California
Related: About this forumCalifornians May Face 'Unprecedented' Full Watering Ban Due To Drought Crisis
Topline
In what would be Southern Californias most drastic water conservation effort yet, the regions Metropolitan Water District (MWD) announced Wednesday it may ban outdoor watering completely in some parts of the area by September if the states record-breaking drought conditions continue to worsen, following an order Tuesday lowering the allotted watering time to one day a week for about six million California residents.
Key Facts
If conditions do not improve and water use in the state is not reduced, MWD general manager Adel Hagekhalil said Wednesday the supplier could implement unprecedented measures by banning all outdoor watering by September in cities in several of the regions countiesincluding Los Angeles County, the states largest.
On Tuesday, the MWDthe states regional wholesaler of water and the largest treated water supplier in the countryannounced a water shortage emergency and adopted new restrictions for dozens of cities in Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties, lowering outdoor watering allowance to one day a week for about six million people beginning June 1.
The restrictions also apply to businesses such as golf courses, as well as public land such as parks, though individual member agencies from each city can elect to alter the restrictions as long as water use is reduced to around 80 gallons of water per person per day, Rebecca Kimitch, a spokesperson for the MWD, told Forbes.
Violators of the watering restriction will face a penalty of up to $2,000 per acre-foot, according to Kimitch, though tree-watering is exempt from the restriction.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/californians-may-face-unprecedented-full-watering-ban-due-to-drought-crisis/ar-AAWFT87
TallMike
(161 posts)California resident. It is beyond me why this hasn't been in place for decades.
I am extremely lucky. I have a 48 foot hand dug well in my basement that has only gone dry 1x in some 30 odd years. Family has some 700 acres of gold country range land with 8 or 10 mine shafts full of water. 3 springs, grandfathered miners inch rights (you would have to know to know...) etc. You cant drink most of the water. but you could feed a few thousand people from it. there are 5 deep wells with freaking beautiful drinking water as well.
we still don't water lawns. "victory gardens" yes. defensible space, yes. bloody great storage tanks for fire suppression yes. But lawns, car washing, laundry without a full load, showering everyday only allowed if you've been working hard and legitimately stinky.
For those who don't know. Water is the future. Nothing else matters in the end.
Find water. If not for you. For your grandchildren. Now or never...
Rant over. TY and apologies.
M
NullTuples
(6,017 posts)The one I'm most aware of is Sonoma, probably because they're planning on using the underground aquifer for storage of winter rains by pumping water into it. Once they do that, it's their water and nobody can be allowed to just take it for free. It's been a long time coming though and we all have to share.
The Unmitigated Gall
(4,523 posts)Independent nation, but the water situation is only going to get worse. Leadership in this area is desperately needed, and hoping for a good snowfall in the Sierras just doesnt hack it anymore.
We need more water reclamation, water recycling. We need to reduce evaporation in our aqueducts and reservoirs. We need desalination. With tons of potential for solar and wind maybe we could export electricity in trade for water from our neighbors to the north. We have to get a handle on this
its not going to get better.