It really didn’t come as a surprise — and nobody thought it was an April fool’s joke — when Governor Jerry Brown ordered a 25% reduction in water use on Wednesday. Most Californians recognized that no matter how enjoyable the balmy, sunny weather this past winter, it was not normal. Winter is typically the rainy season in California. A few held out hope that the winter storms in Northern California would stave off dire conditions statewide, but that did not happen. The expected snow pack never materialized, and reservoirs throughout California remain depleted.
RELATED: The California Drought in Pictures from MSNBC
While many Californians have been using less water — in February 2015, usage was down 14% in San Diego County over last year, according to Brian Barreto, spokesperson for California American Water — the usage reductions have not been enough. So Brown was compelled to take action and issue an executive order requiring Californians to conserve even more.
Of course, before the governor’s order goes into effect, there are bureaucratic i’s to be dotted and t’s to be crossed.
“There are a lot of moving pieces right now,” Barreto said.
First, the order has to be passed by the State Water Resources Control Board, and then the restrictions must be approved by the Public Utilities Commission, which regulates water companies throughout the state. As a restult, it will be at least May before the usage limitations can be implemented.
“What ever those rules are, we will work with California American Water [the city’s water provider] to comply with them,” said City Manger Blair King. “We do know what the intent is [to conserve water] and we’ve been working on that for a number of years.”
The city uses 484,000 gallons of water a day to keep the grass green and the flowers blooming. The biggest consumer by far is the golf course, which uses 312,500 gallons a day. The medians and city parks, which use 171,500 gallons a day, are the second biggest draw on the city’s water resources.
Coronado’s fountains, such as the fountain in Rotary Park, use recirculating water. Similarly, the city’s swimming pools are routinely covered rather than drained. And water usage in city facilities, such as City Hall, are likewise “insignificant” when compared to outdoor usages King said.
In fact, the disposition of the city’s consumed water is not dissimilar from the disposition of residential water consumption. “Many people don’t realize that outdoor water use accounts for 60% or more of water use for the average home,” Barreto said.
This past December, Coronado took a major step to reign in its biggest water hog — the Municipal Golf Course — by installing a state-of-the-art irrigation control system that gauges how much water is needed to keep the fairways green based on a weather station the city installed.
The city is also working to upgrade its irrigation system in the parks and median by replacing lines and sprinkler heads with ones that are more efficient.
The median gardens also have drought-resistant perennial plants, such as roses, MainStreet’s Executive Director Rita Sarich pointed out. This saves water because new plants need more water than established ones.
MainStreet is responsible to the planting and maintaining the garden’s medians, which have long been a source of civic pride and may well fall victim to the governor’s order. One of its provisions is to prohibit cities from watering medians.
Sarich is taking a wait-and-see attitude. “There may be a big difference between the governor’s proclamation and the actual regulations,” she said.
While she believes that the drought is a serious problem, Sarich would like to see a balanced solution. “We all want a clean, beautiful and vibrant environment — the challenge is to balance that with what is practical,” she said. Sarich also points out that the solution is likely one that involves stakeholders from many groups. “We all have to pitch in,” she says.
In that spirit, the city is exploring a joint project with the Navy to study the feasibility of building a water treatment plant on North Island. If built it will provide recycled water for the golf courses in Coronado and North Island, as well as parks, medians and other outdoor landscapes now using potable water.
“Coronado produces 3.5 million gallons of effluent (sewage) each day,” King said. “We hope scalp 800 thousand to one million gallons of that and treat it locally.”
Despite all of its conservation efforts, the city is still ready to comply with any new regulations that may evolve from the Governor’s proclamation and will partner with California American Water to implement them. Like the city, the water company has been taking action to encourage conservation and prepare for the possibility of the state’s restrictions. It, too, has been aware of the drought and has taken steps to encourage its customers to reduce water use. These inducements included free water-smart devices, such as shower timers and garden hose shut offs. There are also rebates for turf removal or the installation of water-efficient toilets and washing machines. More information on these and other programs are available at California American Water’s website.
The company also issued mandatory water usage restrictions that will go into effect on April 15. For residents, these include: not watering lawns for 48 hours after it rains, as well as not washing down sidewalks and driveways. Restaurants can only serve water on request. Hotels must post a notice that guests don’t have to have their towels or linens laundered everyday. A full list of these regulations is available at the water company’s website and the new ones adopted in May will be posted there as well.
Violators can be fined $500. Reports of violation should be made to the City of Coronado or to California American Water (see links below for private and public property contacts). Telling the city may result in more immediate action, as it is responsible for enforcing the regulations. California American Water will investigate, send out two warning letters and if the violator still doesn’t comply, the company will send that person’s name and address to the city for enforcement, Barreto said.
“This drought is urgent,” he added. “We are living in unprecedented times people have to be diligent and adhere to the regulations.”
Reporting Water Abuse and Q & A from City of Coronado:
Report over irrigation to City of Coronado (public property only).
Report over irrigation to California American Water (private property only)
City of Coronado Q & A: Coronado Water Conservation Efforts/Actions (PDF)
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Gloria Tierney
Staff Writer
eCoronado.com
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