Sutter Creek – The Amador Water Agency board of directors approved changes to its water conservation policy last week, with one portion aiming to help meet state standards. The board also sent an issue raised in the public relations committee to the policy committee, for consideration of a “media relations” protocol rule, or policy. Director Debbie Dunn said she looked at the agency handbook and found “no protocol” addressing board or employee relations with the media. She said the “media is a good thing” but thought the board should consider a policy on media relations, and rules in the handbook. And she wanted to hear from her colleagues. She suggested they consider a corporate style policy. Director Don Cooper said it should be discussed by the rules and policy committee, made up of himself and Director Gary Thomas. The board sent the topic to the rules and policy committee for consideration, at its September 9th meeting. Dunn said reported on an “item in dispute” in the PR committee. The issue was whether to include the term “reuse” in the water conservation policy. She said she thought “reuse” deserved its own policy. Cooper said it was important for the term “reuse” to be in the conservation policy, for future guidance of agency policy and practices. Dunn said “the state will not recognize the Purple Pipe as a measurable conservation plan.” She said it did not mean that they should not have the Purple Pipe. The Purple Pipe program is a proposed county-wide system to reuse treated water and wastewater throughout the county. Finance Manager Mike Lee said a consultant recommended some slight changes to the policy, to help meet state best management practices. Consultant Leslie Dumas suggested AWA follows California Best Management Practice Number 13 on Water Waste Prohibition. She said if the policy statement includes “a description of agency support positions with respect to adoption of legislation or regulations consistent with this BMP,” then the agency “can take some credit for this BMP.” The change, approved 5-0, included a statement that the AWA “shall manage its water supply to assure future availability,” and and added that it will “support other local water initiatives that achieve the same goal.” Lee said that support would include city and county ordinances. The BMPs are state requirements recommended earlier this year in an effort to conserve water statewide. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.