Lodi: Too soon to stop water conservation measures
The state of California released information about water savings year over year on Tuesday. The figures, showing 20.5 percent less water usage statewide in January 2017 compared to January 2016, show that Californians are continuing to take conservation to heart.
As they should, said compliance engineer Kat Garcia with the City of Lodi.
“Yes, we’ve gotten a lot of water this winter. However, after so many years of drought it may be too early to determine if the drought is over,” she said. “Conservation is still important and will continue to be into the future.”
She pointed to Gov. Jerry Brown’s Executive Order B-37-16, “Making Water Conservation a California Way of Life.” The executive order asks California cities to continue conserving and eliminate water waste, and calls on California citizens to do their part.
It also calls on the California Department of Food and Agriculture, ag water suppliers, growers and others in the agricultural industry to work together and make efficient use of water supplies.
In Lodi, water use was up slightly this past January compared to January 2016. However, compared to the baseline year in 2013, water use is still down 18.7 percent, Garcia said.
There are no plans at this time to roll back the Stage 2 water alert, she said.
That’s because, as wet as this winter was, no one knows what next year will bring.
“Next year, there’s some inkling that there may be a weak El Niño that develops,” said senior meteorologist Bob Smerbeck of Accuweather, a private forecasting form.
But that doesn’t guarantee a wet winter. Two years ago, a strong El Niño developed, but warm ocean waters just off the West Coast weakened it severely and blocked much of the moisture from relieving the drought, he said.
This year, a dry winter was expected because it was a La Niña year, but cold ocean temperatures and a strong jetstream from Japan to California threw a wrench in the works.
“There was a cold strip of sea surface temperatures from Japan all the way to the West Coast,” Smerbeck said. Storms slid right along that path to California, even though La Niña years are normally only wet farther north.
So there could be a wet year next year — but maybe not.
“It would be really hard to get another extreme year like you did this year,” Smerbeck said. “The main thing is, we don’t know.”
What he could say is that Lodi can expect dry weather for the near future.
“We’re forecasting generally dry weather right through the weekend and into next Tuesday,” he said.
On Wednesday, rain is expected in the Pacific Northwest, but shouldn’t come as low as Lodi, Smerbeck said. At worst, the city may see some spotty showers.
Lodi officials have put together a number of resources and guides for people who want to help with water conservation.
“Replacing turf with drought tolerant
landscape and using rain barrels is still a good idea,” Garcia said. “The state still offers (a) turf replacement rebate; however, the state rebate must be approved prior to any work being completed to qualify.” For more information, visit www.saveourwaterrebates.com.
On March 23, residents will be able to visit the Lodi Surface Water Treatment Facility for a water conservation workshop. It kicks off at 3 p.m.
“This event will provide information to residents who attend on what to look for to determine if you have a water leak, and what rebates are available,” Garcia said. It will include a tour of the plant.