KPBS: Water Authority Challenges Residents to Save 20 Gal
The last two years have been dry ones in San Diego. In fact, this past rainy season has brought our region less than four inches of precipitation. In a normal year, we'd get about ten inches. Add to that the fact that the Colorado River Valley has been going through a drought and the Sierra snowpack is depleted, and you could have some trouble. Those, after all, are the places where most of our water comes from.
So far, the trouble with water supply doesn't mean any real limits on the amount of water local residents are allowed to use. But next year, local farmers are fully expecting to be hit with substantial restrictions. In the meantime, the San Diego County Water Authority is asking local residents to cut back their water use by 10 percent. They call it the "20-Gallon Challenge" because cutting 10 percent means every person reduces his or her daily use by 20 gallons. How do you save 20 gallons a day?
NCT Letter to the Editor: Where's the water shortage?
Once again, SoCal water officials are asking us to conserve. May I please see a show of hands from all the local city councils that plan to temporarily stop issuing new building permits due to the water shortage? Oceanside? Vista? San Diego? Seeing none, how about a tally from all the local water districts? Which districts are putting a hold on future letters of water availability given out to the development industry? Fallbrook Public Utility? Carlsbad Municipal? Rincon del Diablo? No hands? I guess we don't really have a water shortage then, do we?
Surely the taxpayer-owned water districts would never think about asking existing ratepayers to conserve water just so they can support massive future housing developments? The same ratepayers who pay their salaries and built the water infrastructure? Naw, they would never do that. Would they? I'm now going to go flush my toilet for no reason. Because I can, and I pay for every drop.
Cardiff-by-the-Sea
Water saving tip: Put a brick in the back of your toilet. The brick will effectively take up a small volume of water that would normally get flushed away. It usually doesn't interfere with the performance of your toilet. A small amount but still a step towards water conservation.
ReplyDeleteAnd if every homeowner cuts back 20 gallons of water usage, how many new homes can be built?
ReplyDeletePlanting indigenous native plant species will conserve rivers of water and save significant money.
ReplyDeleteWe gotta keep the golf courses green people!
ReplyDeleteLets close all golf courses. Who needs all that green. Maybe we can grow poinsettias on the land?
ReplyDeleteIf we are having a water shortage why are we still fighting the desal plant in Carlsbad? It makes sense to me to expand the concept.
ReplyDeleteCareful people.
ReplyDeletePlease keep your opinions to a minimum.
Pat
No tax lady you should change your screen name. Do you know how much it costs to create potable water with desal?
ReplyDeleteThank you Ken Harrison for flushing your toilet for no reason. That is very helpful.
ReplyDeleteInteresting commentary by a citizen of Carlsbad in the NCTines today (7-3-07) entitled CUTTING WATER USE TO BUILD HOMES. He points out that in this State our legislature has chosen to represent people who want to live here, rather than the people that DO live here.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, we do live in a desert, with finite water supplies. However, we keep building as if we have all of the water we need and could ever use. I am personally more than willing to do my share of conservation. However, I get real tired of seeing beautifully green golf courses, new McMansions, and plants being planted that need a lot of water. We need to put more pressure (no pun intended) on our water boards, local and State governements to STOP the development of so much housing. If not, it won't matter what we do. We Will run out of water.
Excellent letter from Ken. Good topic Pat the trigger finger.
ReplyDeleteI am going to water my bannana tree and grass as long as our City and others continue to issue new building permits.
We need a moratorium on building permits, that will end the slumping real estate market.
Actually, we need a moratorium on the issuance of new water meters. The issue is water, not building.
ReplyDeleteAs the letter states, our water boards and staff are not serving us well. Its time for the people to voice up. First stop, San Dieguito Water District should stop issuing new water meters to help there existing customers.
The San Dieguito District Board is our City Council. Write email and have public comment at the next meeting, demanding that they stop issuing new water meters, until a new water source is found.
I really want to post somthing Pat will approve of
ReplyDeletebut I'm afraid I'm going to fuck up!
Go for it-if you F it up the "word police" will throw you off the Island. Sorry folks, but couldn't resist.
ReplyDeleteIts not just pointing out the water shortage as a reason to reduce building permits, what about traffic. That aspect of burden on existing conditions gets ignored as well.
ReplyDeleteOMWD is also in the city although they have their own governing board
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that so many people see through the insanity of conservation as it relates to government. Posters here are so right on.
ReplyDeleteOur politicos telling us to conserve water and energy while they encourage more development does not equate. Sorta reminds me of the Islamic clerics encouraging suicide bombers all the time knowing that they personally would never do that.
It's time our leaders had a little backbone and integrity (not to mention honesty).
Pat reminds me of the nuns standing over me ready to smack me or pull my ear at the slightest transgression.
ReplyDeleteJust say it. You were bonked by a so called padre.
ReplyDeleteDesalinization is not the answer. As it will only enable overdevelopment and over population of an already over developed and over populated region.
ReplyDeleteMoratorium, immigration control and birth control are the only real cures. Birth rates of legal citizens are not an issue. Its currently about the zero growth rate. The Real increases come from immigration (how many times have you seen the young Mexican lady with 4 kids in tow paying for groceries at Albertsons with Food Stamps?), and a moratorium on building permits. The bottom line - there are too many people currently living in SCA. Less people would be good for the environment and me. So its time for newbees to pack their crap and go home wherever they came from. That’s right I am a NIMBY and proud of it!
ReplyDeleteAnd don’t say the economy needs them, because I don't rely on the economy for my survival. I hope we go into a depression in the region which would accelerate the exodus. The sooner the better!!!
nimby has listened to the BIA and Realtor's economist shills for too long.
ReplyDeleteIn general, economies don't need growing populations to be vigorous. On the other hand, economies that have outstripped their natural resources by growing their population too large collapse.