As drought outlook worsens, Public Works asks residents to further cut back on water use
Benicia city officials are reminding residents and business owners to conserve water during the state’s multi-year serious drought, and described spring and summer water restrictions that will start Wednesday.
The 2014-15 winter brought less than normal rainfall, and the Sierra snowpack is at near-record lows, Public Works Director Graham Wadsworth noted in a news release.
“Benicia typically gets 75 to 85 percent of its water from the State Water Project, and deliveries again will be limited this year, according to state officials,” Wadsworth said. “Though Benicia has access to some alternate water supplies, the need to conserve water will continue to be urgent in 2015.”
Mayor Elizabeth Patterson praised local efforts to lower consumption, saying, “Benicia residents did an outstanding job conserving water in 2014, reducing overall water use by over 20 percent compared to the previous year. Now it’s time to keep up the great work.”
The best place to start saving water is outdoors, said Benicia Water Quality Technician David Wenslawski.
“Most of the water we use daily goes on lawns and outdoor landscaping, and about 30 percent of that is lost due to overwatering and evaporation from wind and sun,” he said.
Of the many ways a person can save water at home, Wenslawski said, “Reducing water use outdoors can make the biggest difference of all.”
The City Council adopted comprehensive emergency outdoor watering restrictions last year that limit landscape irrigation by sprinkler systems in an effort to reduce outdoor water use, Wadsworth noted.
The restrictions apply to both residential and commercial customers, he said, and will remain in effect until the Council declares an end to the water shortage emergency.
Beginning Wednesday, watering restrictions will change to the city’s spring and summer schedule.
Those with addresses ending in an odd number — 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9 — will be allowed to water on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Those with addresses ending in an even number — 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8 — can water only Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
In addition to their designated days, residents are allowed to water only before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
Wenslawski said property owners should check to see if their landscapes actually need to be watered. It may be unnecessary, he said.
“Most people overwater their landscapes in spring, ramping up irrigation before their landscapes are thirsty,” he said.
He suggested residents and business owners employ a simple, low-tech approach: Stick an 8-inch screwdriver into the ground.
“If you can push it more than three inches below the surface, your landscape does not need to be watered,” he said.
In addition to local restrictions, Wadsworth said the State Water Resources Control Board enacted additional regulations.
They include requiring shutoff nozzles for those washing cars, prevention of watering that creates visible runoff, no watering of such hard surfaces as sidewalks and streets and no use of fountains that don’t recirculate water.
The state requires cities to have emergency drought plans in place, Wadsworth said. It has told restaurants not to serve water to guests unless it’s requested, and forbids watering 48 hours after a rain. Additionally, he said, the state is requiring a stepped-up response to customer water leaks.
Free services and rebates are available to help residential and business customers use less water, Wadsworth said, including those for purchasing more efficient clothes washers, for upgrading to water-smart irrigation controllers and for replacing lawns with low-water-use plants and drip irrigation.
“Free home and business water use surveys are also available to help customers identify potential water-saving actions,” he said.
The city itself is making available free table toppers to restaurants as reminders to customers that water is served only by request in compliance with State Water Resources Control Board regulations.
Those interested may read Benicia’s “water wise” tips at the website BeniciaSavesWater.org and may call the Water Conservation Team at 707-7464380 or email the team at water@ci.benicia.ca.us.
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Watch Out! Last drought the City called for use reduction and then passed a rate increase because of reduced revenues. They claimed it still cost the same to maintain the system even with the reduced “sales”.
So they raised the rates and when the drought ended and “sales” returned to pre-drought levels the City did not reduce the rates to the pre-drought level.
Thus, the City used the drought as an excuse to raise rates.
If the City claims they need to raise rates due to lower “sales” be sure the ordinance has a sunset clause.
NASA has made a prognosis that California has approximately one year of water remaining (if current drought conditions continue). What is alarming about this is that the potential for serious water issues have been known for many, many years. We have had enough time to come up with contingency plans. However, I don’t recall seeing anything being put into action. If the drought continues California will crumble. No amount of money will change that.
California is crumbling regardless of the drought. Anti-business legislation is killing industry.
Regardless … The drought will negatively effect agriculture.
But the state government doesn’t like agribusiness anyway. Water or government …. That business is doomed anyway.
As long as serice and government jobs don’t need much water, the state is just fine. That’s all California has.
The California-based company I work for, and the industry in general, is doing quite well. Have you considered Arizona? Perhaps Oklahoma? I think if we can reduce the population a bit, the drought might be a little more bearable for those that love, and want to stay in this place.
Read this: also, Google business climate by state, you’ll find CA’s best rating is 37 out of 50. Most place CA 45 or lower. CA is an economic disaster.
http://taxfoundation.org/sites/default/files/docs/2014%20State%20Business%20Tax%20Climate%20Index.pdf
What a disaster.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-16/brown-s-california-overtakes-brazil-with-companies-leading-world
That is awesome. If I had to leave California, I’d probably move to Brazil. It is beautiful down there.
Before we get too excited about California surpassing Brazil and Italy, we need to look a bit deeper than GDP.
And will say this: Any upward movement is 10 times preferred to either downward or flat.
Consider that Italy has a population of just over 60 million, Brazil is over 200 Million, and California is approaching 39 million. The fact that California is close to those countries in GDP is as much a factor of negative aspects of those countries vs. positive aspects of California (of which there are many).
The real measurement of success in terms of GDP is per capita.
By that measurement California is very respectably tied for 12th (with Maryland) at 58.3 $/capita compared to the 50 states.
The national average is 54.1 and other states in the same area are: Texas at 58.8 and Illinois at 57.1
GSP is but one measure. This website, which uses government numbers has various sortable data basis on many areas of both spending and income. I am sure there are enough different tables there that anyone will be able to find data that they like:
USgovernmentspending.com
More disaster, please.
http://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/california-bested-texas
Just to reiterate what I stated: “What is alarming about this is that the potential for serious water issues have been known for many, many years. We have had enough time to come up with contingency plans.” Gray water systems have been proposed many times for new housing developments; composting toilets, rainwater recovery, groundwater recharge is not beyond possibility, desal plants (powered by wind and solar) are almost to obvious. Unfortunately, you can pick and choose across a wide political spectrum from whence opposition has come. Reservoirs are not enough as one most also consider conveyance. All option must be considered, including conservation efforts. Almonds and rice not the best agricultural option for areas with potential water issues.
All that said “drought” (as in lack of rain and snow fall) is not the result of any agenda. And, yes population is an issue, a global issue.
Just to reiterate what I stated: “drought” (as in lack of rain and snow fall) is not the result of any agenda. Subjectivity, political posturing, and anecdotes are irrelevant. There are a few folks who come up short with grasping this concept, and are instead prone to making unqualified and purely emotional proclamations.
I have given my suggestions and just used political issues as the one reason. Drought is drought but it does go away and will return so my suggesions are very valid. i do not need a lecture..
I’ve stated what I stated, I don’t need a lecture. I am very well informed on the topic.. There is no guarantee that drought conditions will end.
Give us your sources. Dreaming does not count. Only facts or at least an opinion that is valid. No guarantees. If that is all you have the sun may not rise tomorrow as it always does. Droughts do end. my ideas will help overcome the issue. They are simple and doable. Yes it is a political issue.
I concede. You are correct, the liberals are directly responsible for the lowest precipitation in the last 50 years (much lower than even 1978). Also, you got me again, I have no source that proves the drought will not end before California is deemed a disaster. I will have to default to the source you are using (which one are you using?).
I apologize for the lack of respect that you so obviously deserve. However, would you please be so kind as to reiterate your “ideas [that} will help overcome the issue”, I don’t think they were very clearly spelled out. You have to understand, I’m really out of my league here, and a I have poor reading comprehension, as well [I only had a 3.9 GPA in college}. You are a god amongst men and I bow down before your mighty and all-knowing wisdom about damn near everything.
read them and you will know. i did spell them out. i never said liberals were reponsible. just that they do get in the way of getting things done. mr. reid is a very good example.
Could you do me a favor and maybe list them out again? You have to remember I’m not very bright. Maybe a bullet list. Also, maybe highlight the ones that are actually your ideas? That would be helpful. Thank you so very, very, very much, in advance.
NO. they are there go read them.
I swear, I don’t see it. Maybe just a hint on the first one? Thanks again!
NO
OK. I think I found them. They are as follows:
1. Population is just a reason
2. Just bering in vogue.
3. I am sick and tired
4. Man comes first.
5. My family has been in California for over 115 years.
6. Asking folks to leave
7. The Auburn Dam
8. Get with the program
9. Did not read about it,
10. i never said liberals were reponsible.
No need to comment. Your comment proved a lot. You only read what you want. So be it. Add these to your list.
You mean the Auburn Dam was not your idea? That explains why your name does not show up on the Wiki entry. It would have been great if you had thought of it. I’d of told everyone that I know you. Is there something else cool I could tell folks about you, instead? I want to be able to tell folks cool stuff about my friends.
You made a comment that “Droughts do end.”
I don’t mean to question your expertise and the knowledge (that you must have gained while at, which I can only imagine, was a top-notch university0; however, I came across the word below:
“Desertification” – It is defined as a type of land degradation in which a relatively dry land region becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies of water as well as vegetation and wildlife. It is caused by a variety of factors, such as climate change and human activities.
My question is, if droughts end, how does desertification happen? Is it possible that desertification is not a real thing?. Is it possible that places like Egypt or Death Valley have always been exactly as they are today?
remember we were only talking about California and Benicia. We did not mention the desserts or the NE. Just areas of California. Yes they do end and the lake fill up again and agin.
i have watched that for over 70 years. Did not read about it, saw it.
I see. Then is it correct to assume that things like desertification and long term droughts, that happen in other parts of the world, cannot happen in California? If so, what is the natural phenomenon that makes it so?
It seems that you might have qualified that deserts are always deserts. I’m learning so much. It’s like, all of a sudden, I’ve seen the light Have you thought about publishing?
what makes you think I have not.
If so, that is super. I’m really excited. Could you send me a link? Or maybe tell me where I can find it? What was the topic? Did it win a Pulitzer?
Does not appear that way
“the sun may not rise tomorrow as it always does.” Could you elaborate on this a bit. Because, now you have me worried. What have you heard? Is there a high probability that this might occur? What is more probable? That the sun may not rise tomorrow, or that there may be a long lasting drought? Honestly, I need to know and I think you may have the answer.
i do. Wake up to tomorrow and you will have the answer.
Yes, but to which question?
the one you asked ABout.
Oh, OK. Again, you know I’m not fast on the uptake. Could you be so kind to remind. I’m not all that certain, but, it is possible that I asked more than one…..maybe. What does this symbol mean “?”? Is it called a riddle mark, or something?
You figure it out
To reiterate: “No amount of money will change that.”
Who is Stewart Resnick?
“In Iroquois society, leaders are encouraged to remember seven generations in the past and consider seven generations in the future when making decisions that affect the people.”
From the above post: “As drought outlook worsens, Public Works asks residents to further cut back on water use’
From the article below more “water politics” i.e. decisions that will affect our community and our appointed and elected leaders in the immediate future…
“How Agricultural Growers Gamed California’s Drought”
“… an interesting article on how growers – who consume 80 percent of California’s developed water but account for only 2 percent of the state’s GDP – thrive while everyone else in the state is parched.”
“One striking aspect of California’s water emergency is how few voices in positions of authority have been willing to state the obvious. To plant increasing amounts of water-intensive crops in a desert would be questionable in the best of times. To continue doing so in the middle of a historic drought, even as scientists warn that climate change will increase the frequency and severity of future droughts, seems nothing less than reckless. ”
http://www.waterpolitics.com/2015/03/30/how-agricultural-growers-gamed-californias-drought/
Our locsal research excpert is clueless. He does nor understAND
My family have been in Californis for over 1215 years. Try sev3en generations. I do not need any lectures about California. All are welcome and also welcome to stay. The water issue is the fault of pol;itics. TYhe Auburn Dam should have been built. We also must cAP
did not finish comment. This was not corrected, so I will start overr. Sorry
My family have been in California for over 1215 years
I did not realize your family was Native American Bob! Were they Miwoks?
😉
My grandmother was born in Rutherford, my grandfather in Tulare, so we go back a ways, as well..
My family has been in California for over 115 years. Seven generations of very good and productive American citizens. The farming community has been a great part of the growth in California. They are now being treated like the enemy. Just to satisfy a LIBERAL agenda. California had many chances to solve the water issue oiver the years. The Auburn Dam for one. Also capturing water. Do you remember the water pipeline over the Richmond/San Rafael bridge to solve Marin Counties water issues. Guess what they added another res. Believe me the water uissue will be solved by nature and not some Liberal cause. This state welcomes all and and wants them to stay. Asking folks to leave is not what a good Californian would do. I am sick and tired of these phony Liberals and all their causes that just mess things up. Get with the program and understand what water has done to feed the world. That alone should be a good LiberAL cause. All of the residents will help when help is needed and not complain. Just the save the world Liberals. California will be world force for ever and ever inspite of the Liberal Socialist.s Oil, ag, Silicon Valley, education will survive this Liberal Agenda. Even Gov. Brown understands the umportance of farming and oil. Sorry Liberals he is their friend not so much yours.
Ok. One question. What do you propose? Auburn dam will not get built. Never. Instead of liberal vs. conservative, tell me what you propose.
Simpler, capture watrer. Even the Benicia MAYR advocates that. Expand resourvorsd and build more. The Auburn Dam could ber builty but the present political situation will not let that happen. Must come to a fair and balanced conclusion on Delta water. After all we atre one state. Conviting sea water, wASTE
Simple, capture water. Even the Benicia MAYOR advocates that. Expand reservoirs and build more. The Auburn Dam could be built but the present political situation will not let that happen. Must come to a fair and balanced conclusion on Delta water. After all we are one state. Converting sea water, waste water. Sisterns at all shopping malls, state, federal county and city offices
Landscaping issues are on their way to being resolved by attractive choice of low maintenance landscaping, not being forced to do. Just bering in vogue.Sorry to say it put politics is a big part of the solution. Man comes first.
Rice and Nuts have been a product for years. We should not destroy our ag economy because of product.The water issue is just A tempory issue. Farmers have saved more water in one year than residentual use by going to drip irrigation. I have been through it many times. For some reason it does resolve itself. Population is just a reason and it is agenda driven. We can solve this issue for future use. Do all that i said and the issue is over. There will no need for further Liberal talk. The ag business is huge along with oil drilling. Without them you could very well see this state go into a very deep recession with no ideas from the Liberals for recovery. It is a political issue like it or not.