Peter Mayer lead a team of experts from across North America to conduct this peer review of the water conservation efforts of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The report includes 11 consensus recommendations.
Download the Peer Review here
Strengthening Southern California’s Water Future: Insights from a Key Peer Review
Southern California, home to some 19 million people, faces persistent water management challenges, especially during severe droughts. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan), a major public agency and regional water wholesaler serving 26 Member Agencies, has long implemented traditional conservation programmes. In response to a severe drought, Metropolitan committed nearly $450 million to conservation and efficiency programmes over two years. To ensure these efforts were effective and future-ready, a peer review was conducted in May 2017.
The Purpose of the Peer Review
The primary goal of this peer review was to perform a thorough, high-level assessment of Metropolitan’s water conservation programmes to date. The aim was to offer insights and recommendations on how these programmes could evolve to become even more effective in the future. The review team acknowledged that the project was a brief glimpse into Metropolitan, shaped by the exceptional challenges of the drought crisis.
Who Was Involved?
The peer review was prepared by Peter Mayer, P.E., Principal of WaterDM, and Bill Gauley, P.Eng., Principal of Gauley Associates Ltd., on behalf of the Alliance for Water Efficiency. The review team comprised five highly knowledgeable and experienced water conservation and demand management professionals:
- Doug Bennett (Southern Nevada Water Authority)
- Karen Guz (San Antonio Water System)
- Erin Morey (NYC Environmental Protection)
- Kathy Nguyen (Cobb County Water System)
- Carol Ward-Morris (Arizona Municipal Water Users Association) Mary Ann Dickinson, President/CEO of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, facilitated the review.
The Review Process: A Collaborative Approach
The review process was comprehensive, involving several key steps:
- Informational Report: Peter Mayer and Bill Gauley prepared a report detailing the history of Metropolitan’s conservation programmes.
- Presentations: Overviews were presented to Metropolitan’s Integrated Resources Planning Committee (October 2016) and the Metropolitan Board’s Conservation and Local Resources Committee (May 2017).
- Teleconferences: The Peer Review Team held two teleconferences (January and March 2017) to discuss programme details and reach consensus on recommendations.
- Site Visit: An eight-member team met with Metropolitan staff and Member Agency representatives in Los Angeles in January 2017, engaging in “frank and far ranging” discussions on the pros and cons of conservation offerings.
Key Findings and Recommendations
The Peer Review Team found Metropolitan’s water conservation programmes to be “exceptional, far reaching, and innovative,” especially given its enormous service area and limited staff resources. Metropolitan staff and Member Agencies were commended for their openness and knowledge.
The review culminated in eleven consensus recommendations aimed at improving and enhancing the conservation programme for Member Agencies and their customers:
- Recommendation 1: Evaluate and Increase the Base Conservation Rate of $195/AF
- The team recommended re-evaluating and likely increasing the base conservation rate, established in 2005, to better reflect the avoided cost of new water supply or to incentivise action.
- Recommendation 2: Improve and Expand Conservation Research
- Metropolitan, already a national leader in conservation research, should conduct more pilot research and rigorous programme evaluation. A committee of Metropolitan staff, Member Agency staff, and experts should develop a prioritised research agenda and integrate it into new programmes.
- Recommendation 3: Develop and Implement a Comprehensive Conservation Education and Outreach Effort
- Existing educational offerings, like landscape and irrigation classes, are valuable but need improvement and expansion. They should be ongoing, updated, and tailored to local needs, engaging the green industry and universities.
- Recommendation 4: Reinstate the Turf Replacement Program
- This programme was a vital drought response and should be maintained as a long-term strategy for landscape transformation. Metropolitan should establish a fixed annual budget and sufficient incentive levels.
- Recommendation 5: Expand the Water Savings Incentive Program (WSIP), and Reduce Barriers to Participation
- WSIP, which targets Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) water efficiency, is valuable but administratively intensive. Metropolitan needs additional staff to manage projects and simplify contracting procedures to boost participation.
- Recommendation 6: Improve Member Agency Program Advisory Committee Meetings
- These meetings are crucial for engagement and communication. Member Agencies valued the “practical, detailed, and technical” forum they previously provided and want them to return to their productive pre-drought level.
- Recommendation 7: Before Eliminating Rebates, Work with MAs on Sunset Date and Final Promotion
- Metropolitan and Member Agencies should collaboratively decide on rebate programme termination. A final promotional push should precede any programme closure.
- Recommendation 8: Continue the Regional and Member Agency Administered Programs
- Both the Regional Conservation Program and the Member Agency Programs are strongly supported, offering a balance of regional consistency and local flexibility, and should be continued.
- Recommendation 9: Consider Additional Staffing for Water Conservation
- With only 10 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff serving 19 million people (compared to Southern Nevada Water Authority’s 16 FTE for 2.1 million), Metropolitan’s conservation programme lacks redundancy and capacity for new initiatives like programme evaluation. Additional staff are needed.
- Recommendation 10: Continue Metropolitan’s Role in Development of Codes and Standards and Legislation
- Metropolitan’s efforts in driving water-efficiency policies for fixtures, appliances, and landscapes have had a significant impact nationally. Continued staff and financial resources are essential for this role.
- Recommendation 11: Target Metropolitan Conservation Programs to Both Disadvantaged Customers and High Water Users
- Programmes should be developed to target these two distinct groups, as they offer significant, yet often untapped, potential for water savings. This requires data screening and tailored outreach, especially for low-income customers who may face barriers to participating in rebate programmes.
Looking Forward
This peer review provides a robust roadmap for Metropolitan to build upon its successful conservation efforts. By addressing these recommendations, Metropolitan can further strengthen its water management strategies, ensuring long-term efficiency and resilience for Southern California’s diverse communities.
