Stricter water use policy inevitable?
American Canyon tightens faucet
Though next-door neighbor American Canyon declared a “Drought Emergency Stage 2” last week, Vallejo has refrained from pushing such stringent water restrictions.
That could change soon, however, according said Beth Schoenberger, operations manager of the city’s water department, with an assist from Associate Engineer Melissa Cansdale.
“Currently, the situation is reminiscent of the 2015 drought but may get worse,” said Schoenberger.
Last year and this year are expected to be the second driest two-year period on record, behind only 1976-’77, Schoenberger said, emphasizing that “Stage 1” restrictions have been in place in Vallejo since the 2015 drought.
“Some cities are only enacting these ‘Stage 1’ restrictions now, so Vallejo is ahead of the game in that sense,” said Schoenberger.
Water restrictions are not merely a “suggestion,” Schoenberger noted.
“The conservation provisions in the municipal code are already enforceable as will be any more restrictive measures considered in August,” she said, including next-level measures on city property with “waterwise” landscaping already in place.
The city is fortunate when it comes to available water, the operations director continued.
“Vallejo is an older city and has an excellent water rights portfolio due to city founders and water managers over decades, obtaining strong rights to multiple sources such as Lake Berryessa as well as two different water rights from the Delta,” Schoenberger said.
“In general, older water rights are curtailed last by the State,” she added.
However, “we anticipate the State curtailing use for one of the city’s three main water sources soon,” Schoenberger said. “In fact, the State Water Resources Control Board is holding a 4-hour public workshop tomorrow (Tuesday) for water agencies around the state, after which we will know more.”
Schoenberger emphasized that “even though Vallejo has robust water resources, we will be impacted by any curtailments in the Delta this year. We have already begun the process of messaging the community asking them to be mindful of their water usage through some of our social media platforms, and will broaden the message to other forms of communication such as the Vallejo Weekly newsletter and updates on the website.”
Vallejo Mayor Robert McConnell acknowledged that “Vallejo is blessed to have had the forefathers who safeguarded the supply of water for the city. But today we are also a part of a greater region and even a state. While as a city we are blessed with wonderful water rights, we have friends and neighbors that can be helped by our actions. Careful water use is practicing the Golden Rule.”
Vallejo’s water department updates the City Council on water supply status and provides an overview of water rights portfolio, and presents additional conservation restrictions during the Aug. 24 council meeting.
Last Tuesday, the American Canyon City City Council announced that all of its water customers are required to cut use by 20 per cent.
The Stage 2 declaration comes approximately a month and a half after the City announced Stage 1, which called for voluntary water conservation. While progress was made, American Canyon did not achieve the overall desired 10 percent reduction in water use in Stage 1, according to a news release.
In addition to reducing water use by 20 per cent and following the best practices identified in Stage 1, American Canyon customers are prohibited from using water for gardening, landscape irrigation, washing vehicles or equipment between noon and 6 p.m.
Banned are washing sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios, or other paved areas or filling a new swimming pool, spa, pond, or similar recreational basin of water.
“The first step for each of us is to understand how we are using water; the City can help with that. Simple changes can make a huge difference,” said Mayor Leon Garcia.
Benicia Mayor Steve Young concurred Monday.
“There is no doubt we are in a serious drought, and long-range forecasts suggests it may extend through next year as well,” Young said, adding that “climate change will extend our water
shortages into the future, and we need to be prepared to take additional measures to preserve what what we receive.”
In Benicia, there’s no mandated conservation, though the city “on an ongoing basis asks residents to cut back 10 percent,” said Dep. Public Works Director Kyle Ochenduszko by phone Monday. “We’re encouraging residents to be as efficient as possible.”
Ochenduszko added that the city’s philosophy is “every drop saved today is available water tomorrow.”
With a continued drought, the landscape could literally be altered.
“If it’s a dry winter, next year could look completely different,” Ochenduszko said.
Most communities encourage their residents to reduce water usage by: taking shorter showers, turning faucets off when brushing teeth, purchase high-efficiency clotheswashers and dishwashers, and convert to drought-tolerant landscaping.
There are programs offering conservation rebates that can be found at the Solano County Water Agency’s website, of which Vallejo is a member agency: https:// www.scwa2.com/water-efficiency/rebates-programs/