After a slow start to water conservation in our community, residents began to step up their efforts at the end of August. We need more effort, but it’s very encouraging news to see our community responding.
The following data, from September 15 through October 15, was provided by the Sunnyslope County Water District. Customers in the City of Hollister service area use similar amounts of water:
– Total water consumption in September/October 2022 was 15% lower than the same period in 2020 and 11% lower than this period in 2021.
– Year-to-date, total water consumption in 2022 is 5% lower than in 2020 and 2021 and 12% lower than in 2013 despite growth since then.
– Approximately 36 million gallons of water or 110 acre-feet have been saved this year compared to 2021.
– Gallons per person per day (gpcd) in 2022 is approximately 89 gpcd. This represents a 9.2% decrease from 2021, a 12.8% decrease from 2020, a 30% decrease from 2013 and a 36% decrease from our all-time high of 140 gpcd in 2007.
– 89 gpcd is the same level of conservation we achieved in 2015 in the midst of the last drought, when there was a lot more media coverage of the drought.
History of the current drought:
– The drought persisted in California from December 2011 to March 2017.
– In March 2019, California was declared drought-free except for a small pocket of “abnormally dry” conditions in Southern California.
– California has seen a spreading and worsening drought in 2020.
– Below-average rainfall, including a weak monsoon, above-normal temperatures and evaporative demand have intensified drought conditions and caused a record-breaking wildfire season.
– Conditions continued to deteriorate in 2020-21.
– In April 2021, California declared a drought emergency for several counties, including San Benito County.
– In May 2021, local water agencies enacted the Phase I Water Shortage Contingency Plan.
– In October 2021, the entire state was under a drought emergency declaration.
In late April 2022, the San Benito County Water District was notified by the United States Bureau of Reclamation that it would be receiving a zero agricultural and municipal water allocation from the Central Valley Project (CVP) due prolonged drought. The CVP provides surface water to the San Luis Reservoir and this water is pumped through Pacheco Pass into our county. This water is used to improve the quality of our drinking water, to grow crops and to replenish our groundwater basin.
With this news, Hollister and San Juan Bautista water managers implemented Phase II of the Water Shortage Contingency Plan in May 2022. This phase calls for mandatory water conservation. water with the aim of reducing water consumption by 25% compared to pre-drought levels. Most Phase II water restrictions apply to outdoor water use.
Our changing climate is forcing our community to go beyond temporary emergency drought measures and adopt permanent changes to use water more wisely and prepare for more frequent and persistent periods of limited water supply. .
That’s why it’s also encouraging to report that many people have taken advantage of the San Benito County Water Resources Association (WRASBC) turf removal discount.
In May, WRASBC funded this program with $150,000. By October, all funds had been allocated. WRASBC expects over 100,000 square feet of turf will have been removed through this program once all applicants have completed their projects. This will represent approximately 1.5 million gallons of water conserved each year once these transformed gardens are established.
WRASBC expects to be able to continue this program in December through grant and/or reserve funds.
Residential landscapes represent a very large part of our local water efficiency efforts as more than 50% of residential water use is for landscapes.
By making the proactive investment to remove sod and replace it with drought-tolerant landscaping and ground covers such as mulch, water-efficient plants and rocks, customers can significantly reduce their consumption. of water, resulting in long-term cost savings and reduced maintenance time. and maintenance costs. And more importantly, it helps stretch our water supply.
California is about to enter its rainy season, as hopes are high for a replenishment of lowland rains and mountain snows after its driest three years on record. But, for the fourth straight year, the state could languish in a drought that is having disastrous effects on its water resources.
Last week, the National Weather Service predicted another warm, dry winter for large parts of the state as the drought persisted or worsened. This is why it is so important that we save now to stretch our local water supplies.
Luckily we have water stored in our local groundwater pond. However, this water is limited and we need to take steps to stretch this supply as we do not know when the drought will end.
Remember that as the days get shorter, your landscape needs less water even if it’s not raining. When rain becomes frequent, turn off your irrigation system.
For mandatory water shortage emergency measures and to learn more about programs that will help you be water efficient, go to: www.wrasbc.org.
To schedule a free leak check and irrigation assistance, call 831.637.4378.
Shawn Novack is the manager of water conservation programs for the San Benito County Water Resources Association and the San Benito County Water District.
