3. RESIDENTIAL
Residential water users throughout California depend on a reliable and safe supply of water for their homes. This BMP will define the best and most proven water conservation methods and measures those residents, working in conjunction with water agencies, can implement. By implementing these methods and measures homeowners, multi-family property owners, and tenants will increase water use efficiency and reliability. Credit for prior activities, as reported through the BMP database, will be given for documented water savings achieved though 2008.
A. Implementation
Retail water agencies shall implement a water use efficiency program that consists of either the coverage goals listed below or achieving the water savings goals by implementing measures on the Flex Track Menu in Section F below.
1) Residential assistance program (formerly BMPs 1 & 2)
Provide site-specific leak detection assistance that may include, but is not limited to, the following: a water conservation survey, water efficiency suggestions, and/or inspection. Provide showerheads and faucet-aerators that meet the current water efficiency standard as stipulated in the WaterSense Specifications (WSS) as needed.
2) Landscape water survey (formerly BMP 1)
Perform site-specific landscape water surveys that shall include, but are not limited to, the following: check irrigation system and timers for maintenance and repairs needed; estimate or measure landscaped area; develop customer irrigation schedule based on precipitation rate, local climate, irrigation system performance, and landscape conditions; review the scheduling with customer; provide information packet to customer; and provide customer with evaluation results and water savings recommendations.
3) High-efficiency clothes washers (HECWs) (formerly BMP 6)
Provide incentives or institute ordinances requiring the purchase of high-efficiency clothes washing machines (HECWs) that meet an average water factor value of 5.0. If the WaterSense specification is less than 5.0, then the average water factor value will decrease to that amount.
4) WaterSense Specification (WSS) toilets (formerly BMP 14)
Provide incentives or ordinances requiring the replacement of existing toilets using 3.5 or more gpf (gallons per flush) with a toilet meeting WSS.
5) WaterSense Specifications for residential development
Provide incentives such as, but not limited to, rebates, recognition programs, or reduced connection fees, or ordinances requiring residential construction meeting WSS for single-family and multi-family housing until a local, state or federal regulation is passed requiring water efficient fixtures.
B. Implementation Schedule
Implementation shall commence no later than July 1 of the first year following the latter of either:
1) the year the agency signed or became subject to the MOU, or
2) the year this exhibit is amended.
C. Coverage Requirements
Coverage shall consist of:
1) Residential Assistance
Provide leak detection assistance to an average of 1.5 percent per year of current single-family accounts and 1.5 percent per year of current multi-family units during the first ten years after signing the MOU. After completing the ten-year 15 percent target, agencies will maintain a program at the level of high-bill complaints or not less than 0.75 percent per year of current single-family accounts and 0.75 percent per year of current multi-family units. Showerhead distribution will be considered complete when 75 percent market saturation is achieved.
2) Landscape Water Survey
Provide landscape water surveys to an average of 1.5 percent per year of current single-family accounts during the first ten years after signing the MOU. After completing the ten-year 15 percent target, agencies will maintain a program at the level of high-bill complaints or no less than 0.75 percent per year of current single-family accounts.
3) High efficiency clothes washers
Provide financial incentives for the purchase of HECWs that meet an average water factor value of 5.0. If the WaterSense Specification is less than 5.0, then the water factor value will decrease to that amount. Incentives shall be provided to 0.9 percent of current single-family accounts during the first reporting period following BMP implementation, rising to 1.0 percent per year of current single-family accounts for the remainder of ten year period following signing of the MOU. An alternative method is to demonstrate 1.4 percent per year of the market penetration during the first ten years after signing the MOU.
4) WaterSense Specification (WSS) toilets
A financial incentive shall continue to be offered for toilets meeting the current WSS and updated standard whenever a more efficient toilet is identified by WSS. Compliance will entail demonstrating a number of toilet replacements of 3.5 gpf or greater, toilets at or above the level achieved through a retrofit on resale ordinance until 2014, or a market saturation of 75% is demonstrated, whichever is sooner.
5) WSS for new residential development
An incentive shall continue to be offered until a water agency, or local, state or federal regulation is in effect meeting at a minimum, WSS for water efficient single-family homes. Multi-family housing shall also meet the WSS in all applicable criteria regardless of the total number of stories in the building.
D. Requirements for Documenting BMP Implementation
1) Residential assistance
Provide reports, disaggregated by single-family and multi-family units, identifying: the number of residential assistance/leak detection survey visits completed; number of WSS showerheads distributed; and number of WSS faucet aerators distributed during the reporting period.
2) Landscape Water Surveys
Provide the number of single-family account landscape water surveys completed during the reporting period.
3) High efficiency clothes washers
The number of installations credited to the agency’s replacement program for HECWs with an average water factor value of 5.0. If the WaterSense Specification is less than 5.0, then the water factor value will decrease to that amount.
4) WaterSense Specification (WSS) toilets
A description of the program along with the number of WSS toilet installations credited to the agency’s replacement program disaggregated by single-family or multi-family units.
5) WSS for new residential development
Provide a copy of the new development ordinance currently adopted by the reporting unit or provide the following incentive program details: number of new single-family and multi-family units built in service area during the reporting period; description of incentives offered; list of incentive amounts; number of WSS fixtures installed; and number of participating single-family home and multi-family units.
E. Water Savings Assumptions
Water savings assumptions will be based on the type and number of actions implemented.
F. Flex Track Menu
In addition to the measures above, the Flex Track Menu may be implemented in part or any combination to meet the savings goal for this BMP. Agencies choosing the Flex Track Menu are responsible for achieving water savings greater than or equal to that which they would have achieved using only the BMP
Flex Track Menus