Water Resource Policy and Planning

Bay Delta Conservation Plan Development

California Department of Water Resources (2006-2013)

M.Cubed is the lead economist for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan Development (BDCP). The BDCP is a planning and environmental permitting process to restore habitat for Delta fisheries in a way that reliably delivers water supplies to 25 million Californians. The BDCP is being developed under the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the California Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (NCCPA). M.Cubed’s primary role is to estimate costs for individual conservation measures, including construction, operation, administration, and research, and to estimate total programmatic costs of the program.

California Water Service Company 2012 General Rate Case

California Water Service Company (2012-13)

Prepared conservation program plans and budgets for the 24 service districts of California Water Service Company to ensure that each Cal Water district is on a path to meet its demand-reduction requirements under the Water Conservation Act of 2009 (SBx7-7) in a manner that is cognizant of real-world implementation constraints as well as the need to minimize the cost burden to ratepayers. Estimated for each district 3-year conservation program budgets for the period 2014 through 2016 based on the recommended conservation portfolios. Provided testimony and analysis in support of California Water Service Company’s proposed conservation programs and budgets before the California Public Utilities Commission.

AWE Water Conservation Tracking Tool Customization

State of Georgia Environmental Protection Department (2012)

M.Cubed customized AWE Water Conservation Tracking Tool to support State of Georgia Environmental Protection Department (EPD) Watershed/Regional Assessments of Conservation Program Implementation.  The Tracking Tool model was customized to match EPD’s specific data and output requirements needed for regulatory enforcement and permitting decisions.  Data export routines were added to the Tracking Tool so that water systems using the Tracking Tool to develop and track conservation program implementation could export model results to EPD for regional aggregation and analysis.

Regional and Statewide Water Infrastructure Financing Model

California Water Foundation (2011-12)

Developed analytical model and data sets for evaluating the revenue potential and the geographic, demographic, and economic sector revenue incidence of alternative regional and statewide water fee structures for financing statewide water infrastructure investments.

Impact of Water Scarcity on California Economic Performance

California Water Foundation (2011-12)

Developed white paper and other related information addressing impact of increasing scarcity of water on California economic performance.  White paper addressed a range of issues, including impact of rising water costs on California businesses, importance of water supply reliability to key California industries, and expected impacts of future water shortages on California employment and gross state product.

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Retail Demand Model

SFPUC (2010-2011)

Updated SFPUC’s retail demand and conservation planning model to incorporate recent changes in plumbing codes, city ordinances, and city conservation programs.  Extended the model to 2035 and developed demand and conservation program projections for SFPUC’s 2010 UWMP and Conservation Master Plan.

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Retail Water Conservation Plan Update

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (2010-2011)

Support was provided to SFPUC’s conservation program staff to update their retail water demand and conservation model to incorporate recent changes in plumbing codes, city ordinances, and city conservation programs, and to extend the planning period to 2035.  The model was then used to develop retail water demand and conservation forecasts for SFPUC’s 2010 Urban Water Management Plan and to update its Conservation Master Plan.  As part of the model update, all program cost and water savings assumptions were reviewed and updated. Upon completion of the model update, two staff training workshops were provided.

20x2020 (SBx7-7) Compliance Plan and Revenue Review

Contra Costa Water District (2011-12)

Worked with district planning and conservation staff to update SBx7-7 GPCD targets for the district and plan the level and scope of future conservation and recycling investment that will be needed to comply with 2015 and 2020 GPCD requirements.  Developed a water demand and rate revenue simulation model for evaluating impact of alternative conservation rate structures and other conservation investments on future water demands and water sales revenue.

20x2020 (SBx7-7) Target Methodology

Department of Water Resources (2010)

Consulted with DWR on the development and documentation of methodologies for determining base daily per capita water use, per capita water use targets, and compliance daily per capita water use, used to implement SBx7-7 urban water conservation legislative requirements.  Created a numerical model in Excel to implement a per capita target methodology based on implementation of BMPs developed by DWR.

California Water Service Company Water Conservation Master Plans

California Water Service Company (2010-11)

District-specific Water Conservation Master Plans were prepared for Cal Water’s 24 service districts.  Each plan addressed district per capita water reduction targets required for SB7, MOU, and CPUC urban water use policies, and developed a set of cost-effective conservation programs designed to achieve these policies as well as 5-year budgets and staffing plans.  As part of the plan development process, the team conducted public workshops for each district to solicit input on conservation programs, screening criteria, and evaluation methodology.  The planning process entailed delineation of water conservation goals and objectives; derivation of baseline demands; adjustment of baseline demands for expected water savings from codes and other sources of passive water savings; identification of conservation program alternatives; qualitative assessment and preliminary screening of alternatives; quantitative modeling of program costs and water savings; analysis of district avoided costs; and calculation of program benefit-cost ratios.  Least-cost portfolios of conservation measures were identified for each district using linear and non-linear programming techniques.  Once the program portfolios were constructed, staffing plans and program cut-sheets (which qualitatively and quantitatively summarize each recommended program) were developed.

East Bay Municipal Utilities District Water Supply Management Plan 2040

EDAW, Inc. (2008)

Developed economic models and analyses in support of EBMUD long-range supply planning program.  Conducted cost analysis for individual  projects and portfolios of projects.  Assessed energy requirements of GHG impacts for each supply portfolio. Evaluated potential socioeconomic costs of water shortages for each supply portfolio. Developed economic criteria for ranking project and portfolio performance.

Water Conservation Tracking Tool

Alliance For Water Efficiency (2008-2013)

Developed an Excel-based model for tracking water savings, costs, and benefits of conservation programs.  The model includes a library of pre-defined, fully parameterized conservation measures from which users can construct conservation programs. User can also define their own conservation measures.  Users can specify up to 50 separate conservation measures.  The model calculates annual program water savings, annual implementation costs, and annual avoided system costs.  Model results are summarized for three accounting perspectives: the utility, the program participant, and society.

Delta Special Projects Program Guidelines Development

California Department of Water Resources (2008)

Developed methodology for determining an Alternative State Cost Share based on a Local Agency Benefit Assessment for flood control and levee improvement projects funded under the Delta Special Projects Program.  Applied the methodology to two Delta Reclamation Districts.  Incorporated methodology and case studies into the draft Delta Special Projects Guidelines.

Santa Clara Valley Water District Water Use Efficiency Strategic Plan

Santa Clara Valley Water District (2008)

The District’s 2008 Water Use Efficiency Strategic Plan addressed historical and future water conservation, water recycling, and desalination programs designed to reduce demands on imported and local water supplies and meet the District’s policy objectives for water supply reliability, water conservation, and water recycling.  The goals included expanding recycled water use to 10 percent of total demand by 2020 and achieving 98,500 acre-feet of water conservation savings by 2030.  Among other things, the strategic plan evaluated passive and active water savings potential from plumbing codes, water savings technology adoption, and conservation program implementation. A total of 61 different potential conservation measures were evaluated.  The resulting information was utilized to develop a least-cost plan for achieving the District’s long-term conservation targets, including program implementation levels, schedules, costs, and BMP compliance requirements.  The strategic plan also included an assessment of conservation programs and demand management policies for managing temporary water shortages of up to three years in duration, including estimated water savings potential and implementation costs.  The plan included recommendations for monitoring plan implementation and effectiveness over time.

Water Supply, Transmission, and Reliability Project: Socioeconomic Impact Analysis

Sonoma County Water Agency (2008)

Evaluated the socioeconomic impacts of the No Project alternative of Sonoma County Water Agency’s proposed Water Supply, Transmission, and Reliability Project (Water Project). Analysis results were incorporated into the Water Project’s CEQA documentation.

Marginal Value of Increased Delta Water Exports

Byron Buck & Associates (2008)

Reviewed previous willingness-to-pay (WTP) estimates for marginal increases in water supply south of the Delta.  Summarized review findings, discussed applicability of previous research to current economic and water supply conditions, and identified needs for future research.

Economic Impacts of Reduced June-August CVP Deliveries to Agricultural Contractors

Berkeley Economic Consulting (2008)

Evaluated how proposed summer delivery curtailment for the San Luis Unit of the CVP would impact agricultural production and associated economic activity on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley.  Economic impacts were estimated with a monthly agricultural production and regional impact model initially developed to analyze temporary disruptions of CVP and SWP water deliveries from the Delta for the California Department of Water Resources’ Delta Risk Management Strategy.

20x2020 Water Conservation Savings Potential

California Department of Water Resources (2008)

Supported DWR’s analysis of conservaton measures and policies aimed at reducing per capita California urban water use by 20% by 2020.  Assessed savings potential of existing water and energy codes, current urban water conservation Best Management Practices, and new programs and technologies.  Presented results in two technical memoranda to DWR.

State Water Bank Negotiations Support

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (2008)

Developed farm profit models to evaluate farmer willingness to sell water to the State Water Bank in 2009.  One model was developed for the Sacramento Valley and another for the San Joaquin Valley.  Used models to support price negotiations between potential Water Bank buyers and sellers.

City of Windsor Water Supply Plan

RMC Water and Environment, Inc. (2008)

Prepared water conservation components of City of Windsor’s Water Master Plan Update.  Updated conservation projections using DSS conservation modeling software.

Contra Costa Water District Future Water Supply Study Update

RMC Water and Environment, Inc. (2008)

Estimated water savings to date from district water conservation programs.  Forecast future water savings for several alternative conservation program configurations.  Differentiated water savings between code-driven and program-driven water savings.  Developed a spreadsheet model for tracking expected water savings from future program activity.

Director of Research, California Urban Water Conservation Council

California Urban Water Conservation Council (1993-2008)

Directed CUWCC research projects, including BMP water savings evaluations, conservation pricing studies, and various guidebooks on conservation pricing, benefit-cost analysis, and conservation program design.

Massachusetts Riverways Program

Stockholm Environmental Institute (2007)

Conducted a full-range economic analysis using SEI’s WEAP model of the various aspects of managing the water supply and discharge for the Town of Sharon.  This is a pilot program to demonstrate the use of WEAP for broader water planning objectives, including environmental aspects.

Delta Risk Management Strategy

URS Corporation (2006-2007)

The Delta Risk Management Strategy quantified the economic impacts of a wide range of Delta levee failure events.  Impact assessments addressed in-delta infrastructure, agricultural production, other business, and recreational losses, disruption to water supplies that transit the Delta, including water delivered by the State Water Project (SWP), Central Valley Project (CVP) and the conveyance facilities crossing the Delta (Mokelumne Aqueduct and Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct), statewide impacts resulting from loss of infrastructure located in the Delta that provide services to the state as a whole, and impacts resulting from changed operation of reservoirs, including the loss of hydroelectric generation and recreation opportunities.  M.Cubed assembled infrastructure, water supply, agricultural production, and recreation databases for the Delta and dependent regions.  It is also developed recreational and agricultural economic impact models.

Santa Clarita Water Conservation Strategic Plan

A&N Technical Services, Inc. (2007)

Evaluated compliance with certain water conservation best management practices contained in the Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Urban Water Conservation in California for Santa Clarita Water Division, Valencia Water Company, Newhall County Water District, and LA County Waterworks #36.

Importance of Recycled Water to the San Francisco Bay Area

Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (2007)

Authored white paper on roles of water recycling in San Francisco Bay Area’s long-range water supply plans.  The paper focused on the growing importance of recycled water to the Bay Area, its role in regional water management objectives, the regional economic benefits of recycled water, ways to ensure its safety and allay public concern is an important task for managers of Bay Area water and wastewater agencies, and ways to communicate recycled water issues to the public.

BMP 11 Revision

California Urban Water Conservation Council (2006)

Provided technical support to CUWCC BMP 11 revision process.  Drafted BMP 11 revision language.  Evaluated potential impact of rate and revenue requirements of proposed revision on urban water agencies in California.  Developed and presented information about the proposed revision at public workshops.

BACWA Proposition 50, Chapter 8 Implementation Grant Application, Step 2

Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (2006)

Prepared Step 2 IRWMP implementation grant application for consortium of nine Bay Area water and wastewater agencies.  Developed project descriptions, cost estimates, and implementation schedules for twelve proposed projects.  Prepared funding request and cost sharing among participating agencies.  Articulated how projects were prioritized to satisfy Program Preferences and Statewide Priorities of the IRWM Grant Program.  Described individual projects and their relationship to the regional water management plan.  Compiled, organized, and formatted project information into a comprehensive and well-integrated proposal.  Client's grant application was awarded $12.5 million grant.

Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan Water Recycling Technical Review

RMC Water and Environment, Inc. (2006)

Provided critical review of draft sections of Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Plan pertaining to regional water recycling projects and initiatives.

SLDMA Integrated Regional Water Management Plan Grant Application, Step 2

Byron Buck & Associates (2006)

Assisted Byron Buck & Associates with preparation of San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority’s Integrated Regional Water Management Plan grant application. Evaluated water supply and water quality benefits of projects in the plan.  Prepared annual cost estimates of proposed projects.  Evaluated other potential benefits of projects.  Prepared grant application documents.  Applicant awarded $25.0 million grant.

LCPSIM Model Review

California Department of Water Resources (2006)

As part of review panel, provided technical review of LCPSIM urban water model.  M.Cubed’s tasked focused on assumptions and data sets used by the model to calculate impact of urban water conservation on urban water demands.

CALFED Urban Water Use Efficiency Grant Application Economic Review

California Bay-Delta Authority (2001-2005)

Provided technical reviews of the economic analysis portions of urban conservation grant applications made under SB 23, Proposition 13, and Proposition 50.  Evaluated applicant benefit-cost analyses, including assessment of expected water savings, analysis of project benefits, analysis of project costs, calculation of present value benefits and costs, and computation of benefit-cost ratios.  Provided summary of each proposal to broader application review team.

MWD Urban Water Management Plan Update

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (2005)

Authored State Water Project and Central Valley Water Transfer and Storage Programs chapters of Metropolitan Water Districts’ 2005 Urban Water Management Plan.  Compiled forecasts of State Water Project deliveries to Southern California under single-dry, multiple-dry, normal, and wet year scenarios.  Evaluated expected yields from Central Valley Water Transfer and Storage Programs under single-dry, multiple-dry, normal, and wet year scenarios.  Evaluated changes in operations of the State Water Project and Central Valley Storage and Transfer Programs and their potential impacts on Southern California water supplies.

BACWA Proposition 50, Chapter 8 Implementation Grant Application, Step 1

Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (2005)

Prepared Step 1 IRWMP implementation grant application for consortium of nine Bay Area water and wastewater agencies.  Developed project descriptions, cost estimates, and implementation schedules for twelve proposed projects.  Prepared funding request and cost sharing among participating agencies.  Articulated how projects were prioritized to satisfy Program Preferences and Statewide Priorities of the IRWM Grant Program.  Described individual projects and their relationship to the regional water management plan.  Compiled, organized, and formatted project information into a comprehensive and well-integrated proposal.  Client's grant application advanced to final selection round.

Tucson Water Department Water Conservation Plan

Gary Fiske Associates (2005)

Prepared baseline water use forecasts for the period 2004-2050 for Tucson Water Department’s residential, multifamily, commercial, and industrial rate classes.  Baseline forecasts were used to evaluate the potential benefits of alternative water conservation programs.  Benefits were measured in terms of water savings, avoided water costs, avoided consumer costs, and non-market costs and benefits.

Water Conservation BMP Exemption Application

City of Benicia (2005)

Prepared  the analysis supporting an application for exempting implementation of best management practices (BMPs) under the Urban Water Conservation MOU.

Water Supply Avoided Cost Model Development

California Urban Water Conservation Council (2005)

Managed the development of the CUWCC's avoided water supply  costs and environmental benefits models.   Programmed in Excel, the avoided cost model helps water utilities evaluate the value of avoided operating costs and defered or reduced capital investment resulting from demand management programs.  The environmental benefits model, also an Excel spreadsheet application, estimates the environmental value of utility demand management programs.

Central and West Basin MWD Water Supply Master Plan

A&N Technical Services, Inc. (2005)

Compiled water demand and supply forecasts from member agency urban water management plans for use in development of water supply master plan.

Water Conservation BMP Reporting Database and Website Development

California Urban Water Conservation Council (2005)

Conducted database needs analysis and design; consultant selection and development oversight; deliverable review; extensive participation in creation of site content and layout; creation of site’s BMP coverage report modules; creation of site’s data summary reports modules.

Water Conservation BMP BCA Spreadsheet Models

California Urban Water Conservation Council (2005)

Developed spreadsheet models for each of the 14 BMPs to enable MOU signatory water suppliers to easily and consistently evaluate the costs and benefits of BMP implementation within their services areas.  These simple models allow users with limited knowledge of economics and finance to quickly assess costs and benefits for their service areas of the most commonly implemented conservation programs.

ULF Toilet Replacement Program Freeridership Study

California Urban Water Conservation Council (2005)

Managed CUWCC’s study of freeridership rates in BMP 14 ULFT replacement programs.  Work tasks included project scope development; consultant selection; consultant and project advisory committee management; and deliverable review.

CALFED Bay-Delta Program Finance Plan

California Bay-Delta Authority (2004)

Developed program financing alternatives for various long-term budget scenarios.  Specific programs analyzed by M.Cubed included Water Use Efficiency, Ecosystem Restoration, Drinking Water Quality, and Science.  Other programs were analyzed by the larger team.  Different financing approaches were assessed, such as user fees and public financing sources.  Budget forecast scenarios were reviewed and/or developed.

CALFED Water Use Efficiency Program Comprehensive Review

California Bay-Delta Authority (2004)

Evaluated Water Use Efficiency Program accomplishments for first four years of program implementation and compared results to goals and targets contained in the CALFED Bay-Delta Program Record of Decision.  Prepared 25 year projections of urban water conservation potential and cost for California’s ten hydrologic regions.  Evaluated local, regional, and statewide benefits of alternative conservation investment policies.  Developed model to calculate benefit-cost ratios of conservation projects from the perspective of a state funding agency.  Implemented model to evaluate how different levels of state grant funding for conservation programs would likely be distributed among regions and projects.

CALFED Common Assumptions Surface Storage Investigations

California Bay-Delta Authority (2004)

Developed projections of water conservation savings potential, costs, and benefits for Southern California and Bay Area hydrologic regions.  Results are being incorporated into DWR’s LCPSim resource planning model, which will be used to evaluate benefits and costs of five alternative surface storage projects being evaluated as part of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program.

Water Use Efficiency Program Development

California Bay-Delta Authority (2004)

Assisted Bay-Delta Authority with evaluation of WUE program alternatives and development of program guidelines.

Santa Clara County Baseline Residential Water Use Survey

Santa Clara Valley Water District (2004)

Designed survey instruments and sample frame for single-family and multi-family residences in Santa Clara County to determined the distributions of residential water-using appliances, fixtures, and landscapes.  Also surveyed household awareness of and attitudes about water use and water conservation.  Both telephone and onsite surveys were implemented.  Survey methods and results were documented in the report “Santa Clara County Residential Water Use Baseline Survey.”

Review of California's Desalination Task Force Report

Poseidon Resources, Inc. (2003)

Prepared comments on Task Force work products and report drafts.

Conventional and Unconventional Treatment Methods for the Provision of Water

Stratus Consulting, Inc. (2003)

Assessed possible liability issues that public water systems considering unconventional treatment options must address.  These include property entry liabilities associated with delivery, installation, or maintenance services;  damage to property caused by improper equipment installation or malfunction;  claims of adverse health impacts; and, in cases where unconventional treatment options are being used to satisfy Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requirements, possible non-compliance with National Primary Drinking Water Standards (NPDWS).

Evaluation of Water Supply/Quality Benefits of Cadiz Groundwater Banking Program

Cadiz, Inc. (1995-2002)

Identified and evaluated alternatives available to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to reduce system salinity levels, improve supply reliability and reduced energy costs from proposed groundwater banking arrangement along the Colorado River Aqueduct.

Economic Assessment of Carlsbad Seawater Desalination Project

Poseidon Resources, Inc. (2001)

Evaluated costs and benefits of construction and operation of a 50 MGD seawater desalination plant for the City of Carlsbad. Evaluated how plan would benefit Carlsbad's current and future water supply reliability.

City of Benicia Urban Water Management Plan

Byron Buck & Associates (2001)

Assessed conservation program alternatives, costs and benefits, and developed a conservation implementation plan for the Benicia’s 2000 Urban Water Management Plan.

Landscape Water Budget Program Grant Application

Santa Clara Valley Water District (2001)

Designed large landscape area measurement and water budget program for Santa Clara County.  Wrote grant application on behalf of District for State funding of the program.  Client awarded $600,000 grant.

Impacts of Proposed Discharge Regulations on Bay Area POTWs

Bay Area Dischargers Association (1995-2001)

Examined proposed U.S. EPA and State Water Resources Control Board toxic discharge regulations.  Assessed the economic impacts of implementing such standards by the publicly-owned treatment works (POTW) agencies.  Testified before the SWRCB.

Water Transfers Database Development

California Bay-Delta Authority (2000)

Developed database of water transfer information covering twenty years of water transfer transactions, volumes, prices, types, and terms.  Data incorporated into CALFED’s On Tap California Water Market Information System.

Impacts of Water Shortages in City of Santa Cruz

Gary Fiske Associates (2000)

Analyzed expected behavioral and economic responses by City of Santa Cruz commercial, industrial, and institutional water users to water shortages of varying magnitude and duration.

Long-term Water Savings Potential of BMPs in California

California Urban Water Agencies (2000)

Developed models to estimate statewide and region specific conservation potential from implementation of the 14 urban water conservation Best Management Practices contained in the Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Urban Water Conservation in California.

CUWCC BMP Cost & Savings Study

California Urban Water Conservation Council (2000)

Managed preparation of the CUWCC’s BMP Cost & Savings Study.  This document provides a guide to the data and methods for cost-effectiveness analysis of urban water conservation best management practices.  Work tasks included project scope development; consultant selection and management; Project Advisory Committee management; development of report content; and review of all project deliverables.