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New Water Service Application Request
WDO Offset requirement calculation sheet
Commercial "Green" Credits fact sheet and application
Water use requirements for large landscapes
Water use requirements for single-family lots
Water use requirements for non-single family lots

Steps to apply for new water service (simplified)

1. Fill out New Water Service Application Request.

2. Talk with engineering staff about proposed project to have a preliminary Water Demand Offset Requirement number calculated and fees determined. 

3. Pay for Will Serve application fee - $300 and the application is presented to the Board of Directors for approval. The Board of Directors meet twice a month.

5. Building permits are obtained.

6. Final Water Demand Offset Fee is calculated and all fees are paid.

7. New water service and meter is installed.

water demand offset? The Soquel Creek Water District is committed to balancing water supplies and demand. Currently our demand is above the supply ie. the sustainable yield of the aquifers. To avoid overdraft and possibly salt water intrusion along the coast we must curb water demand today. The "Water Demand Offset" (WDO) ordinance was created to avoid a moratorium on development in the Soquel Creek Water District to extend our existing supplies until a supplemental water supply can be developed. 

water demand offset program overview NEW Procedures 5/6/09
Our
policy (Resolution No. 03-31) requires applicants for new water service to offset 1.2 times the amount of water the new development is projected to use so that there is a "zero impact" on the District’s water supply.
A
pplicants for new service have their expected future water demand calculated in acre-feet of water used per year based on the size and use of the proposed  development. To meet the Water Demand Offset requirement the new applicant pays an offset fee to the District to pay for the installation of high-efficiency toilets and grass replacement projects for existing customers.

Calculating water demand offset demand To assure you receive the proper water demand offset credit requirements you must first contact the District and present the proposed building plans. Once you have received your building permit, the District will calculate your expected water demand and determine the offset fee based on the offset credit. For planning purposes you can download the water demand offset requirement calculation sheet to see how the demand is calculated.

"Go Green" and receive a lowered Water Demand Offset credit - put in the plan to Install water efficient fixtures that exceed the current building requirements and receive a lowered WDO offset credit requirement and fee. For more info on how to save money through this program click here for residential development. Or click here for commercial development. (pdf format)

Once the total required offset credit has been paid for, changing the ownership of the site or minor details of the project will not affect the offset credit that has been approved. However, changes in water use or additions to the project may require additional water demand calculations. Developers are allowed to transfer or sell their credits to another project/developer (at cost) if their "original" project is not permitted. The developer cannot sell or transfer "leftover" credits from a project.

how is the water saved?  High-efficiency fixture retrofits and turf replacement - The Soquel Creek Water District administers the retrofits of fixtures. The District hires a licensed plumbing contractor to purchase and install high-efficiency toilets, showerheads, faucet aerators,  and zero-water urinals to replace higher water-use fixtures in existing buildings in the Soquel Creek Water District. The District also rebates existing customers to replace high water use turf with water smart landscaping or synthetic turf. The new water service applicant's water demand offset fee pays for these water conserving measures.

The water demand offset fee is required to be paid before water service is approved and is contingent on the availability of credits.

Write to the Conservation Department or engineering for more information about your project and the WDO program requirements. 

Water Use Efficiency Requirements:

     -Overview for Single-Family Lots

-Overview for Developments other than Single- Family Lots

-Water Use Efficiency Requirements for subdivisions, planned unit developments, and projects with designated open spaces and landscaped areas other than single-family dwelling lots.