National Academy of Sciences to Study California’s Water Woes
October 1, 2009 by Editor
Filed under The Southwest
By Bettina Boxall, LA Times
In a bow to a summer of angry complaints about water cutbacks to Central Valley farms, the Obama administration said Wednesday it would invite the National Academy of Sciences to examine the environmental measures restricting some water shipments from Northern California.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said he would ask the academy to conduct an independent review of the science underpinning federal pumping limits imposed under the Endangered Species Act to protect smelt and salmon in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
In a letter to U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who had requested the review, Salazar said he was confident that the fish protections were “scientifically sound.” But he said he would like the academy to determine if there were other actions that could be taken that would have less of an effect on water supply.
The announcement came on the same day that Salazar held a public hearing in Washington on California’s water shortages, caused by a three-year drought and mounting environmental problems in the delta, the conduit for water shipments to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California.
The delivery cutbacks have hit agribusiness on the west side of the valley the hardest because they have junior rights in the huge federal irrigation project that supplies much of the region.
State water officials say most of the delivery cuts from the delta are the result of drought — not the fish protections — but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Central Valley congressmen have repeatedly denounced the endangered species restrictions as placing fish above people.
Read full article
Source: LA Times
Ready to Skip Every 5th Shower?
February 2, 2009 by Editor
Filed under The Southwest
By Gene Cubbison, NBCSanDiego.com
MSNBC- The warnings have been coming in dribs and drabs. Now they’re like a torrent — both locally and statewide.
“Water is not to be wasted.”
“Save it.”
Period.
Our water wizards say this three-year drought cycle we’re in has left California as parched as it was back in the mid- ’70s — when odd-even rationing and other approaches got everyone through until a three-year El Nino cycle that began in 1979.
“I mean, I think we all need to come together and realize this is a serious situation, and we know there isn’t enough water,” said Carlsbad resident Sharon Pennington as she ran errands Tuesday at a shopping mall in Encinitas. “I don’t think we’re scared enough to cut back.”
With this in mind, the San Diego County water Authority and its 24 member agencies are doing their best to put the scare into their customers by way of early warnings about mandatory water rationing by mid-July.
They’re letting the figure of 20 percent reductions percolate into the social consciousness, outlining plans for allocation formulas, penalties for overuse and incentives for water-wise customers, whether residential, commercial, industrial or agricultural.
Officials say 60 percent of the water used by the average household goes outdoors, to yards, landscaping, pools, and cars.
January usually meets about 20 percent of California’s annual demand. This month, we’ll be lucky if it’s 7 percent.
“I think we have to do it [ration water],” said Diana Kovacs, another Carlsbad resident. “I don’t think we have a choice. And that means we’ll stop watering the lawn. I think they need to make it illegal to water outside. That’s what we did in the Bay Area during the last drought.”
It’s not hard for most people to think of ways that they waste water — often, mindlessly.
“I run my water too long when I brush my teeth,” said Carlsbad resident Judy Kisiel. “I probably use more water than I need to for my baths. I think we all can cut back — if we stop and think.”
Read full article
Source: MSNBC
New Windsor, NY: Clamping Down On Water Use
September 8, 2008 by admin
Filed under The Northeast
Don’t count on municipal water for all your needs if you’re building in New Windsor.
The Town Board adopted a resolution Wednesday, directing the Planning Board “to encourage water conservation” when reviewing projects.
The resolution didn’t spell out what that means, but Supervisor George Green says it means things like requiring residential development builders to dig a well to supply things like a lawn sprinkling system. Green says the town often exceeds its daily limit on the water it takes from New York City’s Catskill Aqueduct. When that happens, any water above the limit costs the town about three times the normal rate, Green estimates — and the town has no legal or practical way to pass that cost along to customers.
“There’s no reason why treated water has to go on the lawns,” Green said.
Neither Green nor a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees use of the aqueducts, could say exactly what New Windsor’s rate is.
Green says down the road, the board might adopt a formal set of water-use restrictions for new development.
Read full article
Source: The Times Herald
For more information on water conservation, visit our LEARN section
Texas drought conditions prompt water conservation
August 15, 2008 by Editor
Filed under The Southwest
AUSTIN- Water restrictions in Kyle limit irrigation to two days a week.
Environmental educator Jennee Galland hopes that by reaching out to the users they can prolong the time before the aquifer levels drop to critical drought stage. “Just an inch a week is all you really need if you’re going to water, or just let it go dormant,” she said. “And that way it will recover and it will get deeper roots and it will be able to withstand droughts better.”
Brian Smith is an hydrogeologist and he says we need several inches of rain to break this drought. In the meantime, aquifer levels continue to go down. “Day by day, we see the water levels dropping and the spring flow at Barton Springs is dropping due to lack of rain flow,” he said.
View video: Texas drought conditions prompt water conservation
Source: New 8 Austin
For more information on water conservation, visit www.nuprana.com
More pain without rain for North Carolina
August 15, 2008 by Editor
Filed under The Southeast
ASHVILLE- Leaders in two Western North Carolina towns convened emergency meetings Thursday to discuss mandatory water restrictions. Other municipalities face similar measures as the area copes with a deepening drought. Most of Western North Carolina remains in an exceptional drought, the most severe classification.
Marshall Mayor Lawrence Ponder raised the possibility during a meeting with the town’s Board of Aldermen of calling on the National Guard to truck in drinking water should other efforts fail.
One of the town’s three wells went dry this week, prompting officials to put mandatory conservation measures in place. Restaurants must use paper or plastic plates and utensils, and residents were advised not to wash cars or water lawns.
Read full article
Source: Asheville Citizen Times
For more information on water conservation, visit www.nuprana.com
Water restrictions in effect for Richmond area
August 13, 2008 by Editor
Filed under The Southeast
RICHMOND–
The voluntary restrictions are the result of continued dry weather this summer. The restrictions come a full month earlier than the first call for restrictions last year.
“By voluntarily conserving water, citizens can lessen the strain on one of our most precious natural resources and possibly prevent mandatory conservation measures from being implemented,” said Richmond Public Utilities Director Chris Beschler.
While these current restrictions are voluntary, the city is closely monitoring how much water residents use. Citizens or businesses using more than 140 percent of their average winter water consumption may have surcharges added to their water bills, according to city officials.
Read full article
Source: WRIC-TV8
For more information on water conservation, visit www.nuprana.com
Tight water restrictions go into effect in parts of California
August 5, 2008 by Editor
Filed under The Southwest
CHINO HILLS, CA- The city of Chino Hills, California is adopting tight water conservation measures this week in light of the state’s drought. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought last month after a two-year period of below-average rainfall, low snowmelt runoff and court-ordered water transfer restrictions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region.
New restrictions in Chino Hills include a ban on the use of hoses to wash driveways and porches, a prohibition on residential water leaks, a ban on daytime landscape watering and a restriction on serving of water in restaurants unless customers request it. First-time violators will be warned, according to the conservation ordinance, but multiple violations may warrant fines up to $1,000.
Responses from the town’s residents have been positive. Eldona Reasoner Arns, a Chino Hills resident, said she supports strong conservation efforts. “I think people should be doing what they can to conserve water,” Arns said. “I mean a lot of people over-water their lawns, and it runs into the street. I think everyone should be doing the best they can to conserve water.”
Another resident, Barbara Bridgeford, had suggestions for other conservation measures. “They say we’ve got a water problem, but all they have to do is quit building more houses… We’ve got a water crisis, but they’re saying don’t run your water in the sink,” she said. “There’s a little bit of water, but they don’t want to stop building. Where are those people getting the water?”
Pat Hagler, director of Chino Hills public facilities and operations and head of the city water agency, said a 10% reduction of the city’s water supply is anticipated this year. Hagler said residents should adopt the conservation measures as a way of life for the foreseeable future.
Read full article
Source: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
For more information on water conservation, visit www.nuprana.com
