No Change In Rates &
Water Supply Alert Still In Effect
RATES UNCHANGED FROM LAST YEAR
The South Coast Water District (SCWD) Board of Directors voted 5-0 at its July 8 meeting to keep customer rates the same as last year’s. SCWD rates were scheduled to rise on July 1, 2010, largely in response to anticipated rate increases by Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California. However, MWD rates rose less-than-expected.
The current schedule of water and sewer rates for SCWD customers may be found on www.scwd.org.
WATER SUPPLY ALERT STILL IN EFFECT
Meanwhile, supplies of water from MWD to the District, which were reduced by 12.7% in July 2009, have not been restored. The District remains in a Water Supply Alert and additional mandatory water conservation measures, such as limitations on sprinkler use, remain in effect.
Despite local rainfall this winter and decent snowfall in the Sierra Mountains, many state and regional reservoirs are well below capacity, some less than half full. This is due to the long-term effects of multi-year drought, environmental pumping restrictions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, and population growth in California and the Southwest.
TARGET 15% REDUCTION IN WATER USE
During the Water Supply Alert, South Coast Water District has asked residents and businesses to reduce their water use by 15% (outdoors and indoors). There has been strong community support for the call for additional conservation, and the District is on track to achieve necessary water savings. This has been achieved in large part due to implementation of designated water days for sprinkler use, which is limited to three days a week from April – October and once a week from November through March.
On average in our service area, individuals use approximately 120 gallons of water per day (indoors and outdoors). For most individuals, the 15% reduction in water use equates to approximately 20 gallons per day. Watering plants and landscaping before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m., for example, saves an estimated 20 to 25 gallons per day by avoiding the times when evaporation and wind are greatest. See checklists for Irrigation, Outdoor and Indoor top water saving tips at www.scwd.org.
During a Water Supply Alert, residents and businesses are required to practice not only Additional Mandatory Conservation Measures (listed below) but also Permanent Water Conservation Measures required year-round, whether or not there is a water supply shortage.
ADDITIONAL MANDATORY CONSERVATION MEASURES
Fixing Leaks
During a Water Supply Alert, leaks, breaks and malfunctions in plumbing and irrigation systems must be fixed within a reasonable time or within three business days of District notice. Shutting off your irrigation system during repairs constitutes a "fix."
Sprinkler Use
During the Water Supply Alert, sprinklers may be used up to three designated days per week from April – October (see Residential Watering Days Map below) and one designated day per week from November – March, as follows:
April – Oct.: Three-Day-A-Week Limit on Sprinkler Use
Residences
- East of Golden Lantern may water on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- West of Golden Lantern may water on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Businesses and Homeowners’ Associations
- All Areas may water on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
Nov. – March: One-Day-A-Week Limit on Sprinkler Use
Residences
- East of the Street of the Golden Lantern may water on: Monday
- West of the Street of the Golden Lantern may water on: Tuesday Businesses and Homeowners’ Associations
- All Areas may water on: Monday
Year-round Permanent Conservation Requirements for irrigation remain in effect: sprinklers must be used before 9 AM and after 5 PM, turned off when it rains, limited to 10 minutes per valve per cycle, and timed and adjusted to prevent runoff.
On any day, at any time, hand-watering is permitted using a bucket or similar container or a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle.
RESIDENTIAL WATER DAYS MAP
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The principal causes leading to Water Supply Alert:
- A reduction in imported water supplies from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in Northern California, largely due to environmental pumping restrictions.
- Three years of below average precipitation in California.
- Eight years of low rainfall in the Colorado River basin, a major water source for Southern California.
- Population growth in California and throughout the Southwest.
Public notification of Water Supply Alert. The District mailed notification letters about the water supply situation and need for mandatory conservation measures in June 2009 and July 2009 to all residents and businesses in the service area. News releases were sent to the local press, which ran news items. In November 2009, the District sent all residents and businesses in the service area notification letters (PDF) by U.S. mail about the three-day-a-week limit on sprinkler use. Local papers received news releases (PDF) and ran news items.
