What is 20% by 2020?
20% by 2020 refers to the State of California’s requirement to reduce water consumption in California 20% by 2020 as a way to help improve water supply reliability for the State. In November 2009, the California Legislature passed the Delta Water Package, a comprehensive legislative package on water policy. The package was subsequently signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The goal of the Delta Water Package was to help address California's water issues, including addressing the health of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to secure water supply reliability and ecosystem restoration. As part of this package of bills, Senate Bill No. 7 requires all urban water agencies to reduce statewide per capita water consumption 20% by 2020. There is an interim target of 10% reduction by 2015. All urban water agencies subject to the Urban Water Planning Act will be adopting an Urban Water Management Plan, or UWMP, required every five years ending in 0 or 5 by all water suppliers who serve more than 3,000 connections. The UWMP will report information to the State Department of Water Resources about each water supplier’s current water supply, demand and water reduction target for 2020.
Who is required to comply?
All water agencies in the State that provide water to over 3,000 service connections or provide over 3,000 acre-feet of water per year are required to comply with the 20% reduction and complete an UWMP. Agencies that do not complete an UWMP are not eligible to receive grants from the State.
Back to top
What is an Urban Water Management Plan?
An Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) is required by California Water Code, and applies to all urban water suppliers that supply more than 3,000 acre-feet of water per year or serve more than 3,000 connections. The UWMP is a planning document that is used to:
- report to the Department of Water Resources on existing local and planned water supplies;
- compare forecasted supplies against demands during normal, dry and multiple-dry year conditions to ensure water supply reliability and sufficiency;
- maintain the efficient use of urban water supplies;
- promote conservation programs and policies; and
- provide a mechanism for response during drought conditions.
UWMPs are required to be updated every five years for years ending in 0 or 5. The UWMP must satisfy all of the requirements in the Urban Water Management Planning Act. There were some changes made to the Water Code since the last update in 2005, most notably due to the Water Conservation Bill of 2009, also known as SBx7-7. The major change includes a requirement by the State of California for all urban water suppliers to reduce water use 20% by the year 2020. The changes that were made in SBx7-7 prompted a 6-month time extension on the submission of 2010 UWMPs to the California Department of Water Resources.
To measure the water use reduction and targets, all UWMPs must define:
- A baseline water use in gallons per capita per day, or GPCD, based on a 10-year time period.
- A 2020 target based on one of four methodologies.
- An interim target, to be reached by 2015, that is halfway between the baseline and 2020 target.
Back to top
How can I find out more about Corona's Urban Water Management Plan?
The Corona Department of Water & Power recently amended its UWMP for 2010. The update was adopted at the Corona City Council meeting on April 18, 2012. To obtain a copy of the UWMP, please contact Laura Lopez at (951) 279-3528 or by e-mail at laura.lopez@discovercorona.com and provide your name, company name (if applicable), address, phone number and e-mail address.
Back to top
Will we have enough water?
Yes. Corona’s 2010 UWMP contained conservative assumptions for planning purposes, but still concluded that Corona’s water supplies are sufficient to meet the current and future water needs of its customers. Corona receives its potable water from three main sources: groundwater, the State Water Project, and the Colorado River. In addition, Corona has a reclaimed water system that treats wastewater that is later used primarily for irrigation of landscaping in commercial and institutional settings. These demands will need to be met through continued water use efficiency measures as well as the expanded use of reclaimed water.
Back to top
Why are water use reductions necessary?
The State of California, by passing the Delta Water Package, recognized the importance of having a sustainable, reliable water supply for residents and businesses. Water is essential to all life on this planet, yet there is a limited supply available to us for drinking water. Only about 3% of the earths' water is fit for drinking, and two-thirds of that water is stored in ice caps and glaciers. There are many challenges facing the State's water supply; these challenges also affect us here in Corona.
The City of Corona receives water from three main sources: groundwater, the Colorado River, and the State Water Project or SWP. Each of these three sources must be managed carefully in order to preserve our supplies for the future. And each of these supplies is vulnerable to issues as well:
| Groundwater: |
The City of Corona pumped about 62% of its water supply from the ground in 2010. That's roughly 8 billion gallons of water! But the groundwater in our aquifers is not unlimited. If Corona pumps out more water than is recharged through rain, then groundwater levels will decline, a condition called overdraft. Corona does not have many areas for groundwater recharge; there are only certain places in the City where all the conditions are right for water to percolate into the ground and into our aquifers. And as the City has grown and expanded, paving streets and concrete surfaces reduce the areas for percolation by directing water to leave our area through the storm drain system and out to Orange County and the ocean.
|
| Colorado River: |
Another 32% of Corona's water supply came to us from the Colorado River by way of Lake Mathews in 2010. Californians share this water supply with six other states and Mexico. In the past, California has taken its share and up to 50% of surpluses. However, with populations in other states increasing, the surplus is no longer a reliable supply. The Colorado River is also subject to drought; it is currently in its 10th year of drought conditions.
|
| SWP: |
Corona received about 6% of its water supply from the State Water Project (SWP) in 2010. This water comes to southern California from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The Delta is a very complex ecosystem. In recent years, there have been growing concerns over the health and the future of the Delta. The Delta is vital to California's water supply. In 2008, a court decision based on a Biological Opinion from the United States Department of Fish and Game placed restrictions on the amount of water pumped from the Delta due to an endangered species called the Delta Smelt. Subsequent endangered species have been identified, such as the Chinook Salmon, causing further restrictions. Pumping restrictions and past drought conditions have significantly reduced the amount of water available to us. Pumping water from the Delta also requires a lot of energy. Nearly 20% of the electricity used in California is related to pumping water. Recent rainfalls have boosted water levels in state reservoirs, but our water supply will remain in a fragile balance until a solution to the Delta's issues is achieved.
|
Back to top
What is Corona's 20% by 2020 target?
| Type of Water Use |
Gallons Per Capita Per Day
(GPCD) |
Basis |
| Baseline Water Use |
265 |
10-year period of water use from 1996 to 2005 |
| 2020 Water Use Target |
212 |
DWR Target Method 1, a standard 20% reduction from the Baseline Water Use |
| 2015 Interim Water Use Target |
238 |
Halfway point between the Baseline Water Use and 2020 Water Use Target |
| Corona's Current Water Use |
228 |
2009 water use divided by the population and 365 days per year |
Gallons Per Capita Per Day is the number of gallons for each person for each day of the year. It is calculated by taking the total amount of water used and dividing it by the population and then by 365 days.
Back to top
How can we meet this target?
Thank you, Corona, for your efforts so far in helping to reduce our water use! We are on the right track, but we still have some more work to do. The 20% by 2020 target will need to be met on several different fronts, including:
- expansion and use of reclaimed water;
- increasing water use efficiency in our everyday activities; and
- installation of water-efficient devices, such as high efficiency toilets, smart irrigation controllers, and low-flow showerheads.
Think about your home or business. What are some ways that you could reduce your personal consumption by 20%? For example, could you take shorter showers a few days out of the week? Or could you install a water-saving fixture such as a low-flow showerhead, faucet aerator, or high-efficiency clothes washer? What about outdoors? Have you replaced your standard sprinkler controller with a "smart" timer that adjusts for the weather? It does the work so you don't have to! Have you considered removing some of your turf and replacing it with low water-using plants? We live in a semi-arid climate; using plants that have adapted to live in this type of weather means less water is needed to irrigate. Since we only receive about 12 inches of rainfall annually on average, we have to do a lot of additional watering to keep high-water use plants alive and happy. Or, could you install drip irrigation in your existing planter areas? Drip irrigation puts water where it is needed - at the plant roots. This means you won't be feeding weeds in your planters.
All of these approaches will help Corona reach our goal of 20% reduction in water consumption by 2020. Our Water Resources group is here to help! We offer landscape check-ups, rebates and landscape classes. Please contact our Water Resources group at (951) 736-2234 or via email at
StopTheDrop@discovercorona.com for help achieving your 20% reduction. Remember, make every drop count - use water efficiently!
Back to top
Find out more:
For more information about 20% by 2020, urban water management plans and water use efficiency, visit these websites:
State of California Water Code
California Department of Water Resources
Association of California Water Agencies
Water Conservation
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Back to top