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Tag: water conservation

  • Citrus Heights Water District: 2015 usage dropped by 37%

    Drought, water conservation in Citrus Heights
    File photo, local water conservation. // CHSentinel

    Updated Jan. 5, 6:30 p.m.–
    Citrus Heights Water District customers reduced water use by an average of 37 percent during a six-month reporting period in 2015, according to the latest conservation data released by local water officials.

    The latest figures are based on water use between June and November of 2015, with data showing a dip in conservation during September and October, but a return to comparatively high water savings in November. Statewide conservation during the same period hit a significantly lower average of 26.3 percent, compared to 2013 use, according to state water board data released Jan. 5.

    [Document: Jan. 5 state water board compliance data]

    Water suppliers around the state have varying conservation goals to achieve, ranging from 4 to 36 percent, set by the State Water Resources Control Board to meet Gov. Jerry Brown’s April 1, 2015 executive order mandating a 25 percent statewide cut.

    The cumulative 37 percent water savings reported by CHWD beats the District’s state-mandated reduction target of 32 percent by 5 points.

    CHWD’s water efficiency coordinator, Rex Meurer, called the latest water usage data “good news,” as he said savings are more difficult to achieve in cooler months. He said customers “should continue to conserve water as much as possible” for the District to meet its cumulative reduction target.

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    Following Gov. Brown’s order last year, the state water board began requiring local suppliers to report water use and conservation data each month, beginning in June 2015. The Board releases monthly reports comparing each supplier’s current usage with 2013 water use.

    Users served by CHWD, which includes about two-thirds of Citrus Heights, averaged 41 percent water savings in June, followed by 42.5 percent in July, and 38 percent in August. Savings then dropped to 29 percent during September and October, before rising to 37 percent in November, according to data released by the District. California-American Water, which serves most of the remaining portions of Citrus Heights, reported similar cumulative savings of 36 percent from June to November.

    The latest state report shows November water conservation across California at an average of 20.3 percent, about 17 percent lower than CHWD and 13 percent lower than average November savings of suppliers in the greater-Sacramento region, according to the Citrus Heights-based Regional Water Authority.

    In a news release last month, RWA’s Amy Talbot said one of the “easiest and most important” water-saving actions residents can take is turning off sprinklers until spring.

    “Winter’s shorter and typically rainy days mean that landscapes can go without supplemental watering,” Talbot said, while cautioning that trees should not be neglected. “While sprinklers are off, be sure to monitor your trees to ensure they are getting the water they need.”

    The news release also highlighted several indoor water savings tips, including only running full loads of laundry and checking for plumbing leaks. An estimated 12.5 gallons of water can also be saved by cutting shower times from 10 minutes down to five, according to the RWA.

    Californians have saved over 300 billion gallons of water from June to November 2015, compared to 2013, according to the state water board.

  • Citrus Heights water official talks drought, rain, rates

    Updated Feb. 12, 11:55 a.m.–
    Wondering how much local rainfall has affected the drought, or if higher water rates are planned for 2015?

    rain_flooding_puddle_DSC_0720
    A large puddle off Fair Oaks Boulevard, formed after a recent storm brought several inches of rain to the area.

    A spokesman for the Citrus Heights Water District said Wednesday that local water users maintained a 20 percent average reduction in consumption for 2014 and shouldn’t anticipate increased drought rates this year, in light of seasonal rainfall totals being near average.

    “We are pleased that CHWD customers voluntarily met the California statewide goal for reducing water use in 2014 without the need for penalties or extra enforcement measures,” said David Kane, assistant general manager for the local water district.

    Looking ahead at 2015, Kane said the good news is local rainfall totals are “near seasonal averages” – despite January being the driest month in California’s recorded weather history. But the bad news is mountain snow pack is “well-below normal.”

    “Unless we get some significant colder storms that deposit a lot of snow, we anticipate needing to continue the District’s current Stage 3 Water Warning status during 2015,” said Kane, adding that snow pack serves as the District’s “reservoir” for water during the summer and fall dry seasons. He added there’s been “no discussion by the Board” of declaring a Stage 4 Water Crisis or implementing drought water shortage rates, but said “the District continues to evaluate water supply conditions as we move closer to spring and summer months.”

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    Kane said water savings tips this time of year include fixing any indoor or outdoor leaks, along with the District’s top tip to keep outdoor water turned off.

    “Most lawns and landscaping will survive just fine during the winter months during extended dry periods,” said Kane, stating that outdoor watering can often represent more than 50 percent of a customer’s annual water use.

    Across California, other water districts have struggled to reach the 20 percent water savings goal, but still helped save a total of 134 billion gallons of water since July of last year, according to a State Water Resources Control Board announcement last week. The Board also said its Emergency Water Conservation Regulation expires on April 25, 2015, but will likely be extended if drought conditions persist.

    [Related story: Citrus Heights Water District seeks applicants to fill board vacancy; Deadline Feb. 17]

    Calling water a “precious resource,” Kane said he’s hopeful local users will continue their water-efficient practices, regardless if the drought continues.

    Despite its name, the Citrus Heights Water District’s service area doesn’t actually cover 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.