A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
May 12, 2009
2. Supply –
Water agencies might get more flexibility
The
The City's potable water going down the drain
The
The
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Water agencies might get more flexibility
The
By Daily Democrat Staff
The Senate's Natural Resources Committee voted 11-0 recently to advance a water conservation measure by Sen. Lois Wolk, part of a package of legislation she is authoring to help protect and improve the failing health of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
"As the state faces its third year of drought conditions, water delivery restrictions, and unprecedented demands for water needs by business, the public, the environment and fish and wildlife, there is a heightened need for efficient water use," said Wolk, D-Davis.
"This bill establishes a transparent, statewide process to accomplish Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's goal of reducing
Wolk's Senate Bill 460 requires every urban water supplier and every agricultural water supplier to include in its water management plan a detailed description and analysis of its long-term plan to reduce water use through conservation and water use efficiency measures.
"These water use efficiency programs are best designed by local officials who are responsible for implementing them," Wolk said.
Among those testifying in support of the measure were representatives with the Solano County Water Agency and the Association of California Water Agencies, the bill's cosponsors.
"If you're going to accomplish the Governor's very aggressive goals of increasing the efficiency of agricultural, commercial, industrial, and institutional uses of water, which are necessary in
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/news/ci_12349780
The City's potable water going down the drain
The
By Brent Begin
SAN FRANCISCO — Millions of gallons of fresh, drinkable water are being sucked up by city departments each year to water lawns, fight fires, fill toilets and wash asphalt.
Despite agencies across the state moving to use reclaimed or recycled water for such tasks,
The Public Utilities Commission, which sells water to city departments under state law, is currently working on a recycled-water plan for western
Once completed — likely by the end of 2013 — the system would produce 2 million gallons of recycled water to irrigate
More than $1 million is spent annually on water for neighborhood parks and about $375,000 alone goes to
The Fire Department’s water bill was $471,252 in 2008, and the Department of Public Works spent $424,000.
http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/The-Citys-potable-water-going-down-the-drain-44686812.html
The
By Anna Bakalis
Taking a required cue from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the Simi Valley City Council agreed Monday night to establish new rules for all water customers.
Some of the key restrictions include prohibiting lawn irrigation between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and limiting it to 15 minutes per day; no washing down sidewalks and driveways; preventing excessive water runoff from yards; and giving customers a 48-hour obligation to fix leaks or other malfunctions in plumbing. Drinking water is to be served only upon request at restaurants.
“This is going to be a lifestyle change for a lot of people,” Councilman Glen Becerra said.
Council members asked what kind of notifications would be sent to residents, telling them of the changes so they could be in compliance with the new water rules.
City staff said the news will be sent out with water bills, in the city’s newsletter and on the city’s Web site.
The ordinance, if adopted at a second reading, will be implemented 31 days later.
The ordinance is permanent, which speaks to the level of concern for future water supplies, said Bob Muir, a spokesman with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
“You’re seeing more cities take more steps like
Metropolitan supplies state water to area agencies like the Calleguas Municipal Water District, and is requiring its agencies to implement water conservation ordinances.
It recently approved a 20 percent rate increase to its wholesale price that will take effect in September. Calleguas will likely increase the price of the water it provides in the coming months.
Calleguas serves about 600,000 people throughout
“All cities are going in (
The biggest areas where people can cut back are gardens and lawns, which use about 70 percent of Southern California’s water,
In
He called for a statewide water conservation campaign and asked all urban water users to immediately reduce their individual water use by 20 percent.
“Our primary aim is to get people to choose to do this, to educate them with the benefits of saving water,” said Joe Deakin, assistant public works director with
Cities are writing their ordinances around a model created by the Metropolitan Water District.
If a resident is found to be violating any of the terms, Deakin said, enforcement will include a warning, and if the violation is egregious and long-term, could lead to prosecution as a misdemeanor.
Deakin said enforcement of the rules would be complaint-based and also include city inspectors who would travel throughout the city looking for water abusers.#
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/may/12/simi-to-restrict-water-usage-shortage-brings-on/
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DWR’s California Water News is distributed to California Department of Water Resources management and staff, for information purposes, by the DWR Public Affairs Office. For reader’s services, including new subscriptions, temporary cancellations and address changes, please use the online page: http://listhost2.water.ca.gov/mailman/listinfo/water_news . DWR operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs. Inclusion of materials is not to be construed as an endorsement of any programs, projects, or viewpoints by the Department or the State of
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