After a Wet Winter: Let’s Get Back to Water Basics

is Smart, Environmentally and Economically Responsible, and COOL!

Just a few months ago, we were staring down a record drought, dire water supply conditions, and increasing water use restrictions. Fortunately, Mother Nature blessed California with abundant rain and snow. While most of California had been in moderate or severe drought in January, today only 10% of the state is in such condition. Local and statewide reservoirs are near capacity. Local groundwater levels have risen more than 40 feet since January. And state water contractors, such as SGVMWD, are now receiving 100% of their planned imported water allocations to help replenish local groundwater supplies.

We know that drought conditions will return, and that climate change has created extreme weather patterns that are hard to predict. The District continues to advise two critical water supply actions:

• First, we need government agencies, water agencies, voters, businesses, and residents to “stay the course” toward water supply sustainability and longterm water supply policies, funding, and infrastructure.

• Second, let’s make conservation a stronger ethic and way of life. We know that a drop or gallon of water saved is water that does not need to be treated, conveyed, recycled, desalinated, stored or pumped – these solutions are complicated and expensive. This summer and fall, as it gets hotter and drier, it’s cool to save water. It’s cool to save money by reducing water use. It’s cool to redesign your landscapes with attractive California Native Plants, succulent plants, rocks, and other hardscapes. It’s cool to cover pools and spas to reduce evaporation. It’s cool to purchase water-efficient clothes washers, dish washers and toilets (we offer rebates for such items).

I’d ask you to visit our website for more water-saving tips (https://sgvmwd.com/ water-conservation/#water-saving-tips). And, since more than half of our water use occurs outdoors in the summer, please view our landscaping tips which are customized for Alhambra (https://sgvmwd. com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CalScape_Alhambra_web.pdf). The city of Alhambra has helpful water information on their website as well (https://www.cityofalhambra.org/575/Water-Conservation).

Thank you for helping us survive our most recent drought preparing us for the next drought!