Infographic: Why water conservation matters
Posted by: Maven on February 3, 2012 at 8:02 amFrom Seametrics:
Infographic by Seametrics, a manufacturer of water flow meters that measure and conserve water.
Downey Patriot: Saving water from your clothes washer & dishwasher
Posted by: Maven on February 3, 2012 at 7:18 amFrom the Downey Patriot:
“In one sense, it’s amazing how many public programs there are hoping to convince you to save water. They have catchy names, like “WaterSense,” “Energy Star,” “Bewaterwise,” “SoCal Water Smart,” “Shut Your Tap” (my personal favorite), and the City of Downey Department of Public Works Utilities Division. Okay, maybe that last one wasn’t quite so catchy. But you get the idea.
On the other hand, these public agencies are acutely aware that the water supply is among our most precious resources. And in California in particular, these same public organizations recognize that constant care and vigilance are necessary to insure that our water supply is able to meet the needs of the population.
So we continue this week with our assessment of water conservation tips as provided by the aforementioned (not too catchy) Public Works Utilities Division. We are still seeking ways to conserve water indoors, and still more opportunities present themselves, specifically with clothes washers and dishwashers. … “
Continue reading from the Downey Patriot by clicking here.
L.A.’s wasteful sprinklers: The profligate horror of urban lawn irrigation is on full display in the wee hours of the morning
Posted by: Maven on February 1, 2012 at 7:34 amFrom the Los Angeles Times, this commentary by Los Angeles attorney Howard Posner:
“It’s raining. It’s pouring. Or at least it was at 4 in the morning a couple of Saturdays ago. And though no old men were snoring in my vicinity, some sprinklers were watering lawns, rain or no rain. It was waste in its purest form because during and after a downpour the water runs right off the saturated soil into the street.
Turning curbs into waterfalls is a side effect of technology that lets us run sprinklers on timers that we set and forget. In theory, they allow watering at optimal but inconvenient times, such as early morning, when cooler air minimizes evaporation. In practice, timers mean homeowners have no idea what their sprinklers are doing because they don’t see them sprinkling. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
EarthTalk: Is most household water usage from the bathroom?
Posted by: Maven on January 30, 2012 at 7:40 amFrom the Sacramento Bee:
“Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that the bathroom is where over half of our household water usage takes place? What are some ways to take a bite out of that?
- Shelby McIntyre, Chico, Calif.
Yes indeed, some 60 percent of our household indoor water usage happens in the bathroom. As such, updating old leaky fixtures and changing a few basic habits could go a long way to not only saving fresh water, an increasingly precious resource, but also money.
Undoubtedly, the toilet is the biggest water hog in the bathroom. Those made before 1993 use up to eight gallons of water per flush, five times what modern toilets use. “It’s a good idea to replace pre-1993 toilets if you can,” says Patty Kim of National Geographic’s Green Guide. … “
Continue reading from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
Water conservation, recycling and California’s future
Posted by: Maven on January 26, 2012 at 11:31 pmFrom Bilingual News:
“Conservation is the largest, least expensive and most environmentally sound source of new water, and water is being wasted in every sector of California’s economy, according to the Pacific Institute of Oakland. “We’ve found that California can cut its urban water use by a third through efficient technology, simple changes in policy and improved public education,” said Dr. Peter H. Gleick, President of the Pacific Institute. “What this means is that we can avoid new, expensive and environmentally destructive water projects and still meet California’s future needs—even if California’s population and economy grow as expected.”
There appears to be much room for improvement.
Outdoor water use accounts for 42 percent of urban use in California; this includes lawns, large landscapes, parks, golf courses and cemeteries, and a portion of commercial and industrial water use. But regional use varies significantly. … “
Continue reading from Bilingual News by clicking here.
Water debate renewed after Fresno State report
Posted by: Maven on January 24, 2012 at 8:58 amFrom the Modesto Bee:
“Some would argue that the work of farmers is about done when it comes to saving water in California.
They point to a recent report estimating that new conservation efforts would trim a mere 1.3 percent from total water use.
Others still see plenty of wasted water — as much as a sixth of the farmers’ supply — that would be better used to restore rivers.
Farmers and environmentalists have renewed the debate over water conservation in light of a new report from the Center for Irrigation Technology at California State University, Fresno. … “
Continue reading from the Modesto Bee by clicking here.
Great water conservation site: Wasting water is weird!
Posted by: Maven on January 20, 2012 at 7:31 amHere’s a website on water conservation with a completely different twist:
“Wasting water is weird. It really is when you think about it—and that’s the problem. We don’t. You see, there’s this moment when using water becomes wasting water. That’s when things start getting weird. But don’t take our word for it. Just watch Rip. He explains it better than we ever could.”
The companion website has water conservation tips, wallpaper and ringtones for your smartphone, and more. The website is sponsored by Bosch, Lowes, P&G, and Kohler. Check it out here: http://www.wastingwaterisweird.com/
Downey: Don’t flush your money down the toilet
Posted by: Maven on January 20, 2012 at 5:35 amFrom the Downey Patriot:
“This is the fourth installment in our current series on water conservation in the city of Downey. The city has recently made available an informative brochure designed to help citizens moderate their water use, and we are continuing to address these water-saving ideas as structured in the city’s brochure. Indoors, our first stop will be in the bathroom.
So let’s get down and personal, and talk about toilets. Current California law phases in a 1.28 gallon-per-flush maximum for new toilets sold by 2014. Federal EPA WaterSense specifications echo this criterion. The previous standard was 1.6 gallons per flush, set nationally in 1994, and before that, older toilets from the 80′s and earlier typically used 3.5 gallons per flush or more. … “
Continue reading from the Downey Patriot by clicking here.
Reclamation and Natural Resources Conservation Service Provide Funding Opportunity for Water Conservation
Posted by: Maven on January 19, 2012 at 7:50 amFrom the Bureau of Reclamation:
“The Bureau of Reclamation, in cooperation with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), announces the availability of Agricultural Water Conservation Efficiency Grants, a funding opportunity through the Bay-Delta Restoration Program. Reclamation is seeking proposals from California Indian tribes, irrigation districts, water districts, and other organizations with water or power delivery authority to partner with Reclamation on district-level water conservation projects that facilitate on-farm conservation or water use efficiency. In 2011, Reclamation and NRCS formed a water conservation partnership as a pilot project. As a result of the success of this partnership, Reclamation and NRCS are continuing the collaborative process through this funding program.
The funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is available at www.grants.gov using funding opportunity number R12AF20003. The FOA invites eligible applicants, as described above, to leverage their money and resources by cost sharing with Reclamation on projects that save water, improve water management, create new supplies for agricultural irrigation, improve energy efficiency and benefit endangered species. Projects should also increase the capability or success rate of on-farm water conservation or water use efficiency projects that can be undertaken by farmers and ranchers through irrigation system improvements and irrigation efficiency enhancements. … “
Continue reading from the Bureau of Reclamation by clicking here.
Pennies down the Drain: WaterSmart software aims to help consumers cut water use
Posted by: Maven on January 16, 2012 at 6:47 amFrom the Sustainable Business Forum:
“Imagine if you had to put a quarter in a slot every time you took a shower at home. Or 50 cents to run the dishwasher. Or $2 to water the grass.
You’d think about water differently, wouldn’t you?
A San Francisco startup called WaterSmart Software wants to remind people that wasting water is wasting money, and to show consumers how to conserve both.
“People don’t have a mental image of pennies going down the drain,” says Peter Yolles, a founder and CEO of WaterSmart Software, which is based in San Francisco. … “
Continue reading from the Sustainable Business Forum by clicking here.
Column: Report confirms water efficiency
Posted by: Maven on January 13, 2012 at 6:46 amFrom the Hanford Sentinel, this column by Don Curlee:
“It took 80 pages to do it, but the Center for Irrigation Technology has shown that California farmers are using irrigation water with extreme care and efficiency.
The scientific objectivity and indisputable evidence of its careful analysis are causing some of agriculture’s perennial detractors to lash out in bitter response. Much of the reaction is coming from those who have contended, apparently mistakenly, that the state’s farmers are water wasters.
In California, water is a precious commodity and becoming more valuable every day as population increases and demands for water accelerate. California agriculture is irrigated agriculture, dependent on surface and groundwater for sustenance. … “
Continue reading Don Curlee’s column at the Hanford Sentinel by clicking here.
Dry start to winter means early start for crop irrigation
Posted by: Maven on January 11, 2012 at 8:33 am
From the California Farm Bureau Federation:
“Calling it rare but necessary, olive grower Jeff Aguiar is applying a winter irrigation to his 350-acre grove. Dry weather has prompted Aguiar and other California farmers with trees and vines, as well as winter crops like wheat, to call on local irrigation districts for water deliveries.
“I’ve been irrigating the past couple of days,” Aguiar said last week. “The way January is starting out, it looks like this month will be dry, also. It’s pretty rare to have to irrigate this early in the year.”
Aguiar called last year’s olive crop a near disaster and said he’s hoping for a good crop this year. Given the dry weather, he said he can’t leave soil moisture to chance. … “
Continue reading from the California Farm Bureau Federation by clicking here.
Commentary: Farmers can convert a water crisis into an opportunity
Posted by: Maven on January 11, 2012 at 7:43 amFrom the California Farm Bureau Federation, this commentary by Futurist Richard Worzel:
“The looming shortage of fresh water is not unique to California—it’s rapidly going global. This will be seen by many as a major problem, but California farmers have the opportunity to turn it into a significant advantage if they play it properly.
There are seven major factors contributing to coming water shortages, and they will have differing levels of effects on California farmers … “
Continue reading this commentary at the California Farm Bureau Federation by clicking here.
Las Virgenes Municipal Water District: Water conservation ethics in Southern California
Posted by: Maven on January 9, 2012 at 6:55 amFrom Energy Digital:
“In a report in Energy Digital, Las Virgenes Municpal Water District (LVMWD) shows its customers how to use water more efficiently, an invaluable and limited resource in Southern California.
Serving roughly 70,000 customers, LVMWD provides potable water service, wastewater treatment, recycled water service and biosolids composting to the residents and businesses of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills and Westlake Village.
While water is a very hot topic in Southern California, LVMWD is doing its part ensure the resources will be available to meet current and future demands as well as the emergency needs of an area prone to fires. Through the aggressive efforts of LVMWD, the public is getting the message about the value of water and learning to use the limited resource more efficiently in a way that will benefit the environment and their future.
“By providing the public with the opportunity to understand that we shouldn’t waste this resource in California—where it’s a very limited resource—they have a better understanding and value of the efforts it takes to get them that water,” says LVMWD General Manager John Mundy. … “
Read more from Energy Digital by clicking here.
Column: Rocks on the lawn, bricks in the toilet
Posted by: Maven on January 5, 2012 at 8:33 amFrom Chris Coursey at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
“The first house I owned in Santa Rosa had a front lawn of bright white rocks. No surprise – that was in 1981, and memories were still etched with fresh images of the great California drought of 1976-1977.
But those etchings proved shallow. In 1982, I dumped the rocks and planted a fresh carpet of water-guzzling grass in front of that house on Brookwood Avenue. It’s been many years since I lived there, but I drive by the place all the time, and the lawn remains lush and green. I hate to even imagine how much water it has sucked up in 30 years.
I’m thinking about that lawn today because it hasn’t rained for the better part of quite awhile around these parts. And when it’s this dry in December and January in California, people start remembering The Drought. … “
Continue reading from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat by clicking here.
New report says investing in water efficiency boosts jobs, local economies
Posted by: Maven on January 5, 2012 at 8:26 amFrom ACWA’s Water News:
“Investments in water use efficiency stimulate jobs and provide a boost for local economies, a new report by the Los Angeles-based Economic Roundtable says.
The report analyzed 53 recent water use efficiency projects in the Los Angeles area, including stormwater capture, water conservation, groundwater treatment / remediation and construction of water recycling facilities. It found that the $1.2 billion invested in the projects created a significant number of jobs and stimulated an additional $1.2 billion in indirect and induced sales. … “
Continue reading from ACWA’s Water News by clicking here.
Eastern Municipal Water District paying customers to remove turf
Posted by: Maven on January 5, 2012 at 7:34 amFrom the Riverside Press-Enterprise:
“Eastern Municipal Water District is offering a turf buy-back program as another water conservation tool.
Customers must remove existing turf irrigated with potable water from an area between 100 and 10,000 square feet, replace the irrigation system and replant with water-wise plants and water-permeable ground cover without using artificial turf. … “
Continue reading from the Riverside Press-Enterprise by clicking here.
Southern California: Saving water good for environment and pocketbooks
Posted by: Maven on December 9, 2011 at 6:04 amFrom KPCC, Southern California Public Radio:
“Saving water is pretty important to Southern California’s environment – but it turns out that doing what it takes to save that water is pretty important to the economy, too.
That’s the conclusion of a new report from the L.A.-based Economic Roundtable.
The Economic Roundtable examined local projects that conserve water – from capturing stormwater runoff to reusing household “graywater” to reducing water waste. … “
Continue reading from KPCC by clicking here.
MORE: You can read the Economic Roundtable report, Water Use Efficiency and Jobs, by clicking here.
Pacific Institute: New success stories and interviews on agricultural water stewardship show sustainable water management
Posted by: Maven on December 8, 2011 at 8:25 amFrom the Pacific Institute:
“Farmers throughout California are adopting more sustainable water management practices. The Pacific Institute has released five new case studies and four new video interviews, adding to their California Farm Water Success Stories series showing how agricultural water stewardship practices are at work on-the-ground, at the farm and irrigation-district level. Now all twelve case studies and eight interviews are available online at www.pacinst.org/reports/success_stories.
In addition, the Pacific Institute and other members of the California Roundtable on Water and Food Supply have launched a new interactive database and map, featuring innovative and effective efforts around California to improve on-farm and regional water management. The interactive database and map is available on the California Agricultural Water Stewardship Initiative site at www.agwaterstewards.org and contains more than 30 case studies – including the Pacific Institute’s success stories – and is searchable by location, production type, irrigation method, and stewardship practice.
“Farmers, irrigation districts, and local organizations are finding innovative ways to protect water quantity and quality, saving energy and saving money, augmenting stream flows, and storing water for inevitable dry periods,” said the Pacific Institute’s Dr. Juliet Christian-Smith, a member of the Roundtable. “To claim it can’t be done, or that there isn’t more we can do, just doesn’t make sense. These case studies show how, and are a great practical resource for growers and water managers.”
Peer-to-peer education, a cornerstone of the case study database, is one of the main ways farmers get the information to inform their decision-making. Dave Cavanaugh, owner of a nursery in the Pajaro Valley foothills, says: “If farmers look at the questions, there are things that might make sense to them that wouldn’t to engineers and hydrologists.”
The new Pacific Institute case studies illustrate:
- effective water management through regional efforts (Groundwater Management in the Pajaro Valley and Integrated Regional Water Management Planning in the Kings Basin);
- the advantages of volumetric water pricing (Alta Irrigation District);
- how strong collaborations can lead to water quality improvements (Oakdale Ranch); and
- how a range of rainwater capture, re-use, land management, and drip irrigation can transform urban agriculture (Sustainable Water Management for Urban Agriculture).
“With diminishing water supply and future uncertainty from climate change, figuring out the best ways to manage our scarce water resources will be increasingly critical,” said Christian-Smith. Presenting these new case studies is part of the Pacific Institute’s ongoing analysis of successful examples of sustainable water policies and practices, demonstrating how innovative growers and irrigation districts are already beginning to move California toward more equitable and efficient water management and use. Such viable alternatives to traditional approaches can help California meet current and future water management challenges.
Based in Oakland, California, the Pacific Institute is a nonpartisan research institute that works to create a healthier planet and sustainable communities. Through interdisciplinary research and partnering with stakeholders, the Institute produces solutions that advance environmental protection, economic development, and social equity – in California, nationally, and internationally. www.pacinst.org
Farmer-funded water research criticized
Posted by: Maven on December 7, 2011 at 8:15 amFrom the Central Valley Business Times:
“A paper released in November by Fresno State University’s Center for Irrigation Technology and paid for at least in part by Central Valley farmers and the Bureau of Reclamation, is being criticized by scientists on the other side of the water allocation question.
The earlier report concluded that farmers have nearly exhausted conservation methods of agricultural use of irrigation water in the Central Valley and only new supplies of water will stave off economic disaster. … “
Continue reading from the Central Valley Business Times by clicking here.
Peter Gleick: Transcending old thinking about California agricultural water use
Posted by: Maven on December 5, 2011 at 8:10 amFrom Peter Gleick at the City Brights blog:
“The debate about water use in California agriculture is stuck in a 30-year-old rut; relying on outdated and technically-flawed thinking that is slowing statewide efforts to meet 21st century challenges. This is exemplified by the recent release of a study authored by researchers at the Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) and funded by a Sacramento-based farm lobby group (the California Farm Water Coalition) and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The CIT study uses old theories of water-use efficiency to argue that the potential to improve efficiency of water use in California agriculture is tiny. If the authors of the study are right, the only options for saving water in California agriculture would be to dramatically change crops or to take a considerable amount of agricultural land out of production – which would be bad news for our farming communities, our economy, and our environment. The good news is that they are wrong.
A newly published peer-reviewed article in the journal Water International examines the flaws in these old arguments and comes to exactly the opposite conclusion – there is great untapped potential to increase the productivity of California agriculture while reducing water and energy use, reducing serious water-quality contamination in the Central Valley, and increasing the reliability of water supplies during droughts and other water shortages. … “
Continue reading from Peter Gleick at the City Brights blog by clicking here.
Ag conservation not the key to solving California’s water woes
Posted by: Maven on November 28, 2011 at 7:47 amFrom Dairy Herd Management:
“California has been spared from drought this year, but the state’s water problems are far from over.
As rural and urban interests compete for a finite water supply, agricultural interests could find themselves on the short end of the stick, especially if it is perceived that farms aren’t using water as efficiently as possible.
But a new report refutes the notion that if farmers would just conserve more water, large new supplies would open up for the rest of the population. … “
Continue reading from Dairy Herd Management by clicking here.
Stockton: Rebates may soon be all washed up; MUD’s offer for washers, toilets could expire at the end of the year
Posted by: Maven on November 28, 2011 at 7:34 amFrom the Stockton Record:
“It may be unconventional, but how about putting a new washing machine or toilet under the Christmas tree?
For five years, the city’s Municipal Utilities Department has offered significant rebates on water-saving washers and toilets. There’s a chance, however, that the program will expire at the end of the year.
And don’t fear, California Water Service Co. customers. You’ve got a similar rebate program, and it’s expected to continue at least through 2013. … “
Continue reading from the Stockton Record by clicking here.
Study finds farmers efficiently use water
Posted by: Maven on November 22, 2011 at 7:09 amFrom the Porterville Recorder:
“Claims that California farmers are wasteful and inefficient in managing their water supplies are inaccurate, according to a new report released by the Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) at Fresno State University.
The report “Agricultural Water Use in California: A 2011 Update” also refutes assertions by some that large volumes of “new water” would be available through agricultural water conservation.
The findings are based on a thorough review of published research and technical data as well as state of California publications to assess the overall potential for agricultural water-use efficiency to provide new water supplies. … “
Continue reading from the Porterville Recorder by clicking here.
Delta National Park blog: Does the new irrigation report make the case for land fallowing?
Posted by: Maven on November 19, 2011 at 6:46 amFrom the Delta National Park blog:
“California ag is only .5 percent inefficient, according to a just-released study by the Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) at California State University, Fresno.
I have no reason to doubt the findings of the eighty-page report, which seem to carefully made, at least to a layperson like me.
The findings are based on a thorough review of published research and technical data as well as state of California publications to assess the overall potential for agricultural water-use efficiency to provide new water supplies. The report found that little potential exists for new water unless large swaths of agricultural land are taken out of production, which technically is not water-use efficiency.
“Unless large swaths are taken out of production.” That’s really the issue that the study implicitly directs our attention to. Or mine, anyway. … “
Continue reading from the Delta National Park blog by clicking here.
New report shows California agriculture already water-efficient
Posted by: Maven on November 17, 2011 at 9:03 amFrom the Western Farm Press:
“Claims that California farmers are wasteful and inefficient in managing their water supplies are inaccurate, according to a new report released by the Center for Irrigation Technology (CIT) at California State University, Fresno.
The report “Agricultural Water Use in California: A 2011 Update” also refutes assertions by some that large volumes of “new water” would be available through agricultural water conservation.
The findings are based on a thorough review of published research and technical data as well as state of California publications to assess the overall potential for agricultural water-use efficiency to provide new water supplies. The report found that little potential exists for new water unless large swaths of agricultural land are taken out of production, which technically is not water-use efficiency. … “
Continue reading from the Western Farm Press by clicking here.
Mike Wade of the California Farm Water Coalition released this statement:
” … “The new study shows that only 1.3 percent of existing supplies, or about 330,000 acre-feet of water could be conserved on farms if farmers changed their irrigation practices or shifted to different crops.
“Changes in irrigation practices and crop patterns also have the potential to cause negative impacts. Changing from furrow to drip irrigation can mean less water to replenish aquifers, which many rural communities rely on for domestic water supplies.
“The new study also shows that farmers have been making excellent decisions on how to manage the water they use to efficiently grow food and fiber, create jobs and significantly contribute to California’s economy.”
Read the full text of Mike Wade’s statement by clicking here.
MORE: New report claims state’s farmers apply water efficiently, from the Central Valley Business Times
NRDC Switchboard blog: Building rivers: A million toilets can’t be wrong
Posted by: Maven on November 3, 2011 at 8:20 amFrom the NRDC Switchboard blog:
“Today, I’m going to write about toilets. Yes, I know, there really couldn’t be anything less eco-sexy. There is hardly a word in the English language associated with more crass punchlines. That goes double in the world of water policy. (Just try making a joke including the phrase “stormwater recycling” or “weather-based irrigation controller.”) But it’s time that we re-define our relationship with the toilet. After all, can you even begin to imagine your existence without master plumber Thomas Crapper’s namesake?
Although rarely acknowledged as such, our household toilets are among the most valuable and symbolic objects in our lives. While modern toilets represent the triumph of human society over the hazards of our own, um, “by-products,” toilets also symbolize the wastefulness of first-generation technology, the promise offered by water efficiency innovations, and the need to extend access to technology to everyone. … “
Continue reading from the NRDC Switchboard blog by clicking here.
New PBS program examines farm water technology
Posted by: Maven on November 3, 2011 at 8:15 amFrom ACWA’s Water News:
“Agricultural water use efficiency and the efforts farmers are making to conserve water are highlighted in a new Public Broadcast System program airing this month around the state.
Produced by popular public television personality Huell Howser, “Stretching Our Water Supplies” features three segments focusing on on-farm water conservation, wetlands restorations and water recycling currently taking place in California. … “
Continue reading from ACWA’s Water News by clicking here.
Stone-washed blue jeans (minus the washed)
Posted by: Maven on November 2, 2011 at 7:52 amFrom the New York Times:
“From the cotton field in rural India to the local rag bin, a typical pair of blue jeans consumes 919 gallons of water during its life cycle, Levi Strauss & Company says, or enough to fill about 15 spa-size bathtubs. That includes the water that goes into irrigating the cotton crop, stitching the jeans together and washing them scores of times at home.
The company wants to reduce that number any way it can, and not just to project environmental responsibility. It fears that water shortages caused by climate change may jeopardize the company’s very existence in the coming decades by making cotton too expensive or scarce. … “
Continue reading from the New York Times by clicking here.
David Nahai and Jim Thebaut: Los Angeles has role to play in fixing global water crisis
Posted by: Maven on September 16, 2011 at 8:45 amFrom the Los Angeles Daily News:
“Water experts will gather in New York on Friday for a conference at the United Nations focusing on the alarming global water predicament.
The mood at the U.N. will be somber. The water supply and sanitation situation around the world can only be described as abysmal. Currently, 1.5 million children under 5 die of preventable water related diseases every year, around 900 million people have no access to safe drinking water, and 2.6 billion lack adequate sanitation.
In the developing world, 90 percent of wastewater is dumped untreated into water bodies, spreading contamination and disease and spawning “dead zones.” The World Bank reports that 80 countries are suffering water shortages. One has to wonder whether the horror occurring in the Horn of Africa is a forerunner of things to come in other parts of the world. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Daily News by clicking here.
Tom Philp: The power of conservation – a Southland illustration
Posted by: Maven on September 15, 2011 at 8:26 amFrom Tom Philp at the City Brights blog:
“Two years ago, the Legislature passed and the governor signed a bill originally sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Natural Resources Defense Council to lower urban per-capita water use in California by 20 percent by the year 2020. As legislation goes, this bill has more carrots (eligibility for state matching funds for local water needs) than sticks (new sanctions) to motivate compliance. Even so, the regional plan for Southern California is to meet the 20 x 2020 target, and then some. The following slides (revised from a recent presentation to an Urban Water Institute conference) show the transformation of water demands once conservation/water-use efficiency is taken into effect. … “
Continue reading from the City Brights blog by clicking here.
San Diego County residents continue to curb water use
Posted by: Maven on September 11, 2011 at 8:37 amFrom the North County Times:
“After peaking in 2007, water use across Southwest County has dipped more than 20 percent, thanks to the economy, Mother Nature and a rate structure that penalizes homeowners when they consume large amounts of the liquid resource.
And residents continue to scale back their use, even though California’s reservoirs are in better shape than they have been in years.
“Growth came to a screeching halt, and our water sales numbers reflect that,” said Greg Morrison, spokesman for Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, of the foreclosure crisis that started the downward trend. … “
Continue reading from the North County Times by clicking here.
City of Malibu to add new water conservation employee
Posted by: Maven on September 1, 2011 at 8:06 amFrom the Malibu Times:
“The City of Malibu is looking to fill the newly created position of “Coastal Preservation Specialist,” thanks to a state grant program geared toward protecting California’s 34 state-designated Areas of Special Biological Significance, or ASBS. The person hired for this position will advise the city’s residents on ocean-friendly gardens and water usage.
The new position is expected to be added by October and will be funded through June 2014 with $140,000 of Proposition 84 state grant money.
“The goal is to have the grant fund the entire position,” Jennifer Brown, the city’s senior environmental coordinator, said. … “
Continue reading from the Malibu Times by clicking here.
“The drought is over… “
Posted by: Maven on September 1, 2011 at 8:02 am
From the Chance of Rain blog:
“After taking this photograph of a Southland Sod truck on the Santa Monica freeway in Los Angeles, garden designer Catherine McLaughlin said, “I’ve been trying to get it for weeks without crashing my car. I see it everywhere.” … “
More from the Chance of Rain blog by clicking here.
Congresswoman Sanchez: Innovation in water difficult without earmarks
Posted by: Maven on August 30, 2011 at 8:32 amFrom the Whittier Daily News:
“Rep. Linda Sanchez on Monday told a room full of local elected officials that the cessation of Congressional earmarks has taken all the creativity out of water policy.
Sanchez spoke at the Water Replenishment District’s inaugural Capitol Report, a series WRD officials hope will become a regularly occurring forum to discuss water issues with federal officials.
“Every earmark I’ve ever requested, I could stand up here and defend to the death,” said Sanchez, D-Lakewood. … “
Continue reading from the Whittier Daily News by clicking here.
In El Paso, saving water avoids crisis
Posted by: Maven on August 30, 2011 at 8:07 amFrom the Contra Costa Times:
“For decades this city in far West Texas defied the look of most desert communities, with neighborhoods boasting lush, green lawns and residents freely running their sprinklers.
Then a study released in 1979 showed just how close El Paso was to a crisis: At its rate of water use, the city would run dry within 36 years.
Over the next couple of decades the city took drastic measures to stabilize its water supply, undergoing a philosophical and physical face-lift that included ripping up grass from many public places, installing rock and cactus gardens and offering financial incentives for residents to do the same. … “
Continue reading from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
Beaumont: Water agency digs deep to promote conservation
Posted by: Maven on August 10, 2011 at 8:24 amFrom the Riverside Press-Enterprise:
“The San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency is continuing its efforts to go green.
The agency recently had a water-efficient demonstration garden installed behind its Beaumont Avenue headquarters, where previously there was dying grass.
“The board has an overall goal of sustainability,” said its director, Jeff Davis. … “
Continue reading from the Riverside Press-Enterprise by clicking here.
Wasting Water is Weird: new conservation campaign launched
Posted by: Susan Lauer on August 4, 2011 at 8:06 amThe Shelton Group, an agency focused on bringing sustainability to the mainstream consumer, has launched a website called wastingwaterisweird.com, a series of public service spots (airing soon on local and cable stations and on YouTube), and a humorous character called Rip the Drip.
The public service campaign encourages people to take small steps to save water in their daily lives.
Continue reading at wastingwaterisweird.com by clicking here.
Innovation Leaking Through the Cracks
Posted by: Susan Lauer on August 4, 2011 at 7:45 amFrom Environnmental Protection
Water is vital for human existence. Across the globe, 700 million people in 43 countries suffer from water scarcity, according to the United Nations. Here in the United States, with the population doubling over the past 50 years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states by 2013 at least 36 states could experience water shortages, making water conservation crucial.
Continue reading from Environmental Protection by clicking here.
Wake up call in Sacramento
Posted by: Susan Lauer on August 4, 2011 at 7:36 amFrom the Sacramento News & Review
Sacramento has the state’s largest rate of per-capita water consumption. Where’s all that H2O going?
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