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  • WATER: Citrus Heights usage drops 21%, State lags behind

    WATER: Citrus Heights usage drops 21%, State lags behind

    As California’s drought continues, the Citrus Heights Water District says its customers cut back water use by an average of 21.2 percent during the first eight months of 2014 – exceeding Governor Jerry Brown’s call for a 20 percent reduction.

    water faucet
    Photo credit: Sarah/mira66 via Flickr Creative Commons

    Ranking among the highest water savers across the state, data shows CHWD users consistently beat statewide averages, which have only been in the single digits until finally hitting an 11 percent reduction in August, according to figures released by the State Water Resources Board in October.

    State numbers show CHWD reporting a savings of over 1.45 million gallons of water in August alone, and District Assistant General Manager Darlene Gillum said the total 2014 reduction amounts to a savings of about 36 gallons per capita per day for local users, compared to water use in 2013.

    Currently at a Stage 3 Water Warning level, Gillum said the District has “no near-term plans” to bump the warning up to a Stage 4, which would be accompanied by “Water Crisis/Emergency tiered pricing” increases, if the warning remained implemented past 45 days.

    The current Stage 3 warning comes with a list of 11 regulations, including a ban on water run-off from properties, and a requirement that automatic shut-off devices be attached at the end of outdoor hoses. The warning also states that restaurants “shall serve water only upon request,” and landscape irrigation is to be reduced by 11 to 25 percent.

    Water users in CHWD currently pay about a dollar for every 350 gallons the District delivers, although the Board of Directors will consider a 3 percent rate increase at a November 19 meeting.

    Despite its name, CHWD’s service area doesn’t reach all of Citrus Heights, although a majority of the city’s residents are included within the District’s boundaries. Some portions of Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Carmichael, and Roseville are also included in the CHWD service area.

  • DUI Checkpoint Planned in Citrus Heights

    Police officers plan to set up a DUI Checkpoint at an undisclosed location this weekend, as part of an effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents and fatalities, according to a press release issued by the Citrus Heights Police Department.

    Two Police Officers on Motorcycles with Lights On // Photo by Luke Otterstad, Citrus Heights SentinelOfficers from the CHPD Traffic Unit will be stopping drivers who pass through the checkpoint and checking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, beginning Friday at 7 p.m. and continuing until 2 a.m. Officers will also be checking for valid driver’s licenses, and “will strive to delay motorists only momentarily,” according to the release.

    CHPD acquires funding for its checkpoints through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and has found the results to be successful — with the Department reporting that its last checkpoint resulted in two DUI-suspect arrests, 15 citations and three impounded vehicles. The six-hour checkpoint was held on August 1 and screened 820 cars at the intersection of Greenback Lane and Birdcage Street.

    “The deterrent effect of DUI checkpoints is a proven resource in reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol or drug involved crashes,” the release reads. “Research shows that crashes involving alcohol drop by an average of 20 percent when well-publicized checkpoints are conducted often enough.”

    The Department is also planning a “DUI Patrol Saturation” for September 1, as part of its ongoing effort to reduce accidents and fatalities in Citrus Heights.

  • DROUGHT: City Residents Reduce Water Use by 16%

    Cracked_and_dried_mud_at_the_beachLate rains in Citrus Heights have brought little drought relief, with calls for reducing water consumption to continue as the summer heat approaches.

    “The current Stage 3 Water Warning and call for 20 percent reduction will likely remain in effect for the remainder of 2014,” said David Kane, assistant general manager for the Citrus Heights Water District.

    So far, Kane said local water users have responded to the call for reduction, showing a 16 percent decrease in water consumption between January 1 and April 30 – when compared to the most recent 5-year average.

    Kane added that the District’s switch to metered water rates in 2008 was an effective tool in reducing waste, as customers began paying for water based on their actual use, rather than paying a flat rate for unlimited water.

    Although acknowledging that raising water rates can be a motivator to reduce consumption, the assistant manager mentioned no plans to do so in the District — where the average user in Citrus Heights pays only about a dollar for 350 gallons of water delivered to their home.

    Providing some early tips as summer approaches, the District recommends letting lawns grow a bit longer to keep soil moist, and only watering outdoors between dusk and dawn to avoid excessive evaporation during the day. Leaving mulched clippings on the lawn is also advised, as the mulch provides extra nutrients for the soil.

    CHWD covers about two-thirds of Citrus Heights residents, and its water supply extends to portions of Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Carmichael, and Roseville.

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    On the Net:

    A full list of the Stage 3 water warnings can be viewed here.