Water Resources Association of San Benito County

(831) 637-4378—www.wrasbc.org

Water Conservation — A Way of Life!

The drought that spanned water years 2012 through 2016 included the driest four-year statewide precipitation on record (2012-2015) and the smallest Sierra-Cascades snow-pack on record (2015, with 5 percent of average). It was marked by extraordinary heat: 2014, 2015 and 2016 were California’s first, second and third warmest year in terms of statewide average temperatures.

The state responded to the emergency with actions and investments that also advanced the California Water Action Plan, the five-year blueprint for more reliable, resilient water systems to prepare for climate change and population growth. To advance the priorities of the Water Action Plan and respond to drought, the voters passed a comprehensive water bond, the Legislature appropriated and accelerated funding and state agencies accelerat-ed grants and loans to water projects.

California also enacted the historic Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, took ac-tion to improve measurement and management of water, retrofitted tens of thousands of inefficient toilets, replaced lawns with water-wise landscaping and provided safe drinking water to impacted communities.

Californians also responded to the drought with tremendous levels of water conservation, including a nearly 25 percent average reduction in urban water use across the state. In February 2017, the statewide residential water use average was 57.5 gallons per person per day, the lowest ever reported for the state. Only two years ago, that number was re-jected at a meeting with multiple California water agencies as a near-impossible target.

The five-year drought had some stunning silver linings, notably a more acute personal awareness of water use. The impacts of drought and climate change yielded scarce water flows and depleted groundwater supplies that focused people’s attention on cutting back on water use, developing more water storage facilities and reuse.

During the drought, the media, water agency mailings and signs on the roadways all pointed over and over to the need to conserve. The drought began to give life to a con-scious ethic of water conservation and reuse in California.

We need to keep this focus as we move into the future. Doing things like expanding cur-rent efforts to improve the efficiency of water use in homes and industries. In particular, while we often see calls for voluntary cutbacks and changes in behavior during drought, far more effective are permanent improvements in efficiency. The state has already made progress in this area, but our urban water use remains too high and much more potential exists to continue to replace inefficient appliances, reduce waste and leaks, and funda-mentally change the nature of our outdoor landscape away from water-intensive lawns and gardens to low water-use plants and gardens.

We must expand current efforts to improve the efficiency of water use in the agricultural sector, by accelerating the shift to better irrigation technologies and practices. The goal here is to grow more food with less water.

Whatever we do, the drought that we just experienced is clear evidence that doing nothing is no longer an acceptable option.

We don’t know when drought will return, but we do know it’s a matter of “when” rather than “if”. The Water Resources Association of San Benito County is here to assist you and your family in being water efficient. Call us for a free Home Water Survey today. Not only will you save water, you’ll save money!

Fall/Winter 2017/2018

Volume

Fall and Winter

Water Conservation:

Adjust your irrigation times!

As the days get shorter, so should the irrigation times for your landscape. Even if we don’t get rain in the fall, less light means your land-scape needs less water. When storms become fre-quent, turn off your irriga-tion completely.

Check to see if all your sprinkler heads are all functioning when the sys-tem is on, and check for damp spots in your yard when it’s off, as this can indicate a leak. Clear de-bris from your gutters and downspouts to prevent overflow and keep the wa-ter draining properly. Put a diverter on the end of your downspout so water accu-mulates in your yard and percolates into the soil ra-ther than going to the storm drains.

Compost A layer of compost pro-tects plants and enriches soil, as well as reducing the amount of water your garden needs during the fall. The compost you ap-plied during the summer months has likely decom-posed, so fall is the time to apply more.

Plant Native Californian Plants

Fall is a great time to plant native Californian plants. The winter rains will help them get established by next summer.

“We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one.” » Jacques Cousteau

Water Conservation Update

Representing the City of Hollister, the City of San

Juan Bautista, Sunnyslope County Water District,

and San Benito County Water District.

Water Resources Association San Benito County

PO Box 899 Hollister, CA 95024-0899

(831) 637-4378

Water Resources Association of San Benito County

(831) 637-4378—www.wrasbc.org

WRASBC FREE Services & Rebates:

Turf Removal Rebate

Landscape Hardware Rebates The Water Resources Association has rebates on hose timers, rain sensors and MP Rotator irrigation nozzles

and sprinkler bodies with pressure regulators. 50% rebate (up to $100) on qualifying products.

Free Water Wise Landscape Plans The Water Resources Association has FREE water wise landscape plans. Three different garden design

concepts ($500 value). Installing a water wise garden will save water and money, plus they require

less maintenance time.

Home Water Survey

(Our most popular service!) The Survey includes: irrigation check, suggested watering schedule, leak check, showerheads and faucet aerators, high-quality

hose nozzle, water softener assistance

Water Softener Assistance and Rebate Program Have a WRASBC technician inspect and check your water softener to make sure it is set properly for hardness

levels. Rebates are available for those customers transitioning to an offsite regeneration service or demolishing

their self-regulating water softener that uses salt or potassium. Rebates: $250-$300

Toilet Program (Free Toilets or Rebates) Customers that have toilets that are 1992 or older qualify. These older toilets use from 3.5—7 gallons of water

for each flush. New toilets flush from 1.28—1.6 gallons per flush. The Water Resources Association has free

toilets or a $75 rebate is available when you purchase your own.

Green Business Certification: The WRASBC is working together with the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce, San Benito County Inte-

grated Waste Management and PG&E to assist, recognize and promote businesses and government agencies that

volunteer to operate in a more environmentally responsible way.

Additional Programs: A Water Conservation Specialist is available to give presentations at schools, Service Clubs & local community organizations.

Learn about the Water Cycle, our local water supply and water issues locally / state-wide. Fieldtrips to the reclamation plant and

water treatment plant can also be arranged.

Special Rules & Conditions apply, call for details. Rebates are subject to available funds

LOCAL FUNDING DEPLETED FOR TURF REMOVAL REBATE

STATE FUNDING IS AVALABLE. GO TO: SAVEOURWATERREBATES.COM

FREE COMPOST WORKSHOP—RECEIVE A FREE COMPOST CONTAINER FOR ATTENDING

The class is taught by composting instructor, UC Master Gardener Otis Johnson, and will be held on

Saturday, October 28th from 9 a.m. to noon at the San Benito County Water District, 30 Mansfield

Road, Hollister (Near the intersection of Fairview Road and Santa Ana Road). Call (831) 637-4378 to register.

BENEFITS OF COMPOSTING

Enriches soil, helping retain moisture and suppress plant diseases and pests.

Reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.

Encourages the production of beneficial bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter to create humus, a rich nutrient-filled material.

Reduces methane emissions from landfills and lowers your carbon footprint.