People are taking the challenge! Conservation rates are increasing!

By Mark Paulson

A few months ago, I wrote about the fact that despite the severe drought and low water supplies, water use was increasing in southern California. Fortunately, conservation rates have increased the past few months…but our drought and water supplies have not! So, let’s all continue to work together, to sacrifice and to adopt long-term water-use efficiency.

By long-term, we mean changing behavior, so that saving water becomes as natural as putting on your seat belt. By long-term, we also mean making permanent, lasting improvements around your home, yard and business such as: ensuring there are no leaks, buying and operating water-efficient appliances, installing an irrigation controller for outside water use, changing landscaping to California Native plants, and insta changing landscaping to California Native plants, and installing pool and spa covers.

The street banner at the top of this article was produced by the District in partnership with Alhambra’s water utility, and we each have other messaging, programs (including rebates and grants) and websites to help you conserve our precious water resource and save money.

Our partnership is complete only with YOUR participation. The weather is not getting any cooler, there’s no rain or snow in the forecast, there’s not much snow in the mountains to trickle down to replenish groundwater basins, and our access to imported water from northern California is reduced to 5% of what we’d planned for.

Alhambra has activated “Level 2” of its drought contingency plan, so please continue to follow the guidance of the City Council and Alhambra’s water utility (https://www.cityofalhambra.org/575/ Water-Conservation). Water conservation works and is the cheapest means of saving water. Every drop of water we save is one that does not need to be pumped, stored, treated, imported, transported, recycled, desalinated…or paid for!

Please visit the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District’s website, www. sgvmwd.com, to learn more about our newest conservation information - gardening tips – which are customized to meet the needs of Alhambra property owners (bit.ly/SGVMWDAlhambra). Remember: