In July, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted unprecedented emergency statewide regulations in an effort to conserve water. Since then, local water agencies put their emergency plans into effect and urged consumers to save water, echoing Gov. Jerry Brown’s request in January that all Californians reduce water usage by 20 percent.
Although overall water consumption jumped this spring, on Sept. 9 the state water board reported that water usage had dropped 7.5 percent in July statewide compared to a year ago. However, the emergency conservation regulations will be in effect until April 25, 2015, and may be extended if drought conditions persist.
“We are glad to see the progress that many more California urban communities have made to conserve water,” Felicia Marcus, chair of the state water board, said in a statement. “Every action, from taking a shorter shower, to putting a lawn on a water diet, to replacing turf with drought-tolerant landscaping, contributes to every community’s water security.”
Although Tahoe and Truckee may not see the effects of the drought as severely as places like Southern California, local water agencies urged customers to take the regulations seriously.
“It is important to note that, although Truckee is in a drought, we are not experiencing a water supply shortage,” said Steve Poncelet, public information and conservation manager for the Truckee Donner Public Utility District. “However, we must all comply with the mandatory state emergency drought regulations and it is critical that we conserve water.”
The prohibitions include washing sidewalks, driveways, and other hard surfaces; excessive irrigation run-off; washing cars, unless using a hose that is fitted with a shut-off nozzle or device attached to it; the use of potable water in a fountain or other decorative water feature except where the water is part of a recirculating system; filling swimming pools; and using fire hydrants except in the case of an emergency. Some utility districts, like the North Tahoe Public Utility District and the Tahoe City Public Utility District, also limit when irrigation can be done. The NTPUD, for example, limits irrigation between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Those who do not comply with the law may be fined up to $500 for each day the violations occurs. Each agency has set up its own reporting system to report violators. The Truckee Donner PUD has established a formal procedure to receive complaints.
Local Agencies Step Up
Some local companies and organizations have rebate programs to encourage customers to save water. The Truckee Donner PUD offers several programs, including a toilet rebate, toilet exchange, leak repair rebate, and a clothes washer rebate. The North Tahoe and Tahoe City PUDs also offer rebate programs for their customers.
Placer County has also taken steps to reduce its water usage by reducing irrigation and manual watering, as well as other measures. In August, the county drained water from two fountains at the administrative center in Auburn. Each fountain holds up to 700 gallons of water and require weekly filling in the summer.
“In the face of the continuing drought, the county needs to do all it can to increase conservation of a precious resource: water,” wrote Placer County Executive Officer David Boesch. “Every time we can be more efficient with water is good not only for conservation efforts during a drought, but also a more efficient use of a resource paid for by our taxpayers.”
The Truckee River Watershed Council has also incorporated water conservation education into their programs, including its River Friendly Landscaping Program, which is intended to prevent soil erosion and runoff into the Truckee River. The nonprofit offers free site visits to homes and offers rebates up to $1,000 to implement the changes. Erin Casey, director of land use compatibility for the Truckee River Watershed Council, said water conservation is a guiding principle for the program, but the organization also integrates that goal in other ways.
“With the drought and new regulations, we have been incorporating that into our workbooks,” Casey said. “We are aware that regulations exist and we want to make sure we are compatible with the current restrictions.”
Local authorities around the state have also gone one step further by fining people who participate in the popular ALS Ice Bucket Challenge fundraiser on the grounds that they are wasting water. The challenge involves participants videotaping themselves pouring ice water over their heads, then challenging their friends to do the same or donate $100 to fight the disease. In Los Angeles, anyone who participates in the challenge can be fined $500.
“I did the math and realized that thousands of gallons of water were being wasted, in the middle of one of the most terrible droughts California has seen in decades,” Chip Masters, president of the Department of Water and Power, told The Daily Currant.
Looking Ahead
While local water agencies and organizations continue to do their part in educating customers on water conservation, Californians keep their eyes to the sky this winter in hopes of more precipitation.
“California relies on Sierra Nevada precipitation for much of its water supply. In the mountains, water year 2014 (fall of 2013 through summer of 2014) was almost as dry as the record-setting year 1977,” according to information released in August from the California-Nevada Climate Applications Program.
The information, which is provided as part of a program by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, goes on to say that the state has had below-average precipitation every year since 2007, except for 2011. It also stated that 2014 even had less mountain snowpack because this past winter was unusually warm.
“California gets the majority of its precipitation during the winter. In the mountains this typically falls as snow and is stored in the Sierra Nevada, an important natural reservoir in the state’s water supply system,” NOAA reported.
The state water board is expected to release water usage numbers from August at its Sept. 15 board meeting in Sacramento. Following the release of the August water production reports, the board is expected to discuss next steps, including whether more aggressive actions are needed to reach the governor’s 20 percent target. Beginning Oct. 15, water suppliers will also be required to provide an estimate of gallons per capita, per day for residential customers.
“The trend of increasing reductions shows that Californians have heeded the call to conserve, but that more can and must be done to protect our water supplies should the drought persist,” the water board stated. “A 20 percent reduction is an ambitious but achievable goal. Current forecasts indicate that Californians cannot count upon a wet winter to alleviate the drought conditions.”
For information on water-saving tips and how California is dealing with the effects of the drought, visit saveourh2o.org and drought.ca.gov.
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