Current Water Conditions and How You Can Help Conserve Water
Published on July 29, 2021
The Utilities Department shared information last week discussing California’s current hot, dry conditions leading to the Governor asking everyone across the state to reduce water usage by 15 percent compared to 2020 levels. Palo Alto’s water source, the San Francisco Regional Water System managed by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), and storage is in reasonably good shape. The SFPUC is asking wholesale customers to voluntarily conserve water and try to keep summer water use to 2019 levels. This includes the City of Palo Alto, its residents, and businesses.
The City is committed to sustainability and water conservation, and closely monitors City water usage at all times. At the beginning of our current drought, we began to reduce potable water use in strategic aesthetic grass areas (non-playing fields). By targeting our water conservation efforts to grass areas without trees, we are ensuring that we can conserve water and still be able to provide adequate water to trees throughout the City. In addition, the City converted some turf areas into native plant landscapes and uses recycled water from the Regional Water Quality Control Plant at Greer Park and the Palo Alto Golf Course.
The City also complies with our prescribed permanent potable water use restrictions, which are in effect for all of Palo Alto, including residents and businesses. The two fountains managed by the City, Cal Ave Fountain and Lytton Plaza Fountain, are in compliance and recirculate water.
Permanent restrictions include:
1. Flooding or runoff is prohibited.
2. A shut-off valve is required for hoses to wash vehicles, buildings, etc.
3. Potable water for construction uses is prohibited if non-potable water is available.
4. Broken or defective plumbing and irrigation systems must be repaired or replaced within a reasonable period.
5. Turf and ornamental landscape irrigation are not allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., except for hand watering with a bucket or a hose with a shut-off valve.
6. Water in fountains or other decorative water features must be recirculated.
7. Potable water for street sweepers/washers is prohibited if non-potable water is available.
8. Commercial car washes must use recycled water systems if economically feasible.
It’s important to continue following these restrictions and use best practices for conserving water at your home and/or business. Read below for tips on how you can save water and reduce your water usage.
How can you help conserve water?
Here are some basic tips to reducing water in your household:
- Turn off the water when brushing your teeth or shaving
- Wash full loads when laundry day comes around
- Add mulch to your landscaped areas to conserve water outside
- Optimize your landscape watering schedule for maximum efficiency. Watering at night is better than during the middle of a hot day.
- Setting your mower blades to 3 inches not only encourages deeper root growth but can also save you 16-50 gallons of water per day!
- Install efficient showerheads and aerators; go above and beyond by setting a timer to reduce your shower length and use a bucket to catch water from your shower or bath before it warms up.
Practicing these basic tips will help you reduce your water use and support our Citywide efforts to reduce usage and conserve water.
Another way to easily reduce your water usage is to check your house for leaks.
- A continuous faucet leak can waste thousands of gallons of water every year
- An undetected “silent” toilet leak can waste hundreds of gallons of water per day
- A “noisy” toilet leak can waste thousands of gallons every day
- An irrigation leak as small as the tip of a ballpoint pen can waste over 6,000 gallons of water per month
Whether your household or business partakes in the recycled water program, landscapes with native plants or practices other water saving techniques, it’s important that we all do what we can to conserve our precious water sources. Learn more about how you can Save Energy & Water and apply for Outdoor Water Efficiency Rebates today!