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In one of the driest years on record, the Nevada Irrigation District is endorsing a voluntary water conservation plan but is stopping short of restricting usage - at least for now.
The voluntary plan comes as the Sierra snowpack is well below average, and the NID has bought water reserves from Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
The NID's water and hydroelectric operations committee has endorsed a draft water plan to prepare for future dry spells, such as the drought of 1977 that triggered 50-percent cuts to agricultural water supplies and reduced regional lakes to muddy puddles.
"If we get into another low-water year, these things will be absolutely essential," said farmer and NID board member John Drew about the proposed plan.
The plan includes hiring a part-time coordinator to work with golf courses and other large landscapers, farms and home gardeners to survey their water use and recommend ways to conserve. NID is asking for voluntary participation in the program, which NID board members must approve.
"It's there for people if they want to use it. It's not something we're forcing on anyone," said Don Wight, NID's water operations manager. "It's a work in progress."
This year was one of the driest on record for many parts of the state and caused many water agencies to reduce water consumption by 10 percent to 15 percent, according to the state Department of Water Resources.
"Every drop we don't use this summer is water we can carry over to next year," said Sue Sims, public affairs director for the California Department of Water Resources.
Water purchase like insurance
This year's relatively cool summer in the foothills helped lessen the demand for water by NID's 24,500 users, NID operations supervisor Sue Sindt said. The purchase of about 10,500 acre feet of water from PG&E, which cost $40,800, and the curtailment of outside sales also helped.
(An acre-foot is the amount of water that would cover an acre of land to 1 foot deep. It's roughly the amount of water a family of four would use in one year.)
"As a general rule, we don't purchase PG&E water unless it's a dry year," Wight said. It's like insurance or replacing money borrowed from a savings account, he added. "We retain the water in storage as carry-over into the next year. If we encounter a second dry year, we have an extra 10,500 (acre feet of water) of carryover. ...
"Right now we have adequate water supplies," Wight continued. By the time irrigation ends on Oct. 15, water levels are expected to be 7,000 to 10,000 acre-feet below historic averages. It usually takes two to three consecutive dry years to produce drought conditions, Wight said.
Sierra winters have fluctuated wildly in the past 30 years.
"There's wet years and dry years. If you could predict them, you would be a millionaire," Wight said.
Year-round water conservation?
The water district provides educational literature on water conservation and contacts users who waste the precious resource. Still, the district avoids rationing water unless a drought occurs, even though such a measure could stretch water reserves into the dry times.
"It's difficult to dictate to customers how to use water," Wight said. "I think most people are conscientious and realize the value of natural resources."
In more arid, heavily populated regions of the state, such as San Diego, with an average of 4 inches of rain a year, year-round water conservation has become a way of life. Tiered water rates reward or punish users according to volume, water ordinances prohibit daytime irrigation and householders and developers must install water-efficient fixtures.
Western Nevada County is in much better shape, with an average of 55 inches of water per year and a demand not expected to reach capacity until 2027, Wight said.
But during the next century, California is expected to get thirstier as populations grow, the climate grows warmer and less snow falls in the mountains, Sims said.
"Water agencies are going to have to be a lot more creative to get the most out of every drop they have," Sims said.
"If we run out of water, then watch how interesting the personalities become," Drew said.
ooo
To contact Staff Writer Laura Brown, e-mail lbrown@theunion.com or call 477-4231.
1. Check for leaks. Inspect every faucet in your home. Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons of water per day. Fix it and you will save almost 6,000 gallons a year.
2. Toilet tank test. Put a few drops of food coloring in each toilet tank in your home. Without flushing, watch for a few minutes to see if color shows up in the bowl. It's not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons per day to one of these otherwise invisible leaks.
3. Shorter showers. Don't shower too long or fill the tub too full. Five-minute showers and 5 inches deep in the tub is sufficient.
4. Wash full loads. Run automatic dish and clothes washing machines only with full loads.
5. In the garden, irrigate early or late, not in the midday heat. See that water goes where it should, not on sidewalks or driveways. Use a spade to see that water is getting down deep. A good soaking encourages good root systems.
- Source: www.nid.dst.ca.us/
conservation.cfm
The voluntary plan comes as the Sierra snowpack is well below average, and the NID has bought water reserves from Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
The NID's water and hydroelectric operations committee has endorsed a draft water plan to prepare for future dry spells, such as the drought of 1977 that triggered 50-percent cuts to agricultural water supplies and reduced regional lakes to muddy puddles.
"If we get into another low-water year, these things will be absolutely essential," said farmer and NID board member John Drew about the proposed plan.
The plan includes hiring a part-time coordinator to work with golf courses and other large landscapers, farms and home gardeners to survey their water use and recommend ways to conserve. NID is asking for voluntary participation in the program, which NID board members must approve.
"It's there for people if they want to use it. It's not something we're forcing on anyone," said Don Wight, NID's water operations manager. "It's a work in progress."
This year was one of the driest on record for many parts of the state and caused many water agencies to reduce water consumption by 10 percent to 15 percent, according to the state Department of Water Resources.
"Every drop we don't use this summer is water we can carry over to next year," said Sue Sims, public affairs director for the California Department of Water Resources.
Water purchase like insurance
This year's relatively cool summer in the foothills helped lessen the demand for water by NID's 24,500 users, NID operations supervisor Sue Sindt said. The purchase of about 10,500 acre feet of water from PG&E, which cost $40,800, and the curtailment of outside sales also helped.
(An acre-foot is the amount of water that would cover an acre of land to 1 foot deep. It's roughly the amount of water a family of four would use in one year.)
"As a general rule, we don't purchase PG&E water unless it's a dry year," Wight said. It's like insurance or replacing money borrowed from a savings account, he added. "We retain the water in storage as carry-over into the next year. If we encounter a second dry year, we have an extra 10,500 (acre feet of water) of carryover. ...
"Right now we have adequate water supplies," Wight continued. By the time irrigation ends on Oct. 15, water levels are expected to be 7,000 to 10,000 acre-feet below historic averages. It usually takes two to three consecutive dry years to produce drought conditions, Wight said.
Sierra winters have fluctuated wildly in the past 30 years.
"There's wet years and dry years. If you could predict them, you would be a millionaire," Wight said.
Year-round water conservation?
The water district provides educational literature on water conservation and contacts users who waste the precious resource. Still, the district avoids rationing water unless a drought occurs, even though such a measure could stretch water reserves into the dry times.
"It's difficult to dictate to customers how to use water," Wight said. "I think most people are conscientious and realize the value of natural resources."
In more arid, heavily populated regions of the state, such as San Diego, with an average of 4 inches of rain a year, year-round water conservation has become a way of life. Tiered water rates reward or punish users according to volume, water ordinances prohibit daytime irrigation and householders and developers must install water-efficient fixtures.
Western Nevada County is in much better shape, with an average of 55 inches of water per year and a demand not expected to reach capacity until 2027, Wight said.
But during the next century, California is expected to get thirstier as populations grow, the climate grows warmer and less snow falls in the mountains, Sims said.
"Water agencies are going to have to be a lot more creative to get the most out of every drop they have," Sims said.
"If we run out of water, then watch how interesting the personalities become," Drew said.
ooo
To contact Staff Writer Laura Brown, e-mail lbrown@theunion.com or call 477-4231.
1. Check for leaks. Inspect every faucet in your home. Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons of water per day. Fix it and you will save almost 6,000 gallons a year.
2. Toilet tank test. Put a few drops of food coloring in each toilet tank in your home. Without flushing, watch for a few minutes to see if color shows up in the bowl. It's not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons per day to one of these otherwise invisible leaks.
3. Shorter showers. Don't shower too long or fill the tub too full. Five-minute showers and 5 inches deep in the tub is sufficient.
4. Wash full loads. Run automatic dish and clothes washing machines only with full loads.
5. In the garden, irrigate early or late, not in the midday heat. See that water goes where it should, not on sidewalks or driveways. Use a spade to see that water is getting down deep. A good soaking encourages good root systems.
- Source: www.nid.dst.ca.us/
conservation.cfm
