For City Council Meeting June 23, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Tanya Williams, City Manager
AUTHOR: Yazdan Emrani, P.E., Director of Public Works
Title
Request City Council/Rialto Utility Authority to: (1) Conduct a Public Hearing to Consider: Adopting the 2025 Upper Santa Ana River Integrated Regional Urban Water Management Plan Comprised of the Urban Water Management and the Water Shortage Contingency Plans; (2) Approve Resolution No. 8535 and RUA Resolution No. 26-07 to Adopt the 2025 Upper Santa Ana River Integrated Regional Urban Water Management Plan; and (3) Approve Resolution No. 8536 and RUA Resolution No. 26-08 to Adopt the Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
(ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council/Rialto Utility Authority:
1) Conduct a Public Hearing to consider adopting the 2025 Upper Santa Ana River Integrated Regional Urban Water Management Plan comprised of the Urban Water Management and the Water Shortage Contingency Plans;
2) Approve a resolution and a RUA resolution to adopt the 2025 Upper Santa Ana River Integrated Regional Urban Water Management Plan; and
3) Approve a resolution and RUA resolution to adopt the Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
BACKGROUND
California Water Code Section 10621(a) requires urban water suppliers to update their Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) at least once every five years, with the 2025 UWMP due to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) by July 1, 2026.
The City of Rialto participated in a regional UWMP effort led by San Bernardino Valley in coordination with multiple regional water agencies. This regional approach allows participating agencies to streamline costs, share data, and ensure consistency across water supply planning efforts.
Water Systems Consulting, Inc. (WSC) was selected through a regional Request for Proposals (RFP) process to prepare the 2025 UWMP.
Since that time, staff and the consultant team have worked collaboratively to complete the required updates, incorporating current water supply data, demand projections, regulatory requirements, and long-term planning assumptions.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The Final 2025 UWMP has now been completed and includes updated information related to:
• Water supply reliability under normal, single-dry, and multiple-dry year scenarios
• Water demand projections and population growth assumptions
• Water shortage contingency planning
• System reliability and infrastructure considerations
• Compliance with State requirements, including water use efficiency standards
The UWMP serves as a critical long-range planning document that demonstrates the City’s ability to meet current and future water demands while maintaining compliance with State regulations.
As required by the Urban Water Management Planning Act, the City must conduct a public hearing prior to adoption of the UWMP. The purpose of the public hearing is to provide an opportunity for community input and to ensure transparency in the City’s water supply planning process. Should the Council adopt the 2025 IRUWMP, the plan would become the City of Rialto’s plan and would indicate that the Council supports the goals contained in the plan. It should be noted that all agencies that have worked on the 2025 IRUWMP are also in the process of adopting the plan.
The 2025 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan can be accessed electronically via the following link: www.rialtoca.gov/RUWMP2025 <http://www.rialtoca.gov/RUWMP2025>. The associated resolutions adopting the plans are included as Attachments 1-4. A copy of the Public Hearing Notice and Proof of Publication is included as Attachment 5. The PowerPoint presentation for this item is included as Attachment 6.
This item was presented to the Water Subcommittee on April 30, 2026, and the Subcommittee’s feedback was to present it to the full City Council/Rialto Utility Authority Board for setting a Public Hearing. The Cable Advisory and Utilities Commission subsequently received a copy of the 2025 IRUWMP. No formal recommendation was requested from the Commissions.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a Project does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
Approval of the proposed action complies with the following City of Rialto Guiding Principle, General Plan Goals and Policies:
“Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.”
Measure 8.16: Collaborate with local water provides to explore the feasibility and costs/benefits of potential programs/incentives to encourage water conservation in the community. Continue to investigate and implement programs to reduce water usage at City parks and facilities. Educate residents about landscape design and the advantage of using drought-tolerant plants. Encourage the use of drought tolerant plants and irrigation techniques that will result in water conservation.
Goal 2-28: Protect and enhance Rialto’s surface waters and groundwater basins.
Policy 2-28.1: Work with local water agencies and the State and Federal governments to clean up and mitigate perchlorate contamination within the basin.
Policy 2-28.2: Maximize recharge of local groundwater basins by minimizing impervious surfaces and protecting open space recharge areas.
Policy 2-28.3: Design sidewalks, roads, and driveways to minimize impervious surfaces; provide flood control channels with permeable bottoms to help restore groundwater aquifers.
Policy 2-28.4: Prohibit the use of septic tanks, and where necessary assist in the financing of sewer connections and hookups.
Policy 2-28.5: Apply methodologies and assign responsibility to protect the quality of groundwater from pollution by landfills and industrial uses.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's Office has reviewed the staff report and resolutions and approved them as to form.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
Operating Budget Impact
There is no impact on the Operating Budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
There is no impact on the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
This action does not require a business license.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution Adopting the Urban Water Manage Plan
2. RUA Resolution Adopting the Urban Water Manage Plan
3. Resolution Adopting the Water Shortage Contingency Plan
4. RUA Resolution Adopting the Water Shortage Contingency Plan
5. Public Hearing Notice & Proof of Publication
6. Presentation -2025 Urban Water Management Plan
Link to the 2025 Urban Water Manage Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan: <www.rialtoca.gov/RUWMP2025>