Water demand up last month
By: Mike Lee

SAN DIEGO — Could it be a sign that companies are recovering from the recession?

For the first time since San Diego’s mandatory water conservation rules started in June, city officials yesterday reported a rise in consumption compared with the same month the year before.

San Diego’s water use last month increased by 1.5 percent over January 2009, driven by a 4.9 percent jump in water use at restaurants, hotels, biotech companies and other commercial sites. Residents cut back by about 1.5 percent in January.
                       
The city’s water managers said the numbers might indicate that business activity is picking up as the region struggles to emerge from one of the worst economic slowdowns in decades.

They also said residents and companies need to keep conserving by taking steps such as turning off their sprinklers during rain.

“The latest numbers are a reminder that we can’t afford to slack off,” said Mayor Jerry Sanders. “We still face a serious water shortage.”

Elsewhere in the region, some water officials reported that consumers continued to trim their water use at a solid clip in January while others saw demand rise slightly. Countywide numbers will be released by month’s end.

At the Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District in Escondido, General Manager Mitch Dion said it’s too early to draw conclusions about trends for 2010.

“We’ll see what really has happened to overall water demand in the spring,” Dion said.