Maybe this isn’t a drought, but every Californian should act as
if it were. Conservation needs to be on the minds of all California
residents during these dry times.
Maybe this isn’t a drought, but every Californian should act as if it were. Conservation needs to be on the minds of all California residents during these dry times.
It’s official. The Sierra snowpack is the slimmest in nearly two decades. The final survey found the snowpack at 27 percent of normal. At one station that the California Department of Water Resources monitors at 6,800 feet in the Sierra, officials found no snow at all.
Although some experts are already using the “D” word, California isn’t officially in a drought. Water that exists behind reservoirs will keep just about every water district in California from officially going to rationing.
But think of it this way: By the time the government officially declares the weather situation to be a drought, California will have actually been in the drought for a year or two. It’s only after the reservoirs run low does rationing become mandatory.
It is understandable that water districts don’t move into drought mode until necessary. There is always the chance that the next rainy season will be a whopper and the reservoirs will be full to the brim. But there is also value in the public taking the dry weather seriously and taking actions before being told to do so by the government.
Regardless of whether Californians live next to two rivers in Sacramento or in the desert, conservation should be a way of life. Water shouldn’t be wasted. Landscaping shouldn’t get an unnecessary soaking. Put a bucket in the shower while the water is warming up and use it at the end of the day to water the lawn. Leaky faucets should be fixed. Sprinkler timers should be adjusted to take advantage of cooler spells like the one that descended over Northern California last week.
In the Capitol, politicians tend to argue about water, particularly whether to build more reservoirs and who should pay for them. But conservation is something every single Californian can do on his or her own. This is a good time to examine those water habits.
The Water Resources Association of San Benito can be a great source of information and opportunities for local resident hoping to do their part in helping to conserve water. As a community we need to work together. That way we can avoid unpleasant restrictions.
