This is not a good thing. I understand that the La Nina weather pattern is keeping moisture off of the coast of California. We may have another year of drought... Or perhaps even longer.
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Schwarzenegger declares Calif. Drought emergency SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Friday because of three years of below-average rain and snowfall in California, a step that urges urban water agencies to reduce water use by 20 percent. "This drought is having a devastating impact on our people, our communities, our economy and our environment, making today's action absolutely necessary," the Republican governor said in his statement. Mandatory rationing is an option if the declaration and other measures are insufficient. ... Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought in June but stopped short of calling a state of emergency. His 2008 executive order directed the state Department of Water Resources to speed water transfers to areas with the worst shortages and help local water districts with conservation efforts. Over the last few weeks, storms have helped bring the seasons' rain totals to 87 percent of average, but the Sierra snowpack remains at 78 percent of normal for this time of year. State hydrologists say the snowpack must reach between 120 to 130 percent of normal to make up for the two previous dry winters and replenish California's key reservoirs. Court decisions intended to protect threatened fish species also have forced a significant cutback in pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta, the heart of the state's delivery system. The governor, farmers and lawmakers have argued for years that California must upgrade its decades-old water supply and delivery system and build new reservoirs. "The situation is extremely dire," said Tim Quinn, executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies, adding that the governor's action Friday "underscores the urgency of serving the long-term structural problems." The state delivers water to more than 25 million Californians and more than 750,000 acres of farmland. Schwarzenegger's order leaves the door open for more severe restrictions later. Additional measures can include mandatory water rationing and water reductions if there is no improvement in water reserves and residents fail to conserve on their own. At least 25 water agencies throughout the state already have imposed mandatory restrictions, while 66 others have voluntary measures in place. |
International Level: Ambassador / Political Participation: 595 59.5%
Water rates will surge while supply is squeezed
Water rates will soar in Southern California but customers won't have to conserve as much as initially feared, based on a plan approved yesterday by the Metropolitan Water District. In one of its most anticipated meetings in years, the board of the giant water wholesaler paved the way for increasing its rates by more than 40 percent from September to 2011. Ref. Source 8
Our local water district has started Stage Two mandatory water conservation.
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The board of directors declared the stage two last week in anticipation of additional cuts in allocations from Metropolitan Water District, which take effect in July. Among the new restrictions, it is illegal to hose down hard surfaces, water during the day, allowing irrigation water to run into the storm drain, and to fail to repair leaks. For allowing water to run into the street at a single-family home, penalties will start at $25 for the second offense. A warning will be issued for a first offense. Penalties will increase to $50 and $100 for subsequent violations within a year. ... Rates will not be increased, though the board has considered doubling the rate for people who use enough water to reach the fourth tier, which Sullivan described as "flagrant waste." Declaring the second stage conservation requirements, customers must: * Refrain from hosing down driveways and other hard surfaces, except for health or sanitary reasons, and then only by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off device, or a low-volume, high-pressure cleaning machine equipped to recycle water. * Repair faucets, toilets, pipes, and other potential sources of water leaks. * Irrigate landscape between 9 p.m. And 6 a.m. Except for manual watering during the establishment period of a new landscape, temperatures are forecast to fall below freezing, or for very short periods of time to adjust or repair an irrigation system. * Constantly monitor irrigation with potable water unless it is limited to 15 minutes per day per station unless the system releases no more than two gallons of water per hour or the system is operated by weather-based controllers or stream rotor sprinklers that offer 70 percent efficiency so long as there is no runoff. * Adjust and operate irrigation systems to maximize irrigation efficiency and avoid over-watering or watering of hardscape. * Shut down fountains not equipped with a recycling system. * Not allow water to run while washing vehicles. * Plant low-water-demand trees and plants when establishing landscaping, which cannot include grass with only a decorative purpose. * Shut off irrigation systems during rain. EMWD gets 70 percent to 80 percent of the water it supplies to its 135,000 customers (from MWD). Beginning July 1, MWD will require member agencies to reduce their water use by 10 percent, and it will increase rates it charges EMWD about 20 percent Sept. 1. |
International Level: Ambassador / Political Participation: 595 59.5%
El Niño likely won't ease state's drought
Anyone counting on El Niño to wipe out California's drought this winter may be counting chickens long before they've hatched. Long-range forecasters are less and less bullish about El Niño, a global atmospheric condition that could bring extra precipitation to San Diego County. Ref. SignOnSanDiego.com
HOAs get real about water shortage
When residents at Regency Villas in University City got a peek of the condo complex's drought-resistant landscaping during a clubhouse reception last week, it was a watershed moment, said community association manager ... Ref. Source 5