The importance of water conservation during a drought
Jul 24, 2008 By Rosemary Kamei
Earlier this summer Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order proclaiming a statewide drought. This drought is not only the result of two dry years with low snowpack. The crisis facing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is also impacting water supply in the Santa Clara Valley and across the state. The Delta delivers water from the Sierra snowpack to about 23 million Californians, but due to court-ordered restrictions on pumping from the Delta, we can't expect to receive the same amount of water we have in the past.
To address these and other issues impacting our water supply, the Santa Clara Valley Water District will be holding a water supply work study session at our headquarters on July 29 at 9:30 a.m. The purpose of this work study is to update and inform the board on various water supply challenges and decisions facing them today and in the coming years. We encourage members of the public to come to the meeting to learn more about the future of our water supply and to express their thoughts on the matter.
While the district's groundwater supplies are ample and our reservoir levels remain on average at approximately 63 percent of capacity, another dry year could drastically change our conditions. Conservation is imperative now in order to avoid possible mandatory restrictions in the future. We're asking the public to voluntarily cut back its water use by 10 percent.
By taking simple steps, such as installing high-efficiency toilets, weather-based irrigation controllers and increasing farm water use efficiency, the residents, businesses and farmers of Santa Clara County helped save roughly 42,000 acre-feet of water this year. That's about enough water for 84,000 families for an entire year. It's especially important to find out if there are any leaks in your outdoor water usage, since more than half of the water used in an average home goes to its landscape. Also, be water-wise by adjusting your watering schedule for each season. You can save nearly 1,000 gallons of water a month by watering your lawn early mornings and no more than three times a week in the summer.
Aside from the fact that California is in a drought, there are other important reasons to conserve water. Water conservation saves you money and energy, reduces air pollution, and it protects the Bay. For example, you may be eligible for a combined water/energy rebate of $125 to $200 when you purchase a high-efficiency clothes washer. In addition, on average, a typical household will save 6,450 gallons of water, between $80-$100 in electricity, and $54 in detergent costs on a yearly basis.
Each time you turn off the tap it's like turning off a light switch. The cumulative energy savings that can be attributed to water use efficiency programs from July 1992 through July 2007 is estimated to be more than 1.52 billion kilowats. This is the total energy savings equivalent to electricity required for more than 236,000 households for one year. For this same time period, the emissions of more than 381 million kilograms of carbon dioxide were avoided due to the district's water use efficiency programs. That's about the equivalent to removing 82,000 passenger cars from the roads for one year.
In addition, the district's many water conservation programs help protect the South Bay salt marsh habitat by reducing water released from wastewater treatment facilities. Water conservation, specifically efficient irrigation practices, also reduces the amount of fertilizers and chemicals that flow into our streams, creeks and ultimately the Bay from overwatered landscaping.
To help residents and landscape managers increase their irrigation efficiency, the district offers free irrigation efficiency surveys, rebates for irrigation hardware upgrades, and rebates for the replacement of high water-use plants. By participating in the district's landscape efficiency program, residents and businesses can reduce their overall water consumption by up to 50 percent and potentially receive thousands of dollars in rebates.
The district has many programs and qualified staff to help you learn how you can better conserve water in your home or business. Please feel free to contact us by phone at (408) 265-2600 or visit us at www.valleywater.org.
Many of us are trying to become more "green" these days and conserving water is one of the easiest ways you can accomplish that. After all, water is our most precious natural resource.
Rosemary Kamei is a Morgan Hill resident and member of the Board of Directors of the Santa Clara Valley Water District. Reach her at clerkoftheboard@valleywater.org.
Rosemary Kamei Rosemary Kamei is a Morgan Hill resident and member of the Board of Directors of the Santa Clara Valley Water District. Reach her at clerkoftheboard@valleywater.org.
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