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Consultant presents 2025 water demand factor study; commission accepts report for comment
Summary
Kennedy Jenks consultant Meredith Clement presented updated 2025 water demand factors showing declines across most categories and a recommended reduction in planning contingency from 20% to 10%. Commissioners expressed support and asked about ADU metering and sample sizes; the commission received the report and will provide comments during the public review period.
Kennedy Jenks consultant Meredith Clement presented the draft 2025 water demand factor study to the Ventura Water Commission, saying the update is “pretty essential for understanding your water uses” and is the foundation for planning, annual reporting and the urban water management plan.
Clement told commissioners the study disaggregated nonresidential uses into detailed CII categories, used GIS and parcel-level data for multifamily accounts, and found demand trending down across most categories. She said the consulting team recommended lowering the planning factor from 20% in the 2020 plan to 10% for the 2025 factors because annual variability has narrowed.
Commissioners asked several technical questions. One asked whether accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are separately metered; staff confirmed ADU indoor use is metered separately. Commissioners also pressed on sample size for some categories; Clement said she expected a larger multifamily sample (around 30–35) though she did not have the exact figure at hand and said future updates will refine the estimates as new meters come online.
Commissioner Savage said after reviewing the report he was comfortable with the consultant’s approach: “I came away comfortable after reading it.” The commission voted to receive the report, direct staff to post the draft for public review, and provide comments to the consultant and staff as the study is finalized.
The demand factors will be used for planning and for the urban water management plan; staff indicated the factors may also inform development planning, though the city currently does not charge a development fee tied to the factors.
