WaterSource New Masthead

 

May 7, 2015   
In This Issue
Water Authority Responds to State Water Board's Adopted Water-Use Regulations
Water-Efficient Landscape Workshops Offered for Industry Professionals
2014 Annual Report
"Stand & Deliver - Rising to the Water Reliability Challenge"




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San Diego County Water Authority


Water Authority Responds to State Water Board's Adopted Water-Use Regulations

Countywide conservation is critical; Water Authority Board of Directors to review regional response plan May 14

 

The following statement is from Water Authority Board Chair Mark Weston in response to the state board's adoption of emergency water-use regulations earlier this week.

 

"The San Diego County Water Authority appreciates efforts by the State Water Resources Control Board to significantly reduce water use statewide in response to the governor's executive order and severe drought conditions. We are pleased that the final regulations adopted Tuesday will provide protection for our region's $1.9 billion farm sector.  

 

"However, we are disappointed that the board's regulations do not encourage the development of new water supplies. Despite requests by the Water Authority and others, the regulations don't give credit to regions that have prudently planned for dry periods by investing in drought-proof water supplies such as the Carlsbad Desalination Project, which will produce 50 million gallons per day for San Diego County starting this fall.

 

"Because of that investment and others, the Water Authority expects to have enough water supplies in fiscal year 2016 to meet nearly all of the typical water demands by our 24 local retail member water agencies even though the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is reducing our supplies by 15 percent. With the implementation of the state's mandatory water-use reductions, the Water Authority will store more water for next year in local reservoirs, including the newly enlarged San Vicente Reservoir. This approach will provide significant benefits for our region -- especially if the drought continues into a fifth consecutive year - while the Water Authority continues to seek credit for the development of new supplies.

 

"With Tuesday's actions, the state board has focused on achieving immediate water-use reductions statewide. In our region, the state's mandate translates to water-savings targets between 12 and 36 percent for our member agencies starting June 1. After two decades of countywide water conservation efforts and water-use reductions, it will be very difficult to meet these goals. Our regional approach centers on reducing ornamental landscape irrigation first so we can minimize disruption to the county's economy. This will require everyone cutting their water use even more. Time and again our region has pulled together to respond to prolonged droughts and other challenges such as wildfires, and I expect this time will be no different.

 

"To help our member agencies meet the state's water-use targets, the Water Authority's Board of Directors will consider a suite of actions at a special Board meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 14. The recommendations will address potential water supply allocations for member agencies in response to MWD's cutbacks, methods to ensure member agencies are accountable for staying within their supply allocations, additional restrictions on irrigation of ornamental landscapes, enhanced regional conservation and outreach efforts, and other measures.

 

"The Water Authority Board's decisions will help the region save water -- but ultimately, it's up to every resident, business and institution to adopt new water-saving strategies, whether they are reducing outdoor irrigation, taking shorter showers or fixing leaks immediately. For more conservation resources, including tips and rebate offers, go to  www.whenindrought.org."
 
More information about the state board's actions, including statewide water-use restrictions, is here

Water-Efficient Landscape
Workshops Offered for
Industry Professionals
 

Free training sessions cover landscaping strategies during drought

  

The Water Authority and its partners are holding two free water conservation workshops for landscapers, nursery industry professionals, master gardeners, public agency facilities management staff and specialists in related industries on May 13 and 14. The workshops -- "Strategies for Water-Efficient Landscapes" -- are offered in cooperation with the University of California, Davis, the University of California Cooperative Extension, the SDG&E Energy Innovation Center and others.

 

Each identical, one-day workshop covers irrigation management, do-it-yourself landscape assessments, plants for WaterSmart gardens, state and local drought conditions, and regional water conservation resources. Because of the technical nature of the content, the workshops are intended for professionals and expert gardeners with a working knowledge of landscape management terminology.

 

Each workshop is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the SDG&E Energy Innovation Center, 4760 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego. Space is limited, and registration is first-come, first-served. Details and registration information are at ccuh.ucdavis.edu under "upcoming events."

The San Diego County Water Authority works through its 24 member agencies to provide a safe and reliable water supply to support the region's $206 billion economy and quality of life of 3.1 million residents.