Although spring has arrived with its warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours, the San Diego County Water Authority reminds residents and businesses to continue practicing water conservation and following local water use restrictions.
In addition, the Water Authority is urging residents and businesses to turn off their irrigation systems this week in anticipation of a storm forecast to hit the region Wednesday and Thursday.
The newest public opinion survey conducted for the San Diego County Water Authority shows that increasing numbers of San Diego County residents are ready for drought-tolerant landscapes for their homes. In addition, respondents generally felt that California-friendly landscapes were easier to maintain, no more costly and just as attractive as more traditional landscaping – important views that Water Authority officials said will help facilitate new conservation programs.
“San Diego County is at the end of California’s water system, and is particularly vulnerable to water supply constraints. Already San Diego County’s water supplies are being cut. Restrictions on pumping from the State Water Project have resulted in the loss of 500,000 acre-feet of water deliveries so far this year, including about 60,000 acre-feet that would have been delivered to San Diego County. Thousands of farmers in the county have had their water supplies cut up to 30 percent. They are stumping avocado trees and cutting production to cope.
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Reaffirming Congress’ landmark 1988 legislation to conserve water from earthen canals that carry Colorado River water in California’s Imperial Valley, the House and Senate early Saturday morning passed legislation directing immediate implementation of the project to line the All American Canal in the Imperial Valley. The project was interrupted earlier this year due to a federal court lawsuit.
As temperatures soared to summer-like highs across the San Diego region on Thursday, the California Department of Water Resources’ final survey of the spring confirmed significantly below-average water content in the snowpack that provides about one-third of the water supplies for the San Diego County Water Authority. Runoff in the Colorado River Basin, the region’s other major imported water source, also is projected to be far below average for the second consecutive year despite April storms that boosted snow levels in the Rocky Mountains.
Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 2, San Vicente Reservoir will be closed to all recreational use in preparation for a project to raise the height of the reservoir’s dam to increase its water storage capacity. During the closure of the city of San Diego-owned reservoir, water skiing, wake boarding, general boating and fishing will not be allowed.
The following statement is in response to the latest statewide snowpack survey conducted by the state Department of Water Resources, which indicated snowpack water content is 107 percent of normal for this time of year, down from 115 percent at the last survey in January.
Full survey results are available from DWR at: http://www.water.ca.gov/news/newsreleases/2010/030310snow.pdf
San Diego County homeowners can now get rebates of up to $50 and businesses can get rebates of up to $200 for purchasing highly efficient toilets as part of extensive regional efforts to promote wise use of water.
While many homeowners and businesses have upgraded to more efficient toilets in recent years, manufacturers have continued to reduce the amount of water necessary for each flush as regulatory standards evolve.