Water usage for April through June was down 26 percent in the Valley of the Moon Water District – “A phenomenal job of conservation,” according to General Manager Krishna Kumar – but don’t start taking longer showers just yet. The mandatory 25 percent reduction target remains in place through October, a period sure to include much hotter temperatures than the mild summer so far.
“It’s a combination of the weather and people doing the right thing,” Kumar told the district’s board members Tuesday night. “It’s been a very sincere effort.”
Kathy Toohey, Sonoma’s water conservation coordinator, told The Sun that the major factor in the water savings has been increased public awareness, both of the environmental impact and the local rules. “People get confused about the timing for irrigation,” she said. The common mistake is watering on the wrong day, or after 7 a.m. Those households get a “oops” tag from a city worker.
The “oops” tag is followed up with a reminder call from Toohey. The fix can be simple. “A lot of people aren’t aware of what their lawn timers are set for,” she said. The “oops” process gives the household a week to make necessary adjustments or change bad habits. “My call has knocked it down at least 85 percent,” she said. “We’re nipping it in the bud.”
After three notices, the city regulations call for a fine. That enforcement process is still being worked out. Though most water waste is eliminated through communication, “some people just don’t care,” Toohey said. “A fine might get their attention.”
No matter the weather, the length of your shower or the size of xeriscape gardens, water reduction is here to stay. As the water district board heard Tuesday night in a presentation by the Sonoma County Water Agency, there are no short-term fixes. (The county agency is the district’s primary water supplier). Endangered species protection in the Russian River system, outdated regulations, aging infrastructure and climate change are just a few of the challenges ahead, according to Jay Jasperse, deputy chief engineer at the water agency.
Several studies of groundwater storage and other non peak-demand strategies are underway or will soon be initiated, Jasperse said. One will determine the feasibility of building a pipeline from Lake Sonoma to bypass environmentally sensitive Dry Creek. An initial report is due next year.
A tangible water agency effort now underway is a habitat enhancement along Dry Creek. It is designed to allow increased water flows – ultimately benefiting Sonoma Valley customers – while providing safety to endangered fish. The catch: “We won’t know if it’s successful until 2018,” Jasperse said.
“Why wait until 2018 to see if the restoration works?” asked board president Ronald Prushko. “Why don’t we pursue the pipeline that could solve our problems?”
The water agency’s Grant Davis reminded the board that while the pipeline is under study, the federally mandated enhancement of Dry Creek must be his agency’s primary objective. “ I would characterize this as Plan A,” he said. “The pipeline would be Plan B.”
All agree that the pipeline, if proven to be feasible, would be a very complex and very expensive project. “It seems like a county-wide bond issue,” said Prushko.
