[Water_news] 5. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, PEOPLE - 6/01/09

 

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

June 1, 2009

 

5. Agencies, Programs, People –

 

 

New water use rules for San Diego

San Diego Union-Tribune

 

Everybody into the water

Sacramento Bee

 

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New water use rules for San Diego

San Diego Union-Tribune-5/31/09

By Jerry Sanders

 

To help preserve San Diego's limited supply of water, new restrictions kick in tomorrow that will require all of us to rethink the way we use water in our lives.

All of us – residents, businesses and government agencies alike – will now be following certain schedules for watering our yards and washing our vehicles. We will limit our outdoor watering to certain hours of the day and certain days of the week. We will also be paying closer attention to the length of time we water, limiting ourselves to just 10 minutes per irrigation station.

 

And, yes, violating these restrictions will carry the potential for citations and fines, though the city will focus on education and changing behaviors, not punitive measures.

 

These new restrictions were put in place by the City Council and me because of real cuts to our water supplies. Our water wholesaler will be trimming what it provides the city, and we need to match our consumption to meet the new supply targets. Missing these targets will lead to surcharges and steeply increased water costs we simply cannot afford.

 

The city is working hard to spread the word about the new restrictions. Reminders are going out in the water bills mailed to our customers. And, the Water Department has begun a public awareness campaign to remind everyone that there is “no time to waste and no water to waste” in San Diego.

 

These efforts are part of a foundation for fundamentally changing the way we think about and use water in San Diego. Unless there are dramatic changes in the long-term forecasts for rain and snowfall, and the state constructs a reliable means of delivering water from the Bay Delta in northern California, San Diego's place at the end of the water pipeline means continued uncertainty about our supply.

 

It is up to each of us to adapt to these new limitations. Following the new restrictions – actually a set of common-sense rules for water use – is the quickest and most effective way to take charge of our water future. This is an opportunity to act as a community, neighbor supporting neighbor, to succeed in conserving water.

The city also will continue working with residents, community groups and business leaders at every level to expand and diversify future water supplies. We are looking at opportunities for extracting groundwater, supporting private investments in desalination and working with the state to craft the rules and regulations necessary to safely turn highly treated wastewater into a future water resource.

 

For now, we must turn our attention to what we are being asked to accomplish starting tomorrow. We need to limit outdoor water use to before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m., when irrigation is more efficient. So, if you haven't already reprogrammed your sprinkler system, today would be a good day to do that.

 

In addition, we must only wash our vehicles during those same hours, and with a bucket, a hose with a nozzle that automatically shuts off – or at a commercial car wash that recirculates its water. And, we need to fix water leaks – again, just common sense – as quickly as possible.

 

These are some of the new steps toward changing the way we use water. There are others we need to take, like becoming better at preventing the kind of water waste that pollutes our storm water system. We also need to consider what steps we can take should we fall short of the reduced water consumption targets, which would put us at risk for surcharges and increased water rates from our wholesaler.

 

Starting tomorrow, each of us has new responsibilities for ensuring San Diego will continue to have the water it needs to support our economy and quality of life. Tomorrow must mark the end of complacency about our water supplies and must mark the beginning of a new era in which all of us think about water differently, and use it more efficiently. I believe San Diego is up to the challenge.#

Sanders is mayor of San Diego.

 

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/may/31/lz1e31sanders001331-new-water-use-rules-san-diego/?opinion&zIndex=108080

 

 

Everybody into the water

Sacramento Bee-5/31/09

By Mel Shields

As temperatures warm up, thoughts turn to water – swimming in it, floating on it, even taking a few risks on it. Reno-Tahoe is opening the pools and blowing up the rafts for the season.

 

Lake Tahoe has an abundance of public beaches, many of which have pools. This seems strange to first-time visitors. After all, there's all that water and it's summer. The answer is simple. Lake Tahoe is too darned cold for swimming. A hearty few can survive a short while in the shallowest water, but hypothermia will set in quickly not very far from the shore. Tahoe is, after all, an alpine lake.

 

The lake is, however, grand for sailing, an eco-friendly way to enjoy the scenery. You don't have to own a boat to sail at Tahoe. Rentals are available, and you can go with a little luxury aboard the sailboat Tahoe Cruz, which offers two-hour afternoon cruises and romantic sunset voyages. The 50-foot boat furnishes a full galley, marine head and changing berth. The top deck offers comfortable seating for up to 25 people. Refreshments are served.

 

Reno has the Truckee River, and its new recreation area right downtown has become popular for sunbathers, waders and rafters. The river flows too swiftly for much swimming. Alongside Wingfield Park, the Truckee has been dredged, redirected and redesigned to become a world standard kayaking destination. Almost inadvertently, it has also become a destination for anybody wanting to float on anything else. Boating is not allowed, but inflate an inner tube and have at it.

Sunbathers love to lounge on the boulders that were put in place to force the river into the directions and speeds kayakers love. Those who prefer more cushioning find lots of lawn nearby.

 

A warning for those who choose to go in the river: Remember, this is a river with slippery beds, currents, rocks and assorted flotsam. There are no lifeguards at Wingfield.#

http://www.sacbee.com/travel/story/1900804.html

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