Water Rates - 80% of water sales are in budget Education – Workshops, information distribution Programs and incentives Turf Replacement Program +500% increase over last year $154,000 total dollars distributed this fiscal year, so far FreeSprinklerNozzles.com 1.2 million distributed, estimated 4,800 AF/year saved Landscape evaluations – Average 300 site visits per year

Current challenges to achieve conservation goals and objectives Educating staff that interacts with customers Sufficient time and labor to support programs Funding to support staff and programs Customer Education Increasing customer knowledge Empowerment, changing of water ethic

Anticipated challenges to achieve conservation goals and objectives Internal to Organization Loss of knowledgeable staff and institutional knowledge Time External to Organization Setting efficiencies based on water use sector Setting clear and reasonable long-term targets Educating regulators and legislators Enforcement by jurisdictional agencies Landscape ordinances

Conservation practices recommended to the ITP Support for allocation-based water rates Consistent state-wide messaging In a drought or not; fresh and positive messaging Make SaveOurH2O.org a truly state-wide website Change the water use ethic Support development of meaningful product standards WBICs, soil sensors, other smart technology Funding of water use efficiency research projects Tech grants, challenge grants