It is an industry standard that every water supply and wastewater utility should assess the likelihood and consequences of a supply disruption, identify critical vulnerabilities, and consider alternative power or supply redundancy to mitigate service disruptions.    Avoiding extended interruptions in water services to promote public health, fire safety, the local economy, and compliance with the City's contractual obligations. Currently, in the event of an extended power outage, the City has approximately 44 hours of water, hence the City's water supply vulnerability to extended power loss should be addressed in a preparedness plan.  
 
Staff is requesting policy direction on the City’s water supply commitment in the event of prolonged power loss.  Policy direction will allow staff to develop a thorough preparedness plan.
 

Power interruptions are caused by a wide variety of reasons including electric surges, equipment failure, weather, fire, wildlife, vegetation, and car accidents.  Although that list is not all-inclusive, planning for these and other interruptions is a water supply and wastewater industry standard, as well as a federal requirement, and Presidential policy directive. Water utilities should set uninterrupted service as an operating goal and include potential service interruptions in its risk assessment and resiliency plan.  To provide uninterrupted service, water and wastewater systems require an acceptable level of electric power reliability.  Every public water supply and wastewater utility should assess the likelihood and consequences of a supply disruption, identify critical vulnerabilities, and consider alternative power or supply redundancy to mitigate service disruptions.
 
Currently, the City’s water supply system has approximately 44 hours of available water, which is independent of an extreme weather event or fire. In planning for power for prolonged disruption of 48 hours, Staff has identified the technical and fiscal consequences of such a scenario.  The technical consequence renders fire protection to 1.8 days of water and results in a compromised water system that will take one week to restore. The fiscal implications of such a scenario could result in a $1.5 million loss.  
 
Staff is requesting policy direction on the City’s water supply commitment in the event of prolonged power loss.  Policy direction will allow staff to develop a thorough preparedness plan.