California Water News
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
July 21, 2009
2. Supply –
Utility board considers water rationing plan
Marin Independent Journal
Heat wave affects water use, people's health in region
Porterville Recorder
Locals learn about water conservation
Redlands Daily Facts
Texas agriculture losses reach $3.6 billion
S.F. Chronicle
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Utility board considers water rationing plan
Marin Independent Journal-7/20/09
The Inverness Public Utility District board will consider an ordinance requiring mandatory water rationing during a 9 a.m. meeting Wednesday at the Inverness Firehouse at 50 Inverness Way.
The board will also consider policy guidelines that would phase out vehicle petroleum use.#
http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_12880486?IADID=Search-www.marinij.com-www.marinij.com
Heat wave affects water use, people's health in region
Porterville Recorder-7/20/09
By Sarah de Crescenzo
City and county departments are offering up a variety of advice for residents concerning the heat wave currently taking place.
The City of Porterville Water Utilities Division announced that it is important to consider water conservation as the temperature climbs.
“With the heat the way it is, we would ask people to help conserve water so there will be plenty for everyone to use,” Water Utilities Superintendent Richard Mulvihill said.
Mulvihill cited sprinklers as the biggest possible water wasters.
“Ways to conserve [water] include running full loads in washing machines and fixing leaky faucets or toilets,” he said.
The Tulare County Office of Emergency Services is asking people to ensure personal safety by staying cool by following some “extreme heat” tips:
-- Drink lots of fluids to maintain hydration.
-- Dress in loose, light-weight clothing.
OES officials, through a news release issued Monday, said those with chronic health conditions, especially, are vulnerable to the rising temperatures because certain medications are known to inhibit the body’s ability to control temperature.
The heat also worsens the quality of the air, which can aggravate any respiratory symptoms that are already present, OES officials report.
Ramona Contreras, Sierra View District Hospital’s marketing director, said people should try to avoid the hottest time of day.
“When venturing out into the heat, try and stay in the shade as much as possible,” she said.
Contreras said the hospital had no heat-related emergencies as of Monday afternoon.
The City of Porterville has established a series of cooling centers, which are available Monday through Friday during regular business hours for the rest of the summer: City Hall, the Public Transit Center, the Porterville Public Library, and the Porterville Heritage Community Center.#
http://www.recorderonline.com/news/water-42321-heat-city.html
Locals learn about water conservation
Redlands Daily Facts-7/20/09
By Chantal M. Lovell
Redlanders got a lesson in water conservation during an expo at First Lutheran Church in Redlands Saturday.
Just Like Grass Inc. of Beaumont taught the free Water Conservation Expo to show residents simple changes they can make to save water.
"We're trying to educate as much of the public as possible about saving water for little cost," said Just Like Grass Inc. CEO Victor Dominguez. "The most effective thing people can do is to learn how and when to water."
During the expo, Dominguez and his employees taught people about advancements made in sprinkler systems and how newer models save water.
"We want to bring awareness to new water-conserving products like rotor sprays," Dominguez said. "They use 25 to 40 percent less water. It's like the hybrid of sprinklers - it takes the same water and uses it more efficiently."
Dominguez talked about the money and water that can be saved by installing synthetic turf. Synthetic lawns can also save time, as less care is required for upkeep. The average synthetic turf customer can recoup the cost of the lawn in four years, according to Just Like Grass Inc.
For those who have and want to keep their real lawns, Dominguez explained the proper way to water. Interval watering - watering several times a day for shorter periods of time - is ideal, Dominguez said.
"The whole goal is to have the water (permeate) to the roots," he said.
Dominguez said the best and most efficient way to water lawns is to run the sprinklers for a few minutes to moisten the ground. Once the water appears to have soaked into the dirt, the lawn can be watered again. This forces the initial water deeper into the ground and closer to the roots of the plant. This can be repeated several times, he said.
Prior to doing this, residents should test how long each watering interval should last, a time that is different for every lawn, Dominguez said.
Lawn owners should turn on their sprinklers and see how many minutes it takes for the water to begin running from the lawn to the sidewalk or other area. This is especially important for lawns on an incline. Coordinating sprinkler timers with this insures no water is wasted, Dominguez said.
"Have all your watering completed before sunrise," he said.
This prevents evaporation and wind interference.
Lawns and most outdoor plants do not need to be watered daily but can survive on two to three waterings each week, Dominguez said.
Dominguez recommended people visit www.bewaterwise.com to learn about available rebates for water-conscious sprinkler systems or synthetic turf, and for tips on minimizing water use.
"We recognize the fact water is becoming more and more of a precious commodity," said First Lutheran parish administrator Mac Barnes. "We need to take a good, hard look at our landscaping methods. Water's getting scarce and we need to be good stewards of what we have to work with."
Among the tips offered by on Just Like Grass's Web site are installing a smart sprinkler controller, which can save 40 gallons of water per day; sweep driveways instead of washing them, which can save 150 gallons each time; and check the sprinkler system for leaks, overspray, and broken sprinkler heads, which can save 500 gallons of water each month. Using organic mulch around plants can also save money by reducing evaporation.
Inside the house, consumers can also make changes to reduce water usage. They can turn off the faucet while brushing teeth, which can save three gallons per day; shorten showers, which can save five gallons; fix leaking faucets, which can save 20 gallons per day; and only wash full loads of laundry, which can save 15 to 50 gallons of water per day, according to the Web site.
Just Like Grass Inc. teaches water conservation workshops because they are committed to saving water, Dominguez said.
"We are doing this pro bono to educate the public because we are in a water crisis," said events coordinator Pam Garcia. "People need to be conscious of conserving water because water is life."
Dominguez invited organizations interested in hosting a water conservation expo to contact him at victor@justlikegrassinc.com, or visit www.justlikegrassinc.com.#
Texas agriculture losses reach $3.6 billion
S.F. Chronicle-7/21/09
By Betsy Blanet (Associated Press)
Drought in Texas has led to an estimated $3.6 billion in crop and livestock losses, and without ample rains, the year's final tally could top the state record set in 2006, Texas agriculture officials say.
Crops and rangeland are scorched from lack of rainfall and record triple-digit temperatures throughout parts of Texas—the nation's second-largest agriculture state behind California. Much of the central and southern parts of the state have been in the two most severe stages of drought for months.
Agriculture officials in the state, which leads the nation in cotton and cattle production, estimated Monday that total crop losses attributed to the drought that started in November have reached $2.6 billion. Livestock losses have reached an additional $974 million. And officials have not yet tallied how much ranchers will lose from having fewer cattle to breed or from selling calves earlier than usual because they don't have pasture on which their animals can graze.
It could be two years before a reduced beef supply and higher prices hit the grocery store, said Travis Miller, a drought specialist with the Texas AgriLife Extension. He noted that many cattle being sold at Texas sale barns will end up in states where grazing lands are better.
As far as cotton, U.S. and world supplies left over from previous years are still high, so the amount grown in Texas this year won't influence the price of a T-shirt or blue jeans, said Roger
Haldenby, spokesman for the Plains Cotton Growers, which serves a 41-county region of western Texas that is the world's largest contiguous growing patch.
If dry conditions persist, losses could surpass the $4.1 billion in agriculture losses three years ago, the highest amount ever in Texas in a single year. That drought spread across more of the state than this year's, said Carl Anderson, an economist and professor emeritus at Texas AgriLife Extension.
"The last three months of this drought have been so, so severe," Anderson said. "The critical factor here is how soon will we get soaking rains."
It is so dry in some parts of Texas that water for livestock and wildlife is evaporating. According to the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor map, released July 14, 55 of Texas' 254 counties are in extreme or exceptional drought; no other part of the nation is that dry.
Extreme drought conditions can lead to major crop and pasture losses; extreme fire danger; and widespread water shortages. Exceptional conditions can lead to widespread crop and pasture losses; an even greater fire risk; and water emergencies, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
"I can't remember it getting so bad so fast because of extreme heat," said Jim McAdams, a fourth-generation rancher in central Texas and past president of the National Cattleman's Beef Association. "This is one of the worst hot spells I've ever been through."
According to Texas AgriLife Extension, range and pasture conditions are poor or fair over more than 85 percent of Texas.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture rates a third of Texas' cotton acreage as very poor or poor. Dry conditions indicate a large amount of acreage will likely be abandoned, and a small cotton crop is expected because of lost acreage and low yields.
Texas crops besides cotton are also hurting. More than 40 percent of corn and sorghum were in the poor category. Loss estimates for goats, sheep, honey and horses totaled $105 million.
To deal with the lack of pasture for cattle, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples has asked the USDA to allow ranchers to graze their animals on Conservation Reserve Lands, acreage set aside for conservation purposes. He sent two letters seeking help—one in May and one last week.
"Many of our farmers and ranchers are frustrated today," Staples said Monday. "Frustration won't make it rain. Immediate action by USDA will ease their pain."#
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