In response to the ongoing drought and lack of rainfall throughout the state, Governor Jerry Brown Friday declared a state of emergency, urging state officials to take all necessary actions to prepare for the conditions, according to a press release from the governor’s office.
And while local supplies of water appear to be adequate for the foreseeable future, Santa Clara County residents are still encouraged to heed the governor’s precautions and conserve water.
To help educate people about how to conserve water and to offer incentives for doing so, the Santa Clara Valley Water District is offering free “water-wise house calls” for local residents. Under this program, trained water surveyors visit homes and apartments to review water use, provide low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators and suggest other water-efficient.
The surveyors will also offer information on the full range of water efficiency rebates available from SCVWD, according to the district’s website.
The SCVWD’s recent “water supply outlook” is still positive, despite the fact that the spring of 2013 was one of the driest spring in California’s recorded history, Morgan Hill City Councilman Rich Constantine said at Wednesday’s Council meeting. The local groundwater aquifer remains plentiful, and the district enjoys vast reserves of imported water from other parts of the state.
“And it’s partly because of our great conservation,” Constantine added, noting that Morgan Hill and SCVWD water customers have cut back on water use significantly in recent years.
The governor’s declaration of a state of emergency Friday was not a shock, as the current drought has worsened in the current rainy season which has only produced about 2.5 inches of precipitation locally – and less than that in other areas.
“We can’t make it rain, but we can be much better prepared for the terrible consequences that California’s drought now threatens, including dramatically less water for our farms and communities and increased fires in both urban and rural areas,” Brown said. “I’ve declared this emergency and I’m calling all Californians to conserve water in every way possible.”
The governor directed state officials to assist farmers and communities that are economically impacted by dry conditions and to ensure the state can respond if Californians face drinking water shortages, according to the press release from Brown’s office. The Governor also directed state agencies to use less water and hire more firefighters and initiated a greatly expanded water conservation public awareness campaign (details at saveourh2o.org).
In addition, the proclamation gives state water officials more flexibility to manage supply throughout California under drought conditions, according to the press release.
State water officials say that California’s river and reservoirs are below their record lows. Some of Santa Clara County’s reservoirs are significantly below their normal levels – such as Uvas Reservoir which currently contains about 4 percent of its total capacity.
Manual and electronic readings record the snowpack’s statewide water content at about 20 percent of normal average for this time of year, the governor’s staff added.
SCVWD’s water-wise house calls are available weekdays and Saturdays during daylight hours for all residential customers in Santa Clara County. To schedule an appointment call (800) 548-1882 or visit www.valleywater.org/programs/waterconservation.aspx.
