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DWR Releases Prop 50 Urban Drought Assistance Grant Program PSP
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announces the release of the Prop 50 Urban Drought Assistance Grant Program Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP). To help deal with current drought conditions and water shortages, DWR seeks proposals for immediate implementation of urban water use efficiency projects.

Of the $12 million in total funding under Proposition 50 for the 2008 Urban Drought Assistance Grant Program, $2 million will be designated for Disadvantaged Communities at the discretion of DWR.

A workshop webcast will be available to provide information about the Drought Assistance Program, funds, application process and how to apply. The workshop is scheduled for July 8, 2008 at 10:00 am. To participate in the interactive webcast workshop go to www.water.ca.gov and follow the featured link.

Proposals are due July 21, 2008 by 5:00 PM. For more details of the PSP and Application Process, please click on the following link http://www.owue.water.ca.gov/finance/index.cfm.

For more information please contact Baryohay Davidoff at (916) 651-9666 or by email at baryohay@water.ca.gov or WUE@water.ca.gov.

GreenPlumbers Free Green Workshops
GreenPlumbers is a program that strives to provide plumbers with excellent training and accreditation to increase their knowledge of what they can do to promote and protect public and environmental health. Their goal is to change consumer and plumbing behavior through the use of water saving technologies and energy efficiency. The Council is just one of many conservation partners of GreenPlumbers.

The Free GreenPlumbers training consists of a five-course, 32 hour, accreditation in environmental and technical issues. Some of the courses are held in California and you can find the schedule on the Council’s web calendar. The following is the list of courses in California:

• Solar Hot Water (Sacramento, CA)
  
• Solar Hot Water (Los Angeles, CA)
  
• Caring for Our Water (Sonoma, CA)

Governor declares statewide drought for CA
For the first time in California since 1991, the Governor proclaimed a statewide drought. Coming on the heels of a predicted reduction in water runoff at 41% of normal years, the Executive Order directs DWR to facilitate water transfers; work with local water districts and agencies to improve coordination; help local water districts and agencies with water efficiency and conservation; and expedite grant funding to assist local agencies to conserve.

The following link is an article from the San Francisco Chronicles that contains a list of water use restrictions throughout the state: http://www.sfgate.com/.

The Council will continue to maintain its drought technical assistance including the http://www.cuwcc.org/drought_alert_2008.lasso drought page linked from the CUWCC homepage; and responding to members' requests for information by phone and email.

CUWCC Legislative Watch 2008
Many important pieces of legislation are being considered in Sacramento this year. The CUWCC Legislative Watch summarizes the key points of these bills and includes a link to draft bill language.

While the CUWCC is not taking Council wide positions on these bills, we encourage our members to express their support for conservation to their legislative delegations.

CUWCC Legislative Watch 2008

Smart Controller Water Savings Study Now Available!
The Bureau of Reclamation has now made available the Smart Controller Water Savings Study. This document summarizes the findings of a literature review of publicly available reports and articles for water savings studies that evaluated weather and soil moisture based (Smart) landscape irrigation control devices. It serves as a supplemental document to the Bureau of Reclamation (2007) Technical Review Report Weather and Soil Moisture Based Landscape Irrigation Scheduling Devices.

The purpose of this document, and the Technical Review Report , is to document the overall status of emerging weather and soil moisture based landscape irrigation controller technology with the intent to assist water agencies in their efforts to promote this technology as a means of conserving water and reducing irrigation runoff induced pollution. These reports will be revised periodically in an effort to maintain up-to-date information.

These documents can be found on the Council’s Landscape Irrigation Technologies webpage at http://www.cuwcc.com/landscape_Irr_Tech.lasso.

SWAT Protocols: Comment period ends soon!
The public comment period for two Smart Water Application Technologies, or SWAT, protocols will end soon! You are invited to read each document and comment using the online form. Comments will be made public.

1) Comment period ends June 1, 2008 for Soil Moisture Sensor-based Controller Draft Protocols for Phase 1: Indoor Lab Screening Tests (6th draft) combined with Phase 2; Operational Test on Virtual Landscape (3rd draft). The protocol is designed to test the efficacy of soil moisture sensor-based controllers suitable for use with residential and light commercial irrigation systems.

To read and comment, click on the link below: http://www.irrigation.org/gov/default.aspx?pg=swat_drafts-soil.htm&id=182

2) Comment period ends June 2, 2008 for Climatologically-based Controller Draft Protocols Review (7th draft). Under SWAT guidelines, every three years protocols undergo a 90-day review open for public comment. This protocol review is an important step in identifying strengths and weaknesses so that improvements can be made.

To read and comment, click on the link below: http://www.irrigation.org/gov/default.aspx?pg=swat_drafts-controller.htm&id=111

All comments must be submitted through the online process. Thank you for your interest in SWAT.

2008 CALFED Water Use Efficiency Grant Program
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Mid Pacific Region (USBR-MP) has announced the posting of the 2008 CALFED Water Use Efficiency Grant program on grants.gov. They are advertising $1.5 million and applications are due June 2, 2008. It is a 50% cost-shared program with awards not to exceed $300,000. Further program details and application information are also posted on the USBR-MP website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/watershare/.

USBR-MP will be hosting technical workshops to provide information on the program and the application process. These dates will be posted on the watershare site (above) when they are determined.

DWR Urban Drought Guide Just Released!
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR ) has published an updated version of its Urban Drought Guidebook which is now available on the Council’s Drought Alert 2008 web page. This guidebook will help local water agencies and communities prepare for the possibility of a dry year or interruptions to water supply. Drought workshops were held by the Council, DWR staff and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation throughout last year to gather input to update the guidebook.

DOE Energy Star Program Finalizes Clothes Washer Criteria
The Energy Star program at the Department of Energy has finalized the revised criteria for family-sized clothes washers (residential and commercial). A two stage revision has been adopted, with the water factor for Energy Star-labeled clothes washers dropping from the current 8.0 to 7.5 as of July 1, 2009 and 6.0 as of January 1, 2011. The first stage reduction is the level and date recommended in the stakeholder agreement negotiated with AHAM in early 2007, while the second stage reduction coincides with the effective date of the mandatory WF 9.5 standard enacted in the recent Energy Bill signed by the President in December.

The Council Steering Committee submitted comments supporting the Energy Star proposal when published in draft form in January. In those comments, the Steering Committee noted that the customer incentive programs of several leading utilities already use the 6.0 level for rebate eligibility, attesting to the significant amount of highly efficient washers currently available.

Early next year, DOE must begin a rulemaking to consider revisions to the mandatory energy and water efficiency criteria for residential washers, to be completed by January 2012 and applicable starting in January 2015. Per Ed Osann, Coordinator, Steering Committee for Water Efficient Products, the adoption this week by DOE of these voluntary criteria, well in advance of the rulemaking, bodes well for a significant improvement in the 9.5 mandatory standard.
- Energy Star Information Letter
- Revised Clothes Washer Criteria

Presentation of 2007 Excellence Awards
At the December Plenary meeting the 2007 Excellence Awards were presented:

Chris Brown introduced the Llana Sherman Award nominees: Rosa Castro, Vai Campbell, Tim Heslin, Randy Record, and Lucinda Crosby. Randy Record, Lucinda Crosby, and Tim Heslin were not in attendance; Sharon Fraser accepted for Tim Heslin. Pictured left to right: Otis Wollan (Convener), Rosa Castro, Vai Campbell, Sharon Fraser, and Chris Brown (Executive Director). Click on picture to enlarge.

Chris then introduced and awarded the 2007 Llana Sherman Award to John Swindell, and 2007 Mike Moynahan Award co-recipient Mary Ann Dickinson. Photo #1 pictured left to right: Chris Brown, John Swindell, and Otis Wollan. Photo #2 pictured left to right: Chris Brown, Mary Ann Dickinson, and Otis Wollan. Click on picture to enlarge.

Ronnie Cohen introduced and awarded co-recipient Assemblyman John Laird, the 2007 Mike Moynahan Award. Principal Consultant Kate Williams accepted on his behalf. Pictured left to right: Chris Brown, Ronnie Cohen, Kate Williams, and Otis Wollan. All three winners received a framed award, along with an engraved clock. Click on picture to enlarge.

A special 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award for Water Conservation was presented to Roland “Ron” Brown (posthumously), his wife Evelyn accepted on his behalf. Pictured left to right: Chris Brown, Evelyn Brown, and Otis Wollan. Click on picture to enlarge.

Water Efficiency Leader Awards (WEL Awards)
2007 marks the second year of the Water Efficiency Leader Awards, in which numerous applications demonstrate that U.S. businesses, homeowners, and entire communities are able to reduce the demand for water 10 to 70 percent through known technologies and focused desire.

Santa Clara Valley Water District (San Jose, CA) won the award under the Government category. This water management agency helped the community reduce water demand by 55,000 acre-feet, or 12 percent of present demand, through conservation and water recycling. They have plans to further reduce demand for water. The district uses an array of innovative programs which include the use of satellite imaging to inventory and measure irrigation landscapes, educating the public about the link between water efficiency and its positive impact on energy demand and air quality, and protecting salt marshes by reducing the amount of freshwater released from wastewater treatment facilities.

Visit the EPA website to see other winners.

New Council Webpage! Providing Resources Relating to the Proposed Revision of BMP 3
Since March 2003, the Council has been discussing a possible revision of its BMP 3, “System Water Audits, Leak Detection and Repair”, to incorporate the new IWA/AWWA water audit methodology. On September 12, 2007 the Steering Committee opened a 90-day comment period on a draft revision of BMP 3 that incorporates the new methodology. The comment period for the proposed draft revision ends December 11, 2007. Click here to go to the webpage for links to resources to assist Council signatories considering submitting related comments, and information on scheduled workshops.

The 2007 Legislative Session was Busy promoting Water Conservation!
Several Bills that promote water use efficiency were passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor this last week! Among the new laws is AB 715, the first state law to require the installation of HETs and HEUs, to be phased in over the next seven years. Also passed were AB 1420 which provides financial incentives to utilities which implements the BMPs; AB 566 promotes the use of CIMIS in the state's model local landscape ordinance; and AB 1560 requiring the California Energy Commission to develop regulations for water efficiency and conservation standards for new residential and non residential buildings. The Council has updated its summary of legislation to show the bills that were signed and a brief description of each. To learn more about each bill, go to the internet link associated with each bill summarized in the Council Legislative Watch.

Assembly Bill No. 715 Approved!
This bill would require that all water closets sold or installed in this state shall use no more than an average of 1.6 gallons per flush and that all urinals sold or installed in this state use no more than an average of one gallon per flush. It would require that, on and after January 1, 2014, all water closets and all urinals, other than blow-out urinals, sold or installed in this state shall be high-efficiency water closets and urinals.

The bill also would require manufacturers selling water closets or urinals in this state to offer high-efficiency models for sale in a specified percentage of all models offered, including 50% by January 1, 2010, 67% by January 1, 2011, 75% by January 1, 2012, 85% by January 1, 2013, and 100% by January 1, 2014. It would require these manufacturers, by January 30 of 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, to inform, in writing, the California Energy Commission of the percentage of high-efficiency models it is offering for sale that year.

For more information, click on the link below:
- AB 715 Bill

BMP Costs & Savings Guide Bargain Sale!
The Council is now selling the original BMP Costs and Savings Guide, printed in 2000, at a great low price! Your purchase will also include a Xerox copy of the March 1, 2005 update. Check out the offer on the publications section of our website: http://www.cuwcc.org/publications.

Member Price: $5
Non Member Price: $10

DOE Denies California’s Tougher Clothes Washer Standards
The Federal Department of Energy (DOE) has denied the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) petition to allow California’s more stringent water efficiency standards for residential clothes washers. These water factor standards were due to go into effect on January 1, 2007. The Council and numerous water agencies supported CEC’s petition for a waiver from the more lenient federal standards. Three reasons were cited for the denial:

1. No provision was made for an effective date at least three years after the DOE exemption decision, as required by the Federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act.

2. The state failed to establish that California has compelling water circumstances to justify a waiver, or that the benefits of the state standard were superior to alternatives such as voluntary programs.

3. The 2010 standard would eliminate top-loading washers from the market.

First "WaterSense" Label Spec Issued to Landscape Irrigation Professionals
The U.S. EPA's WaterSense labeling program has released its first set of final specifications for Certification Programs for Irrigation Professionals. Certification programs that earn the WaterSense label are required to test experienced professionals and provide program oversight in order to accurately assess their competency in designing, installing/maintaining and auditing water-efficient landscape irrigation systems.

For more information, please see the recently issued Press Release

US EPA Announces New "WaterSense" Product Labeling Program
WaterSense, a new water efficiency program launched by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will educate American consumers on making smart water choices that save money and maintain high environmental standards without compromising performance.

The Council's Executive Director Mary Ann Dickinson (in blue) with Carole Baker, Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District in Texas; Pete DeMarco, American Standard; Stephen Johnson, USEPA; and other key stakeholders unveil the WaterSense logo.

The WaterSense program aims to raise awareness about the importance of water efficiency, ensure the performance of water-efficient products and provide good consumer information. The WaterSense label will be easily identified on products and services that perform at least 20 percent more efficiently than their less efficient counterparts. Manufacturers can certify these products meet EPA criteria for water efficiency and performance by following testing protocols specific to each product category. In addition, products will be independently tested to ensure EPA specifications are met. These products will be available to families and businesses early next year.

For more information about the WaterSense water efficiency program, visit the US EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/watersense

Help Promote the
Flex Your Power Campaign
Water agencies are encouraged to participate in the Flex Your Power energy efficiency campaign because saving water also saves energy. Here are a few ways you can help:

1. Go to www.fypower.com/res/tools/rgl.html, and download and fax back Flex Your Power's Survey for Water Agencies. Flex Your Power will list your information on water efficiency education and financial and technical assistance programs in its searchable databases.

2. Add the Flex Your Power logo and link to the Flex Your Power website (www.fypower.com) on your website.

3. Submit press releases, product announcements, program changes, research news, hot ideas, event announcements and success stories to Flex Your Power's biweekly electronic newsletter, e-Newswire. E-mail your news to news@fypower.com.

4. Check out the current e-Newswire and subscribe to receive it twice a month via e-mail: http://www.fypower.com/news/enewswire.html.

Resource for Council Members: T-5 Flushmeter Available to Borrow
The T-5 Flushmeter provides a quick and easy method to measure flush volumes with 95% accuracy. With this tool, you can easily, cleanly and accurately determine the flush volume of a toilet without connecting a meter at the angle stop and flex line of the water supply. Interested? The Council now has a T-5 Flushmeter available for you to borrow and try yourself! This resource is only available to Council members. For more information, log into the Member Area and click on "T-5 Flushmeter" in the Technical Resources section.

® Copyright 2007, CUWCC.  All rights reserved Developed with funding and support from U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.