Get Water Wise: There’s a Drought on
With wild flowers blooming everywhere this spring, it is easy to overlook that much of California (90+%) has entered severe to extreme drought conditions, according to the US drought monitor. Governor Newsom proclaimed a regional drought emergency in 41 of the state’s 58 counties, citing above-average temperatures and dry conditions for April and May
California’s last major water drought was from 2012-2016. Many measures were taken to reduce water consumption and waste, including installing low flow fixtures, toilets, and appliances. Water utility companies invested in additional water supplies, recycled water projects and conservation programs. Per capita and total urban water use has gradually decreased during the past decade, from these conservation efforts. But decreased precipitation levels during the past two years mean that Northern California is once again facing drought conditions. There is no way to predict how long the drought will persist, so it is imperative that all stakeholders take a closer look at sustainable solutions to the dryer, hotter conditions we are faced with now and the foreseeable future.
For consumers, this means taking a closer look at the water use in the home, everything from shaving and showering, cooking and cleaning, leaky fixtures and plumbing, to water guzzling lawn care and landscaping.
The water utility/provider websites offer a wealth of information about water saving tips, products, as well as money saving rebates on water wise plumbing fixtures, appliances, and irrigation, plus lawn conversion incentives. These websites also provide educational guides, videos, and other resources for detecting water leaks in your home and water saving landscaping tips.
Here are links to Water Conservation web pages for major Bay Area water utility districts:
Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency (BAWSCA)
East Bay Municipal Water District (EBMUD)
San Francisco Public Utility Commission (SFPUC)